cyn lynn : This Thriving Land

Recap Grade: C/D
First Impression: 3.7/5

Ning Xiu Xiu is marrying today.

No, wait. Ning Xiu Xiu isn’t marrying today. She’s kidnapped. You knew the villains were villains, but you didn’t know they’d strike this FAST. It’s such a hazardous duty being brides in Ep1s.

2nd Ning Uncle (Ning Xue Rui) negotiates with the bandits. “How about taking my only son instead.” :OO

The future sister-in-law, Madam Fei Zuo. Calm. Polished. She cares, but slips in a warning: if the bride spends even one night away, she will be seen as a woman who’s already been touched, and this marriage is over before it begins.

Dad Ning: “Quick sell my land!” Or so you think a dad would do that. This father mourns the idea of selling his deeds more than his own daughter’s abduction. Only when Mom Ning says she’ll die with her daughter if it comes to that does he give in. But every line of his face says it: he despises every inch of this compromise.

Feng Da Jiao (literally Feng Big Feet, lol) charges out to rescue the (not-his-)bride, except he tumbles down a snowy slope and knocks himself out cold. Btw, his cousin/brother’s name is Feng Ni Wei: Feng Oily Taste. What is wrong with their parents/uncles?

Ning Su Su only agreed because she thought she was buying time for her father to save Ning Xiu Xiu.

After Feng Da Jiao saves Ning Xiu Xiu, he tells her not to tell anyone. No one in this story seems to want credit for saving her. That same night, Feng Da Jiao also runs into Du Chun Lin, who’s being chased by Ma Zi (the kidnappers), and saves him too – this time getting a generous reward.

Ning Xiu Xiu runs through the night to get home. Her father is shocked she’s back. I don’t know what he was expecting. For her to never come back? Ning Xiu Xiu is crushed to learn her parents didn’t pay the ransom, and even more so when she finds out her dearest sister married her lover.

Her father’s only concern is whether she’s still “pure.” Broken, she lies and says the bandits came to her one by one, the door never stayed shut for the whole night. Aw, Xiu Xiu. Why! Maybe because she’s too hurt to care about her own reputation, or maybe it’s to hurt her family in return. Her mother did try to save her, but Ning Xiu Xiu doesn’t know that; she’s too deep in grief and anger.

Rumours about Ning Xiu Xiu spread like wildfire in the village.

Feng Er seizes the opportunity to ask for Ning Xiu Xiu’s hand for his son, Feng Da Jiao. He thinks he can score a dowry for taking in a “damaged commodity.” >_> Dad Ning refuses, saying he’ll take care of her for life rather than let that happen. This father. It’s not that he completely doesn’t care. His children are just second. But Ning Xiu Xiu accepts immediately once she hears the groom is Feng Da Jiao. She threatens to end her life if her parents stand in her way, and when they relent, she walks out immediately. Not because she’s running towards a marriage, but because she’s running from a house that stopped being home the night they chose their land over her.

Xiu Xiu makes three vicious vows 毒誓 (du shi; if these vows are broken, vicious consequences will fall upon her): 

Su Su is a blubbering blob of confusion and devastation. She’s shocked to hear his sister is marrying Feng Da Jiao. She still thinks Xiu Xiu can marry Fei Wen Dian. Poor Su Su. Your marriage to Fei is set in stone too, sweetie D: 

Su Su wants her braids instead of this up-do. Sweetie, you can’t have that hair anymore. You’re married now. She sobs about how ugly it looks and how much she misses Xiu Xiu styling her hair. Honey, that was also ugly.

Mom Ning… she’s dying. She’s giving out her last words. To her son, she wants him to understand his father and the honour of their family that he should also uphold. To her son-in-law, she’s relieved that he loves her daughter. She knew it; her daughter would never pick someone random. Still, she begs him that if the day ever comes when he doesn’t love her anymore, please, please send her back. If Mom is still alive, this mom will love her. If she’s dead, then let her cry at her grave so she can still be with her. T_T. Da Jiao swears though that he’ll never stop liking her – that as long as she’s willing to stay with the poor, ordinary him, he will never abandon her. Mom knows her girl will never fear hard days. She’ll bloom anywhere.

In her final hours, Mom Ning even forgives Father Ning. How could she not? They’ll be buried together one day. She understands him. Land to him is blood; it will always matter more than herself, more than the children. That’s not something that can be changed. She tells him to let the children live their own lives now, to stop meddling. She even starts talking about her coffin: she wants it to be four (Chinese) inches thick – one inch to represent each member of her family, perhaps? By morning, Mom Ning is gone. She slipped away (peacefully) in her sleep. I was right on the verge of crying, tears were pooling in my eyes – then Dad Ning scares it back in:

Man was exhaling out loud, raspy, whooping breaths directly onto the dead woman’s face. 我滴媽呀.

Ning Family never properly invited Da Jiao and his parents to the funeral. But that doesn’t stop Da Jiao from being filial. He gives Mom Ning MASSIVE paper offerings. Normally they’re flat sheets in designs of houses, money, mahjong sets, whatever the deceased liked. But Da Jiao bought full 3D, bigger than people ones. He gave her a paper house and a paper cow, so she’d have somewhere to live and fresh milk to drink. Sweet man. Meanwhile, Feng Er skips the walk to the burial site because he didn’t get an in-law spot in the procession. But Mom Feng shows up because does it matter where you start walking? Sweet woman.

As for Xiu Xiu, she kept to her vows. She never set foot in the Ning house to pay her respects. Only when the coffin was carried out toward the burial site did she appear. 

[First Impression (Ep1-6)] Engrossing! If I’m going to watch these big family village dramas, I like them a little dramatic – just high enough to be thrilling (like the bride-napping) without too much pessimism or sadness. Generally, I like it with drama. The hints of comedy sprinkled in are reassuring. I can already tell Dad Ning is going to be both awful and hilarious. The in-laws don’t seem so bad either. Everyone feels very animated, like they belong in this village.