This Thriving Land Episode 23 Recap
> This Thriving Land Recap
Feng Dajiao and Ning Xiuxiu returned from the fields to find Lulu captivating a group of village women. Ning Susu excitedly showed Ning Xiuxiu a beautiful thread flower hair accessory that Lulu had given her, claiming it was a craft once exclusive to the palace. Ning Xiuxiu was visibly displeased by the scene. As villagers dispersed, Feng Er chimed in, saying he was just chatting with the "pretty girl" in their yard.
Feng Er, Lulu's newly recognized godfather, enthusiastically informed her that he had settled her housing and land matters. He had found an empty house for her, which she could use with a large deposit, and located six mu of land for sale in a nearby village, emphasizing that buying was better than building. Lulu was thrilled and, in return, offered Feng Er two mu of the land.
Feng Dajiao immediately interjected, arguing that Feng Er shouldn't accept Lulu's land, asserting that it was "someone else's land" and he had no right to take it. Lulu, however, insisted she was now their goddaughter and could offer it. Feng Er then explained to Lulu that Feng Dajiao was being polite. Ning Xiuxiu, concerned, told Mother Feng that Lulu was pursuing Feng Dajiao.
Mother Feng, initially shocked, declared she would never allow Feng Dajiao to take a concubine and vowed to tell Father Feng to make Lulu leave if she continued to pursue Dajiao. However, Father Feng dismissed his wife's worries, convinced that since Dajiao had saved Lulu and her brother, Lulu's intentions were pure and he was entitled to the land. Feng Dajiao then confronted his father, reiterating that he should not accept the land from Lulu.
Father Feng, amused, said Lulu's attraction to Dajiao only proved his son's good character and that Dajiao wasn't losing anything. He pointed out all the provisions Lulu had brought, implying they couldn't just kick her out after accepting her generosity. Ning Xiuxiu countered, acknowledging Dajiao's steadfastness but arguing that taking advantage of Lulu's affections by accepting her gifts and land felt like selling Dajiao himself.
She suggested that once the Turtle Hill grew medicinal herbs, all the money from selling them could go to buy the land for Feng Er, which would be a more honorable way. Father Feng was furious at the idea of growing anything other than grain on their fertile land. He angrily declared that as long as he lived, no "nonsense" like medicinal herbs would be planted.
He then vowed to plant sorghum on the entire Turtle Hill the very next day, visibly upset, and left the meal. Later, Ning Xiuxiu worried to Feng Dajiao that his father might actually plant sorghum. She reminded him that Chang Chun was supposed to deliver the salvia miltiorrhiza seedlings soon. She advised Dajiao to wait at the back hill while she returned home to monitor his father, cautioning Dajiao not to argue if his father truly insisted on planting sorghum.
Feng Er reported to Feng Dajiao and Ning Xiuxiu that Lulu, after much indecision about the land purchase, had abruptly left for the county in Humpback Guo's donkey cart without providing full payment for the land, leaving Feng Er waiting in vain. Concerned by Lulu's solo trip, Feng Dajiao had Humpback Guo confirm she went to the county. Meanwhile, Ning Susu, having finished with her account books, found Ning Xiuxiu digging wild vegetables on the back hill.
Ning Susu cheerfully praised Lulu, and on the way back, Ning Xiuxiu revealed Lulu's romantic interest in Feng Dajiao. Lulu then returned with a cartload of what she believed were salvia miltiorrhiza seedlings, having paid a high price after obtaining them from a "ghost market" and even injuring her head en route. The family, including Ning Xiuxiu, Yin Zi, and Feng Dajiao, rallied together to plant the abundant seedlings.
Even Feng Er expressed his frustration that Lulu had diverted her efforts from acquiring the land for him to purchasing these seedlings. Lulu attempted to appease him by reiterating her offer of two mu of land for his sorghum, but Feng Er was insistent on the immediate acquisition of those two mu. Mother Feng worried about how to repay Lulu's kindness.
Ning Susu, enraged, stormed over to Lulu, throwing the thread flower back at her and accusing her of trying to steal Feng Dajiao. Feng Dajiao tried to intervene, telling Ning Susu to go home, but she retorted that he was the last person who should speak, accusing him of protecting Lulu and having ill intentions towards Ning Xiuxiu. Ning Xiuxiu eventually managed to calm Ning Susu down and send her home.
Just then, Zhao Changming arrived, sent by Shopkeeper Chang Chun, who had a new store in the county and couldn't come himself. Zhao Changming apologized for the delay and brought genuine salvia miltiorrhiza seeds, offering to teach them how to plant. Feng Dajiao informed him they had already planted seedlings. Suddenly, Tietou rushed in with alarming news: all the newly planted salvia miltiorrhiza seedlings had withered and turned black despite being watered.
