This Thriving Land Episode 28 Recap
> This Thriving Land Recap
The sage seedlings, though harvested and planted late, were confirmed by Chang Chun to be of good quality. He offered the option to harvest immediately or cover them for winter and gather them when they turned green in spring. Ning Xiuxiu stated that planting sage brought no divine punishment and was straightforward to cultivate and harvest, just as it had been described. Feng Dajiao playfully cautioned her against further thanks.
With Feng Dajiao’s unwavering support, the sage seedlings flourished, and Ning Xiuxiu extended the practice to other villagers. In those tumultuous times, the sage crop provided everyone with some benefits and a glimmer of hope. Five years had passed, bringing them to 1932. Tietou, though still somewhat distant from Shatiao, had lovingly embraced Kela as his son, often asking if the boy missed him after spending nights at Ning Xiuxiu’s home.
Meanwhile, Feng Dajiao and Ning Xiuxiu celebrated the birth of their own son, Feng Jiaming. The nation was in disarray following the Japanese occupation of Northeast China, and continuous disasters plagued the land—floods, locust swarms, and severe droughts. Ning Xiuxiu’s family narrowly survived by selling their sage, carefully rationing their meager food supply. However, the most pressing issue was the relentless influx of starving refugees into Ox Temple Village.
Fei Zuoshi, deeply troubled by newspaper reports detailing the refugees' dire situation, including looting, smashing, and "exchanging children to eat," worried incessantly about Fei Wendian's welfare. Ning Susu, however, dismissed her concerns, confident that Fei Wendian, having secured a high position in the Provincial Education Department, was undoubtedly living comfortably and merely too busy to write frequent letters, despite six months of sparse communication. Fei Zuoshi, exasperated, complained that his rare letters were brief and filled only with instructions.
Ning Susu reminded her that Fei Wendian was fulfilling his destiny to bring honor to the Fei family, just as Fei Zuoshi had always wished. Fei Zuoshi then announced that Beard Liu and Qing had hired laborers to draw water from the Shu River for irrigation, as the seedlings were wilting and the river might soon dry up. She invited Ning Susu to join her, but Susu declined, claiming her lack of skill would make her a hindrance.
Instead, she offered to meticulously manage the family accounts, a task she had recently mastered. Amidst the growing crisis, a villager brought grim news to Feng Er: Feng Si's wife had starved to death at home. Feng Er was distraught, recalling that Feng Dajiao had given her grain just two weeks prior and fearing that refugees might have stolen it. Ning Xiuxiu, entrusting Jiaming to her mother-in-law, Feng Mu, rushed to the scene.
She found Meiwei weeping uncontrollably for his mother. He tearfully recounted how his mother had insisted he eat all the food, while she would simply lie down and try to sleep away her hunger. When he returned after attempting to find more food, she was already gone. Feng Er, believing Feng Si's wife deserved a dignified burial unlike her husband, arranged for a simple coffin and interred her alongside Feng Si.
He then suggested finding a new family for Meiwei, who, as a Feng family descendant, needed care. Without hesitation, Ning Xiuxiu and Feng Dajiao stepped forward, offering to raise Meiwei, emphasizing the child’s innocence despite Feng Si's past misdeeds. Meiwei, now living with Feng Er, showed profound resentment, accusing the Feng family of his parents' deaths and declaring he would eat them out of house and home.
Feng Er, heartbroken, tried to explain that Feng Si had brought his own demise and that his mother had sacrificed herself. He reminded Meiwei that the family had taken him in out of compassion. Ning Xiuxiu intervened, urging Feng Er to avoid disciplining the child during meals. Meiwei, defiant, asserted he was not Feng Er’s son and refused his authority before storming off.
Feng Er worried about Meiwei’s future, but Ning Xiuxiu pointed out that both Meiwei and his older brother, Niwei, were akin to "wild children" due to their parents' neglect. She asked Feng Dajiao to impart his practical skills to Meiwei. Feng Dajiao, initially believing Meiwei unsuited for manual labor, agreed after Ning Xiuxiu empathized with the child's plight, imagining her own son losing his mother and needing guidance.
Feng Dajiao attempted to teach Meiwei how to water the fields, explaining the precise techniques required during a drought. However, Meiwei defiantly refused, stating his desire to emulate his brother Niwei by wandering and fighting, not farming. He declared his stay was temporary, expecting his brother to return for him. Feng Dajiao, in response, firmly stated that if Meiwei wished to eat, he must learn to work.
Fei Wendian returned to Ox Temple Village, accompanied by two teachers, Xiao Jia and Xinming, with the intention of establishing a school at Xiazhuang. He announced that children from the village and surrounding areas would now have the opportunity to receive an education. Tietou eagerly expressed his desire for his own children to attend, and Fei Wendian assured him they could learn alongside the others.
