Episode Summary
Sheng Xuezhu, a principled medic, gets into a conflict with a hustler named Yu Leshan over broken eggs. Later, they are both arrested during a raid on a black market and sent to a brutal "study class" for punishment. While Sheng Xuezhu's friend Qu Fangfei escapes the raid with help from the well-connected Qiao Zhengjun, Sheng Xuezhu and Yu Leshan are left to navigate the camp's harsh realities. Yu Leshan uses bribes to improve his situation and tries to help Sheng Xuezhu, but she refuses his aid.
Spoiler Alert
A Favor and a Mess
The story starts in 1975. We're at a cultural performance for all the educated youth sent out to the countryside.
Our main character is Sheng Xuezhu. She’s a medic for her local commune. Her friend, Qu Fangfei, is an actress in a play happening right now. Qu Fangfei needs a medical kit for a prop. So, Sheng Xuezhu grabs her kit and rushes over to the auditorium.
She tries to sneak in backstage but immediately runs into a guy named Yu Leshan. She bumps him so hard he drops the eggs he was holding. They shatter all over the floor. He is not happy about it. He demands she pay him back. She promises to pay him tomorrow and tries to leave, but he won't let it go. Luckily, another guy named Wang Xiao steps in and breaks it up.
Backstage Drama
While all this is happening, a man named Qiao Zhengjun is on stage reciting poetry. Qu Fangfei is backstage, watching him with total focus. It’s pretty clear she has a crush on him.
Sheng Xuezhu finally gives the medical kit to Qu Fangfei. She wants to head out, but Qu Fangfei begs her to stay the night so they can catch up.
The play begins. We learn that Wang Xiao, the guy who broke up the egg argument, actually wrote it. And he based the main character on Sheng Xuezhu's life. Meanwhile, Yu Leshan is busy trying to win points with Qu Fangfei. He passes out local snacks to the other performers. He asks them to cheer extra loud for her. The play is a hit. But by the time Wang Xiao turns around to talk to Sheng Xuezhu, she's already gone.
The Black Market Bust
More Egg Trouble
Sheng Xuezhu is out making her medical rounds. She finds Yu Leshan again. This time he's haggling with an old woman, Ma Sishu, over the price of eggs. He's trying to short her. Sheng Xuezhu steps in and calls him out. She even threatens to report him to the commune for black market dealing. The old woman begs her not to. She explains that selling eggs is the only way she can support her family. Sheng Xuezhu backs down.
Later that night, something interesting happens. Yu Leshan secretly goes back to Ma Sishu’s house. He gives her husband some eggs for free to help him get his strength back. The old woman is grateful.
The Raid
Sheng Xuezhu and Qu Fangfei decide to go to the local black market themselves to buy eggs. And who do they run into? Yu Leshan, of course. He’s all smiles trying to talk to Qu Fangfei.
Suddenly, an inspection team shows up to bust the market. Everyone panics and scatters. In the chaos, Sheng Xuezhu and Qu Fangfei get separated. Yu Leshan loses track of Qu Fangfei, too. With the inspectors closing in, he and Sheng Xuezhu have no choice but to run.
A Narrow Escape
Qu Fangfei hides behind a tree. She sees Qiao Zhengjun. He’s with the inspection team. He spots her but decides to help. He takes off his official red armband and puts it on her arm. He tells her to act like one of them. Then he pulls her away from the chaos and tells her to hide in a small cabin nearby until morning. He gives her the key. Before she goes, she asks him to find Sheng Xuezhu.
Getting Caught
Qiao Zhengjun heads back to the scene. He sees that it's too late. The inspectors have already rounded up Sheng Xuezhu and Yu Leshan. He can't do anything, so he just leaves.
Back at the commune, Yu Leshan tells everyone the story of how he got caught. He makes it sound like a big adventure. Wang Xiao is furious. He says their commune has always been a model group. Now Yu Leshan has ruined their reputation and dragged Sheng Xuezhu down with him. The two get into a massive argument that turns into a fistfight. Other people have to pull them apart.
The Aftermath
Life in the "Study Class"
The punishment is announced. Everyone who was caught has to attend a one-month "study class." It's basically a labor camp. Qiao Zhengjun tries to talk his boss, Director Ma, into letting Sheng Xuezhu off the hook. Director Ma refuses.
Qu Fangfei gives Yu Leshan some money and food coupons. She asks him to pass them to Sheng Xuezhu and to look out for her. He promises he will.
The next day, Sheng Xuezhu and Yu Leshan report to the study class. The man in charge, Director Xiao Shude, is a real piece of work. He immediately tries to intimidate them. Yu Leshan tries to smooth things over by giving him a bottle of good liquor. It works, kind of. Xiao Shude makes a call and gets them assigned to lodging and labor.
Just before he leaves for a new post, Qiao Zhengjun pulls Qu Fangfei aside for a talk. She begs him to find a way to get Sheng Xuezhu out of the camp.
Trying to Survive
The work at the camp is brutal. Sheng Xuezhu just puts her head down and does it. Yu Leshan tries to be nice to her, but she completely ignores him. One day, she misses dinner because she was washing up after work. The cook, Master Bao, refuses to give her any food and even threatens her.
Things get worse. Director Xiao's wife forces the female students to do her personal work, gluing paper boxes together. She's abusive, yelling at them and hitting them. Sheng Xuezhu can't stand it. She threatens to report them to the revolutionary committee. The other women tell her to drop it. If they don't glue boxes, they'll have to do even harder labor, like hauling cement.
Yu Leshan uses his skills. He bribes the cook, Master Bao, with two bottles of liquor. Master Bao is so pleased that he recommends Yu Leshan for a job in the kitchen. Director Xiao agrees.
Qiao Zhengjun, now in his new position, comes to inspect the study class. He sees Sheng Xuezhu struggling to carry a heavy bag of cement and goes over to help her. Yu Leshan tries to use his new influence to help, too. He gives Director Xiao some food coupons and asks if Sheng Xuezhu can also work in the kitchen. Xiao says no, but agrees to let her glue boxes for his wife instead of hauling cement. Yu Leshan rushes to tell her the "good" news. She is not impressed and doesn't thank him.
