Ni Chang Episode 5 Recap
> Ni Chang Recap
Having been saved and brought to the Yun Jin Zhuang, Ni Chang found herself being questioned by Zhao Fu Ren and her husband about how she ended up there. She feigned amnesia, claiming not to remember her home or family and even inventing the name "Ni Chang." Mother Yun, however, saw through the charade, noting that the name was clearly made up and that Ni Chang was being evasive.
Zhao Fu Ren urged Ni Chang to seize the opportunity, explaining that Mother Yun was a renowned professor in making clothes from Huai Zhou and Yun Jin Zhuang was her esteemed teaching room. Ni Chang quickly pursued Mother Yun, kneeling and begging to be accepted as a student. She expressed her ambition to learn skills and become a successful businesswoman, tearfully confessing that her parents and family had all perished, leaving her an orphan with nowhere to go.
Mother Yun remained skeptical, believing Ni Chang to be too cunning and untruthful, declaring that Yun Jin Zhuang, a place for serious learning, "doesn't want to deal with this kind a person." She asked Zhao Fu Ren and her husband to take the girl away.
After Ni Chang's desperate pleas, Mother Yun finally relented slightly, setting a daunting task: Ni Chang must fill five large water vats in the front courtyard by dawn the next day to be accepted as a student. Mother Yun, observing Ni Chang’s seemingly delicate physique, expected her to fail, remarking that she was "pampered since childhood" and "definitely can't not bear the suffering."
Despite Cheng Tian, Mother Yun's son, offering help and suggesting she simply beg his mother for mercy, Ni Chang silently refused, pouring all her effort into carrying water. Deep into the night, she pushed herself, vowing to her deceased family, "I must stay here, to revenge for you," and to "live first" by acquiring the necessary skills. She promised, "I won't disappoint you."
By daybreak, Ni Chang was still struggling to fill the vats, eliciting pity from some onlookers, while Cheng Tian admired her "strong" and "persistent" spirit, asserting that she was "stronger than all of you" compared to the other students. Just then, heavy rain began to fall. Zhao Fu Ren and her husband quickly pulled Ni Chang under shelter. Mother Yun, seeing the vats still not full, declared that the agreement was void and Ni Chang must leave.
However, Ni Chang pointed out that the rainwater had, in fact, filled the vats, reminding Mother Yun that she "didn't mention yesterday how I fill them up count." With the persistent advocacy of Zhao Fu Ren and her husband, who lauded Ni Chang’s intelligence, perseverance, and determination as qualities Yun Jin Zhuang needed, Mother Yun reluctantly agreed to accept her. Ni Chang, overjoyed, bowed in gratitude, swearing to never betray their kindness.
Meanwhile, Shen Lan, a hired killer, burst into Su GoumÃng's silk shop, demanding five hundred liang of silvers. He stated that the job was done, but his brother had died in the process, and the original price was no longer acceptable. A terrified Su GoumÃng initially offered an additional fifty liang as condolence, expressing his "deep sorrow."
Shen Lan scoffed, asking if his brother's life was only worth fifty liang, and brandished his knife, threatening Su GoumÃng's life if he didn't meet the demand. Panicked, Su GoumÃng agreed to give him five hundred liang in silver notes. After receiving the payment, Shen Lan, despite his earlier threats, promised to keep the matter "secret" for "boss Su," but not before contemptuously remarking on Su GoumÃng's "timid look" and his "buy killer to kill people" audacity.
Su GoumÃng repeatedly pleaded with Shen Lan to keep silent, emphasizing that silence was beneficial for both of them. At Yun Jin Zhuang, Ni Chang was assigned various menial tasks daily, including chopping firewood, cooking, cleaning, watering flowers, feeding birds, making beds, and doing laundry for all the students. Despite her duties, she eagerly tried to sneak into embroidery classes to listen in. Cheng Tian tried to help her by letting her watch, but Mother Yun caught them.
She scolded Ni Chang, ordering her back to the kitchen, as her chores were not finished. Yan Wenxiu seized the opportunity to mock Cheng Tian for being "nosy," which escalated into an argument. Mother Yun, witnessing the disruption, punished both Cheng Tian and Yan Wenxiu by making them stand outside. Once Mother Yun left, Cheng Tian tried to sneak away, but Yan Wenxiu prevented him, insisting they abide by their punishment.
Later, Cheng Tian saw Ni Chang struggling with heavy water buckets and offered help, but Yan Wenxiu again prevented him. Cheng Tian later openly complimented Ni Chang's beauty, declaring her the only "real beauty" in Yun Jin Zhuang, much to Yan Wenxiu's irritation. That evening, Cheng Tian attempted to intercede with Mother Yun on Ni Chang's behalf, arguing that as an admitted student, Ni Chang deserved to be taught.
He highlighted Ni Chang's orphan status and urged his mother to show her more care. However, Mother Yun remained unmoved, firmly refusing to teach Ni Chang due to her refusal to disclose her "background" or "origins." She then sent Cheng Tian away, telling him to "Go out, and close the door for me." One day, Aunt Mei discovered a batch of newly delivered fabric had severely faded.
She angrily confronted the seller, demanding a refund and accusing them of using faulty dyes. The seller defended himself, stating the fabric was fine upon delivery and implying improper storage. Ni Chang intervened, asking Aunt Mei where she had stored the fabric. Aunt Mei explained that with the storeroom full, she had placed the fabric in her personal armoire.