Zhao Changming, Feng Dajiao, and Ning Xiuxiu immediately went to investigate. Still furious, Ning Susu confronted Humpback Guo, demanding he drive Lulu out of the village, even threatening to stop buying from his shop. Faced with her persistence, Humpback Guo reluctantly agreed to go find Lulu. Meanwhile, at the field, Zhao Changming immediately identified Lulu's purchased seedlings as three-flowered Schnabelia, not salvia miltiorrhiza, explaining that their similar leaves could easily deceive the inexperienced.
Lulu, dismayed at having spent twelve silver dollars for nothing, insisted on confronting the swindler at his herbal stall in the county. Ning Xiuxiu, concerned for Lulu's safety, told Feng Dajiao he must accompany her. Feng Dajiao then enlisted Humpback Guo, instructing him to bring his cart and join them.
Zhao Changming presented Ning Xiuxiu with two books on common herbs, noting her literacy, and offered to teach her and others how to plant salvia miltiorrhiza from seeds, advising them to first clear the current dead plants and re-plow the field. Yin Zi and Tietou eagerly listened and helped, and more villagers were also keen to learn.
Meanwhile, Ning Susu, back home, recounted to Fei Zuoshi how she had confronted Lulu and tried to make her leave, even enlisting Humpback Guo's help. Fei Zuoshi advised Ning Susu not to meddle in others' affairs, but Ning Susu insisted it was family business, happily revealing Ning Xiuxiu's plan to plant salvia miltiorrhiza on the Feng family's twenty mu of land, emphasizing the higher profits compared to grain.
Feng Er, eager to plant sorghum on the two mu of land Lulu promised, discovered that she had only made a partial payment, and the seller refused to allow him to use it, even chasing him away. Feng Er then learned that Lulu had gone to the county in pursuit of the swindler. Upon their return, Feng Dajiao and Humpback Guo confirmed that the swindler had abandoned his stall and fled, taking Lulu's twelve silver dollars with him.
Lulu, confessing she had used the land money to buy the fake seedlings for Dajiao, now had nothing left. Feng Er was furious, questioning if their godfather/godmother relationship was for nothing without the land. Ning Xiuxiu, despite her personal feelings about Lulu, stepped in, stating that they were responsible for Lulu's loss since it was incurred for Dajiao's sake. She offered to borrow money to compensate Lulu.
Lulu, however, refused, insisting it was her own fault for being scammed and that she would earn the money back herself, despite Humpback Guo's skepticism about her ability to make money in the village with her "city skills." At the field, Feng Er, arriving with sorghum seeds, angrily stated that only sorghum should be planted and demanded they stop planting inedible herbs.
Ning Xiuxiu tried to reason with him, offering him a portion of the cleared land for sorghum, but Feng Er was adamant, demanding they stop. Feeling helpless, Ning Xiuxiu eventually told everyone to stop planting and disperse, leading Zhao Changming to leave. Meanwhile, Fei Zuoshi and Ning Susu visited Ning Xuexiang. Ning Susu excitedly shared Ning Xiuxiu's plan to plant salvia miltiorrhiza on all twenty mu of Feng family land. Ning Xuexiang, upon hearing this, became visibly enraged.
He directly confronted Ning Xiuxiu at the field, declaring that her plan was "unreliable business." He specifically warned Yin Zi, as his tenant, that Ning family land could only grow grain, not herbs, particularly salvia miltiorrhiza. He threatened to revoke Yin Zi's permanent tenancy if any herbs were found.
Ning Xiuxiu argued that his family rules did not apply to Feng family land, and even offered to relinquish her Ning surname, but Ning Xuexiang remained unyielding, warning her of divine punishment and disaster if she continued to plant herbs instead of grain. As Ning Xuexiang left, Mother Feng questioned why he was departing so abruptly. Father Feng, still fuming, sided with Ning Xuexiang, insisting they dig up the planted herbs and continue with sorghum.
Feng Dajiao, having heard everything, intervened. He acknowledged that the herbs were already planted and digging them up would be wasteful. He explained Ning Xiuxiu's point that the herb sales could yield enough profit to buy more grain than sorghum.
Feng Dajiao proposed a compromise: they would let this year's medicinal herb planting stand, but from next year onwards, all decisions regarding planting on the Turtle Hill would be entirely up to Father Feng, and he would not tolerate any further disputes.
