Hu Tong Episode 34 Recap
> Hu Tong Recap
Lin Yue arrived at the hospital to relieve Ding Ding from her overnight shift. She learned that neither Li Jian nor Li Fen had bothered to visit Grandma Sui. Discussing the situation with Ding Ding, Lin Yue expressed her frustration, doubting that even their unit leaders could "cure" the siblings' behavior, but Ding Ding was hopeful that reporting them would deter future misconduct. Lin Yue then sent the tired Ding Ding home.
As Ding Ding left the hospital, she encountered Taozi, who had just bought a new car with the compensation money from the Solanqi antique shop incident. Taozi explained that he bought the car to take his parents on leisurely drives, allowing them to spend their remaining years peacefully. Ding Ding approved of his intentions and got into the car with him for a ride.
The following morning, Li Jian and Li Fen burst into the neighborhood committee, angrily seeking out Lin Yue. They accused her of writing a complaint letter to their unit leaders, which had led to them being penalized; Li Jian's monthly bonus had even been deducted. Without listening to any explanation, they rushed forward, attempting to assault Lin Yue. Han Yi and Director Chang quickly intervened to stop the attack.
Han Yi threatened to arrest them if they continued to cause trouble, and Director Chang warned them about the severe consequences of their actions. Humiliated, Li Jian and Li Fen retreated, but not before vowing that the matter was far from over. After the siblings departed, Director Chang sent the other staff away to speak with a visibly upset Lin Yue.
Lin Yue tearfully explained that she had not written the complaint letter, although she admitted she had initially considered reporting Li Jian and Li Fen. However, her mother, Sun Xiaomin, had advised her to wait until Grandma Sui was discharged to avoid escalating the conflict further. Director Chang concurred with Sun Xiaomin's prudent advice. At that moment, Ding Ding stepped forward and confessed that she had written the letter herself, regretting the trouble it had caused Lin Yue.
Director Chang gently reprimanded Ding Ding for her impulsive action, noting that such behavior only complicated matters. She then reassured Lin Yue, promising to personally address the issue with Li Jian and Li Fen's unit leaders. Lin Yue later felt a profound sense of pride, telling her mother that witnessing the integrity of older generation neighborhood committee directors like her grandmother Tian Zao and Grandma Hao inspired her to be a worthy successor in the new era of community work.
Grandma Sui, despite her Alzheimer's, added a poignant reminder to Lin Yue to never forget her original intention. After a period of recovery, Grandma Sui was discharged from the hospital, and Lin Yue, Ouyang, and Ding Ding brought her home. Soon after, Li Jian and Li Fen arrived, announcing their intention to move back in with their mother to supposedly care for her. Lin Yue immediately warned them against touching Grandma Sui’s money or any of her belongings.
Li Jian scoffed, remarking that the money would eventually be theirs anyway, and dismissed Lin Yue, asserting that outsiders shouldn’t meddle in their family affairs. Grandma Sui intervened, telling Lin Yue to let the matter drop. As Lin Yue, Ouyang, and Ding Ding left, Lin Yue reminded Grandma Sui to contact them via WeChat if she needed anything.
Lin Yue later expressed her hope to Ding Ding that the previous report to their unit leaders would deter the siblings from further misbehavior. Later, during an on-site meeting with the relocation office, Li Jian and Li Fen demanded two two-bedroom apartments. When the staff explained this was against regulations, the siblings invoked Grandma Hao's self-built house, arguing it was unfairly receiving more compensation.
Lin Yue publicly confirmed that Grandma Hao’s self-built house possessed a legitimate property certificate, entitling it to compensation based on residential area. Li Jian and Li Fen rejected this explanation, accusing Lin Yue of abusing her power to secure the certificate for Grandma Hao and spreading rumors about her.
Returning home from work, Lin Yue was disheartened to overhear neighbors speaking ill of her, some accusing her of favoritism due to her position, while others defended her, citing her many contributions to the community. Lin Yue poured out her frustrations to Tian Zao and Sun Xiaomin, both of whom gently chided her for not being more thorough in her work. Lin Yue insisted on investigating the origins of Grandma Hao's property certificate at the housing authority.
Tian Zao, who knew the full history, felt it wasn't the right time for a public disclosure. Instead, she suggested a private discussion with Grandma Hao and took Lin Yue to see her. Sun Xiaomin subsequently convened a symposium to address the ongoing property disputes related to self-built houses. Tian Zao, with Grandma Hao present, publicly recounted the history of Grandma Hao’s property certificate.
She explained that in 1976, following the Tangshan earthquake, Grandma Hao’s house was damaged, and the housing management office built a temporary room for her. Recognizing Grandma Hao as a martyr's widow, whose husband had died in a landslide while serving in the infrastructure engineering corps, the neighborhood committee and housing management bureau decided to issue a property certificate for this additional room.