Ni Chang quickly identified the problem: the fabric, dyed with red flower extract, had been stored with eaglewood incense, causing the color to fade due to the volatilization of the fragrance. She clarified that the seller was not at fault and Aunt Mei had "wronged the lad." Aunt Mei apologized to the seller, but worried about the ruined fabric. Ni Chang confidently offered to restore the color.
Although others were skeptical, Cheng Tian expressed his trust, saying, "She has reasons for doing so" and that he believed in her. Ni Chang then applied alkaline water to the fabric, explaining that since it was originally processed with alkaline water, reintroducing it would restore its original hue. The fabric's color returned, much to Aunt Mei's relief and the surprise of others.
When questioned about her knowledge, Ni Chang humbly admitted she had "heard a bit secretly by coincidence" when Mother Yun had mentioned it in class while she was bringing tea. Aunt Mei praised Ni Chang, suggesting she was more capable than other students, but Ni Chang modestly dismissed the compliment, stating she was merely an amateur. Elsewhere, Yuan Daocheng and Mr. Gao visited Su GoumÃng’s silk shop.
Mr. Gao noted that Su’s business, mainly supplying inferior wholesale fabric to most capital silk merchants, was booming, having opened several new stores. Yuan Daocheng requested to inspect the account books. At that moment, Su Wenyu, Su GoumÃng's nephew, entered, seeking help with an account book, which Su GoumÃng quickly dismissed to prevent the officials from seeing it. Su GoumÃng apologized for his nephew’s "clumsy and rude" behavior.
Observing Su’s expanding empire, Mr. Gao subtly hinted that their "portion of the future income from stores" should be increased. Su GoumÃng readily agreed and instructed his steward to send batches of "superb cloth" to their residences.
As Yuan Daocheng departed, Mr. Gao reminded Su GoumÃng to bring the account books with him during their next meeting, leaving Su GoumÃng frustrated by their escalating demands and the financial strain, lamenting that "we can hardly make up the account" and acknowledging their continued reliance on the officials in the future. Back at Yun Jin Zhuang, Mother Yun noticed Ni Chang's "longing to learn" expression while she secretly watched a class.
Mother Yun surprisingly invited Ni Chang to "join in us in the class" the next day, asking if she truly wanted to "do chores for the rest of your life." Ni Chang was overjoyed, repeatedly bowing and thanking her master. The next day, dressed in a student's uniform, Ni Chang attended class, much to Yan Wenxiu’s visible displeasure. Cheng Tian often encouraged Yuan Xiang and other students to help Ni Chang with her stitching, and Ni Chang applied herself diligently.
During a class assessment, Ni Chang arrived late after chopping firewood, and her embroidery piece was only half-finished and unevenly stitched. Mother Yun was visibly dissatisfied, questioning why only Ni Chang's work was incomplete and so "shapelessly" done, remarking it would "ruin our reputation." Cheng Tian quickly came to Ni Chang's defense, detailing her extensive daily chores, including chopping wood, fetching water, cooking, cleaning, gardening, feeding birds, making beds, and doing laundry for everyone.
He also pointed out that Jin Chan and Cuiyu constantly "sneer at her" and make it impossible for her to focus on learning. Yuan Xiang corroborated this, confirming that they "often laugh at Ni Chang and ask Ni Chang to do this and that." Enraged, Yan Wenxiu retorted, accusing Yuan Xiang of "flattering the young master" because her "family has declined" and she "haven't paid the tuition fee for half of a year."
Deeply hurt, Yuan Xiang burst into tears and fled the classroom. Mother Yun, after calming the class, asked Ni Chang for an explanation. Ni Chang explained that she was intentionally embroidering the flower unevenly, inspired by a butterfly that had briefly landed on a blooming flower in the courtyard, causing it to "tremble." She had tried to capture that ephemeral movement but couldn't finish before the butterfly left.
Despite Yan Wenxiu calling her explanation a "shameless" excuse, Mother Yun acknowledged that while an incomplete piece could not pass, she appreciated Ni Chang's unique "mind" and willingness "to get inspiration from nature." She encouraged Ni Chang to continue her efforts. Later, Cheng Tian found a tearful Yuan Xiang in the courtyard and comforted her, playfully teasing her about her "round" face and calling her "Yuan Xiao" until she cheered up.
Ni Chang then approached Yuan Xiang to apologize for the day's embarrassment. Both Yuan Xiang and Cheng Tian expressed their disapproval of Yan Wenxiu's bullying. Ni Chang advised Cheng Tian to be "more circumspect" in his actions and words in the future, explaining that his direct interventions, while well-intentioned, often backfired and made others "hate me" even more, as had happened with Yuan Xiang earlier. Cheng Tian readily agreed to follow her advice.
Afterwards, Yan Wenxiu, still intent on humiliating Ni Chang, attempted to hang Ni Chang’s unfinished and crooked embroidery in a prominent spot, sarcastically calling it a "precious masterpiece" for everyone's "appreciation." Ni Chang, refusing to be provoked, calmly snatched her work back and walked away, ignoring Yan Wenxiu and her frustrated friends. That night, Cheng Tian was in the kitchen, struggling to balance the account books.
He complained to Aunt Mei that he couldn't get the numbers right, fearing his mother's scolding. Aunt Mei chided him for his lack of focus during his studies, recalling a past error where he mistakenly recorded "input instead of output," causing the Yun Jin Zhuang to almost lose money. Ni Chang, assisting Aunt Mei, saw Cheng Tian’s struggle, curiously looked at the account book, and offered her help.
