This Thriving Land Episode 36 (Ending) Recap
> This Thriving Land Recap
Unable to bear the sight of Ning Xuerui being tortured by Niwei, Ning Xuexiang claimed to know the whereabouts of the hidden grain. He demanded that Niwei release the villagers and allow him to take Ning Xuerui home. Niwei, calling Ning Xuexiang a "little brat," initially refused to let him take any grain. After some deliberation, Niwei agreed to release Ning Xuerui, but stated that the lives of the other villagers would still be exchanged for grain.
Ning Xuexiang and Feng Dajiao rushed forward to rescue Ning Xuerui. Ning Kebi, Xuerui's son, embraced his father, crying out for him to hold on. Ning Xuexiang pleaded with his brother to "hold on" and not "leave before me." With his last breath, Ning Xuerui told Ning Xuexiang he was "afraid I have to go first," adding that "dying for our villagers is nothing to be ashamed of."
He wished for them to "be brothers again" in the next life, and his final words to his son, Ning Kebi, were to "be a good person." Ning Kebi promised to listen to everything his father said, but Ning Xuerui passed away, leaving his son heartbroken. After Ning Xuerui's death, Ning Xuexiang gave all the family's grain to Niwei. As Niwei prepared to leave, he noticed Kuangzi and demanded to know what to do with "this guy."
Ning Xuexiang pleaded with Captain Niwei to release Kuangzi, but Niwei refused, stating that Kuangzi had injured one of his men and would now be forced to serve the Japanese army with the county squad. Kuangzi resisted, yelling, "I won't go!" Ning Xuexiang confronted Niwei, calling him a "beast" for pleading for others yet being so cruel. Niwei countered that the Japanese army's business was done, and it was time to settle their score.
He claimed to have upheld his end of the bargain by taking Ning Xuexiang's grain. Niwei then aggressively demanded Ning Xuexiang's land deed, declaring he would find it himself. Ning Xuexiang, filled with grief and anger, vowed that he would never forget that his brother's death was Niwei's doing. Niwei then ordered his men to seize Ning Kebi. As Ning Kebi cried for his mother, Ning Xiuxiu frantically tried to intervene.
Niwei taunted Ning Xuexiang, threatening to make him "taste the feeling of father and son separating" by roasting the young child in the fire, preventing him from growing up to seek revenge. As the Japanese soldiers pressured the villagers to reveal who burned the wheat fields, threatening them with "heavenly fire," no one spoke. Niwei, still holding Ning Kebi, reiterated his threat to roast the child.
Desperate, Feng Dajiao falsely claimed to know who was responsible for burning the wheat, using the distraction to grab Niwei. Simultaneously, Tietou subdued a Japanese soldier, and they demanded the release of all the villagers. Niwei, with a gun, aimed at Feng Dajiao, but Meiwei bravely stepped in front of Feng Dajiao, taking a bullet. Niwei angrily questioned Meiwei, asking why he was helping an outsider over his own brother. Ning Xiuxiu then rushed to save Meiwei.
Just then, Ning Kejin and Chang Chun arrived with the Eighth Route Army guerrilla team. Seeing them, Niwei panicked and fled. The guerrilla forces engaged the Japanese soldiers, killing all of them. Ning Xiuxiu and Ning Kebi were overjoyed and surprised to see Ning Kejin leading the reinforcements.
Ning Kebi recounted that his brother, after leaving the village, had joined the guerrilla forces with Chang Chun and had been winning many battles against the Japanese, proving to be a sharpshooter who never wasted a single shot. Immediately after the battle, Ning Kejin, Feng Dajiao, Tietou, Zhuzi, and the village militia swiftly departed to raid the enemy stronghold, without even a moment to visit Ning Xuexiang, to prevent further complications.
Back home, Ning Xuexiang recuperated, with Yinzi diligently caring for him. Ning Kebi excitedly recounted Ning Kejin's heroic deeds against the Japanese. Ning Xuexiang, though proud, worried about how he would feed Kejin given their current lack of food. Yinzi reassured him, reminding him that they had overcome worse times. Suddenly, Glutton Fei arrived, much to Yinzi and Ning Kebi's delight.
