Episode 13 recap: Li Teng Yun escaped from the dungeon with Shi Zi
After Xin, the steward, and his group left, the grand Shi Zi Mansion appeared empty. Du Ru Yu looked at the vacant space and thought it would be a waste to leave it idle, so she considered using it for farming. Jin Rong still missed the bustling scene of servants when Xin, the steward, was around. Some social elites' family members had applied several times to meet Du Ru Yu, but she felt it wasn't necessary. Jin Rong advised her to adapt to their current life and reminded her that now that they were living in the Shi Zi Mansion, they were seen as important figures in the eyes of others. Therefore, it was understandable that some noblewomen wanted to get close to Du Ru Yu. Given their current situation, there was no harm in getting to know a few more noble ladies.
Du Ru Yu was reluctant to meet them, so she allowed them to come in to see her. However, Jin Rong wanted to see her best friend, Dong Xiao Xiao. She couldn't pass up the opportunity to boast in front of her friend. Jin Rong brought pastries to meet Dong Xiao Xiao and proudly said they were made by the chefs in the Shi Zi Mansion. Dong Xiao Xiao was eager to meet Shi Zi, but Jin Rong found it difficult to explain and had to decline repeatedly. Du Ru Yu eventually met Lin Fu Ren and several other noblewomen. They flattered and complimented Du Ru Yu excessively and expressed their eagerness to visit the Shi Zi Mansion to meet the renowned Xin, the steward. Du Ru Yu didn't want to tell the truth, so she kept making excuses and postponing the meeting.
Li Teng Yun and Shi Zi were left abandoned in the dungeon without anyone attending to them. They weren't even given water to drink. Shi Zi had already fainted from hunger, and Li Teng Yun had lost his voice from shouting without any response. Lin Fu Ren and the noblewomen had a dispute over buying something, and they sent servants to find Du Ru Yu to mediate. Du Ru Yu had no choice but to see what was happening. It turned out that the two noblewomen were arguing over buying a bottle of beauty cream. Du Ru Yu tried to persuade them to consider other products, intending to brush off the situation. However, under the instigation of the shopkeeper, they both ended up buying a bottle of beauty cream, even though Du Ru Yu herself had never used it, spending a whopping thirty taels of silver.
When they returned home, Du Ruyu was still sulking, and Jinrong became furious when he found out. He thought his mother had lost her mind, spending so much money all at once. Du Ruyu was still angry, and the two of them had a big argument. These days, Pei Lan was in a good mood and feeling much better. With the servants gone, she could take care of the household chores herself.
Li Teng Yun was unwilling to starve to death in the prison cell. While he was exploring, he discovered that the back window had rotted away. With a push, it easily gave way. So, he carried Shi Zi on his back and escaped through the window. The two of them temporarily took shelter in a rundown shack.
Lin Fu Ren and others insisted on visiting Shi Zi's residence, but without Xin Guan Shi present, they couldn't put on airs. Jinrong came up with the idea of temporarily having Lu Bu Ping impersonate the new manager. As for Lu Bu Ping's subordinates, Ke Ling was tasked with finding a solution. Ke Ling was well-connected in the city and called upon a group of street ruffians to obey Lu Bu Ping's orders and commands. The team was successfully assembled, but Lu Bu Ping only knew how to do laundry and sweep the floor. He had no idea what the manager's responsibilities entailed. Helpless, Du Ruyu went to find Xin Guan Shi again. Xin Guan Shi was kind-hearted and agreed to let Lu Bu Ping learn under his guidance. So, Lu Bu Ping became Xin Guan Shi's apprentice.
After undergoing rigorous training from Xin Guan Shi, Lu Bu Ping had undergone a transformation. When he returned to Shi Zi's residence, his demeanor and speech reflected the style of Xin Guan Shi. Even Chun Peilan, who was most familiar with him, seemed to not recognize him anymore. Li Teng Yun brought a piece of dry steamed bun for Shi Zi, telling him that he had obtained it from nearby villagers and that he should eat it to sustain himself. Shi Zi weakly accepted it and felt grateful to Li Teng Yun. Meanwhile, Li Teng Yun hid outside and ate steamed buns himself. After eating half of the dry steamed bun, Shi Zi gained a bit of strength and struggled to get out of bed and find Li Teng Yun in the outer room. He suspected there was something wrong with his sense of smell because he could smell the aroma of steamed buns despite eating a dry bun. Li Teng Yun felt uneasy but promised to find a way to get some steamed buns for Shi Zi next time.
Everyone, regardless of their status, experiences worries. It's not an emotion limited to the poor; sometimes those in high positions face even greater and more overwhelming distress.
Si Huang Zi fell in love with Ke Ling, but facing Ke Ling's ambiguous feelings and the sense of exclusion due to not being on the same team, it broke Si Huang Zi's heart.
He was troubled, wondering why he, who was so good, appeared so terrible in Ke Ling's eyes.
In reality, Ke Ling didn't think Si Huang Zi was bad. She was just not yet grown up and mature.
