*WARNING*: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD. If you DO NOT want to be spoiled, please DO NOT read. You have been warned.
(image captured by DTLCT)
The story began with one of Taiwan’s scenic landscapes, Penghu. Li Jin Shui just managed to launch another ship so he had invited the townspeople over for a little celebration on this victory. While he was chatting up with the guests, his son, Li Yi Ming was seen passing out invitations. After the initial speech, Li Jin Shui soon joined the others offstage to chat about the upcoming happy event. However, he also complained of his oldest daughter’s lack of presence in their hometown. Fearing that the atmosphere would turn sour, Li Yi Ming rushed to reassure his father that his sister would return, considering how she had promised to help with the banquet. However, Li Jin Shui was on a roll, stating that it wasn’t that he wanted to nag his daughter but it was more about worry for his son-in-law, Fang Jia Qing.
At that moment, Li Mei Juan was seen on the road with her driver, Ah Hong. She was stuck in traffic and had to improvise by riding her horse to a meeting. At the location, two artists–Fang Hua and Su Zhi Hui–were seen arguing while they were shooting wedding photos. Not being able to win the argument, Su Zhi Hui soon turned and asked the others where Li Mei Juan was. Soon after Su Zhi Hui’s outburst, Li Mei Juan arrived on her horse, attracting the attention of the crowd present. Hearing Li Mei Juan’s explanation, the couple soon turned to one another and Su Zhi Hui apologized for his actions previously. Fang Hua also looked quite apologetic and accepted his vows to her. Their argument dissolved like that and Li Mei Juan arrived just in time to save the day (or a tragedy from happening).
Li Mei Juan indeed returned to Penghu like she promised and was greeted by her young sister, Li Mei Yuan. However, this time, Li Mei Juan returned with a heavy heart, both because she’d been informed by her husband that her father was quite upset and because of what her boss said to her regarding some business ventures. And the reason why Jia Qing couldn’t come to pick Mei Juan up was because of the disagreements between Li Jin Shui and Lin Xiu Chun. Lin Xiu Chun was actually Xu Yong Yi’s mother, which was Li Yi Ming’s future mother in law. Yes, this disagreement was indeed severe, considering how Li Jin Shui was against the land development project of recent since he vouched it was destroying the culture of Penghu while Lin Xiu Chun said that they needed to make changes for the future generations to thrive. According to Yong Yi, this meeting was to discuss their collaboration yet it had escalated to be a blood bath.
Upon arriving at the scene, Mei Juan was horrified by what was happening. Yet Mei Yuan seemed unfazed by it and even encouraged the others who traveled with them to come and help her father. What Mei Yuan didn’t realize was how Lin Xiu Chun would soon be part of their family. It was indeed getting quite ridiculous. Attempting to call for help, but it seemed hopeless, so Mei Juan had to rush forward to remind her father about the engagement between the two sides. That was when Li Jin Shui finally told the others to stop fighting. It was useless because the crowd was too chaotic. Jia Qing actually pushed Li Jun Shui aside in time before he was hit by one of the signs the protesters used to defend themselves from one another. Jia Juan rushed forward to cover for her husband yet was unfruitful. It wasn’t until the police arrived that all parties stopped what they were doing.
At the police station, like a typical person leaning toward the old, traditional route, Li Jin Shui didn’t care for the police officer’s lecture. Yet he turned to his oldest daughter, Mei Juan, to scold her extended absence at their hometown–and that she even caused him to be arrested. Mei Juan was scolding her younger sister, Mei Yuan, for how she had handled the situation earlier. Then the whole matter just escalated to the two elders not wanting to see their kids married. It was indeed a very sticky situation for Yi Ming and Yong Yi. The police officer finally interfered and told them not to argue anymore. Jia Qing, fearing things might escalate, jumped in and vouched for all parties. The officer calmed down and even reminded them that it was Yi Ming and Yong Yi’s special day and told them not to cause more troubles. He said that the next time it happens, it won’t be so lenient on them. Jia Qing was the one who tried to make peace among all parties, apologizing to Lin Xiu Chun and then insisting on everyone getting some rest before they continued with the engagement–if there was going to be one anymore. Lin Xiu Chun scolded the Li family before leaving with her daughter. Then the next problem pushed itself into existence, which was Li Jin Shui returning to his previous topic, which was scolding Mei Juan for causing troubles for him, saying that she was probably born to go against him. Even though Jia Qing tried to interfere to disperse the intensity between both parties, but Li Jin Shui didn’t hear of it. He insisted that Mei Juan learned from Jia Qing instead of roaming around alone in Taipei like that, warning her not to do anything that would wrong their family name.
