Dear Mayang Street Episode 13 Recap
> Dear Mayang Street Recap
Ma Yingjun, who had been hospitalized, was finally preparing for discharge. His wife, Aunt Niu, expressed her exhaustion, describing a grueling routine of balancing work, hospital visits, and household duties. She warned that if he didn't leave soon, she would be the one needing hospitalization. Ma Yingjun playfully dismissed her concerns, calling her strong, but Aunt Niu retorted that he was delicate and she bore the brunt of all the chores while he simply worked and enjoyed himself.
Ma Yingjun then sarcastically remarked, "Oh, so you're the one who got sick from working so hard then?" He then admitted his fault in not managing the house but pointed out his demanding night shifts. Their argument was abruptly interrupted when Lao Wu, a fellow patient in the same room, suddenly fell ill and tragically died despite resuscitation efforts.
Witnessing this unexpected death, Ma Yingjun reflected on the unpredictability of life, noting that Lao Wu's condition hadn't been as severe as his own when they were admitted. Feeling a profound sense of life's fleeting nature, he declared his desire to return to Beijing. Aunt Niu, however, vehemently opposed the idea, reminding him of her sleepless nights caring for him and the significant medical expenses incurred.
She deemed his wish childish and unrealistic, arguing that with Ma Xiaoxiao's university plans and Ma Dada's acting aspirations, the family would face financial ruin if they left Guangzhou without a stable income. Ma Yingjun countered that they had moved to Guangzhou before, and now that his daughters were finding their paths, he felt it was a good time to relocate.
Aunt Niu sarcastically outlined a grim future where Ma Xiaoxiao would miss university, Ma Dada would abandon her dreams, and the family would starve in Beijing. Ma Yingjun insisted he valued his life and feared dying with regrets like Lao Wu, asking for her understanding. Aunt Niu, however, pointed out that while she understood his condition, she also worked and supported the family, absorbing his inability to work or do housework, and wondered who would understand her plight.
Unbeknownst to them, Ma Dada overheard their heated exchange from outside the hospital room. The following morning, Ma Yingjun was puzzled by the sudden decrease in their breakfast quality, observing that the pickled radish lacked salt and the rice rolls were served plain without soy sauce. He questioned why they were scrimping on food, believing they had agreed to remain in Guangzhou until Ma Xiaoxiao's college entrance examination.
Aunt Niu then revealed that she had given all the premium breakfast items, such as pork tripe and pig's tongue, to Yi Dongdong's family. Meanwhile, at Zeng Hao's home, Grandma Zeng proudly displayed a bottle of Chanel No. 5 perfume, which Zhenmei admired. Zeng Hao, however, reminded them of their teacher's emphasis on thriftiness and being a "youth with four virtues." Grandma Zeng dismissed this, asserting that exclusively valuing inner beauty while neglecting outward appearance was superficial.
When Zhenmei jokingly suggested the strong perfume might attract hooligans, Grandma Zeng quipped that she would simply tell them, "Bad boy, I'm your grandmother." Grandma Zeng then asked Zeng Xing about his post-graduation plans. He explained his intention to study abroad for his undergraduate degree, then pursue master's and doctoral studies before returning to China. Zeng Hao lightheartedly remarked on how old he would be by then.
Later, Grandma Zeng inquired about Zeng Hao's music exam certificate, to which Zeng Hao hesitantly replied she hadn't received it yet, prompting Grandma Zeng to urge her to practice the piano. Zeng Hao, feeling overlooked, asked why Grandma Zeng never inquired about her life plans like she did for Zeng Xing. Grandma Zeng responded that Zeng Hao was different and should firmly grasp her piano playing as her "only advantage" for a lifelong career.
Sensing Zeng Hao's distress, Grandma Zeng later advised Zhenmei to pay more attention to her, as she seemed to have something on her mind. Zeng Xing continued to help Ma Xiaoxiao with her English homework. Sun Falcon arrived, casually mentioning he was now a "recommended student" after passing his sports examination, making him feel quite idle. Ma Xiaoxiao, seeing his newfound free time, assigned him the task of accompanying Ma Dada to her upcoming film shoot.
Sun Falcon enthusiastically accepted, vowing to be Ma Dada's bodyguard. Later, at Ma Xiaoxiao's home, while Yi Dongdong was assisting Ma Yingjun with his recovery exercises, Zeng Xing arrived to give Ma Xiaoxiao a final English cram session. Zeng Xing urged Ma Xiaoxiao to consider studying abroad with him, emphasizing her talent and the opportunities available through his overseas relatives.
Ma Xiaoxiao firmly reiterated her decision not to go abroad, stating it was a personal choice unrelated to anyone else, and that she wanted to concentrate on her college entrance examination. As Zeng Xing left, he expressed hope that she would reconsider after learning more about life abroad from his future letters. Sun Falcon fulfilled his promise, accompanying Ma Dada to her film set.
