Wind Direction Episode 20 Recap
> Wind Direction Recap
As winter break approached, Yuan Shanqing, reflecting on the challenging circumstances of Hua'er, felt fortunate about her own life. She decided to dedicate the holiday to her studies to improve her grades. Walking home from school with Cheng Yaya, they discussed their plans for the break. Unbeknownst to them, Yuan Yong had been watching them from a distance. That night, Yuan Yong secretly went to the flower room.
Jia Baoshan had repeatedly tried to apologize to Director Xiao but was met with rejection each time. He called her, attempting a sincere apology for his rudeness, but Director Xiao curtly dismissed him and hung up, muttering about him trying to play with her feelings. Meanwhile, Yuan Yong settled into the flower room, explaining to Yuan Shanqing that he needed to stay there for a while because his previous rented house had been seized.
He warned her not to reveal his presence, threatening that if the police were alerted, neither she nor Zi would survive. Yuan Shanqing, cradling Zi, trembled and nodded in fearful agreement. The next morning, Cheng Yaya came looking for Yuan Shanqing. Yuan Yong, holding a knife, warned Yuan Shanqing to keep quiet. He only relaxed after Cheng Yaya left, having not found anyone. Elsewhere, Cheng Miaomiao felt deep sadness whenever she thought of Hua'er.
She suggested to Li Si that they go visit Qiang Xiaowa, but Li Si declined, claiming he had other commitments, so Cheng Miaomiao went alone. She found Qiang Xiaowa diligently carrying coal and offered to help, bringing grilled dried fish she had prepared for him and the others. Meanwhile, Jia Baoshan left a large basket of fruit at Director Xiao's door with an apologetic note, quickly leaving before she could see him.
As he departed, he ran into Gao Feiyang and Han Shu, who were moving textbooks. Han Shu, a Shanghai native with no intention of settling in the area, openly stated that Jia Baoshan was not her type. Jia Baoshan then sought out Gao Feiyang to inquire about Director Xiao's temperament. Gao Feiyang described Director Xiao as straightforward but kind, advising Jia Baoshan to make amends quickly before the Chinese New Year, when she would return home, making reconciliation more difficult.
Later, Yuan Yong discovered Zi's cochlear implant. Yuan Shanqing explained that Zi was deaf-mute due to a childhood fever. Yuan Yong, showing no sign of guilt, simply asked for wine. Li Si and Cheng Yaya later met near the flower room, which was dark, as Yuan Yong had turned off the lights to conceal his presence. Cheng Yaya was puzzled by Yuan Shanqing's absence.
Li Si confessed his irritation, admitting he felt petty because Cheng Miaomiao had been so preoccupied with Qiang Xiaowa since his transfer. Cheng Yaya reassured him, reminding Li Si that their compassionate nature was "in their genes," recounting how their families always stood up for their friends. Later, Yuan Yong confronted Yuan Shanqing about Cheng Yaya's frequent visits. Yuan Shanqing explained that Cheng Yaya's mother and an aunt usually visited daily.
Insisting he had nowhere else to go, Yuan Yong ordered Yuan Shanqing to ensure they did not return during his stay. Yuan Shanqing left a note saying she was taking Zi out for a couple of days. Cheng Yaya became frantic upon reading it, wondering why she had left so suddenly after being absent the entire previous day. Meanwhile, Li Si's low spirits continued.
When Cheng Miaomiao called for him, he instructed Aunt Ma to say he was sleeping, but Aunt Ma instead told Miaomiao that he had diarrhea and would call her back later. Cheng Pengfei then gently chided Cheng Miaomiao, remarking that she often considered everyone's feelings except Li Si's and urging her to reflect on it. Li Dahai was in a state of extreme anxiety.
His team, No. 2 Factory, was set to play against No. 3 Factory, which was led by his former lover, Bai Shuang. To make matters worse, his wife Niu Lingling, who normally disliked volleyball, insisted on attending the match to cheer him on. Worried his past would be exposed, he confided in his friends, Cheng Pengfei and Yang Songbai.
The tension carried over to his home life, where he was confronted by Niu Lingling for having promised both his mother and her mother that he would spend the Chinese New Year with them in Weihai and Qingdao, respectively. She accused him of being overly diplomatic to avoid conflict. As they argued, Li Si intervened with a simple solution: they should all spend the New Year separately.
Li Dahai quickly deferred to his wife, and Niu Lingling, appeased, agreed to handle the holiday plans and reaffirmed her intention to attend the match. Later, while driving with his friends before the match, Li Dahai's stress was still palpable. Yang Songbai, trying to reassure him, inadvertently revealed that Bai Shuang was now raising a child alone and had faced many hardships. This news visibly distressed Li Dahai, who anxiously pressed for more details, including the child's age and gender.
At the volleyball match, Niu Lingling arrived in an elaborate outfit, dressed more for a gala than a sports event, causing Cheng Pengfei to comment on it. During the team introductions, Li Dahai, as leader of No. 2 Factory, delivered a nervous speech about sportsmanship. When Bai Shuang was introduced as the leader of No. 3 Factory, she openly stated that she and Li Dahai were "old acquaintances," almost revealing more before catching herself.
The narrator reflects that Li Si, having read "Red Rose and White Rose," understood his father's affection for his "white moonlight" (Bai Shuang). He had intentionally avoided the match that day due to his ongoing argument with Cheng Miaomiao. He was unaware, however, that his mother, Niu Lingling, was preparing to decisively erase the "mosquito blood on the wall" of Li Dahai's past. The group was also unaware that a "knife that had cut flowers" now lay hidden within Yuan Shanqing's home, hinting at a darker turn of events.
