The Lady in Butcher's House Episode 17 Recap
> The Lady in Butcher's House Recap
The "marriage recruitment" event concluded with the Matron of Fairness confirming Yu Niang's physician, acting on her behalf, had sealed the contract with a winning bid of 600 taels, ensuring fairness. The contract had explicitly stated that anyone, male or female, could donate, a detail overlooked by the lust-blind wealthy participants. Squire Liu, who had previously bid 500 taels, was shocked by the outcome and fainted, regretting his loss. He was promptly taken away by attendants.
The event, which successfully raised over two thousand taels for the academy, concluded, and the remaining participants were asked to disperse. Yu Niang later asked Gao Zheng if he was "relieved now." Hu Jiao explained to Xu Qingjia that Yu Niang had meticulously strategized the entire event. Yu Niang knew the attendees were mostly regulars of Jade Spring Pavilion, allowing her to gauge their generosity and financial situations.
She specifically investigated Squire Liu, who had recently sold valuable items for 500 taels. Knowing this, Yu Niang instructed her physician to bid higher, ensuring the maximum donation was secured for the academy. Xu Qingjia added that Yu Niang had refused to take the donated money back, intending for it to genuinely benefit the children and for her to teach them qin and tea art.
Gao Zheng, having witnessed the event, apologized sincerely to Yu Niang, acknowledging his past narrow-mindedness and focus on her beauty, which made him overlook her kind heart. Yu Niang, her anger mostly subsided, asked him to open a nearby scroll. It contained a portrait of Gao Zheng, which she offered to him as a gift, noting that it only resembled him 70-80% because he was an unprofessional model. Gao Zheng, pleased, confirmed the likeness.
Hu Jiao and Xu Qingjia visited Brother Li in West Street, a neighborhood permeated by the smell of medicine due to many former miners recovering from injuries sustained under Zhu Tingxian. They met Li Shuo’s older daughter, Shaoyao, who led them into their humble home. Brother Li, also known as Li Shuo, was unable to stand due to severely damaged knees, a result of continuously carrying heavy ore in the Shiyangzhai mines.
He recounted how he was once a skilled gardener, but a year ago, he was forced into the mines. While he was imprisoned, his wife fell gravely ill and passed away, leaving their two children, Shaoyao and Shuo Shuo, alone. Shaoyao bravely took on the responsibility of caring for her younger brother and managing the household, relying on the help of kind neighbors.
Hu Jiao went to help Shaoyao in the kitchen, where Shaoyao revealed they had spent their last money on stationery for Shuo Shuo’s upcoming enrollment in the academy, leaving them short on rice until her next payday. Xu Qingjia assured Brother Li of his support, and Brother Li expressed profound gratitude for the academy's free education, meals, and housing for children like Shuo Shuo.
In the kitchen, Hu Jiao comforted Shaoyao, sharing her own childhood experience of losing her mother and feeling the need to be strong, suppressing her emotions. She encouraged Shaoyao to allow herself to cry, believing tears could wash away suffering. Meanwhile, Shuo Shuo eagerly learned to write his name and promised to teach his father and sister theirs once he started school.
Later, Hu Jiao questioned Xu Qingjia about the academy's enrollment policy, asking if he believed girls were inferior or undeserving of education. Xu Qingjia firmly stated that education was for all, regardless of gender, to impart knowledge and broaden horizons, and that girls absolutely had the right to be educated. Soon after, the Shangyong Academy officially opened its doors, welcoming many children from impoverished families, including Shaoyao and Shuo Shuo.
Hu Jiao took on the role of a female instructor, teaching the children physical exercises to strengthen their bodies. Gao Zheng observed Hu Jiao's vigorous physical training and intervened, cautioning that such strenuous exercises were unsuitable for poorly nourished and undeveloped children and could potentially harm them. Hu Jiao immediately halted the training and, to the children's delight, persuaded a reluctant Gao Zheng, the County Constable and a skilled martial artist, to take over their martial arts instruction.
Later, Hu Jiao drew Yu Niang aside to the kitchen, informing her that the tea art lessons for the month had been postponed. Yu Niang was initially displeased, arguing that tea art taught etiquette, cultivated virtues, and introduced children to sophisticated culture, and that poverty should not deny them these opportunities. However, Hu Jiao gently explained that while those aspects were valuable, the children's immediate need was better nutrition and a "determination to change and improve their lives."
She emphasized that ensuring they ate well and were full was the most critical priority. Recognizing Hu Jiao's evolving perspective and noting her increasing resemblance to Xu Qingjia in her thinking, Yu Niang agreed to help with the dietary needs. Xu Qingjia returned home and acknowledged Hu Jiao's hard work. Hu Jiao, in turn, eagerly inquired about Brother Li's legs, and Xu Qingjia happily informed her that her medicinal herbs had been remarkably effective, allowing Brother Li to walk again.
Pleased with the news, Hu Jiao handed Xu Qingjia a prescription for more herbs, asking him to procure them the following day. Xu Qingjia then mentioned hiring new staff for the academy – two assistants and one for miscellaneous tasks. Hu Jiao, ever mindful of the academy’s finances, suggested only one assistant was necessary, as additional staff would incur more expenses, and the academy's funds were already running low. Xu Qingjia, respecting her judgment, agreed to her advice.
As they spoke, Hu Jiao, utterly exhausted from her tireless efforts for the academy, fell asleep mid-sentence. Xu Qingjia watched her, touched by her dedication yet concerned by her evident fatigue. With his legs fully recovered, Brother Li began planting flowers in the Xu family garden, keen to resume his skilled craft. He requested space in the courtyard from Hu Jiao, who readily agreed, noting that the existing orchids were "taking up space in vain."
