Romance on the Farm Episode 17 Recap
> Romance on the Farm Recap
Lian Man'er and Shen Nuo found a promising store for their restaurant, strategically located between He Village and Shiyili Camp, a prime spot for commerce. While impressed by the location, they were short on funds. Lian Man'er negotiated with the owner, asking for three days to gather the full payment without a deposit, a request the owner reluctantly granted, warning them he wouldn't hold it past that time if another buyer appeared.
Their plan to secure funds was interrupted by the arrival of members from Black Tiger Fortress, led by Three, Four, Five, and Six. They were there to collect payment for 568 jars of wine. Shen Nuo reminded Zhao Three that they had saved his life, but the gang insisted on immediate payment or for the duo to return to the fortress with them.
Shen Nuo feigned compliance, only to cleverly evade them, leaving the gang frustrated and vowing to pursue them again. Returning home, Lian Man'er and Shen Nuo found Thirteen teaching Lian Ye'er how to write his name, "Chang Feng." Lian Man'er playfully suggested there was something between them, a notion Shen Nuo quickly dismissed. That night, Shen Nuo directly asked Thirteen if he liked Lian Ye'er.
Thirteen initially denied it, but then, pondering Shen Nuo's own affections for Lian Man'er, he mused that if he were to pursue Lian Ye'er, Shen Nuo would then have to address him as his brother-in-law. The following day, distress struck the family when He, Shouyi's wife, revealed that Shouren had absconded with the money she had given him to bribe officials for Shouyi's release. He was devastated, lamenting her folly in stealing from her own family for Shouren.
Lian Fang, their grandfather, overcome by the news, suffered palpitations. Lian Fang then tasked Lian Shouxin to go to town and bring Shouren back, with Lian Man'er insisting on accompanying him. In town, their search led them to an inn where Shouren and Gu had stayed, only to learn they had just left, leaving a disparaging remark about their persistent, money-borrowing relatives. Realizing Lian Hua'er must be involved, Lian Man'er and Lian Shouxin went directly to the Song Mansion.
There, Lian Man'er confronted Lian Hua'er, who initially feigned ignorance of her parents' whereabouts. Lian Man'er pressed, hinting at involving the Song family, which prompted Lian Hua'er to reveal that Shouren had indeed spent all the money. Lian Hua'er bitterly expressed her resentment towards her father, who, despite her efforts to secure a position for him by 'groveling' to the Song family, still blamed her for his failures.
She handed over her private savings to cover the stolen amount, imploring Lian Man'er not to trouble her mother or return to the Song Mansion. Meanwhile, Shouren and Gu, having been on the run, were discovered by Lian Man'er and Lian Shouxin. Shouren, unaware of their discovery, was still complaining to Gu, blaming Lian Hua'er for his failure to secure an official post and lamenting the indignity he suffered in his attempts.
Lian Man'er then revealed that she had learned from the government office that Shouyi was to be released soon without requiring any money, exposing Shouren's deception. Shortly after, Shouyi returned home, infuriated by Shouren's betrayal, he confronted him violently. Lian Fang intervened, sternly ordering Shouren to repay He, Shouyi's wife, for the money he stole. Shouren, however, claimed he had no money, insisting Lian Hua'er had already covered the debt.
Driven to a furious outburst, Shouren disavowed any desire to be an official, vehemently blaming Lian Fang for forcing him down that path and attributing all his dishonorable actions—from selling Lian Man'er to the Sun family, to tricking He into stealing, and making Lian Hua'er beg the Song family—to this relentless pressure. Lian Fang, utterly appalled, denounced him as a 'beast.'
Amidst the family's despair, an unexpected turn of events occurred: an official arrived, proclaiming that Shouren had been appointed as the new county bookkeeping official, due to the previous incumbent's illness. Shouren, stunned and then ecstatic, quickly accepted the position. Witnessing Shouren's new status, Shouyi and He's demeanor instantly shifted from anger to fawning admiration, eager to move to town with him and share in his newfound prosperity. Shouren, however, had no intention of taking his entire family with him.
He approached his mother, persuading her that if she and the second branch remained in the village, Xiu'er's marriage prospects would significantly improve, as she would be the sister of an official. He promised to personally arrange a good match for Xiu'er, which convinced his mother to agree to stay. Unbeknownst to Shouren, Shouyi had overheard his conversation with their mother.
That night, as Shouren attempted to sneak out of the house to depart for town, Shouyi and He ambushed him. They confronted him, demanding money as compensation for his past misdeeds and for leaving them behind. Shouren, initially annoyed by their 'vulgar' fixation on money, finally relented when Shouyi threatened to expose his past crimes by screaming 'murderer' for all to hear, forcing Shouren to promise them money to ensure his silence.
Meanwhile, Gu visited Lian Hua'er at the Song Mansion, excitedly relaying the news of Shouren's appointment and immediately pressuring Hua'er to leverage her husband, Song Hailong, for Shouren's further promotion. Hua'er, however, responded with cold indifference, expressing her profound weariness and disillusionment. She explained the immense personal cost and the significant financial and social capital Song Hailong had expended to secure even this initial position for her father. Hua'er felt deeply disheartened by her parents' relentless greed and insensitivity.
Gu, undeterred, also informed Hua'er of Lian Man'er's plan to open a restaurant in the bustling East Market. This news spurred Hua'er to suggest to Song Hailong that they, too, should open their own business, hoping that establishing an independent source of income would finally earn them greater respect from Song Hailong's older brother, Song Haikun, and his mother. Later, the Black Tiger Fortress members, still intent on collecting their debt, reappeared.
Shen Nuo, however, provided them with official household registers, which were typically only accessible to government officials and that he admitted to obtaining with great effort. This unexpected act revealed his true influence and stunned the fortress members, particularly their leader, Second Brother, who confessed his initial distrust of Shen Nuo and his previous attempts to turn others against him and Lian Man'er.
Deeply grateful for Shen Nuo's incredible generosity in providing them with official identities, Second Brother pledged the unwavering loyalty of Black Tiger Fortress. Seizing the moment, Shen Nuo then requested the wine still held at their fortress, offering to settle all debts, old and new, later. Without hesitation, the fortress members eagerly agreed to bring the wine.
