This Thriving Land Episode 17 Recap
> This Thriving Land Recap
Feng Er, still fuming after Ning Xuexiang publicly revoked the 15 mu of dowry land, vented his anger on Ning Xiuxiu when Feng Dajiao pulled him away. He accused her of being insincere and questioned why she hadn't secured the dowry from her father, Ning Xuexiang, despite their fractured relationship, lamenting that he could have easily gained land by marrying someone else. Ning Xiuxiu calmly defended herself, asserting her genuine respect and obedience since joining the family.
Feng Dajiao intervened, urging Ning Xiuxiu to rest and assuring her that Feng Er’s words were spoken in anger. However, Feng Er remained unyielding, accusing Ning Xiuxiu of siding with her father and threatening to disown her as a daughter-in-law. Feng Dajiao then took Feng Er home, leaving Ning Xiuxiu to retreat into her room, reflecting on their strained family dynamics. Later, Ning Xiuxiu cooked and brought food to Feng Er in the fields, but he firmly refused to eat.
Feng Dajiao tried to calm her, but Ning Xiuxiu was not angry; she only desired to live peacefully with Feng Dajiao and realized she hadn't properly considered Feng Er's feelings, wishing to speak with him properly. Subsequently, Ning Xiuxiu spoke to her mother-in-law, admitting the validity of Feng Er's criticisms and realizing she had inadvertently burdened them with her issues.
She expressed her desire to mend the rifts within the family for their collective prosperity, particularly the argument with Feng Er, acknowledging that harmony brings wealth. Her mother-in-law comforted her, expecting Feng Er to calm down soon, but cautioned her against risky ventures to earn money, sharing an old tale of a family whose attempt to grow medicinal herbs instead of grain resulted in ruin. Ning Xiuxiu listened intently, seemingly formulating her own plans.
Meanwhile, Tietou, overjoyed by the permanent tenancy his mother had secured, proudly showed Yin Zi his land deed, emphasizing the security it brought. He offered her all his money to buy food for her siblings, but Yin Zi, ever practical, declined, stating her need to gather wild vegetables to feed her family. Days later, Glutton Fei, frustrated by Ning Xuexiang's unfulfilled promise of permanent tenancy, arrived at Ning Xuexiang's residence.
Kuangzi, Ning Xuexiang’s servant, tried to dissuade him, hinting at Glutton Fei’s unsuitability. Glutton Fei stubbornly refused to leave, demanding to see Ning Xuexiang. Ning Xuexiang eventually summoned him, confronting him with a detailed account of his longstanding debts and accusing him of causing trouble instead of repaying what he owed. He flatly refused to grant Glutton Fei permanent tenancy and expelled him when he dared to ask for more grain.
Soon after, Glutton Fei’s wife and children were seen begging for food. Tietou's mother spotted them and angrily denounced Yin Zi as a "vixen" for purportedly bewitching Tietou and causing him to secretly provide them with food. She insisted that Yin Zi's family marry her off quickly to prevent further financial drain on Tietou. Yin Zi’s mother, overwhelmed by the public humiliation, fainted.
When Yin Zi arrived, she confronted Tietou's mother, and Tietou himself stepped forward, publicly vowing to marry only Yin Zi. However, Yin Zi, determined not to be a burden, firmly rejected him, telling him to give up his aspirations for her. In a fit of rage, Tietou tried to strike Yin Zi but was restrained by Ning Xiuxiu. He then packed his belongings and stormed out of the house, ignoring his mother's desperate pleas.
Ning Susu, finding it difficult to study on her own, sought assistance from Fei Wendian. He read to her, even incorporating English phrases, which deeply impressed her. Elsewhere, Fei Zuoshi expressed her distress over the permanent tenancy and rent reduction policies, fearing how she would answer to her ancestors.
Fei Wendian tried to console her, suggesting that the ancestors no longer mattered in a changing world, which only further angered Fei Zuoshi, who commanded him to kneel for his disrespectful words. Ning Susu, still intrigued by the foreign language, followed Fei Wendian as he left, and he offered to explain it to her during a walk. Ning Xiuxiu, recalling her mother-in-law's story about cultivating medicinal herbs, contemplated planting salvia miltiorrhiza to earn money and purchase land for Feng Er.
Her mother-in-law, however, warned her against such a venture, recounting the cautionary tale of the family who suffered a devastating fire after abandoning grain for herbs. Later, Glutton Fei approached Tietou for help regarding his permanent tenancy, but Tietou cited Ning Xuexiang's valid reason of debt as an insurmountable obstacle. Glutton Fei then went to Fei Wendian's residence, but finding him absent, explained his situation to Fei Zuoshi.
Fei Zuoshi advised him that it would be improper for Fei Wendian, as Ning Xuexiang's son-in-law, to intervene. Instead, she suggested Glutton Fei learn from other successful permanent tenants how they managed to secure their rights. She also offered him some millet to help his family. Feng Dajiao attempted to discuss clearing new land with Feng Er, who initially resisted. Ning Xiuxiu then interjected, proposing her plan to earn money and buy land independently, without relying on the Ning family.
This piqued Feng Er's interest, leading him to finally agree to eat with them. Later, Tietou's mother frantically sought Feng Dajiao and Ning Xiuxiu's help, explaining that Tietou had built a shelter in the fields and refused to return home. They went to Tietou, who proudly showed off his well-built shed, asserting his intention to stay there until harvest, earn money, and marry Yin Zi, regardless of his mother's approval.
Following Fei Zuoshi's advice, Glutton Fei began observing other permanent tenants. He soon uncovered that Ning Xuexiang's permanent tenancy agreements were merely a charade, a facade designed to impress others. He immediately reported this deception to Fei Zuoshi. Fei Zuoshi then visited Tietou in the fields, ostensibly to inspect her land, but in reality, to inform him of Ning Xuexiang's fake permanent tenancy. She urged Tietou, in his capacity as the head of the Farmers' Association, to investigate the matter.
Enraged by the revelation, Tietou confronted Ning Xiuxiu, accusing her of conspiring with her father. Ning Xiuxiu, however, was genuinely shocked and denied any knowledge of the fraudulent agreements. Simultaneously, a servant notified Fei Wendian that Ning Susu was unwell, having found blood on her stool after reading. Fei Wendian immediately rushed to her side and sent for a doctor.
