Dear Mayang Street Episode 5 Recap
> Dear Mayang Street Recap
Ou Xiaojian was in the hospital, unable to move easily. Section Chief Li Zhaohang visited him, acknowledging the unexpected situation but stating that Huang Mao’s sudden appearance presented an opportunity. Li Zhaohang handed Ou Xiaojian a recorder, instructing him to hide it and carry it every time he interacted with Huang Mao. He emphasized that this was a crucial chance they had been monitoring for a long time.
Ou Xiaojian, however, was hesitant, expressing his frustration about waiting two years to join the police after helping with Brother Hong's case, which he believed was concluded. Li Zhaohang explained that while Ou Xiaojian had been very helpful, it wasn't the right time for him to formally join the police. He warned that if Ou Xiaojian were to become an officer while still in Mayang Street, the criminals would immediately notice their actions.
Ou Xiaojian felt adrift, lamenting that he belonged nowhere, but Li Zhaohang firmly reassured him that he would become an excellent people's police officer regardless. A flashback transported the scene to 1981. Two unruly men were constantly taking food and drinks from Grandma Ou's grocery store without paying.
When Grandma Ou finally confronted them, pleading that she ran a small business and needed the money for her grandson's education, they pushed her, calling her an "old woman" who was "poor and crazy." Ou Xiaojian arrived just in time, rushing to his grandma's side. The hooligans provoked him further by calling him a "murderer's child." Outraged that they bullied his grandmother, Ou Xiaojian demanded an apology.
When they refused, the situation escalated into a violent brawl, leaving Ou Xiaojian injured. Later, at the police station, Grandma Ou expressed her anguish. She chastised Ou Xiaojian for his impulsiveness, reminding him that he was on the verge of being assigned a job from the police academy, but his actions had jeopardized his future. She argued that the store could be rebuilt, but his future was now ruined.
In a moment of despair, she slapped him, heartbroken by the turn of events. It was at this critical juncture that Li Zhaohang approached Ou Xiaojian, who had been expelled from the police academy. Li Zhaohang explained that with the approval of his superiors, they wanted Ou Xiaojian to assist them with a special operation: to infiltrate a criminal gang that they had been unable to penetrate, and gather evidence of their illicit activities.
Ou Xiaojian questioned why he was chosen. Li Zhaohang revealed that some time ago, Ou Xiaojian had saved a drunk man who fell off his bicycle at the entrance of Mayang Street. This man, Li Zhaohang explained, was Brother Hong, the leader of the criminal gang, and this connection presented a unique opportunity to gain access to their inner workings.
As Ou Xiaojian still hesitated, Li Zhaohang appealed to his sense of duty, emphasizing that this was an opportunity for him to rejoin the police, and reminded him that he was the police academy's most outstanding graduate. He also disclosed that Ou Xiaojian’s father, Ou Jianguo, was an excellent police officer, and that Li Zhaohang himself had picked him up when he was released from prison.
When Ou Xiaojian pressed for details about his father's death, Li Zhaohang could only offer a sorrowful explanation. Back in the present, Ma Xiaoxiao visited Ou Xiaojian in the hospital, bringing him fish soup that Grandma Ou had prepared. She also returned a national emblem he had dropped, urging him not to lose his most precious possessions again, as they might not be found a second time.
Ou Xiaojian thanked her for looking after his grandmother and apologized for missing their date that night, promising to explain things to her later. Ma Xiaoxiao responded that she had heard that phrase for two years and didn't want to hear any more explanations; she only wished for him to live well and not get hurt again. Li Zhaohang met with Ou Xiaojian again.
Ou Xiaojian made it clear that if he successfully completed this mission, he wanted to formally join the police. Li Zhaohang agreed, promising to apply for his transfer to Beijing and his official admission into the force once the criminal organization was fully dismantled. Chen Lili rushed to Grandma Zeng, distressed, announcing that Liang Yuanchao had run away from home again, leaving only a letter.
