Better Halves Episode 4 Recap
> Better Halves Recap
Shi Fa'ke, frustrated with Qi Shaoheng's apparent lack of commitment to marriage, suspected he was merely toying with her. Lu Chi, accompanying her, suggested otherwise. After Shi Fa'ke decided to eat candied haws to ease her anger, they set off. Along the way, Shi Fa'ke noticed a familiar, refreshing tea scent, similar to the incense Qi Shaoheng had used, and Lu Chi confirmed he also detected it. Their curiosity led them to Liu's Teahouse.
Inside, they observed Qi Shaoheng warmly interacting with a young woman named Liu Luan'er. Liu Luan'er then approached them, offering tea. Lu Chi's composure intrigued Shi Fa'ke, and he explained that with enough information, answers could always be deduced. Shi Fa'ke quickly realized the truth: Qi Shaoheng and Liu Luan'er shared a deep, unspoken understanding, evident in their exchange of candied haws.
She concluded that Liu Luan'er's humble background as a teahouse owner meant she was not a suitable match for the noble Qi family, and Qi Shaoheng was likely delaying his marriage because of her. Lu Chi agreed with Shi Fa'ke's insight, which pleased her as he rarely offered such direct affirmation. Liu Luan'er soon left to fetch water, giving Shi Fa'ke an opportunity to subtly approach her.
Shi Fa'ke probed about the candied haws Qi Shaoheng had given her, causing Liu Luan'er to deny any romantic involvement. Shi Fa'ke then implied she would arrange a new marriage for Qi Shaoheng, prompting Liu Luan'er to finally admit she did not want him to marry anyone else. Shi Fa'ke then invited Liu Luan'er for a private chat, promising to help her solve her problems.
Liu Luan'er confided that she and Qi Shaoheng had known each other since childhood, as her family's tea stall was on land leased from the Qi family, and Qi Shaoheng had even waived their rent once he began managing family affairs. She expressed concern that Mrs. Qi would never approve of her, given her humble background, and her reluctance to ruin Qi Shaoheng's reputation. She had even considered ending their relationship to avoid dragging him down.
Shi Fa'ke strongly disagreed, insisting that true lovers should not be separated. She vowed to find a solution to ensure their union. She explained that since Mrs. Qi desired a daughter-in-law from a noble family, they would create the illusion that Liu Luan'er was one. Shi Fa'ke asked Lu Chi to accompany her, but he refused, stating the matter was best kept secret from Ms. Deng, who could ruin everything.
Lu Chi, however, followed her, claiming his love for "rubbernecking" and that he found "drama" around Shi Fa'ke. Their banter about the phrase "a match made in heaven" led them back to the serious discussion. Shi Fa'ke then questioned Liu Luan'er about her tea-serving etiquette, subtly correcting her on the proper way for a young lady to serve elders in noble households. She reassured Liu Luan'er that while these were mere formalities, they were crucial for meeting Mrs. Qi.
Shi Fa'ke planned to leverage Liu Luan'er's strong tea-making skills and add refined etiquette to convince Mrs. Qi that she was a noble lady, promising Mrs. Qi would be satisfied. Liu Luan'er, determined for Shaoheng's sake, agreed to learn. Shi Fa'ke then instructed Ms. Li, a proprietor, to help Liu Luan'er select suitable outfits, leaving Lu Chi pondering Shi Fa'ke's unusual methods. Lu Chi revealed he would share a secret with her once she completed this matchmaking case.
Shi Fa'ke felt something was still missing: a respectable father figure for Liu Luan'er. Lu Chi initially balked at the idea of deception, emphasizing the importance of integrity for matchmakers. Shi Fa'ke then revealed her true motivation for such elaborate schemes: to rescue her parents from prison, highlighting her difficult position in the Official Matchmaking Agency. She pleaded with Lu Chi for his help, and after some hesitation, he agreed to assist.
Meanwhile, Ms. Deng, aware of Qi Shaoheng's true affections and his refusal to marry the Grand Tutor's daughter, vowed to thwart Shi Fa'ke's plan to unite him with Liu Luan'er. She saw Shi Fa'ke's actions as a personal affront and was connected to the Marquis Wu'an, who ordered her to manage Qi Shaoheng.
Shi Fa'ke arranged a meeting with Mrs. Qi under the guise of a business opportunity, inviting her to meet Liu Luan'er as a potential client for her escort agency to transport valuable items. During the meeting, Mrs. Qi was impressed by Liu Luan'er's beauty and tea skills, but she also felt a strong sense of familiarity with her.
Shi Fa'ke fabricated a story about Liu Luan'er being a noble lady who had come of age but was not yet engaged, suggesting that if she married in the capital, her father could sell his property and reunite with her. She even planned for the fake father to "disappear" after encountering "bandits." Unbeknownst to Shi Fa'ke, Ms. Deng had already discovered her scheme.
