Better Halves Episode 5 Recap
> Better Halves Recap
After witnessing Liu Luan'er risk her life to save her, Mrs. Qi recognized Luan'er's genuine affection for her son and finally consented to their marriage, to the couple's great joy. However, a guilt-ridden Luan'er confessed that she had hired actors to stage the robbery, a plan which went awry. Qi Shaoheng was puzzled, as he knew the assailants had been genuinely trying to kill them.
Mrs. Qi, shrewder than they realized, revealed she already knew the first four attackers were hired actors who fled, but the subsequent ones were real killers. She also correctly deduced that Shaoheng was complicit in the initial scheme. Despite the deception and the near-fatal incident, Mrs. Qi was now eager for the wedding to proceed and instructed Shaoheng to have Shi Fa'ke arrange everything as quickly as possible. As Shaoheng devotedly cared for Luan'er, Shi Fa'ke found Lu Chi.
Deeply moved that he had been injured while protecting her, she tended to his wound. Shaoheng later found them and playfully teased them for their closeness. Grateful for Shi Fa'ke's help, Shaoheng promised to go to the Military Headquarters to clear her parents' names, affirming that her family had not robbed his escort agency. Meanwhile, Lu Yi reported to Lu Chi with both good and bad news.
The good news was that Shi Fa'ke's parents, Tao Shi and her husband, would soon be released from prison. The bad news was that the Marquis Wu'an's painter, being pressured by court officials about marriage, had no interest in painting and had instructed Lu Chi to monitor the Marquis, who would likely target the Official Matchmaking Agency again. Lu Chi assured Shi Fa'ke, when she arrived, that he would keep a close watch on the agency.
Touched by all his help, Shi Fa'ke proposed they become sworn siblings, but Lu Chi gently declined, stating he didn't wish for a sister. Shi Fa'ke then shared her suspicion that Chief Matchmaker Deng, who had hastily stamped the wedding documents without review, harbored ulterior motives. Lu Chi promised to monitor her. As Shi Fa'ke was about to formally announce the betrothal, Mrs. Qi abruptly stopped her.
To everyone's surprise, it was not because she had changed her mind, but because of her impatience; she insisted the wedding happen the very next day. While the Qi family's betrothal gifts were lavish and ready, a new problem arose: Liu Luan'er's father, having spent his savings on medical treatment years ago, could only offer a small pouch of seven silver taels as a dowry.
A woman of integrity, Luan'er refused to fabricate a larger dowry, stating she only wanted Shaoheng's sincere heart. Troubled by the disparity, Shi Fa'ke snuck into her family's ancestral hall to seek guidance. Lu Chi found her there and, hearing her dilemma, offered a profound solution.
He suggested that if a man offers his sincere heart as a betrothal gift, then a woman's sincere heart in return, along with a lifetime of kindness and faithfulness, is the most perfectly matched dowry. Just as they were sharing this moment, Shi Fa'ke's parents unexpectedly returned home, forcing Lu Chi to depart swiftly.
Though released, Shi Fa'ke's parents were forced to sign a document at the Military Headquarters that labeled them as suspects under investigation, confining them to the capital. This meant Tao Shi could not reclaim her position as Chief Matchmaker. Proud of her daughter's accomplishments, Tao Shi entrusted Shi Fa'ke with the family's legacy and a special ceremonial robe, passing the torch and instructing her to officiate the wedding.
While preparing in her new robe, Lu Chi visited by climbing over the wall, complimenting her appearance. Before she could properly introduce him to her family, her two older brothers arrived. Seeing Lu Chi, they immediately assumed he was a scoundrel and forbade Shi Fa'ke from associating with him. Shi Fa'ke fiercely defended Lu Chi, listing how he had helped repair the ancestral hall, arranged the wedding, and saved her from danger while they were unable to help.
Chastened, the brothers apologized. At the wedding preparations, Shi Fa'ke distributed pastries from He's Bakery, claiming they were a gift from the bride to build goodwill for Luan'er. He Ketian, the baker's sister, tried to subtly matchmake her brother, He Kexian, with Shi Fa'ke. When Lu Chi arrived with Pan'er from Xibao Pavilion, he and the lovestruck Kexian immediately engaged in playful, competitive banter.
During the ceremony, Shi Fa'ke, officiating in her ceremonial robe, delivered Luan'er's message: she was returning all the lavish betrothal gifts, asking only for Qi Shaoheng's sincere heart. In return, she pledged her own sincere heart, a lifetime of kindness, and unwavering faithfulness. The guests lauded Mrs. Qi for gaining such a virtuous daughter-in-law.
After the rites, Shaoheng and Luan'er made an additional bow, not to their elders, but to Shi Fa'ke, publicly praising her integrity and for truly embodying the motto: "Be an honest matchmaker and achieve matchmaking with honesty." Later, at the celebration, a very drunk Shi Fa'ke found Lu Chi. She jealously questioned him about Pan'er, whose obedience she mistook for romantic affection.
To clear the air, Lu Chi revealed the simple truth: he was her boss, the Chief of Xibao Pavilion. Astonished to learn her neighbor was the "God of Wealth," Shi Fa'ke drunkenly declared her intention to share in his good fortune.
