Episode 5 recap: Recruitment Challenges for the Teacher Team in the Mountains
In this episode, Zhang Guimei, after obtaining Chen Sihai's contact information, urgently calls him to sincerely invite him to be the office director at Huaping Girls' High School. Chen Sihai, who has been the deputy director at the county girls' high school for several years, felt frustrated after losing the director position to someone with connections. However, after some persuasion, he finally convinces his family to let him take the job.
The next day, Chen Sihai arrives at the school loaded with bags, just in time to meet Zhang Guimei and the teachers who are preparing to head into the mountains for recruitment. He feels joyful, mistakenly thinking they are there to welcome him. Zhang Guimei quickly hands over the responsibilities of the school to him and gives him a heavy set of keys, which makes him feel excited, like he’s carrying a little rabbit in his pocket.
As the group bounces along the mountain road, Teacher Cai Hong, unable to handle the bumpy ride, ends up getting sick. After making sure she is alright, Zhang Guimei begins distributing student information, assigning each person five families to persuade to send their children to school.
Teachers Cai Hong and Hu Juan go door to door, but whenever they mention Zhang Guimei's name, the villagers react as if they are avoiding a plague. They finally find a girl named Wen Yan, but before they can say much, the door slams shut, leaving them embarrassed.
Meanwhile, Teacher Wei Tingyun goes to visit the Li sisters, Li Hua and Li Zelan, and learns that they haven't been in school because they need to help their family earn money by making rice noodles. Wei is particularly saddened by Li Zelan's situation, recognizing her potential, but Li Hua insists that life outside the mountains is still tough, so what's the point?
On another front, Teacher Yao Xiaoshan visits Ning Hua's family. When her grandparents hear he is there to encourage education, they mistake him for a human trafficker and nearly attack him. He manages to prove his innocence with his work ID. Ning Hua has not been to school because she has to take care of her sick grandparents, but when she learns that attending school comes with living expenses, she agrees to go in order to help cover medical costs.
Teacher Ding Xiaoxiao has her own humorous encounter as she searches for Liu Xiying, who has given up on school due to poor performance. Ding encourages her by saying that studying hard could lead to a better life in the city, causing Liu Xiying to fall into a ditch in her panic.
At dinner that evening, everyone shares their experiences from the day. Zhang Guimei sighs, noting that to the villagers, girls are seen as burdens, expected to repay their upbringing. When they hear about education, they feel it's a loss, so they resist.
Cai Hong begins to waver, feeling the conditions are too harsh, contrary to what was promised during recruitment. However, Zhang Guimei remains focused and continues the outreach efforts. Despite facing many obstacles, they refuse to give up, while Chen Sihai and the other teachers busily procure supplies and set up the school. When Zhang Guimei and the team return, they find the school building has been transformed.
Chen Sihai has not only organized the school but has also prepared a new list of items for future improvement. Zhang Guimei is pleased with his work, but the recruitment issue still weighs heavily on her mind as the school year approaches and the number of students is still lacking. At that moment, a little girl named Gu Yu reminds her not to forget about Cai Guizhi.
Zhang Guimei rushes to the Cai household to speak with Cai Guizhi about attending Huaping Girls' High School. However, Cai Guizhi is very resistant and refuses to express her concerns. Cai's father, seeing his daughter’s reaction, becomes angry and threatens to hit her. Zhang Guimei intervenes, scolding him for his behavior, explaining that Cai Guizhi's reluctance is to protect her mother from being harmed.
Just then, Teacher Zhou Shanqiu calls to urge Zhang Guimei to return to the children's home. Before leaving, Zhang Guimei warns Cai’s father, “If she doesn’t go to school, it’s all your fault!” With that, she hurriedly departs from the Cai family home.
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