Hu Tong Episode 19 Recap
> Hu Tong Recap
Li Hongying continued to persuade Tian Zao, who admitted she was still trying to fully grasp the new policies but was willing to cooperate with the district to serve individual businesses. Li Hongying explained that this initiative was about progress, citing how many homes now had televisions, washing machines, refrigerators, and tape recorders, and how the formerly unemployed youth could now earn money.
She noted that people no longer looked at self-employed workers with discriminatory eyes, but rather with envy, as "ten thousand yuan households" emerged. Tian Zao eventually conceded, trusting the party's direction to improve people's lives. Meanwhile, Lin Weidong had been making a substantial amount of money. He proudly presented a new color television to his parents, asking his father if it wasn't much better than their old black and white one.
His brother, Lin Weimin, made a sarcastic remark about how many years of salary it would take to afford such a thing. Lin Weidong then surprised Lin Weimin with a Walkman, which Lin Weimin enthusiastically accepted, declaring it essential for his English studies. Lin Weidong playfully asked his brother to speak less ill of him to their parents.
Later, Li Hongying informed Lin Weidong that the government had designated a specific area in Xidan for a night market and encouraged him to legitimize his business. She urged him to get a certificate from Tian Zao at the neighborhood committee and then apply for an individual business license. Lin Weidong was thrilled to become an "open regular army" instead of a "guerrilla."
Li Hongying reminded him to operate properly and ethically, emphasizing that as a son of Lin Zheng and Li Hongying, he should set an example and never cheat customers. After her night class, Sun Xiaomin found Lin Weimin waiting for her. She was rather distant, despite Lin Weimin's attempts to make small talk and offer help.
Sensing her disinterest, Lin Weimin changed the subject, mentioning that his mother had told Lin Weidong about the government's strong support for the individual economy, and the new Xidan night market. Sun Xiaomin immediately brightened, expressing her happiness for Lin Weidong and his friends, noting they would no longer be chased by authorities and could build serious careers.
She passionately discussed the positive changes brought by reform and opening up, from the planned to the market economy, and how people no longer looked down on self-employed individuals, but now envied the "ten thousand yuan households." Lin Weimin observed that she became quite eloquent and energetic whenever Lin Weidong was mentioned. The next morning, Lin Weidong arrived at Tian Zao's home, calling out for her. Sun Xiaomin, still upset with him, retreated to her room without eating breakfast.
Lin Weidong confessed he was at fault for angering her, though he wouldn't elaborate on the specifics. Tian Zao tried to inquire, but Sun Tie, Sun Xiaomin’s father, intervened, telling Tian Zao not to get involved in the young people's quarrels. Lin Weidong then explained his purpose: he needed a certificate from Tian Zao, as the Neighborhood Committee Director, to apply for his night market business license. Tian Zao readily agreed, mentioning that Li Hongying had already informed her.
Lin Weidong, spotting the breakfast on the table, decided to stay and eat, claiming he loved their fried dough sticks soaked in soybean milk. From her room, Sun Xiaomin felt a quiet sense of satisfaction upon hearing his words. Tian Zao prepared the necessary certificate and earnestly advised Lin Weidong, Juanzi, and Solanqi to run their business honorably.
She stressed that having an individual business license meant they were engaging in a serious, state-supported endeavor, and they should be thankful and cherish the opportunity. She urged them to be honest and never cheat customers. The three promised to conduct themselves with integrity. Later, after obtaining their official business licenses, they were ecstatic, proclaiming themselves legitimate industrial and commercial operators rather than mere "small profiteers."
While Solanqi wanted to frame the license, Lin Weidong insisted they carry it with them daily for inspections, entrusting Juanzi with its safekeeping. They set up their stall in the Xidan night market, which quickly attracted a large number of customers. Sun Xiaomin, hidden nearby, secretly watched Lin Weidong's bustling stall, clearly happy for him, but quickly fled when Lin Weidong noticed her.
On their way home from the night market, Lin Weidong mused aloud that he had seen Sun Xiaomin. Solanqi teased him, suggesting he was dreaming since Sun Xiaomin had been ignoring him. Lin Weidong countered, insisting that despite their apparent discord, their hearts were still connected, and he vowed to earn a lot of money and marry Sun Xiaomin. Juanzi, overhearing this, sang a mournful song about keeping someone in one's heart, her jealousy palpable.
Meanwhile, Erqiangzi returned home bruised and battered, prompting his mother, Xiu Lan, to demand an explanation. Erqiangzi blamed Gangzi, explaining that he had instructed Gangzi to discard used oil from frying Guanchang, but Gangzi secretly mixed it with fresh oil. A customer complained about a rancid taste and demanded a refund. Erqiangzi, unaware of Gangzi's actions, refused, leading to a physical altercation where he was punched.
