Chapter Summaries

The Li family speculated that Zhou Chenglei was hiding a way to attract fish, while Father Zhou eagerly joined Jiang Xia’s boat after she found another school. When the boats returned, Zhou Chengsen gently pointed out that Li Qingmin should stop waiting for Zhou Chenglei and leave on time.

• Mother Li and Li Qingmin’s wife suspected Zhou Chenglei had a secret method for catching fish, but Father Li defended his right to keep it private.
• After Jiang Xia’s boat encountered another school of fish, Father Zhou moved over with the Zhou family to help sort the catch.
• The four boats returned to the dock, where Zhou Chengsen greeted the families and looked over their catches.
• Li Qingmin blamed the day’s smaller catch on waiting for Zhou Chenglei, and Zhou Chengsen told him to head out at five sharp instead.

Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei brought in a huge catch of Golden Pomfret, while Li Xiuxian discovered that her family’s boat had earned far less after spending the afternoon Tide Catching. She blamed Li Qingmin for neglecting trawling and ended the chapter resentful of her family and envious of Jiang Xia’s in-laws.

• Zhou Chengsen helped Zhou Chenglei unload the Golden Pomfret, and Zhou Chenglei decided to dry the fish for year-end gifts.
• Li Xiuxian found Zhou Chengsen helping his brother and learned that her family’s boat had already unloaded its small catch.
• Li Qingmin explained that the family had gone Tide Catching instead of trawling, while Zhou Chenglei and Jiang Xia had trawled and caught many Golden Pomfret.
• At the Purchasing Station, Li Xiuxian saw that her family’s fish brought in much less than she expected and paid Li Qingmin wages from the proceeds.
• Li Xiuxian criticized Li Qingmin for letting Tide Catching replace trawling, then walked away and envied Jiang Xia’s support from her parents-in-law.

Jiang Xia and Great-Grandmother sold their catch at the Purchasing Station, while Li Xiuxian watched Jiang Xia receive special respect and later joined the family at dinner. After the evening’s fish slaughter, Li Xiuxian followed Jiang Xia to the New House to ask her about something, leaving the question unanswered.

• Jiang Xia and Great-Grandmother haggled with Master Jin and sold their fish and shellfish for more than 274 yuan.
• Li Xiuxian saw Master Jin treat Jiang Xia warmly and felt heartsick comparing Jiang Xia’s earnings with her own.
• Li Xiuxian served a poorly cooked dinner, and the family mostly ate the seafood Zhou Chenglei had prepared.
• Zhou Chenglei told Jiang Xia to take Zhou Zhou and Zhou Ying to the New House, while he stayed to help slaughter fish.
• Zhou Chengsen insisted that he and Li Xiuxian stay at the Old House, but Li Xiuxian followed Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei to the New House.
• After Jiang Xia finished bathing, Li Xiuxian arrived and said she wanted to ask her something.

Li Xiuxian asked Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei to monitor what fish her father and Eldest Brother caught, but Jiang Xia refused, and Zhou Chenglei focused on making a late-night meal for his pregnant wife. Cold weather and rain then stopped the boats from going out, leaving Li Xiuxian frustrated about missing a chance to earn money and concerned about the muddy road back to town.

• Li Xiuxian asked Jiang Xia whether she had noticed what fish her father and Eldest Brother caught, then requested that Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei keep watch on their fishing and sales.
• Jiang Xia bluntly refused Li Xiuxian's request and sent her away so she could dry her hair and sleep.
• Li Xiuxian asked Zhou Chenglei to make extra noodles for her and Second Brother, but he said the seafood noodles were a Pregnancy Meal and carried the food upstairs for Jiang Xia.
• Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei shared the seafood noodles and Milk Stewed Egg, and he agreed that they had no time to monitor Li Xiuxian's family.
• Cold air, strong winds, and rain prevented the boats from going to sea, while Zhou Chengsen suggested returning to town that afternoon; Li Xiuxian eyed the Jeep because the village road would be muddy.

