Cry Me A River of Stars Episode 3 Recap
> Cry Me A River of Stars Recap
Tao Junran brought A Fan's "Uncle Fool" to a room, telling him it contained many characters he knew, and asked him to teach him. Uncle Fool initially wanted to find A Fan first, but Tao Junran insisted he wait there. During this time, Ruby suddenly appeared but was driven away by Tao Junran's men. Later, a subordinate reported to Tao Junran that he had seen Ruby, confirming it was indeed her despite only a brief glimpse.
This revelation made Tao Junran suspect that if Ruby was still alive, Lian Qi might also be. He immediately ordered his men to continue the investigation. On Qingming Festival, A Fan went to the outskirts to burn paper money for her ancestors, seeking to dispel her recent string of bad luck, including her disfigured face and struggling business. Her "Uncle Fool," who had been too afraid to stay home alone, joined her.
They overheard men digging what A Fan realized was Lian Qi's tomb and discussing two charred bodies that were hard to sell due to a lack of recent deaths. Realizing they were grave robbers, A Fan urged her father to find Tao Junran and report them. However, the grave robbers noticed A Fan. One of the robbers seized A Fan, threatening her that only the dead could keep secrets, and mentioned he was in need of female corpses.
Just then, Tao Junran and his guards arrived, apprehending the grave robbers. The culprits, begging for mercy, mistakenly believed Tao Junran was punishing them for harming A Fan, whom they thought was "his woman." Tao Junran clarified that their arrest was for illegally stealing and selling bodies, two of which were found in the yard. He then ordered Cao Qing to take them into custody for trial.
A Fan’s "Uncle Fool" emerged, dressed as a ghost, revealing Tao Junran had asked him to scare the robbers so he could participate. A Fan thanked Tao Junran, who playfully deflected the gratitude to her father. A Fan then informed Tao Junran that the desecrated grave belonged to Lian Qi. Tao Junran interrogated one of the grave robbers, later identified as Wu Daqiang, asking why he targeted Lian Qi’s tomb and if he was an accomplice.
Wu Daqiang maintained he only dug graves for profit to arrange ghost marriages and had no deeper connection to Lian Qi other than having sold him a male corpse previously. He pointed out that the burnt body found in the area had a specific skull injury, identical to the one he had sold to Lian Qi, suggesting it was the same body. Tao Junran promised a lenient sentence if this information proved true.
His subordinate confirmed that the damage on the recovered body matched Wu Daqiang's description. This, coupled with the earlier sighting of Ruby by his agent, confirmed Tao Junran's suspicion: Lian Qi was indeed still alive. A Fan's Springtime Pleasure Boat thrived with its new dishes, particularly an "Orange Crab" recipe praised by customers.
However, a rival boat owner, Xin Xin, arrived and publicly taunted A Fan for wearing a veil, implying A Fan was trying to hide a secret or her recipes. A Fan retorted, stating she was less selfish and willing to share her knowledge if Xin Xin genuinely wanted to learn. Xin Xin then deliberately tripped A Fan, exposing her face covered in pustules.
Xin Xin loudly declared that A Fan was suffering from a terrible, contagious illness, suggesting her pus might contaminate the food. This frightened the customers, causing them to leave in disgust. A Fan, denying any contagious illness, accused Xin Xin of malicious sabotage. When A Fan threatened to make Xin Xin "experience" her supposed illness, Tao Junran intervened. Xin Xin claimed she was merely protecting the public, but Tao Junran countered that A Fan’s "minor illness" was not infectious.
He accused Xin Xin of exaggerating and spreading malicious rumors to destroy A Fan's business due to her vicious and scheming nature. Tao Junran ordered Xin Xin to compensate Springtime Pleasure Boat for all its losses, and Cao Qing escorted a distressed Xin Xin away. A Fan thanked Tao Junran, who reassured her that her pustules were treatable and would heal with proper care. Feeling exhausted, A Fan politely asked Tao Junran to leave.
