Romance on the Farm Episode 4 Recap
> Romance on the Farm Recap
The following day, Lian Man'er approached Aunt He to discuss the impending loan from Mr. Jin. Lian Man'er expressed her concern that if Grandpa signed the IOU, the entire Lian family would be responsible for the debt, especially if Lian Hua'er, once married into the Song family, decided not to repay it. Aunt He, grasping the potential burden on their house and land, then suggested that Lian Hua'er herself sign the IOU.
Lian Fang, Lian Hua'er's father, also supported this idea. However, Lian Man'er's mother initially argued that Grandpa, as the family head, should sign. She then changed her stance, emphasizing the need to protect their other children, like Ye'er and Jizu, highlighting Jizu's future education and marriage as a grandson. Lian Hua'er then affirmed her commitment to repaying the debt, as it was for her marriage.
Faced with pressure from Mr. Jin, who grew impatient with the family's indecision, Lian Hua'er ultimately agreed to put her fingerprint on the IOU, resolving the matter of her marriage debt. With the marriage issue settled, Lian Man'er turned her attention to making money. She asked Shen Nuo if he thought she could earn a thousand taels of gold.
She acknowledged that gathering firethorns was too slow, describing it as a temporary solution, and dismissed other common ways of making money as already taken. Believing Shen Nuo was overqualified for manual labor, she suggested he offer letter-writing services. She explained that his handsome appearance would attract many female clients, emphasizing that this was a straightforward way to earn money and reminding him of the hundred taels he still owed her.
Shen Nuo, however, firmly refused to capitalize on his looks, stating he would consider any other method besides writing letters. Lian Man'er criticized his reluctance to engage his mind or his appearance for work, playfully comparing his slowness in picking firethorns to a child named Seven. Later that night, Shen Nuo covertly sought out Thirteen, who was being held by a local performance troupe.
Thirteen explained that he had been unexpectedly forced to perform with the troupe after they took over the Carters' Inn. He further revealed that he had been delayed in meeting Shen Nuo because he was recovering from a poisoned arrow wound and had to hide from government officials at a farmer's house, pretending to be a distant nephew. Thirteen informed Shen Nuo that he had been held without cause by the troupe leader, Yu Xiangjin.
Shen Nuo already knew the guards were skilled martial artists, and after a brief confrontation, Yu Xiangjin acknowledged Shen Nuo as a fellow martial artist. Shen Nuo apologized on Thirteen's behalf for a perceived offense (sitting on Yu Xiangjin's performance props). Yu Xiangjin demanded two hundred taels of silver for Thirteen's release, claiming it was for the night's lost performance revenue and the offense.
Despite Shen Nuo's initial attempts to negotiate a lower price, Yu Xiangjin, declaring himself the "rule," insisted on the full amount. Shen Nuo finally agreed to pay the two hundred taels within a month. Before leaving, Shen Nuo instructed Thirteen to remain with the troupe and continue gathering information, particularly about the wealthy man who had previously pursued Shen Nuo. Thirteen confirmed that this man was the owner of the Yuelai Restaurant.
The next day, Shen Nuo attempted to enter the Yuelai Restaurant but was told it was fully booked. To gain access to information about the restaurant's owner, he set up a letter-writing stall nearby, initially charging a meager amount but quickly increasing his price to a tael of silver per ten words. His striking looks drew in many female customers, who even paid extra for him to read their letters aloud.
Lian Man'er, having earned only a few coins from selling her firethorns, discovered Shen Nuo's booming business. She confronted him, asserting that the idea was hers and demanding half of his earnings. To enable Shen Nuo to discreetly observe the Yuelai Restaurant, he tasked Lian Man'er with managing the surging crowd of eager clients. That evening, Lian Man'er asked Shen Nuo why he suddenly resorted to making money by writing letters.
