Episode 3 recap: Ru Lan plans to sue her mentor, Wu Lian.
Seven years ago, Liu, the head of the constables, led a search of Ding Ru's room, but only took away a hairpin from the table. He then went to Wu Lian's room without revealing anything, claiming that he had divined that Ding Ru's death was not an accident but instead the result of some misfortune or injustice. Wu Lian tried to change the subject, but Liu brought the conversation back. Unable to do otherwise, Chen Mo Mo bribed Liu with a large sum of money, and all of this was heard clearly by Meng Wan, who was hiding behind the door.
It wasn't until dawn that Lin Ru Lan opened the door. Meng Wan, waiting at the door, had been there for a long time. The two of them ran in the pouring rain, one after the other, with Lin Ru Lan shouting at Meng Wan in a frenzy. Watching Lin Ru Lan's figure, Meng Wan finally revealed the truth about Wu Lian's coercion. However, Lin Ru Lan couldn't believe it. On the night when Ding Ru had an accident, Meng Wan had seen a man's jade pendant by the well in the backyard, and the only person who could enter the backyard of the brothel was Wu Lian. Lin Ru Lan couldn't believe that all of this had happened. But the fact that the originally fine silk bedsheet had been changed to coarse cloth confirmed everything. Meng Wan also deeply regretted not telling Lin Ru Lan earlier, which led to this outcome. She hated her own cowardice and incompetence.
Lin Ru Lan rushed into Wu Lian's room and questioned him about the bedsheet. Wu Lian finally revealed his ugly face. Lin Ru Lan angrily snatched the teacup from Wu Lian's hand and poured the tea over him. Wu Lian then grabbed Lin Ru Lan's wrist, looking disdainful. Lin Ru Lan cursed him shamelessly and left. Just as she reached the door, she ran into Wu Niang Zi Zhang Rong Er and others who had been waiting. After Lin Ru Lan left, Wu Niang Zi entered the room and cleaned up the mess, wiping the tea stains off Wu Lian's face.
Lin Ru Lan, who had left, stood on the bridge, reminiscing about every detail of her relationship with Wu Lian. In order to gain Wu Lian's approval, Lin Ru Lan had practiced embroidery day and night. They had also enjoyed the pear blossom rain and played the flute together. But now everything was ruined. Lin Ru Lan aimlessly walked the streets and happened to come across Ding Ru's funeral procession. She watched with fascination, and Dou Hua Xi Shi Song Chu Liu accidentally spilled tofu pudding on Lin Ru Lan. Xi Shi apologized and helped wipe it off.
A burly customer noticed Song Chu Liu's beauty and took advantage of the opportunity to touch her hand under the pretext of buying tofu pudding. However, Liu, the constable, appeared at the tofu pudding shop on time and intervened to help Song Chu Liu. With Liu's intimidating presence, the burly customer quickly fled. After Liu finished eating and left, Lin Ru Lan caught up with him, hoping to ask for his assistance. She even offered her most valuable hairpin as a gift. However, Liu only asked her to write a statement.
When Lin Ru Lan returned home, she saw her brother, Lin Lang. As soon as she opened the door, she fainted from a fever. When she woke up, she found Meng Wan by her side, who was deeply concerned about Lin Ru Lan's condition. However, Lin Ru Lan whispered for her to leave, but Meng Wan didn't depart. Instead, she continued to help Lin Ru Lan wipe her forehead. The two shared their similar experiences and empathized with each other.
Lin Ru Lan made up her mind to report the incident to the authorities. Meng Wan tried to dissuade her, considering that in a society that valued chastity, reporting the incident would essentially ruin Lin Ru Lan's future. However, regardless of the consequences, Lin Ru Lan was determined to report it. It was worth it.
The next day, Lin Ru Lan found Liu and handed him her written statement. After briefly scanning it, Liu stood up and returned to the yamen. For Lin Ru Lan, it seemed like she saw hope. Upon returning home, Lin Ru Lan demanded the prescription from Meng Wan, but Meng Wan had already burned it earlier. The two argued in the courtyard, each sticking to their own opinions. Liu, who had left, arrived at the magistrate's office, and Gao Changqing personally reviewed Lin Ru Lan's statement.
Meng Wan intercepted the intoxicated Liu and tried to retrieve Lin Ru Lan's hairpin. However, Liu didn't pay any attention to her and was unfazed even when Meng Wan attempted to bribe him.
Mr. Wu's deception and coercion of girls vary for each individual. Some he deceives and keeps them trapped in the fantasy of love, while for those who have already seen the truth, he exploits the larger environment as their weakness to coerce them.
This is also the reason why he has been able to commit crimes for many years without being discovered.
Every episode doesn't connect. I want to say that this woman, because of her cowardice and timidity, knows the truth and knows that her friend has a crush on that person and is easily vulnerable, yet she doesn't inform her friend.
She allows herself to be taken advantage of, but what's worse is that she lets her friend be taken advantage of as well. In the end, she loses her life. What kind of friend is that? If I had a friend like that in real life, I'd be unlucky.
Knowing that the other person is scum, she doesn't speak up and ends up causing me to be taken advantage of as well. If I found out, I would just give her a good scolding. Harming others and oneself.