This Thriving Land Episode 2 Recap
> This Thriving Land Recap
Fei Wendian excitedly returned home through heavy snow, eager for his wedding. However, his sister-in-law, Fei Zuoshi, concealed the fact that his bride, Ning Xiuxiu, had been kidnapped by bandits. Despite her efforts to find excuses for the absence of guests, Fei Wendian sensed something was amiss. Fei Zuoshi had sent Steward Liu with the betrothal gift list from three years ago to Ning Xuexiang, demanding a definite answer.
Fei Wendian visited the ancestral hall, praying to his ancestors for the safety of his sister-in-law and the entire family. Fei Zuoshi, witnessing his sincere devotion, felt touched. Steward Liu delivered the betrothal gift list to Ning Xuexiang, who understood it as Fei Zuoshi contemplating breaking off the engagement. Ning Xuexiang firmly promised that he would send a pure and spotless Ning Xiuxiu to the Fei family before midnight. Steward Liu rushed back to report the news.
Fei Zuoshi then instructed her servant, Qing, to keep a close eye on Fei Wendian and ensure he did not learn about Ning Xiuxiu's kidnapping. Meanwhile, Ning Xuexiang was reluctant to sell his precious land. As night fell, his wife, anxious, urged him to make a decision, bringing their younger daughter Ning Susu with her. Distraught, Ning Xuexiang forced them out of the room, still clinging to the land deeds.
At the bandit's lair, Ning Xiuxiu used her hairpin to bribe her guard for a bowl of water, but the guard only took the hairpin and left her thirsty. As it grew dark and no guests arrived, Fei Wendian grew increasingly suspicious. He confronted Qing and Steward Liu, pressing them for answers. Fei Zuoshi had no choice but to reveal that Ning Xiuxiu had been kidnapped. Fei Wendian, realizing his sister-in-law had hidden the truth, was enraged.
Fei Zuoshi then revealed that Big Nose Du of Chicken Ridge was responsible. Without a word, Fei Wendian grabbed a knife and stormed out. Fei Zuoshi quickly followed him in a carriage, catching up and trying to reason with him. She explained that the bandits only wanted ransom and would not harm Ning Xiuxiu, urging him to return home. Reluctantly, Fei Wendian agreed.
At Chicken Ridge, Big Nose Du and Hu San discussed the ransom, fearing the deal might fall through. Big Nose Du warned Hu San to be on his best behavior as an important guest, Du Chunlin, was expected. A scout then reported that armed men were approaching the mountain. Hu San, the Second Boss, immediately led his men to intercept them, while Feng Dajiao stealthily made his way up the mountain from another route, carefully observing the terrain.
Hu San and his men successfully repelled Ning Kejin's rescue attempt, driving him back down the mountain. Hu San then returned to Ning Xiuxiu's captivity, attempting to assault her, but he was interrupted by Big Nose Du’s summons to meet the important guest. Hu San reluctantly left Ning Xiuxiu. Meanwhile, Ning Xiuxiu tried to use the water bowl to cut her ropes, but her guard discovered her attempt and stopped her.
Ning Kejin rushed home to inform Ning Xuexiang of his failed rescue attempt and urged him to sell the land to ransom Ning Xiuxiu. Ning Xuexiang refused, clinging to the land deeds. When Ning mother tried to seize the deeds, Ning Xuexiang pushed her, causing her to hit her head on a table and bleed. Ning Xuexiang, despite his actions, then sent Ning Kejin to find a doctor for his mother.
Ning Kejin knelt, begging his father to sell the land and save Ning Xiuxiu, offering to give up the family inheritance. However, Ning Xuexiang remained unmoved, convinced that the bandits and Fei Zuoshi were conspiring to seize his land, believing he only needed to hold out until morning. Later, one of the bandits, Lao Jiu, intoxicated, attempted to assault Ning Xiuxiu. Fortunately, Second Brother Guo, a friend of Ning Kejin, arrived in time.
He knocked Lao Jiu unconscious and helped Ning Xiuxiu change into Lao Jiu's clothes to escape, instructing her to keep his assistance a secret for his and his mother's safety. Feng Dajiao, having learned Ning Xiuxiu's location from a bandit, then arrived and rescued her. Du Chunlin, a leader of the peasant army, arrived at the mountain stronghold. He urged Big Nose Du to join the self-defense army, promising that past transgressions would be forgiven.
However, Big Nose Du was wary of being exploited and then abandoned. Hu San, becoming aggressive and disrespectful, talked down Du Chunlin and his group, causing a tense atmosphere. Big Nose Du intervened, attempting to de-escalate the situation by inviting them for a drink, but Du Chunlin declined, citing the need to reach the next town, and promptly left. Feng Dajiao, carrying Ning Xiuxiu, fled down the mountain.
Ning Xiuxiu, exhausted, expressed her gratitude to Feng Dajiao, noting that he, not her father, had come to save her. She also asked if her father had indeed refused to sell the land for her ransom. Later, Hu San pursued Du Chunlin, ambushing and killing several of his men, and confiscating three guns. He returned to the stronghold, boasting to Big Nose Du about his actions.
Big Nose Du was furious, reprimanding Hu San for killing Du Chunlin, who was his childhood friend with two powerful official brothers. Big Nose Du then punished Hu San by forbidding him from leaving the mountain for a month. Fei Wendian, anxious about Ning Xiuxiu's delayed arrival, refused to eat or drink, determined to bring her home himself. Fei Zuoshi agreed to accompany him to the Ning family's residence.
Meanwhile, Hu San discovered Ning Xiuxiu had escaped and was distraught, realizing that 5,000 silver dollars had been lost, but Big Nose Du's punishment prevented him from pursuing her. Fei Zuoshi and Fei Wendian arrived at the Ning family's home, where they saw Ning Xuexiang standing by a wedding carriage with dowry at the entrance. Ning Xuexiang reiterated his promise to deliver a pure and spotless bride to the Fei family before midnight.
Fei Zuoshi immediately realized that the bride was Ning Susu, not Ning Xiuxiu. Despite the deception, to preserve the Fei family's reputation and ensure a wedding with an "innocent" bride, she decided to proceed with the marriage. She hurried Fei Wendian back home to prepare for the wedding, instructing a servant to invite all relatives and neighbors, informing them that the bride would arrive before midnight.
As relatives and friends gathered, Fei Zuoshi helped Fei Wendian change into his red wedding attire, repeatedly instructing him to follow her lead for the wedding to be a success. Fei Wendian promised to obey. The Ning family's procession arrived with gongs and drums. Fei Zuoshi personally welcomed the bride and led her into the new room.
Fei Wendian and the bride performed the wedding rituals amidst the blessings of family and friends, then paid respects and offered tea to Fei Zuoshi. Fei Zuoshi remained anxious until she saw Fei Wendian and the bride enter the bridal chamber. She then sent Fei Wendian to entertain the guests. Once alone with the bride, Fei Zuoshi confirmed her suspicion: it was indeed Ning Susu. Ning Susu expressed gratitude to Fei Zuoshi for not exposing her publicly.
She explained that her father had arranged for her to marry in place of her sister, promising to swap them back once Ning Xiuxiu was rescued. Fei Zuoshi then offered Ning Susu some refreshments and instructed her to keep her identity a secret from everyone, including Fei Wendian, emphasizing that revealing the truth would hinder her sister's rescue.
