My Heroic Husband Episode 24 Recap
> My Heroic Husband Recap
A master craftsman, having delivered firearms, eagerly presented a new weapon to Fang Tianlei, urging him to inspect it personally. Fang Tianlei, excited, proceeded despite warnings from Fang Qiong and Shao Xianying to be cautious. The craftsman opened the box, revealing it was filled with gunpowder. A hidden dart struck, and Fang Tianlei instinctively pushed the gunpowder box away just as Lu Hongti appeared, throwing fireballs.
Though she narrowly escaped capture, Lu Hongti successfully ignited the gunpowder, causing a massive explosion that destroyed a thousand firearms. Fang Tianlei, protecting his wife, watched in fury as his arsenal was ruined and immediately ordered the trembling artisans to repair all the damaged blunderbuss within ten days, threatening to kill one man for every firearm short. Meanwhile, in the Linan suburbs, the Second Master and his son had been walking for days, starving.
They ate wild fruits by the roadside, which unfortunately caused severe stomachaches. The son complained about being hungry and unable to continue, wanting to return to Jiangning. However, the Second Master explained they were broke and their carriage had been stolen, making a return to Jiangning impossible. He pointed out that Linan was close and the wheel marks they followed led there, asking his son to choose between bandits or starvation.
The son chose bandits, and they pressed on, only to suffer from severe stomachaches and the son even getting bitten on the left buttock by a snake. In Linan city, Lou Shuwan used her last hairpin to buy some steamed buns, her thoughts consumed by her father and brother. Unbeknownst to her, they were plotting to hand her over to Bao Wenhan.
Her father explained his elaborate plan to his son: since Lou Shuwan was closer to him, the son would first pressure her, and then the father would step in as the "good guy." They arranged for Xuanwei Camp to "capture" them, forcing Lou Shuwan to willingly offer herself to Commander Bao to save them. He feared her strong will would otherwise lead her to suicide if directly forced.
He also revealed his deep resentment for Lou Shuwan, blaming her birth for her mother's early death, admitting he only kept her around as a "cash cow" due to her business acumen, otherwise he would have disowned her years ago. He saw the chaos in Linan as an opportunity to secure their lives and future by giving her to Commander Bao, ending his pretense of being a loving father.
Overhearing this heartbreaking conversation, Lou Shuwan dropped the buns and fled her mansion, running to the river, intent on ending her life. Ning Yi, who was distributing food nearby, stumbled upon her desperate act and rushed to her rescue. He questioned her reasons for wanting to die, telling her that suicide was an act of escape that would only leave regrets.
When she claimed to have none, Ning Yi reminded her of her creativity and fresh ideas in the Lou's Cloth Store, knowing she was a person who loved life and work. He stressed that her friends, including Su Tan'er and himself, cared for her. He argued that if she died, her business would fade, those who wronged her would never face consequences, and she would never discover the person she was meant to become.
He emphasized that life was indeed challenging, but it was precisely these difficulties that made life more meaningful. His words resonated with Lou Shuwan. She returned home, walking boldly past her surprised father and brother into her room. There, she decisively destroyed all her dolls, shedding her old self and embracing the change Ning Yi inspired in her, determined to live life on her own terms, defying societal norms and expectations.
Ning Yi had offered her his help, telling her to come to Badao Camp if she ever needed anything and to never attempt suicide again. Her father and brother, still searching for her, were shocked to see her return, and though they tried to coax her, she remained resolute, eventually forcing her father to order the door to her room smashed open.
Liu Xigua informed Ning Yi that their grain supply was running critically low, barely enough for another day, especially in the poorer western district. Ning Yi calmly stated he hadn't been worrying, as he intended to "borrow" grain from Bao Wenhan. He laid out his plan: he and Chen Fan would publicly "send out food," and Liu Xigua's role was to ensure Bao Wenhan heard about it, as he was sure that would force Bao Wenhan to open his granary.
Liu Xigua noted Chen Fan's recent absence, and Ning Yi admitted a twinge of guilt. Chen Fan had been sleeping for days due to Ning Yi's "medicine." When Chen Fan tried to get a refill at a pharmacy, the pharmacist identified it as "dodgy" stuff, only available in the black market, causing Chen Fan to realize he had been taking a sleeping potion. Chen Fan confronted Ning Yi, furious about being duped into taking a sleeping potion.
Ning Yi, unfazed, admitted it was indeed a sleeping potion but assured Chen Fan he wasn't being played. He explained that since fate could not be changed, the medicine was designed to alter Chen Fan's waking hours, making him sleep longer. This, Ning Yi claimed, would prevent Chen Fan from encountering his "doomed romance" by missing their fated meeting times.
When Ning Yi feigned taking back the medicine, suggesting Chen Fan could then meet his "true love" and marry, Chen Fan, panicked, immediately apologized for doubting Ning Yi and offered to help transport the "grain." Chen Fan found the bags surprisingly heavy and questioned where Ning Yi had acquired so much, to which Ning Yi replied that some secrets should remain unrevealed.
Ning Yi then changed their approach; instead of giving grain away, they began to sell it publicly, starting their price at 15 taels per peck. Bao Wenhan's subordinates reported this development, prompting a furious Bao Wenhan, whose own grain sales had stagnated, to join the price war.
Prices rapidly plummeted in a fierce bidding war: Bao Wenhan quickly dropped his price to 12 taels, Ning Yi responded by lowering his to 10 taels, Bao Wenhan to 8 taels, Ning Yi to 5 taels, and so on. The prices continued to fall, with Bao Wenhan eventually selling for 1. 5 taels (500 cash) and then 100 cash.
Finally, Chen Fan, at Ning Yi's instruction, announced their price at an astonishing one cash per peck, causing a massive surge of buyers from all over Linan, completely undercutting Bao Wenhan's remaining business. Incensed by this perceived humiliation, Bao Wenhan stormed over to confront Ning Yi, accusing him of illegally selling grain.
Ning Yi calmly refuted the accusation, opening his "grain" bags to reveal they contained only sawdust and gravel, which he claimed were materials transported overnight to strengthen the city walls. He pointed out that Bao Wenhan's Xuanwei Camp was responsible for grain distribution, implying Bao Wenhan had foolishly engaged in a price war over useless materials and, in doing so, sold off his "own" valuable grain at rock-bottom prices.
One of Bao Wenhan's subordinates sheepishly confirmed they had indeed sold "most of the grain," making only "a few thousand taels" from it. Ning Yi then mockingly offered Bao Wenhan an embroidered pennant, praising his "charity." When Bao Wenhan, boiling with rage, lunged at him, Ning Yi swiftly aimed a firearm at his head. Just then, Liu Xigua arrived with her archers, forcing Bao Wenhan to retreat, realizing he had been thoroughly outsmarted.
Chen Fan was utterly astonished and expressed immense admiration for Ning Yi's ingenious plan. Liu Xigua, grateful for Ning Yi's pivotal role in solving the city's food crisis, acknowledged his greater potential beyond trivial tasks. Ning Yi, in turn, invited Liu Xigua to celebrate their success with a dinner at the Dongli restaurant. Meanwhile, back at his camp, Bao Wenhan vented his frustration by lashing out at his subordinates for falling into Ning Yi's trap and selling off their grain. At that very moment, Lou Shuwan, elegantly dressed, arrived at his camp, offering herself to him, instantly extinguishing Bao Wenhan's fury and captivating him with her presence.
