Episode 1 of "When Life Gives You Tangerines" unfolds in the contemporary setting of a poetry workshop for seniors, where we encounter 70-year-old Ae-soon. She finds herself lost in recollections of her formidable mother, a resilient Haenyeo who, following the loss of her invalid husband, remarried and forged ahead.
Ae-soon resides with her affluent paternal family, her education funded by their wealth. However, she yearns to dwell with her mother, her uncle's household offering her little more than scorn and neglect. Despite securing second place in a poetry contest, her mother, preoccupied with the rigors of her livelihood, remains oblivious to her daughter's triumph.
Reluctantly returning to her uncle's residence, Ae-soon is burdened with menial tasks. Meanwhile, her mother eventually stumbles upon her poem, in which Ae-soon vows to grant her 100 won daily, freeing her from her arduous labor. The poignant words pierce through her mother's emotional armor. Incensed by the mistreatment of her daughter, she storms into the house, causes a commotion, bestows them with an abundance of fish, and whisks Ae-soon away to their own home.
As they embark on a new chapter together, Ae-soon throws a fit of pique when denied the role of class president, a position unfairly bestowed upon the son of an influential patron despite her election victory. This prompts her mother to venture to the school and entice the teacher with a bribe, ensuring better treatment for Ae-soon. Upon returning home, she dumps all the cigarettes from their abode, driven by Ae-soon's promise of a pearl necklace in the future, her desire for a longer lifespan palpable.
It is 1961, and Ae-soon's dreams are cruelly shattered when her mother succumbs to illness, the cumulative toll of years spent diving beneath the waves. Devastated by her mother's impending demise, Ae-soon finds solace in the quiet, steadfast presence of Gwan-sik, a boy who watches over her discreetly and brings her sustenance.
One twilight hour, Ae-soon's mother prepares her abalone, imparting a poignant parting wisdom: never to serve as a housekeeper for her stepfather's family upon her passing. Instead, she urges her to return to her uncle's house and humbly seek refuge there. Shortly thereafter, her mother passes away, yet Gwan-sik remains steadfast by Ae-soon's side, his unwavering companionship a beacon amidst her grief.
After the passing of her mother, Ae-soon found herself persuaded by her stepfather to remain and lend him support. One fateful day, she cast her eyes upon their modest plot of land, envisioning its transformation into a flourishing cabbage farm. With the generous assistance of Gwan-sik and the local women, this vision began to take shape. Gwan-sik, ever watchful over Ae-soon, often brought her sustenance as they toiled side by side, fostering a bond that grew stronger with each passing day.
Years slipped by, and Ae-soon arrived at a pivotal decision: she must leave to pursue her studies, recognizing the impossibility of advancing her education amidst the demands of household duties. However, her stepfather, sensing her resolve, devised a plan to keep her by negotiating her passage to the mainland to study Korean literature.
Ae-soon thus found herself perched at the bustling marketplace, cabbage in one hand and a book in the other, though in truth, it was Gwan-sik who bore the brunt of the selling, his efforts shielding her from the rigors of commerce. But as time marched on, a new obstacle emerged when Gwan-sik’s grandmother descended upon the scene, determined to thwart their budding romance. The neighborhood women, ever playful, teased them as a matched pair, fueling the grandmother’s determination to separate them.
In a dramatic turn, as Ae-soon fled from this unforeseen opposition, she cried out, her voice tinged with defiance, “No, thank you!” to the notion of marrying Gwan-sik. These words, spoken amidst the tumult of the market, brought an abrupt close to the chapter, leaving their future hanging in the balance.
