Wild Ambition Bloom Episode 11 Recap
> Wild Ambition Bloom Recap
Xia Chu, having learned that his most respected friends had established the Chinese Communist Youth League in Europe in France, declared his intention to join them and seek a true remedy to save the nation. His brother, Xia Yuan, urged him to reconsider, suggesting he stay home and help manage their family's apothecary business.
Xia Chu, expressing his disinterest in the family business, firmly stated that national salvation was not merely a trade but his life's career, and he would not abandon it as long as the country remained in peril, society chaotic, and people suffering. Xia Yuan, concerned for his brother's safety after his past narrow escapes, questioned the purpose of his endeavors given the nation's continued weakness.
Xia Chu explained that this time was different, as he believed they had finally found the true path to national salvation with the Communist Youth League. Though reluctant, Xia Yuan ultimately ceased trying to persuade him. He then offered financial support for his journey. Xia Chu declined, citing the League's principle of "diligent labor coupled with frugal scholarship" and his own savings. Resigned, Xia Yuan took Xia Chu home, reminding him that their mother hadn't seen him in six years.
After tucking Xuan into bed, Chu Shaohua found Mrs. Chen in the ancestral hall, distraught and confessing her sins. Mrs. Chen lamented that Chen Ershun had squandered both apothecaries in Peking within two years and was now ill. Chu Shaohua comforted her, assuring her that Huashun Apothecary was still thriving and that she and Xuan would always provide for Mrs. Chen. Seizing the opportunity, Mrs. Chen proposed that Chen Ershun work at Huashun Apothecary.
Chu Shaohua vehemently refused, reminding Mrs. Chen that since Ershun had seized Chen's Apothecary, she no longer considered him family, viewing him as detestable rather than pitiful for his self-inflicted misfortunes. Despite Mrs. Chen's pleas, Chu Shaohua remained firm, stating this matter was non-negotiable and should never be brought up again.
However, pressured by Mrs. Chen's subsequent request to at least hire Auntie Song's son, Chu Shaohua reluctantly agreed to take him on as a clerk, but not as an accountant. Chu Shaohua then offered her brother, Chu Shaozhong, a position as a Pharmacist at her apothecary. Chu Shaozhong, proud of his former role as manager of Chichun Apothecary, rejected the offer, deeming the Pharmacist position beneath him and equivalent to a mere clerk.
He demanded to be made head manager, despite Wang already holding that title. Chu Shaohua insisted on the importance of the Pharmacist role, but Chu Shaozhong felt humiliated and couldn't lose face. He then asked Chu Shaohua for a loan of one hundred silver dollars to partner with a Mr. Wang in a timber trade in Henan. Chu Shaohua, finding the venture unreliable and noting her brother's lack of knowledge in the timber business, refused the loan.
Feeling dismissed and accused of unreliability since selling Chichun Apothecary, Chu Shaozhong angrily stormed off. Chen Ershun, still at home, slept until midday. He woke up to complain about the lack of meat at lunch, finding the food too plain to swallow. He then demanded five silver dollars from Mrs. Chen, claiming he needed to entertain friends to explore business opportunities.
Mrs. Chen refused, reminding him she provided him food, drink, and shelter, but no money, especially after his past failures. Enraged, Chen Ershun threw his food down and stormed out, colliding with Song Ping, who was bringing a bowl of soup for Mrs. Chen. He unfairly vented his anger on Song Ping, causing her to drop and spill her meal. Xia Yuan brought Xia Chu home to see their mother.
Over dinner, the mother, while sad about Xia Chu's impending departure for France, expressed her understanding and urged him to stay safe. As the family discussed happenings in Qizhou, Caifeng mentioned that the old opera troupe spot by Yongshun River was now an apothecary run by Chu Shaohua (the former eldest daughter-in-law of the Chen family and daughter of the Chu family from Chichun Apothecary), who had returned to Qizhou after her husband's death.
Hearing of Chu Shaohua's circumstances, Xia Chu left a letter for Xia Yuan that night and, before dawn, embarked on a journey to Qizhou to find her. Upon arriving in Qizhou, Xia Chu sought out Chu Shaohua, expressing his concern for her well-being. Chu Shaohua shared her focus on running her apothecary, raising Xuan, and caring for Dashun's mother, finding purpose in these responsibilities. Xia Chu, in turn, revealed his imminent departure for France.