Li Xiuxian fell while rushing after Zhou Chengsen and blamed him, leaving the couple in another cold war. As the winter rain continued, Jiang Xia suggested buying mutton so Zhou Chenglei would not have to brave the cold to catch seafood for her, but he immediately arranged to buy a sheep.

• Zhou Chengsen took his daughter back to town, and Li Xiuxian followed on her bicycle, slipped, and fell; she and Zhou Chengsen argued, and she burst into tears.
• Jiang Xia and the Zhou family stayed indoors through several days of freezing rain while the men dried fish at the Old House.
• Zhou Chenglei brought home seafood and vegetables after setting nets, and Jiang Xia suggested buying mutton instead of having him go out in the cold for seafood.
• Zhou Chenglei rode out to reserve a sheep from Father Wen, who delivered it that evening in an Iron Bucket Cart.
• Zhou Bingqiang's Wife mistakenly thought Father Wen had brought the sheep for Wen Wan, but Mother Zhou explained that Zhou Chenglei had bought it for Jiang Xia.

Jiang Xia noticed the Zhou children’s improved exam results and promised to take them to the city to buy game consoles, while Wen Wan compared her pregnancy with Jiang Xia’s and speculated about the danger Jiang Xia might face. The children then sought extra rewards from their family, and their grandparents, father, and uncle agreed to give them something.

• Jiang Xia paid Father Wen for the sheep, and he said he would deliver milk regularly and slaughter sheep when Zhou Chenglei asked.
• Wen Wan noticed Jiang Xia’s growing belly and rosy appearance, then wondered whether Jiang Xia’s pregnancy would end in the difficult labor she had dreamed about.
• Father Wen offered Wen Wan’s family two pounds of mutton, and Zhou Bingqiang’s Wife asked him to reserve a sheep for New Year.
• The Zhou children showed Jiang Xia their exam results and awards, and she promised to buy one game console for each full mark and take them to the city the next morning.
• Zhou Wenzu negotiated with Zhou Zhou to get one of her game consoles in exchange for paying her a cent whenever she won a game.
• Tian Caihua refused to give her sons cash rewards, so the boys went to their grandparents, father, and uncle, who agreed to reward them.

Zhou Chenglei drove Jiang Xia and the children to the city to deliver translations and shop for New Year gifts, then showed Zhang Rong a piece of Agarwood he had found on the beach. The chapter left Zhang Rong eager to search for Agarwood as Jiang Xia asked how much it was worth.

• Zhou Chenglei drove Jiang Xia and the children toward the city, but they could not find Zhou Ying at home and learned she had gone to her parents’ house.
• Zhou Chenglei delivered the translated manuscripts and New Year gifts to Chief Editor Fan and brought back more books to translate after the New Year.
• Jiang Xia took the children shopping, buying Game Consoles, toys, and New Year clothes for them and choosing a doll for Zhou Ying.
• Zhou Chenglei and Jiang Xia visited Zhang Rong, and Zhou Chenglei asked him to find a buyer for a piece of Agarwood he had found on the beach.
• Zhang Rong admired the Agarwood and said he wanted to search for more, while Jiang Xia asked him its current price.

Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei asked Zhang Rong to appraise their seawater-soaked agarwood, then visited their newly handed-over apartment in the city and planned its furnishings. The chapter ended with Zhou Jie joking that he would marry Little Nephew's wife to become rich like him.

• Zhang Rong agreed to ask an expert about the agarwood and arrange a buyer if its quality was good.
• Zhang Rong told Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei that he was traveling to Hong Kong Island for an auction of their jadeite pieces.
• Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei collected the keys to their sixth-floor apartment and decided to keep its simple renovation.
• Zhou Chenglei measured the apartment while Jiang Xia considered furniture for their upcoming move and housewarming.
• Zhou Wenzu vowed to study hard and buy a home near Jiang Xia, while Zhou Jie joked that marrying Little Nephew's wife would give him everything.

Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei furnished their home and sent a large haul of seafood and local goods to the city, then enjoyed the first clear day after six days of rain. Wen Wan watched Zhou Chenglei care for Jiang Xia and regretted missing her chance to help Jiang Xia elope, while resolving not to miss future opportunities.

• Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei bought furniture for their house, and Zhou Chenglei collected the first of several large mailbags.
• Zhou Chenglei packed local specialties and seafood, then used a tractor to send more than five hundred kilograms of Multi-flavored Small Fish Fry to the city and brought home bags of provisions.
• After the rain cleared, Jiang Xia asked Zhou Chenglei to take her to the sea, and he brought fishing gear to catch fresh fish.
• Wen Wan saw the couple heading out and woke Zhou Guohua so he could go Tide Catching with her.
• Wen Wan compared Zhou Guohua's reluctance to Zhou Chenglei's care for Jiang Xia, regretted not helping Jiang Xia elope, and vowed not to miss future chances to make money.

Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei arrived at the beach with Father Zhou, who hoped their presence would lead to treasure. Wen Wan rushed to reach a bundle floating toward them, but Zhou Guohua fell while carrying her and could not get up as the bundle neared the water’s edge.

• Zhou Chenglei carried Jiang Xia down the slippery slope, and Father Zhou decided to stay at the beach in hopes of finding treasure with them.
• Jiang Xia admired the large turban shells Father Zhou had gathered, and the family headed toward the exposed beach.
• Wen Wan saw Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei and remembered a dream in which a bundle washed ashore near them.
• Wen Wan sprained her ankle while hurrying down the slope, then urged Zhou Guohua to carry her to the beach.
• Zhou Guohua slipped and landed hard on the rocks, hurting his lower back, while Wen Wan saw the bundle drifting closer to Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei.
• Wen Wan shouted for help as Zhou Guohua struggled to get up and the bundle approached the shore.

Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei found ambergris while gathering shells, but their discovery was interrupted when Wen Wan called for help after Guo Hua fell and could not stand. Zhou Chenglei took a tractor to bring Guo Hua to the hospital, leaving Jiang Xia at home.

• Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei raked up shells in the shallow seawater while Father Zhou searched the shore.
• A lump washed toward Zhou Chenglei, who recognized it as ambergris after Father Zhou identified it as sperm whale excrement.
• Wen Wan called for help, and Father Zhou and the villagers found Guo Hua unable to stand after a fall.
• Zhou Chenglei warned everyone not to move Guo Hua and went with Jiang Xia to fetch the tractor.
• Zhou Chenglei arranged a bed board and drove Guo Hua to the hospital while Jiang Xia told him to drive safely.

Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei discussed Zhou Guohua’s trip to the City Hospital and Tian Caihua’s suspicions about Wen Wan. Father Zhou returned late with the injured Zhou Bingqiang and Wen Wan, then refused to help Wen Wan walk home.

• Mother Zhou excitedly stored the valuable item Jiang Xia said she and A'Lei had found in the sea.
• Zhou Chenglei, Tian Caihua, and Zhou Chengxin returned, and Jiang Xia learned Father Zhou had taken Zhou Guohua to the City Hospital with Zhou Bingqiang's family and other villagers.
• Jiang Xia questioned the decision to drive Zhou Guohua to the city, while Zhou Chenglei explained that Uncle Qiang had driven the tractor.
• Tian Caihua accused Wen Wan of coveting Zhou Chenglei, and Zhou Chenglei reassured Jiang Xia that he was only nervous about her.
• Zhou Chengsen returned without Li Xiuxian and said she had taken Yingying to stay at Maternal Grandmother's house for a few days.
• At eleven o'clock, Father Zhou stopped the tractor outside the alley and told Wen Wan to walk or hop home, so Zhou Bingqiang's Wife reluctantly supported her.

Jiang Xia helped Mother Zhou make rice cakes while the family prepared for the New Year. She refused Zhou Bingqiang's Wife's request to borrow the jeep, and the chapter ended with Zhou Chenglei returning from sea and tasting a rice cake.

