Live a Good Life

This film (drama)Also known as好好过日子，is aMainland ChinaProducerbeauty live，At2007Released in year 。The dialogue language isMandarin Chinese，Current Douban rating7.6(For reference only)。

The beautiful and virtuous single mother Yu Jianping received a court summons, which was countless times she had taken her long-divorced husband Jiang Jun to court for child support for their six-year-old daughter Juanzi. Upon hearing that Jiang Jun had not paid the support, Jianping's brother, the enthusiastic and impulsive Jianwei, rushed to confront Jiang Jun, only to be unexpectedly beaten by him instead. Jiang Jun is a typical scoundrel, destitute and despicable, not only refusing to pay child support, but also extorting Jianwei for money after Jianwei made him bleed. Furious and at a loss, Jianwei ended up relying on his childhood friend and neighbor, Dazi, to secretly resolve both Jiang Jun's extortion and Juanzi's living expenses. Dazi is a dutiful son, never daring to disobey his mother's wishes. Years ago, when his mother rejected Jianping for her impoverished background, Dazi obeyed her and broke up with Jianping. Jianping had worked as a waitress, but shortly after their breakup, she was discovered having sexual relations with a guest and was expelled from the hotel, ruining her reputation. The scoundrel Jiang Jun married the humiliated Jianping, and they had their troublesome daughter Juanzi. Dazi suffers from an embarrassing illness and has sought many doctors but is unable to treat his impotence. His wife, Jin Ling, is beautiful and clever, but her heart had already drifted away from Dazi, leading her to find a new boyfriend outside their marriage. After six years of marriage, they finally grew apart. For many years, Dazi has felt guilty towards Jianping and wishes to marry her after their divorce. However, the conflict between Jianping and Dazi's mother has never been resolved. Dazi's mother despises Jianping for not changing, believing she has a child and an ailing father, thus being a burden. Caught in the middle, Dazi feels torn. Dazi and his mother live next door to Jianping's family, with both sides knowing each other's affairs, maintaining a subtle yet awkward relationship. Dazi's mother found a girl named Chunting from the countryside to matchmake with Dazi, hoping to dissuade Jianping. Just as Jianping began to rekindle feelings for Dazi, they were shattered again. Jianwei has always hoped his sister would marry Dazi, seeing him as an elder brother. Fearing that Chunting would become fond of Dazi, Jianwei deliberately pursued her with excessive enthusiasm, but unexpectedly fell in love with the kind and naive Chunting. They fell in love amidst playful quarrels, privately pledging to be together. After their marriage, they discovered that Chunting, coming from a rural background, was both sensible and polite, and her family was quite wealthy. Dazi's mother was nearly driven mad; she believed all misfortune stemmed from Jianping's family. After Chunting married Jianwei, Dazi's mother demanded her son move far away from Jianping's family. Dazi, who had always been obedient to his mother, could only agree. Upon hearing that Dazi was to move away, Jianping felt disappointed once again. Jianping's sister, the charming and beautiful Jianhong, effortlessly inebriated the boss of their cooperative company, as this was Jianhong's profession, utilizing her beauty for public relations. Although Jianhong has never had a relationship with any boss, most people believe she has benefited by selling her body. Jianhong feels both proud and inferior, fearing to tell her family and even more afraid to open herself up to love. Wang Yong, a regular employee who frequently encounters Jianhong, falls in love with her. When he learns of Jianhong's background, he cannot remain indifferent, leading Jianhong, suffering from a blow to her self-esteem, to make a surprising decision: she introduced another girl to Wang Yong as a girlfriend. Jianhong's nonchalance surprised Wang Yong, but he couldn't ignore his feelings for her. Wang Yong resigned for Jianhong's sake. Jianping was shocked to discover Jianhong's secret profession. Yet Jianhong no longer cared. On the issue of her sister, Jianhong differed from Jianwei; in her heart, Dazi was always the one who abandoned her sister, while Jianwei supported marrying Dazi, and Jianhong firmly opposed. With Jianping already disappointed in Dazi and her siblings' contrasting attitudes, she was overwhelmed. Jianping lost her job, making matters worse. Dazi promptly helped Jianping with a new job in his enterprise. Jianping came to Dazi's shop yet again rejected his affection. At this time, another woman intervened. Ma Xiaolan, Dazi's friend's sister, who had divorced and wanted to remarry, set her sights on Dazi and took up residence in his shop. Jianping, Dazi, and Ma Xiaolan living under one roof created an indescribable awkwardness, and the slight feelings that were just beginning to grow in Jianping's heart faded. Finally, Ma Xiaolan left, and Dazi and Jianping entered a world of their own, communicating for the first time in years. It was Jianping and Dazi who had that sexual encounter back at the hotel. Dazi had been forced by his mother to break up with Jianping, but Jianping couldn't bear it and had a relationship with Dazi. Just as things were reaching a climax, someone burst in, triggering Dazi's impotence from that point onward. Jianping took the blame and never revealed Dazi's name. When Jianping first heard Dazi mention his illness, she was shocked; over the years, they had both endured so much for that one night of betrayal. Yet when it was time to put aside grievances and unite, Dazi's mother made new demands. She believed Dazi had an illness but thought it was due to his wife not cooperating and deliberately not having children. Jianping was furious; she would marry without conditions. With Dazi's mother around, they would never find peace. A couple on the verge of success was once again separated. Dazi was exhausted