Wind Direction Episode 22 Recap
> Wind Direction Recap
In the winter of 1987, the relocation of Linqi Oilfield's Second Oil Extraction Plant was successfully completed, marking the New Year. Families gathered to celebrate New Year's Eve. Hu Qiumin brought homemade chili sauce to Cheng Miaomiao's family, while Li Si delivered sausages from his mother. At a holiday dinner, the adults, including Li Dahai, Cheng Pengfei, and Yang Songbai, shared drinks.
This was the first time Yang Songbai and his son, Yang Tao, were celebrating with Hu Yue's family and friends. Cheng Pengfei extended a warm welcome to Yang Songbai, acknowledging his strength in raising a child alone, but also jokingly warned him to treat Hu Yue and Hu Qiumin well. Niu Lingling echoed the sentiment, praising Hu Yue and expressing her approval of Yang Songbai. Meanwhile, Yang Tao, Cheng Miaomiao, and Cheng Yaya were outside enjoying fireworks.
Cheng Yaya remained deeply concerned about his potential return, wishing he would stay away permanently. Yuan Shanqing, who had tearfully pleaded with Yaya not to report her father, observed the fireworks lighting up the night sky, remarking that the New Year was truly upon them. Shortly after, Jia Daiyu's mother, Grandma, unexpectedly arrived at their home, announcing her intention to spend the New Year there due to an argument with Grandpa.
Grandma immediately began recounting her grievances about various acquaintances, leading Jia Daiyu to humorously suggest her mother was "making enemies everywhere." Concerned about Grandpa being alone, Jia Daiyu promptly called him. The next morning, Cheng Miaomiao excitedly knocked on Li Si's door, finding him still in his cartoon long johns featuring an excavator, looking noticeably glum.
Li Si confessed to feeling useless, contrasting himself with his friends who had clear ambitions: Hu Qiumin aimed for university and studies abroad, Zhu Chao planned to take over his father's oil field job, Qiang Xiaowa hoped to attend a tuition-free teacher's college in Beijing to support his grandfather, and Wei Xue intended to study accounting. Li Si admitted his only plan was to follow Miaomiao wherever she went.
Miaomiao, who also hadn't settled on a path and simply wanted "to see what's out there," challenged his anxieties. She argued that dreams evolve, citing her own unfulfilled childhood aspirations and questioning why "success" was narrowly defined, emphasizing that all occupations contribute to society and constant comparison was unsustainable. Li Si, however, felt a persistent need to compare himself.
He expressed feeling like an "idiot" next to Qiang Xiaowa's talents and lamented his family's recent turmoil after his father's first love, Bai Shuang, reappeared, making him feel like the "worthless loser" his father sometimes called him.
Miaomiao, in turn, shared her own frustrations: her failed attempts to go to Hong Kong, her inability to become class monitor, her unproductive efforts to help Qiang Xiaowa and Hua'er, her academic struggles, feeling overshadowed by Cheng Yaya’s achievements, and her mother’s perceived favoritism towards Yaya. She also brought up the pain of her parents' near-divorce and her feeling of being a "traitor" for initially siding with her father, who then changed his mind.
Miaomiao then explained how observing Yuan Shanqing, Qiang Xiaowa, and Hua'er, who endured genuine hardships without complaint, shifted her perspective. She also reflected on Hu Qiumin's silent struggles at home, which had only become apparent during a crisis. She concluded that she and Li Si were "the luckiest ones," blessed with good lives, and should embrace their opportunities. She encouraged him to focus on their studies, assuring him that their dreams could be figured out over their long lives.
Li Si agreed, deciding that having no specific dream for the moment was perfectly fine. Later that day, Cheng Miaomiao and Cheng Yaya returned home and joyfully embraced Grandma. They playfully "tattled" on their uncle, Jia Baoshan, to her, which prompted Grandma to scold him. The family shared a lively and warm meal, with Grandma showering affection on her grandchildren and Cheng Pengfei.
Amidst the holiday preparations, it was noted that train tickets for the Spring Festival travel season were incredibly scarce. Many teachers from the oil field had already left, and Gao Feiyang was also departing the next day, leaving Director Xiao, whose family was not from the oil field, facing the prospect of spending New Year alone.
That night, Jia Baoshan left with bedding and a small stool, returning only the next morning with dirty bedding, offering no clear explanation for his overnight absence. Meanwhile, families continued their holiday preparations. Hu Yue arranged the sleeping quarters for Yang Songbai and her son, Yang Tao, who was expected home soon.
Niu Lingling meticulously prepared New Year's gifts for various leaders, carefully labeling each item to "maintain relationships," and helped Li Dahai concoct a story about being "on duty" to explain his absence from his own mother's celebration. Niu Lingling then had a heartfelt conversation with Li Si about Bai Shuang, describing her as a kind and generous woman and revealing that Li Dahai had carried years of guilt for "wronging" her.
Niu Lingling candidly discussed her marriage, dismissing rumors that Li Dahai married her for advancement. She explained that he had proudly refused her father's offer of an office job, choosing instead to work his way up from the grueling drilling teams, enduring hardships that resulted in chronic health issues. She emphasized Li Dahai's deep love for Li Si, assuring him that his father never truly considered him useless but simply wished for him to mature and find his own path.
Moments after this, Li Dahai returned home. Niu Lingling asked Li Si to serve him tea, but their familiar argumentative dynamic quickly resurfaced. Soon, loved ones began to arrive for the holiday. Yang Tao came home, bringing Hu Qiumin a delicate gift that she cherished, and Hu Yue welcomed him with his favorite lamb-filling dumplings. Cheng Yaya invited Yuan Shanqing to their home, and Yuan Shanqing decided to steam some buns to bring.
Separately, Qiang Xiaowa's older brother, Dawa, returned, delighting Qiang Xiaowa and their Grandpa as the family began preparing dumplings together. Jia Baoshan, after his overnight wait, finally revealed his purpose: he had secured a train ticket for Director Xiao, only to realize he had mistakenly bought one for Tongliao instead of Tonghua. Seeing Director Xiao still stranded, he offered her a place to celebrate with his lively family.
Director Xiao was hesitant, mentioning her messy apartment and unhung Spring Festival couplets, so Jia Baoshan volunteered to help her with the decorations. As New Year's Eve began, Jia Daiyu's father, Grandpa Jia Xikui, arrived, welcomed by Jia Daiyu and Cheng Pengfei. Grandma, who had been hiding, soon joined them, and their usual bickering quickly resumed. Despite their squabbles, the family settled into the festivities. At Director Xiao's apartment, while she stepped out to dispose of trash, Jia Baoshan, assisting her in hanging an upside-down "Fu" character, accidentally fell from the stool.
