KJ2025

So close…

We almost had the wedding night we dreamed for them. But because of the mistrust initially, the secret tunnel, and now YuLou’s promise coming— war is launched instead. That leader willing to hunt a lynx for fake empress.😝 He only has an inkling of the treasure he lost. Those two truly deserve each other. I am hoping to see them fall together. They are equally vile and need to be put down. Now that the forces are split and bully general uses tunnel it is looking grim for Wei. ManMan will have a much harder time getting support from Boya. But uncle Yan…….damn big surprise. I did not expect him to be so gifted. He has managed in a single bar fight to prove his worth to the army. What an interesting turn of events that he can assist Wei. Good storytelling. It’s good to have surprises about characters. Yan merits his place as leader and I hope he gets to show that to both families.

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Perception shifts

Yi and head seamstress actually have a woman to woman conversation. A true friendship is budding here. Secretary Zhao has been sitting and waiting on Wen who comes in soaked. They have some sparring words and Zhao runs to get Yi, he tells her Wen is dying and to hurry up. She finds him feverish and wipes him down and tucks him in. Director Fang shows up and orders Yi out of the room. Omg this woman. 🤬Yi was married to a soldier, she spent her life around the military except for these last five years of limbo and this woman thinks she wants a geeky nerd husband.😝She didn’t think Yi had any understanding of the military. It is Fang that had no idea of the military wife. She didn’t think culture and military could mix.😝 While I am happy Yi stated quite firmly why she liked Wen and he concurred, I am annoyed with him for not sticking up for her more strongly with his colleagues. Yang is doing his first round of reporting and he sets up Wen with a question not on the itinerary. Wen answers and Fang made sure he was unaware of the approval copy until too late. Zhao wants to kick his ass and I’m all for it. So now Fang is putting Yi through background checks. They try to corner her with a single school colleague. I find it funny how forthright she was about her father😂 She was more than happy to say why she dropped his name. She told them she would face the woman directly and call her out for lying. When they brought a woman in, they had no knowledge of each other since they never had met. They got the school wrong and their information.😝😂 It is fun watching the interrogator that thought she could intimidate so well look incompetent and stupid at her job. When Fang tells her she passed, she had to add her two cents in why it was not a good thing for Wen’s job. I laughed at her extra huge mug to get through the day. This might be the only thing I can agree with her on. During her background check they could not be together. I like the letter Wen wrote and so did she.❤️ Qing has finally started to act like a sister. She feared being cut off if she remarried and that her brother would be forgotten. Yi assured her that they would always be family and she could never forget her first love. They finally have a meal like family. Qing is truly becoming a young woman now and expanding her perception of things. When she talks about this to Yang, he goes off on a diatribe. She breaks down in tears but I truly hope she drops him and sees him for the bully he is. What he said after she left was disturbing. He thinks he has the power and authority to change all to his will. He certainly has a god complex.😝🙄Wen thinks this will stall his career. But sometimes, it’s the scum that floats to the top. I hope he keeps better eye on him. I like how Wen takes the initiative to invite Qing to go with him and Yi to her brother’s memorial. I appreciate the effort he took to assure her that her brother’s memory would always be held in high esteem. He stepped up nicely with this thoughtful gesture. Fu has written a reflection paper. Wen has called him out for corrupting officials for favors and Fu doesn’t want to become an enemy. Yi as always is direct. She candidly told Wen that she was not up to the political things and would harm his career. He corrected her by saying they didn’t know her and she was his mirror showing him sincerity and the human heart.❤️ I’m with Zhao wishing he would be more authoritative and flexible at times, but I get why Yi loves his quiet strength and strong aura. For me, this arc has been as interesting as the first. The perspective is completely different, but it’s supposed to be. This story truly continues as a family legacy focusing on the strong women that forged their own paths.