He explained that he was raising two hundred taels to ransom a fellow villager who had been detained. Lian Man'er, understanding his noble intentions, took most of his day's earnings, framing it as payment for his accommodation, meals, and medical expenses that Wang Youheng had helped cover for him, but left him some for his cause.
With the money she earned from selling firethorns, Lian Man'er bought her mother a new hairstick, which delighted her mother, though she cautioned Lian Man'er about the dangers of the mountain and worried about attracting Grandma's notice. Meanwhile, Lian Hua'er secretly observed Lian Man'er with a full money pouch and later saw the new hairstick. She questioned her own mother, wondering where Lian Man'er obtained such wealth, suspecting that Grandma might have given the family's savings to the third branch.
Her mother resolved to subtly investigate Lian Man'er's activities. The following morning, Lian Man'er and Shen Nuo discovered that their letter-writing business had been ruined by numerous copycats who had quickly adopted the profitable venture. With that income stream dried up, Shen Nuo, still determined to gather information about the Yuelai Restaurant, decided to take Lian Man'er there for a meal. Once inside, Shen Nuo shrewdly ordered an extravagant meal.
Lian Man'er initially assumed he would pay, but Shen Nuo then excused himself, telling her he only intended to show her the prosperous restaurant and that she would have to pay if she wanted to eat. During their time there, they overheard Young Master Song, identified as Song Haikun, discussing a secret transaction with Boss Fan regarding a shipment of goods.
Song Haikun expressed annoyance at Boss Fan's request for higher payment and grumbled about Boss Qian spreading rumors of unfair distribution. His subordinate reassured him that details of all deliveries, including quantities and recipients, were meticulously recorded in a ledger, signed and stamped by the participating merchants, making it impossible for anyone to deny their involvement if questioned. They also discussed plans for the next shipment.
Lian Man'er and Shen Nuo also overheard other diners discussing Lian Hua'er's upcoming marriage, noting that she was marrying into the wealthy Song family, who owned numerous restaurants and private banks in town, though the exact son was unknown. Before any food was served, Shen Nuo promptly left, much to Lian Man'er's chagrin. As the Mid-Autumn Festival approached, Grandpa sent Lian Man'er to Mr. Jin's house to deliver mooncakes and reassure him about the family's debt.
There, she learned that Wang Youheng was out collecting debts. Intrigued, Lian Man'er went to find him and discovered him being exploited by an elderly debtor, who made him clean and chop firewood while lamenting his poverty. Lian Man'er intervened, reminding Wang Youheng of his role as a debt collector. She efficiently resolved the situation, taking some items as a reward and telling Wang Youheng to seek her help if he ever encountered such difficult debtors again.
However, Wang Youheng then revealed the family's dire circumstances: the old lady was nearing her end, and the chickens and sheep were borrowed for a special Mid-Autumn meal to give her one last cherished memory. The money Wang Youheng had collected was intended for the old lady's coffin. Moved by their plight, Lian Man'er returned the money, feeling that she had lost more than she gained. Wang Youheng called her kind and invited her to the upcoming Mid-Autumn group dance.
She initially declined, prioritizing her need to earn more money. On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Wang Youheng waited for Lian Man'er at the village's group dance. Shen Nuo also arrived, surprising Wang Youheng by his interest in the "ordinary" folk dance. Lian Man'er asked Wang Youheng why only young people participated in the Mid-Autumn group dance, and he explained that many village couples had met and formed relationships during these dances.
Wang Youheng attempted to invite Lian Man'er to dance with him, intending to express his feelings. However, Shen Nuo subtly interfered, suggesting that Wang Youheng not make things difficult for him due to his supposed lack of dancing skill, and then joined Lian Man'er himself. Wang Youheng, observing Shen Nuo's continued presence near Lian Man'er, discreetly warned him to leave once his business was concluded, implying that his continued presence might cause trouble for Lian Man'er. Shen Nuo, noticing Wang Youheng's deep concern for Lian Man'er, challenged him, asking what would happen if he chose not to leave.
