Overlord Episode 11 Recap
> Overlord Recap
After Long Aoyi's successful efforts in saving the fabric from the fire, workers at Xinsilu, both men and women, brought her food, including her favorite sweet and sour fillet of pork, specially made plaster for her injuries, favorite fruits, and the latest style of fabric. Meanwhile, when Li Qingliu reviewed the design drafts presented by the male workers, he grew frustrated.
He called them "dumb heads" for not having incorporated floral patterns into their designs before, though he admitted one design was "not bad." When a worker mentioned making a new skirt from the remaining single-stranded silk for Miss Long, Li Qingliu became irritated and dismissed them. Yan Bin observed Li Qingliu’s clear irritation with Long Aoyi, despite her meritorious service.
He pointed out that while the authorities suspected Long Aoyi was the fire's target, and Li Qingliu thought she might be "flirting with guys," Long Aoyi's dedication to putting out the fire had undeniably "steadied the team." Yan Bin suggested that Long Aoyi was "not a terrible person" and advised Li Qingliu to "befriend her."
Li Qingliu questioned why he should, to which Yan Bin, after a pause, clarified he meant "making friends," since Li Qingliu had even injured his arm saving her. Yan Bin proposed a simple gesture: during dinner with Nanny, Li Qingliu could "pick some food for Master Long" as a sign of goodwill. He even dramatized a scenario about how after experiencing death together, one should commit themselves to the other, which Li Qingliu quickly dismissed.
Later that evening, Yan Bin accompanied Li Qingliu to Nanny's room. Upon entering, they found Nanny giving Long Aoyi a bath. Li Qingliu discreetly listened as Nanny spoke favorably of him, describing him as popular, intelligent, and a "generally recognized talent" in business and knitting, though often aloof, possibly inheriting this trait from his birth parents who abandoned him. Long Aoyi, however, was less sympathetic, playfully calling him a "grim-looking weirdo" who acts like an "immortal."
She then confessed her suspicion that Li Qingliu "is not into women," citing his consistently harsh words towards her and wondering if he had a "physiological problem." Nanny then revealed Li Qingliu's lifelong condition: if he gets too close to women, he might sneeze, sweat, feel dizzy and weak, or even faint, especially during "intimacy." Long Aoyi was astonished by this revelation.
Nanny swore her to secrecy, then noticed a "red mole on your chest" and told Long Aoyi it was a sign she would be cherished by someone in the future. Li Qingliu, who had been listening in, grew angrier, barely being restrained by Yan Bin from confronting Long Aoyi. After Nanny helped Long Aoyi finish her bath, they all sat down for dinner.
Li Qingliu, noticing Long Aoyi struggling to pick up food with her injured hand, felt a desire to help but hesitated. He instead picked food for Nanny, who inquired about his arm injury. Long Aoyi, observing this, wondered if his injury was sustained while saving her in the warehouse. Yan Bin subtly prompted Li Qingliu to serve Long Aoyi. Li Qingliu slowly moved a piece of meat towards her, which Long Aoyi initially misinterpreted as a sinister advance.
Li Qingliu then blurted out, "There’s a mole on your chest." Embarrassed, Long Aoyi immediately left the dinner table. Recalling the incident with Long Aoyi, Li Qingliu developed a headache. Yan Bin, diagnosing it as a result of smoke inhalation and cold water during the fire, humorously called himself a doctor. He then suggested that Li Qingliu, who he felt didn't "understand women," should learn from Li Zhao's "tricks" on how to please them.
Li Qingliu summoned three male workers experienced in romance to learn their methods. They advised him to show care, affection, and attention to a woman's feelings, to build trust, and to foster a "sense of security." They also mentioned that giving flowers daily could win a woman's heart within a month, and that illness or injury offered "the best opportunity" for physical contact.
Li Qingliu, however, noted Long Aoyi was "neither fragile nor sensitive" and "doesn't need sense of security," though she did get "headaches or fever sometimes." Yan Bin later suggested sending Long Aoyi flowers or desserts, but Li Qingliu dismissed flowers as "unoriginal." Just then, Li Zhao walked by with a bouquet of peonies, which he proudly stated he had "specially had someone go to Yunnan to get" for Long Aoyi, knowing they were her favorite. Long Aoyi was delighted.
Seeing her reaction, Li Qingliu immediately instructed Yan Bin to fetch the "flowers from the Indian merchant" he had received last month. Li Zhao then entertained Long Aoyi with magic tricks, making flowers appear from behind her ear, near her foot, and from inside her clothes, much to her amusement. Yan Bin presented Li Qingliu with the requested flowers, and Li Qingliu gave them to Long Aoyi. Li Zhao asked for the flower's name.
Li Qingliu identified it as "Euphorbia Royleana Boiss," remarking that it "suits you well." Li Zhao then elaborated on the flower's nature, explaining that his master, who specialized in unique plants, taught him that its strong fragrance attracts insects, which it then traps and consumes. He added that prolonged exposure to its pollen could cause "palpitation, or diarrhea."
