This Thriving Land Episode 27 Recap
> This Thriving Land Recap
Ning Xiuxiu intercepted Yinzi's bridal sedan, pleading with her not to marry her father Ning Xuexiang and to run away with Tietou instead. She urged Yinzi to listen to her, reminding her that even if life with Tietou was hard, her heart would be at peace. Ning Xiuxiu offered her own marriage to Feng Dajiao as an example, stating that despite their lack of wealth, Feng Dajiao's kindness gave her hope.
She also added that as long as they don't give up, life won't defeat them. Yinzi, with a heavy heart, could only reply, "I accept my fate, Xiuxiu. Thank you." Her family was on the brink of starvation, her mother gravely ill, and her father Glutton Fei was desperate. To save her family from destitution, Yinzi had no choice but to go through with the marriage.
Her father, Glutton Fei, then pushed her towards the sedan, urging her to "let's go." Tietou, heartbroken and enraged by Yinzi's marriage to Ning Xuexiang, swore to kill Ning Xuexiang and burn down his residence, calling him a "sick animal." Tietou's mother, trying to calm him, dismissed Yinzi as a "gold digger" who "left you for a rich man without hesitation." She even pointed out that "even this dunderhead [Silly Tiao] cares more about you than she does!"
Tietou, in his anguish, repeatedly called himself "a huge fool." Feng Dajiao, also present, advised Tietou to "stop being upset" and "don't act silly again" before leaving. Amidst this turmoil, Silly Tiao's water broke, and she went into labor. Tietou's mother quickly instructed him to find a midwife and call Feng Er's wife for help, while urging Silly Tiao to "bear with it, good girl." Ning Xiuxiu also joined to assist.
On their wedding night, Ning Xuexiang confronted Yinzi, accusing her of having premarital sex with Tietou, demanding to know "Who took your virginity? Was it Tietou? Did you two sleep together?" Yinzi, not backing down, challenged him to "either beat me to death or set me free," declaring that if he made his choice, "then we'll be through and even." Ning Xuexiang scoffed, "Through and even? No way! I will never ever. . ."
Meanwhile, Silly Tiao was in the throes of childbirth, assisted by Ning Xuexiang, Feng Dajiao's mother, and Tietou's mother. They continuously encouraged her to "Keep pushing. It'll be over soon." A baby boy was successfully delivered. Tietou's mother commented that the "kid looks a bit like Tietou when he was little" and that "maybe it's God's idea." The midwife, having helped, left. Tietou, however, was bitter, stating, "What a pity.
This lamb is wasted on a dog," implying the child had nothing to do with him and was a wasted effort.
Despite this, when Tietou's mother insisted that Silly Tiao take the baby to her parents and "Don't come here again" (due to her fear of abuse by her father, who "abuses her so often that she's terrified of him" and that she "has bruises all over, with new ones every day"), Tietou intervened, telling his mother, "she just gave birth. Don't mess with her!"
When his mother urged him to "come in and see the baby," he flatly refused, saying, "No! It's not my son anyway." Tietou's mother then decided to make egg soup for Silly Tiao. Feng Dajiao's mother, who was also there, reminded her to "be careful." Feng Dajiao's mother, noticing Ning Xiuxiu's fatigue, urged her to rest, but Ning Xiuxiu insisted she was "all good."
Upon seeing a pile of tonics and gifts outside Tietou's home, Tietou's mother immediately fretted, believing "This is bad. The worst has happened. We'll be stuck with Silly Tiao forever!" She suspected the gifts were from the baby's biological father, an attempt "to settle the matter and to shift his responsibility."
Ning Xiuxiu, however, thoughtfully pointed out that "these gifts don't seem to be from only one family," suggesting that "people all believe Tietou has nothing to do with the baby" and admired their kindness for taking in Silly Tiao. Feng Dajiao's mother agreed that "Xiuxiu is right" and "this is their way to show respect." Tietou's mother, still confused, asked why they acted "in a covert manner."