On set, the director noticed Sun Falcon and, intrigued by a newcomer having an attendant, asked Bai Juncheng about him. Bai Juncheng clarified that it wasn't Ma Dada's doing; Sun Falcon had insisted on coming along voluntarily. In a more dangerous turn of events, Ou Xiaojian was informed of Ma Pi's sudden arrest by the police. He confronted Li Zhaohang, expressing his anger and concern that A FEI would suspect him, putting his life in jeopardy.
He reminded Li Zhaohang of their agreement to wait for his safe withdrawal before any arrests. Li Zhaohang explained that Ma Pi's arrest was due to his reckless behavior and was carried out by another jurisdiction. He reassured Ou Xiaojian, promising to guarantee his safety and maintain control over the situation. Meanwhile, A FEI gathered his men, suspicious of a leak.
He suggested two possibilities: either someone, like Ma Pi, had spoken too freely while drunk, or there was a traitor. Ma Pi, under pressure, pointed out that Ou Xiaojian had seen the illicit goods. A FEI intervened, asserting Ou Xiaojian had been acting on his behalf and chose to overlook the matter for now, attributing the leak to drunk talk. However, he issued a stern warning that any future incidents, particularly involving a traitor, would not be tolerated.
Later, a visibly drunk Ou Xiaojian stumbled to Ma Xiaoxiao's doorstep. He presented her with a small box, declaring it her birthday present and insisting he hadn't broken his promise. He then collapsed onto her, murmuring about his fears and their shared dream of going to Beijing. Big fat rushed over, apologizing to Ma Xiaoxiao and explaining that Ou Xiaojian had been drinking heavily alone before leaving with the box.
He helped the struggling Ou Xiaojian away, who continued to mumble. Ma Xiaoxiao softly urged Big fat to keep his voice down as Ou Xiaojian tried to say something, but Big fat cut him off, leading him away. At home, Yi Shengli celebrated passing his driving test, envisioning a future of long-distance hauling and financial prosperity for the family. Hao Pushi had prepared an elaborate meal to mark the occasion.
Yi Dongdong then announced his ambition to apply to Peking University, which left Yi Shengli in disbelief, questioning if he had misheard or if his son had a fever. Shortly after, the family received an unexpected phone call through a neighbor, informing them that Hao Pushi's mother was traveling from Hunan to visit. The family quickly dressed in their finest clothes to greet her.
As Hao Pushi's mother arrived, Grandma Zeng, seeing her in the street, remarked to Hao Pushi that her mother's attire was "too rustic" and "not fashionable at all." Grandma Zeng exchanged a brief greeting with Hao Pushi's mother before departing with her grandchildren. Ma Xiaoxiao, Zeng Hao, and Liang Xiaobao were studying together when Liang Xiaobao commented on Ou Xiaojian's recent busyness and absence from their usual gatherings, suggesting he seemed to be avoiding them.
He proposed they all go to a new pot rice restaurant he discovered. Ma Xiaoxiao, however, urged Liang Xiaobao to focus on his studies. Noticing Yi Dongdong was missing from their study session, Liang Xiaobao went to the Yi family home and found Yi Dongdong engrossed in studying alone in his room. He physically brought a reluctant Yi Dongdong back to join them.
Yi Dongdong declared his goal of attending university in Beijing, inspired by Ma Xiaoxiao, and immersing himself in the "ocean of knowledge." Liang Xiaobao then revealed his plan to accompany Zeng Hao to Shanghai, as her family had arranged for her to attend the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Zeng Hao, however, expressed her uncertainty and self-doubt about pursuing a piano career. She tearfully confessed she no longer wanted to learn piano, feeling immense pressure from her family's expectations.
Unlike her brother, Zeng Xing, who was confidently forging his own path, Zeng Hao felt she had always followed her mother and grandmother's directives and didn't truly know what she wanted. She felt that playing the piano, as Grandma Zeng emphasized, was her "only talent," but this belief filled her with a paralyzing fear of failure. She admitted to secretly hiding her admission letter from the Conservatory of Music, unable to bear the weight of her family's hopes.
She feared that if she failed to become a pianist, her life would be over. Ma Xiaoxiao consoled Zeng Hao, assuring her that her mother and grandmother ultimately wanted her to be successful and happy, and Liang Xiaobao added that a successful piano career would bring financial security and happiness. Zeng Hao disagreed, stating she didn't believe wealth guaranteed happiness, nor that piano playing ensured financial security, and she doubted her ability to become a pianist.
She voiced a deeper concern: she sometimes questioned whether she truly disliked playing the piano or if her aversion stemmed purely from the overwhelming pressure. Ma Xiaoxiao advised Zeng Hao, as a senior student capable of making her own decisions, to honestly discern whether her rejection of the piano was due to external pressure or a genuine lack of passion. She promised that once Zeng Hao made a clear decision and took responsibility for it, they would all support her. Liang Xiaobao reiterated his full support for Zeng Hao.