• Jiang Xia learned from Father Zhou that Zhou Guohua had fractured his pubic bone and would need three or four months to recover.
• Mother Zhou began making rice cakes, and Father Zhou, Jiang Xia, and other family members helped with the work.
• Zhou Bingqiang's Wife asked to borrow Zhou Chenglei's jeep to visit the hospital, but Jiang Xia refused and listed strict conditions for lending it.
• Zhou Bingqiang's Wife left angrily and complained about Jiang Xia to the village.
• The family finished making the rice cakes, and Jiang Xia gave one to Zhou Chenglei when he returned from sea.

Jiang Xia and the Zhou family dealt with a poor day’s fishing and Zhou Chengsen’s conflict with Li Xiuxian. The next morning, Jiang Xia trusted Zhang Rong to invest their money as he took agarwood to Hong Kong Island.

• Zhou Chenglei gave Jiang Xia the day’s fishing earnings, and Li Xiuxian complained that her boat had barely caught anything.
• Zhou Chengsen explained that switching from trawling to longlines and shrimp cages had saved his boat’s earnings, then argued with Li Xiuxian over her refusal to listen.
• Zhou Chengsen took fish home, declined Jiang Xia’s invitation to eat, and told Li Xiuxian they would cook for themselves at the Old House.
• Tian Caihua reminded Li Xiuxian to pay for the pig she had been raising separately.
• The next morning, Zhou Chenglei took agarwood to the City Pier, where Jiang Xia and he met Zhang Rong before his voyage to Hong Kong Island.
• Jiang Xia encouraged Zhang Rong to invest their money and offered to help choose what to buy if he felt uncertain.

Zhou Chenglei and Jiang Xia celebrated moving into their city home with a banquet attended by family, colleagues, and factory leaders, refusing gifts and a restaurant discount. Afterward, the families discussed an upcoming dinner where Jiang Dong and Zhang Fuyan’s parents would meet, and Jiang Xia agreed to help Mother Jiang shop for gifts.

• Zhou Chenglei and Father Zhou loaded the family’s belongings onto a tractor before dawn and set out with Jiang Xia and the children.
• Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei hosted six tables at Jufu Restaurant, where factory leaders, Father Jiang’s friends, and relatives gathered to celebrate their new home.
• Li Xiuxian watched the guests admire Zhou Chenglei and Jiang Xia and realized that she and Zhou Chengsen had little standing in the city.
• Jiang Xia paid the agreed banquet price despite Xu Wen'an offering a discount, explaining that they would accept neither gifts nor gift money.
• Mother Jiang told Jiang Xia that Chief Editor Fan had invited both families to meet Zhang Fuyan’s parents, and Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei agreed to attend.
• Jiang Xia agreed to shop with Mother Jiang for gifts for Zhang Fuyan’s family, while Father Jiang praised Jiang Dong for showing them sincere hospitality.

Jiang Xia and Mother Jiang bought gifts for their first meeting with Zhang Fuyan’s family, while Jiang Xia advised Zhang Rong to hold his rising stock for several years. Ye Xian overheard Jiang Xia call Xiao Yan the main character of tomorrow’s meeting and wondered if Jiang Dong and Xiao Yan were getting engaged.

• Jiang Xia accompanied Mother Jiang to buy a pearl necklace for Zhang Fuyan’s mother, a matching pearl bracelet for Zhang Fuyan and Jiang Xia, and a watch for Father Zhang.
• Zhang Rong praised Jiang Xia’s stock picks, and Jiang Xia told him there was no rush to sell because the stock could keep rising for three or four years.
• Jiang Xia declined to buy imported food or new clothes, suggesting instead that they bring homemade snacks and dried seafood for Zhang Fuyan’s parents.
• Jiang Xia refused a perm while pregnant, and Mother Jiang abandoned her own plan to get one after hearing her concerns.
• Ye Xian overheard Jiang Xia say Xiao Yan was the main character at the next day’s meeting and wondered whether Jiang Dong and Xiao Yan were getting engaged.

