This Thriving Land

Chinese history 1927 to 1980 from a farmer’s POV

I was introduced to this drama by different friends. The “old theatre bones” (老戏骨) is an endearing term for experienced stage actors and they literally stole the show. In particular are the parents of both the male and female leads. Even the way they speak their lines and the color of their vocal tone is enough to bring you to tears.

Those of us who do not know much of China’s tumultuous history will find this drama illuminating. I wonder if non Chinese speaking audience will relate to this show as much as Chinese speakers. Some parts of the plot is a little formulaic/tropish, but the overall storyline is engaging. I could not stop watching and developed a new found respect for farmers and their love of the land.

Definitely worth your time.

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MASTERPIECE [beautiful, moving, realistic] Hymn to the Land

A realistic and engaging series about the lives of ordinary Chinese farmers in 1920 (Republic Era) -> 1930 (Japanese Occupation)

PLOT: The FL, the daughter of a wealthy landowner, is about to marry her lover, a scholar, also from a wealthy landowner's family. But she is kidnapped along the way by bandits. Her father refuses to sell land to pay the ransom and sends his youngest daughter to replace the bride. The ML,Landlord, a simple farmer in love with the FL from afar, risks his life to save her from the bandits. When the FL returns, she realizes that she has been abandoned by everyone except the ML, and decides to marry him.

+++ CL is endearing with Ou Hao and Yang Mi. Their performace is just magnific. There are few sweet scenes; it's all about the sights and the micro-expressions (well-suited to the customs and modesty of the time).
+++ The other actors are convincing and skillfully embody complex characters.

(◕‿◕) For once, the actors' beauty isn't emphasized. For realism, the costumes are ordinary/poor, the sets austere, the hairstyles ugly, etc.
٩(◕‿◕)۶ The series depicts the "ordinary" lives of farmers in a small village: hunger, poverty, the importance of owning land, the first steps towards revolution, the Japanese occupation, etc.

+++ Perfect production: pacing (one might fear getting bored in this depiction of an ordinary life, but that's not the case at all), casting, sets, OSTs, makeup, costumes, character development, etc. Flawless!!
The character of the FL is magnificent [Did the director want to pay homage to his own mother?]

=> A masterpiece filled with humanity, tenderness towards the land, and ordinary farmers.
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MASTERPIECE [beau, émouvant, réaliste] Hymne à la terre

Série réaliste et attachante sur la vie des fermiers chinois ordinaires en 1920 (République Era) -> 1930 (Japanese Occupation)

PLOT: La FL, fille d'1 riche propriétaire terrien va se marier avec son lover, érudit, issu aussi d'1 riche famille de proprio. Mais elle est kidnappée en chemin par des bandits. Son père refuse de vendre des terres pr payer la rançon et envoie sa + jeune fille remplacer la mariée. Le ML, fils de simple fermier, amoureux de la FL à distance,risque sa vie pr la sauver des bandits. Qd la FL revient, elle comprend qu'elle a été abandonnée de tous, sauf du ML, et décide de l'épouser.

+++ CL attachant avec Ou Hao et Yang Mi. Peu de sweet scenes, tout est dans les regards, les micro-expressions (conformément aux usages et à la pudeur de l'époque).
+++ Les autres acteurs sont convaincants et incarnent des personnages complexes avec talent.

٩(◕‿◕)۶ Pour une fois, la beauté des acteurs n'est pas mise en valeur. Par réalisme, les costumes sont ordinaires / pauvres, les décors austères, les coiffures sont moches, etc.
٩(◕‿◕)۶ La série retrace la vie "ordinaire" de fermiers dans un petit village, la faim, la misère, l'importance de posséder des terres, les 1ers pas vers la révolution, l'occupation japonaise, etc.

+++ Réalis° parfaite : rythme (on pourrait craindre de s'ennuyer dans cette description d'1 vie ordinaire, mais ce n'est pas le cas du tout), casting, décors, OSTs, make-up, costumes, évolution des personnages, etc. Sans faute !!
Le personnage de la FL est magnifique [Est-ce que le réalisateur a voulu rendre hommage à sa propre mère ?]

=> Chef d’œuvre rempli d'humanité, de tendresse vis à vis de la terre, des fermiers ordinaires.

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The farmers' grit for their land | Her Perfect Husband | Funny and strong spitting game! 哈哈

"Xiuxiu. Don't wait for him. What he can't do, I can. I'm going to make up for all the suffering you've endured." - Feng Dajiao to Ning Xiuxiu

If I were to describe this drama in one sentence. It would be "A production that will not disappoint, in any way or form, from the beginning till the very end."

Finishing this drama left me in total awe of its flawless craftsmanship. The cinematography was incredible as every detail felt intentional. You can tell it was created by masters of their craft who truly know what they’re doing. I have nothing but respect for the team behind this.

