Gone with the Rain Episode 10 Recap
> Gone with the Rain Recap
As Bai Pengkun was brutally beaten by creditors for a 100-string gambling debt, his mother, Bai Second Madam, desperately tried to intervene. Mo Xi, however, refused to help, stating that Bai Pengkun brought the consequences upon himself and she couldn't save him. The creditors, accusing the family of feigning distress, insisted on immediate payment. Overwhelmed by the situation, Bai Second Madam collapsed and died. The creditors quickly fled, absolving themselves of blame and reminding the family to pay their debts.
Witnessing the tragic event, Mo Xi reflected on the unfortunate turn of events. She acknowledged that Bai Second Madam's insistence on her marrying Zheng Kaitai was wrong, but also realized that her own deception regarding the fake marriage was equally misguided. She vowed never to engage in such schemes again, believing that harming others ultimately harms oneself.
With Bai Wentai and Bai Second Madam both gone, the Bai family found itself without a head, its servants in disarray, and creditors once again clamoring at the gates. The housekeeper revealed that the family's accounts were empty, and even the supplies for Bai Second Madam's funeral had been purchased on credit.
Bai Pengkun suggested seeking help from the Wan family again, but Fengyao firmly refused, explaining that a previous letter made it clear the Wan family was also in a difficult situation. Their clan believed their son had died in battle and was scrutinizing their finances, making it impossible for them to spare any money for the Bai family's debts. Bai Pengkun, frustrated, lashed out at Fengyao, accusing her of being useless despite her vow to uphold the Wan family's honor.
Mo Xi quickly intervened, reminding Bai Pengkun that these were his and his father's debts, and as the eldest son and current head of the household, it was his responsibility to face the creditors, not blame the women. Bai Pengkun, however, declared he would do nothing, provoking Mo Xi to try and hit him.
He swiftly dodged her, sarcastically listing reasons why she shouldn't harm him, including the cost of his treatment and the fact that two women couldn't possibly handle the aggressive debt collectors. He then left, washing his hands of the family's problems. Fengyao, distraught by the recent tragedies, fell ill with a fever. Mo Xi, urging her to take her bitter medicine and recover quickly, explained that her presence was crucial to prevent Bai Pengkun from further exploitation.
Mo Xi then took charge of the daunting funeral arrangements, an act that deeply touched Fengyao, who reflected on how poorly Mo Xi had been treated by the Bai family in the past, yet now she was selflessly helping them. When the coffin shop delivered a cheap, flimsy coffin for Bai Second Madam, Mo Xi confronted the owner.
She boldly exposed his previous scam, where he had taken advantage of Bai Pengkun's naivety to overcharge double for Bai Wentai's coffin by falsely claiming it required a single, whole log for both the coffin and lid, when it was constructed using the standard two pieces of wood. Mo Xi reasoned that this overpayment should cover Bai Second Madam's coffin.
The owner initially denied the accusations, but Mo Xi’s unwavering threat to split open Bai Wentai's memorial tablet to prove her claim forced him to confess. He agreed to send a proper coffin, acknowledging Mo Xi's sharp wit. Mo Xi, however, remained realistic, telling the housekeeper that while she could prevent further cheating, she couldn't magically generate money to repay the family's extensive debts.
As Fengyao struggled with her grief, confessing that she felt life was meaningless after losing both parents, Mo Xi offered a different perspective. While Bai Second Madam's death was likely due to her existing heart condition exacerbated by shock, Mo Xi revealed that Bai Wentai's death was not so straightforward. Despite his usual good health, the physician, under Mo Xi's intimidation, admitted to suspecting poisoning.
Mo Xi theorized that poison might have been added to the precious golden silk inkstone Bai Wentai had recently acquired, specifically targeting his habit of licking the ink stick before grinding ink. The subsequent disappearance of the broken ink stick after his collapse added to her suspicion.
When Fengyao questioned who would harm a minor official like her father, Mo Xi pointed to Prime Minister Wu, suggesting he was the only family enemy powerful enough to instigate such a crime and the subsequent aggressive debt collection, driven by a desire for revenge after Fengyao rejected his marriage proposal. Mo Xi emphasized that this was merely speculation, but urged Fengyao to recover her health so they could properly investigate the truth, as their future depended on it.
Their fragile hope for stability was shattered when a maid rushed in with alarming news: Bai Pengkun was missing. Mo Xi quickly realized he had absconded, taking Bai Second Madam's jewelry and Master Bai Wentai's collections. Madam Li, another servant, confessed that Bai Pengkun had interrogated her about the locations of the family's valuables, claiming he intended to sell them for debt repayment. Trusting him, she had given him the key to the locked study.
