Hello, Thirty

This film (drama)Also known as三十岁，你好，is aMainland ChinaProducerbeauty live，At2013Released in year 。The dialogue language isMandarin Chinese，Current Douban rating5.5(For reference only)。

In 2010, those known as "flowers in the greenhouse" and "little suns," the post-80s generation, entered their thirtieth year. Regardless of how they had lived before, they, like everyone else, had to cross this extremely important threshold in life. At thirty, one should become established. But what does "established" mean? Does it merely refer to starting a family and career? This is the confusion faced by the characters in our drama, posing questions that lead to their struggles, pains, and frustrations, prompting them to engage in deep reflection and actively seek answers while bravely confronting these issues. Tong Youyi and Sun Ran are college classmates and friends. Despite their differing personalities and pursuits, they share the same lofty dreams and ambitions typical of their generation. Yet as they approach thirty, neither has achieved their personal goals, nor are they mentally prepared for this milestone. Gradually, anxiety and despair set in. Facing the pivotal age of thirty, the unmarried Tong Youyi feels anxious, vowing to get married and start a family before hitting thirty. However, he unexpectedly finds himself on an incredibly challenging path to marriage. Various accidents and setbacks catch him off guard, leaving him in a sorry state. First, his girlfriend Luo Hua's parents disapprove of him, firmly opposing their marriage. After much effort, they get permission, but complications arise when both families meet; disagreements about the wedding and housing create tension. After difficult negotiations, solutions are reached, but just as everyone is busy renovating the new house, a tragedy occurs—Luo Hua's father tragically dies while overseeing the renovations. The wedding must be postponed. As the prospective son-in-law, Tong Youyi must face the grieving process for his father-in-law. However, no matter how hard he tries, his mother-in-law Miao Honghua blames him for her husband’s death, which makes her inability to accept him even more pronounced. Following this, coupled with routine conflicts, the relationship between Tong Youyi and his mother-in-law becomes fraught with tension, much to the distress of Luo Hua, who is caught in the middle. While Tong Youyi is immersed in wedding planning, Sun Ran unexpectedly and rapidly divorces Tan Zongyang. They started dating in college, with Tan Zongyang actively pursuing Sun Ran, which gave her the upper hand in their relationship. However, after graduation, as Tan Zongyang's career flourished, Sun Ran found herself overshadowed by her highly successful partner, which served as a painful twist for the ambitious Sun Ran. The divorce wasn't due to any significant principle; it was a spontaneous decision made during an argument. The divorce was decisive, but post-divorce reality brought many complications, especially with interference from Sun Ran's father, Mr. Sun, keeping them entwined. Not long after Tong Youyi resolved his father-in-law's affairs, trouble arose at home. His own parents began to quarrel incessantly about divorce, leading Tong Youyi’s mother, Zuo Dongmei, to move into his new house in anger. This sparked a major uproar, with Miao Honghua even suspecting that the divorce was a ruse to take over the new house. Regardless of Miao Honghua's suspicions, Zuo Dongmei's actions hindered Tong Youyi and Luo Hua's marriage plans, as they found themselves without a venue. Consequently, because of housing issues—a place to live—Tong Youyi and Luo Hua embarked on yet another journey marked by struggle and conflict. Ultimately, Miao Honghua sold her and her husband's old house in Nanjing, enabling her daughter and son-in-law to settle in Beijing. With a home secured, Tong Youyi and Luo Hua's lives didn’t resemble a fairytale; they were not ushered into a happy ever after. Instead, they found life brimming with various problems and conflicts—between themselves, between Tong Youyi and his mother-in-law, between the mother-in-law’s issues, and also involving Tong Youyi’s parents and Luo Hua's in-laws, and so on. Amid the chaos of everyday life, while Tong Youyi and Sun Ran struggle to cope, they also have to balance work. However, the troubles in their lives inevitably affect their professional performance. Sun Ran, in an attempt to help Tong Youyi raise funds for a house, diverted a business deal meant for the company to a friend's shop, but this backfired when it led to a dispute with the client and ultimately caused her to lose her job. Likewise, Tong Youyi, overwhelmed by mundane issues, began to falter at work, making frequent mistakes, which resulted in his job loss and facing the daunting prospect of starting over. Yet this is the reality of life; regardless of whether it’s good or bad, willing or unwilling, one must continue on and confront challenges. Through these trials and setbacks, the reluctant post-80s characters in our drama gradually grow up, learning to face responsibilities and bear burdens. After her divorce, Sun Ran felt immense emptiness. She pursued money, success, and relationships, yet nothing resolved her internal struggles. After a tough entrepreneurial journey, she finally found success, but then a mishap destroyed all she had worked for. Sun Ran faced a seemingly complete loss—not only in her career but potentially losing Tan Zongyang as well. However, rather than fleeing from pain, she bravely chose to take responsibility and compensated the victims of the accident. To her surprise, this act helped rekindle Tan Zongyang’s feelings for her. Reflecting on failures, Tong Youyi and Luo Hua also stopped avoiding the problems and conflicts of life. From initially facing challenges head-on to proactively seeking solutions, they gradually became adept at managing conflicts. Throughout this process, their relationship deepened, evolving from the initial soaring emotions to a steady, profound bond. When their child was finally born, they truly experienced the meaning of mutual support and companionship. As Miao Honghua began to recognize Tong Youyi's transformation, she gradually came to understand her late husband's words—that Tong Youyi was a promising child who would eventually become strong with time, just like steel being forged. The process of refining steel parallels the growth of post-80s individuals approaching their thirtieth year; it reflects their acceptance of the realities of life. What does it mean to be established at thirty? Through the diverse experiences and trials of our characters, we aim to convey to the audience that being established is far more than just establishing a family and career; it means to be upright, relying on one’s abilities to shoulder responsibilities, determining life goals and directions, and facing and solving problems with composure. This is not only a lesson the characters in this drama need to understand, but a crucial truth for each of us to grasp. Understanding this principle will empower us to be braver and more resilient.