When We Were Young Episode 20 Recap
> When We Were Young Recap
Yang Xi, feeling remorseful and wanting to apologize, brought baozi from Hua Biao for her mother's birthday. Li Yu advised her to apologize to her mother, emphasizing that her mother always thought of her, even if her methods weren't perfect. At dinner, Yang Xi apologized and wished her mother a happy birthday, but her parents appeared distant and troubled. After dinner, Yang Zhao told Yang Xi to go with Li Yu for revision.
Yang Zhao was then called into his parents' room. Yang Xi, left alone, started playing a new, brightly colored violin, but Yang Zhao criticized her for making noise. Later, Yang Xi received an angry call from Yang Zhao's business partner, who questioned Yang Zhao's sudden withdrawal from their product sales venture. Distressed, Yang Xi went to Hua Biao's house, seeking comfort and conversation. She believed Hua Biao was capable of anything and asked if he ever had worries.
Hua Biao confessed to having many, especially that year, admitting he had never known his parents and envied Yang Xi's lively family. When Yang Xi asked why he hadn't visited recently, Hua Biao explained that some worlds can only be admired, not truly joined, using the example of admiring good students without becoming one. He encouraged her not to dwell on admiration but to choose her own path.
He emphasized that while there is only one world for everyone, one can create as many personal worlds as they wish, encouraging her to strive for her own goals, just as he aimed to ensure his grandmother lived a long life. Meanwhile, Hua Biao convinced his grandmother to take a bitter Chinese medicine by exaggerating the seriousness of her minor scald, promising her more time to watch her favorite TV show character.
She later reported dreaming only of that character, indicating the medicine was working. Yang Xi returned home to find it in disarray. After tidying up, she took out the trash but accidentally locked herself out. She called Li Yu's father, Uncle Li, for the spare key he kept at the factory. Uncle Li then revealed to Li Yu that he and Auntie Du (Yang Xi's mother) had been laid off.
He explained that he was laid off because someone reported him for taking a piece of glass from the factory to fix Yang Xi's window. He added that Auntie Du was laid off two weeks prior and was now working as a cleaner at the factory after refusing to leave. Hua Biao, on his way to see Yang Xi, overheard this conversation.
As Yang Xi approached her mother, who was indeed cleaning a public toilet, Hua Biao quickly intervened, fabricating an excuse about boiling water at home to lead Yang Xi away before she fully processed what she saw. Heartbroken after seeing her mother, Yang Xi regretted her previous argument at Ertiao's house, feeling her immaturity had caused her mother pain.
Hua Biao tried to console her, but it was Li Yu who walked her home, listening to her pour out her sorrow. Back home, Yang Xi watched news reports about large-scale layoffs in state-owned enterprises. Motivated by her mother's sacrifice, she took out her violin and books, resolving to study hard and try for art exam bonuses to help her family. Concurrently, Li Yu's father decided to move to Guangzhou to start a business, seeking a new path.
Li Yu later told Hua Biao that a "fat deputy director" was behind his father's and Auntie Du's layoffs, having reported his father and humiliated Auntie Du for defending him. Li Yu expressed a strong desire to confront this man, a sentiment Hua Biao immediately echoed. Yang Xi, too, was determined to seek justice for her mother.
Yang Zhao, however, warned Yang Xi against impulsive actions, urging her to focus on cheering up their mother by achieving success and being obedient, especially since their family's income was now halved. He offered his company bonus if she needed money. Despite Yang Zhao's warning, Yang Xi and her friends, later identified as the Flying Car Five, decided to target the "fat deputy director" to vent their anger.
Li Yu had described the man as lazy and randy, and Yang Xi recalled her mother mentioning his past harassment of a female college student. They devised a "honey trap" using He Mei, who, posing as a new intern, asked the deputy director for directions to the "female bathroom." The deputy director, clearly smitten, offered to lead her. As they walked, another group member deliberately bumped into him, causing him to fall and break his glasses.
While he was disoriented, the group quickly swapped the male and female bathroom signs. The deputy director then entered what he thought was the men's bathroom, only to find himself in the women's and was subsequently beaten by angry women. After their mission, the group headed to a public bathhouse to change. Yang Xi, in a playful mood, burst into the men's changing room, grabbing some clothes and challenging Hua Biao to come out.
Hua Biao emerged, using a blackboard to cover his lower half. Yang Xi then noticed the red string she had braided for him tied around his pants, which brought a smile to her face. News later spread that the deputy director was sued by the women he had offended and was likely to be laid off. The next day, Yang Xi went to Hua Biao's family altar, lit incense, and solemnly promised his deceased parents that she would study diligently.
After this, she asked Hua Biao, despite admitting her complete lack of musical talent, to teach her music. She explained that her mother had lost her proud job and possibly hope for the future, and even if she couldn't help her with anything substantial, she didn't want to worsen her mood. Hua Biao agreed, and they began with basic music theory and the song "The Curved Moon," with Hua Biao patiently guiding her through the notes and rhythm.
