Romance on the Farm Episode 6 Recap
> Romance on the Farm Recap
Shen Nuo found himself questioned by constables. Wang Youheng stepped in, informing Constable Liu that Shen Nuo was a member of the Lian family, suggesting it was normal for a farmer like him not to be widely known in the village due to his busy farm work. Wang Youheng cautioned against arbitrary arrests, arguing it would displease the magistrate and divert attention from the search for genuine criminals. After the constables departed, Shen Nuo questioned Wang Youheng's motives.
Wang Youheng clarified that his assistance was not for Shen Nuo's sake, but to prevent trouble for Lian Man'er's family, reiterating that Shen Nuo should conclude his affairs and leave quickly. Later, Xiu'er vented her frustration, not at Lian Man'er, but at her father, who had scolded and nearly struck her in public. Lian Hua'er seized the opportunity to provoke Xiu'er further, suggesting Lian Man'er was likely badmouthing her behind her back.
Xiu'er then sought Lian Hua'er's help in devising a plan against Lian Man'er, and after some feigned reluctance, Lian Hua'er agreed to think of a solution. Mr. Lian convened a family meeting, announcing his intention to discuss important matters before everyone headed to the fields. He explained that since Lian Hua'er was soon to be married, Uncle Shouren and his wife would be left without children to care for them in their old age.
Mr. Lian revealed that he and Uncle Shouren had agreed that if Zhang's unborn child was a boy, it should be adopted by Uncle Shouren. He attempted to persuade Lian Shouxin, arguing that the child, referred to as Little Eight, would gain the opportunity for education, achieve success, and avoid a farmer's life, thus ensuring Uncle Shouren would have someone to look after him in his later years.
However, before Mr. Lian could finalize the decision, Lian Man'er interjected, declaring that regardless of the baby's gender, it would not be adopted by Uncle Shouren, because her family intended to split from the family. This announcement deeply shocked Mr. Lian. Zhou Shi reacted furiously to Lian Man'er's declaration, screaming at her for daring to split the family and wishing for her own death.
Mr. Lian, acknowledging Lian Shouxin's unspoken resentment from Lian Man'er's past forced marriage incident, preached about family unity, tolerance, and shared hardships, warning that splitting would shatter their familial bonds. Lian Man'er sharply countered, exposing Mr. Lian's "cliched" rhetoric. She accused her family of exploiting her honest parents, recalling how Uncle Shouren had previously tried to sacrifice her life for a mere jade pendant, questioning their supposed kinship.
She further asserted that they were now coveting her mother's unborn child and warned that if they did not split, her honest parents would be completely exploited. Mr. Lian then pressed Lian Shouxin for his true intentions. He then addressed Uncle Shouren, reminding him that as the elder brother and a future official, he should support Lian Shouxin's family. Uncle Shouren knelt, admitting his past mistakes and vowing to treat Lian Shouxin and his wife well from then on.
Mr. Lian emphasized the importance of brotherly harmony. After some hesitation, Lian Shouxin reluctantly agreed to his father's decision. Later, Gu Shi angrily confronted Uncle Shouren for secretly discussing the adoption with Mr. Lian, lamenting her years of taking medicine to conceive, while he acted behind her back. Uncle Shouren attempted to assert his authority, but Gu Shi defiantly challenged him, tearfully recounting her life of hardship despite her wealthy family's decision to marry her to a mere farmer.
She felt she had only the empty title of a scholar's wife and had never experienced a single good day. She attributed her current humiliation to the early deaths of her two sons. Uncle Shouren, in turn, expressed his own suffering, envying his brothers who had sons while he had none, and cruelly blamed Gu Shi's womb for being "uncooperative."
Gu Shi later confided in Lian Hua'er, expressing her conviction that Zhang was cunningly feigning pity to trick them into raising her son, who would then inevitably remain loyal to his birth mother. She worried about Lian Man'er and Seven, deeming them troublesome, and feared that Lian Shouxin's family would eventually control the household, leaving her isolated once Lian Hua'er was married.
Lian Shouxin scolded Lian Man'er for her impulsiveness, strictly forbidding her from ever mentioning splitting the family again, citing that minor conflicts are inevitable in any household. Lian Man'er passionately refuted him, reminding him of Uncle Shouren's past attempt to sell her for a ritual sacrifice and their current desire for her mother's unborn child.
She questioned their right to adopt Little Eight and for him to care for them in their old age, labeling the family "a bunch of vampires." When her younger brother, Seven, asked what a vampire was, Lian Man'er explained it as an "evil spirit that specializes in sucking human blood."
Lian Shouxin, however, reiterated Mr. Lian's point, stating that he was merely a "crippled farmer" while Uncle Shouren was a "respectable scholar," suggesting Little Eight might indeed have better prospects with Uncle Shouren. Lian Man'er challenged his reasoning, asking if he was truly ignorant of Uncle Shouren and Aunt Gu's true character, and expressed concern that Little Eight would be corrupted under their influence.
She argued that if they split and earned their own money, they could also send both Seven and Little Eight to school, and their future quality of life was uncertain. Lian Shouxin remained firm, asserting that as long as Mr. Lian was alive, the family could not split. Lian Man'er urged her father to voice his own thoughts instead of constantly deferring to Mr. Lian.
