This Thriving Land Episode 20 Recap
> This Thriving Land Recap
As the village bells rang out a warning, shouts of "The bandits are attacking us!" filled the air, spreading panic among the villagers. Ning Kejin quickly directed all men aged fifteen and above to gather at the west entrance of the fortress to defend their home. Ning Xuewu, accompanied by his son Ning Kebi, went door-to-door to spread the word, while Ning Xuexiang personally headed to the village entrance.
Ning Kejin had Feng Si brought before him, ordering him to demand the bandits' withdrawal. Feng Si defiantly refused, shouting insults and claiming that the bandits were there for revenge against the Ning family and would first target Ning Xiuxiu. Ning Kejin, enraged by Feng Si's betrayal and his continuous taunts about Ning Xiuxiu, ordered his men to beat Feng Si, tie him up, and hang him at the entrance as a warning.
He also commanded that Feng Si's wife and children be brought forth to witness the consequences of his actions. Feng Er arrived, seeing his brother Feng Si and his family confined. He pleaded with Feng Si to surrender and sever ties with the bandits, emphasizing the need to save his family. However, Feng Si remained unrepentant, only asking Feng Er to rescue his wife and children. Frustrated, Feng Er walked away.
Another captured bandit, Lao Jiu, was then hung up and pleaded with Hu San to retreat, claiming the villagers promised to release him if they did. Hu San, in a fit of rage, shot the rope holding Lao Jiu, then dispatched men to gather hostages from neighboring villages who were related to the people of Ox Temple Village. Hearing the gunfire, Iron Head quickly returned to see the village heavily besieged by bandits.
Hu San, using a loudspeaker, declared that his return was to reclaim Ning Xiuxiu, whose escape from Chicken Ridge had been a "shame" to him and his men, as she was the first woman to leave the stronghold untainted. He demanded that Ning Xiuxiu be handed over, threatening to defile all the women in the village if she was not. Ning Kejin, infuriated, retorted with his own loudspeaker, vowing to annihilate the bandits, a sentiment echoed by the rallying villagers.
In the village, Yin Zi quickly concealed their family's money. Wealthy elder Li Junyi helped villagers hide in the large sweet potato cellar. Ning Susu, worried about Fei Zuoshi, rushed home to retrieve her. Ning Xiuxiu also hurried to Fei Zuoshi’s house, insisting she and Ning Susu hide in the cellar. Feng Dajiao’s mother, seeing Ning Xiuxiu hadn't returned, worried and sent Yin Zi to find her.
Yin Zi located Ning Xiuxiu, and together they joined other women at the village entrance, mixing mud to reinforce the fortress walls. Meanwhile, Guo Guyao and Feng Dajiao, returning to the village, saw the bandit encirclement. Feng Dajiao hid his bathtub and dispatched Guo Guyao to the county to alert Du Chunlin for help. The hostages from the neighboring villages, forced to dig at the fortress walls, intentionally worked slowly.
Hu San noticed their sluggishness and fired a warning shot, forcing them to genuinely begin digging. As the walls were about to be breached, the militia on the fortress desperately urged their kin below to stop digging. Hu San opened fire on them, prompting Ning Kejin to order his militia to engage the bandits in fierce combat.
Unwilling to prolong the fight, Hu San announced over the loudspeaker that their leader, Big Nose Du, was arriving with reinforcements, demanding Ning Kejin's surrender and using the captured hostages as human shields. Ning Xuewu attempted to surrender against Ning Kejin's wishes, but Hu San refused, insisting that Ning Xiuxiu come out to negotiate. Enraged, Ning Kejin charged out with his men for a decisive battle. Hu San's men fired cannons, causing Ning Kejin to fall from his horse, injured.
Ning Xiuxiu and Yin Zi rushed out to bring the wounded back into the village. While trying to save a child, Ning Xiuxiu was captured by Hu San. Hu San threatened to kill the hostages if Ning Kejin did not open the gate. Ning Xiuxiu stepped forward, agreeing to negotiate with Hu San if he would spare the villagers. Feng Er brought a farewell drink for Ning Kejin, but upon learning of Ning Xiuxiu's capture, he became frantic.
He dragged Feng Si to the front, demanding he appeal to Hu San for Ning Xiuxiu's release. However, Feng Si shockingly urged Hu San to storm the village and dismember Ning Xuexiang. Enraged, Ning Xuexiang pushed Feng Si off the fortress wall. Ning Xiuxiu, threatening to take her own life, forced Hu San to release the villagers, which he reluctantly did.
As Hu San prepared to take Ning Xiuxiu back to Chicken Ridge, Feng Dajiao arrived, taking Hu San hostage and demanding Ning Xiuxiu's release. Hu San complied, allowing Ning Xiuxiu to return to the village, where Feng Er and Ning Xuexiang pulled her to safety. Feng Dajiao, ready to die alongside Hu San, stood firm. Feng Si, despite his injuries, struggled to his feet to assist Feng Dajiao but was shot dead by the bandits.
Seeing this, Feng Dajiao charged towards Feng Si. Ning Kejin ordered a full assault on the bandits. Just then, Guo Guyao arrived with much-needed reinforcements, and together, they successfully repelled the bandits, forcing them to flee.