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Winds of change

Japan is dropping bombs on Shanghai and people are grabbing what they can and are leaving. The brother wants to carry the baby, but it’s most likely because that is where he stashed his cash.😝 The family flees and the brother is killed by bomb shrapnel. It is debatable if he was trying to save his son or his money, but the baby survived. Ao and YiSun are staying in Shanghai. He gives her his watch and you can see the dent on top that deflected the knife. I am glad they hugged and did not kiss. The close up earlier of failed kiss was a bad choice. The female lead is beautiful and acts well, but kissing with feeling is not her forte.😝 Their loving smile as they courageously meet their future was a nice closing to their arc. This was well done. Yi Sun is using the house Shen bought for her to protect her family. She is moving them to Chonqing and tells Yi to continue her studies. Shanghai eventually was victorious and Yi returned. But there was only a brief visit with Aunt before she and Cheng went abroad for business. There is a skip to 1993 and granddaughter wants the story of grandparents. Their story starts in 1955 with her mom remarrying and daughter taking his name changing from Lin to Yi. Considering her father…I am glad they had another option and hope wife had a happy ending. Yi marries ZhouYuan and her husband disappears. He is a KMT official that is MIA after leaving for a mission. He has been gone 5 yrs. Her husband’s position is what has her on the outs with the communist wave coming through. The hospital, now clothing factory, is where she works, lives and faithfully waits for husband’s return. She is the only one that thinks he is still alive. The new communist group wants to oust Yi from her home saying as a nationalist her contract is void. She refuses to leave because it is where her husband knows to find her. She wants to set up a meeting with minister Wen not knowing her friend has already made a bad impression with him. She heads to the federal building to argue her case and meets her sister in law. They have an argument over politics, but both agree on the bravery and integrity of her brother. She unfortunately meets with Yang who is adamantly anti- capitalist and had to be corrected by minister Wen. He is just as adamant and rude with Yi suggesting she moves northwest and acquaint herself with sheep and wool textiles. They assume she is wealthy and treat her disdainfully. What actually annoys me the most is the chief’s wife. She has that fake condescendingly kind act with both Yi and Wen. She is like Si Yun’s mom with son. Yang saved her husband in the war so he can do no wrong. Wen tries to tell her politely he’s an ass not cut out for dealing with the people. He would be better with the blue collar issues than white collar. But her syrupy ‘he is doing just fine and will only improve’ speech goes over with Wen as well as it did with me.😝Yi boldly went to Minister Wen’s office and caught his attention with her boldness, sincerity and art. She underestimated him at that meeting. Minister Wen received two apologies that day, but only the one from Yi was sincere. Yang is the guard dog for the heads of the party. They know exactly what he is and choose it.😝Minister Wen is equally forward finding Yi. He admires her art and equates it with the correct painter’s styles. He now knows that her husband liked Russian art and music. The Rachmaninoff piece was quite nice in the background. His music can be quite turbulent and fits well with the discord going on now. The rude woman that kicked her out wanted to act like the party would be so willing to assist her if she asks. Like all political groups, help comes with strings attached. I like how Yi coolly thanked her and went on with her business paying her no real attention. Minister Wen assured Yi that her case would be settled soon. I like that he is taking an interest in her situation. He is more moderate in his thinking. This story is told well with good pacing. I find the second arc as interesting as the first with an entirely different group of actors now. Well done.