I must admit, there was also a time when I got frustrated watching this show—mainly Fei Wenxuan's preachy political scenes. But as time passed, I realized they were for the greater good of all. It made me acknowledge how shallow my views and ideologies were, and prompted me to reflect on my opinions and perspectives on life in general.

My only advice before you watch this is to absorb and savor every moment. Digest every scene, treasure the lessons in your heart, and keep any negative feedback to yourself until the very end. You must, at any cost, see it through to the finale before making a judgment. Because the only time you can truly understand the value of the story is after you have completed it.

This is the type of drama that makes you reflect on yourself and the society we live in today. It leaves me feeling a sense of gratitude that we have moved forward from a destitute and turbulent past into a much more comfortable and peaceful life. Furthermore, I hope this show can inspire everyone to appreciate and treasure life more—because that is what this story has personally taught me.

I totally enjoyed every scene this drama offered. Starting from the beginning where it presented the 360-degree shift in Ning Xiuxiu’s (FL) life and showing how she familiarized herself with, adjusted to, and gradually assimilated into her new status. From there, the story moved from their simple farm life and daily survival to sudden political maneuvers that became increasingly challenging and dangerous. It was a real eye-opener, especially for someone not familiar with the Japanese invasion back then—even though my own country was also invaded and occupied for years. I should say that I now understand where the hatred and disdain towards the Japanese are coming from... I don’t want to dwell on that too much, so I’ll stop here.

Regarding the characters, I feel for all of them. I feel like they’ve been through a lot—so much, in fact.

× Ning Xiuxiu - An excellently written character. I admire her courage and resolve, just as much as I love her open-mindedness and humility. She has been through so much in her lifetime, and I am so happy to see her evolution. My heart is with her as she weathers life alone following Feng Dajiao’s passing.

× Feng Dajiao - The man that he is. Thank you for being the pillar that supports and loves NXX unconditionally. I have nothing but mad respect for him. He showed me how to be a responsible and dutiful husband—one who is selfless, loving, and understanding. Their relationship prospered because of how genuine and transparent he was with his feelings and opinions; for me, that is their relationship's strongest foundation.

"I'm happy. Xiuxiu has a place for me in her heart. I have a home now." - Feng Dajiao

× Ning Susu - I feel the deepest sympathy for the suffering she went through. Her life was constantly fucked up by those around her, and in the blink of an eye, years had passed and she found herself at her lowest point—left out and have gained nothing. Just as she finally found true love and happiness, she was then heartlessly poisoned—along with the person who showed her the true definition of love and affection. Her tragic fate has brought me many tears.

× Fei Wenxuan - I feel heartbroken for him. He was tricked into marrying the younger sister of the woman he loved. Then later on, he was drugged so that he could unknowingly consummate his wedding with her. I admit to having been irritated by him for how seemingly irresponsible and inconsiderate he was, but over time, I just grew to understand that he was acting that way not because he was irresponsible, but because he just refused to act against his own will or submit to external obligations. I may have also hated him for how forceful he was with his political ideologies, but I understand now that he was only doing that for the greater good of all. Nonetheless, he died valiantly, and I just want to applaud him for his outstanding and selfless pursuit of public service.

In retrospect, our leads are simply victims of their families' greed (driven by a sense of responsibility) and selfish desires (believing that what they were doing was right). Although their families' methods are seemingly selfish and irresponsible, I have also come to acknowledge that they were somewhat compelled to act out of obligation and filial piety, rooted in their ancestors' teachings. Above all, I'm glad that Ning Xuexiang had his redemption moment before he died, in contrast to Madam Fei, who went crazy and died tragically, chained by the weight of the obligations placed upon her.

This is definitely one of the most authentic and wholesome dramas I have watched in years. When they feel happy, I feel happy. They they feel sad, I feel the same way. Watching this made me realize how wonderful Republican and Contemporary dramas can be—I've been so addicted to costume dramas that I’ve neglected other genres for a long time.

Lastly, I was genuinely captivated by the beauty and simplicity of living a rural farm life. It gave me a sense of reality for the future I prefer for myself when I get old and am ready to retire. I think I fit and like the simple rural life the best. I love the casual and ordinary day-to-day life.

Story - 10, It was pure, absolute perfection. Everything about this drama was exceptionally done. The story alone deserves to sweep major awards. It was a raw and authentic depiction of how tough the turbulent and impoverished times were back then. The plot and conflicts were well-crafted, and the deaths felt natural—like a natural flow and occurrence of life.

