Nothing But Thirty Episode 2 Recap
> Nothing But Thirty Recap
Gu Jia and Xu Huanshan took their son, Xu Ziyan, for an interview at a kindergarten. Gu Jia introduced herself to the interviewer, mentioning her graduation from Shanghai International Studies University and co-founding Firework Company with her husband, a business that sells fireworks for commercial shows. She explained she became a full-time housewife after Xu Ziyan's birth. Xu Ziyan stated he was four years old.
When asked about his favorite book, Xu Ziyan replied "The Little Prince," and Gu Jia added that his father, Xu Huanshan, had drawn the picture book for him. She highlighted the efforts she put into his learning and how Xu Huanshan also spent a lot of time teaching their son, including creating such picture books. She even offered Xu Huanshan's assistance in making more for the kindergarten if Xu Ziyan was enrolled.
Xu Ziyan correctly answered a math problem about sharing strawberries, confidently declaring, "Everyone gets two. I'm treating!" However, the interview took a turn when the interviewer asked, "Where is the capital?" Misunderstanding "capital" (shoudu) for "hand" (shou), Xu Ziyan repeatedly insisted, "It's on the arm." Despite Xu Huanshan's attempt to prompt "Beijing," Xu Ziyan stuck to his answer and then bit the interviewer's arm. Gu Jia immediately apologized.
Later, at home, Gu Jia was comforting a distressed Xu Ziyan, assuring him he hadn't done anything wrong and had performed very well. She gently explained that biting was wrong and only puppies bite. Xu Ziyan agreed he wasn't a puppy, and Gu Jia made him pinky promise not to bite people in the future and to apologize to the teacher.
Wang Manni received a phone call from her mother, who informed her that she had received the money Wang Manni sent. Her mother urged her to come home, revealing that she and Wang Manni's father had saved all the money she had sent over the years, along with their own contributions, amounting to a total of one hundred thousand yuan.
Her mother suggested they could use this sum to help Wang Manni find a good job back home or redecorate her room, which she hadn't lived in for seven or eight years. Wang Manni was taken aback, asking when she had ever expressed a desire to return. Her mother reminded her of a conversation three years prior, where Wang Manni had promised to return by the age of thirty if she hadn't bought a house or gotten married in Shanghai.
With only a few months left until her thirtieth birthday, her mother advised her to accept her fate and not insist on staying in the big city, where her 15,000 yuan monthly income left her with empty hands after paying rent and sending money home. Emotional, Wang Manni excused herself, claiming she was hungry, and said she would "accept fate" only once she was full.
She then reflected on her financial stress, realizing that saving ten yuan on a bento box was insignificant compared to the three thousand yuan she and her colleagues each had to pay for a lost pair of pants. Gu Jia, still worried about the kindergarten admission, asked Zhong Xiaoqin for help. She believed that being asked to wait for notification, rather than receiving an immediate rejection, meant there was still a chance.
Gu Jia pointed out that their house's ownership was a significant advantage, as many children from their building attended that specific kindergarten. Recalling that Zhong Xiaoqin's marketing department had contact with the building's owners, she asked if Zhong Xiaoqin could find someone to write a recommendation letter. Zhong Xiaoqin suggested approaching Madam Wang, the influential chairman of the owner's committee, but admitted she could only arrange an introduction. Gu Jia remained determined, confident she could forge a connection.
She stressed the importance of this, revealing she had taken out significant loans for their house specifically to give their son a better starting point. Later, while tidying Xu Huanshan's study, Gu Jia explained he was under a lot of pressure from a demanding client and had gone straight to work after the interview, so she didn't want him burdened with kindergarten worries. Zhong Xiaoqin reassured her that she would always be there to help.
Wang Manni excitedly informed her Assistant Manager that Miss Chen, a major client, was scheduled to come in for payment. Shortly after, Wang Manni’s mouth became swollen with red rashes. Prioritizing Miss Chen’s order, Wang Manni was reluctant to leave, but the Assistant Manager insisted she go to the hospital. While Wang Manni was away, her colleague Linda informed the Assistant Store Manager that Miss Chen had also added her on WeChat.
At the hospital, Wang Manni was diagnosed with a peach allergy. After receiving an injection, she noticed a distinct peach scent on her lipstick, realizing she had been sabotaged. She immediately messaged Miss Chen to reschedule. Upon returning to the store, Wang Manni confronted Linda, splashing a glass of water on her and declaring that despite her tricks, Miss Chen had still specifically requested her.
Wang Manni warned Linda not to harbor such "crooked thoughts," stating that while she wouldn't expose her this time, any future attempts would result in her being permanently removed from the store. While her husband Chen Yu was away on a business trip, Zhong Xiaoqin moved back to her parents' house, bringing her cat with her after Chen Yu, annoyed by the cat scaring his fish and peeing on the sofa, declared he no longer wanted to keep it.
