General's Lady Episode 20 Recap
> General's Lady Recap
Shen Jin arrived at the Mansion of the Marquis Yongle to visit her eldest sister, Shu, who was distressed due to the presence of Yun Niang, her husband's cousin and concubine. Shen Jin confronted her brother-in-law, the Heir of the Marquis Yongle, questioning the legality of having Yun Niang as a concubine, as only officials ranked Duke and above were permitted to have one.
Yun Niang, who was pregnant, apologized, but Shen Jin pointed out that her lack of proper etiquette made her unsuitable to raise the child. Shen Jin proposed that Shu, who had previously suffered a miscarriage and yearned for a child, should raise Yun Niang's baby. The brother-in-law admitted he had considered this, and the Lady of Prince Rui's Mansion, also present, expressed anger at not being informed of Shu's miscarriage, emphasizing the baby's importance as the mansion's first grandchild.
To protect the family's reputation and avoid implicating Chu Xiuming, Shen Jin suggested that after giving birth, Yun Niang be given money to remarry. Despite Yun Niang's protests, the brother-in-law agreed. Shen Jin then reassured Shu, advising her to raise the child herself to prevent them from becoming malicious under Yun Niang's influence. Before departing, Shu reminded Shen Jin to consider having her own children. Upon returning to the General's Mansion, Shen Jin presented Chu Xiuming with a tonic soup.
Chu Xiuming expressed more concern for Shen Jin's fatigue from preparing her fabric shop's opening, apologizing for his inability to help. After a playful exchange, she broached the topic of having children. Chu Xiuming affirmed his desire for offspring but suggested they wait until Shen Jin was less burdened by her new shop, allowing her to recover so they could be more settled. Shen Jin readily agreed.
Shen Jin's Jin'er Fabric Shop celebrated its grand opening, but the joyous atmosphere was interrupted when a rival, Ruonan Fabric, opened across the street, luring away her customers. Shen Jin discovered Ruonan Fabric offered similar fabrics at prices twenty percent lower, and to her surprise, the owner was Wu Ruonan, a formidable figure from her past. Wu Ruonan, formerly "Brother Nan from North Street," recognized Shen Jin as "Master Jin from South Street," recalling their street rivalries.
Shen Jin was astonished to learn "Brother Nan" was a woman. Wu Ruonan also recognized Meaty, recounting how she had disappeared years ago before a planned gang fight. Meaty revealed Shen Jin was now the General's Lady, while Wu Ruonan explained she had left street life to become an escort. Shen Jin, Wu Ruonan, Meaty, and Xiao Su gathered, rekindling their friendship over drinks.
They reminisced about their younger days as rival street leaders, playfully bickering over who won their fights. They laughed about Meaty mistaking the bald-headed Wu Ruonan for a boy. Shen Jin, now a General's Lady, offered Wu Ruonan any help she might need. As a gesture of goodwill for her struggling shop, Shen Jin offered Wu Ruonan free fabrics, but Wu Ruonan insisted on paying, refusing to let her friend incur a loss.
Chu Xiuyuan, the new market supervisor, arrived at Jin'er Fabric Shop to announce a palace fabric procurement bid, with criteria of price, quality, and quantity. Shen Jin was interested but worried about competing with Ruonan Fabric's low prices. As Chu Xiuyuan prepared to inform the rival shop, Wu Ruonan revealed herself as its owner, shocking Shen Jin, who felt deceived by the concealment.
At that moment, Chu Xiuyuan seemed to have a flash of recognition and accepted Wu Ruonan's invitation to discuss the bid over tea. Inside Ruonan's shop, Chu Xiuyuan inquired about her past, recounting how years ago, as a boy, he was saved from falling off a cliff by a girl with a horsewhip. Wu Ruonan vaguely confirmed the memory, and Chu Xiuyuan revealed he was the boy she had saved, confessing he had been smitten with her ever since.
Wu Ruonan brushed off her heroism as a trivial matter for a "child of the Jianghu" and asserted her focus on ambition, not romance. Despite her dismissal, Chu Xiuyuan vowed to visit her again. Facing the threat of Ruonan Fabric's lower prices, Shen Jin concluded her only path to profitability was to win the palace procurement order. As she discussed this with Meaty, they saw Chu Xiuyuan enter Ruonan Fabric.
Subsequently, she observed Chu Xiuyuan presenting a gift to Wu Ruonan, who then chased him outside to return it. Misinterpreting the exchange from a distance, Shen Jin concluded that Wu Ruonan was bribing Chu Xiuyuan and that he had accepted it. Alarmed, she immediately summoned him. Shen Jin questioned Chu Xiuyuan about the bid. He confirmed that while her shop had a strong chance, Ruonan Fabric had offered the lowest price in the city.
Shen Jin stressed the need for impartiality, which he agreed to. Chu Xiuyuan then cautiously sought her advice on gifts for a woman he had known for a long time, without revealing her identity. Shen Jin suggested cosmetics, hairpins, and pendants and, seeing his shyness, offered to purchase the items on his behalf, which he gratefully accepted. When Chu Xiuming returned, he found Shen Jin examining hairpins and cosmetics.
She explained they were for Chu Xiuyuan to give to a woman he admired. Chu Xiuming was surprised, admitting he was unaware of his brother's interest. Insisting on his responsibility as the elder brother to "check her out," he instructed Shen Jin to inform him immediately if she discovered the woman's identity. As the evening ended, Chu Xiuming firmly ordered a weary Shen Jin to rest. Before sleeping, Shen Jin expressed her worries to Chu Xiuming.
Winning the palace bid required stocking a large amount of fabric in advance, a huge risk if her bid failed. She proposed a new strategy: supplying fabric directly to the noble and official mansions in the capital. Chu Xiuming initially expressed apprehension, concerned that such a venture would compromise his reputation by publicly casting his wife as a merchant. Shen Jin clarified she only sought his opinion and would drop the idea if it embarrassed him. Chu Xiuming quickly softened, reiterating his unwavering support for her ambitions and affirming his belief in her capabilities, promising to be her steadfast backer.
