Episode 24 recap: Shen Nuo set up an ambush.
Lian Maner's second uncle and father came to find Lian Maner's uncle, intending to take him back. However, they were shocked to discover that Lian Maner's uncle had been driven insane by the incident involving Liu Fugui. Aunt Big Brother knelt down and pleaded with them, explaining that they had no choice. Lian Xiuer had caught the attention of Liu Fugui, and if they didn't send her over, they would all be in danger. Now their eldest brother had already gone mad. They begged Lian Maner's father to spare them.
Lian Maner's father softened his heart and left, giving money to Aunt Big Brother and instructing someone to go and invite a physician. Lian Maner's grandfather was heartbroken upon learning about Lian Maner's uncle's madness. Lian Maner's grandmother believed it was karma, and they still didn't know where Lian Xiuer was.
Lian Xiuer returned, crying about how difficult her life had been. She had heard that Liu Fugui had died, which gave her the courage to come back home. Lian Maner's grandmother embraced Lian Xiuer and burst into tears. Shen Nuo came to find Lian Maner, informing her that the leader of the Wude Division had revealed the location of the mine to him. He planned to go there the next day to collect the goods and gather evidence of their rebellion.
Lian Maner worried that Shen Nuo wouldn't come back. Shen Nuo assured her that once he finished dealing with these matters, he would definitely return. The two of them shared a passionate kiss. Aunt Big Brother arrived, looking for Lian Maner and asking for their help. She explained that Uncle had gone mad and was now trying to escape every day. She had to manage the household and earn money, and it was impossible for her to stop Uncle. She hoped they could assist in taking care of him.
Aunt Second Brother disagreed, stating that they had sold them off before and now they needed their help, so they came back seeking assistance. Lian Maner said that Grandma would never agree. Lian Maner asked Aunt Big Brother why she didn't go and find Lian Hua Er. Aunt Big Brother replied that Lian Hua Er had already gotten married. If she had such a crazy father, the Song family would look down on Lian Hua Er.
Aunt Second Brother felt that Aunt Big Brother had always been selfish and self-serving. Now Lian Xiuer was so frightened that she babbled nonsense all night. If Uncle moved back in, Lian Xiuer would likely go insane from fear. Lian Maner's grandfather also couldn't agree, so Aunt Big Brother had no choice but to leave.
Grandfather Lian Maner wanted to secretly take some money for Uncle, but Grandma Lian Maner discovered it. Grandma directly snatched the money away, stating that Uncle deserved it. Lian Maner's mother felt that Aunt Big Brother was indeed going through a difficult time, and Lian Maner said that she would talk to Lian Hua Er. Lian Maner went to the Song family and overheard some servants discussing transportation matters, finding it strange. She quickly followed them.
Lian Maner followed these two people to a cave on the mountain and discovered that the young master of the Song family was also there, along with others who were moving the red iron ore. Lian Maner realized that Shen Nuo must be in trouble. The leader of the Wude Division had given him the wrong location, and there must be an ambush there. Lian Maner wanted to leave but was discovered. Fortunately, she managed to hide and wasn't found by the Song family's people. Lian Maner went to find Shi San and told him about the situation. Shi San was also very anxious and wanted to go find Shen Nuo, but then the young master of the Song family arrived with his men.
Shi San urged Lian Maner to quickly find Shen Nuo, but Lian Maner was caught by the Song family's people. Lian Maner told Shi San to go and find Shen Nuo instead. Shi San had no choice but to leave first. On the other side, Shen Nuo arrived with the people from the stronghold but encountered an ambush. The two groups clashed, and only Shen Nuo and the fourth brother were left alive. Shen Nuo learned that Lian Maner had been captured and told Shi San to quickly take the fourth brother back to the stronghold while he went to find the leader of the Wude Division for help.
The leader of the Wude Division came to see Lian Maner and claimed not to know about these matters. However, he already knew that Lian Maner was the one who drugged Liu Fu's steward, rescued Lian Xiuer, and took the waist token. The leader of the Wude Division mentioned that he already knew Shen Nuo's identity and as long as Lian Maner was there, Shen Nuo would definitely come.
Shen Nuo rushed over, and the leader of the Wude Division brought out Lian Maner, offering to exchange her for Shen Nuo.
Before episode 24, everything seemed fine. There weren't any misunderstandings between the female lead and the male lead, which was a pleasant surprise. But then it happened again—the scene where the female lead gets discovered.
Just like before, she follows someone without being noticed. The female lead is a modern person, so shouldn't her thinking be more cautious? Why would she run so openly and get caught?
And then Shi San tells her to run, but she doesn't, and I don't understand why. What's the point of staying if she's not going to run? I'm tired of this kind of plot.
If the female lead ran away, wouldn't Shi San also run if he couldn't defeat her?
What a ridiculous ending! They should have kept the continuous hardships for Hua and Xiu. Let Xiu suffer in her in-laws' home, where her mother-in-law torments and mistreats her every day, treating her like she's not even human.
I couldn't bear watching it anymore. Such a terrible ending! The ones who deserve happiness aren't happy, and those who deserve retribution are all living happily ever after. When will things change? This ending is just infuriating.
It's a disappointing conclusion.