Zhang, still deeply troubled by the forced adoption, decided to seek out Lian Shouxin in the fields. While Lian Man'er was elsewhere, resolute in finding a way to prevent the adoption and earn money, Lian Ye'er frantically rushed back to inform Lian Man'er and Lian Shouxin that Zhang had fallen. Back at the house, Zhang was in critical condition.
A doctor, Li Langzhong, revealed that Zhang had suffered premature labor and, after a rushed delivery, had given birth to a boy who was stillborn. He gravely warned that Zhang was bleeding profusely and might not survive for long. Zhou Shi, hearing the prognosis, blamed Zhang for going out and insisted the doctor said she couldn't be saved. Lian Man'er vehemently rejected this, demanding they seek a better doctor in town or even the county, and attempted to go herself.
Shen Nuo intervened, promising to find a doctor and reassuring Lian Man'er that her mother would be fine. As Wang Youheng worked to save Zhang, Zhou Shi angrily questioned his use of expensive ginseng, lamenting their poverty and advocating for cheaper remedies. Despite being cautioned not to anger Mr. Lian, Zhou Shi continued to complain loudly about the cost and her own past suffering, even recalling her difficult labor with Lian Shouxin.
Lian Man'er attempted to silence Zhou Shi, warning her against disturbing her critically ill mother. Wang Youheng, with Lian Shouxin's desperate consent, performed a risky acupuncture treatment. Miraculously, Zhang regained consciousness. Lian Shouxin informed Mr. Lian that his wife had been saved, to which Mr. Lian remarked that the child had no fate with the Lian family and should be buried properly. Mr. Lian then instructed Shouyi to continue farm work while Lian Shouxin stayed home to care for Zhang.
Lian Shouxin then requested Mr. Lian to provide nourishing food like rice, white noodles, and eggs for Zhang's recuperation, as prescribed by Wang Youheng. Although Zhou Shi protested, Mr. Lian agreed and instructed her to pawn her and Xiu'er's jewelry if funds were insufficient. Lian Man'er stayed up all night by her mother's side, discovering Shen Nuo also present, having remained near their home. Lian Man'er confided in Shen Nuo about her overwhelming family troubles.
Shen Nuo reminded her of their plan to earn money. Soon after, Lian Ye'er arrived to inquire about Zhang's condition, expressing relief that she was safe. Lian Man'er sensed Lian Ye'er's unease and questioned her, but Lian Ye'er denied having anything to say. Shen Nuo, observing Lian Ye'er and considering Zhang's careful nature, found it suspicious that Zhang, usually not clumsy, claimed her fall was accidental. He sensed something "out of the ordinary."
Later, Shen Nuo investigated the path where Zhang fell. Wang Youheng also arrived, explaining that during Zhang's treatment, he noticed unusual scratches on her abdomen, suggesting impact from a hard object, which contradicted the description of a simple fall in a cleared field. He suspected foul play. Shen Nuo then revealed he too had suspicions and, upon finding a rope at the scene, deduced it was used to trip Zhang. They both concluded that someone intentionally caused Zhang's fall.
Shen Nuo explained his suspicion stemmed from the timing of Zhang's fall, immediately after Mr. Lian's proposal for adoption, and the family's complex motives beneath a facade of affection. He was determined to uncover the culprit. Lian Man'er later offered Lian Ye'er some fried eggs, claiming Zhang wanted her to have them because of her hard work, subtly hinting at their hidden closeness.
Lian Ye'er then revealed her difficult childhood: her parents disliked her for being a girl and sent her to be raised by Zhang, who deeply loved children. She expressed her sorrow over Zhang's loss of Little Eight and constant grief. Lian Man'er then pointedly stated that her mother's fall was "not an accident," observing Lian Ye'er's reaction.
Lian Ye'er denied any knowledge, but Lian Man'er pressed her, highlighting Zhang's suffering from believing the fall was her own fault and urging Lian Ye'er to reveal the truth. Lian Ye'er tearfully admitted she could not speak due to threats. At this point, Shen Nuo intervened, producing the rope found near Zhang's fall site and revealing it belonged to Lian Ye'er, who often used such a rope for firewood. Lian Ye'er confirmed ownership but denied involvement.
Shen Nuo explained that he did not believe Lian Ye'er was the culprit; the actual perpetrator used excessive force, injuring their own hand and leaving blood on the rope, indicating an attempt to frame Lian Ye'er. He asserted that the person in the Lian family with a hand injury was the real culprit. Shen Nuo, aware that Lian Ye'er witnessed the fall and had been conflicted, then asked her if she wished to name the person or if he should.
A few days later, Xiu'er, unable to bear the guilt of causing Zhang's premature birth, confessed to Zhou Shi. Zhou Shi, already suspicious of Xiu'er's recent unease, directly asked if Lian Hua'er instigated her, confident that Xiu'er herself wouldn't have dared such an act. Xiu'er tearfully admitted that Lian Hua'er, claiming to help her deal with Lian Man'er's bullying, suggested they trip Zhang to anger Lian Man'er. Xiu'er expressed remorse for the severity of Zhang's fall.
Zhou Shi, recognizing Lian Hua'er's manipulative nature, scolded Xiu'er for being dim-witted and for allowing herself to be used as a "scapegoat." When Xiu'er worried about the consequences if Lian Shouxin and Mr. Lian discovered the truth, Zhou Shi, labeling Lian Hua'er as cunning, warned Xiu'er to be extremely careful of her.
