In the fourteenth episode of "When Life Gives You Tangerines," Eun-myeong finds himself incarcerated, a victim of his business partner's treachery who stole all their funds and vanished into thin air. Behind the cold bars of his cell, Eun-myeong unburdens his long-festering grievances, revealing how he has always felt like a secondary character in his sister's life and believing that his parents favored her over him. He rationalizes his reckless quest for wealth as a bid to seize control over his destiny.
Meanwhile, Hyeon-suk visits her father, pleading for his assistance in securing Eun-myeong's bail, only to be met with stone-cold refusal. Undeterred, Ae-soon springs into action, confronting the mother of Eun-myeong's runaway friend. Upon noticing a gleaming new television in her home, the truth dawns on Ae-soon – the stolen money's whereabouts have been unveiled. A tense confrontation ensues, but Ae-soon emerges victorious, carting the television back home.
Desperation sets in for Gwan-sik as he scours for loans, only to be met with closed doors and empty promises. With no viable alternative, he makes the heart-wrenching decision to sell his beloved boat, plunging the family back into financial turmoil. In response, Ae-soon returns to the marketplace, squid-filleting once more to make ends meet.
Amidst these tumultuous times, Hyeon-suk grapples with her own challenges. She later confides in Gwan-sik that Eun-myeong, loathing rice cakes, has nevertheless resorted to door-to-door sales of them to scrape together money. Elsewhere, Sang-sil's mother bestows a tangerine farm plot upon his wife, marking a fresh chapter for their family.
The following day, Eun-myeong finds himself aboard a deep-sea fishing vessel, prompting a desperate negotiation between Sang-gil and Gwan-sik for his return. During this poignant exchange, Eun-myeong reveals that he was aware all along that his father had secretly orchestrated rice cake purchases from him. Despite this knowledge, he yearned to contribute meaningfully to the family. Just as this heartfelt revelation unfolds, Ae-soon rushes to his side, tears streaming down her face. Together, his parents bring him back home, their hearts heavy yet hopeful.
As the year 2000 looms on the horizon, Ae-soon harbors optimism that their fortunes will take a turn for the better. Geum-myeong embarks on a daring venture by initiating a new business, while Sang-gil's wife, Yeong-ran, triumphantly passes her real estate exam. Inspired by these positive developments, Ae-soon decides to rekindle her passion for poetry, a flame she had long allowed to diminish. Similarly, Gwan-sik takes a bold and uncertain leap, leaving the episode on a note of anticipation and hope.
