My Huckleberry Friends Episode 21 Recap
> My Huckleberry Friends Recap
After their bag was stolen, Mi Qiao and Benben's exciting road trip turned into a desperate struggle for survival, leaving them both hungry and thirsty. Mi Qiao, particularly frustrated, lamented their predicament in the middle of nowhere. Spotting a nearby inn, they were instantly drawn by the delicious scent of roasted meat. They brainstormed ways to get food, including a fantasy of robbing the place.
Mi Qiao even participated in this fantasy, making demands for cola, roasted meat, and dessert, before dismissing it as too risky, stating she didn't want to spend half her life in jail, especially since she still dreamed of seeing Eason Chan. They then settled on a more strategic approach: feigning poverty to gain sympathy. They enacted their plan, and the inn's owners, an elderly couple, kindly invited them in.
They began to eat the roasted meat, and Mi Qiao felt a pang of guilt, wondering if their actions were wrong. Benben, recalling historical figures who faced hardship (like Yang Zhi selling his sword, Qin Qiong selling his horse, and Han Xin enduring humiliation under the crotch), rationalized their plight, promising to leave his phone number and pay for the food later.
As they continued to eat, savoring the "woody flavor" of the meat, they suddenly realized that the elderly couple was standing behind them, smiling. Embarrassed, Mi Qiao and Benben confessed their predicament, explaining that their money was stolen and their motorcycle had broken down, leaving them starving. The kind grandfather, far from being angry, offered them water and assured them he wouldn't call the police, saying it made him happy to see them eat so heartily.
Discovering that the grandfather had once been an automobile mechanic, Benben eagerly asked him to look at their motorcycle. While the grandfather worked, Benben learned that the grandmother was deaf and mute, having lost her hearing after a severe fever in her youth. Despite the hardship, she bravely taught herself to read and write. Mi Qiao was deeply moved by their enduring love story and expressed her wish to find a partner as loving as the grandfather.
After fixing their motorcycle, the grandparents generously added fuel to their tank and gave them 500 yuan for their travel expenses, urging them to go home safely after watching "that performance." Mi Qiao initially hesitated but then suggested they accept the money and return later to repay the kindness. Benben agreed, seeing it as an opportunity to visit the grandparents again. With renewed spirits and a full tank of gas, the duo continued their journey.
Back at Handong High School, Lin Yang courteously brought Yu Zhouzhou hot water, while other students were visibly distracted. Xu Zhiqiang and two friends brazenly skipped Chinese class to play games at an internet bar, proudly wearing their school uniforms which they called "team shirts." Elsewhere, groups of girls were engrossed in magazines featuring pop idols like TVXQ and Kim Jae Joong, further highlighting the school's increasingly lax atmosphere.
Yu Zhouzhou discussed her concerns with Lin Yang, noting the "impetuous" student body and frequent truancy. Lin Yang attributed this to Director Pan's absence, who had been away for training. Yu Zhouzhou confided in Lin Yang that she hadn't been able to reach Mi Qiao since "Lin Yang's" birthday, feeling guilty for missing Mi Qiao's Anime Club activity and wondering if Mi Qiao was still angry.
Meanwhile, Benben called Mi Qiao to report that Yu Zhouzhou had been trying to reach them. Mi Qiao, still upset with Yu Zhouzhou for missing the Anime Club event, instructed Benben not to reveal their whereabouts, suggesting he tell Yu Zhouzhou she was in the hospital instead. Benben gently reminded Mi Qiao that Yu Zhouzhou was worried and had a legitimate reason for her absence.
Mi Qiao, however, insisted on letting Yu Zhouzhou worry for a few more days, agreeing to return after the concert. Benben discreetly sent a text message to Yu Zhouzhou, letting her know he was with Mi Qiao and asking her to "pretend to know nothing about it." Mi Qiao and Benben finally arrived at the concert venue, only to find all tickets sold out. Scalpers were demanding exorbitant prices, far exceeding the 500 yuan the grandparents had given them.
Mi Qiao was disheartened, but Benben, ever resourceful, came up with a bold plan. Seeing a staff member pushing a cart, they conspired: Mi Qiao deliberately fell in the cart's path, feigning injury to distract the staff member, while Benben seized the opportunity to push the cart backstage, successfully sneaking them into the venue. Backstage, Mi Qiao stumbled and fell out of the cart. A person with a cool demeanor immediately helped her up, speaking in Cantonese.
Only after he walked away did Mi Qiao, in a wave of euphoria, realize her helper was none other than her idol, Eason Chan. Overwhelmed with joy, she vowed never to wash her hand again, as it had been touched by Eason Chan himself.
Mi Qiao excitedly suggested that her fall (and Benben's part in it) was what led to this lucky encounter, while Benben expressed how incredibly fortunate she was, leading Mi Qiao to declare her intention to boast to all their friends. Just then, Director Pan returned to school from his study trip. He was appalled by the students' disheveled appearance and lax discipline. After reviewing numerous complaint letters, he convened a teachers' meeting, criticizing their "loose-minded" approach to school management.
He cited Handong High School as an example of strict discipline, with long study hours, no extracurricular activities, and mandatory weekend study. Despite some teachers' reservations, Director Pan declared that Zhen Hua High School needed a "major overhaul" and unilaterally announced new, stringent school regulations. These included mandatory uniforms and school tags, a ban on brand-name shoes, strict hairstyle rules (short for boys, ear-length for girls), no makeup or jewelry, and no non-academic items allowed.
Morning study hours were changed to start at 7 AM, and evening study was extended to end at 9 PM. Shortly after, Mi Qiao returned to school, still buzzing with excitement. When a classmate asked about her "illness," she revealed her true whereabouts: Eason Chan's concert. Yu Zhouzhou, still feeling guilty, found Mi Qiao still somewhat cross with her, but the news of her Eason Chan encounter quickly spread.
Mi Qiao proudly recounted her backstage encounter, emphasizing that Eason Chan had personally helped her up with "that" very hand. She adamantly refused to wash it, even suggesting she'd forgo eating or using the restroom to preserve "Eason's original taste and temperature." Capitalizing on her newfound celebrity, Mi Qiao began trading handshakes for completed homework assignments, leading to a frenzy as students eagerly lined up, clutching their homework, to touch her "Eason-touched" hand.
The commotion, however, soon caught the attention of Director Pan, who appeared at the classroom door. He sternly announced that all students involved would receive a 3,000-word self-reflection assignment due the next morning. For Mi Qiao, her "pretending to be sick, skipping class, and talking back" earned her a hefty 10,000-word self-reflection.
To her utter devastation, Director Pan then personally took her to a basin, forced her hand into the water, and scrubbed it with soap for five minutes, effectively erasing her treasured memory. Mi Qiao was furious and heartbroken, feeling as though her connection to Eason Chan had been cruelly washed away. Later that evening, as Mi Qiao walked home with Yu Zhouzhou, still despondent, Yu Zhouzhou tried to comfort her, promising they'd go to Eason Chan's next concert together.
As they approached the school gate, a sudden burst of light illuminated the area. High above, on the rooftop, stood Benben, wearing an Eason Chan mask. He began to passionately sing Eason Chan's songs, having prepared a special concert just for Mi Qiao. The impromptu performance drew a crowd, but Director Pan, ever vigilant, quickly arrived, demanding Benben come down and threatening further punishment.
However, the students, rallied by Benben's heartfelt gesture, unexpectedly began to sing along to Eason Chan's classic song, "Ten Years." Mi Qiao watched Benben, deeply touched by his grand, public declaration, feeling more moved than she ever had before.
