Episode 9 recap: Zhang Guimei's Fundraising Efforts
Inside the school building, the faint but determined flicker of candlelight danced alongside the strong, synchronized voices of the students reading aloud, warming everyone's hearts. Zhou Shanqiu used funds from the organization to pay the school's electricity bill, filling Huaping Girls' High School with light once again. Principal Zhang Guimei firmly believes that, regardless of the storms that may come, the school will endure and be revitalized.
The next morning, Zhang Guimei gathered all the teachers. Besides Ding Xiaoxiao, Wei Tingyun, and Yao Xiaoshan, who had already submitted their resignation letters, two more teachers, Yan Li and Hu Juan, were also preparing to leave. With deep regret, Zhang bowed deeply to everyone and candidly admitted her selfishness in wanting to keep the teachers without considering their choices and challenges. She promised to immediately approve the resignations of those who had already submitted them.
Just as Yan Li and Hu Juan were packing their bags and stepping out of the school with heavy hearts, an unexpected scene unfolded. The students in the classroom spontaneously rushed out of the building, calling for their teachers to stay. They vowed to work twice as hard to repay their teachers’ efforts with excellent results. Gu Yu was the first to step forward, proudly reciting the school's motto: “We are the pride of Huaping Girls' High, born at the peak of the mountains, determined not to mingle with the streams. Our goal is to transcend mediocrity and achieve greatness.” This passionate declaration brought tears to the eyes of the two teachers, who ultimately decided to stay, embracing their students tightly.
On the eve of the new semester, Zhang Guimei delivered a deeply meaningful party lesson to the teachers. She was delighted to discover that six members of the team were communists, which filled her with pride. Drawing inspiration from the resilience of the Red Army during the Long March, she motivated everyone to unite in the face of the school's challenges, emphasizing that together, no obstacle was insurmountable. She also stressed that from that moment on, they were not just colleagues but comrades fighting side by side for the future of the school.
To enhance the cohesion among teachers and students, Zhang Guimei implemented a series of new educational activities, including singing revolutionary songs, watching red-themed films, and reciting Mao Zedong's poetry. Although these activities drew some laughter from the students at Nanzhong, Principal Huang admired Zhang Guimei’s dedication and looked forward to seeing the results of her efforts.
Funding shortages continued to be a significant challenge for the school. Zhang Guimei personally traveled to Kunming, bringing food and waiting for help from Jiang Dabo. She sincerely thanked Jiang and presented him with a banner recognizing his good deeds. Although a misunderstanding regarding the banner's figures forced her to request additional donations, her persistence and sincerity touched Jiang and the other business owners present. After a meal, Zhang successfully raised 170,000 yuan. Despite facing awkward moments, such as being pressured to drink, she persevered and immediately reported the good news to Chen Sihai and others.
Upon learning about Zhang Guimei’s struggles to raise funds, Gu Yu felt deeply guilty, especially when she saw Zhang unwell from drinking. She resolved to work even harder in her math studies. Wei Tingyun patiently encouraged her, helping her recognize her strengths and build confidence. Zhou Shanqiu, witnessing this, felt anxious and, despite his limited resources, sought help from Ma Yongqiang, hoping to find more support for Zhang Guimei. Zhang also reminisced about her connections from party school and attempted to reach out to her old classmate Wu Zhiyong. Although she initially faced a cold reception, she refused to give up, believing that with effort, a way forward would always be found.
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