Xu Qingjia informed Hu Jiao that he would be staying at the academy for a few days due to pressing work, but she offered to join him, which he declined. Meanwhile, Yu Niang arrived at the academy early, having personally purchased vegetables at daybreak to save money, and offered to brew tea for Xu Qingjia daily.
At the academy, the children delighted in the delicious and nutritious meals prepared by Hu Jiao with Yu Niang's assistance, praising her cooking and even asking to take some home for their fathers. As Yu Niang helped serve the food, Gao Zheng tenderly wiped sweat from her forehead, a clear indication of their developing affection, which Hu Jiao did not fail to notice. Yu Niang found Hu Jiao looking distressed.
Hu Jiao explained that Xu Qingjia had informed her that many of the rescued miners suffered from joint injuries similar to Brother Li’s. Although Brother Li had shared Hu Jiao's effective prescription with them, the miners couldn't afford the necessary herbs because prices in Shangyong County had suddenly skyrocketed. Compounded by the academy’s high operating costs and dwindling funds, Hu Jiao felt overwhelmed. Yu Niang inquired if all herb prices had increased, and Hu Jiao confirmed her suspicion.
Then, a realization struck Hu Jiao: many of these herbs grew abundantly "all over the mountains." She quickly formulated a plan to gather the herbs herself but would need assistance from Xu Qingjia's county government staff. True to her word, Hu Jiao soon led a team, including government staff, into the mountains, and within half a day, they had collected a substantial amount of herbs. Instead of merely selling raw herbs, Hu Jiao processed them into medicinal ointment.
Accompanied by Brother Li, who was now able to walk and carry a basket, they visited Yong An Herb Shop. Brother Li served as a "living endorsement," explaining to the physician that Hu Jiao had cured his severe joint injuries. The physician, impressed by Brother Li's recovery, asked Hu Jiao for her formula.
Hu Jiao declined to sell the formula but offered to sell the prepared ointment to the shop or to have the shop sell it on consignment, splitting the profits. The physician was initially hesitant, concerned about his shop's reputation without knowing the ointment's composition. Hu Jiao then proposed a price: 30 wen per bottle for the shop, which could then sell it for 50 wen.
When the physician complained the price was too low, citing increased herb prices from Xiangzhou, Hu Jiao clarified that her ointment was made from common, locally sourced herbs from Shangyong. She emphasized her unique "exclusive decoction method," which involved decocting the herbs, refining them into oil, and adding them in specific proportions to the ointment, significantly enhancing its effectiveness and speeding up treatment results. Brother Li vouched for its fast efficacy and affordability for common people.
Convinced, the physician agreed to purchase all of Hu Jiao's medicinal ointment. This arrangement ensured the common people could access affordable medicine, generated profit for both the shop and Hu Jiao, and provided crucial funds to subsidize the academy. Brother Li, wanting to express his profound gratitude for Hu Jiao's care, prepared a special feast of local Shangyong dishes for her and Xu Qingjia, aided by Shaoyao and Shuo Shuo.
He thanked them for curing his leg, which allowed him to cook again, and Shaoyao mentioned Hu Jiao’s daily delicious meals at the academy. Afterward, Xu Qingjia led Hu Jiao to the garden, revealing another surprise from Brother Li: a vibrant display of blooming peonies. Brother Li explained he had planted mature peonies a week prior, taking advantage of the season, and tended to them diligently.
He shared that he and his late wife had married because of peonies, and he felt they were the perfect gift for the couple. Deeply moved, Hu Jiao recited a poem about peonies. Xu Qingjia, captivated by her, declared her "the most remarkable peony." That evening, Xu Qingjia asked Hu Jiao if she regretted marrying him. Hu Jiao firmly responded that he was her husband, and that would never change.
Xu Qingjia confessed that his previous hesitations stemmed from his uncertainty about her true feelings for him in recent days. With their hearts finally aligned, they shared a night of intimacy. Ning Wang was visibly distressed by the unexpected arrival of his nominal wife, Jia Jirong, at the military camp.
He had brought his son, Xiao Bei, to the camp to avoid Jia Jirong, who he believed wanted to use Xiao Bei as a tool for personal gain and whose method of education would cause the boy to suffer. Cui Wulang, witnessing Ning Wang's predicament, suggested sending Xiao Bei to the Shangyong Academy, which had garnered an impressive reputation. Taking Cui Wulang’s advice, Ning Wang promptly traveled to Shangyong.
The following morning, Hu Jiao was surprised to find Ning Wang and Cui Wulang casually seated in her courtyard. Xu Qingjia explained that Ning Wang intended to entrust Xiao Bei to their care for a period, with the boy attending the academy. Ning Wang expressed his admiration for the academy's management and his satisfaction with Xu Qingjia and Hu Jiao as individuals, feeling at ease leaving Xiao Bei with them.
However, Hu Jiao was hesitant, citing their crude home and lack of experience with children, fearing they might not adequately care for a child of such high status. Ning Wang dismissed her concerns, stating that Xiao Bei merely "loves to create trouble" and had no other bad habits, encouraging them to "hit or scold him when he deserves it" and not to shy away from discipline due to his royal status.
Angered by his casual attitude, Hu Jiao confronted Ning Wang, questioning whether he was truly sending his son for education or simply to "avoid the hassle." She criticized him for being a father who would abandon his child, warning that such actions would deeply hurt Xiao Bei and make him feel unwanted.
Cui Wulang interjected, defending Ning Wang by highlighting the difficulties of raising a child in a military camp among "rough soldiers" and assuring Hu Jiao that Xiao Bei had agreed to the arrangement. Despite Hu Jiao's reservations, Ning Wang definitively declared the matter settled.