When she saw her own mother being stern with her but being caring and attentive towards Si Huang Zi, personally feeding him chicken soup and always showing concern, it struck a chord.
Her mother had never treated her that way. So in Ke Ling's eyes, Si Huang Zi suddenly became someone else's child, which made her indignant.
She didn't understand Si Huang Zi's indulgence and admiration for her.
She only felt that he was trying to snatch away her mother's love. When she found out about Si Huang Zi's connection with the Prince's Mansion, she became even more unwilling.
She thought, "You come from a wealthy and privileged background, yet you still want to compete with me for this little thing I have. How infuriating!
In her eyes, Si Huang Zi's actions were nothing more than being unable to tolerate her happiness.
So, Ke Ling's feelings towards Si Huang Zi were purely envy, jealousy, and hatred, without any romantic association.
When faced with troubles, we must maintain a calm mind.
Only then can we see through our surroundings and think more rationally to find suitable solutions.
Do you have any unspoken secrets? Those situations that are as they are, but you just can't bring yourself to tell anyone about them. And the result is that others are left completely perplexed, thinking you're the silliest and most foolish person in the world.
How could you act in such a way? How could you disappoint yourself with such a decision?
If it were only a matter of well-intentioned advice, it would be manageable. But there are those who go even further and make decisions on your behalf without caring about your own plans.
They charge ahead and make arrangements without considering how you truly feel.
Just like Uncle Zhen Sheng in the drama, he doesn't want to leave the Chun family. Even if he has the opportunity for better prospects at the large pharmacy, with a higher salary and free room and board, he refuses to leave the Chun family.
He doesn't want to give up his one-ninth share, and he doesn't want to miss a single day with Ru Yu.
But Big Sister and Third Sister are completely unable to understand. At first, Third Sister supported him out of a sense of righteousness, rallying behind the cause to boost the morale of their respected master, whom she saw as weak and unwilling to compete.
Big Sister, on the other hand, is even more intimidating. She takes it upon herself to make arrangements without consent. She secretly negotiates with the pharmacy owner, demanding an extra five taels per month from Uncle Zhen Sheng, all the while thinking she's clever and that those five taels should go straight into her own pocket.
Uncle Zhen Sheng truly finds himself in a difficult position, unable to voice his concerns.
The fortune teller always got bullied while doing street divinations, and it's no wonder. It's a scam to make money, so how can any righteous person not step in and teach him a lesson?
Later on, he met Shi Zi, and Shi Zi actually believed his nonsense and hired him as his strategist.
After several failures, Shi Zi finally realized that he wasn't some extraordinary talent or prodigy. He was just a swindler in the jianghu, a mediocre person.
He actually misled Shi Zi into thinking that the object of Si Huang Zi's affection was the eldest daughter of the Chun family.
And he went to great lengths to bring the eldest daughter to the residence, attempting to win over Si Huang Zi.
But it turned out that Si Huang Zi's interest was in Mei Ling, the fourth daughter of the Chun family.
The same Mei Ling who had beaten up Shi Zi and the fortune teller.
Si Huang Zi wanted to dismiss the fortune teller, and this opportunity for wealth and prosperity vanished into thin air. How could the fortune teller accept this willingly?
That's how people are. Once they taste wealth and live the life of the wealthy, it's difficult to go back to an ordinary or even impoverished life.
Going from nothing to something is easy, but going from wealth to poverty is difficult.
The psychological gap is immense and heartbreaking.
Watching the eldest sister feeding mosquitoes alone in the courtyard, I can't help but worry. It seems that Shi Zi doesn't value the eldest sister much, otherwise, if he found out that the prince's affection wasn't for the eldest sister, wouldn't he be happy?
The woman he likes finally doesn't have to step aside willingly.
Du Ru Yu is truly fortunate to have four daughters, each with their own unique characteristics. It feels like the proverbial "nine sons of the dragon," each with their own merits.
The eldest daughter is 30 years old and urgently needs to get married. However, she is very picky and insists on marrying into a wealthy family. In these episodes, she develops a connection with Shi Zi, but Shi Zi mistakenly believes that Si Huang Zi is interested in the eldest daughter.
Their interactions are full of misunderstandings and quite comical.
Pei Lan, the second daughter, has always been diligent and skilled in cooking. She may be a bit naive but wholeheartedly cares for everyone in the family, selflessly providing care and expecting nothing in return.
Fate brings her into contact with a young master from a prominent family, but he has a sense of justice in his heart despite lacking martial arts skills.
In an attempt to save her, he accidentally injures a small ruffian, and believing he has killed him, he hides in Pei Lan's house and becomes an unpaid laborer.
The third daughter is knowledgeable and rational, with a deep love for books. She is beautiful and speaks in a calm and composed manner. At first, I thought she was the most normal among the four sisters, but as I got to know her better, I realized that she is quick to report any wrongdoing and has a righteous and stern demeanor.
Everyone in the family is afraid of her.
The fourth daughter, Ke Ling, dreams of the martial world. I initially thought she would be a good match for Lu Bu Ping, but she repeatedly unintentionally injures him, making it clear that they have no chance together.