Marvelous Women Episode 19 Recap
> Marvelous Women Recap
After Wei Lianggong's death, Shen Cuixi decided to guard him, even burning her own embroidered mandarin ducks, which Zeng Baoqin acknowledged were superior to her own work. Having lost the will to live, Shen Cuixi was consoled by Zeng Baoqin, who urged her to be strong, to live well, and to do what she wanted, reminding her of her journey from a fisherwoman to the head of the Ren family and a remarkable woman in Suzhou's weaving industry.
Months later, Qingyue Workshop opened a new branch. Its interest income increased by several tenths compared to previous years, prompting Shen Cuixi, pleased with the success, to order an additional tenth added to the gifts sent to the yamen. Rumors circulated that Ren Rufeng was deeply devoted to Shu Fang. Her brother, burdened by gambling debts, came to the Ren family with his wife to demand Shu Fang marry Ren Rufeng to clear his debts.
Shu Fang, already reluctant to marry Ren Rufeng to spare him ridicule, firmly refused to marry him for her brother's sake. Enraged by her defiance, her brother pushed her down and slapped her, causing her cheek to hit a nearby stone. He then left. Shen Cuixi, heartbroken, applied medicine to Shu Fang, stating she would have taken her brother to the yamen if Shu Fang hadn't forbidden it. Ren Rufeng, hearing of Shu Fang's injury, rushed to care for her.
Later, Ren Rufeng, suspicious of the dilapidated state of Shu Fang's old home, waited at her brother's doorstep and overheard him planning to sell Shu Fang as a concubine to another man for 200 taels of silver. Enraged, Ren Rufeng violently beat up Shu Fang's brother.
He then intervened as they were about to sign the contract, forcing the brother to sign a document making Shu Fang a member of the Ren family, thereby preventing her family from ever threatening her again. Ren Rufeng instructed Shu Mo to keep the contract secret from Shu Fang. After returning from a business trip to Guangzhou, Ren Rufeng brought a gift for Shu Fang, but she refused to accept it, leaving him heartbroken.
Shen Cuixi made elaborate preparations for Miss Cao (also referred to as Yaoniang)'s engagement banquet, providing exquisite and precious Kesi silk fabric, including the famous double-sided Kesi, for Miss Cao's dowry. She also prepared gifts for Cao Wenbin, his wife, and their servants, demonstrating an unmatched generosity in Suzhou and a clear intent to curry favor with Cao Wenbin, the Suzhou Prefect. Cao Wenbin, pleased, displayed the Kesi silk for admiration and even suggested writing inscriptions for the Ren family.
Cao Furen also wore Shen Cuixi's double-sided Kesi to show off. Despite the Ren family and Qingyue Workshop spending a significant amount of silver on the engagement, Cao Wenbin's public endorsement dramatically boosted Qingyue Workshop's reputation. Following the banquet, a surge of customers arrived, increasing the main store's profit by 50% that month.
Qingyue Workshop's fame became the most prominent in all of Jiangnan, surpassing the four major weaving families, with even Manager Zhao admitting that no one dared to claim first place if the Ren family claimed second. Shen Cuixi was aware that Shu Yan liked Ru Yi, and she believed his reason for coming to Qingyue Workshop to learn to be a shopkeeper was likely for Ru Yi.
She inquired about their potential marriage and advised him not to give up if he truly loved her, emphasizing that any difficulties could be overcome if they faced them together. She expressed sentiment that as long as one is alive, no obstacle is insurmountable. With many customers specifically requesting Shen Cuixi's Kesi, she worked late into the night. Shu Fang, recognizing her effort, instructed Xiao Lan to care for her.
Shen Cuixi commissioned a scholar to restore Kesi (specifically, rare double-sided Kesi) and write her biography on a stele. Zeng Baoqin, reading about this, became concerned that Shen Cuixi's high profile would invite disaster. She warned Shen Cuixi that the Ren family were merely merchants and should maintain a low profile, especially with "hungry wolves" like Li Zhao and Cao Wenbin surrounding them, and Ren Xiushan still young, making the family vulnerable.
She advised Shen Cuixi to rein in her ambition and wait until Ren Xiushan achieved success in his studies before expanding the family business. Zeng Baoqin clarified that her warnings stemmed not from fear, but from her deep understanding of the world's harshness towards women, based on her own tragic past. She recalled being imprisoned with her mother, who, fearing a life worse than death or being sold, attempted to make Zeng Baoqin die.
Zeng Baoqin pleaded for her life, wanting to live to see Ren Xuetang, and tried to comfort her mother that they would both survive. However, the next morning, her mother had hanged herself. Later, Zeng Baoqin was sold to an entertainment quarter, where she remained obedient, waiting for Ren Xuetang, and was favored by her "mama," who promised to train her to become the courtesan empress.
Zeng Baoqin continued to urge Shen Cuixi to be a stable head of the household, live well, and avoid being too conspicuous, warning that such prominence would attract covetousness and harm both her and the Ren family. Despite these warnings, Shen Cuixi remained resolute, having her own plans, and promised to return everything Zeng Baoqin had lost.