Ning Xiuxiu clarified that people feared being falsely accused of being the baby's father if they openly offered help. Accepting this, Ning Xiuxiu, with Feng Dajiao's mother's affirmation, extended her heartfelt gratitude to the villagers on behalf of Tietou, his mother, Silly Tiao, and the baby. As a month passed and Silly Tiao's baby approached its full moon, Feng Dajiao found Ning Xiuxiu mending his socks early in the morning, as she "couldn't sleep."
He worried about her tiring herself, but she insisted, "Autumn is approaching. The cold attacks one's feet first. Socks protect your feet." Feng Dajiao remarked how quickly time passed, noting that Silly Tiao's son was almost a month old. He observed that Silly Tiao often ran off, leaving her loudly crying baby unfed.
Witnessing the difficulties of childbirth, Feng Dajiao expressed his fear of Ning Xiuxiu enduring such suffering, but she assured him, "I won't be afraid as long as you're with me." He solemnly vowed, "Even if the sky falls, I won't leave you." Suddenly, noise erupted outside. Ning Xiuxiu realized, "Must be refugees coming again." A villager confirmed that "a new group of refugees" had arrived, "These starving people began looting as they arrived!"
Feng Dajiao's mother, hearing the commotion, frantically told Feng Dajiao to "Hide the chickens in the house!" fearing the refugees. Silly Tiao ran through the streets, her baby wailing from hunger. Tietou's mother desperately chased Silly Tiao, while Tietou carried the crying baby in pursuit. Yinzi, passing by with her sister, paused to acknowledge the distressed scene but quickly moved on, both she and Tietou deeply pained by their missed connection.
At her parents' home, Yinzi's mother praised the new clothes Yinzi had brought, while Yinzi reminded her to continue taking her medicine, even though she was feeling better. Yinzi had also brought fabric for her father and siblings, assuring her mother, "As long as there's food in the Ning family, I promise you guys won't starve." Her mother, however, urged her to bring less next time, admitting she always "stashed half of the supplies" to prepare for harder times.
Glutton Fei, returning early from the fields because he was hungry, immediately asked "What tasty food did you bring?" When Yinzi showed him buns and medicine, he dismissed the medicine, declaring her mother "doesn't need medicine anymore," and insisted, "Just bring us more food. This is nice." Yinzi, struggling with the indignity, reminded him, "we can't count on others' charity to get by. We must have our dignity." But Glutton Fei callously stated, "It's your husband we're talking about.
And we are your family. There is no such person as others." Distraught, Yinzi abruptly left, declining her mother's invitation to eat. Glutton Fei, unconcerned, questioned his wife, "All you care about is food. What about your own daughter?" He added, "She's married to Ning Xuexiang. We get to be fed and clothed. Isn't it nice?" Ning Xuexiang chastised Yinzi for her frequent visits to her parents, accusing her of treating his home as a "treasure chest."
Yinzi defiantly stated, "I earned what I gave them," implying her body was the currency. Yinzi demanded money from Ning Xuexiang to send her sister to school. Ning Xuexiang, frustrated by her coldness despite his provisions and jewelry, refused, saying, "I won't pay up. Put the light out and come sleep." Enraged, Yinzi physically assaulted him, declaring, "You think you can sleep with me for free? You old pervert, I'll make you suffer! Pay up!"
Ning Xuexiang, cowering, agreed to pay, initially giving her four coins and promising the fifth later. At home, Feng Dajiao's mother announced that food was ready. Feng Er worried about Ning Xiuxiu, who was heavily pregnant but insisted on watering the salvia miltiorrhiza seedlings in the fields, despite Feng Dajiao's attempts to keep her from working.
Feng Dajiao instructed Feng Er and his mother to eat first, as Ning Xiuxiu would refuse her thicker congee if she knew the others were eating thin rice soup. When Ning Xiuxiu came inside, her mother-in-law gently admonished her to avoid too much movement with her advanced pregnancy. Ning Xiuxiu, eight months pregnant, assured her that she was fine, citing her mother-in-law's own endurance during her pregnancy with Feng Dajiao.
She expressed her joy at the sprouted sage seedlings and her desire to water them. Her mother-in-law acknowledged Ning Xiuxiu's resilience, saying she had known "you're a resilient girl" since the day she married into the family. At dinner, Ning Xiuxiu discovered the discrepancy in their meals. She was dismayed that her mother-in-law had given her all the thick congee while the hard-working men ate thin soup.
