The Litchi Road Episode 28 Recap
> The Litchi Road Recap
Shiqi Niang and Master Xue were deeply in love. They wanted to elope together, but because A Qiao secretly reported them, Ding Tong'er sent people to catch them. They tortured Master Xue severely, and Shiqi Niang was forced to break off their relationship. She even gave him her beloved step hairpin as a souvenir. Master Xue swore to earn money to buy Shiqi Niang's freedom. Since Master Xue left, Shiqi Niang had been depressed all day long.
Later, she heard that Master Xue was engaged to Ms. Li and was raising money everywhere to marry her. Shiqi Niang was completely disheartened. Eunuch Gao came to Pingkang Fang seeking pleasure. The madam had the girls dress up meticulously for Eunuch Gao to choose from, but he didn't like any of them. Instead, he took a fancy to young Yun Qing, who was doing chores in Pingkang Fang. The madam sent Yun Qing to Eunuch Gao's private room.
Eunuch Gao started to touch her inappropriately. Yun Qing screamed for help in fright. Lu Huan was ordered to kill Prefect Zheng, who was making a deal with Eunuch Gao, and killed Eunuch Gao as well on the way. Pingkang Fang immediately fell into chaos. A Qiao took out the step hairpin Shiqi Niang had given to Master Xue and showed it off.
She kept saying that Master Xue had come to the madam, taken the money Shiqi Niang had saved for her freedom, spent the night with her, and given her the unwanted step hairpin as a gift. In a fit of rage, Shiqi Niang picked up the step hairpin and stabbed A Qiao in the throat. A Qiao died instantly. Shiqi Niang felt a satisfaction she had never felt before.
The Right Chancellor ignored the protests of officials and insisted on Li Shande going to Lingnan to transport lychees. He also agreed to let A Mita assist Li Shande. The supervisors of the Office of Imperial Parks saw that Li Shande had gained the favor of the Right Chancellor and congratulated him one after another. Li Shande had no time for this; he was worried about the guard who had taken the punishment for him.
The guard was beaten black and blue, and Li Shande felt terrible. Supervisor Qu recounted the details of Li Shande blocking the Right Chancellor to his colleagues. Supervisor Song was worried that Li Shande would get close to the Right Chancellor and retaliate against them. Li Shande hurried to the Office of Imperial Parks to find Chief Liu. Supervisor Song and others knelt down together and apologized to Li Shande.
Chief Liu arrived upon hearing the news, severely reprimanded Li Shande, and told him to get lost quickly, as he was about to receive the junior minister of the Court Of The National Granaries who was coming to inspect. The junior minister of the Court Of The National Granaries happened to arrive at the Office of Imperial Parks. He was meek and fawning towards Li Shande, then hurried away.
Only then did Chief Liu realize that Li Shande had climbed high by attaching himself to the Right Chancellor. His attitude towards Li Shande changed dramatically. Li Shande explained his purpose: he needed to convene the department heads tomorrow to discuss the lychee transportation matter and wanted to borrow the official quarters of the Office of Imperial Parks.
Chief Liu readily agreed, even instructing the supervisors to put down their work and fully assist Li Shande in summoning the department heads. Li Shande was overwhelmed. Attendant Yu heard that Li Shande had stopped the Right Chancellor in the street and recommended him to the Right Chancellor for transporting lychees. The Right Chancellor had refused him on the spot. Attendant Yu guessed that the Right Chancellor was angry.
He knew about Li Shande transporting lychees beforehand but had not reported it to the Right Chancellor. The supervisors of the Office of Imperial Parks heard that Li Shande had previously bought Yulu Tuan pastries in Pingkang Fang and all wanted to buy some to curry favor with Li Shande. Mr. Ma from the Ministry of War heard about this and personally queued up to buy Yulu Tuan pastries.
Li Shande received many boxes of Yulu Tuan pastries all at once. He and Li Xiuer ate until they were stuffed and still couldn't finish them. Shiqi Niang also sent Li Shande a few boxes of Yulu Tuan pastries and returned the property deed of his old house, also writing off his loan. The Right Chancellor was completely puzzled.
Li Shande had clearly already obtained the approval document for transporting lychees, so why did he still stop him in the street to seek his protection? Attendant Yu had no choice but to admit that he had suggested it to Li Shande, simply not wanting to take all the credit alone. It just so happened that Li Shande also had the idea of getting closer to the Right Chancellor.
The Right Chancellor discovered that Li Shande had only written about the transportation method but had not specified how to make a profit. He knew this was a way to make money, so he agreed to let Attendant Yu be responsible for the lychee transportation. Attendant Yu swore to be loyal to the Right Chancellor with all his heart. Attendant Yu could tell that Li Shande was not greedy for wealth.
He heard that Li Shande was going to convene the department heads tomorrow to discuss the lychee transportation matter and decided to go to the site to cheer him on. Early the next morning, the department heads arrived at the Office of Imperial Parks early. They offered suggestions to Li Shande one after another, and Li Shande noted them all down. Attendant Yu arrived shortly after.
Li Shande was overjoyed to learn that the Right Chancellor had agreed to let the two of them transport the lychees together. After Attendant Yu sat down, the department heads looked at each other, not daring to make a sound. Xu Leping praised Attendant Yu highly. Attendant Yu spoke highly of Li Shande, and others echoed him, suggesting naming the lychee transportation route after Li Shande.
Li Shande disagreed and discussed the transportation plan with them, assigning specific tasks to each department. Li Shande announced that they would depart for Lingnan on May 19th, and the department heads immediately dispersed to prepare.
