Romance on the Farm Episode 12 Recap
> Romance on the Farm Recap
Thirteen accidentally made a noise, alerting Troupe Master Yu Xiangjin. Shen Nuo immediately revealed himself, warning Yu Xiangjin about a mechanism in the wooden box she held and referencing her past robberies of the Song family. He suggested that as a courageous and strategic figure, she was likely a bandit disguised as a troupe leader who had been gathering intelligence in the area.
Shen Nuo cautioned against making a scene in the Song family's territory, as it would be detrimental to all involved. However, Yu Xiangjin, having planned a major operation that day, was undeterred. Recognizing Shen Nuo, she proposed a partnership, offering to split any gains fifty-fifty. A fight quickly broke out, drawing the attention of Song Mansion guards. During the chaos, Yu Xiangjin, realizing Shen Nuo's objective was the registration book, deliberately snatched it, thanking him as she did so.
As more Song family guards flooded the area, Shen Nuo and Thirteen decided to retreat. As Shen Nuo and Thirteen attempted to flee, Lian Man'er unexpectedly appeared on the stage, singing loudly and encouraging the crowd to join in, effectively distracting the approaching guards. Shen Nuo realized she was intentionally buying them time. When guards on stage began to suspect Lian Man'er's involvement and moved to apprehend her, Shen Nuo and Thirteen created a diversion by yelling "Fire!"
This allowed them to successfully rescue Lian Man'er from the stage and escape the Song Mansion together. Back at the Lian family home, Lian Man'er tended to Thirteen's wound. Thirteen expressed his gratitude for her quick thinking and help in distracting the guards, which allowed them to escape. However, Shen Nuo angrily reprimanded Lian Man'er for her reckless actions, voicing his fear about the danger she put herself in.
He emphasized that if he and Thirteen hadn't been there to save her, she could have been seriously harmed. Lian Man'er, feeling unjustly criticized after risking herself to help them, and not having considered Shen Nuo's departure, was deeply hurt by his words, especially when he mentioned "if I'm not around." Upset, she stormed off. Observing their interaction, Thirteen found it unusual that Shen Nuo had stayed so long in such a simple home.
He playfully suggested that Shen Nuo might have feelings for Lian Man'er, which Shen Nuo promptly dismissed, claiming Thirteen wouldn't understand. Meanwhile, at the Jinyang Chamber of Commerce, Eldest Young Master Song Haikun anxiously reported the theft of the registration book to Master Wu Zhonglian. He claimed the incident occurred during a banquet he arranged for his elderly grandmother's Buddha worship day, blaming his long-time attendant for the lapse in security and offering the bound attendant as an apology.
Wu Zhonglian, while ostensibly discussing the historical allusion of Liu Shan's "forgetting Shu," subtly alluded to Song Haikun's incompetence, comparing him to "Adou," a derogatory term for an incapable ruler. Despite Song Haikun's profuse apologies and assurances of loyalty, Wu Zhonglian, feigning understanding, commanded Song Haikun to personally kill his attendant. Reluctantly, Song Haikun complied, a chilling display of Wu Zhonglian's ruthless authority. Back at the Lian household, Thirteen quickly settled in, proving himself industrious and endearing.
He took it upon himself to handle household chores like sweeping the yard, feeding the animals, and preparing breakfast for everyone, earning the admiration of the family, particularly Lian Man'er's mother, who subtly contrasted his diligence with Shen Nuo's less domestic nature. Later, while Lian Ye'er was washing clothes by the river, a garment fell into the water.
Thirteen, also doing laundry nearby, saw her reaching into the cold water and, mistaking her actions for an attempt to end her life, earnestly tried to dissuade her, offering words of encouragement. Lian Ye'er clarified her situation, and Thirteen promptly retrieved her fallen clothes. Impressed by his helpfulness and gallant demeanor, Lian Ye'er found herself drawn to him. Shortly after, Lian Ye'er fell ill with a fever, likely from the cold water.
Despite her obvious discomfort, Lian Shouyi and his wife, prioritizing saving money for their son Jizu's tuition, refused to call a doctor for her, instead telling her to simply add more clothes and get back to work. While Lian Ye'er suffered, Shen Nuo returned from the Carters' Inn. He reported finding discarded theatrical costumes that carried the same distinct herbal scent as the fragrance from Yu Xiangjin's sachet, a crucial lead for tracking them down and retrieving the registration book.
Concerned for Lian Ye'er's worsening condition, Lian Man'er insisted on taking her to Wang Youheng's clinic, dismissing Lian Ye'er's protests about unfinished chores. At the clinic, Wang Youheng diagnosed Lian Ye'er with a severe cold and stressed the importance of proper treatment, prescribing medicine for her.
While there, Lian Man'er passionately encouraged Lian Ye'er to stand up for herself and resist her family's mistreatment, offering to teach her how to earn money and achieve financial independence as a means to empower herself. Thirteen, instructed by Shen Nuo to accompany them and show Wang Youheng the unique herbal scent, did so. Wang Youheng identified a rare herb called "moonwort," primarily used to repel "Qianjia earwigs."
He explained that this insect and the moonwort that repels it are found 50 to 60 miles south of Hua Ridge, providing Shen Nuo with a precise location to continue his search for Yu Xiangjin. Before they left, Wang Youheng gifted Lian Man'er a bottle of "grape fine wine" that his father had brought back from the Western Regions. Inspired by this unusual beverage, Lian Man'er immediately conceived a new business idea: making her own wine from wild grapes.
Later, Shen Nuo, aware he would soon need to leave to pursue the registration book, found it difficult to say goodbye to Lian Man'er. He confided in Thirteen, asking for a day's delay before they departed, a request Thirteen understood as Shen Nuo's reluctance to leave Lian Man'er. Lian Man'er, meanwhile, decided to head to the mountains to gather wild grapes for her new wine-making venture. Shen Nuo, taking the opportunity, joined her.
During their foraging, they unexpectedly discovered a hidden hot spring cave. Lian Man'er, observing its consistent warmth and natural features, immediately saw its potential for another lucrative business. As they relaxed, soaking their feet in the warm spring water, Shen Nuo broached the topic of future departures. Lian Man'er shared her personal philosophy on goodbyes: she preferred to bid farewell silently in her heart, believing that open goodbyes only brought unnecessary sorrow.
She playfully misinterpreted Shen Nuo's line of questioning as him wanting to leave, assuring him that the Lian family did not wish him to go and that his presence, despite his lack of domestic skills, was a valuable "helper" for her business plans. She reiterated her intention to make distilled wine and utilize the cave, asking for his help, to which Shen Nuo readily agreed. The following morning, Lian Man'er went to find Shen Nuo, eager to continue their grape-picking.
To her dismay, he was gone, leaving only a note that read, "Don't look for me." Panicked, Lian Man'er frantically searched the village, asking everyone she encountered about Shen Nuo's whereabouts, but no one had seen him. Standing at the village outskirts, she gazed towards the horizon, her eyes filled with tears as the realization of his departure settled in.