Her mother-in-law, with affection, told her not to worry, emphasizing that her husband had planted sorghum specifically for her and the baby's nourishment. Ning Xiuxiu, moved, thanked her, and her mother-in-law simply said, "Silly girl, you're my family. How can I not treat you well?" Earlier, Ning Susu had secretly brought dried food to Ning Xiuxiu, but due to malnutrition, Ning Xiuxiu suffered an unexpected miscarriage. She lay on the bed, heartbroken.
Feng Dajiao buried their deceased child at Biedingzi, weeping at the grave. Feng Er and his wife were also deeply saddened. Feng Dajiao's mother told Feng Er to kill a chicken to nourish Ning Xiuxiu, and warned him not to mention the incident again. Later, Ning Susu tearfully confronted Ning Xuexiang, lamenting Ning Xiuxiu's miscarriage while they lived comfortably.
Ning Xuexiang, though pained, claimed Ning Xiuxiu refused his help, saying "She won't take anything I give her, not even a grain of rice." Yinzi, witnessing this, demanded the granary keys from Ning Xuexiang, asserting "Yes, if I give it to her. Alright?" despite his protest that the food was "still from the Ning family."
Feng Dajiao's mother brought the stewed chicken to Ning Xiuxiu, encouraging her to eat and reminding her that miscarriages "is hardly a big deal" and that "many have been through the same thing." Ning Xiuxiu, however, felt immense guilt, apologizing, "Mother, I'm so sorry! I'm sorry. . ." Her mother-in-law, also weeping, comforted her, blaming herself for not protecting her. Ning Susu and Yinzi arrived with more food and tonics.
Feng Dajiao, though grateful, firmly refused them, declaring, "We can't take these," explaining that "we must not live on others' charity" and that he vowed to care for Ning Xiuxiu himself. Ning Susu pleaded with him to prioritize "my sister's health" over his "pride." Pillar's wife also brought eggs, offering her condolences and encouragement for Ning Xiuxiu to "get well soon" and resume her "herb talks."
Feng Er advised Feng Dajiao to "think positive," reminding him, "where there's life, there's hope. Crops will grow where there is fertile land and seeds." After some time, Ning Xiuxiu started to recover. She told Feng Dajiao, "I'm feeling much better now." She reassured him that their son would always have a place in their hearts and that they, as his parents, would always remember him.
Recognizing that "Our lives must go on," she urged Feng Dajiao to "stop blaming himself," acknowledging that moving on was a challenge for both of them, as she "pitied him." Silly Tiao, once again, abandoned her crying baby at home to go play. Feng Dajiao and Ning Xiuxiu quickly picked up the baby and brought him to their home. Tietou and his mother, who had been searching for Silly Tiao, returned home to find the baby quiet.
Tietou's mother expressed immense relief, saying, "My goodness. I was worried sick," fearing the baby had been taken by a beast because she "wasn't hearing the baby cry." Feng Dajiao's mother informed her that Ning Xiuxiu "fed him rice paste and egg yolk. He stopped crying when he was full." Tietou revealed he had named the child "Kela," explaining, "I'm barely educated. But I did think of a name for him. It's 'Kela.'
" Tietou's mother approved, believing "the baby will grow well." Feng Dajiao then suggested that Ning Xiuxiu help care for Kela for a few days, especially since Silly Tiao neglected the child and Tietou's mother was busy with farm work. Tietou gratefully accepted, saying, "I can't thank you enough," while his mother noted how considerate Feng Dajiao and Ning Xiuxiu were, remarking on the baby's preference for Ning Xiuxiu's feeding. Tietou thanked them before heading home.
Later, Feng Dajiao led Ning Xiuxiu to the fields. She noticed the thriving "red sage seedlings" and recognized the effort Feng Dajiao had put in, remarking that he had been "working long hours on these." Feng Dajiao, in turn, told her that he was determined to "do a good job growing these seedlings for you," and when he had questions, he would "ask Chang Chun." Ning Xiuxiu was delighted to see the successful growth.
