Wind Direction Episode 9 Recap
> Wind Direction Recap
In the autumn of 1987, a young Cheng Yaya woke up to find his father wasn't home. He set out alone to find him and accidentally fell into a large pit. Crying helplessly, a little girl came to his rescue but then fell into the pit herself. Unlike Cheng Yaya, she didn't cry. Instead, she offered him a steamed bun to comfort him. This girl was Yuan Shanqing.
Yuan Shanqing had a younger sister whom she cared for alone, often leading to complaints from neighbors about the noise. Their meals were simple, typically steamed eggs and buns. One evening, creditors, impersonating police, arrived at their home demanding to know Yuan Yong's whereabouts.
They overturned their dinner table, and despite Yuan Shanqing repeatedly insisting that Yuan Yong had absconded with all the money and she had none, the men ransacked the house and seized the small amount of money she had saved. When the creditors' dog bit her sister, Yuan Shanqing realized she didn't have enough money for treatment. She encountered Cheng Yaya and had to ask him for a loan.
Coincidentally, Cheng Yaya had also been bitten by the same dog but didn't have money for his own injection. After her sister received an injection, Yuan Shanqing prepared to take her home. Cheng Yaya urgently stopped her, insisting she get an injection too, reasoning that since money had already been borrowed, borrowing a little more wouldn't matter. Cheng Pengfei, Cheng Yaya's father, saw the two children and personally took them for their injections.
He was touched by Cheng Yaya's kindness and gentlemanly behavior. As they walked home, Cheng Yaya learned his new friend's sister's name was Yuan Shanzi. Meanwhile, Cheng Miaomiao was on the phone with Li Si, who was expressing his intention to confront his father, Li Dahai, about an issue. Their conversation was overheard by Jia Daiyu, Cheng Miaomiao's mother, who then scolded her daughter for not studying and talking on the phone late at night.
Cheng Pengfei arrived home, having returned to grab a tool book, and defended Cheng Miaomiao slightly, though he was surprised to hear Cheng Yaya was out late helping a classmate. Cheng Yaya eventually escorted Yuan Shanqing and her sister home, where he saw "Pay Back" painted in large characters on their door and found the house in disarray.
Later, Li Si confronted his father, Li Dahai, demanding to know why Liu Gang had been fired and explaining that all his classmates were now criticizing him. Li Dahai, infuriated, dismissed his son's concern about adult matters. The next day, Li Si arrived at class in low spirits. Liu Junbao approached him, pleading for help to speak to his father. Liu Junbao even knelt, to which a startled Li Si quickly knelt in return.
However, many classmates, unaware of the full story, continued to unfairly criticize Li Si for his perceived lack of empathy. Cheng Yaya noticed Yuan Shanqing was absent from class and, concerned, went directly to her home. Cheng Miaomiao, also worried about Li Si's predicament, sought him out to offer comfort. She argued that the situation had nothing to do with him, yet he was the target of all the blame, which she felt was unjust.
She compared his plight to Yuan Shanqing's, pointing out how their classmates unfairly judge her for her father's actions as well. Cheng Yaya arrived at Yuan Shanqing's house, knocking for a long time before she finally answered. He immediately noticed she had a fever and rushed her to the hospital. There, Cheng Pengfei reassured Yuan Shanqing that her younger sister, Yuan Shanzi, was doing well and was being looked after by Granny Chen.
A doctor informed them that Yuan Shanqing's fever was a typical vaccine reaction, but her overall health indicators were low due to prolonged malnutrition, emphasizing the importance of a nutritious diet. Cheng Yaya bought her steamed buns and milk, ensuring she ate and drank them. When Cheng Miaomiao voiced her concerns to Gao Feiyang, their teacher, about Li Si being unfairly targeted, Gao Feiyang listened thoughtfully. After class, he delivered an impromptu lesson to the students about "being yourself."
He acknowledged that factors like appearance, background, and family inevitably shape one's life, but stressed that one's destiny is ultimately in their own hands. He urged them that if they must voice an opinion, it should be a choice made from within, for which they are prepared to take responsibility, rather than merely echoing others. Later that evening, Cheng Yaya spent the night diligently painting over all the debt-related graffiti on Yuan Shanqing's front door.
To resolve Liu Gang's situation, Li Dahai personally paid three months of his own salary as compensation. Liu Gang's family subsequently left the oil field to return to their hometown. Li Si, feeling awkward, did not attend Liu Junbao's farewell. Some time later, Cheng Miaomiao and Hu Qiumin arranged to have dinner at Li Si's family restaurant. On their way, they unexpectedly saw Qiang Xiaowa selling fish at the market.
Observing his difficult circumstances, Cheng Miaomiao's determination to help him rekindled. She resolved to assist him at least one more time. Inspired by Gao Feiyang's message, Cheng Miaomiao later traveled to Qiang Xiaowa's village. There, she approached his dog, Babao, with a warm and open demeanor, offering it a sausage and trying to make friends.
She reflected that in a world of varying fortunes, where some face hardship and judgment, the important thing is to be true to oneself and make choices from the heart. Cheng Miaomiao affirmed her commitment to be someone who extends a helping hand, believing that despite the world's unfairness, one should never let the light within them fade.
