Yummy Yummy Yummy Episode 8 Recap
> Yummy Yummy Yummy Recap
Shen Shaoguang, calling herself Jicai, accidentally fell into a lake. A young woman named A Yuan, who works at Yunlai Tavern, saw her and immediately jumped in to help, despite not knowing how to swim. Shaoguang, realizing A Yuan's inability to swim, ended up pulling her to shore. A Yuan, thinking Shaoguang was attempting to end her life, was relieved to learn Shaoguang had merely slipped.
As both were drenched, A Yuan offered to take Shaoguang to her quarters at Yunlai Tavern to change clothes. To avoid Manager Feng, they discreetly entered through a hole in the back wall. Inside, A Yuan lent Shaoguang her smallest outfit. While they chatted, A Yuan revealed that she became a slave by pressing a thumbprint on a Slave Deed due to debts, losing her commoner status and her ability to return to her home in Shu.
Shaoguang empathized, sharing a similar feeling of being unable to return home. At the Capital Prefecture, Lin Yan faced open defiance from his subordinates, who had begun their meal without him. Liu Chang, Lin Yan's attendant, pointed out their blatant disrespect. Lin Yan, however, viewed their behavior as the natural resentment of older martial men towards a young superior, rather than malicious intent.
He announced that Vice Minister Fang of the Ministry of Works would soon arrive to review road repair budgets and sought assistance. Deputy Cheng, one of the officers, immediately feigned an injury to avoid the task and disrespectfully addressed Lin Yan by his first name, even calling him "Uncle" due to his younger age. Lin Yan, asserting his authority by mentioning his equal standing with Chancellor Meng, sternly stated that he sought genuine respect, not mere compliance.
He explained that the Capital Prefecture was a challenging assignment that most noble scions would avoid or abandon quickly, but he was committed to achieving success. He offered his officers a clear choice: either leave with financial compensation or commit to working alongside him as "brothers," promising to secure their livelihoods and legacies if he prospered.
Soon after, Li Fengxia arrived with a variety of hot dishes, including lamb skewers and large chicken cutlets, observing that Lin Yan had successfully navigated the initial confrontation. She fostered a warmer atmosphere, urging everyone to eat and introducing herself as "Auntie." Lin Yan then addressed Deputy Cheng personally, acknowledging his poor background and unmarried status, and promised to help him gain financial stability, mentioning that he had already petitioned for increased salaries at the Capital Prefecture.
He also assured Second Master Xu, an often-overlooked second son, of potential promotion opportunities by year's end. Lin Yan swore his commitment to their aspirations, invoking heaven as his witness. Li Fengxia reinforced his sincerity, highlighting his empathy. Convinced, the officers finally invited Lin Yan to join them for the meal. Back at Yunlai Tavern, Shaoguang cooked a simple dish of mixed grains, lard, and fermented sauce, which A Yuan named "Paupers' Joy."
Shaoguang noticed several injuries on A Yuan's arm. As they ate, a man outside called for "Chunyan," prompting A Yuan to leave for work. Before departing, A Yuan told Shaoguang to exit through the back hole and gave her the clothes, saying they might not meet again. Later, Li Fengxia brought a bowl of rice tofu to Lin Yan.
He attempted to discuss breaking their engagement, but Li Fengxia deftly deflected the conversation by emphasizing her busy schedule with the impending eatery opening. Lin Yan's attendant, Liu Chang, wondered if Lin Yan was becoming fond of Li Fengxia and might reconsider ending the engagement, but Lin Yan insisted he would address it. Meanwhile, Shen Shaoguang, troubled by A Yuan's situation and her arm injuries, sought Lin Yan's legal expertise.
She asked about the process for someone who voluntarily signed a Slave Deed to regain commoner status. Lin Yan explained the stringent legal requirements: a commoner selling herself into slavery must undergo identity verification by the registrar at the Market Office, confirmation of parental status, creation of a public contract, and issuance of official documentation. He clarified that a mere signature or thumbprint on a Slave Deed without these official procedures was legally invalid.
Realizing A Yuan had been illegally enslaved, Shaoguang rushed out. Shortly after, Lin Yan's niece, Yangyang, informed him that Shaoguang had been upset "because of him" and viewed him as her "last hope," having cried several times in secret. Lin Yan then misunderstood that Shaoguang had anticipated his intention to break their engagement. Yangyang casually added that this would not be Shaoguang's first broken engagement.
Arriving at Yunlai Tavern, Shaoguang overheard Manager Feng (Feng Li) violently beating A Yuan for refusing his advances. He called her "wretched trash" and asserted his right to abuse her since she had no family to support her and he possessed her Slave Deed. Shaoguang entered, pretending she was simply there to return A Yuan's clothes. She offered to buy A Yuan, suggesting it would prevent Manager Feng from incurring bad luck due to A Yuan's supposedly inauspicious physiognomy.
Manager Feng dismissed her offer, smugly declaring A Yuan belonged to Yunlai Tavern because he held her Slave Deed, and warned Shaoguang to focus on her own eatery. As Shaoguang started to leave, the renewed sounds of A Yuan's abuse drove her to re-enter. She confronted Feng Li, declaring herself A Yuan's friend.
Shaoguang asserted that A Yuan was still a commoner because her enslavement was illegal; she had only affixed a thumbprint to a Slave Deed, bypassing the comprehensive official Market Office procedures required by law. Shaoguang accused Feng Li of "coercing a commoner into bondage" and demanded he present the Slave Deed for official verification. Enraged, Feng Li ordered his guards to seize Shaoguang and A Yuan.
Just as Feng Li's men moved in, Deputy Cheng arrived with Capital Prefecture officers for an inspection, specifically targeting Yunlai Tavern's illegal expansion. Feng Li, instructing his men to hold Shaoguang and A Yuan, went to greet Deputy Cheng. Deputy Cheng confronted Feng Li about the tavern's unauthorized expansion into the back alley and its role in obstructing rescue efforts during a bookshop fire in April, which had resulted in three deaths.
Feng Li vehemently denied any wrongdoing, attempting to coerce a bookshop worker and other neighbors into corroborating his lies, but they remained silent or equivocal. Lin Yan then arrived, confirming that Jinwu Guards records corroborated the three fatalities caused by Yunlai's obstruction. He cleverly exploited Feng Li's superstitious beliefs, leading him to inadvertently admit to a fire-related injury, thereby confirming the obstruction. Feng Li attempted to intimidate Lin Yan by hinting at powerful backing for the tavern.
Lin Yan countered, questioning whether Feng Li wished to implicate his influential patrons in corruption and illegal activities. Lin Yan immediately ordered the demolition of the illegal expansion and proceeded into the courtyard. He asked Shaoguang if she had been bullied. Shaoguang quickly explained A Yuan's plight as a commoner illegally enslaved by Feng Li. Lin Yan demanded the Slave Deed. In a desperate attempt to destroy the evidence, Feng Li tried to eat the document.
Shaoguang swiftly pulled A Yuan to safety. Enraged and finally understanding the deception, A Yuan confronted Feng Li, revealing he had tricked her into signing the deed over an exorbitant debt for a bowl of soup noodles. Lin Yan then publicly declared the Slave Deed to be fake, confirming to A Yuan that she had been deceived for years and was now legally free. Overjoyed, A Yuan, with Shaoguang's support, walked out of the tavern, with Lin Yan ensuring Feng Li's men did not interfere further.
