Dear Mayang Street Episode 14 Recap
> Dear Mayang Street Recap
Hao Pushi's mother arrived, immediately causing a stir by splashing water directly into the hallway, which accidentally splattered onto Grandma Zeng's skirt. When Grandma Zeng tried to gently remind her about hygiene, Hao Pushi's mother responded coarsely, declaring her strength from her days working in a steel factory. She insisted Grandma Zeng call her "comrade," highlighting their "literary and military" differences and her revolutionary spirit.
Shortly after, while changing her clothes, Grandma Zeng discovered Zeng Hao's acceptance letter to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Just then, Zeng Hao returned home with Liang Xiaobao. Grandma Zeng noticed Zeng Hao seemed troubled. Liang Xiaobao spoke up, asserting that Grandma Zeng should not pressure Zeng Hao into playing the piano if she truly disliked it.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Zeng Hao confessed that she no longer wished to learn piano and felt suffocated by their expectations, before retreating sadly to her room. Hao Pushi was surprised by her mother's unannounced visit, who declared her intention to stay for a long period. Her mother brought out an antique stone mill, a family heirloom, insisting it be used.
She also inquired about the family’s dual-card recorder, eager to listen to flower drum opera, and revealed she had even brought costumes for it. Unaware that her signature stinky mandarin fish had previously caused a neighborhood complaint, she began preparing it again, and the pungent aroma soon overwhelmed the neighbors.
Chen Lili, mistakenly thinking it was Hao Pushi cooking, came over to inquire but was met with a furious tirade from Hao Pushi's mother, who accused her of past wrongdoings and almost struck her with a frying pan. Terrified, Chen Lili promised never to offend Hao Pushi's mother again. Despite her usual assertiveness, Hao Pushi remained silent and submissive in her mother's intimidating presence. Meanwhile, Ma Dada expressed her desire to join a film studio.
Bai Juncheng advised her to pursue formal education at a film academy first, explaining that professional training would significantly improve her chances of breaking into the industry. Ma Dada, however, was eager to gain practical experience immediately, arguing that theory eventually leads to practice, so why not start with practice? Bai Juncheng, a non-staff member himself, scoffed at her naive ambition, pointing out the difficulty of her dream.
Back at Hao Pushi's home, her mother was visibly upset by the leftovers on the dinner table. Her anger escalated upon learning that Yi Shengli, a regimental cadre, was working part-time. She then complained about Grandma Zeng, referring to her as a "capitalist" and contrasting Grandma Zeng's perceived "bourgeois pleasure-seeking" with her own "perfection" rooted in revolutionary ideals.
Hao Pushi tried to interject, reminding her mother not to apply old revolutionary labels to people, as coastal cities like theirs had long embraced a more open culture. Late that night, Ma Dada returned from her filming work and gave Aunt Niu an envelope of money, urging her not to quarrel with Ma Yingjun over finances again. Aunt Niu was deeply moved by her daughter's thoughtfulness.
The next morning, Aunt Niu was seen cheerfully helping Grandma Ou sell breakfast, even offering business improvement suggestions. As Hao Pushi's mother strolled through the neighborhood, she encountered Zeng Zhenmei, whom she still viewed as a "capitalist lady." Upon overhearing Liang Yuanchao discussing his plans to open a fan factory, Hao Pushi's mother eagerly approached him, attempting to secure a formal job for Ma Yingjun. Fortunately, Ma Yingjun arrived just in time to discreetly lead his mother-in-law away, embarrassed.
Ma Yingjun also expressed to his mother-in-law his desire to buy a photographic enlarger to develop the many pictures he had taken with a borrowed camera, but she questioned the necessity of owning one when photo studios existed. Hao Pushi's mother bought a flower drum opera cassette and spent her day singing and toiling in her yard, digging a pit to plant vegetables.
Unexpectedly, a heavy downpour turned her muddy endeavor into a disaster, with mud and water flowing all over Mayang Street, much to the annoyance of the neighbors and Hao Pushi's exasperation. Grandma Zeng, on the other hand, was concerned about Zeng Zhenmei's personal life, frequently bringing up her past marriage.
She recalled how Zeng Zhenmei had fallen for Yusheng's talent before even graduating, only for him to abandon them for abroad a few years after their marriage, leaving them without a sense of responsibility. Zeng Zhenmei, tired of revisiting the past, asked her mother to focus on the future. Grandma Zeng also observed Zeng Zhenmei's colleague, Li Dage, who showed a keen interest in her, regularly driving her home and even cooking for her.
Li Dage, acknowledging the challenge of gaining approval from Zeng Zhenmei and her mother, expressed his willingness to work harder and hoped for more opportunities to show his care. At home, Zeng Hao initiated a hunger strike in protest of her piano lessons. Liang Xiaobao, ever the loyal friend, secretly climbed a tree to deliver food to her.
