Episode 18 recap: Cheng Miao Miao Helps Qiang Xiao Wa Get to School
In Episode 18, our village once had a school, though it was quite basic. There was a boy named Qiang Xiao Wa who excelled academically from elementary through middle school, always ranking first in his class. His older brother worked hard to support him, leaving home early for work, while their grandfather labored tirelessly. For most kids, like Cheng Miao Miao and her friends, going to school was as natural as eating and sleeping. But for Qiang Xiao Wa, it was a fierce struggle to have that opportunity.
On the day of his middle school graduation, Qiang Xiao Wa felt heartbroken because there was no high school in the village. Determined not to give up, he and his family sought help from the retired principal of his elementary school. The kind old principal took him around to inquire about other high schools, but all the schools were affiliated with the oil fields and didn’t accept outside students, leaving them empty-handed.
Qiang Xiao Wa felt frustrated and couldn’t understand why, despite his hard work, he couldn’t continue his education. He spent two months sitting by the seaside, letting his hair grow long while his spirits sank. The old principal didn’t give up, bringing him high school textbooks and encouraging him to study on his own.
However, Qiang Xiao Wa felt stuck, thinking that studying was pointless and that earning money made more sense. The principal gently reminded him, “Knowledge is a treasure you carry in your mind; education can change your fate!” Eventually, Qiang Xiao Wa was persuaded and began to study the books independently.
A turning point came when the old principal learned that a new principal had been appointed. He immediately took Qiang Xiao Wa to meet her and, with the factory director’s support, managed to secure him a chance to take an entrance exam. This marked a revival of Qiang Xiao Wa’s dream of continuing his education.
Behind the scenes, Qiang Xiao Wa’s grandfather sold whatever he could to support his education, and the old principal humbly sought help. It was then that Cheng Miao Miao realized just how difficult the path to education was for Qiang Xiao Wa.
At this point, a new issue arose concerning Xiao Hua. Her family wanted her to start working to help pay for her brother's wedding dowry. Cheng Miao Miao was alarmed by this and immediately pulled Qiang Xiao Wa to discuss how they could help Xiao Hua.
As the situation unfolded, Li Si began to feel jealous, although he didn’t even know who Xiao Hua was, which only made him more anxious and frustrated.
After school, Qiang Xiao Wa and Cheng Miao Miao walked home together, while Li Si trailed behind, feeling dejected. Speaking of personal music players, Hu Qiu Min had one that Yang Song Bai gifted him, and it was expensive, but Hu Yue didn’t think much of it, considering it just a trivial item.
Cheng Miao Miao and the others took Gao Fei Yang to meet Xiao Hua. The longing in Xiao Hua’s eyes for an education was heartbreaking. The villagers were quite supportive; Yuan Shan Qing even sent some buns to Cheng’s family. On the way back, Qiang Xiao Wa walked Cheng Miao Miao home, but halfway there, Li Si confronted them. Qiang Xiao Wa ignored him, but Cheng Miao Miao ended up arguing with Li Si. Furious, Li Si stomped home, nearly facing a scolding from his father, Li Da Hai, but luckily, Niu Ling Ling intervened by pretending to faint.
Gao Fei Yang sought a transfer slot for Xiao Hua from Xiao Fang, but it was a tough situation, especially since Qiang Xiao Wa’s case had already put Xiao Fang in a difficult position. Meanwhile, Jia Bao Shan tried to leverage Cheng Miao Miao’s academic performance to invite Han Shu to dinner, and Xiao Fang went along too.
Gao Fei Yang didn’t succeed in obtaining a spot, leaving both Qiang Xiao Wa and Cheng Miao Miao feeling disheartened. Just then, Li Si burst into the private room, saw Xiao Fang, and got scared, running away. Han Shu also felt uncomfortable and made an excuse to leave, leaving Xiao Fang alone to face Jia Bao Shan.
Cheng Miao Miao dragged Qiang Xiao Wa to wait for news outside Xiao Fang’s dormitory, only to unexpectedly encounter Jia Bao Shan helping a drunken Xiao Fang back. At first, Cheng Miao Miao didn’t recognize him, but once she saw his silhouette, she realized it was her uncle! This was quite a shocking revelation.
When Li Si heard about it, his jaw nearly dropped in disbelief. Cheng Miao Miao then had a wild idea: what if Jia Bao Shan pursued Xiao Fang? They might just end up together! The plot was more twisted than anything you’d see in a drama!
Comments(Episode 18)