This Thriving Land Episode 8 Recap
> This Thriving Land Recap
Ning Xiuxiu, resolute in her choice to endure a modest life with Feng Dajiao rather than yield to Ning Xuexiang, diligently applied herself to learning household chores and farm work from her mother-in-law. She quickly mastered these tasks, much to the delight of the family. When she began affectionately calling Feng Er and his wife "Father" and "Mother," the couple beamed with happiness, and Feng Dajiao's joy was palpable.
Ning Xuexiang, while inspecting his fields and reprimanding his tenants, spotted Ning Xiuxiu toiling alongside Feng Dajiao's family. Disturbed by the sight, he confronted Feng Er, and their discussion quickly devolved into a bitter argument. Villagers observed, commenting on Ning Xuexiang's past indifference during his daughter's kidnapping and his refusal to provide a proper dowry, now contrasted with his sudden concern.
As the argument escalated, Ning Xiuxiu called Feng Er to help her, referring to him as "Father," further exasperating Ning Xuexiang. He tried to persuade Ning Xiuxiu to abandon her life of hardship with Feng Dajiao, but she firmly stated it was her willing choice, leaving him utterly speechless. He left feeling like she was an ungrateful child, believing she was deliberately hurting him.
Feng Er, however, instantly regretted his verbal jabs at Ning Xuexiang, fearing it would jeopardize his chance of acquiring the 15 mu of land. After a long day, Ning Xiuxiu's delicate shoulders were chafed and swollen from carrying burdens. Feng Dajiao tenderly offered to apply a medicated plaster, while his mother brought a boiled egg and instructed Dajiao to gently roll it over Xiuxiu's shoulder to reduce the swelling.
Later, Ning Xiuxiu, longing for a proper wash, asked Dajiao for a basin of hot water to bathe. Dajiao, wanting to accommodate her, provided the family’s only large water tank. The next morning, Feng Er was enraged to find the tank, their sole water source for cooking and drinking, smelling of soap. He loudly chastised Ning Xiuxiu for being wasteful and bringing shame to the family. Ning Xiuxiu, unaware it was their only tank, apologized profusely.
Her mother-in-law stepped in, defending Ning Xiuxiu by reminding Feng Er of the various other uses their cooking pots had seen. To pacify his father, Feng Dajiao promised to fetch and fill many water buckets for him daily. Ning Xiuxiu insisted on accompanying Dajiao to the well to fetch water, determined to adapt to her new life and build calluses on her shoulders, even though she initially struggled to carry the heavy loads.
Villagers, witnessing her efforts, openly praised Ning Xiuxiu. Ning Xuexiang, still perturbed by Ning Xiuxiu’s situation, expressed his distress to Ning Kejin, complaining about his daughter being forced into manual labor like fetching water, manure, and chopping wood in the bitter "Minor Cold" weather. Ning Kejin, concerned, suggested giving the 15 mu of land as a dowry to ensure Ning Xiuxiu's better treatment. However, Ning Xuexiang vehemently refused, fearing Feng Er's insatiable greed.
Ning Kejin decided to visit Ning Xiuxiu himself and found her after she had been chopping firewood. Feng Er, still resentful, made sarcastic remarks about Ning Xiuxiu "marrying a bear," but his mother interjected, explaining that Ning Xiuxiu willingly helped with chores. Ning Xiuxiu assured her brother she was content and grateful, stating that without the Feng family's acceptance, she wouldn't have survived the winter, and living well was now her sole ambition.
Reassured, Ning Kejin departed, sending more firewood to the Feng family. Ning Xiuxiu continued to embrace her new life, even adopting the family's boisterous eating habits, though Feng Er comically tried to encourage her to eat more quietly. Nevertheless, Feng Er's affection for Ning Xiuxiu grew, and he declared that from then on, Dajiao and he would handle all the heavy, tiresome, and dirty work, leaving lighter tasks for Ning Xiuxiu and his wife.
As the New Year approached, Feng Si attempted to flee from his debts but was intercepted by Ning Xuexiang. Feng Si had borrowed nine silver dollars, which, with interest, had swelled to fifteen. Ning Xuexiang, known as "Ning the Devil" for his ruthless debt collection, refused Feng Si's offer of a piglet and demanded the full amount by the twenty-ninth of the twelfth lunar month, threatening to seize his land if he failed.
Feng Si’s son inadvertently revealed they possessed four mu of good land, which Ning Xuexiang immediately laid claim to, leaving Feng Si furious and helpless. The next day, Feng Si’s wife came to the Feng household, ostensibly to visit Ning Xiuxiu, but secretly hoping to enlist her help in interceding with Ning Xuexiang. Feng Er, seeing through her pretense, flatly refused her entry, stating they had no spare money.
Ning Xiuxiu emerged and reiterated that she had severed all ties with her father and could not assist. Undeterred, Feng Si’s wife sat on the ground, wailing and demanding that if her family couldn't have a peaceful New Year, neither would theirs.
Feng Dajiao’s mother, fed up, publicly shamed Feng Si’s wife, recounting how she and Feng Si had squandered their father-in-law's savings, abandoned him to be cared for by Dajiao's parents until his death, and repeatedly borrowed without ever repaying. The humiliated Feng Si’s wife finally left. Later, Ning Xiuxiu discussed with Feng Dajiao the possibility of making and selling reed rain cloaks to earn extra money, noting that even four mu of land weren't enough to feed a family.
Feng Dajiao agreed it was a viable idea, especially for selling to fishermen, with each cloak potentially earning fifteen to twenty cents. He explained that reeds were only available in autumn and needed to be soaked in salt water for two days before use. Ning Xiuxiu expressed her desire to learn from her mother-in-law.
Feng Dajiao, concerned about her delicate hands being cut by the sharp reeds, tried to dissuade her, but Ning Xiuxiu dismissed his worries, remarking that her hands were of no practical use anyway. Dajiao, however, tenderly confessed that he liked her hands. Meanwhile, Ning Susu visited Ning Xiuxiu and nervously confessed that she and Fei Wendian had drunkenly consummated their marriage the night before he left, and that Fei Wendian had already presented formal acknowledgement to the ancestors.
Ning Xiuxiu, realizing Fei Zuoshi had tricked her, showed no anger. Instead, she gently reassured Susu that she had moved past her feelings for Fei Wendian and advised her to remain with the Fei family, gradually accepting her new reality. She promised Susu continued support, urging her to find happiness and come to her if she ever needed help. As Chinese New Year drew near, Fei Zuoshi directed her servants to decorate the house with lanterns, anticipating Fei Wendian's return.
Ning Susu felt increasingly isolated, longing for her childhood New Year's celebrations with her mother and sister, particularly recalling how Ning Xiuxiu used to cut beautiful window decorations. Back at the Feng household, Ning Xiuxiu was doing just that. She learned of Feng Er’s lifelong dream to own more land, specifically to expand his eighteen mu to twenty.
Resisting the idea of asking Ning Xuexiang for the fifteen mu of dowry land, Ning Xiuxiu proposed a new plan to Feng Dajiao: after the New Year, she would ask Ning Susu to help her rent a few mu of land from the Fei family. Feng Dajiao found this suggestion entirely reasonable.
