Romance on the Farm Episode 7 Recap
> Romance on the Farm Recap
Xiu'er found herself consumed by unease, feeling a strong urge to visit her third sister-in-law, Zhang. Hua'er, noticing Xiu'er's distress, quickly intervened, assuring her that their actions that day were merely an accident, not intentional. Hua'er even claimed that the rope used to trip Zhang was Lian Ye'er's firewood rope, vowing never to let Xiu'er suffer any consequences.
When Xiu'er hesitantly mentioned her discomfort because the incident occurred right after her father spoke of adoption, Hua'er skillfully twisted the conversation, feigning offense and accusing Xiu'er of thinking she had been manipulated. Hua'er then tearfully reminded Xiu'er that it was Xiu'er herself who had begged for a way to teach Lian Man'er a lesson, portraying herself as a benevolent helper who couldn't stand seeing Xiu'er bullied.
Hua'er further asserted her loyalty by recalling all the times she bought beautiful pendants and bracelets for Xiu'er in town. With these artful words, Hua'er successfully pacified Xiu'er, who, convinced of Hua'er's sincerity, promised to trust her and even picked out new pendants from Hua'er's room.
Later, Lian Man'er, with Shen Nuo's help, secretly entered Xiu'er's room and marked her face with two baby footprints made of rose balsam, a dye that would not easily wash off for at least two days. The next morning, Xiu'er awoke to find the marks, immediately feeling a pang of guilt and believing the deceased Eight had returned for revenge. She frantically sought out her mother.
Seeing Xiu'er's terror, Lian Ye'er and Seven, prompted by Lian Man'er and Shen Nuo, subtly implied Eight's presence, mentioning a little ghost hitting Xiu'er's leg with a mace. Further terrified, Xiu'er and her mother sought the help of a shaman. During the session, the shaman claimed Xiu'er was entangled in a karmic debt, not just alone but with another girl, and tragically predicted Xiu'er's fate had been altered from that of a royal empress to merely a mistress.
Desperate to change her fate, Xiu'er begged for help. The shaman advised that the "ghost child" sought revenge for its mother and would only depart if its mother's forgiveness was obtained. Xiu'er's mother immediately suggested seeking forgiveness from Zhang. However, Xiu'er adamantly refused, unwilling to betray Hua'er, despite her mother's insistence that Hua'er had tricked her with cheap earrings. Shen Nuo observed that Xiu'er's trust in Hua'er was already wavering, needing only a final push.
Lian Man'er suggested that Shen Nuo was the ideal person to deliver it. Shen Nuo later encountered Xiu'er and cleverly complimented her appearance, but then pointed out that the jade on the earrings Hua'er had given her was dull and spotted, a common cheap item worth only five coins. He implied that only vulgar maidservants would wear such items, subtly suggesting Hua'er had deceived her.
Xiu'er initially defended Hua'er, but Shen Nuo's persistent, polite questioning made her realize the truth, fueling her anger. Enraged, Xiu'er stormed into Hua'er's bedroom and rummaged through her belongings, discovering a hidden jewelry box filled with beautiful ornaments she had never seen. Confronting Hua'er, Xiu'er accused her of deceit, declaring that the earrings incident had led her to cause Zhang's miscarriage.
Xiu'er, no longer believing Hua'er, publicly confessed her involvement, stating she had tripped Zhang under Hua'er's influence, but denied any intent to cause a miscarriage. Aunt Gu, Hua'er's mother, immediately defended her daughter, claiming Hua'er was merely helping Xiu'er, who was being bullied by Man'er, and was too young to understand the dangers to a pregnant woman. Uncle Shouren tried to take the blame, admitting his negligence in disciplining his daughter.
However, the grandfather weighed the family's honor, considering Hua'er's upcoming marriage into the prestigious Song family, which was crucial for Uncle Shouren's official career. He sternly ordered that the matter be dropped and never mentioned again, sending Hua'er and Xiu'er to their rooms for reflection, to the silent dismay of Lian Shouxin.
The grandfather then reminded Lian Shouxin of the sacrifices made for his past leg injury, blaming Zhang for the misfortune and implying Lian Shouxin’s suffering stemmed from his own family. Observing her father's silent suffering and inability to defy the elders, Lian Man'er stepped forward. She declared the matter closed but subtly attacked Aunt Gu, implying that the ongoing conflicts stemmed from Aunt Gu's inability to bear sons, which led the grandparents to constantly consider adopting children and causing chaos.
That evening, as Hua'er secretly ventured out, Lian Man'er ambushed her, putting a sack over her head and beating her thoroughly before disappearing into the night. Lian Man'er, determined to nourish her mother, managed to obtain some eggs from Grandma for Zhang, who was still recovering from childbirth. She was heartbroken to see Zhang meticulously weaving longevity knots, a traditional item to ward off misfortune, for the departed Eight, praying for his peaceful reincarnation into a good family.
Zhang, seeing her husband Lian Shouxin return from the fields, proposed that they split from the family. She expressed her desire to protect their children, Lian Man'er and Seven, from further harm and injustice within the main household, revealing she had intended to discuss this with him on the day of the miscarriage incident. Lian Shouxin, however, was reluctant to defy his parents and used the excuse of pressing farm work to hastily leave, deferring the discussion.
Man'er voiced her frustration, questioning why her mother always suffered while others benefited, and expressing concern for her mother, Seven, and the unborn Eight. Driven by the need to earn money, Lian Man'er, accompanied by Shen Nuo and Seven, went to dig peanuts. After harvesting, they proceeded to Wang Youheng's home to process the peanuts into garlic peanuts. Later, Man'er and Shen Nuo took the freshly made garlic peanuts to the Fuchun Restaurant in town.
Finding the restaurant owner, Mr. Zhang, absent due to a family mourning, Shen Nuo discovered Thirteen, a member of a local troupe, at Mr. Zhang's home, performing a wailing service for the deceased. Shen Nuo learned from Thirteen about Mr. Zhang's mother, Old Madam Zhang, who had raised eight children single-handedly after her husband's early death, and who had always taught Mr. Zhang to be kind and cheerful, and that wealth was transient.
Armed with this knowledge, Lian Man'er then boldly entered Mr. Zhang's home, feigning possession by the spirit of Old Madam Zhang. She compassionately spoke to Mr. Zhang, urging him to smile and find happiness, reminding him of his mother's teachings. She then offered him the garlic peanuts to taste, claiming it was her mother's request. Upon "recovering" her senses and preparing to leave, Mr. Zhang, deeply moved by the encounter, eagerly offered to buy their garlic peanuts.