That night, both were sleepless, their minds drifting back to six years prior. A flashback showed Xia Chu leading Chu Shaohua through a temple's "No Women Allowed" gate, championing gender equality and encouraging her aspirations to run a business, suggesting she could achieve more than even Xia Yuan if she dared to explore the world beyond Qizhou. The next morning, Xia Chu was waiting outside Huashun Apothecary for Chu Shaohua, telling her he had come back to Qizhou for her.
He passionately proposed that she join him in France, revealing he had carried her whistle for six years and never forgotten her. With Chen Dashun gone, he wanted to fight for their future, proposing they start anew. Chu Shaohua, burdened by her status as a widow, a mother to a three-year-old, and from a disgraced family, felt unworthy of Xia Chu, who was the second son of the prominent Xia family in Fengqiao.
Xia Chu dismissed her concerns, declaring he only cared about her, emphasizing their shared spirit forged when he challenged societal norms by leading her through the "No Women Allowed" door. He assured her they would take Xuan with them. Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by a commotion. A clerk rushed in, reporting that a woman was causing a scene, accusing Huashun Apothecary of selling fake medicine that had poisoned her husband.
The woman, wailing, claimed her husband was vomiting white foam and demanded one hundred silver dollars in compensation, threatening to smash the apothecary. As the crowd grew agitated, Xia Chu bravely stepped forward to defend the apothecary, declaring he would fight anyone who dared to damage it. In the ensuing chaos, he was struck on the head. With quick thinking, Chu Shaohua calmly stepped forward.
She publicly "admitted" to a supposed error by a clerk who had "mistakenly mixed up several herbs," causing the man's symptoms. To remedy the situation, she dramatically called for "five qian of Wuducao," a known deadly poison. As onlookers gasped, she explained that for someone who had ingested the "mistaken mixture," Wuducao would act as an antidote, citing the principle of "counteracting poison with poison."
When the wife demanded assurance of recovery, Chu Shaohua vowed to take the poison herself if it failed, trading her life for the man's. Faced with this terrifying proposition, the "sick" man, no longer feigning illness, abruptly rose, grabbed his wife, and fled the scene, exposing their deception. Chu Shaohua then ensured the remaining Wuducao was safely stored and offered a 10% discount on all herbs for the day to appease the stirred-up customers.
Later, in the back courtyard, Chu Shaohua personally tended to Xia Chu’s head wound. As she expressed her concern over his injury, he reassured her that seeing her in pain hurt him more. He reiterated his desire for her to join him in France, arguing that she could continue studying medicine there. He proposed she could expand her medical knowledge to save more people, broadening her horizons beyond Qizhou and her current apothecary.
He also emphasized that "Industry powers national progress," implying that her contributions could also benefit the nation. Chu Shaohua was undecided, and Xia Chu advised her to think carefully. Unbeknownst to them, the entire incident at the apothecary was orchestrated by Yi Dajin. He had intended to force Chu Shaohua to close her shop but was surprised by Xia Chu's intervention. Yi Dajin's subordinate reported that Xia Chu had fiercely protected Chu Shaohua.
Yi Dajin deduced that either Xia Chu or Xia Yuan had taken a personal interest in Chu Shaohua, effectively making her "one of them." Fearing that Xia Yuan would discover his embezzlement at Chichun Apothecary and replace him with Chu Shaohua, Yi Dajin decided to drive Chu Shaohua away entirely. He believed that if Chu Shaohua "vanished like smoke," Xia Yuan would be left without a replacement and forced to retain him, thereby preventing an audit of his shady dealings.
His subordinate, however, warned him that Chu Shaohua was not to be underestimated, recalling her past triumph over the notorious bandit Ertu. Meanwhile, Xuan caught a mild cold, prompting Chu Shaohua to take her to Mr. Guan for a prescription. Business at Huashun Apothecary was booming, leaving the clerks overwhelmed. Chu Shaohua personally stepped in to deliver medicine to customers. Upon her return, she found Xia Chu in the back courtyard, happily chatting with Xuan.
Xia Chu was teaching Xuan English words and concepts of astronomy using drawings he made from memory from a Japanese children's book. Xuan, demonstrating remarkable intelligence, impressed Chu Shaohua with her quick learning. Xia Chu seized this moment to passionately argue that Xuan deserved a more systematic education in France, where she could be exposed to advanced science and diverse cultures.
He strongly asserted that both Chu Shaohua and Xuan were destined for a broader world beyond the confines of Huashun Apothecary and Qizhou, a sentiment that deeply resonated with Chu Shaohua.