Jiang Xia styled Mother Jiang’s and her own hair in soft waves, impressing Father Jiang and Zhou Chenglei. The next morning, Zhou Chenglei spotted Ye Xian near the Jiang family home, and Ye Xian left after confirming that he had seen her; her reflections revealed how her schemes against Jiang Dong had turned into genuine love and resentment.

• Jiang Xia curled Mother Jiang’s hair, and Father Jiang carefully removed the rollers from Jiang Xia’s hair.
• Zhou Chenglei admired Jiang Xia’s waves, and he kissed her tenderly that night and asked her to keep the hairstyle.
• Ye Xian saw Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei arrive at the Jiang family home, then hid while Zhou Chenglei searched downstairs for her.
• Zhou Chenglei told the Jiang family that he had seen Ye Xian, prompting Jiang Dong to deny having any recent contact with her.
• Ye Xian called someone from a public telephone, confirmed that Zhou Chenglei had seen her, and left.
• Ye Xian reflected on how she had manipulated Jiang Dong into a relationship before genuinely falling in love with him and growing resentful of his rejection.

Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei met Zhang Fuyan’s family for a warm meal, then took Jiang Xia for a prenatal checkup with her parents. The doctor confirmed that all three babies were developing well and explained that the triplets might not look alike.

• Jiang Xia carefully packed gifts for the meeting, and Jiang Dong joked that she should marry again so he could give her another wedding present.
• Both families shared a pleasant meal, where Mother Zhang bonded with Jiang Xia over beauty and jokingly called her the daughter she had lost.
• After the meal, Jiang Xia, Zhou Chenglei, and her parents went to the hospital for her prenatal checkup.
• Gao Jie showed Zhou Chenglei and Mother Jiang the babies’ heartbeats, and the ultrasound doctor confirmed all three were doing well.
• Gao Jie explained that Jiang Xia was carrying tri-amniotic, trichorionic triplets, and Father Jiang asked what that meant.

Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei invested five million yuan across a commercial building and its construction company, while Zhang Rong recounted selling their agarwood and jade in Hong Kong Island for far more than expected. Jiang Xia ended the chapter with most of her money invested in stocks and confidence that she could pay the shipyard next year.

• Gao Jie explained that Jiang Xia was carrying triplets, and Mother Jiang hoped they would include both boys and girls.
• Director He offered Zhou Chenglei and Jiang Xia the chance to invest 2.5 million yuan in the construction company, and they accepted along with their 2.5-million-yuan commercial-building investment.
• Zhou Chenglei checked both contracts before Jiang Xia signed them, and Zhang Rong said fortune seemed to favor the couple.
• Zhang Rong described how he sold the agarwood for 50,000 yuan after negotiating up from an initial offer of 30,000 yuan.
• Zhang Rong auctioned Jiang Xia's remaining jade jewelry for two million yuan, and Jiang Xia received more than 2.5 million yuan after deductions.
• Jiang Xia had Zhang Rong invest the remaining money and the agarwood proceeds in stocks, leaving her with little cash and a balance still owed to the shipyard.

Father Jiang and Jiang Dong brought food to Jiang Xia before she left the city with Zhou Chenglei and his family. Ye Xian continued trying to unsettle Mother Jiang, while Jiang Xia warned Jiang Dong to avoid her; on the drive home, Father Zhou stopped to buy Jianbing Guǒzi and someone tugged at his clothes.

• Father Jiang and Jiang Dong brought snacks, milk powder, and soup to Jiang Xia before she returned to the village.
• Ye Xian made sure Mother Jiang saw her, then fled when Mother Jiang chased her.
• Jiang Xia left with Zhou Chenglei and his family after warning Jiang Dong to avoid Ye Xian and seek help if he faced danger.
• Mother Jiang took Jiang Dong to help at the factory instead of letting him go home to shower.
• Father Zhou bought Jianbing Guǒzi for the family, but someone tugged on his clothes as he returned to the car.