Better Halves Episode 3 Recap
> Better Halves Recap
Marriage Broker Deng arrived at the Qi family residence, attempting to formalize a matchmaking contract for Qi Shaoheng. However, Qi Shaoheng confronted her, accusing her of using deceptive words to trick his mother into signing the agreement.
He then snatched and tore up the contract, threatening her never to set foot in his home again and warning that anyone from the Official Matchmaking Agency who dared to return would face consequences similar to a previous individual who had their leg broken.
Observing this volatile interaction, Lu Chi suggested to Shi Fa'ke that this presented a perfect opportunity for her to secure the Qi family’s matchmaking case, especially since Qi Shaoheng seemed desperate to avoid marriage yet was pressured to do so by his mother. Lu Chi assured Shi Fa'ke that she needn't fear Qi Shaoheng’s temperament, as he was more than capable of protecting her. Convinced, Shi Fa'ke decided they should personally visit Mrs. Qi.
Upon their arrival at the Qi residence, Shi Fa'ke was informed by Mrs. Qi that a contract had already been signed with Marriage Broker Deng. Due to Shi Fa'ke's own family's ongoing legal entanglement with the Qi family, Mrs. Qi was reluctant to engage her services. Just then, Marriage Broker Deng reappeared, infuriated that Qi Shaoheng had torn up her contract.
She immediately tried to assert her authority as chief matchmaker, ordering Shi Fa'ke, as the daughter of the "guilty Tao family," to leave. Shi Fa'ke countered by suggesting that Deng's older perspective might not align with Qi Shaoheng's preferences, proposing instead that her younger, fresher approach might resonate better with him. She emphasized her youth, extensive connections to eligible young ladies, and ability to communicate effectively.
Mrs. Qi, acknowledging her son’s stubborn nature and Deng's previous failure, decided to give both matchmakers a chance. She proposed that they both go and speak with Qi Shaoheng in person; whoever successfully persuaded him to accept their matchmaking services would receive the payment. Lu Chi and Shi Fa'ke proceeded to Liu's Teahouse.
Shi Fa'ke, with keen observation, noticed that a street vendor who sold candied hawthorn to Liu Luan'er had a suspicious change in his limp: it was on his right leg yesterday when talking to Qi Shaoheng, but on his left today, confirming a deception. Inside, they overheard widespread rumors about Qi Shaoheng’s violent and unruly nature. Shi Fa'ke wondered if Marriage Broker Deng was behind these rumors, but Lu Chi cautioned against jumping to conclusions.
Moments later, Qi Shaoheng himself entered the teahouse. Shi Fa'ke approached him, introducing herself as a matchmaker commissioned by his mother. In response, Qi Shaoheng deliberately splashed water on her. Lu Chi immediately stepped in to shield Shi Fa'ke and confronted Qi Shaoheng, leading to a tense, silent struggle between the two men until Shi Fa'ke and Liu Luan'er intervened to pull them apart.
Qi Shaoheng brazenly admitted he had orchestrated the rumors about his own violent temper and that he had paid for their spread, even implicating Lu Chi in a fabricated scandal. He revealed that he had enlisted a former male colleague from the Official Matchmaking Agency, who pretended to have a broken leg, to help him spread these stories.
Shi Fa'ke fiercely rebuked him for dragging Lu Chi into his schemes and for tainting his reputation, also accusing Qi Shaoheng of having a hidden love interest. Qi Shaoheng, in turn, challenged Shi Fa'ke by demanding that she first "witness a marriage" for his "sister" Xiao Hei and her "fiancé" Da Hei, whom he described with absurdly long legs, implying they were horses.
He declared that if she successfully performed this "horse marriage," he would then entrust his own marriage case to her. The surrounding crowd, enraged by Qi Shaoheng's behavior, began pelting him with eggs. Marriage Broker Deng then appeared, dispersing the crowd and attempting to leverage the chaos to convince Qi Shaoheng to hand his marriage over to her.
To everyone’s astonishment, Shi Fa'ke accepted Qi Shaoheng's bizarre request, arguing that love and companionship extended beyond humans and that she had no right to refuse a task entrusted to her if it caused no harm. Impressed by her resolve, Qi Shaoheng agreed to temporarily entrust his marriage to her. Shi Fa'ke meticulously conducted the "horse marriage" ceremony for Xiao Hei and Da Hei.
