Early one morning, He Wen went directly to Mrs. Tang, revealing that Old Tang’s great-uncle had defected to the Kuomintang, which was shocking news for the Tang family. If this were to be known, that the great-uncle was a spy, their family would never recover. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Mrs. Tang sternly warned Old Man Tang to stop offending people and to be more courteous to the He family.
As a result, Old Man Tang changed his behavior and even started to show concern for He Changshang, which surprised him. He Wen was delighted at this turn of events, praising the spirit of mutual aid in socialism and neighborly harmony, with Liu Meixin complimenting her mother-in-law’s high level of consciousness.
In the days that followed, Liu Meixin became pregnant again, with the whole family eagerly anticipating the birth. With free wool supplied monthly, the daughters decided who should get the first knitted sweater. He Wen proposed starting with He Jiali, so the older sister could pass it down, but He Jiayi, the third daughter, claimed she dreamt of a boy in her mother’s womb, bringing joy to both He Wen and Liu Meixin.
After Liu Meixin was honored as a model worker at the sauce factory, she worked even harder, but an episode of low blood sugar led to her fainting at work, prompting He Changshang to rush home with sweets for her. She wanted to join the MSG team to become a technical worker, but in her eagerness, she accidentally fell and miscarried, losing the boy He Changshang had longed for.
The miscarriage was a significant blow to the He family. He Changshang, unable to cope, requested a business trip to escape reality. Liu Meixin was also deeply affected, with He Wen and the children taking care of her. He Wen, busy managing the household, felt sorry for her daughter-in-law, who had narrowly escaped death several times, and reiterated that not having a son was not her fault.
Seeing her mother’s hands blistered from work, He Jiali, with Zhang Qiufang’s help, unraveled her sweater to make gloves. When He Changshang returned from his trip, He Jiali was happy but still held some resentment for his sudden departure. That night, Liu Meixin and He Changshang slept separately. He Changshang, realizing his daughter’s feelings, spoke about how people often miss what they can’t have, hoping for her understanding and forgiveness.
Moved by her father’s words, He Jiali gave the gloves to her mother the next day, claiming they were from He Changshang. This gesture reconciled the couple, who realized their daughter’s thoughtful intentions. He Changshang then took He Jiali’s sweater to make new wool for her, touching her heart.
At school, Tang Weimin gave He Jiali a book with a note inside, making Zhang Qiufang, who had a crush on him, feel jealous. As graduation approached, He Jiali shared with Zhang Qiufang her desire to join the military, to serve the country like a man.
Tang Weimin confessed his feelings to He Jiali, but she injured her foot, and he carried her home. He Jiali, knowing Tang Weimin liked garlic, offered him some pickled garlic in gratitude. When Tang Weimin suggested she feed him because his hands weren’t clean, Zhang Qiufang, arriving with more garlic, was heartbroken by the scene.
With the call for educated youth to be re-educated by poor and lower-middle-class peasants, He Jiali was to be the first from her family to go to the countryside. She eagerly tried to enlist but found there were no plans to recruit female soldiers that year. Director Zhang Jianguo, who was surprisingly young for his experience, informed her of this.
Soon after, He Changshang brought the news of Zhu Dage’s death, giving the family their first direct encounter with mortality. The assignments for rural education were set, with Zhang Qiufang going to Feidong and He Jiali and Tang Weimin to Feixi. On departure day, amidst the drumbeats and gongs of the propaganda team, parents bid farewell to their children, somewhat easing the sorrow of separation.
