This Thriving Land Episode 14 Recap
> This Thriving Land Recap
Ning Xuexiang, upon learning from Ning Kejin that his second brother, Ning Xuewu, intended to sell family land to pay off Ning Kebi's debt, immediately rushed to Ning Xuewu's house without finishing his meal. Fei Zuoshi had already arrived with 480 silver coins, intending to purchase Ning Xuewu's 30 mu of land located at East Ridge.
She explained that she was interested in the land because it was adjacent to her family's property, making it easier to manage if rented to tenants later. She emphasized that she respected Village Chief Xuewu and was there to help in his time of need, not to compete.
Although Ning Xuewu offered her 14 mu of his recognized good land in the west village at 18 silver coins per mu, she declined, stating that the 480 silver coins for the East Ridge land were a fair price to both parties. Feng Er also expressed a desire to buy some land, and Ning Xuewu readily agreed to both. However, just as Fei Zuoshi was about to sign the contract, Ning Xuexiang burst in, vehemently opposing the sale.
He invoked ancestral rules, declaring that Ning family land could not pass into another family's hands. He then forcibly sent Fei Zuoshi away, stating he would buy the land himself, but only offered a mere 10 silver coins per mu. Ning Xuewu, though distressed by the low offer compared to Fei Zuoshi's 16 per mu, remained silent.
Feng Er then attempted to buy four mu for 40 silver coins, but Ning Xuexiang flatly refused, questioning Feng Er's right to buy Ning land as he wasn't a Ning. Just then, Ning Susu and Ning Xiuxiu arrived, declaring their intention to buy all 30 mu of Ning Xuewu's land at 16 silver coins per mu. Ning Xuexiang protested that married daughters no longer counted as Ning family members.
However, Ning Kejin arrived and supported his sisters, asserting his own status as a Ning family member and stating his sisters were genuinely trying to help. He offered to buy the land and then resell it to any villagers, including his sisters. Faced with his children's united front, Ning Xuexiang, frustrated, had to concede. The three siblings successfully bought Ning Xuewu's land, enraging Ning Xuexiang.
Ning Susu returned home and reported to Fei Zuoshi, who praised her as a great contributor to the Fei family. Ning Susu worried her father Ning Xuexiang would be angry, but Fei Zuoshi consoled her. Meanwhile, Ning Xiuxiu, despite participating in the purchase, had not kept any land for herself or Feng Er.
She explained to a disappointed Feng Er that she wanted to leave some land for Ning Xuewu and his son Ning Kebi to make a living, believing it was wrong to take advantage of their hardship. She and Feng Dajiao felt their family already had sufficient land. Feng Dajiao supported her decision. Seeing her father-in-law's disappointment, Ning Xiuxiu felt a pang of guilt.
Feng Dajiao comforted her, promising to clear some wasteland to achieve his father's dream of owning 20 mu, despite his arm not being fully recovered. The next day, while Feng Dajiao, Ning Xiuxiu, and Feng's mother were working in the fields alongside Auntie Tietou, Feng Dajiao's father, Feng Er, arrived.
Auntie Tietou expressed gratitude to Feng Er for deeply plowing her 13 mu of land in Sesame Gully, stating that it was sure to yield a good harvest and promised to have Tietou treat him to a drink when he returned. Suddenly, a villager named Zhuzi rushed over with alarming news: Pan Xiaogui's house had been raided by bandits, and several farmhands were taken hostage to be held for ransom. Some who tried to escape were killed.
Auntie Tietou, already worried about Tietou, collapsed upon hearing this devastating news, fearing Tietou was among the captured. Feng Dajiao quickly carried her to the side of the field, while Ning Xiuxiu and Feng's mother tried to revive her. Feng Dajiao then instructed Zhuzi to gather other young men to search for the captured villagers, promising to join them after making sure Auntie Tietou was settled.
Back home, Ning Kejin secretly retrieved a gun, asking Kuangzi to keep it a secret from his father. Ning Xuexiang, however, overheard him and, still furious about the land sale, chased Ning Kejin with a broom, accusing him of betraying the family. Ning Kejin fled. Fei Wendian received a letter from his principal, urging him to organize farmers and promote the Farmers' Association movement.
He had been diligently traveling to various villages, leaving before dawn and returning late, to publicize the association's policies. He advised Fei Zuoshi to treat their tenants kindly, but she was reluctant to embrace permanent tenancy rights, arguing that she had many tenants and had always treated them well, providing them with seeds and tools, unlike other landlords. She questioned why she should be the first to implement such changes.
Feng Dajiao and Zhuzi, along with others, searched for Tietou in Xiazhuang Village and nearby areas. They finally found him at a Farmers' Association meeting, where he was passionately advocating for permanent tenancy rights and preventing landlords from arbitrarily reclaiming land. He even used the example of his own family's land being taken back to illustrate his point. Feng Dajiao urged Tietou to return home to his mother, who had fainted multiple times from worry.
He informed Tietou that Ning Xiuxiu and Feng Dajiao's father had already secured the return of their land and had even planted most of the peanut seeds. Tietou, however, was focused on his new mission, proclaiming that he intended to reclaim his 13 mu of land in Sesame Gully and secure permanent tenancy rights for it through the Farmers' Association.
He told Feng Dajiao to follow his lead, declaring he was going to do great things and would return to the village to fight local tyrants and redistribute land. Tietou excitedly visited Yinzi, announcing himself as the director of the Farmers' Association. He boasted about the changing times and promised to marry her with a grand proper wedding sedan and musicians, like Feng Dajiao had married Ning Xiuxiu. However, Yinzi was more concerned about immediate needs.
Her mother's illness was worsening, and she had no money for medicine or seeds. Tietou could not offer direct financial help, only promising that a better life would come with the Farmers' Association, urging her to trust him. Yinzi despaired, lamenting her helplessness as a woman in their desperate situation, short on grains with wild vegetables and tree bark as their only food.
Fei Zuoshi, uncertain about the Farmers' Association's policies on reducing rent and interest, visited Ning Xuexiang to sound him out. Ning Xuexiang feigned ignorance, subtly implying that because he had fewer tenants and farmed most of his land himself, he would face fewer problems than Fei Zuoshi, who, as a widow, relied heavily on many tenants. Fei Zuoshi understood his meaning and left in frustration, feeling that Ning Xuexiang had not been helpful.
Later, Tietou gathered his younger friends in the village and distributed wooden badges, symbolizing their unity in the Farmers' Association. When Feng Dajiao arrived, Tietou also gave him a badge, designating him as his assistant. Tietou proclaimed that their Farmers' Association was officially established, and from that day forward, they, as team leaders, would lead the charge against exploitation and fight for farmers' rights. Their first target, he declared, would be the "old widow" who had arbitrarily taken back land, implying Fei Zuoshi, as she had caused him much trouble.
