Episode 1 recap: Underage Girl Forced to Drop Out and Marry
In the first episode, set in 2007 in Huaping County, Lijiang, Yunnan Province, Fang Qiong is rushing on her electric bike to visit Gu Yu's home, carrying Zhang Guimei. On the way, Fang Qiong feels unwell and has to stop at a makeshift restroom in the wild. Meanwhile, Zhang Guimei is anxious about Gu Yu's decision to drop out of school; she can't wait for Fang Qiong to return and heads to Gu Yu's home alone.
Huaping is notorious for its poverty and deep-rooted gender bias. Girls have little status from a young age, and as they grow up, their options are limited to marriage or hard labor. Gu Yu's family is a prime example — her father, Gu Laosan, is an alcoholic, and the family relies on the 14-year-old Gu Yu to manage everything.
Despite her difficult circumstances, Gu Yu excels in school and ranks among the top students. When Zhang Guimei arrives at Gu Yu's home, she is about to persuade her to return to school when suddenly, the sound of drums and gongs interrupts. It turns out a matchmaker has come to propose. After some questioning, Zhang Guimei discovers that Gu Yu has been sold for 30,000 yuan by her father! Furious, she declares that no one will take Gu Yu away from her.
Secretary Ma Yongqiang arrives and manages to send the suitors away, but a nearby woman keeps shouting "bride," which only adds to Zhang Guimei's distress. She can't understand how Gu Yu could so easily give up on her future. Unfortunately, this is the harsh reality; local customs dictate early marriage and childbearing, and many girls' fates are sealed.
Zhang Guimei tries to reason with Gu Yu, explaining that if she goes to college, she could earn far more than 30,000 yuan. However, Gu Yu has her own burdens: her family is poor, her father is neglectful, and her younger brother is still a child, leaving her feeling trapped. Determined, Zhang Guimei offers to pay for Gu Yu's education and even leaves some money for her. But when Gu Laosan finds the money, he immediately spends it on alcohol, leaving Gu Yu heartbroken.
Back at her residence, Zhang Guimei vents her frustrations to Fang Qiong about the irresponsibility of families like Gu Yu's. Fang Qiong can only shake her head in resignation, noting that life in the mountains is tough, with men drinking away their earnings while women endure hardships at home. This deepens Zhang Guimei's resolve to change the situation.
The next morning, Zhang Guimei returns to persuade Gu Yu to go back to school, and this time she succeeds. However, Gu Laosan reacts violently, locking Gu Yu in the woodshed and beating her. Zhang Guimei arrives just in time to rescue Gu Yu and takes her away from that home.
That night, Zhang Guimei brings Gu Yu to a children's home. The next morning, Gu Yu wakes up to the sight of children playing in the yard, experiencing warmth and joy that she hasn't felt in a long time. A girl her age, Sun Qing, greets her warmly, and although Zhao Xiaolei's bluntness makes things awkward at first, Sun Qing quickly comes to her aid.
Meanwhile, Zhang Guimei is busy following up with Zhou Shanqian about the progress of establishing a free girls' high school. Zhou Shanqian explains the challenges of starting a school, especially securing full government funding. However, Zhang Guimei remains undeterred; she knows this is a crucial step toward changing the lives of girls.
From that moment on, Zhang Guimei's commitment only grows stronger. She is determined not just to help Gu Yu return to school but to fight for the educational rights of many more girls like her. Thanks to her efforts, an increasing number of girls are leaving the mountains to explore a broader world.
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