Ning Xiuxiu urged Fei Wendian to visit his family first, as Fei Zuoshi and Ning Susu had been yearning for his return. Fei Wendian agreed, planning to go home before formally registering at the elementary school. Feng Dajiao later observed a significant change in Fei Wendian, noting a new spark and energy about him.
It was later revealed that Fei Wendian had joined the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army and the Communist Party, dedicating himself to fighting for the common people. Upon their arrival at Fei Wendian’s home, Ning Susu, who had been worried about Fei Zuoshi and her companions' two-day absence in the fields, greeted them. Fei Wendian introduced his colleagues, Xiao Jia and Xinming, and Susu asked them to address her as Sister Susu.
Shortly thereafter, Fei Zuoshi rushed in from the fields, surprised by Fei Wendian's tanned and robust appearance, remarking how he now resembled a field laborer despite his "official" status. Fei Wendian explained that teaching in the fields led to sun exposure but also made them stronger. He then inquired about Fei Zuoshi’s two-day absence.
She clarified that she had gone to the county medicine shop to settle accounts, and, accompanied by Qing and Beard Liu, had simply forgotten to inform Ning Susu of her delayed return. Fei Zuoshi extended a warm welcome to Xiao Jia and Xinming, thanking them for their care of Fei Wendian, and promptly set about preparing a meal.
After dinner, Ning Xiuxiu, who had earned four silver dollars from selling sage, generously gave half to Feng Er for saving towards land purchase. Feng Er was overjoyed, and Feng Mu highlighted Ning Xiuxiu's consistent financial contributions to their household through her medicinal herb cultivation, noting she had already saved over ten dollars for land and had wisely prevented Feng Er from buying land from a "land agent" the previous winter due to the poor economy.
Fei Wendian prepared to depart for Xiazhuang to register at the elementary school. He explained that as the lead teacher, he was required to reside with his colleagues and adhere to strict rules, promising to visit home whenever possible. Observing Ning Susu's interest, he encouraged her to learn from him in a few days.
Before leaving, he gravely warned Fei Zuoshi about the increasing severity of the disasters and the potential for greater hardship, with people losing homes and selling children. He urged her to practice extreme frugality, especially with food, to which she assured him of her economical practices. Fei Zuoshi then instructed Ning Susu to pack her bedding and join Fei Wendian to care for him. Ning Susu hesitated, wary of being pressured into having a child.
Fei Zuoshi reassured her she would not force her but insisted Fei Wendian needed care. When Ning Susu pointed out that Fei Wendian himself was uncertain of his sleeping arrangements, Fei Zuoshi simply stated Susu would sleep wherever he did. Ning Susu eventually agreed but requested to first visit Xiazhuang the following day to assess the living conditions before packing. Fei Zuoshi conceded, promising to send Qing to assist with packing any necessary items.
Soon after, numerous refugees arrived in the village. A desperate woman with two starving children came to Ning Xiuxiu’s door, pleading for food. Feng Mu was initially hesitant, suggesting she seek water from the village well. However, the woman's desperate pleas grew, culminating in an offer to sell her seven-year-old son, Suozhu, for food, not money, explaining they had not eaten in days and faced starvation. Ning Xiuxiu, moved by compassion, offered them some porridge.
This act unfortunately drew a larger crowd of starving refugees who besieged her house, demanding food. Feng Er forcefully drove them away, explaining his family was not wealthy enough to feed everyone. The woman, however, remained, persistently offering to sell Suozhu. Feng Er then took out their only piece of dry ration and sent them away. Shaken, Feng Er warned them against attracting further trouble, recalling how the refugees had nearly breached their door.
Later, Ning Susu, on her way to speak with Ning Xiuxiu, found herself surrounded by desperate beggars outside her home. Terrified, she screamed that she had no food and fled. On the road, she encountered Humpback Guo, solemnly pulling his wife’s coffin. Zhuzi explained that Humpback Guo's wife had passed away after a prolonged illness, and according to village custom for those suffering greatly, her burial was swift to ensure her soul's peaceful rebirth.
Ning Susu observed that Humpback Guo, once lighthearted, was now a changed man, no longer joking, and Zhuzi commented that he seemed destined for a lonely life as a widower. When Feng Dajiao returned home, Ning Xiuxiu recounted the terrifying encounter with the refugees, including the woman who tried to sell her child. Feng Dajiao, like Ning Xiuxiu, felt powerless in the face of such immense suffering.
Late that night, Ning Susu sought Ning Xiuxiu's counsel, distressed by Fei Zuoshi’s insistence that she join Fei Wendian in Xiazhuang. Ning Susu admitted that while she had once viewed Fei Wendian as a frivolous "pretty boy" engrossed in books, his return this time revealed a transformed, "manly" individual who spoke with conviction, stirring her conflicted emotions. Ning Xiuxiu advised her that ultimately, her acceptance and affection for him were paramount.
