Wind Direction Episode 25 Recap
> Wind Direction Recap
In the autumn of 1987, Hu Yue traveled alone to visit Yang Songbai, who was working on a boat. She brought him freshly made dumplings with leeks and several new shirts. Yang Songbai was touched by her gesture, suggesting she should spend money on herself and their daughter, Qiumin. However, Hu Yue insisted he try on the new clothes.
He handed over his entire monthly salary, including a bonus, totaling 75 yuan, to Hu Yue, explaining that he didn't need much money at work. He thanked her for her hard work raising their two children alone, to which she humbly replied it was a mother's duty. That night, Hu Yue decided to stay on the boat, as Yang Songbai assured her that their son, Tao, was old enough to care for his sister.
Yang Songbai proudly introduced Hu Yue to his colleagues and showed her around the boat, pointing out the beautiful clouds. Years later, Hu Yue and Yang Songbai divorced. Li Dahai and Cheng Pengfei helped Yang Songbai move, only to find that all his belongings fit into two small bags. Cheng Pengfei joked about needing a truck, but Yang Songbai assured them a bicycle would suffice. They lamented his situation, noting this was his second divorce where he left with nothing.
Meanwhile, Hu Yue, Jia Daiyu, and Niu Lingling gathered, toasting to Hu Yue's newfound freedom. Niu Lingling had even closed her restaurant for the day, and Jia Daiyu took leave from her job, all agreeing that an unhappy marriage was not worth it. Hu Yue felt incredibly relieved and happy. Hu Yue planned a trip to Beijing and invited her daughter, Hu Qiumin, to join her, even offering to arrange leave from school.
Hu Qiumin declined, citing other commitments, but her gaze lingered on her mother’s divorce certificate. She didn't ask about the reasons for the divorce, as she had overheard her mother and Yang Songbai's conversation about living for themselves and not just for their children. Hu Qiumin expressed her joy that Hu Yue was finally putting herself first, though she felt a pang of guilt that her mother had sacrificed so much for her sake over the years.
Hu Qiumin affirmed that despite the divorce, she and Yang Tao would always be family. She asked her mother not to tell Yang Tao about the divorce until after his grad exams. Hu Yue then confessed to her daughter that she blamed herself for not thinking about herself sooner, for enduring so many unhappy years, and for losing herself for Hu Qiumin's sake, to which Hu Qiumin responded that she blamed her mother for those very same reasons.
She encouraged Hu Yue to enjoy her trip and be happy. Showing great maturity, Hu Qiumin also visited Yang Songbai at his workplace. He began to explain, but she assured him she understood it was their own decision and they didn't need to tell the children. Yang Songbai promised her that Yang Tao would always be her brother, and she replied that he would always be her stepfather.
Meanwhile, Cheng Miaomiao and Li Si bought Qiang Xiaowa new shoes and a jacket, encouraging him to look sharp for his essay competition, whose topic was "Hometown." They told him to relax and have fun. After the competition, Cheng Miaomiao and Li Si noticed ballet dancers at the Youth Center. Cheng Miaomiao admired the variety of activities available there, unlike their oilfield.
They then spotted a recruitment notice for a performance class for art schools like the Film Academy, inspiring Cheng Miaomiao to dream of attending the Film Academy, despite Li Si's teasing about their local cinema closing down. At home, Zi began speaking, delighting Cheng Yaya and Yuan Shanqing as she learned to say her name and age.
Jia Baoshan sought employment with Niu Lingling at Xiaoshudu Restaurant, explaining his ambition to eventually start his own business, perhaps by operating a long-distance bus service, and viewing her restaurant as a stepping stone. Niu Lingling, confident in his cooking skills, hired him as the lobby manager, not a cook. Jia Baoshan enthusiastically announced his new position to Jia Daiyu, who was unimpressed and threatened to call Niu Lingling. Jia Baoshan, however, was determined to prove himself a capable man.
He then revisited Xiao Fang, attempting to explain his earlier intentions. When she rebuffed him, accusing him of sweet talk, he clarified that he would now pursue his career at Xiaoshudu Restaurant and, after making a name for himself, would return to prove his sincerity. As a parting gesture, he gave her a sturdy water cup, leaving Xiao Fang bewildered. Qiang Xiaowa was thrilled to win third prize in the essay competition, receiving 300 yuan.
However, the boy who had earlier bumped into him and called him a "bumpkin," Qin Yuan, scoffed at his prize, remarking that it was just a certificate, unlike a trophy. Cheng Miaomiao and Li Si defended Qiang Xiaowa, emphasizing the prize money and the honor. To celebrate, they took Qiang Xiaowa to an amusement park. Unfortunately, Li Si overindulged in ice cream and lamb skewers, leading to a trip to the hospital with vomiting and diarrhea.
Cheng Miaomiao and Qiang Xiaowa stayed by his side, lamenting the wasted expensive tickets since they couldn't enjoy all the rides. Later, Xiao Fang was seen hesitantly lingering outside Jia Daiyu's house but quickly found an excuse to leave when invited in. Before their return to the oilfield, Cheng Miaomiao and Li Si presented Qiang Xiaowa with a homemade "Universal Talent Special Award" medal, as a trophy for his third prize wasn't available. Qiang Xiaowa was deeply moved.
Upon returning to the oilfield, they went to Hu Qiumin's house, and Cheng Miaomiao greeted her with a warm, silent hug at the door. As a heavy rainstorm descended, Li Dahai immediately put on his coat and headed to the rescue zone. Meanwhile, at Yang Songbai's work site, the pressure valve on an air tank malfunctioned despite a recent repair.
Frustrated by his colleagues' inability to fix it, Yang Songbai himself rushed out into the downpour to the work zone with the rescue team, knowing his experience was crucial to prevent flooding. While attempting to manually reduce the pressure, he accidentally fell from the drill tower. Cheng Pengfei received an urgent call, informing him of Yang Songbai's serious accident and that he needed to rush to the hospital to be on standby for the rescue.
The narrator reflected on how the prolonged rain brought disaster, and how the ordinary adults they had often underestimated displayed immense courage, protecting their children, homes, the oilfield, and their homeland, reminding them that while storms will come, they will also eventually pass.