The customer then reported them to the industrial and commercial office, which confiscated their stall and lectured Erqiangzi all night. Gangzi defended himself, lamenting the waste of oil given his arduous life in rural Shaanxi where oil was a luxury. His grandfather also scolded him for his actions, highlighting the difference between Beijing and rural Shaanxi. Feeling unjustly criticized, Gangzi angrily retreated to his room with his wife. At his office, Lin Weimin appeared distracted, often staring blankly.
His editor-in-chief summoned him, urging him to process the backlog of manuscripts. Lin Weimin confessed he had been pondering his future. He expressed frustration that the magazine's staff income, despite their intellectual work, couldn't compare to the self-employed. He proposed contracting the magazine's tertiary production himself, promising to make it prosperous, boost economic benefits, and provide bonuses for the staff. Later, Lin Weimin met Sun Xiaomin after her night class.
She mentioned her upcoming graduation and reminded him of his promise to help her join the magazine. Lin Weimin hesitated, explaining that joining the editorial department might not be the best choice for her given the current situation. He revealed that Lin Weidong's earnings from the Xidan night market in a single night could be more than his salary for several months.
Feeling unfulfilled, he had officially proposed to the editor-in-chief to contract the magazine's tertiary production, effectively "going to sea to do business." He then apologetically informed Sun Xiaomin that the magazine's hiring standards had drastically increased, now only recruiting top university graduates, making it virtually impossible for a night school junior college student like her to get a position. Sun Xiaomin was visibly crestfallen by this news.
Many unemployed youths, inspired by the new economic policies, flocked to Tian Zao's office seeking certificates to start their own businesses. Tian Zao systematically instructed them to submit their applications, explaining the state's prioritization criteria: genuine household hardship, overseas connections, or long-term unemployment. She assured them she would conduct door-to-door investigations to verify their situations before issuing certificates for them to take to the industrial and commercial office.
Despite some complaints about the thoroughness of the process, Tian Zao firmly stated it was her duty. One day, Juanzi took Sun Xiaomin to a Western restaurant, ordering a lavish meal from memory. She commented on Sun Xiaomin's simple attire and offered her fashionable clothes from their stall. Juanzi then got serious, warning Sun Xiaomin that Lin Weidong was now a "hot commodity" – handsome and rich – and was constantly surrounded by other women.
Sun Xiaomin dismissed it, claiming she and Lin Weidong were no longer involved. Juanzi, however, exposed their secret mutual visits: Sun Xiaomin regularly went to the night market to secretly watch Lin Weidong, and Lin Weidong, in turn, would consistently leave his stall early on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights to wait for Sun Xiaomin outside her night school. Juanzi urged her to reconcile with Lin Weidong before another girl snatched him.
When Sun Xiaomin asked if Juanzi herself still liked Lin Weidong, Juanzi admitted she did but knew her chances were gone after Lin Weidong's vow to marry Sun Xiaomin. She expressed her desire for Lin Weidong to be with Sun Xiaomin rather than an "outsider." Not long after, Xiaoli, Lin Weidong's supplier, traveled all the way from Guangzhou to deliver goods to him. Lin Weidong was overjoyed by her unexpected arrival.
Xiaoli seized the opportunity to ask him to show her around Beijing, and Lin Weidong enthusiastically agreed, promising to take her to all the famous sights and treat her to authentic Beijing delicacies. Juanzi watched their interaction, visibly irritated and muttering to Solanqi about Xiaoli's "coquettishness." For the next five days, Lin Weidong dedicated himself to entertaining Xiaoli, taking her to eat Beijing snacks, sightsee, and take photos.
Unable to bear watching them together, Juanzi went to Sun Xiaomin, reporting that Lin Weidong and Xiaoli were inseparable and that the beautiful and wealthy Xiaoli would surely steal him if Sun Xiaomin didn't stop being stubborn. Later, Lin Weidong took Xiaoli dancing. Xiaoli was delighted, telling Lin Weidong these were the happiest days of her life. She confessed her feelings, telling him she had liked him since their first meeting in Guangzhou.
She called him her "Ken Takakura" and asked to be his "Mayumi," proposing they go to Hong Kong together to build a career, as she was obtaining residency there. Lin Weidong awkwardly deflected her advances, urging her to focus on dancing and suggesting she had drunk too much. Later, Lin Weimin again arrived to pick up Sun Xiaomin after her class.
However, Sun Xiaomin, clearly in deep thought and emotional turmoil, declined his company, stating she wished to walk alone and asked him to return first. Despite his concerns for her safety, she insisted she would be fine and wanted to be by herself.
