Resumen del episodio 31 de Hu Tong
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After a recent cricket match, Suo Lanqi felt uneasy about the victory. Han's cricket had been unusually lethargic and easily defeated. Confronted by Suo Lanqi, Taozi admitted he had secretly fed Han's cricket a large amount of fine food before the fight, rendering it too full to move or fight, leading to an effortless win. While Suo Lanqi acknowledged Taozi's act had helped restore his dignity, he cautioned him against such "shameful" and "unmilitary" tactics in the future.
Suo Lanqi then offered to treat Taozi to braised pork, but Taozi, tired of the usual fare, craved a lavish meal. Suo Lanqi demurred, explaining his shop was on the verge of closure and they had no money to waste. He seized the opportunity to encourage Taozi to find a proper job and a girlfriend, to stop "wandering around all day." Taozi confidently declared he already had someone in mind, "just around the corner."
Suo Lanqi, suspecting Lin Yue, asked if she was his crush, but Taozi quickly dismissed the idea, claiming Lin Yue was "not to be taunted by me" and wouldn't be interested even if he was. Meanwhile, Lin Yue introduced Ding Ding to her grandmother, Tian Zao. Tian Zao was delighted to see a capable young college student willing to dedicate herself to the mundane work of the neighborhood committee.
She offered Ding Ding heartfelt advice to always keep the ordinary people in mind and also encouraged her to join the Party. Later, Lin Yue asked Ding Ding about her motivations for joining the committee. Ding Ding confided that she aimed to pass the civil service exam and enter a government agency, viewing her time at the committee as a temporary stepping stone.
Curious, Ding Ding then asked Lin Yue why she, also a college graduate, chose to remain in the demanding committee role for so many years. Lin Yue explained that she grew up observing her mother, Sun Xiaomin, and grandmother, Tian Zao, both committee cadres, diligently resolving residents' problems. After graduating, she sought a stable job but ultimately chose to work closer to home to care for her aging grandmother.
Despite the work being cumbersome, fraught with endless tasks, disputes, and even instances of being scolded or physically assaulted, Lin Yue found profound meaning in it. She elaborated that neighborhood committees exist to ensure that individuals without institutional support, like retirees or those on subsistence allowances, know they have someone looking out for their basic needs, defining this as the very "meaning of existence" for community workers.
Lin Yue and police officer Han Yi were called to mediate a heated dispute between Jia San and Wei Qing, who were once again fighting over a parking space. Jia San complained that Wei Qing, from the adjacent Rongguang Community where parking was full, regularly parked in front of his house, usurping his long-established spot and often scolding him. Wei Qing countered that the area was public, operating on a first-come, first-served basis, and he had no alternative parking.
Lin Yue intervened, calming them and suggesting they mediate at the neighborhood committee rather than escalate to the police station. At the committee, Jia San reiterated his claim based on unwritten alley rules, which Wei Qing dismissed as irrelevant to him. Officer Han pointed out the unfairness of Wei Qing directly occupying the space next to Jia San’s courtyard.
Lin Yue acknowledged the widespread and complex parking problem in the old city, admitting it couldn't be resolved quickly and requesting their patience. She urged them to apologize to each other for their public altercation, promising that the committee would continue to seek a solution. Both men, prompted by Officer Han, reluctantly apologized. Lin Yue emphasized the importance of discussion over confrontation among neighbors.
Reporting the persistent parking issue to Director Chang, Lin Yue was told that while it was a tough problem, the immediate priority was organizing community-wide cleaning efforts for the upcoming National Day celebrations, for which specific tasks had been assigned to everyone. Later, Lin Yue was leaving work late when she found Taozi waiting for her.
He pleaded with her to help him win over Ding Ding, declaring it a matter of his "life's happiness" and describing his feelings as "love at first sight." Lin Yue, however, advised him to find a serious job, asserting that Ding Ding, a dedicated college graduate, wouldn't be interested in his current aimless lifestyle. Taozi boasted that finding a job was effortless for him, he simply chose not to work.
Lin Yue reminded him of his design background and artistic talents, urging him to put them to good use. Taozi vowed that a single word from Ding Ding would prompt him to immediately find stable employment. Lin Yue, sensing his sincerity, believed him. Upon learning that Ding Ding was participating in the National Day cleaning, Taozi, without hesitation, rushed off to help. During the cleanup, Lin Yue praised Taozi's efforts, but he was more concerned with Ding Ding's opinion.
Lin Yue playfully tried to highlight Taozi's warm-heartedness to Ding Ding, who brushed it off. Taozi then proposed celebrating their hard work with a night of karaoke, which Lin Yue agreed to, suggesting they invite Binbin, another childhood friend, to help him get out of the house as their Aunt Hui and Tian Zao had been worried about him. Taozi reluctantly consented.
Director Chang soon arrived at the committee, seeking Lin Yue to resolve a new 12345 hotline dispute in her segment. Ding Ding informed him that Lin Yue was out helping Uncle Qi find a new restaurant location. Ding Ding bravely volunteered to handle the dispute herself, and a cautious Director Chang decided to accompany her. They arrived at a courtyard where Old Xia and Old Yan were quarreling.
Old Xia complained that Old Yan's large flowerpot in the narrow courtyard aisle was a hazard, causing him to nearly trip multiple times, and Old Yan refused to move it, leading him to call the government hotline. Old Yan retorted that the flowerpot was by his wall, not in the way, accusing Old Xia of being "blind" and deliberately seeking conflict. Ding Ding intervened, separating them and taking Old Xia aside.
Old Xia admitted his long-standing animosity towards Old Yan and revealed the real source of their conflict: Old Yan had previously forbidden him from parking his motorcycle outside Old Yan's window. Ding Ding and Director Chang then spoke with Old Yan. Old Yan explained that Old Xia's motorcycle, parked in the alley outside his window, was excessively noisy when Old Xia left early and returned late, disrupting his sleep.
