Dear Mayang Street Episode 15 Recap
> Dear Mayang Street Recap
Grandma Zeng expressed her strong disapproval of Hao's mother, describing her as an eccentric individual who constantly invoked revolutionary spirit and the "Three Disciplines and Eight Attentions." She complained that Hao's mother's initial attempt to plant vegetables in the courtyard had left the street muddy and unsightly. Zeng Zhenmei attempted to interject, reminding her mother not to meddle in others' affairs, but Grandma Zeng quickly shifted the topic to Li Yunlai, a male colleague who had been pursuing Zeng Zhenmei.
Grandma Zeng found it strange that Li Yunlai now only walked Zeng Zhenmei to the alley's entrance instead of coming to their home. She believed that an unmarried man and woman should be open about their relationship. Zeng Zhenmei insisted they were merely colleagues, but Grandma Zeng pointed out that everyone on Mayang Street knew Li Yunlai was courting her.
She speculated that Li Yunlai might be losing courage and advised Zeng Zhenmei to reconsider him, drawing a comparison to Zeng Zhenmei’s irresponsible artist ex-husband, Yusheng, who had abandoned them to go abroad. Zeng Xing, Zeng Zhenmei's son, was visibly unhappy hearing this, especially Grandma Zeng repeatedly mentioning Yusheng and Li Yunlai in front of him. Overhearing this sensitive discussion, Zeng Xing silently left the table.
Zeng Zhenmei gently rebuked her mother for discussing such personal matters in front of a child, but Grandma Zeng dismissed it as not being a secret. Hao Pushi later informed her mother about Zeng Zhenmei's family situation, including her ex-husband's departure. Hao's mother, hearing this, expressed schadenfreude, believing it proved that "capitalists" also face hardships. She then shared her intention to use human waste as "natural fertilizer" for her chili plants.
Meanwhile, Aunt Niu (Ma Xiaoxiao's mother) was preparing a substantial amount of money to start a business and sought Ma Xiaoxiao's opinion, confident in her entrepreneurial skills. Aunt Niu confided in Ma Xiaoxiao her desire to become successful so that Ma Xiaoxiao could work comfortably in an office without frequent travel. Elsewhere, Yi Dongdong bought breakfast for Ma Xiaoxiao. Zeng Hao, however, intercepted it to offer it to Ou Xiaojian, who was leaving for the day.
Ou Xiaojian declined, stating he had other commitments. Ma Xiaoxiao watched with concern, while Yi Dongdong observed her silent worry. Yi Dongdong then offered to support Ma Xiaoxiao with her piano studies at school, acknowledging her family's lack of understanding. Aunt Niu and Grandma Ou subsequently met to discuss their respective business ideas and discovered they had both independently decided to start a breakfast business together.
They enthusiastically agreed to a partnership, with Grandma Ou emphasizing that it would be a full-time commitment, not just a side job. Later, as Grandma Zeng and a group of elderly women were practicing Tai Chi in the square, Hao's mother arrived in her flower drum opera costume, blaring music from her phonograph, severely disturbing their exercise.
Exasperated, Grandma Zeng turned off the music, chastising Hao's mother for her disruptive behavior in a public space, especially since they had arrived first. Hao's mother retorted, questioning why her flower drum dance was deemed disruptive and asserting her right to use the public area. The argument escalated, with Grandma Zeng criticizing Hao's mother's lack of "public morality" and bringing up the previous day's incident involving mud from her gardening.
Hao's mother accused Grandma Zeng of being a "capitalist" and enjoying opposing ordinary people. Enraged by the "capitalist" accusation, Grandma Zeng collapsed, seemingly in a faint. Hao Pushi and Ma Yingjun quickly arrived at Grandma Zeng's side, apologizing for Hao's mother's behavior and urging Grandma Zeng not to take it to heart. Grandma Zeng, however, was merely feigning illness, dramatically clutching her chest and complaining of pain whenever Hao's mother was mentioned.
She refused their offers to see a doctor, claiming fear of Hao's mother, whom she mockingly labeled a "revolutionary successor." Zeng Zhenmei arrived with Li Yunlai, introducing him as a friend who had come to help. She assured everyone she would stay with her mother. After Hao Pushi and Ma Yingjun left, neighbors complained about the foul odor emanating from Hao's mother’s manure-fertilized vegetable patch and the unsightly clothes she had hung out to dry in the street.
Hao Pushi, embarrassed, confronted her mother, reminding her of Guangzhou's different customs. Hao’s mother, feeling unappreciated, angrily stormed off. Li Yunlai, having stayed behind, prepared several authentic Suzhou and Hangzhou dishes for Grandma Zeng. She was utterly charmed by his culinary skills, especially a lion's head dish, which brought back fond memories of her time in Shanghai before her husband's departure. She even asked if Li Yunlai's mother was in Guangzhou, unaware that she had passed away.
Li Yunlai gracefully informed her about his mother and that his remaining family resided in Shanghai. Satisfied and impressed by his cooking, Grandma Zeng heartily endorsed Li Yunlai. Declaring herself fully recovered, she announced her intention to go play cards with "a few old men." Sometime later, Hao's mother, feeling embarrassed, brought a pot of soup to Grandma Zeng's door. As she approached, Grandma Zeng suddenly pushed the door open, causing the soup to spill.
Hao's mother was taken aback to find Grandma Zeng, supposedly frail, now full of vigor. She realized Grandma Zeng had been faking her illness. Grandma Zeng confirmed her ruse, adding that she was about to leave to play cards with "a few old men." Hao's mother, observing this, deepened her conviction that Grandma Zeng was "indecent and improper." Later, while on the street, Hao's mother encountered Zhang Bo's young grandson, crying alone.
Believing him to be lost, she picked him up and took him to the Mayang Street police station. Simultaneously, Zhang Bo, frantic after losing sight of his grandson, was searching for him. Grandma Zeng, upon hearing about the missing child, rushed to the same police station to report it. There, she unexpectedly found Hao's mother with the boy.
It turned out the child had merely been playing outside his own home and was inadvertently picked up by Hao's mother, leading to a comedic mix-up. Relieved, Zhang Bo offered Hao's mother a gift of pork belly as thanks, which she declined. Embarrassed by the incident, Hao's mother quietly implored Grandma Zeng not to divulge the mishap to anyone.
Following this incident, Grandma Zeng invited Hao's mother to her home for tea, attempting to teach her the proper, unhurried way to drink it. Hao's mother, however, drank too quickly and spilled tea on herself. Grandma Zeng offered her a silk scarf to dry off and prevent catching a cold. Hao's mother, still feeling a sense of being an "unsophisticated bumpkin," mentioned how she felt Grandma Zeng had previously looked down on her, calling her "unfashionable" at the bus stop.
Grandma Zeng clarified that her earlier comment about being "unfashionable" was actually in reference to her own old-fashioned cheongsam, not Hao's mother. The two women shared a hearty laugh, finally dispelling their misunderstanding. Just then, Hao Pushi received a phone call from her younger brother in their hometown.
He expressed concern for their mother and revealed that she had traveled all the way to Guangzhou solely out of worry for Hao Pushi, especially after learning that Hao Pushi's husband had not been assigned a job. Hao Pushi listened to her brother's words, realizing the depth of her mother's care and love.