Ning Xuexiang, embarrassed by their poverty, told Glutton Fei that he had no grain to offer and even suggested Glutton Fei take Yinzi and Ning Kebi back with him, as he could no longer support them. Glutton Fei, however, rebuked Ning Xuexiang, stating he had not come to ask for grain but to bring some. He instructed Ning Kebi to bring in a sack of grain, which was quite heavy, estimated to be between 15 to 25 kilograms.
Glutton Fei explained that over the years, he had secretly stashed away grain from Ning Xuexiang's charity, and now with his daughters married and fewer mouths to feed, he could finally give back. Ning Xuexiang was deeply moved by Glutton Fei's generosity, shedding tears of gratitude. Soon after, Chang Chun and Ning Kejin's unit successfully raided the Japanese stronghold, recovering the stolen food supplies.
This "flanking tactic" shattered the Japanese "encroachment plan," leading to the Eighth Route Army successfully raiding dozens more enemy strongholds. Ox Temple Village and its surrounding communities were finally liberated from Japanese control. However, Niwei remained at large. News of victories spread daily, bringing hope that "the darkness was ending soon." Meiwei discovered Niwei hiding at their home and quickly reported it to Feng Dajiao.
Niwei, believing he had used a clever "hiding in plain sight" strategy, confidently told Meiwei that he was a "big shot" in the county town and would ensure Meiwei lived a good life if he came with him. Meiwei, however, revealed he knew Niwei's true past: how he became a bandit in Hebei, infiltrated anti-Japanese forces, and then fled back to the village after being exposed for planning to defect to the Japanese.
Niwei was stunned, realizing Meiwei knew this from a drunken confession. Angered, Niwei accused Meiwei of betraying him and taking a bullet for Feng Dajiao. Meiwei, after calmly treating Niwei's wounds, told his brother to take care of himself and that he would wait for him. Niwei, confused, asked what he meant, just as Feng Dajiao and his men burst in. Meiwei then confronted Niwei, declaring, "You betrayed your own brother; I won't forgive you even as a ghost."
Feng Dajiao's men then quickly tied up Niwei. With the Japanese threat diminished, Feng Dajiao led the villagers in planting crops, dedicating half of the harvest to the Eighth Route Army guerrillas. The Shandong Provincial Administrative Committee implemented settlement plans, providing villagers with farming tools, seeds, and livestock. Ning Xuexiang's family land was returned to him, but his health continued to decline. Sensing his time was short, Ning Xuexiang expressed a desire to see his fields one last time.
Feng Dajiao, Ning Xiuxiu, and Yinzi pushed him on a cart to the fields. Upon arriving at the field, Ning Xuexiang's keen senses immediately detected that the manure was insufficient and hadn't fermented properly, warning that it would "burn the roots." Feng Dajiao confirmed that the Japanese had taken all the livestock, hindering proper composting. Ning Xuexiang then shared his knowledge, emphasizing that "crops are like flowers; they depend on manure to thrive."
He lamented how the Japanese had "ruined the soil" and instructed them on crop rotation to "preserve both the land and the harvest." Feng Dajiao affirmed his understanding. Despite his illness, Ning Xuexiang seemed to gain strength in the presence of his land. He expressed gratitude for the Communists, who had helped them plant without expecting payment, treating everyone equally. As evening approached, Yinzi urged Ning Xuexiang to return home, fearing the cold.
However, Ning Xuexiang wished to "look around more" and have a chat with Ning Xiuxiu, so Yinzi went back to prepare dinner. Alone with Ning Xiuxiu, Ning Xuexiang apologized for all the years of contention and confessed that he had "wronged her." He told her how he had come to understand the democratic government's policies and how Ning Kejin's letter, stating that Ning Xuexiang was someone the democratic government wanted to unite with, had warmed his heart.
He revealed that he had decided against simply reducing rent and increasing workers' pay, choosing instead to "do something big" by donating most of his land. He kept 15 mu for Ning Xiuxiu, specifically "the 15 mu next to the well in the west of the village," which she initially refused, but he insisted it was hers.
He also allocated 15 mu to Yinzi and Ning Kebi, and 30 mu to Ning Kejin and Xiaochuanzi, stating that "enough land to live on" was sufficient. He then asked Ning Xiuxiu to "help me hand over" the remaining 600 mu to the democratic government. Just then, Ning Kejin arrived, and Ning Xuexiang feigned confusion, asking "Who's here?" Ning Kejin, upon hearing of his father's decision, exclaimed, "Well done, Father!