Lin Jiahao, distraught, tearfully confided that Liang Yuanchao never consulted her on anything and his frequent departures were a source of constant pain. This emotional turmoil also deeply affected their son, Liang Xiaobao, who often secluded himself in his room. It was revealed that this was not the first time Liang Yuanchao had left, and he usually returned after some time. During this period, Ou Xiaojian also returned to Mayang Street, his grandmother having been worried sick during his absence.
Ou Xiaojian sought out Yi Dongdong. When they met, Ou Xiaojian initially joked about the rough ride he had on Yi Dongdong's back after being rescued, before acknowledging that Yi Dongdong had indeed saved him. Ou Xiaojian then offered Yi Dongdong his protection in Mayang Street, telling him to use his name if anyone ever tried to bully him.
However, Yi Siqian, Yi Dongdong's sister, witnessed the interaction and, misunderstanding Ou Xiaojian's intention, quickly ran to Ma Xiaoxiao for help, believing her brother was in danger. Observing Ou Xiaojian, Yi Dongdong couldn't help but notice the striking resemblance between Ou Xiaojian's demeanor and Ma Xiaoxiao's, remarking that they both exuded the same powerful presence, like people who "shine."
To lift Liang Xiaobao's spirits, Yi Dongdong, Sun Falcon, and other friends climbed through his window and convinced him to join them for a fun day out playing games and blowing bubbles. While they were out, Liang Yuanchao returned to Mayang Street, telling Yi Siqian that he hadn't run away but was merely on a business trip. Later, Grandma Ou thoughtfully prepared steamed vermicelli rolls for him, which Lin Jiahao gratefully accepted.
The children discussed their parents' conflicts, acknowledging that growing up brought more complex emotions than they could express through tears as children. They tried to reassure Liang Xiaobao that their parents' arguments were normal, even if they were now more openly expressed. On National Day in 1984, the residents of Mayang Street gathered cheerfully to watch the military parade. Amidst the festive atmosphere, Ou Xiaojian received a call from Huang Mao, who wanted to meet that evening.
Li Zhaohang, speaking to Ou Xiaojian on the phone, reminded him that while the recorder was crucial for gathering criminal evidence, it also posed a danger, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing his personal safety and stopping the operation if anything felt wrong. Later, during their meeting, Huang Mao expressed his respect for Ou Xiaojian's loyalty, acknowledging that Ou Xiaojian had not betrayed him. He declared Ou Xiaojian his brother, warning others that disrespecting Ou Xiaojian was equivalent to disrespecting him.
As the school year progressed, the seniors were instructed on college applications. Ma Xiaoxiao, still uncertain about her future, confided that while she wanted to go to Beijing, she hadn't chosen a major. Teacher Su called Ma Xiaoxiao to her office, noting her strong math skills in the liberal arts class despite a weak English, and recommended her for a guaranteed admission exam to Peking University.
Meanwhile, Zeng Xing, the top science student, had already decided to study architecture and offered to tutor Ma Xiaoxiao in English. Sun Falcon and his friends observed the different treatment top students like Zeng Xing received, lamenting their own average looks and poor grades.
Separately, a badminton coach recognized Yi Dongdong's talent and invited him to join the badminton team, explaining that good performance could lead to provincial team selection and extra points on the college entrance exam, potentially allowing him to attend a university in Beijing. Yi Dongdong was excited and discussed it with his mother, Hao Pushi.
However, Hao Pushi firmly rejected the idea, insisting that his sole focus should be on studying for the college entrance exam, as his father was unemployed and needed to learn a skill to support the family. Yi Dongdong felt his parents were being dictatorial, leading to an argument where his mother criticized his father for being idle and not adapting to changing times, contrasting him with Liang Yuanchao's entrepreneurial spirit. Frustrated, Yi Dongdong's father decided to find another driving school, while Hao Pushi resolved to speak with Yi Dongdong's teacher about his badminton aspirations.