Her mother brought up the topic of pregnancy, warning about the risks after thirty, but Zhong Xiaoqin dismissed her concerns, stating she and Chen Yu had agreed not to have children for the first few years of marriage. During dinner, Zhong Xiaoqin suddenly realized it was the fifteenth of the month and her period hadn't arrived. She later bought a pregnancy test, which showed two lines.
Distressed, she sent a text to Chen Yu reading, "Husband, I'm pregnant," but hesitated to send another expressing her mixed feelings. Meanwhile, Gu Jia, through Zhong Xiaoqin's introduction, went to meet Madam Wang, the chairperson of the owner's committee. She was surprised to find Madam Wang's residence was a luxurious, three-story duplex. She found Madam Wang preoccupied with a professional telescope. Gu Jia presented a homemade, low-calorie cake, which Madam Wang, a connoisseur, praised.
Madam Wang explained that her husband was the Honorary Chairman of the kindergarten, which was why she could help children from the building get in. She inquired about Gu Jia's background, noting she lived on a "lower floor" and asking about her husband's income from his firework company. During their conversation, Zhong Xiaoqin called Gu Jia, distressed, to inform her about the positive pregnancy test. Soon after, Madam Wang's newly purchased "art piece" arrived.
Gu Jia was astonished to see what Madam Wang confidently declared to be "Van Gogh's 'Water Lilies'," boasting that visitors would now surely not underestimate her. After this display, Madam Wang told Gu Jia she would "reconsider" her request and dismissed her. Back home, Xu Huanshan asked Gu Jia if Madam Wang had declined to help. Gu Jia instead asked him if he had seen Monet's "Water Lilies," reminiscing about seeing it in Paris.
She expressed shock that someone who couldn't differentiate between Van Gogh and Monet could afford such a painting and live in such a grand house. Gu Jia admitted she felt "triggered" by Madam Wang, who, at forty, lived such a life, making Gu Jia, at thirty, question their own trajectory.
She concluded that if such a person could achieve that success, then she and Xu Huanshan could do so as well through hard work, and she encouraged him to focus on his design proposal. At Wang Manni's store, the Assistant Manager secured her one of the three quarterly meeting spots with the Store Manager, a chance to make a good impression for future promotions. During the meeting, Wang Manni introduced herself, noting her three years as a senior sales associate.
She observed the declining luxury market and how competition had intensified. She openly stated her ambition to be promoted to supervisor before her thirtieth birthday as a gift to herself. The Store Manager, noting her limited time, emphasized that "being the highlight is more effective than sales performances." Wang Manni affirmed her understanding. After the meeting, she experienced a sharp back pain.
She admitted to a colleague that she avoided drinking water during work to minimize bathroom breaks and ensure constant availability for customers. The building's elevators broke down, and Zhong Xiaoqin and her new colleague, Zhong Xiaoyang, were assigned by property management to help deliver packages. Learning from Gu Jia that Madam Wang attended a "Madame's Gathering" on Fridays, Gu Jia saw an opportunity.
In the lobby, Zhong Xiaoyang took an easier package for the 9th floor, leaving Zhong Xiaoqin with one for the 15th. Finding herself with only eight yuan and unable to reach Chen Yu for a transfer, Zhong Xiaoqin urgently called Gu Jia, who promptly sent her money. Meanwhile, Gu Jia strategically waited in slippers for Madam Wang on her floor.
When Madam Wang appeared, frustrated by the broken elevators and her uncomfortable high heels, Gu Jia feigned retrieving a plate and offered her new slippers to wear. Madam Wang accepted. Gu Jia then exchanged her slippers for Madam Wang's high heels and, carrying them, walked barefoot down the stairs alongside her. Touched, Madam Wang finally agreed to let Gu Jia visit the next day to adjust the telescope and discuss her son's admission.
On the stairs, Zhong Xiaoqin met Wang Manni, who was returning clothes to a customer. Zhong Xiaoqin recognized her from a store event and, urgently needing money, asked to borrow 200 yuan, which Wang Manni immediately transferred. Back at her office, after a long day, Zhong Xiaoqin decided to pay Zhong Xiaoyang 200 yuan to make her remaining deliveries.
She explained to an amused Zhong Xiaoyang that paying for the physically demanding work saved her from exhaustion and expenses, a pragmatic approach to make everyone "happy." Gu Jia, overjoyed, called Zhong Xiaoqin to share the good news. Zhong Xiaoqin, having witnessed Gu Jia's barefoot descent, felt guilty for not being more help. Gu Jia reassured her, calling it her "spiritual practice as a mother" and gently chided her emotional response, attributing it to pregnancy hormones.
After a day of relentless work, Wang Manni was on the phone with her mother, who noticed the weakness in her voice and urged her not to "endure everything yourself." Before her mother could say more, Wang Manni, utterly exhausted, fainted.