He also expressed exaggerated fears about Old Xia potentially peering into his low window. Ding Ding dismissed his spying concern, pointing out the curtains and reminding him Old Xia wasn't a child. She then confronted Old Yan about his inappropriate and threatening language towards Old Xia, which could lead to severe legal consequences. Old Yan admitted he was "just scaring him," recounting Old Xia's past bullying during their school days.
Ding Ding reminded him that Old Xia had also protected him from older bullies, a fact she'd learned from Lin Yue, who was intimately familiar with the neighborhood's history. Ding Ding emphasized that the core issue wasn't the flowerpot but Old Yan's harsh words and threats. She informed him that Old Xia had already agreed to move his motorcycle.
She urged Old Yan not to jeopardize years of friendship over minor disagreements and gently suggested relocating the flowerpot to a west corner, where it would fit perfectly and enhance the courtyard's beauty. After much deliberation, Old Yan agreed to move the flowerpot, recognizing the wisdom in her words. Ding Ding reflected on the importance of patience and sincerity, always considering problems from the perspective of ordinary people.
Old Xia and Old Yan reconciled, shaking hands and agreeing to share a celebratory meal and drinks that evening. Director Chang commended Ding Ding's impressive ability to identify and resolve the root cause of the conflict. Lin Yue, upon hearing of Ding Ding's success, also praised her, and Ding Ding expressed a newfound sense of accomplishment and pride in her work.
Separately, Lin Yue and Ouyang Hui took Uncle Qi and Xiao Yong to view a restaurant for rent that Lin Yue had located. Lin Yue enthusiastically described the convenient location and antique decor. Inside, Uncle Qi inspected the premises, including the kitchen, appearing generally content with the setup. However, when Uncle Qi directly inquired about the rent, Boss Xiao stated it was 30,000 yuan per month.
Despite Lin Yue's attempt to negotiate, Boss Xiao insisted this was already a reduced price. Uncle Qi, dismayed by the high cost, abruptly walked out. Lin Yue and Ouyang Hui quickly followed him, where Uncle Qi explained his original restaurant at home had been rent-free, allowing him to simply enjoy his craft and chat with neighbors without financial pressure. He found the 30,000 yuan rent too burdensome, stating he was too old to endure such stress.
Ouyang Hui argued that the rent was fair for the location, and Uncle Qi's renowned culinary skills could easily cover it, but Uncle Qi reiterated his desire to simply "have fun" rather than chase profits. Lin Yue felt increasingly anxious about the incomplete task of restoring the alley's appearance, fearing she was failing in her duties. Ouyang Hui, seeing Lin Yue's distress, tried to reassure her.
Lin Yue expressed her frustration with the difficulty of finding a suitable new location for Uncle Qi's restaurant that met all his stringent criteria, especially the rent. She explained that Uncle Qi, accustomed to running a rent-free establishment, was unwilling to take on the financial burden of a commercial lease.
Ouyang Hui, inspired, proposed a new approach: a partnership between Uncle Qi and Boss Xiao, where Uncle Qi would provide his culinary skills and Boss Xiao the venue, eliminating the rent issue. Lin Yue doubted Boss Xiao would agree, but Ouyang Hui decided he would discreetly "blow the side wind" to Boss Xiao, subtly revealing Uncle Qi's "glorious history" and exceptional cooking talents. His goal was to make Boss Xiao realize the valuable opportunity and initiate the partnership himself.
Lin Yue agreed, calling it a "crooked idea, but reliable." Separately, Sun Xiaomin displayed photos of the renovated street outside Suo Lanqi's antique shop to other store owners, detailing the transformations. While other owners showed interest, Suo Lanqi remained unyielding in his refusal to comply. Later, Lin Weidong, Sun Xiaomin, and Lin Yue shared a rare family dinner.
Sun Xiaomin discussed the city's new initiatives for old urban areas, including "application for rent refund of directly managed public houses" and the "establishment of symbiotic yards" to improve living conditions. She stressed that Lin Yue's segment was a crucial pilot area and urged her to prioritize and meticulously implement these policies, as they impacted thousands of families. Lin Yue assured her she understood.
Lin Yue then recalled that Suo Lanqi's shop fell within the scope of these renovations and conceived a plan. Sun Xiaomin enlisted Lin Weidong's help to persuade Suo Lanqi. Lin Weidong and Lin Yue visited Suo Lanqi, but he was obstinate and yelled at Lin Weidong. Incensed, Lin Weidong scolded Suo Lanqi, reminding him of their long-standing relationship and his continuous support.
Lin Yue then calmly explained the government's policy: if Suo Lanqi agreed to close his storefront as part of the "vacating" program, he would receive a substantial compensation, calculated at 127,000 yuan per square meter for his over forty-square-meter store. Taozi, present during this conversation, sided with Lin Yue, hopeful that this resolution might benefit him in his pursuit of Ding Ding. Following his discussion with Lin Yue, Ouyang Hui visited Boss Xiao's restaurant, which was conspicuously empty.
Boss Xiao, noting Ouyang Hui's unexpected visit, assumed he was there for a purpose. Ouyang Hui confirmed he was there to "solve problems" for Boss Xiao, acknowledging the difficulty in renting out his restaurant. Boss Xiao, suspecting Ouyang Hui was there to negotiate rent for Uncle Qi, asserted that 30,000 yuan was his absolute lowest price. Ouyang Hui clarified that the committee only facilitated introductions, not price negotiations.
He then subtly revealed the true identity of the old man who had earlier shown interest in renting the store, referring to him as "Uncle Qi," an "immortal," implying his legendary status. Ouyang Hui left Boss Xiao to ponder this revelation.
