Romance on the Farm Episode 8 Recap
> Romance on the Farm Recap
Shen Nuo, after learning that Thirteen could not unearth more information, directed him to find an opportunity to infiltrate the Song Mansion and retrieve the list of goods. Meanwhile, Lian Man'er and Shen Nuo successfully earned enough capital from selling garlic peanuts, allowing Lian Man'er to plan selling them throughout the town. Upon their return to the Lian family home, Zhou Shi grew suspicious, believing they were hoarding money.
She searched their belongings but found nothing, as Lian Man'er had cleverly hidden the silver within the medicinal herbs Wang Youheng had brought for her mother, Zhang. Shen Nuo, devising a strategy to force a split from the family, instructed Wang Youheng to make daily deliveries, a plan Lian Man'er readily supported. Lian Man'er also secretly killed a chicken to make soup to nourish her mother.
When Grandma Zhou Shi discovered this, she became enraged, accusing Lian Man'er of being a glutton and demanding to know why her chickens were killed. Lian Shouxin, panicking, confessed to killing the chicken himself to shield his daughter, offering to endure any scolding or beating. As Zhou Shi prepared to punish him, Lian Man'er quickly pretended her mother had fainted, creating a diversion that allowed Lian Shouxin to escape Zhou Shi's wrath.
Zhou Shi, always vigilant, covertly followed Wang Youheng when he brought more medicine to the third family's quarters. There, Lian Man'er, Wang Youheng, and Shen Nuo deliberately staged a conversation, revealing Zhang's supposed worsening condition. Wang Youheng claimed Zhang's organs were damaged and her blood and energy depleted, implying she might remain ill for life.
Shen Nuo elaborated that she would require expensive "ten-herbs tonic soup," made from precious ingredients like ginseng, Lingzhi, Polygonum multiflorum, and ambergris, for five to six years, possibly even for the rest of her life. Lian Man'er dramatically declared her willingness to sell the family's house deed and thirty acres of land to cover the exorbitant medical costs, confidently stating that her grandparents and uncles would unite to support her mother.
That evening, Zhou Shi feigned a sudden illness, summoning the entire family. Lian Shouxin, following Lian Man'er's subtle instructions, first expressed concern for his mother, Zhou Shi, and then suggested inviting Wang Youheng to examine her. He then feigned concern about the outstanding 80 taels owed to Wang Youheng for Zhang's prior treatment (70 taels for lifesaving ginseng and 10 taels as a gratitude fee). Lian Fang, upon hearing the large sum, was shocked.
Zhou Shi, upon hearing about the money, miraculously recovered and erupted in a furious tirade, refusing to bear the third family's debt. Lian Shouxin proposed borrowing the money from Mr. Jin, Wang Youheng's father, as he was familiar with such loans. Zhou Shi vehemently rejected this, instead suggesting that Lian Shouxin's family be split from the household to shoulder their own debts.
Lian Fang, furious at the mention of splitting from the family, began to fight with Zhou Shi, loudly asserting that no one would split the family. Later, Lian Shouyi recounted the incident to his wife, He. He immediately agreed that a split from the family was necessary, arguing that Zhang was a bottomless pit of medical expenses that would financially burden the entire family, potentially jeopardizing Jizu's education.
She then formulated a plan for herself and Lian Shouyi to feign illness and laziness, believing that if Lian Shouren's family and Zhou Shi also pressed for the split, Lian Fang would eventually be forced to agree. The next morning, He carried out her plan by feigning pregnancy, claiming her condition was unstable and she couldn't work. Zhou Shi, unimpressed, reminded He how she herself had worked during her own pregnancies.
Lian Shouyi also made excuses to avoid field work, complaining about his fatigue and the unfairness of Zhang's pampered state and Lian Shouren's idleness while he toiled tirelessly. Even Lian Man'er contributed to the chaos by ruining breakfast. Lian Fang, seeing through their schemes to force a split from the family, angrily chastised them, firmly declared that as long as he was alive, the family would not split, and then left for the fields.
As a heavy rainstorm arrived, only Lian Fang and Lian Shouxin were in the fields, frantically harvesting peanuts. Shen Nuo, arriving late due to an urgent matter, swiftly joined them. During a brief break, Shen Nuo recounted a story from the Spring and Autumn period about a minor dispute escalating into an eight-state war, subtly urging Lian Fang to make a decisive resolution to the family's internal strife to prevent greater misfortune.
While Lian Fang initially misinterpreted this as a criticism of his role in Zhang's condition, Shen Nuo clarified that he was highlighting the obvious desire of Lian Shouyi and He for a split from the family, and encouraged Lian Fang to use this opportunity to make a final decision. Later, Zhou Shi confronted Lian Shouxin, openly demanding he divorce his wife.
She bitterly reminded him that he had once been a promising scholar, just like Lian Shouren, but had become crippled saving his wife, thus losing his chance at an official career and becoming a mere farmer. She promised that once Hua'er married into the Song family and Lian Shouren became an official, they would arrange for a kind and capable new wife for him.
Zhou Shi also revealed that Lian Fang secretly harbored the same desire for the divorce, merely waiting for her to act as the villain. Lian Shouxin, seemingly overwhelmed, remained silent. Lian Man'er, secretly observing her father's reaction, felt a wave of disappointment, believing he would succumb to the pressure and abandon her mother. She resolved that if Lian Fang mentioned divorce at the upcoming family meeting, she would immediately take her mother and younger brother, Seven, away.
That evening, the family gathered. Lian Shouxin, with a calculated yet heartfelt tone, began by acknowledging his parents' tireless efforts in managing the family and cultivating the land. He then candidly explained the dire financial strain imposed by his wife Zhang's ongoing need for expensive medicine, admitting she would be a lifelong burden on the family. However, instead of suggesting divorce, he bravely proposed that his own family unit be split from the main household.
He passionately declared his unwavering loyalty to his wife, citing the ancient wisdom of not abandoning a poor wife, and promised to protect and respect her regardless of future hardship or illness. This courageous declaration came as a surprise and relief to Lian Man'er. Moved by Lian Shouxin's resolute stance and principled declaration, Lian Fang finally conceded to the split from the family.
He told Lian Shouxin that he and Zhang would have to endure the burden of the 80 taels debt for the time being, but promised that Lian Shouren would help repay it once he became an official. Lian Fang also assured them that the family would not shortchange them during the division of assets, acknowledging that just as a tree's branches grow apart, so too must families.
Reflecting on the family drama, Shen Nuo admitted his regret that his earlier storytelling had inadvertently led Lian Fang to consider Lian Shouxin divorcing his wife. However, Lian Man'er countered that Shen Nuo's actions had actually pushed her father to finally stand firm. Shen Nuo then mused on the imperial examination being the only path for farmers to gain status, understanding why Lian Fang always favored Lian Shouren.
Lian Man'er, however, challenged this perspective, asserting her belief that in the future, society would not discriminate based on profession, and that everyone would achieve equality and live in peace and contentment. Shen Nuo then prompted Lian Man'er to consider the practicalities of dividing the family assets, highlighting the difficulty of dealing with Zhou Shi and Lian Shouyi's family. He subtly suggested seeking assistance from Zhang's maternal family for support.