Ms. Deng cleverly summoned Liu Luan'er's real father to the very room where the meeting was taking place, under the pretense that Shi Fa'ke wanted to discuss his daughter's marriage. As Mrs. Qi, thoroughly pleased with Liu Luan'er, was about to agree to the marriage, Liu Luan'er's real father burst in, calling for his daughter. Mrs. Qi quickly recognized him and realized the elaborate deception.
Enraged, she confronted Liu Luan'er, who admitted her true identity as the daughter of the tea stall owner. Mrs. Qi accused her of treachery, despite the Qi family's past kindness of waiving their rent. Qi Shaoheng tried to intervene, taking responsibility for the scheme, but his mother dragged him home, locking him in his room and forbidding him from seeing the "tea girl." Liu Luan'er was devastated and apologized profusely, blaming herself and her father for the failure.
Shi Fa'ke also expressed regret, acknowledging her "bad idea" and carelessness. Despite the setback, Liu Luan'er found solace in having tried, expressing no regrets even if she couldn't marry Qi Shaoheng. Surprisingly, she harbored no resentment towards Mrs. Qi, praising her as a good mother who had raised a kind-hearted son.
Liu Luan'er even declared her willingness to sacrifice her life to protect Mrs. Qi, simply because she was the mother of the man she loved, understanding that Qi Shaoheng's sorrow would also bring her unhappiness. Undeterred, Shi Fa'ke conceived a new, risky plan: a "beauty saves the hero" scenario. She proposed that Lu Chi pretend to be a bandit and attack Mrs. Qi, allowing Liu Luan'er to bravely step in and save her, thus earning Mrs. Qi's favor.
Lu Chi was initially reluctant, citing his dignity, but Shi Fa'ke's desperate pleas and her earlier revelation about rescuing her parents softened him. He agreed to find some skilled individuals to impersonate bandits, but only if Shi Fa'ke promised him one thing in return, though he hadn't decided what it was yet. Liu Luan'er and her father also expressed their sincere willingness to help, feeling a debt of gratitude to the Qi family for their past kindness.
With the "bandits" secured, the next challenge was to lure Mrs. Qi out. Lu Chi took it upon himself to talk to Qi Shaoheng, who was still locked in his room by Mrs. Qi. Qi Shaoheng, desperate to marry Liu Luan'er, questioned Lu Chi's motives. Lu Chi explained he had grudges against certain individuals involved in smuggling government grain and that Qi Shaoheng, as Shi Fa'ke's client, was fortuitously involved.
He advised Qi Shaoheng to take his mother to Mount Jiugong for prayers, suggesting it might offer a glimmer of hope. Qi Shaoheng, trusting Lu Chi one last time, agreed to try to persuade his mother. The next day, Qi Shaoheng successfully took his mother to Mount Jiugong for prayers. On their way, they encountered a large group of masked bandits.
Shi Fa'ke, also present with Liu Luan'er, was surprised by the sheer number of assailants, realizing this was far beyond a mere act. Real, dangerous bandits had appeared, putting Mrs. Qi and Qi Shaoheng in grave danger, and even threatening Shi Fa'ke herself. Lu Chi was forced to genuinely intervene, engaging the real bandits in fierce combat.
Liu Luan'er, despite having no martial arts skills, bravely rushed into the fray and was quickly wounded, nearly killed by a bandit before Mrs. Qi surprisingly saved her. As Mrs. Qi comforted the injured Liu Luan'er, an attacker lunged at Mrs. Qi. Without hesitation, Liu Luan'er threw herself in front of Mrs. Qi, but Qi Shaoheng swiftly intervened, blocking the assailant.
Later, the Marquis Wu'an was informed of the failed assassination attempt, expressing surprise at the strength of Qi Shaoheng and the presence of a highly skilled man protecting Shi Fa'ke. He was furious at his subordinate's incompetence, stating that another attempt would be even harder now that the Qi family was on alert.
He was, however, pleased that Ms. Deng had become the Chief Matchmaker, seeing it as a way to control the marital alliances of all officials in the capital, which would greatly aid him. Meanwhile, Lu Chi, injured while protecting Shi Fa'ke, brought her to Xibao Pavilion for treatment, as she had fainted at the sight of his blood. In a daze, Shi Fa'ke dreamt of being assassinated and Lu Chi being killed, which startled her awake.
She immediately thought of Lu Chi's injury. He initially lied, claiming he was unharmed and that the blood was from the bandits. However, a staff member inadvertently revealed to Shi Fa'ke that Lu Chi was indeed gravely wounded but had concealed it to spare her distress. Learning of Lu Chi's selflessness, Shi Fa'ke was deeply moved and pondered how she could repay his kindness.