Hearing this, Long Aoyi angrily accused Li Qingliu of trying to kill her and threw the flowers back at him before storming off. In his pique, Li Qingliu decided to "rise up 30 percent of the price" for all future business with India. Meanwhile, Li Zhao met with Li Qingliu, revealing that the Silk Store's accounts could now be unlocked.
He proposed an alliance to investigate the arsonist and the mastermind behind the pepper case, noting the fire had started in Long Aoyi's yard. Li Qingliu was initially hesitant, but Li Zhao eloquently argued that while the pepper seizure only indicted Zhu Chengzhi for corruption, the true culprit remained hidden. He suggested the fire at Xinsilu was a calculated move, appearing to target Long Aoyi but in fact aiming at Xinsilu itself, using its "force" to strike.
He suspected the Regional Commander might be sheltering the true perpetrator. Separately, Yan Bin attempted to express his affection for Xiaoqin by sending her a hidden-message love poem. She pretended not to understand its concealed message, which secretly read "I like you," later dismissing such poems as "tricks used by scholars who go to the brothels." Undeterred, Yan Bin took her to a newly opened dessert shop.
On the day of the new bellyband launch at Xinsilu, members of the Snake Gang arrived, attempting to cause trouble. Li Qingliu personally intervened, fighting them off. Long Aoyi ingeniously turned the brawl into a marketing spectacle, announcing it as "Master Li will show up personally to perform acrobatics to bring everyone good luck" and encouraging the crowd to applaud. This generated immense excitement, and customers surged forward to buy the new bellybands, which quickly sold out.
Witnessing Long Aoyi's tireless efforts for Xinsilu, Li Zhao felt a pang of sadness, wondering if her dedication was entirely for Li Qingliu's sake, without her even realizing it. Both Li Qingliu and the Longzhu Gang were actively searching for Qiyan. Magistrate Zhu, concerned about Qiyan's potential to cause more trouble, ordered him to "get out of Silver City." Qiyan pleaded for another chance.
After catching an eavesdropper and instructing Qiyan to "handle this man," Magistrate Zhu gave Qiyan one "last chance," tasking him with keeping a close watch on the Silk Store. Li Zhao then arranged for an imperial doctor from Sui City to examine Long Aoyi's burnt arm. The doctor confirmed it was not just a surface injury but involved a muscle and bone sprain, requiring a splint for "a dozen days" and complete rest.
Li Zhao eagerly offered to stay and care for her, much to the visible shock of Yan Bin, who was pouring water nearby. Li Qingliu also brought Long Aoyi a bitter decoction of Tianqi and orange segments for her external injuries. Long Aoyi, having already consumed bitter medicine, refused to drink it. When Li Qingliu tried to force-feed her, she angrily pushed his hand away, causing him to storm off.
Unwilling to let Li Zhao continue caring for Long Aoyi, Li Qingliu instructed Yan Bin to invite Xiaoqin to the residence. Xiaoqin arrived, and Long Aoyi recounted Li Qingliu's inconsistent behavior, noting he had given her desserts days ago and now was acting cold. Xiaoqin, referencing a "script," suggested that Li Qingliu's fluctuating moods indicated he "likes you" because people become "sensitive" when they fall for someone.
With Long Aoyi's assistance, the new bellybands were a resounding success, selling out all one thousand sets within two days and generating 13,900 taels, with a profit of 4,000 taels after accounting for raw materials, worker salaries, and damage from the hooligans. Recognizing her contribution, Li Qingliu decided to reward Long Aoyi.
When a reward was suggested, Li Qingliu first proposed "five jin of mutton," then "pork," before mockingly suggesting "five jin of pig hair," claiming it could be used for "picking teeth" and even curing "burns and scalds" or "baldness" – a clear jab at Long Aoyi. Offended, Long Aoyi rejected the pig hair.
She then proposed a different reward: a "permanent bonus" from the bellybands, asking for thirty percent of the profit from each sale, citing their "not regular relationship" (having been to jail together). Li Qingliu agreed, on the condition that Long Aoyi would be responsible for "designing new patterns" in the future. Long Aoyi accepted, requesting the title of "Manager of the Design Department."
On her first day as the Manager of the Design Department, Long Aoyi immediately set about overhauling the female workers' appearances, making their eyebrows thicker and adding blush to make them look like "peaches." Li Qingliu visited her room, finding it messy with meat hanging and garbage strewn about, almost causing him to slip. He scolded her, equating her room to a "sty." Xiaoqin defended Long Aoyi, reminding Li Qingliu that her hand was injured because of him.
Long Aoyi then complained about being called a "pig" and dramatically declared that her new design ideas, such as "kneeler pads, half-sleeved shirts for both parents and kids, maybe a fancy silk sun-protective shield," would now be useless. Feigning despair, she began to sweep the floor with her injured arm. Seeing this, Yan Bin discreetly massaged her legs to encourage her to share her ideas. Li Qingliu, realizing her ploy, relented, allowing her to continue eating and developing her innovative concepts.
