Wild Ambition Bloom Episode 2 Recap
> Wild Ambition Bloom Recap
The Chen family was adorned with lights and firecrackers, celebrating a double wedding for Chen Dashun and Chen Ershun. Relatives and friends arrived to offer their congratulations. In the kitchen, Chen Madam oversaw the preparations, admonishing the staff to use less oil and cut the meat into smaller pieces, complaining about the use of fancy flour instead of coarse.
As the bridal sedans approached the village gate, Master Chen gently led his wife away from the kitchen to greet the guests. Dashun and Ershun, with their respective brides, paid their respects to their parents before heading to their bridal chambers. Dashun's friends eagerly burst into his room, clamoring to see the bride. Dashun lifted Shaohua's red veil, and her beauty left his friends speechless. Dashun, with some effort, persuaded them to leave.
Alone with Shaohua, Dashun confessed that he had been anticipating this day ever since he first saw her at the Qizhou Medicine Market. Shaohua then realized he was the buyer who had purchased the fake Huangqi from Tang's Apothecary. Dashun expressed his regret for not learning her name then and swore to be devoted to her for life. Meanwhile, Ershun returned to his bridal chamber, annoyed that Song Ping’s family had provided such a small dowry.
He curtly sent his friends away and then bossily told Song Ping to remove his shoes, instructing her to reflect on her actions. The next morning, Shaohua awoke to find Dashun already up. They went to greet Master Chen and Chen Madam. Ershun and Song Ping arrived shortly after. Chen Madam immediately expressed her displeasure with Shaohua for being late, asserting that the Chen family had strict rules, unlike Shaohua's previous home.
Dashun quickly interjected, taking the blame by explaining he had drunk too much the night before and asked Shaohua to massage his aching head, which caused their delay. Chen Madam then assigned Shaohua to prepare breakfast for the family, refusing to tell her anyone’s preferences and instead telling her to decide for herself. She then deliberately sent Shaohua outside to fetch firewood, despite there being plenty inside.
While Shaohua was gone, Chen Madam instructed Song Ping to secretly take a jar of sugar. When Shaohua presented breakfast, Chen Madam revealed that Master Chen preferred sweet dishes, an important detail she had withheld. Dashun again stepped in, apologizing for forgetting to inform Shaohua of his father’s preference.
Fortunately, Shaohua had anticipated this and had prepared several sweet dishes, including pumpkin cakes, fruit porridge, sweet rice wine dumplings, and yam and red bean paste, after finding no sugar in the kitchen. Master Chen was delighted and praised her cooking. Ershun, however, was critical of Song Ping. Shaohua, suspecting Chen Madam's manipulation, made a pointed comment about a superstition that whoever steals sugar will suffer a violent death.
Ershun added to the tale, recounting a story of a man who died bleeding from every orifice after stealing sugar. Terrified, Song Ping fled, with Ershun pursuing her. Ershun confronted Song Ping outside their room, finding her with the sugar jar. Song Ping claimed Chen Madam had given it to her, but Chen Madam quickly denied it, warning her not to speak nonsense.
Ershun became enraged and attempted to strike Song Ping, but Master Chen intervened, ordering them both back to their room. Later that night, Ershun beat Song Ping, and her cries for help could be heard. Chen Madam, while acknowledging Song Ping as her niece, complained about her clumsiness and the damage she had caused. Shaohua, unable to bear Song Ping’s suffering, called her to their room to tend to her wounds.
Song Ping admitted that Chen Madam had made her believe Shaohua was trying to dominate her. Shaohua explained that as they had entered the family on the same day, they were like sisters and should support each other, not compete. Moved by Shaohua's words, Song Ping understood. Dashun assured Song Ping that he had spoken to Ershun, and Song Ping thanked both of them. For the traditional "returning home" visit, Chen Madam prepared two gifts of pastries for the brides.
While claiming they were identical, Song Ping suggested she and Shaohua swap their boxes; Shaohua, noticing a difference between them, agreed. Master Chen observed his wife's subtle manipulation and warned her against such favoritism in the future. At Shaohua’s family home, her mother, brother Shaozhong, and sister-in-law welcomed them. Shaohua learned from her sister-in-law that Dashun had generously redeemed the land Shaozhong had pawned. Shaozhong and his wife then tried to ingratiate themselves with Dashun, praising his growing business.
