Marvelous Women Episode 8 Recap
> Marvelous Women Recap
Ren Rufeng visited Zeng Baoqin, learning from Shu Yan (or Ru Yi) that Zeng Baoqin had encountered difficulties with Li Zhao due to her attempts to save Ren Rufeng, leading to a period of estrangement between them. Ren Rufeng expressed his gratitude for her help and his guilt over the incident with Li Zhao, which Zeng Baoqin dismissed, mentioning that Li Zhao had at least agreed to a teacher-student relationship with Xiushan.
Zeng Baoqin was surprised to hear that Shen Cuixi had used the Ren family's ancestral Song brocade to save Ren Rufeng, realizing that he now owed Shen Cuixi a huge favor. Ren Rufeng then seized the opportunity to inquire if she knew the whereabouts of the "Twelve Water Paintings by Ma Yuan." He wanted to retrieve them to compensate for the ancestral Song brocade lost due to his actions and to restore the double-sided tapestry technique depicted in them.
Zeng Baoqin recalled that her family had sold the paintings to the Ji family in Taizhou (or Taixing) after their decline. She described Mr. Ji as a stubborn and cherished collector who had paid a high price for the paintings and would likely not part with them easily, regardless of the offer. Ren Rufeng, however, was determined to try.
He learned more about Mr. Ji, a respected elder in Taixing, who had a spoiled and rebellious son born late in life. This son, prone to gambling and accumulating massive debts, had secretly sold the paintings. Upon arrival in Taixing, Ren Rufeng found Mr. Ji whipping his son for selling the family heirloom. Ren Rufeng intervened, helping the Ji family son clear his gambling debts and redeem his various IOUs.
He then explained his purpose for wanting the paintings: to restore the lost double-sided, multicolored tapestry technique. Mr. Ji, initially reluctant but also a reasonable person who wished for the lost art to reappear, agreed to hand over the twelve paintings to Ren Rufeng. Upon Ren Rufeng's surprisingly swift return with the twelve paintings, Shen Cuixi and Chen Xiaohong were delighted.
Shen Cuixi, with Chen Xiaohong's help and the assistance of an "auntie," dedicated herself to repairing the loom and quickly delving into the mysteries of the double-sided tapestry technique. She emphasized that this vital undertaking could not involve outside artisans, trusting only family. Ren Rufeng was also reminded to properly assist Shen Cuixi. During this time, Shen Cuixi secluded herself in the embroidery room, and Ren Rufeng, conveying a message through his staff, temporarily could not manage Qingyue Workshop.
Zeng Baoqin, upon learning of the paintings' retrieval and Shen Cuixi's focus, realized she had been deceived and "set up" by Ren Rufeng and Shen Cuixi. Enraged, she confronted Shen Cuixi, accusing Ren Rufeng of breaking his promise to manage Qingyue Workshop and blaming Shen Cuixi for not letting her go, as well as for destroying her relationship with Ren Xuetang years ago.
Shen Cuixi calmly refuted the accusations, explaining that she had not betrayed Zeng Baoqin and Ren Xuetang to the Old Madam. Instead, the Old Madam, having discovered their elopement plans and learning of troubles befalling the Zeng family, intervened. The Old Madam reasoned that a marriage under such circumstances would force Ren Xuetang into an impossible dilemma: either save the Zeng family (thereby potentially ruining the Ren family) or abandon them (which would be unjust).
Shen Cuixi further explained that the Zeng parents, initially disdainful of Ren Xuetang as a merchant, later, out of calculation, changed their tune and even helped Zeng Baoqin pack for elopement. She challenged Zeng Baoqin to consider the consequences if their elopement had succeeded and Zeng father had been imprisoned, asking how Ren Xuetang could have faced the Ren ancestors if he sacrificed his family, or how he could have lived with Zeng Baoqin if he didn't help her family.
Stunned by these revelations, Zeng Baoqin stumbled out. Zeng Baoqin ran to the river, fabricating a lost earring to dismiss Ru Yi, then, despairing, began walking into the water to commit suicide. Shen Cuixi arrived just in time, pulling her ashore. She reminded Zeng Baoqin of her child, Xiushan, and revealed that Ren Xuetang's disappearance was a closely guarded secret.
Shen Cuixi also warned that Li Zhao's support for Qingyue Workshop might be a pretext to target the Ren family, potentially using Zeng Baoqin, and he might even be the mastermind behind Zhang Biao. She conveyed a message from Ren Xuetang, delivered via Shu Yan. Despite Zeng Baoqin's insistence that the official might not be Li Zhao, Shen Cuixi urged her to calm down, find the truth, and seek revenge for Ren Xuetang, advising her to take care of herself.
This realistic advice dissuaded Zeng Baoqin from her suicidal thoughts. As Shen Cuixi researched the "Twelve Water Paintings," she recalled her childhood fascination with tapestry-making and how the Old Madam personally taught her, leading to her eventually surpassing her teacher. Driven by a desire to revive the Ren family, Shen Cuixi worked tirelessly, day and night, to restore the double-sided, multicolored tapestry technique. Her perseverance paid off, and she successfully mastered the art.
Once the new brocades were launched, they were immediately snatched up by eager customers, filling the Ren family's Qingyue Workshop. With the Ren family's financial backing, Cao Wenbin successfully retained his position as prefect. The Ren family's Qingyue Workshop generously donated thousands of taels of silver for public works, including building bridges, paving roads, and providing relief for orphans and widows.
Consequently, the Governor issued an instruction to honor the Ren family as local gentry for their benevolence, establishing a commemorative archway to immortalize their name for generations. Meanwhile, Wei Lianggong, a renowned scholar from Jiangnan who had become a "juren" at sixteen, traveled to Suzhou from Huzhou, having brought his birth mother's grave back home with Li Zhao's help.
During a memorial for his birth mother amidst falling snow, Li Zhao encouraged him to set aside his personal feelings and participate in the imperial examinations in the capital the following spring. Li Zhao suggested that achieving official rank could secure a noble title for his stepmother, Lady Wei. However, Wei Lianggong vehemently refused.
He hated his stepmother, believing her to be responsible for his birth mother's tragic fate, and stated he would never seek a noble title for the woman who caused his mother's death, implying he would rather seek one for his birth mother. He considered Li Zhao's insistence to be a form of torture.