She encouraged Ning Susu, who had never truly had the opportunity to know him, to give the relationship another chance now that he had returned. Ning Susu, taking heart from Ning Xiuxiu's words, agreed to try, and Ning Xiuxiu expressed her sincere hope for Susu's future stability. Tietou arrived at Feng Dajiao and Ning Xiuxiu’s home, informing them that Fei Wendian urgently requested their presence at his residence for a meeting.
There, Fei Wendian revealed his true allegiance to his trusted friends: he had joined the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army and the Communist Party, with Xiao Jia and Xinming as his comrades. His elementary school teacher identity was a mere cover for a critical mission assigned by the Southern Shandong Revolutionary Committee. He vividly detailed the nationwide devastation—floods, droughts, countless deaths, and abhorrent acts of cannibalism and "exchanging children to eat" in other regions.
He condemned the Kuomintang's indifference, emphasizing their preoccupation with power and territorial gains while the common people suffered. Fei Wendian declared that the populace must survive and rise in resistance. Tietou immediately pledged his unwavering support. Fei Wendian then outlined the mission: to compel wealthy landlords to open their granaries and distribute grain to aid disaster victims.
Anticipating resistance from powerful figures like Ning Xuexiang and his son Ning Kejin (who led a militia), Fei Wendian tasked Tietou with secretly organizing the Farmers' Association to assist in opening the granaries. He assured them that the First Column of the Southern Shandong Revolutionary Committee would provide military support to defeat the landlords' forces, seize their weapons and grain, and redistribute them to farmers and refugees. Tietou enthusiastically affirmed his commitment.
Feng Dajiao then inquired how he and Ning Xiuxiu could help. Fei Wendian requested them to persuade Ning Xuexiang to voluntarily open his granaries and to convince Ning Kejin to cease resistance, surrender his weapons, and ideally join their cause. Ning Susu volunteered to persuade Fei Zuoshi, while Ning Xiuxiu and Feng Dajiao would focus on Ning Xuexiang, believing that if he relented, others like Li Junyi would follow.
Ning Xiuxiu, acknowledging the desperate need, affirmed their dedication to convincing Ning Xuexiang for the sake of the suffering people. Meanwhile, Ning Xuexiang actively rallied the wealthy villagers, encouraging them to donate funds for weapons to arm Ning Kejin, asserting that these arms would safeguard their properties against bandits and desperate refugees. Ning Kejin, displaying an expensive firearm, confidently declared that such equipment would deter anyone from coveting their grain. Later, Fei Wendian escorted Ning Susu home.
He expressed his desire to clarify their relationship, explaining that his mission would soon lead to another departure with an uncertain return date, and he didn't wish to hold her back. Ning Susu, incensed by his insensitive timing, challenged him, asking if he would still speak of separation had she been pregnant. She reiterated her sister's advice about the advantages of marrying into the Fei family but firmly asserted her independence.
She insisted that their relationship was not solely theirs to decide and that he should consult Fei Zuoshi. Fei Wendian urged her to take control of her own destiny, but Ning Susu, acknowledging his urgent work, declared she would first assist him in his important cause, and they would address their personal matters later.
Back home, Ning Susu recounted her late-night visit to Ning Xiuxiu to Fei Zuoshi, who chastised her for venturing out alone in the chaotic night, despite Fei Wendian having escorted her back. Fei Zuoshi dismissed Fei Wendian’s "important meeting" as mere trivialities, just teaching children.
Ning Susu then attempted to persuade Fei Zuoshi to support Fei Wendian's call to open the granaries, arguing that grain, unlike land, could be replenished and that even Ning Xuexiang should understand the plight of the suffering. She offered that if Fei Zuoshi were the first to open her granaries, Fei Wendian and the villagers would honor her with a grand plaque for the ancestral hall.
However, Fei Zuoshi curtly rejected the idea, claiming she cared little for such honors and that the family had no surplus grain, having already told Susu their granaries were half empty. Exasperated, she spitefully told Ning Susu to take her bedding and go to Fei Wendian.
Unbeknownst to Fei Wendian, Fei Zuoshi had already instructed Qing and Beard Liu to secretly transport the family's grain out of their pharmacy, leaving only a few months' supply, explicitly ordering them to conceal this from Fei Wendian. Glutton Fei then approached Yinzi, requesting more grain. Yinzi explained their dwindling supplies, exacerbated by her second uncle's family, who had arrived as refugees, adding three mouths to feed and refusing to leave, despite her mother's reluctance to turn them away.
She further complained that Ning Xuexiang meticulously guarded the granary keys, making it incredibly difficult to obtain any grain. Glutton Fei, observing her distress, suggested a manipulative tactic: Yinzi should first beg and sweet-talk Ning Xuexiang. If that failed, she should threaten to return to her parents' home and starve his unborn child, asserting that he would surely send food to protect his lineage. Unbeknownst to them, Ning Xuexiang had been listening nearby and was stunned by Glutton Fei's advice.
