The Price Of Growing Up

Shen Yu-lien hands over the illegitimate son Shen Chih-hao she had with Tu Pai-chin to her neighbor Chen Shu-mei for custody, then plunges down a building to kill herself. Hearing of this, Yen Hsiu-fang rushes to the scene, but influenced by sister, she refuses to adopt Chih-hao and hides the truth from Pia-chin. In dire circumstances due to her husband Su Ting being addicted, Shui-mei can’t help sending Chih-hao to an orphanage. Chih-hao gets acquainted with Li Kuo-tung in the orphanage. The two become good friends and take care of each other. Childless, Hsiu-fang decides to adopt an orphan. She first sets her eyes on Chih-hao in the orphanage. Not wanting to disappoint his friend Kuo-tung, Chih-hao deliberately engages in a fight to arouse her discontent. Finally, Hisu-fang does adopt Kuo-tung, and brings him home, changing his name to Tu Lang-hsien.… ...

Chih-hao and Hai-min combine to overpower the madman, but Hai-min having been humiliated complains against him. On learning that Hai-min is Chao-hu‘s daughter, Chin-hao treats her in a different light. Chih-hao visits Su-ting on drug rehabilitation in jail. Su Ting, ashamed to meet him, reprimands himself and Chih-hao comforts him. While still planning the wedding, Chih-hao is in great agony to find that his lover Chuan, being dissatisfied with his lack of ambition, has decided to leave him. Chih-hao pours out his bitterness to Lang-hsien. He indulges in drinking, and gets arrested-for smashing public property while drunk. Pai-chin hears of this and rushes with his business partner Che Tsung-chi to bail him out. Indignant over his behaviour, Pai-chin rebukes Lang-hsien strongly. Su Kuo-wei returns to Hong Kong on vacation. Supercilious of his own higher educational standards, he looks down on Shao-hu and Chih-hao.… ...

Kuo-wei reveals with shame his father Su Ting's past to Tzu-feng, after they come face-to-face with him in the street. To his gratitude, Tzu-feng shows no adverse feelings. Hai-min unintentionally wounds Shu-mei, who insists reporting it to the police. When told by Chih-hao of the identity of Hai-min, she changes her mind. Yu Shan-shan conceiving a baby of Chao Tzu-lung. The two get married, encouraged by Hai-min and Chih-hao. Chih-hao then discovers that Tzu-feng doesn't come-from a rich family, and relates it to Kuo-wei. Unexpectedly, this enables Kuo-wei and Tzu-feng to better sympathize with each other. Kuo-wei returns to Britain for his studies. Su Ting commits traffic offence as he dashes to see him off in the airport, resulting in.the suspension of his driving license. Touched. Kuo-wei reconciles with his father. Shao-hu observes that Chih-hao and Hai-min are getting more intimate.… ...

Lang-hsien gets acquainted with Chu Chia-yu and falls for her. He woos her, but with little success. His good friend Che I-jen declares his engagement. Lang-hsien is astonished to discover that his fiancee is Chia-yu. Through Chin-hao. Su Ting becomes the watchman of the building where Chih-hao lives. Both Shao-hu and Shu-mei are delighted. Lang-hsien has prepared a proposal on a promotional campaign for Fu Lin Gold and Jewelleries Company’s Silver Anniversary. The proposal.is rejected by Pai-chin. Feeling.unfulfil1ed, Lang-hsien resigns from his post, to the distress of his mother, Hsiu-fang. Shao-hu invests on land properties, with the help of Chih-hao and Tzu-lung. They make a good start, and celebrate their success at home. In the meantime, Hai-min has observed the unusual relation between Shu-mei and Shao-hut. She decides to make a sudden visit to their house.

Finding what she suspects is true, Hai-min throws despiteful words at Shu-mei, and is slapped by Shao-hu. Chih-hao attempts to mediate the quarrel, but to no avail. Hai-min is hesitant whether.to reveal the secret to Shu-chin, who may find it too much a blow. Later on, she understands better Shao-hu's difficult situation and decides to keep the secret. Lang-hsien starts working for Manlix Advertising Company, and encounters frustration in his first assignment. His superior, Chang Wen-ping, is notorious among the staff for her cold and strict personality. But when he gets to know her better, he finds her intelligent and competent. On the other hand, Wen-ping finds Lang-hsien a smart associate too. Shu-chin is hystenical learning the love affair between Shao-hu and Shuemei. She moves out with Haiemin to live in a hotel. Shao-hu suffers great loss from his speculations.… ...

Shao-hu is wounded trying to save Chih-hao. Shu-chin and Hai-min have nowhere to go but stay in Shu-mei’s house. Shu-mei is worried of the wounded and dejected Shao-hu, and at the same time has to endure Shu-chin's harsh words. Chih-hao has very limited capital for his retail garment shop. I-jen, friend of Lang-hsien, offers, great help. Chih-hao obtains from him low-price garments. Later on, when his shop faces closure, he gets allowance for delayed payments. Lang-hsien works enthusiastically on a promotion campaign proposal for Royal Hotel. The proposal is finally rejected by Pai-chin, which frustrates Lang-hsien greatly. Hai-min decides that she has enough of her mean boss and wants to resign. Chih-hao warns her against it, for it may cause serious money problems in her family. Hai-min takes the rebuke with mixed feelings.