If the land you donate is distributed to the tenant farmers, Ox Temple Village will truly let all farmers have their own land!" Ning Xuexiang then requested Ning Kejin to push him up Turtle Hill, wanting to "stand high up and see far."
Before his passing, Ning Xuexiang gave his final instructions to Feng Dajiao and Ning Xiuxiu, asking Feng Dajiao to teach Humpback Guo and Susu (whose death had been kept a secret from Ning Xuexiang) to farm properly, and to also guide Ning Kejin in farming after the war. He emphasized that if they "take care of the land, the land will take care of you."
To Ning Xiuxiu, he said to follow her brother (Ning Kejin), take care of her sister (Susu) and their family, and live a good life just like she and Feng Dajiao. Ning Xuexiang passed away peacefully, having found the true meaning of land and its "best destination" in his final moments. Ning Xiuxiu reflected that her father had died "without regrets," feeling the "weight on him lifted" after carrying the burden of land his whole life.
Soon after, Du Chunlin, now an important leader in the base area, returned to Ox Temple Village. He led the Shandong Provincial Administrative Committee in distributing the land donated by Ning Xuexiang, the Fei family, and several other wealthy households to the landless or land-poor families in the village. Six months later, under the leadership of the anti-Japanese democratic government, Ox Temple Village established its village office at the Fei family residence, fulfilling Fei Wendian's dying wish.
Chang Chun and Ning Kejin stationed their work team there. Ning Kejin, after consulting with his family, reserved some rooms for Yinzi and Ning Kebi, donating the rest of the house to the village to serve as the headquarters for the farmers' association and militia. In democratic elections, Feng Ziyong (Feng Dajiao) was elected as the Chief of Ox Temple Village, while Ning Xiuxiu was elected as the women's team leader.
Ning Xiuxiu approached Yinzi, who had been living quietly with Ning Kebi since Ning Xuexiang's death, shying away from contact with others. Ning Xiuxiu encouraged Yinzi to send Ning Kebi to the county middle school, whose entrance exams were next month, noting that he could board if he passed. She urged Yinzi to "start thinking about your own life" once Kebi left. Yinzi, however, felt her only plan was to "stay home and farm while waiting for him."
Ning Xiuxiu affectionately teased Yinzi, playfully calling her "Stepmother," a title she had never used before. She then offered a profound piece of advice: that Yinzi's life "should be in your own hands" and that she needed to "find your own way to live." She implored Yinzi not to label herself as Ning Xuexiang's widow, but to "live in the present" and "live every day from now on as your own life, Fei Yinzi's life."
Yinzi, feeling warm inside, seemed to take her words to heart. Later, as Feng Dajiao, Tietou, and Ning Xiuxiu led the villagers in farming, Yinzi brought them water and food, showing special care for Tietou. In September 1964, a massive flood disaster struck Shandong. Ox Temple Village endured seven or eight days of continuous heavy rain. Feng Dajiao bravely went to the sweet potato fields to drain water.
Ning Xiuxiu, concerned about his age and the heavy rain, urged him to be careful. Feng Dajiao reassured her that he knew the village roads well and asked her to take care of their children before leaving. He never returned; he led people to protect the dam and save the farmland but was tragically swept away by the raging flood.
In the spring of 1986, as the reform initiatives swept across China, the Ning Family Courtyard and other well-preserved traditional houses in Ox Temple Village were transformed into a Folk Customs and Cultural Memorial Hall. The village's cherished "Ox Beetle" was identified by the Chinese Academy of Sciences as a thousand-year-old meteorite, becoming a prominent exhibit in the museum. Ning Xiuxiu, now over seventy years old, revisited the Ning Family Courtyard.
She found herself lost in a dreamlike state, hearing her mother calling her three siblings—Susu, Kejin, and herself—home for dinner. She saw Ning Xuexiang smiling by the granary, filled with abundant grain, and felt like her twelve or thirteen-year-old self again, not yet betrothed.
In this vivid memory, she saw her parents calling her to drink gruel, Susu bringing her candy, Feng Er and his wife heading to the fields with their ox, and Feng Dajiao excitedly coming to take her to their fields. Feng Dajiao led Ning Xiuxiu to their family's land, where they envisioned a beautiful and peaceful new life of abundant harvests. The series concludes with this hopeful vision of the future.
