Resumo do episódio 4 de Our Dazzling Days
> Resumos de Our Dazzling Days
Outside the school gates, Zhang Xiaoman and Zhuang Sen struggled to distribute tickets for the upcoming anniversary celebration of the Donghua Plant. Zhuang Sen tried to drum up excitement by shouting like a street vendor, calling himself and Xiaoman superstars, but the passing students remained largely indifferent. Observing their lack of progress, Yan Xiaodan stepped in to help. With a much more natural and persuasive approach, she quickly cleared out the remaining tickets.
Watching her work, Zhuang Sen was deeply impressed. Xiaoman explained with a touch of pride that she was the host for the plant's anniversary gala. On the day of the event, Ding Guoqiang looked around the sparsely populated auditorium with a sigh. He complained to his wife about the dull atmosphere, suggesting that even some simple firecrackers would have helped liven things up.
He noted that the dwindling attendance and lack of energy were clear reflections of the factory's declining state. Meanwhile, He Yuexiang finished folding a pair of unfinished wool pants she was knitting. She took the ticket Xiaoman had given her from a small box, locked her door, and made her way toward the performance. The gala proceeded with traditional recitations and choral acts.
Backstage, Xiaoman kept peering out at the audience, but he couldn't find his grandmother in the second row. When it was finally time for their act, Yan Xiaodan coordinated the lighting from behind the scenes, plunging the hall into momentary darkness. When the lights flashed back on, Xiaoman and Zhuang Sen stood on stage in stylish new outfits.
They began with a few lines of a traditional worker's song before suddenly transitioning into a high-energy rock rendition of "Really Love You." The younger audience members erupted in cheers and rushed toward the stage to dance. While Sun Lulu watched Xiaoman with admiration, Xiaoman’s own gaze found Yan Xiaodan’s across the crowded room. However, the factory director was outraged by the modern performance, viewing it as a breach of decorum.
He ordered security to drag the two boys off stage amidst the boos of the crowd. Seeing Xiaoman’s dejection afterward, Zhuang Sen tried to console him, remarking that the darkest hour is always just before the dawn. When Xiaoman returned home, his grandmother was nowhere to be found. He searched the streets near the venue and eventually came across a crowd gathered outside the performance site.
Pushing through, he found He Yuexiang sitting on a park bench, appearing as though she had simply fallen asleep. He rushed to embrace her, but the reality of her passing soon set in as Ding Guoqiang and other neighbors arrived to help carry her away. Xiaoman broke down in a fit of grief, clinging to her until the others gently pulled him back.
The neighbors watched with heavy hearts, and Mrs. Ding tearfully advised him that he must let her go in peace, warning that his tears should not fall on her face or she would leave this world with a heavy heart. Following the funeral, Xiaoman began the somber task of tidying his grandmother’s belongings. He took a box of small cushions she had sewn for the factory and delivered them to Department Head Liu.
During this time, Ding Guoqiang officially volunteered to be Xiaoman’s guardian. It was then revealed that Xiaoman’s father, Zhang Jiaming, had died in an accident while working in the south. Manager Liu instructed Mr. Ding to prepare the necessary paperwork and informed Xiaoman that the factory would provide him with a monthly allowance of one hundred yuan. He was also told he was welcome to eat at the factory cafeteria at any time.
Touched by their support, Xiaoman gave the two men a deep, respectful bow. Later, Xiaoman went to the Ding residence for dinner, where the couple had prepared a lavish spread. They showered him with excessive care, peeling fruit and opening sodas while Mr. Ding stayed busy at the stove to ensure every dish was perfect. The overwhelming kindness made Xiaoman’s throat tighten, and he began to cry into his bowl of rice.
The Dings were moved to tears as well, with Mr. Ding even turning away to wipe his eyes with the window curtain. After the meal, Xiaoman took the leftovers back to his quiet house. Tong Guizhen visited him later that evening, lighting incense before He Yuexiang’s portrait and reassuring him that the community would ensure he was well-cared for. Xiaoman’s friends also stepped up to support him.
Yan Xiaodan arrived with steamed buns her mother had made, and Xia Lei brought over a stir-fried dish from his family. Their presence brought a temporary sense of warmth back to the house, though Xiaoman still felt a profound emptiness. During those difficult days, he often went to the pool hall to vent his frustration by punching a tattered sandbag in the corner. Wang Tieda took him out for a fast ride on his motorcycle to help clear his mind.
Sharing his own experiences of loss, Wang Tieda encouraged him to focus on the future. Xiaoman finally admitted that he wanted to join the military, a goal that Wang Tieda fully supported, even suggesting that Xiaoman continue training his boxing. At school, Xiaoman noticed a recruitment poster for the Aviation Academy and began to dream of becoming a pilot. Yan Xiaodan shared her own ambitions, mentioning her plan to go to Beijing for a hosting competition.
With the newsstand closed and his finances tight, Xiaoman looked for a way to earn money quickly and reached out to Zhigang. Zhigang’s method was questionable; he and his crew would dig holes in a muddy dirt road, wait for vehicles to get stuck, and then charge fifty yuan as a "hardship fee" to push them out. Their first target was Director Hou from the factory.
Though he was initially unwilling to pay, his car only sank deeper into the mud as he tried to accelerate out. He eventually relented and handed over the fifty yuan, but he took careful note of Xiaoman’s face among the group. Shortly after, another vehicle became trapped in the same spot. When Xiaoman looked up, his heart sank. The passengers in the car were Mr. Yan and Yan Xiaodan. As Xiaoman tried to hide his face, Zhigang called out to him for help, drawing Yan Xiaodan’s immediate attention.
