Episode 1 recap: # Student Food Poisoning
In the first episode, set in 2002, An Yan (played by Tong Li Ya) has just graduated and is assigned to He Ping Middle School in Changzhi County as a teacher. As she enthusiastically welcomes her lively group of students, a sudden incident shatters the calm—students begin to faint and show symptoms of vomiting.
In the face of this emergency, An Yan quickly gathers her composure. After consulting with a doctor, it is confirmed that the students are suffering from food poisoning. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, she promptly informs Principal Zhou and starts investigating the cause.
Through her inquiries, An Yan traces the problem back to Granny Jin's breakfast shop. Without hesitation, she urges the school to take action, and although Granny Jin has confidently run her shop for years, she agrees to suspend operations to cooperate with the investigation. The more severely affected students are rushed to the hospital, while An Yan is filled with concern over food safety issues.
Understanding the hardships faced by Granny Jin's family, An Yan does not simply demand a permanent closure of the shop. Instead, she proposes a more compassionate solution: hiring Granny Jin to manage the school dormitory. This not only addresses her livelihood but also improves the school's dorm management.
Principal Hu supports this proposal, giving An Yan hope for enhancing the students' living conditions. When she learns about the national nutrition subsidy policy for students, An Yan is thrilled, knowing how significant this is for the long-nourished children in the mountains. However, as her work progresses, the school asks her to focus more on logistics, which complicates her desire to teach and improve the students' lives.
Throughout this journey, An Yan warms the hearts of each child in her own way. She remembers Zhang Nan, a resilient child who has become strong due to family hardships. To improve the students’ meals, An Yan cleverly suggests a trade of meat for sauerkraut, satisfying the children's craving for meat while showing her deep affection for them.
Zhang Nan later fulfills expectations by gaining admission to a university in Shanghai. When he returns, he expresses his confusion about the future, seeking An Yan's guidance. She encourages him to follow his heart while sharing her own struggles and perseverance regarding career choices.
To further enhance the school's dining quality, An Yan organizes a cooking competition to retain chefs whose skills are recognized by the students. Although this initiative faces strong opposition from Granny Jin, even causing a minor uproar, it ultimately earns the understanding and support of the majority.
Cong Jun Sheng (played by Yang Gong) arrives to assist with teaching, but An Yan envisions him in a role focused on adaptation and learning. She understands that Cong Jun Sheng has his ambitions and dreams, but she also reminds him that many practices must be tailored to the local context, rather than simply applying urban experiences.
Through these efforts and adjustments, An Yan not only secures better living conditions for the students but also writes an extraordinary chapter in her own career. Her actions demonstrate that no matter where one is, as long as there is a big heart, one can create a hopeful future for children.
Comments(Episode 1)