This Thriving Land Episode 7 Recap
> This Thriving Land Recap
Ning Susu awoke in terror to find herself in bed with Fei Wendian, who was equally horrified by the situation. Realizing that Fei Zuoshi had drugged them, Fei Wendian immediately packed his bags and left for school, vowing never to return home. As he departed, he silently bid farewell to his homeland and, in his heart, to Ning Xiuxiu, his forever lost love.
Fei Zuoshi observed Fei Wendian leaving and, assuming their marriage had been consummated, felt a sense of relief. She then visited Ning Susu, who was distressed and upset. Ning Susu expressed dismay over her new, formal hairstyle, lamenting that she could no longer wear her simple braids and felt it was not as beautiful as when Ning Xiuxiu styled her hair, questioning how she would explain this to her sister.
Fei Zuoshi, unperturbed by Ning Susu's distress, calmly offered to do her hair, acknowledging that Ning Susu could no longer style it herself and gently advised her to learn skills to please her husband. Fei Zuoshi then left to collect rent from tenants, instructing Ning Susu to rest at home. Madam Ning, sensing her end was near, worried deeply for Ning Xiuxiu. Her son, Ning Kejin, offered to take her to see Ning Xiuxiu, but she refused.
She explained that despite Ning Xuexiang's flaws, he was the head of the Ning family, and if Ning Xiuxiu continued to defy him, it would cause him to lose face and dishonor the entire Ning family's reputation. Ning Kejin agreed to uphold the family's honor and praised his mother's wisdom. Madam Ning then urgently asked Ning Kejin to summon Feng Dajiao.
When Feng Dajiao arrived, Madam Ning, still concerned, apologized for Ning Xuexiang's actions, stating that he had forced Ning Xiuxiu upon Feng Dajiao for a larger dowry. Feng Dajiao quickly interjected, denying he was forced and recalling how Madam Ning had once kindly given him two delicious steamed buns when he was a child playing with Ning Xiuxiu, expressing his gratitude. He also firmly refused any dowry, stating he desired nothing from Ning Xiuxiu and only wished to keep her.
Madam Ning, reassured by his sincerity, asked if he loved Ning Xiuxiu. Feng Dajiao vowed never to dislike her, promising to treat her well forever if she was willing to endure a hard life with him. Madam Ning, comforted, said she knew Ning Xiuxiu was strong enough to make a good life for herself.
She then knelt to thank him for accepting Ning Xiuxiu, begging him that if he ever found Ning Xiuxiu unsuitable because of her past, he should send her back to her. She added that if she were gone, he should take Ning Xiuxiu to her grave so her daughter could cry and feel comforted as if in her arms. Feng Dajiao, deeply moved, promised his lifelong devotion to Ning Xiuxiu. As he left, he affectionately called Madam Ning "Mother."
Later that evening, Feng Dajiao proposed to Ning Xiuxiu that they bring her mother to live with them. He believed her mother’s health might improve if she were in a more comforting environment, despite their humble abode. He emphasized that together, they could provide the best care for her. Ning Xiuxiu was overjoyed at the prospect, expressing how much she missed her mother.
Feng Dajiao then promised to borrow a cart and clean up the house the next morning to welcome her. That night, Ning Xuexiang returned home late. His wife, Madam Ning, called him over for a heart-to-heart conversation. She acknowledged his deep attachment to land, admitting that it was his lifeblood, more important to him than anything, even his family.
She stated she no longer blamed him for not saving Ning Xiuxiu or for having Ning Susu substitute her, reasoning that the Fei family was a better match anyway. Madam Ning declared that they should stop interfering in their children's lives and let them forge their own paths. She then spoke of her impending death, asking him how thick a burial plot he would give her, specifically requesting four inches.
Ning Xuexiang tried to dismiss her talk of death, but eventually agreed to her request. The next morning, Ning Xuexiang awoke and, thinking his wife was still sleeping peacefully, remarked that she hadn't coughed all night. He gently told her to rest longer as he planned to go collect debts. It was then that he reached out and discovered she had passed away. He was visibly devastated.