Desperate to cure her facial pustules, A Fan found an advertisement for "Dr. Kong," promising to restore beauty. Unbeknownst to A Fan, Tao Junran had already sought a solution from an eminent monk at Fayun Temple. Tao Junran explained that a friend, poisoned by a "special lilac," suffered from facial pustules that traditional doctors couldn't cure.
The monk informed him that without knowing the specific cause, such a condition would take a year and a half to heal naturally, but he hinted at a solution. Back with "Dr. Kong," A Fan provided her details, and the "doctor" proposed cutting off the pustules and applying a special "scarless cream," assuring her a smooth face without pain, thanks to an "anaesthetic." A Fan, trusting him, drank the offered "anaesthetic" and lay down.
Just as "Dr. Kong" admired her beauty despite her condition, Tao Junran burst in, identifying himself as the Head of the Bureau of Military Affairs. He arrested "Dr. Kong," revealing him to be an unregistered charlatan who had used cosmetic procedures as a front to drug and sexually assault numerous young women, leaving many permanently maimed in the capital. Tao Junran ordered the imposter immediately imprisoned. A Fan awoke in Tao Junran’s mansion, disoriented.
Tao Junran reprimanded her for her gullibility, explaining that the "doctor" was a fraud who used cosmetic procedures to drug and assault young women, and that she would have been a victim if he hadn't intervened. A Fan, chastened, admitted her desperation led her to rash decisions. Tao Junran stressed his duty as the Head of the Bureau of Military Affairs to protect all citizens, including her. A Fan expressed profound gratitude for his repeated rescues.
Tao Junran, in a rare moment of levity, suggested she cry if she felt moved, promising to keep it a secret. A Fan, noting her difficulty crying, still thanked him sincerely before attempting to leave. Tao Junran stopped her, giving her a special facial mask.
He instructed her to apply one piece for four hours each night before sleep, assuring her it would lead to a full recovery, adding with a smirk that he merely wished to prevent her "ugliness from ruining the county's image." Despite his teasing, A Fan was intrigued by the "cute" mask and decided to try it. That night, she dreamt of a little girl crying and wished she could express her emotions as freely.
Upon waking, A Fan was astonished to find her face completely healed, free of any pustules. Overjoyed by her recovery, A Fan decided to express her gratitude to Tao Junran. She brought him two fresh fish, entering his residence through a small "dog's hole," proudly noting she had lost enough weight not to get stuck. Tao Junran, startled, quickly wrapped himself in his blanket and insisted no thanks were necessary.
A Fan, however, insisted she was a person who repaid kindness, accidentally dripping fish water on him and profusely apologizing. She placed the fish in his kitchen, offering to cook them, but Tao Junran remained visibly uncomfortable. Feeling her initial gift was inadequate, A Fan later returned with two large complimentary banners, one proclaiming him "My New Father, Tao Junran" and another "Great Public Servant," describing the immense effort she put into creating them.
Tao Junran reiterated that he acted out of responsibility, not for rewards, and ordered Cao Qing to escort her out. As Cao Qing tried to take the banners, A Fan left them behind, again emphasizing her sincere thanks. Exasperated, Tao Junran instructed Cao Qing to prevent A Fan from entering his residence again and, specifically, to "block the dog's hole."
Cao Qing, concerned about the actual dog, asked what it would do, to which Tao Junran simply replied, "Figure it out yourself." Not long after, A Fan attempted to enter Tao Junran's mansion again. Cao Qing tried to dissuade her, but A Fan insisted on seeing Tao Junran, claiming she needed to act before an "auspicious time" passed.
Cao Qing speculated that A Fan might be planning to propose marriage, dismissing her efforts and asserting that Tao Junran would not want her. Later, Cao Qing informed a bewildered Tao Junran that A Fan had indeed returned, bringing a table with her, and was now attempting to stage an impromptu marriage ceremony to express her gratitude, though she had been stopped by the guards.
