Episode 6 of "When Life Gives You Tangerines" unfolds with Ae-soon engrossed in her myriad responsibilities—juggling her demanding job and nurturing her youngest children. The serene rhythm of her day is abruptly shattered when she spots Geum-myeong grappling with her bicycle, amidst the distant signs of a brewing typhoon. In a flash, she bolts out of the house, entrusting her neighbors, still half-asleep, with the care of her sons. Upon her return with Geum-myeong, however, she discovers an unsettling emptiness; her boys are nowhere to be found.
News of their disappearance ripples through the town, prompting Gwan-sik to abandon his duties without hesitation. The entire community rallies together in a desperate search for the missing children. After an arduous stretch of time, they locate the elder son, yet the younger remains elusive—until, heart-wrenchingly, he is found lifeless near the seawall.
Through Geum-myeong's poignant narration, we bear witness to Gwan-sik's first-ever collapse, the family's unwavering rock shattered into fragments. The household mourns for three endless days, with Ae-soon and Gwan-sik lost in an abyss of despair. In this darkest hour, Ae-soon recalls her mother's wisdom—a beacon on how to stand tall amidst adversity. Summoning her strength, she ventures outside to find her eldest son, realizing his self-imposed guilt for his brother's fate.
Concurrently, Gwan-sik perceives that Geum-myeong too carries the same crushing burden of blame. This moment serves as a catalyst, reigniting their parental instincts. The next day, Gwan-sik resumes his work, while Ae-soon reclaims her role within the home and at the fish market. Both are drowned in endless grief, yet still move forward.
Ae-soon's resentment towards the sea grows tenfold. As the family trudges along the shore, she confesses to Gwan-sik, her heart heavy with self-blame for their son's demise. Yet, he gently reassures her, emphasizing that none within their circle bears fault—they must persevere for the sake of their remaining children.
Years later, Ae-soon comes to a poignant realization: Gwan-sik has been carrying the silent burden of guilt, blaming himself for not locating their son sooner, despite the proximity of the seawall that fateful day. A heart-wrenching vision of young Gwan-sik collapses in sorrow, grappling with the tragic news of his son's demise, creates a poignant parallelism. overflowing with an assortment of food items. The entire town, in their quiet solidarity, has been reaching out anonymously, leaving token gestures of kindness within their humble abode. Flashbacks unravel the tender truth: their landlords, under the guise of discretion, had surreptitiously filled their rice jar daily, offering just enough to sustain them, yet never enough to draw attention.
Years prior, Ae-soon hadn't beseeched them for rice; she had confronted them for pretending obliviousness to their acts of benevolent secrecy. Another layer of gratitude unfolds: the woman who married Ae-soon's stepfather had covertly paid their rent for three months when they first ventured out from Gwan-sik's familial nest. Even the Haenyeo, the seasoned divers, had reserved nutritious delicacies like abalone for Ae-soon during her pregnancy, a gesture of deep affection and respect.
As time progresses, Geum-myeong triumphantly passes her exams and earns her ticket to college in Seoul. This marks the third instance of Ae-soon's unspoken, poignant joy. Accompanying her are Ae-soon and Gwan-sik, who encounter Park Yeong-beom, Geum-myeong's future fiancé, who instantly warms to her presence.
The episode concludes with a tender tableau: Yeong-beom and Geum-myeong seated in companionship, while Ae-soon and Gwan-sik walk hand in hand, their bond as strong as ever. When Ae-soon suggests selling their cabbage field to secure a home for Geum-myeong, Gwan-sik gently urges her to keep it for herself, a testament to their enduring love and sacrifice.
