Marvelous Women Episode 5 Recap
> Marvelous Women Recap
Driven by concerns over soaring raw silk prices, Shen Cuixi, aided by Shu Fang, investigated the matter and suspected deliberate hoarding and price manipulation for profit. Shu Fang's diligent compilation of five years of data on mulberry farmers in Suzhou was instrumental in this endeavor. Shen Cuixi proposed that the four great weaving families of Suzhou—the Ren, Zhao, Zhang, and Lu families—unite to coordinate and establish a fair raw silk price, prioritizing market stability over identifying the hoarders.
The shopkeepers of these families agreed, leading to the establishment of a general accounting office, with the Ren family at its head. Meanwhile, Zeng Baoqin expressed worries to Li Zhao that the growing power of the Four Great Weaving Families might eventually diminish the weaving office's control over its affairs, including the pricing of imperial brocade.
Though Li Zhao initially advised Zeng Baoqin to focus on her own life and avoid actions that would ruin Shen Cuixi, he was swayed by her concerns about the families' expanding influence. He tacitly agreed to help her undermine Shen Cuixi, and openly offered his assistance if she truly intended to challenge Shen Cuixi. Zeng Baoqin, in turn, offered to help Li Zhao destroy the general accounting office on the condition that he accept Ren Xiushan as an apprentice.
Li Zhao readily promised to take Ren Xiushan as his apprentice, regardless of the success of their plan. Following this, Zeng Baoqin approached Ren Rufeng, proposing to open a silk weaving workshop and seeking to use the Ren family's "Qingyue" name. Ren Rufeng was hesitant, recognizing Zeng Baoqin's intention to directly compete with Shen Cuixi, but ultimately agreed after she further elaborated her request. Shen Cuixi, suspicious, assigned Shu Yan to discreetly follow Ren Rufeng.
While shadowing him, Shu Yan was confronted by Ru Yi, who clung to him. She brightened considerably upon learning that Shu Yan was not abandoning her, but rather that their marriage was on hold due to Ren Xuetang's missing status, which prevented them from making their own matrimonial decisions. Subsequently, Cao Wenbin paid a surprise visit to the Ren family's Qingyue Workshop.
Shen Cuixi greeted him and, noticing his admiration for a "Joyful Auspiciousness" painting, had the shopkeeper wrap it as a gift for him. Cao Wenbin then revealed news from the weaving office about an upcoming weaving competition in Suzhou, where the winner would be appointed as the new head weaver. Although there was no official document, the rumor was credible.
Cao Wenbin warned Shen Cuixi not to lose this prestigious position, which the Ren family had held for three generations, emphasizing that doing so would make her a "sinner" to the family. Shen Cuixi vowed to give her utmost effort. In preparation for the competition, Qiao'er painstakingly completed a "Myriad Years of Good Fortune" design.
However, Shen Cuixi, known for her strictness and good intentions, found the warp and weft lines uneven and the colors inconsistent, instructing Qiao'er to re-weave it. Qiao'er, unaware of Shen Cuixi's underlying care, complained about the task. Knowing that Ding Rong, Qiao'er's future husband, would also participate in the upcoming competition, Shen Cuixi secretly arranged for Shu Fang to allow Qiao'er to meet him during the event, pretending to be ignorant of their rendezvous.
She strictly cautioned Shu Fang not to let Qiao'er know this was her idea, fearing Qiao'er might become spoiled. Zeng Baoqin, through Ren Rufeng, opened a "Qingyue Small Workshop" and planned to enter the competition using Song paintings as her unique approach. On the day of the competition, Shu Fang secretly released Qiao'er, who was overjoyed to see Ding Rong.
Qiao'er excitedly held his hand, but Ding Rong, acting as a gentleman, was uncomfortable with such public displays before their marriage. After a brief interaction, Shu Fang, mindful of time constraints and potential issues, pulled Qiao'er away. The arrival of Ren Rufeng and Zeng Baoqin together, representing the "Qingyue Small Workshop," surprised many and made it clear to Shen Cuixi that Zeng Baoqin was using Ren Rufeng to compete against her.
Cao Wenbin and Li Zhao observed the internal family strife, noting that there would be a good show. Several clan elders angrily called Ren Rufeng aside and reprimanded him, stating that the Ren family could not allow itself to be a laughingstock for all of Suzhou, even if Zeng Baoqin was Ren Xuetang's concubine and the biological mother of Ren Xiushan. As the competition officially began, both Shen Cuixi and Zeng Baoqin sat down to weave.
During the task, Zeng Baoqin's thoughts drifted to memories of the past. She recalled the Ren family's old madam, who deeply disliked her and favored Shen Cuixi. Zeng Baoqin remembered laboring for an entire year to weave a dress for the old madam, only for it to be rejected as unsuitable. The old madam then produced and wore a dress woven by Shen Cuixi right in front of Zeng Baoqin.
The old madam's clear preference for Shen Cuixi and her animosity towards Zeng Baoqin had been the biggest obstacle between Zeng Baoqin and Ren Xuetang. Now, with time passed and circumstances changed, both Zeng Baoqin and Shen Cuixi were older, and these once-vivid memories had become hazy with dust, making them less clear to Zeng Baoqin.