Instead, he simply left a note that read, "I'm gone. Don't miss me." Mo Xi was furious, realizing the "scum" had fled with the Bai family's remaining wealth, leaving her and Fengyao to face the mounting debts alone. She understood that Madam Li, like many others, had likely seen Bai Pengkun as the family's only hope, overlooking the capable women left behind. Faced with insurmountable debt, Mo Xi proposed the drastic measure of selling the ancestral mansion.
Fengyao was hesitant to part with their family home, but recognized it as their only option. After calculating the value of the mansion (3,200 strings), furniture, and other remaining items (total 3,400 strings), along with the ten taels of gold from the Wan family (worth 200 strings of cash), and Fengyao's personal jewelry and clothes (worth 200 strings), the total amounted to 3,800 strings of cash.
This still left them short by 100 strings of cash (the total debt being 3,900 strings), a daunting sum they had no idea how to acquire. The precarious situation escalated when creditors, having already injured the housekeeper, stormed the mansion, demanding immediate payment and threatening to sell Fengyao into servitude. Mo Xi, seizing a large kitchen knife, confronted them directly.
She fiercely warned them that harming Fengyao, who held an imperial decree, would lead to dire consequences, and declared that she, having nothing left to lose, would not hesitate to fight to the death. She also revealed their decision to sell the mansion, stressing that they needed time to gather the funds. Intimidated by her ferocity and willingness to die, the creditors retreated, though they vowed to keep a close watch on the sisters.
Mo Xi, suffering a cut on her hand, was chided by Fengyao for injuring herself, but Mo Xi explained her resolve to repay the debts, rather than flee without honor. Subsequently, facing unpaid wages and an uncertain future, the remaining servants, including Madam Li and Chunxue, announced their departure. Fengyao, heartbroken and apologetic, gave them her last remaining pieces of jewelry for their travel expenses, feeling deep remorse for the family's failure.
With only 100 strings of cash short of clearing the debt, Mo Xi proposed writing to the Wan family for a small loan, but Fengyao adamantly refused, unwilling to subject them to further ridicule from their clan, especially as she was not officially part of their family, had no heirs, and their clan members were waiting to divide the family property. Frustrated by Fengyao's stubborn principles, Mo Xi decided to find a solution herself.
Knowing the buyer of the mansion was a wealthy Persian merchant named Luo De, she devised a plan to persuade him to pay an extra 100 strings. During their negotiation, Mo Xi explained that while the Bai family valued honor, the crushing pressure from creditors now threatened to sell the sisters into slavery, a fate they would rather die than accept.
Luo De, who also came from a noble Persian background and had faced political enemies, expressed sympathy but stated he couldn't unilaterally change the agreed-upon price of 3,400 strings as he was buying on behalf of a merchant group. Mo Xi then pointed out Luo De's appreciation for the mansion's furnishings, which his merchant group needed for their new trading post in Jingzhou.
She then revealed that if the debt wasn't fully cleared, the furious creditors would likely ransack and destroy the mansion's contents, making it unusable for him. When Luo De suggested simply not buying the property, Mo Xi delivered her final, impactful move: she calmly informed him that his deposit had already been seized by the creditors for debt repayment, and if he pulled out, they wouldn't be able to return it.
Cornered, Luo De realized they were "in the same boat." He agreed to consult his merchant group about the additional 100 strings, acknowledging Mo Xi's exceptional eloquence. As a token of gratitude, Mo Xi gifted him a small, exquisitely crafted carving she found among Bai Wentai's belongings while clearing out the mansion.
To ensure transparency and prevent future harassment, Mo Xi arranged for Luo De, the Persian merchant and an honored guest of the emperor, to serve as a witness as she settled all the Bai family's debts. One by one, creditors presented their promissory notes and received their payments, expressing relief that the long-standing debts were finally cleared.
Luo De, impressed by Mo Xi's cunning, acknowledged that the mansion's furniture and decorations were intact, implying Mo Xi's earlier warnings about their potential destruction were an exaggeration to secure the deal. With the mansion sold and the debts repaid, Fengyao and Mo Xi considered their future. Fengyao revealed that a friend from her academy, Ms. Zhao, had helped her secure a teaching position at a women's school in Qingzhou, a city thousands of miles from Jingzhou.
Despite the distance, Fengyao saw this as a valuable opportunity for a woman to be self-reliant. Mo Xi, acknowledging their dwindling funds and their need for a stable future, readily agreed to accompany Fengyao, recognizing her as her only remaining family. They prepared to embark on a new chapter in Qingzhou.