They brazenly proposed joining the Chen family's medicine trade with a merchant in Hankou, even asking Dashun to front their capital. Shaohua firmly opposed the idea, stating that her brother was not suited for business and shouldn't scheme. Dashun, however, saw his in-laws as family and was inclined to help. Shaohua’s mother pulled her aside, and Shaohua reiterated her staunch refusal to let her brother participate in Chen’s business on such terms.
On their way back, Shaohua discovered that Dashun had secretly given Shaozhong a sum of money. She felt uneasy and cautioned Dashun not to front any capital for her brother’s business ventures. Dashun, explaining that he simply wanted her family to be comfortable so she would be happy, initially seemed ready to help Shaozhong, but Shaohua firmly told him that "that's not how it works." On the journey back, Sanshou Gang bandits ambushed their carriage.
Dashun offered all his money, pleading with them not to harm Shaohua. The bandits took all their money and Shaohua’s jewelry. When one of the bandits, Scarface, began to harass Shaohua, Dashun fiercely fought him off. Shaohua, seizing an opportunity, grabbed a bandit's gun and threatened the leader, ordering his men to drop their weapons. She then instructed Luo, the coachman, to help the injured Dashun back into the carriage and forced the bandit leader to drive them away.
After driving a considerable distance, Shaohua kicked the bandit leader out of the carriage, threw his gun to the ground, and told Luo to quickly drive them home. Back at the Chen residence, Master Chen immediately summoned a doctor to attend to Dashun's wounds. The doctor confirmed that despite the severity of the injuries, Dashun's life was not in danger and he would make a full recovery with proper care.
Chen Madam, distraught, blamed Shaohua, claiming Dashun’s injuries were her fault for insisting on going home. Master Chen quickly silenced her, having learned from Dashun that Shaohua had bravely held the bandit leader hostage, saving them both. He expressed concern that the Sanshou Gang would seek revenge after such a humiliating encounter and strictly ordered Luo and everyone present to keep the incident a secret. Shaohua attentively nursed Dashun back to health.
Once Dashun had recovered, he and Shaohua discussed their future. Shaohua expressed her desire to be actively involved in business, doing "things men get to do" and seeing "the world beyond." Master Chen had already decided to take Dashun to Peking for business and was now contemplating having Shaohua join them. Chen Madam, however, objected, believing Shaohua was still too wild and would be a source of embarrassment.
Master Chen then revealed his plan to move the entire family to Peking, explaining it was necessary to "lay low" as the Sanshou Gang, having suffered such a significant setback at the hands of Dashun and Shaohua, would undoubtedly seek retaliation. He cautioned that "walls have ears" and a swift, but calm, departure was essential before the bandits discovered their whereabouts. Before the move, Shaohua visited a grave marked "In Memory of My Younger Brother, Xia Chu."
She spoke aloud, declaring her impending journey to Peking and her desire to see the outside world, stating that "what's done is done." To her astonishment, Xia Chu suddenly appeared before her, alive. Shaohua was speechless. Xia Chu explained that on the day of the assassination, he had given his coat, which contained his identification papers, to his freezing comrade, Nie. The bomb exploded prematurely, and everyone mistakenly believed it was Xia Chu who had died.
Shaohua, still reeling from the shock, told him she was married to Dashun, who treated her very well. Upon returning home, Shaohua was met by a disgruntled Chen Madam, who complained about Shaohua's disrespectful disappearance, fearing the trouble such a "wild" daughter-in-law might cause in Peking. Dashun, noticing Shaohua's cold hands, pulled her aside and instructed her not to say anything to his parents, promising to handle the situation.
He then announced to his parents that Shaohua had been running an errand for him. He fabricated a story about discovering an accounting error at Baoshu Hall, claiming his leg injuries prevented him from going himself, so he sent Shaohua. He produced a fabricated receipt as proof. Master Chen, seeing through Dashun's lie, accepted the story for the sake of peace.
Later, Master Chen took Dashun aside and advised him that while it was commendable to love his wife, he must also learn to "control her," remarking that capable women often possess strong personalities.
