Wow. What a lovely family drama. Each of the four main Qiao children are explored - their strengths, their flaws, and their growth. Yicheng ("Success") is the eldest and most responsible child, and took on the burden of raising and protecting his younger siblings from a young age. He wants to protect people from making mistakes so much that the people around him are stifled and he never gets to do what he wants to do. Erqiang ("Strength") is the second brother - quiet, honest, and hardworking. He falls in love with his teacher earlier on and remains dedicated to her despite disapproval and judgement from all sides. He hones his craft, cooking, slowly but steadily and owns up to his mistakes, endearing himself to those around him. Sanli ("Pretty") is the third child and eldest daughter. She's patient, careful and loyal, but skittish around others as she was molested in childhood. Simei ("Beautiful") is the rambunctious, passionate fourth child and youngest daughter. She says what's on her mind and lives life like an adventure, often to her elder siblings' chagrin. Qiqi ("Seven") is the baby of the family but raised separately with a reserved personality. He often feels like he's watching live unfold rather than living it.

The characterization, story, music, and pacing of this drama is phenomenal. You will love almost all the characters - yes, even the selfish dad has a slight redemption arc. The theme is that a family bond, if nurtured and prioritized, is stronger than all else. The unfortunate part is that not all characters get the same screentime, with Simei's forgettable love story repeating itself over and over again when I wanted to learn more about Erqiang's trials and tribulations. I can't be the only one who laughed when Simei saw Qi Chenggang and was stunned by his so-called beauty when her own brothers are much more handsome. I also wish we had more time to explore the cousin's love story and how his relationship with his siblings deteriorated to this point. Throughout the story, you explore the different facets of love and what love actually means to each of the Qiao family members.

This is one of the only dramas I wish there were more episodes, rather than less. That is how engaging the story is. Highly recommend!