News of Madam Ning's death reached Ning Xiuxiu via a messenger from Ning Kejin, urging her to return for the vigil. Overwhelmed with grief, Ning Xiuxiu fainted and collapsed, then lay weeping on her bed, comforted by Feng Dajiao. At the Ning family estate, the mourning arrangements were underway. Ning Kejin argued for a seven-day vigil with two funeral bands to properly honor their mother, while his Uncle preferred a quicker, more modest three-day ceremony to save costs.
Ning Xuexiang reluctantly agreed to Ning Kejin's wishes. People arrived to offer condolences and gifts. Feng Dajiao, dressed in simple mourning clothes, came to pay respects as a son-in-law. However, Ning Xuexiang's staff only offered him a basic mourning cap, signaling that he was not fully recognized as family. Offended, Feng Dajiao, in a fit of anger, left for home. Many tenants came, primarily seeking a full meal.
Glutton Fei, eager for food, brought his entire family, instructing his children to wail loudly to earn steamed buns, a move that drew ridicule from others. His daughter, Yinzi, noticing Tietou laughing at her father, felt deeply shamed and quickly led her younger siblings away from the banquet. Tietou tried to follow, but his mother pulled him back to eat.
Later, Feng Si approached Ning Xuexiang, offering his family's loud wailing services, but Ning Xuexiang bluntly rebuffed him, demanding immediate repayment of outstanding debts, threatening to take Feng Si's land if he failed. Meanwhile, Yinzi sat weeping beneath a tree. Ning Xuexiang approached her, offering a sack of dried sweet potatoes and suggesting she mourn inside. Enraged by his condescension, Yinzi spat at him and fled.
Tietou, who had followed her, repeatedly apologized for laughing at her father, but Yinzi angrily told him to leave, still furious at his earlier mockery. On the day of Madam Ning’s funeral, Ning Kejin led the family and the vast procession of mourners towards the burial site on the back mountain. Ning Xuexiang stood at the entrance of the Ning estate, appearing visibly aged and saddened.
Meanwhile, Feng Dajiao, despite not being fully recognized by the Ning family, arrived at the funeral with an elaborate set of funeral offerings, including paper effigies, meticulously arranged to the full standards of a daughter and son-in-law's send-off. He explained he had scrounged them from two funeral supply shops. Villagers, impressed by his profound respect and filial piety, openly praised him, acknowledging his honorable display as a true son-in-law. Ning Xuexiang, witnessing this grand gesture, was deeply moved to tears.
Ning Xiuxiu, wearing her mourning clothes, rushed to catch up with the procession. She knelt before her mother's coffin, crying inconsolably. In her grief, she imagined her mother’s presence and confessed that she had never truly been defiled by bandits; she had only claimed it to spite her father, Ning Xuexiang. She begged her mother for forgiveness, while an imagined voice of her mother expressed sorrow for Ning Xiuxiu's past suffering, saying it prevented her from resting in peace.
Relatives gently pulled Ning Xiuxiu away as the casket was finally lifted. Back at their home, Ning Xiuxiu was seen frantically searching for red paper. When Feng Dajiao asked why, she explained that she had promised her mother she would cut and send her window flowers every New Year. Feng Dajiao, understanding, immediately set out to find the paper for her. Ning Xiuxiu then stayed up all night, diligently cutting the intricate window flowers.
On the seventh-day memorial for Madam Ning, Ning Susu returned home to burn joss paper for her mother. While there, she spoke to Ning Xuexiang, informing him of Feng Dajiao's financial difficulties and pleading for his help. However, Ning Xuexiang remained steadfast, stating he would only provide assistance if Ning Xiuxiu returned to the Ning family home and formally acknowledged him as her father.
Ning Xiuxiu, still defiant, secretly vowed to herself that she would prove to Ning Xuexiang that she could not only survive but thrive beautifully and live a better life even without the Ning family. Despite having been pampered and never doing manual labor since childhood, Ning Xiuxiu was determined to master household tasks. She diligently began learning from her mother-in-law, even as Feng Er occasionally mocked her lack of practical skill, comparing it to the ease of modern "foreign matches."
Unfazed, Ning Xiuxiu humbly asked her mother-in-law to teach her how to conserve firewood while cooking, demonstrating her resolve to learn and adapt to her new life. Her mother-in-law agreed to guide her.
