The Lady in Butcher's House Episode 25 Recap
> The Lady in Butcher's House Recap
Hu Jiao gave her brother, Hu Houfu, all her savings, amounting to a hundred liang she earned from her pharmacy in Xiangzhou, for him to use to repair their dilapidated pork butchery. Xu Qingjia, feeling uneasy about his wife’s sacrifice, was reassured by Hu Jiao that they were family and he should help her brother with repairs. Shortly after Hu Houfu left, a group of thugs returned to harass the shop.
Hu Jiao confronted them, asserting her authority and demonstrating her combat skills with wooden boards. The thugs, begging for mercy, admitted they were following orders but claimed not to know their boss's identity, only that he was a wealthy man from Xiangzhou. Hu Jiao scoffed, declaring that even Han Wenfang, Xiangzhou's renowned rich lady, was no match for her.
She then warned the thugs that if they dared to return, it would cost them more than just some hair before sending them away. Lin Cui arrived just as the thugs fled. Observing that the thugs were not locals, Xu Qingjia left under the guise of buying paper and writing utensils, secretly intending to investigate their mastermind. His inquiry led him to the Wangchen Hotel, where he confronted Han Wenfang, the shopkeeper from Nanfeng House.
Xu Qingjia acknowledged their past grievances in Xiangzhou but urged her to maintain basic integrity, especially since she was harming his innocent family. Han Wenfang, however, defiantly declared that women cared little for integrity and that she simply disliked Hu Jiao. Xu Qingjia spoke of his and Hu Jiao's virtuous deeds, from helping Shangyong's common people to aiding Xiangzhou's herb pickers, and advised Han Wenfang to reflect on her own morals.
Han Wenfang retorted with sarcasm, questioning if she was legally obligated to sacrifice her wealth for the poor. Xu Qingjia countered by accusing her of cruelly exploiting herb pickers and manipulating medicinal herb prices, highlighting the countless lives she ruined and the blood money she accumulated.
Han Wenfang dismissed his words, stating he was in the wrong place to teach her morals and asked him to leave, vowing that Hu Jiao would not live comfortably until she had vented all her frustrations. The next morning, as Hu Jiao was busy cleaning the butchery and discussing Dongpo pork with a neighbor, Han Wenfang appeared at the pork butchery.
Hu Jiao’s sister-in-law asked if she should summon Xu Qingjia, but Han Wenfang declined, mentioning she had already met him yesterday. Recognizing Han Wenfang as her "defeated opponent," Hu Jiao listened as Han Wenfang gloated, saying that Hu Jiao had forced her to lose both money and allies in Xiangzhou, and now she would ensure ruin for both of them. Lin Cui stepped in, asking if Han Wenfang's anger stemmed from losing money or a person.
When Han Wenfang questioned her identity, Lin Cui introduced herself as Hu Jiao's best friend and asserted that Hu Jiao's business was her own. Lin Cui then shrewdly deduced that Han Wenfang's true motivation for revenge was the Xu couple's actions in Xiangzhou, which had not only ruined her medicinal herb business but also led to her lover, Lord Tang, being investigated and transferred.
Lin Cui pressed Han Wenfang further, pointing out that Lord Tang had helped her make connections but had also taken a lot of her money. She suggested that Han Wenfang could have succeeded on her own and questioned if Tang Ze had ever truly wooed her or made promises. Lin Cui then criticized Han Wenfang for resorting to "shameless tactics" like hiring thugs, implying these were tactics Tang Ze had taught her.
When Han Wenfang accused Lin Cui of trying to break their relationship, Lin Cui advised her to distinguish between "breaking" and "pointing out," stating, "a man and woman's relationship is like a fish drinking water, it knows if it's warm or cold." She bluntly told Han Wenfang that Tang Ze was merely using her as a pawn for Grand Preceptor Fu and a source of funds, challenging Han Wenfang to acknowledge the truth.