Later at home, Mei Juan noticed their finances were all messed up. Jia Qing told her that her father had been lending people money left and right hence their money was drained, and that her father told them to pay back slowly, etc. Mei Juan told Jia Qing to tell her father to treat business and personal matters separate, and that he should try to stop her father. Jia Qing reminded her that her father couldn’t be reasoned with or he wouldn’t be Li Jin Shui. Jia Qing soon expressed how he wished she would return by his side too, not just her father worrying. Mei Juan finally told Jia Qing the good news of her returning to Penghu for a project. She, of course, didn’t tell Jia Qing of her boss’ decision to send her to Shanghai after the Penghu project. Yet Jia Qing was already happy about her being there. Jia Qing then told her that her father was just upset that she wasn’t there for the New Year celebration. Mei Juan told Jia Qing that her father wasn’t all that present during times either, remembering how he was missing on all those past holidays. Jia Qing jokingly commented that she and her father were indeed the same. Anyway, Jia Qing promised to help patch things between her and her father, and Mei Juan said that she would go help Yi Yong with the engagement banquet.
Upon arriving, Mei Juan had to reassure her brother and Yong Yi that her father wouldn’t sabotage the engagement. However, she soon realized she’d brought the wrong wedding dress. Yi Ming was in a panic since it would rile their father up even more. Mei Juan soon tried to improvise and said that she still had time to fix it so that their father wouldn’t know. She told Yong Yi to go fetch some supplies for her while Yi Ming went to fetch Mei Yuan to help with the fix. As Mei Juan rushed to sketch a blueprint, Yi Ming returned with Mei Yuan and Yong Yi with the needed supplies. The four of them rushed to work on the dress after Mei Juan briefed them of the plan. And while they were busy at work, Jia Qing rushed in and dragged Mei Juan away from the scene. She didn’t want to go yet he insisted. He was showing her how her father was practicing a speech for the banquet. Yet when he realized they were there, he mocked and criticized Mei Juan, not wanting her help when Jia Qing explained. Mei Juan told Jia Qing not to try anymore since it wasn’t like their relationship could be improved with just a few words from Jia Qing.
The day got even worse and worse–if that was possible because Li Jin Shui wanted to enter the room to see the new bride in the wedding dress. Stalking didn’t help so Yi Ming had to comply by opening the door. With Mei Yuan’s help in covering Yong Yi, they tried to wing it through by saying that the new bride was just shy. However, after some brief speech, he soon pushed Mei Yuan aside and discovered that the wedding dress wasn’t the one his wife used to wear. (Yes, that was why they were all covering it since he wanted his daughter-in-law to wear the one his wife wore.) Mei Juan confessed that it was her mistake. Yi Ming and Mei Yuan quickly spoke up to defend Mei Juan, saying that Mei Juan already tried her best and it was beautiful enough. Li Jin Shui, upset, scolded them once again, stating that their mother’s wish was to attend her kids’ wedding so that was the reason why he wanted the daughter-in-law to wear the dress, not just because it was beautiful. Mei Juan soon apologized for her mistake but was scolded by her father once again, repeating another phrase he previously scolded her with, which was that of saying she was a terrible daughter. Mei Juan spoke up again to clarify that she was apologizing to her mother, not to him. He wanted her to clarify her words. Mei Juan reminded him of how he kept staying at sea and leaving the house for her mother to tend, burying her mother’s talents and dreams. She even reminded him that he wasn’t around when her mother died. He asked her what the family would eat if he didn’t go out to sea and fish. She said that her mother had said that same thing yet she asked him if he’d ever considered that her mother also had her own dreams, not just existing to take care of the family. So since her mother died, Mei Juan had promised herself not to be like her mother, wanting to fulfill those dreams. He told her that she wasn’t able to take care of the wedding dress matter, how could she do anything else. He even added that she couldn’t compare to her mother. Then he said they could do whatever they want since no one cared to hear what he had to say anyway. When he left, Jia Qing tried to persuade him to stay but was unsuccessful. It wasn’t until Wen Tian Hao, Yong Yi’s cousin and also Mei Juan’s coworker, came that things were resolved. He brought the correct wedding dress to them, which earned a hug from Mei Juan. Then Mei Juan helped Yong Yi change to the correct wedding dress. While that was happening, Tian Hao congratulated Li Jin Shui. He had no idea there had been a disaster going on earlier. However, what was more troubling was the glare that Jia Qing gave him.