This Thriving Land Episode 10 Recap
> This Thriving Land Recap
Ning Susu came to Ning Xiuxiu's home for New Year's, and after visiting the temple fair with Ning Xiuxiu's family, she decided to stay the night. Ning Xiuxiu brought up the matter of renting land, and Ning Susu readily agreed, telling her sister that renting land was simple and that she would handle it. Meanwhile, Feng Er paced anxiously, urging Feng Dajiao to find out if Ning Xiuxiu and Ning Susu had settled the land deal.
Feng Dajiao refused, stating the sisters were just chatting and he had no business eavesdropping. Feng Er worried that Miss Susu was not leaving and it had been too long. Later, Fei Zuoshi arrived to take Ning Susu home. Ning Susu expressed her desire to stay with her sister for the night, and Ning Xiuxiu also pleaded for her to stay. Fei Zuoshi, however, insisted, scolding Ning Susu for being willful and bothering her sister and brother-in-law.
She reminded Ning Susu about proper family address and said there would be plenty of time to chat later. Despite both sisters' protests, Fei Zuoshi forcibly took Ning Susu away. Ning Xiuxiu was left feeling disheartened, lamenting that Fei Zuoshi was like a sturdy lock, controlling everything, and wondered if it was truly right for Susu to return to the Fei Residence. Back home, Ning Susu offered Fei Zuoshi a drink, pretending it was for no particular reason.
Fei Zuoshi, seeing through her pretense, told her to speak directly. Ning Susu then brought up Feng Er's wish to rent good land, admitting it was Ning Xiuxiu's idea. Fei Zuoshi inquired if Ning Xiuxiu was truly committed to Feng Dajiao. Ning Susu confirmed that Ning Xiuxiu genuinely loved Feng Dajiao and they were very affectionate, assuring Fei Zuoshi that Ning Xiuxiu was dedicated to her new life.
Hearing this, Fei Zuoshi agreed to lease the land, stating it was a simple matter of family land and she wouldn't make Ning Susu lose face. Ning Susu thanked her and toasted her on Ning Xiuxiu's behalf. Ning Xiuxiu spent time with her mother-in-law, learning to weave straw shoes and rain cloaks. Her mother-in-law was full of praise, calling Ning Xiuxiu a "clever girl" and her weaving even better than her own.
Ning Xiuxiu took the opportunity to ask about Feng Dajiao's childhood. Her mother-in-law recounted stories, like Feng Dajiao being born with large feet, running at eight months old, and wearing his father's shoes by age nine. She shared tales of his early life, including saving a beggar who turned out to be an "immortal" and granted Feng Dajiao special abilities like curing sick oxen and predicting weather.
She concluded by praising Feng Dajiao's dutiful and filial nature as a farmer, and Ning Xiuxiu's adaptability, predicting a bright future for them. Meanwhile, Ning Xuexiang invited Feng Si for drinks. Feng Si quickly guessed Ning Xuexiang was after his four mu of land. Ning Xuexiang reminisced about their fathers' deep friendship, implying he wanted to help Feng Si, whose parents were now gone.
Ning Xuexiang told Feng Si that farming was a waste of his talent, suggesting he should go out and "chase fast money" like he did with odd jobs. He offered to buy Feng Si's four mu of land at a high price of five silver dollars per mu, totaling twenty silver dollars. He deducted Feng Si's fifteen silver dollar debt, giving him five silver dollars on the spot.
Ning Xuexiang promised to nurture the land and return it to Feng Si when he was old and ready to retire to the village, explaining that he wouldn't return it sooner to prevent Feng Si from gambling it away again. Convinced, Feng Si excitedly pressed his thumbprint on the contract, vowing to "chase fast money" and never farm again.
Ning Xuexiang, speaking to his attendant, then ordered that Feng Si be sent off with peanuts and a "legless chicken," a subtle jab at Feng Si's misfortune. Unaware of the true implications, Feng Si declared that he would never drink with the Feng family again. Feng Er, still anxious about the land, urged Ning Xiuxiu to go to Ning Susu and inquire about the land rental agreement.
Ning Xiuxiu, supported by her mother-in-law, advised patience, reminding him that Ning Susu had already agreed and needed time to discuss it with Fei Zuoshi. She pointed out that going too soon might cause awkwardness. Feng Er expressed his worry that other landlords were already surveying land for deeds, fearing good plots would be snatched up. His mother-in-law teased him about his impatience regarding land.
Later, Feng Dajiao informed Ning Xiuxiu that Tietou's family, despite having thirteen mu of land, lacked money for seeds and was too proud to ask for a loan. Feng Dajiao believed helping Tietou earn money was better than giving handouts. Ning Xiuxiu showed Feng Dajiao a tightly woven rain cloak she had made. Feng Dajiao praised her skill but noticed her hands were scratched. He worried about her hands becoming rough, but Ning Xiuxiu accepted it.