During the ceremony, she subtly yet pointedly questioned Qi Shaoheng about the importance of the client's wishes versus parental preferences in marriage, drawing a clear parallel between his horses having no say in their "union" and his own mother's efforts to arrange his marriage without considering his feelings. She challenged his integrity, asking what kind of woman would trust a man who was so inconsistent.
Moved by her words, Qi Shaoheng finally and officially entrusted his marriage case to Shi Fa'ke, making her promise not to sacrifice his preferences for his mother's desires or societal expectations. As they were about to formalize their agreement, Marriage Broker Deng burst in, accusing Shi Fa'ke of recklessly conducting matches and damaging the Official Matchmaking Agency's reputation, especially given her mother's unresolved legal issues.
Lu Chi intervened, declaring that the final decision regarding Qi Shaoheng’s marriage should ultimately rest with Qi Shaoheng himself. He then brought Qi Shaoheng out to make his choice between the two matchmakers. Deng continued to badmouth Shi Fa'ke, bringing up her mother's alleged involvement in robbing the Qi family and accusing Shi Fa'ke of instigating Qi Shaoheng to ruin his family's name and performing the absurd horse marriage.
Mrs. Qi, while eager for her son to marry, expressed concerns about the family's reputation. Qi Shaoheng, still playing coy, proposed that both matchmakers search for suitable partners for him, and he and his mother would then personally review the candidates, deciding who could find him a truly compatible match. As Shi Fa'ke was leaving the Weiyuan Escort Agency, she encountered her two elder brothers, who were greatly relieved to see her safe.
Shi Fa'ke attempted to introduce Lu Chi to her brothers, but Lu Chi discreetly slipped away, explaining that as an "outsider," it was appropriate for him to leave when her family arrived. Shi Fa'ke then led Lu Chi to a secret room in her family home, which she dramatically presented as her family's most precious "treasure." To Lu Chi's surprise, the room was filled with meticulously compiled marriage prospectuses of wealthy young women from across the capital.
Shi Fa'ke, wanting to practice her matchmaking skills, attempted to find a suitable bride for Lu Chi, much to his dismay. He insisted he was too young for marriage and not interested. Shortly after, Shi Fa'ke's two elder brothers arrived at the secret room. Lu Chi, needing to escape, prompted Shi Fa'ke to use the excuse of the room's official seal and the potential harm to their family reputation to create a diversion, allowing himself to leave discreetly.
Meanwhile, Lu Chi learned from a deliveryman returning from the Prime Minister's residence that Zhu Yanyan, Shi Fa'ke's close friend, was not unwilling to see her but was, in fact, being held under house arrest by her stepmother. This news brought Lu Chi great relief for Shi Fa'ke, as it meant her friend hadn't betrayed her.
Lu Chi also realized that the push to marry the Grand Tutor's daughter to Qi Shaoheng was a scheme to gain control over the Qi family and its escort agency. He decided to postpone revealing a "ten-year contract" to Shi Fa'ke until her family’s legal issues were fully resolved. Shi Fa'ke found it increasingly difficult to find any young women willing to meet Qi Shaoheng, as Marriage Broker Deng had actively interfered.
Lu Chi, however, informed her of Zhu Yanyan's predicament, which greatly uplifted Shi Fa'ke. With the support of Ms. Li, the manager of Xibao Pavilion, who promised to hold Deng at bay, Shi Fa'ke proceeded to bring a young lady to meet Qi Shaoheng and Mrs. Qi. At Xibao Pavilion, Deng presented Miss Wang, the Grand Tutor's daughter.
However, Miss Wang quickly revealed a volatile disposition by throwing a fit over a stained dress, disappointing Mrs. Qi and prompting Qi Shaoheng to remark that he disliked ill-tempered women. Shi Fa'ke then introduced Miss Song, a young lady from an ordinary family but praised for her inner beauty and virtuous character. Although Mrs. Qi initially dismissed Miss Song due to her humble background, Shi Fa'ke eloquently argued that good character was far more crucial than social standing.
While Qi Shaoheng found Shi Fa'ke's arguments "pleasant to hear," he declined Miss Song but told Shi Fa'ke to keep looking. Frustrated, Shi Fa'ke expressed to Lu Chi her suspicion that Qi Shaoheng was simply toying with her, but Lu Chi suggested there might be more to his behavior and offered to buy her candied hawthorn to lift her spirits.