Li Jian vehemently protested, labeling it as a "privilege," and Li Fen demanded equal treatment for all residents. Grandma Sui, seething with anger at her children's avarice, lashed out at them, reminding them how Grandma Hao had kindly fed them since childhood and accusing them of being heartless and ungrateful, caring only about money.
In a dramatic gesture, Grandma Sui declared that if they continued their antics, she would donate all her property to the state, effectively disowning her "ungrateful" children. Grandma Hao, deeply pained by the accusations, expressed her sorrow. She spoke of her husband's sacrifice for the nation and her lifetime of dedication working at the neighborhood committee, only to now face accusations of corruption.
Growing increasingly emotional, Grandma Hao, in a moving display of integrity, handed her property certificate to Sun Xiaomin. She stated that while she appreciated the country's care, she wished to be treated equally with all her neighbors. The residents present were profoundly moved by her selflessness and gave her a standing ovation, leaving Li Jian and Li Fen utterly humiliated.
With the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China approaching, the city government launched a campaign for citizens to "keep their original aspirations and remember their mission," aiming to create a safe and stable environment. Director Chang meticulously selected a group of enthusiastic elderly residents as volunteers.
She elaborated on their new mission: wearing distinctive red hats, armbands, and vests, they would patrol the community to "improve the environment, check public security, and ascertain needs," becoming a welcoming sight in the Beijing hutongs. The volunteers, filled with pride, vowed to serve, with some reminiscing about their past community work, now eager to contribute to the nation once again.
Han Yi presented Director Chang with a cooperative investigation notice from another province, revealing that a fugitive named Liu Zheng, who had committed armed robbery and assault, had fled to Beijing. There was intelligence suggesting Liu Zheng had been spotted in their jurisdiction. The police had already begun checking hotels, but Han Yi explained that finding him in the densely populated alley communities would be like searching for a needle in a haystack. He requested assistance from the neighborhood committee.
Director Chang, convinced that many vigilant eyes could succeed, assigned this crucial task to Lin Yue and the volunteers. Lin Yue and Ding Ding, accompanied by two volunteer grandmas, patrolled the hutongs. They quickly noticed two suspicious men. To avoid alerting them, Lin Yue instructed Aunt Blue to remove her red vest and discreetly follow the duo. Aunt Blue soon reported via phone that the men had checked into room 203 of the Hongbin Hotel.
Lin Yue then went to the hotel and questioned the front desk clerk. The clerk revealed the men claimed to be in Beijing for an accessories business, but their room was filled with new books, the number of which seemed to increase daily. She also noted the men left lightly dressed but returned looking "bloated." Lin Yue, increasingly suspicious, cautioned the clerk to maintain discretion.
Growing more uneasy about the men claiming to sell accessories while their room contained piles of new books, Lin Yue called Han Yi to report her findings. Han Yi, also suspecting them to be book thieves, particularly given the hotel's proximity to the Xidan Book Building, immediately headed to the location with Ouyang. They decided to stake out in a nearby tea house, planning to observe the suspects and apprehend them in the act without premature alarm.
Lin Yue also organized the volunteers to maintain surveillance on the hotel and report any movements. During this time, Sun Xiaomin visited Lin Yue and gave her another important task: to help locate the fugitive Liu Zheng. Lin Yue promptly shared Liu Zheng's wanted notice in the volunteer group chat, urging the grandpas and aunts to be vigilant for the foreign fugitive and report any sightings. Lin Yue proudly noted that the volunteer team had grown significantly.
Meanwhile, Han Yi and his officers, having changed into plain clothes, tracked the two suspicious individuals to the Book Building, where they witnessed them shoplifting and secretly captured photographic evidence. Han Yi messaged Lin Yue to update her, and Lin Yue, in turn, reiterated in the volunteer group to be on the lookout for the fugitive. As the two book thieves hastily left the Book Building, Han Yi gave the command, and his officers swiftly moved in to apprehend them.
A subsequent search of their hotel room uncovered a large quantity of new books. Separately, the grandmas in the volunteer group quickly spotted Liu Zheng. They employed a relay tracking method, discreetly photographing him and sending the images to the group for identity confirmation. Liu Zheng was tracked back to a rental apartment in the community. Lin Yue coordinated the grandpas and aunts to form a perimeter around the building.
She then instructed Ding Ding to contact the property manager, who, after reviewing rental records, confirmed Liu Zheng's address on the sixth floor, apartment 602, and revealed that he was using a fake identity. Han Yi and his officers soon arrived at Liu Zheng's location. Lin Yue provided him with the confirmed address and rental details, assuring him that the volunteers had the building surrounded, making escape impossible.
Han Yi decided to wait for the Municipal Criminal Police Team to arrive before initiating the arrest. Once the city police team was on site, Han Yi introduced Lin Yue and Ding Ding, acknowledging their crucial role and that of the volunteers in locating Liu Zheng. With all teams in position, they jointly moved in and successfully apprehended Liu Zheng. A City Police officer then instructed Han Yi to escort Liu Zheng back to the station while they managed the inventory of any recovered items and weapons.