Feng Dajiao then offered to go salt trafficking himself with Humpback Guo to earn money and spare Ning Xiuxiu hardship. Inspired by this, Ning Xiuxiu suggested Tietou go with Humpback Guo instead, a proposal Feng Dajiao readily agreed to. Ning Xiuxiu then prepared clothes and travel expenses for Tietou. Tietou expressed his gratitude, accepting the clothes and promising to abide by any rules as long as he could earn cash.
As the Start of Spring arrived, Feng Dajiao presented Ning Xiuxiu with a radish for the "biting spring" tradition. Ning Xiuxiu mentioned her own mother used to have her bite radish to relieve spring drowsiness. Feng Dajiao then explained that his mother had meant it as a "Descendant Radish," hoping for an early grandson, which made Ning Xiuxiu blush. Soon after, Feng Dajiao took Ning Xiuxiu to the "testing the spring's breath" ceremony.
Feng Er led the villagers in a solemn ritual: they knelt and burned incense, and Feng Er placed a feather in a bamboo tube. Everyone held their breath as the feather slowly floated out, signaling that spring had arrived and the land was ready for cultivation. The villagers cheered and chanted, eager to begin farming.
Ning Xiuxiu was deeply moved, realizing the profound connection farmers had with the land, seeing it not just as a livelihood but as a source of emotional solace. Meanwhile, Fei Zuoshi convened all her tenants, instructing Beard Liu to announce new rental contracts. She declared that those who had missed rent payments would have their leased land reduced by 30% for one year missed and 50% for two years missed, unless they agreed to pay an additional bushel of grain.
Tietou's mother pleaded with Fei Zuoshi, explaining that while they usually paid on time, her husband's illness had led to old debts, making it difficult. Fei Zuoshi, however, insisted on strict adherence to the rules, stating that past and present debts were all the same. She finalized her decision, giving Tietou's family's thirteen mu of rented land to Feng Er.
Feng Er, arriving at that moment, was invited in by Beard Liu, where Fei Zuoshi informed him of the terms for leasing her family's land. Feng Er, overjoyed by the additional thirteen mu, combined with his family's existing eighteen mu, exuberantly exclaimed that they would soon be "sleeping in the fields" due to the immense amount of work. Ning Xiuxiu expressed concern that Feng Er and Feng Dajiao would be overworked.
Feng Er dismissed her worries, stating he was not afraid of labor, only idleness. He suggested buying a ploughing ox to lighten their load and increase efficiency, but he was reluctant to spend money, citing the risk of livestock illness. Ning Xiuxiu teased him for his stinginess, pointing out that his money box was "screaming" to buy an ox.
Feng Dajiao, who also wished for an ox, agreed with Ning Xiuxiu that "people are more valuable than livestock," and her concern for their well-being was evident. Feng Er, still hesitant, eventually gave up the discussion, though Feng Dajiao observed that Feng Er couldn't truly resist the idea. The next morning, Ning Xiuxiu went to the livestock market. She spotted a one-horned ox.
The seller, Zhang Hoof, initially asked for six silver dollars, emphasizing the ox's strength despite its broken horn. Ning Xiuxiu, however, negotiated, offering one silver dollar as a deposit and stating that her father-in-law, Feng Er, would pay the remaining three silver dollars upon delivery. The seller agreed to the delivery, keeping the one-dollar deposit if Feng Er refused.
When the seller arrived at Feng Er's house with the ox, Feng Er was surprised and initially refused to accept it, questioning why Ning Xiuxiu had made such a decision without his input. He told the seller to take the ox back. The seller, however, informed him that Ning Xiuxiu had already paid a one-silver-dollar deposit, which would not be refunded if the ox was rejected.
Faced with losing the deposit, Feng Er, though still fuming about Ning Xiuxiu's "self-willed" action, reluctantly paid the remaining three silver dollars to purchase the ox. Later, Ning Xiuxiu discussed with Feng Dajiao her plan to get her one-silver-dollar deposit back from Feng Er. Feng Dajiao acknowledged that Feng Er had only accepted the ox because he didn't want to lose the deposit and was likely still angry.
Feng Er, overhearing this, continued to vent his frustration, calling Ning Xiuxiu "wild" for her impulsive purchase and vowing to have Feng Dajiao teach her a lesson. Feng Dajiao, however, found Ning Xiuxiu's audacity amusing, commenting that she "knew his mind best" and had managed to "put him in his place" after decades of his frugality.
Feng Er, still irritated, abruptly left the room, but Feng Dajiao chuckled, knowing that Feng Er secretly liked the ox and simply couldn't resist the deal. Feng Dajiao then mused aloud that both "a hornless ox and a squint-eyed man" possess a certain temper, which often indicates a strong personality.