but didn't dare to speak up against his mother. Dazi partnered up to open a new factory, and transferred his old shop to Jianping, considering it his final help for her. Both felt sour, sensing that they could never be together again. Dazi left Jianping, but she kept the cup Dazi used, treasuring it. Jianhong's introduced girlfriend for Wang Yong turned out to be a scammer. Claiming to marry him, she took a sum of money and secretly left the country. Jianhong deeply regretted and vowed to compensate Wang Yong. However, Wang Yong didn't want money; he loved Jianhong. Wang Yong didn't care about Jianhong's past, what he loved was Jianhong the person. Jianhong, however, felt she didn't deserve him, and the two kept missing chances due to their misunderstandings. Jianhong finally quit her high-paying job and started working as a sales assistant. Jianping unexpectedly met Chen Siwei, a manager from an advertising company, a single father who fell in love with her at first sight. Chen was comforted by Jianping's qualities of a good wife and mother and pursued her. Jianping gradually started running a large company with Chen's considerable help. Jianhong fully supported this man while Jianwei was furious. At the same time, Dazi was tricked; his factory went bankrupt, and he couldn't even keep his house, so he ended up working on a construction site where he ran into Jianwei. Learning about Jianping's newfound wealth, Dazi was filled with mixed feelings, fearing Jianping would also be deceived like him. However, he had too much pride to accept Jianping's invitation to join her company. Jianhong later found Dazi and told him to make a choice: either he would completely let go of his sister, who would be fine with Chen, or Dazi would fight for her and not keep dragging two people in a stalemate. Dazi then realized that Jianping had always had feelings for him, but they both remained unaware. For Jianping, Dazi stubbornly joined her company, enduring Jianhong's directives while being forced to accept the change in Jianping's status and attitude. Dazi considered leaving multiple times but stayed to help Jianping; he claimed his relationship with her was over, but deep down he still hoped to win her back from Chen. Throughout his interactions with Dazi, Jianhong gradually changed her view, realizing that Dazi was not a cowardly man and that she had misunderstood him in the past. Chen Siwei began proposing, and Jianping hesitated; she didn't know that her hesitation stemmed from still loving Dazi. Just as she was undecided, Jiang Jun showed up. Knowing Jianping had money, he tried to extort Chen Siwei. Jianping was furious. Meanwhile, Chen's ex-wife also found Jianping, causing Jianping to finally realize that Chen and his ex-wife were still in love. With the two incidents combined, Chen Siwei's proposal fell through. Feeling dejected, Jianping and Dazi's relationship deteriorated even further. Dazi silently endured and kept yielding, doing everything he could for Jianping. Dazi's mother fell ill, and while Dazi was on a business trip, Jianping visited her. Dazi's mother was willing to sacrifice everything for her son; when Dazi troubled over financial issues, she secretly mortgaged the house to relieve his stress, suffering in silence for her son. Jianping understood Dazi's mother's mindset. After years of enmity, the two finally expressed their true feelings. Dazi's mother didn't dislike Jianping, but feared she would burden Dazi. Now that Dazi was down, Jianping helped him, greatly moving Dazi's mother. When Dazi's mother found out that the person who had sex in the hotel all those years ago was indeed Dazi, she was stunned. For so many years, Jianping had endured humiliation to protect Dazi, something Dazi's mother never expected. The long-standing grievances between them were finally resolved. Regretting her past, Dazi's mother planned to return to her hometown and stop meddling in Dazi's life, allowing him to live with Jianping. Meanwhile, Jianping, burdened by years of grievances and current hardships, found it hard to think about her own affairs. Wang Yong finally exploded and made Jianhong realize he loved her, not caring about her past. Jianhong finally accepted Wang Yong's affection. With both siblings settled down, Jianping thought she could finally breathe easy, only to find Jiang Jun, the scoundrel, still haunting her life. Jiang Jun, seeing that Jianping had money again, returned to extort her and shamelessly took Juanzi for a DNA test. Jianping scoffed at him but was shocked when the results revealed that Juanzi was not Jiang Jun's! Jiang Jun had a new reason to blackmail her; he wildly sabotaged Jianping's business. Dazi learned this and confronted Jiang Jun. Jiang Jun claimed the child was Dazi's, which Dazi did not deny. Dazi stood up to tell Jiang Jun that the child was his, and if Jiang Jun dared to continue his nonsense, he would step up as the child's father and deal with him. After a round of venting, Jiang Jun finally left. Dazi went to the testing center, only to find out the result was a mistake. Both he and Jianping knew that Juanzi couldn't possibly be his. When Jianping asked him why he silently endured all this time, Dazi replied that it didn’t matter whose child it was; Juanzi was like his own daughter. Jianping was finally moved by Dazi. Throughout the years, they had silently borne much for each other while secretly loving one another. Dazi proposed to marry Jianping again, but his mother had issues again. Dazi's mother wanted to remarry and promised not to interfere with Dazi and Jianping anymore. Dazi, however, firmly disagreed. He believed his mother's remarriage would result in him being unable to accept it. Under Dazi's unusual stubbornness, Dazi's mother and Jianping stood together for the first time to work on changing Dazi's mindset. Jianping encouraged Dazi's mother to seek happiness again, while Dazi's mother helped Jianping and Dazi get married... After many twists and turns, Dazi and Jianping finally came together after so much love-hate...