Acting/Cast - 10, I’m at a loss for words regarding how satisfied and amazed I was by the cast of this production. The caliber of acting from almost everyone was incredible. Every emotion was successfully conveyed in a heartfelt manner. The one who stood out for me was Xing Fei—I never expected her to be this good! She delivered a poignant performance; her emotional depth brought a compelling authenticity to the character. She deserves every Best Supporting Actress award she can get. I was more drawn to her character than to the main lead. I also enjoyed Ou Hao a lot here. I’m a new fan!

Music - 10, The overall music gave me a 'Sound of Music' vibe. It was freeing, soothing, and refreshing. It allowed me to enjoy the scenes while feeling lighthearted and comfortable.

Rewatch Value - 10, Most certainly! It was a true masterpiece—the kind of drama you wouldn't get tired of watching, even years later. Truly timeless.

Overall - 10, II wouldn't have it any other way. This drama deserved all the positive reviews and high ratings it could get. I'm not even sure why it's only an 8.1 on kisskh when some mediocre costume dramas are rated 8.2 and above. Geez!

IF you find my review helpful please let me know.

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Overall, it was a very good series. It was life itself. It was based on real events. It was a beautiful story. It dealt with a period in time when China was transitioning to a communist regime. I don't want to repeat the plot. It's a very good subject and story. In my opinion, it was a 10/10 series up to the 30th episode, but especially in the 33rd episode, small mistakes grew, and script errors occurred that ruined the series. In my eyes, the series underwent a transformation. For example, the younger sister visited her older sister many times and nothing ever happened to her. But then a villain came to the village. The sister realizes or suspects she's being followed and goes to her older sister. We watched so many episodes and never saw those deserted streets, but in that episode, those streets suddenly became deserted. The sister started coming through those deserted streets. When she came to her sister, she said, "I'm afraid of that villain, I feel like I'm being followed. How can I get home alone in these deserted streets?" Or her older sister could say this. She could say, "Let my brother-in-law take me." None of that happens. Again, the sister wanders into those deserted streets, and the bad guy catches her and kidnaps her. While he's kidnapping her, the village vendor, a young man, sees it and tries to intervene. However, he could hit the man with the stone he's holding, but he doesn't, while the bad guy keeps hitting him. Luckily, the girl escapes. In the second incident, it's what happens during childbirth. This, in my opinion, is illogical. The sister gets pregnant by the young man who rescued her. She wants to leave home to get married. But the woman who is the landlady and the sister's sister doesn't allow it. The woman hasn't been herself lately; she's experiencing a kind of psychological trauma. She's unstable. In this situation, a pregnant woman is there living with her. Let's say she's there to help. But it's clear that the woman's instability will harm the sister. And the sister understands this. She wants to escape, but the woman still doesn't let her go, and during this time, the sister's water breaks. She's going to give birth prematurely. Luckily, this unstable woman calls a midwife and delivers the baby. Her husband arrives immediately after the birth. Then the older sister comes home, takes the child, and says, "Let's leave this house, this woman isn't well." Despite the resistance, the older sister leaves with the child. As the couple is about to leave, the younger sister insists on saying goodbye to the unstable woman. Even though the older sister tells her to leave and takes the child, the younger sister still doesn't understand. She insists. She and her husband go to say goodbye to the woman. The woman says she'll cook a farewell meal, but puts poison in it. The couple, including the woman herself, die from poisoning. I don't understand the absurdity or the desire to kill them in this way. I can't make sense of it. In my opinion, it's wrong. The older sister and the baby escape. They survive. These two stay and die. What's the point? This older sister, Ning Xiu, interferes in everything. Everyone's children are in her care, family problems are her responsibility, solutions are her responsibility, runaways are her responsibility, fights are her responsibility, if someone is going to be kidnapped, it's her responsibility – in short, this woman is burdened with too much responsibility. She's portrayed as very possessive, as if all the responsibility and problems of the village are concentrated on her shoulders. Her husband listens to her. She handles everything under her command. She rebels against her rich father. She fights all the bad guys. She solves problems with the elders. She directs the agriculture. She decides what to plant. It's too much. Ninety-nine percent of the village is illiterate. Even the men are illiterate. But as a woman, she knows. She teaches too. She's the first to achieve everything. She discovers everything.

The Japanese occupation episode is complete nonsense. It ruined the series. The Japanese thought they could deal with the villagers by giving their own village men the rank of captain. That's the Japanese mentality. It was terrible. This bad boy went everywhere, disguised himself in every way. He did everything wrong. He was finally caught. Yet, so many innocent people died. He should have been the first to be killed. The wrong people suffered in the wrong place.

The actors really did a great job. Yang Mi was very successful at the beginning. Ou Hao was also very good. I liked it. Qin Hai Lu really surpassed himself in this series. Well done. Xing Fei was very good. He portrayed a different character beautifully. I wouldn't have recognized him from his image. He was very different. Zhang Tian Yang was very successful. Chi Peng was like he'd always been like this. He suited his role very well. I liked it. I really liked San Shao Long. Ni Da Hong, Patrick Zhang, Lan Ying Ying, Zhao Da, Pan Zhi Lin, Song Jia Lun, Gao Yu Qing were the standout performers. My rating is 8. I wish I could give it a 10. The screenwriter ruined the series, especially in the later episodes. It's a shame.

