Hu Tong Episode 15 Recap
> Hu Tong Recap
The 1980s ushered in a period of significant change in Beijing. Tian Zao and Tie Dan's daughter, Sun Xiaomin, had grown into a graceful young woman with a passion for poetry, often gathering with like-minded literary friends to recite verses. Li Hongying and Lin Zheng had two sons. Their elder son, Lin Weimin, a Chinese literature graduate from Renmin University and an editor at "Spring Bud Monthly," also wrote poetry.
This evening, Lin Weimin and Sun Xiaomin attended a poetry gathering at Beihai Park. Sun Xiaomin's expressive recitation of a poem captivated the audience, earning enthusiastic applause. Following her, Lin Weimin read his new poem, "Winter Night." While he recited, Sun Xiaomin gazed at the distant white pagoda bathed in soft moonlight, lost in thought. Meanwhile, Lin Weidong, Lin Weimin's younger brother, who enjoyed a more boisterous lifestyle, was at a dance hall with his friend Suo Lanqi.
Suo Lanqi wanted to dance closely with Juanzi, Li Xiulan's daughter, but Juanzi preferred Lin Weidong, causing Suo Lanqi to yield. Liu Zi, one of their acquaintances, introduced Suo Lanqi to another girl, much to the amusement of Lin Weidong and Juanzi. During a break, Liu Zi showcased his breakdancing skills, but Lin Weidong challenged him, performing with such flair that he stole the spotlight. Enraged, Liu Zi punched Lin Weidong.
Suo Lanqi quickly intervened, knocking Liu Zi down, and then pulled Lin Weidong and Juanzi away. After the poetry gathering, Lin Weimin invited Sun Xiaomin for a late-night snack. They came across Li Xiulan's younger son, Er Qiangzi, running a food stall after his regular work hours. Er Qiangzi explained he was earning extra money to build a room for his elder brother, who was returning to the city and had nowhere to live.
Sun Xiaomin, understanding his plight, sat down to eat his fried "guan chang," a Beijing specialty. Lin Weimin, finding the street food unhygienic, hesitated but eventually joined her. When Sun Xiaomin requested a dish of garlic juice, Lin Weimin teased her for eating such a "smelly" condiment, to which Sun Xiaomin retorted, asking if he was a true "Old Beijing" native.
During their meal, Lin Weimin mentioned that a local bookstore would be receiving a shipment of world-famous literary works the next day. An avid reader, Sun Xiaomin immediately decided they should go queue overnight. Lin Weimin agreed and called his parents, asking them to also inform Sun Xiaomin's family. As they settled into the queue at the bookstore, Lin Weimin informed Sun Xiaomin that he had spoken to his leader about her joining his editorial department.
He encouraged her to pursue higher education, suggesting she enroll in night school to get the required qualifications. He also advised her against "fooling around" with Lin Weidong, Juanzi, and Suo Lanqi, criticizing their lifestyle. Sun Xiaomin clearly disliked his unsolicited advice. Meanwhile, Lin Weidong, Suo Lanqi, and Juanzi had returned to the dance hall, only to be ambushed by Liu Zi and his associates seeking revenge. The trio fled, with Liu Zi's gang in close pursuit.
After finally shaking them off, they stopped for a snack. Lin Weidong remembered Sun Xiaomin's poetry event and grew concerned. He rushed to find a public phone booth, paying an inflated fifty cents to the attendant. He called home and learned from his mother, Li Hongying, that Sun Xiaomin was at the bookstore queuing for books with Lin Weimin. Worried about her, Lin Weidong insisted on going to find them, despite Juanzi's annoyed objections.
Upon arriving at the bookstore, Lin Weidong's group saw that Sun Xiaomin and Lin Weimin had joined a massive crowd. A friend of Lin Weimin's, Jianjun, had let them cut in line with him, and they were engaged in an animated discussion about Nietzsche and Sartre's philosophies. Seeing Sun Xiaomin shivering in the cold, Lin Weidong immediately took off his coat for her and insisted that she and Juanzi go home while he took their place.
This angered Lin Weimin, who challenged his brother. In response, Lin Weidong boldly declared Sun Xiaomin to be his girlfriend. Just then, Liu Zi and his gang appeared, having tracked them down. Lin Weimin attempted to mediate, but Liu Zi, citing his injured pride, refused to back down. At that critical moment, Sun Xiaomin silently stepped forward and stood directly in front of Liu Zi.
To everyone's astonishment, Liu Zi immediately grew fearful, humbly apologized, and quickly ordered his gang to retreat. It was revealed that Sun Xiaomin held a unique position among the neighborhood youth. She was considered their "goddess," and her presence was enough to halt any conflict. Liu Zi explained that he feared offending her, as his parents would "kick him out of the house" if he dared. He conceded defeat, declaring the conflict over because Sun Xiaomin had intervened.
Still at the bookstore, Lin Weidong expressed confusion about why so many people would queue overnight for books, a sentiment Lin Weimin scoffed at, explaining the concept of "spiritual food." A new idea sparked in Lin Weidong: he instructed Suo Lanqi and Juanzi to return home, find a flatbed cart, and borrow as much money as possible from their parents and neighbors. He planned to buy all the famous books.
When the two expressed reluctance, Sun Xiaomin stepped in and told them to say that she was the one borrowing the money. Juanzi and Suo Lanqi went door-to-door, using Sun Xiaomin's name to ask for loans, and the neighbors generously contributed. The next morning, they returned with the collected money. Lin Weidong purchased two sets of each newly arrived famous book and loaded the overflowing cart, then told Sun Xiaomin to go home and rest.
Lin Weidong, Suo Lanqi, and Juanzi then wheeled the cart to a bustling area and set up a stall. They began selling the foreign classics at double the original price. Despite some complaints, the books were quickly snatched up, selling out in no time.