Meanwhile, Xu Qingjia was on his way back when Yong Shou frantically informed him that Han Wenfang was at their butcher shop. Rushing to the scene, Xu Qingjia intercepted Han Wenfang at the bridge. Han Wenfang informed him she was leaving for Xiangzhou the next day. Her hostility seemed to have diminished as she remarked on Xu Qingjia's decision to decline a marriage with the Prime Minister's family to marry a butcher's daughter.
While she initially thought him foolish, she now wondered if he possessed a keen eye or simply good luck. Hu Jiao and Lin Cui, surprised by Han Wenfang's sudden departure, acknowledged Lin Cui’s effective intervention. As everyone worked to get the pork butchery ready for reopening, Xu Qingjia struggled with physical tasks, even injuring his finger while nailing a board.
Lin Cui noticed his distress and, when asked, Xu Qingjia confided his guilt over being jobless, relying on his in-laws, and causing them trouble. He felt uncomfortable about his situation and didn't want to burden Hu Jiao further. Later, Lin Cui subtly urged Hu Jiao to pay more attention to Xu Qingjia, reminding her of his recent struggles. Hu Jiao, realizing her oversight, decided to make his favorite braised beef.
However, when Xu Qingjia expressed his happiness, she mistakenly believed he was not genuinely troubled and decided to give the expensive dish to her sick brother, Hu Houfu, instead, leaving Xu Qingjia feeling disheartened. On the day of the Hu Pork Butchery’s grand reopening, neighbors flocked to support them. Hu Jiao expertly cut meat, drawing praise from customers.
While her brother, Hu Houfu, reminisced about their younger days working together and insisted she still owned half the shop and its earnings, Hu Jiao worried about her future livelihood, knowing the butchery would eventually return solely to her brother. She pondered what new business she could pursue. During a casual conversation with Lin Cui, where Hu Jiao massaged her friend's sore hands, Lin A'niu arrived, hobbling with an old back injury exacerbated by the weather.
Hu Jiao quickly applied cupping therapy, which instantly relieved his pain. Impressed, Lin A'niu suggested she open a business offering such treatments. Lin Cui supported the idea, noting the large population of Yunlai and the limited medical services. She envisioned expanding the business across regions. When discussing names, Hu Jiao jokingly proposed "Hu Human Butchery," which Xu Qingjia quickly dismissed as potentially leading to arrest.
He then suggested "House of Relaxation", a name reflecting services for hardworking people, which Hu Jiao enthusiastically embraced. Realizing that opening a medical clinic would require over a hundred liang, and with their own funds limited, Xu Qingjia searched for valuables to pawn. He found his treasured ancient books, including "Verses of Chu," inherited from his father.
At the pawnshop, despite his attempts to highlight their historical significance, the shopkeeper dismissed them as common and offered a paltry three taels of silver, which Xu Qingjia reluctantly accepted. Meanwhile, Hu Jiao was performing moxibustion on her father, Hu Tingzhi, for his injured leg. Moved by his daughter's care and aware of her financial needs, Hu Tingzhi presented Hu Jiao with a stack of silver notes—his life's savings, intended for his retirement and coffin.
He insisted she take it, wanting her and Xu Qingjia to live a good life. Hu Jiao tearfully accepted, promising to repay him by making the business a success and considering it his share of ownership. Xu Qingjia, returning with his meager three taels from the pawnshop, encountered Hu Jiao, who was beaming with joy and holding a large stack of silver notes.
She excitedly told him that her father had given them his retirement savings, making the opening of the "House of Relaxation" a certainty. Xu Qingjia was visibly surprised but managed to conceal his disappointment, simply stating he had bought "tea" when Hu Jiao inquired about his bundle. Hu Jiao, oblivious to his inner turmoil, eagerly spoke of tidying up and scouting for shops. As Hu Jiao hurried off, Xu Qingjia was left alone, looking at his small sum of money with profound shame.