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Drama that pulled all my heart strings

Whenever I write a review, I always begin by focusing on the script, production, execution, and acting. This drama checked all those boxes without a doubt—it is a true tearjerker. There were countless moments when I simply couldn’t hold back my tears.
Xiu Xiu and Da Jiao are an enviable couple. Every time I saw Da Jiao running to save Xiu Xiu, despite barely knowing her at first, my heart swelled. Later, he gave his all to protect her, understand her, respect her, and love her. That dimpled face, looking at her with such pure thoughts, made him feel like a kind-hearted bull—strong, loyal, and gentle. I also admire Xiu Xiu’s pride, her fiery anger, and her undeniable high emotional intelligence.

Su Su, the innocent and kind village girl, completely stole my heart. Even now, my chest aches when I think of her. Her sister-in-law, bound by ancestral rules and traditions, suffered in her own way, and her story added another layer to the narrative.
I began watching this drama while it was airing, and soon found comfort in its simplicity and its impoverished setting. Those humble homes and their stories became a source of solace for me. At the same time, the depth and heaviness of the arcs triggered my depression, so I chose to take it slowly—savoring each episode rather than binging through. Complex stories like this deserve to be digested step by step. For those who, like me, find strange gratification in such emotional “torture,” this drama is a rare gem. I recall Yang Mi once saying something similar in another series, and I couldn’t agree more.

Finally, as I sit in my comfortable, Wi-Fi-equipped room and type these words, I am reminded of how some people struggle simply to survive. This drama made me deeply grateful to be born in this era and in the land I live. It urges me to remember that while I may face hardships, there are always others enduring far worse—and suddenly, my tiny problems vanish like bubbles in a vast ocean.
I will forever carry the warm villagers of Ox Temple in my heart, along with my beloved Xiu Xiu, Da Jiao, and Su Su.

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Good scripts about the struggles rural China in 1900s, and Yang Mi best acting job in this drama.

This Thriving Land is a modern Cdrama set in the early 1900s about a daughter of the richest man in the rural Tianniu Village who was kidnapped by bandits and rescued by a farmer's son, Feng Da Jiao.

She cut ties with her father, married Feng Da Jiao, and endured hardships for decades, but their love was genuine and pure. This was the best acting job that I have seen from Yang Mi. She has been criticized for her acting ability; this drama is her redemption.

Synopsis: Ning Xiu Xiu, the daughter of the richest man in Tianniu Temple Village, was kidnapped by bandits on her wedding day. Her father, Ning Xue Xiang, was reluctant to sell his land to redeem her, so he married her sister to her childhood sweetheart, Fei Wen Dian. Xiu Xiu decisively severed ties with her father, married a farmer, learned to do farm work, and gradually came to understand the significance of land to farmers. During the two decades of hardship and legendary events, Xiu Xiu, inspired by the revolutionary ideas of Du Chun Lin and others, uses the knowledge she has gained to help her neighbors and lead the village women to break free from the shackles of feudal ideas.

My Reviews:
1. Acting: 8
2. Script: 8.5
3. Music/OST: 7
4. Production Quality: 8
5. Cinematography: 8
6. Rewatchable: 7.5
7. On-Screen Chemistry: 7.5

Overall Rating: 8

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Coulda been a ten

This Drama was on track for a ten from me all the way up to about episode 29. The story was engaging, the acting FANTASTIC, the characters all very real. THe final 6-7 dealt with the Japanese invasion so obviously there was gongi to be a lot of tragedy and suffering, but in my opinion, the wrong people suffered pointlessly, and in the most egregious instance, the wrong people suffered at the hands of the wrong person. Someone who was really a victim was made into a villain, while someone who was really a villain right from the beginingi of episode 1 got away with EVERYTHING.

For the outstanding performances by the core cast, especially Yang Mi and Xing Fei, I'm still giving it 8.5

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Uma obra impecável. O roteiro é simples e emocionante. O choque de realidade é fabuloso e a mensagem contida no roteiro toca os sentimentos mais profundos. As atuações são primorosas. A direção conduziu com mão de ouro, não há lentidão e nem correria nos capítulos e a edição é espetacular. O figurino condiz com o período mostrado e, muito bem retratado nas diferentes classes sociais daquela época. A trilha sonora é agradável. Esse drama é uma verdadeira joia dramática.
Eu sou fã do trabalho da atriz Yang Mi, mas, nesse drama, a atuação dela superou todas as expectativas.

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