Romance on the Farm Episode 25 Recap
> Romance on the Farm Recap
Wu Zhonglian furiously attempted to kill Shen Nuo. Just as he lunged, Yu Xiangjin and her Black Tiger Fortress members stormed Master Wu’s residence, smashing through doors and demanding Wu Zhonglian’s presence. Inside, a severely wounded Shen Nuo managed to break free from his restraints, swiftly guiding Lian Man’er to a more secure room. Lian Man’er, tearfully, apologized to Shen Nuo, blaming herself for his capture at the mine, believing it had prevented his timely escape.
Shen Nuo reassured her, explaining that she had, in fact, been instrumental in helping him uncover the crucial evidence he sought. He then expressed deep regret that he could no longer fulfill his promise to stay by her side, not even for a few hours. As Wu Zhonglian’s guards began to break into their room, Lian Man’er bravely seized a knife, positioning herself to defend the injured Shen Nuo.
At that critical moment, Thirteen arrived with the Wude Bureau, ordering all of Wu Zhonglian’s men to surrender. Wu Zhonglian, though defeated, remained defiant, proclaiming that his death would not aid them in capturing Marquis Ningyuan without his crucial testimony about the mine. Shen Nuo countered, revealing Wu Zhonglian’s self-deception and exposing that Marquis Ningyuan, knowing the mining operation was compromised, had already begun eliminating witnesses like him.
Shen Nuo asserted that Wu Zhonglian was merely a disposable pawn, destined to die by the Marquis’s hand. Wu Zhonglian vehemently denied this, recalling his past as a slandered, desperate man who was rescued and elevated by the Marquis. He insisted that he and the Marquis were friends for life, and that the Marquis would never abandon him or Jinyang County.
He even suggested that Liu Fugui’s death was a warning, implying the Marquis was using Shen Nuo to eliminate him. Shen Nuo firmly stated that Wu Zhonglian was lost in darkness and had already lost. Enraged, Wu Zhonglian screamed "I haven't lost!" and attacked Shen Nuo, stabbing him. Despite his severe injury, Shen Nuo, in a desperate act to protect Lian Man’er, fatally wounded Wu Zhonglian.
Lian Man’er, cradling the unconscious and heavily bleeding Shen Nuo, cried out desperately for help. A royal notice was soon circulated, proclaiming that Marquis Ningyuan had been captured and imprisoned for causing chaos in the court and conspiring rebellion, though remnants of his party still remained at large.
The Emperor, expressing deep sorrow for the suffering of Jinyang County's people due to the rebels, decreed a three-year tax exemption for the county, promising to return fertile fields to the populace and to invest in waterworks to revitalize farming, thereby restoring Jinyang’s prosperity and ensuring the well-being of its citizens. Following this decree, the residents of Shisanli Camp joyfully returned to their homes.
The Lian family also moved back into their old compound, preparing for the upcoming New Year’s Eve, reflecting on the simple comfort and peace they found in their familiar home. While unpacking, Lian Man’er noticed her game interface, which displayed her accumulated 999. 8 gold, signaling her imminent return to the real world and bringing a bittersweet feeling.
Meanwhile, Elder Master Lian Fang was deeply concerned about his eldest son, Uncle Shouren, who had become mentally unstable, and frequently left the house to search for him and his family. Despite their initial reluctance and past grievances, Lian Shouyi and Lian Shouxin also expressed their underlying worry. Lian Man’er intervened, persuading both her grandmother (Lian Fang’s wife) and her mother (Aunt He) to set aside their resentment towards Uncle Shouren.
She explained that Elder Master Lian Fang would never abandon his search and would carry lifelong guilt if anything were to happen to his son. She pointed out that despite their silence, other family members were also concerned for Uncle Shouren's well-being, especially with the New Year approaching. Lian Xiu’er, hearing the conversation, openly acknowledged that her being targeted by Liu Fugui likely contributed to Uncle Shouren’s misfortunes.
She explained that she had already come to terms with it, no longer blaming her eldest brother, and urged her mother to let go of her grudges, emphasizing that the family could not find peace until this emotional “knot” was untied. She expressed her wish for everyone to start anew. The Lian family, including Lian Man’er, Lian Ye’er, Lian Shouyi, Lian Shouxin, and unexpectedly Lian Xiu’er, embarked on a widespread search for Uncle Shouren.
They canvased the town, showing his portrait to locals and inquiring at the government office, but received no leads on his whereabouts. Lian Xiu’er, initially claiming she joined because the others were “too stupid” to find him, remained steadfast with them during the arduous search, which stretched through the night and into the early morning. Elder Master Lian Fang remained tirelessly dedicated, even drawing more portraits for the search effort.
During their search, Lian Ye’er and Lian Man’er unexpectedly encountered Thirteen. Lian Ye’er tearfully rushed to Thirteen, overjoyed at his return, as he comforted her. Lian Man’er gave them a moment before Thirteen approached her. He explained that Shen Nuo was heavily burdened with official duties in the capital, primarily clearing remnants of Marquis Ningyuan’s rebellion despite his own unhealed injuries, and thus could not return for the one-month rendezvous as promised.
Thirteen handed Lian Man’er two letters, one for her and one for Wang Youheng. Lian Man’er, after urging Thirteen to rejoin Lian Ye’er, who had missed him greatly, read Shen Nuo’s letter. In it, Shen Nuo expressed his profound longing for her, describing how the stars and yellow rice fields he saw reminded him of their time together. He mentioned weaving a small pony named “Benxiao” for her, a token of his affection until they could reunite.
Reading this, Lian Man’er was filled with bittersweet regret, realizing that with her mission almost complete, she might not be able to see him again. Meanwhile, Lian Shouyi calculated the restaurant’s income, excitedly informing his wife that if they could attract a few more customers this month, their combined savings would be enough to purchase a shop. They agreed that this shop could serve as a valuable dowry for Lian Ye’er, and Lian Shouyi even offered to work there himself.
The family’s persistent search finally yielded a result when Uncle Shouren was found frantically running near the government office by Elder Master Lian Fang. Uncle Shouren, clearly suffering from a mental breakdown, was shouting about “going to court” and demanding to see the Emperor. The family followed his erratic path to a small, dilapidated hut on the outskirts of town. There, they discovered Uncle Shouren’s wife, Gu, and Lian Hua’er.
Gu explained their dire circumstances: Song Haikun, Song Hailong’s brother, who worked for Wu Zhonglian, had died, leading to the confiscation of the Song family’s mansion and assets. Song Hailong, however, was spared by the authorities as he was not involved in his brother’s illicit activities. With Uncle Shouren having lost his position and sanity, and no money, they had nowhere to go, now subsisting on meager porridge.
Gu also bitterly reminded them that when her mother-in-law had sought their help for Uncle Shouren’s condition earlier, no one had offered assistance. Song Hailong then returned and expressed his desire to find work, but acknowledged the difficulty due to the stigma of being a “Song family member,” as no one in town dared to hire him. Despite their hardship, he expressed his determination to earn money to support Lian Hua’er, his mother, and father.
Lian Shouyi offered to take them back home, promising they would not starve, but Gu and Song Hailong politely declined, stating they were managing and it was getting late. Lian Man’er pulled Lian Hua’er aside for a private conversation.