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Dances and depositions

Mother and daughter clear the air about suing. The mother calls her names and disowns her. I am glad Yi Sun stood up to her. That she stands so steadfastly with her waste of a son is reprehensible. It is more disgusting that she demonizes the dutiful daughter and wishes her dead. 😝 I am glad Cheng Ao is in her corner assisting. The Shen siblings. They are amusing and annoying. Their mother is such a reasonable intelligent and capable woman. How did their father indulge them to this extent?😝😂 Ya gotta laugh at the siblings literally sitting on their crushes. 😂They are shameless. Then to call in Qiao for his version of breakup. Seems he has already met Mr Cheng, so he gives a brief summation of how guiltless Si Yun is in their situation, toasts Cheng and hastily leaves. 😂😝 The Shen sister finds that boring and makes no attempt to hide her contempt for Si Yun. She is reined in by her mother but still stomps off when Ao and Si Yun take the dance floor. I cracked up when she called him pillager and how Shen had to duck under their arms. Lin Si Yun has been made a pariah at every bank in Shanghai thanks to the Qiao family. They returned fire with publicity in newspaper. Cheng Ao fights for her with Mr Zeng. He wants to find other ways to legitimately get their money while simultaneously investing in healthcare. They will have public approval by providing public support. A win/win for one that wants to get away from the ‘collection’ business. It is coming to light that the brother forged a will to steal all the inheritance. What is worse he and mother team up in the hospital to make Si Yun not sue. I thought she took meds of some sort to fake heart attack, but maybe not even that. She lies to get her daughter to step down from suing with her Oscar winning performance. Mr Cheng is collecting solid evidence and getting women pillars of the community to support her. Her niece is with friends at a bonfire. She draws a very handsome picture of her rescuer. He hints of war on the horizon and desire to be a great soldier. He encourages her to pursue her art. Her loving offering to her aunt to help with legal fees.❤️ She is so lucky to have her aunt’s support and vice versa. It is wonderful to see some solidarity in the Lin family for the right causes. The rest of them are lost causes.😝🙄 Mr Cheng’s conversation with the brother. It’s not gonna stick but waiting to see if you can fix stupid. 😝Now to see how Si Yun treats her mother’s duplicity.😝

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Every lonely journey ends in a fated encounter

The wedding gives them another close moment but the wisp and vengeful father can’t wait long. Tingyan has left as many reminders as possible. Her course is clear and she plans to follow through. I was puzzled at his refusal to take the seal but then understood after. The wisp had to believe he’d won before the trap could be set. Even at the end, knowing who actually killed his daughter and that he’d been duped, the vengeful father picked up his sword to play it out. He was so joyful thinking he had killed Jiao. The doc had me wondering if she was double agent and crossing him at the end. She played her part well. These two…..they lay it all on the line for the one they love and this time it was her turn. We don’t know how much time Jiao had after she left. It skips right to present day. She has a slight concussion and leaves hospital. Her boss sends her to location for a last chance meeting. She arrives to an empty room and lamenting on stairs. It just so happens boss Wei stayed behind and knows she’s the missing pitch he’s not heard yet. However, there is a bigger surprise than a new sales pitch waiting for them both. ❤️🥰 Every lonely journey ends with a fated encounter 🥰❤️ The last line of drama. 😁 It ends with a montage of their best moments. The cast, production and music were all excellent. For me, I would have preferred much less of Shi and Celestial realm and a more even spread of time between the three realms. That would have made this drama perfection for me. That being said, this was a well told story with a satisfying end. It is well worth the watch and highly recommended. I hope this life they get to enjoy thoroughly in happiness.😁

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Meng family changes

Ms Meng admitted to having blood on her hands. Whose? Is she feeling guilt for her brother, or someone else? That scum of a scholar almost got eldest son’s place. 😝 There is no way the father didn’t know what he is, but willing to grasp at any straw rather than daughter. I fear for her in the role she has accepted, but when daughter in crime family, she either has to be the monster or marry one. She can at least control her life more this way. I think her skin would crawl if she knew more about third prince. But her dad and emperor same cloth, so maybe not. She rightfully knew this prince most supportive of their cause and I think she knows 4th prince too sweet natured to get tied to their group. Is the emperor unknowingly a peach blossom poisoned one? The third prince’s miracle pill makes me wonder. This would very conveniently get him out of the way at a time of their choosing. Ms Meng played her hand well but the emperor himself interrupted their after game bargain. He wants to see the lady that looks like Princess. She has circled the city and ended up at crematorium, are they hiding her or killing her? I don’t think it’s the princess the chancellor will uncover but her bodyguard. And now the farm boy scholar will be in danger because of threat to psycho Meng offshoot cousin. He is more than happy to not marry the one pledged to eldest son, but there is no way in hell he will admit to plagiarism. He would have been their version of crown prince and just as certainly brought down their family even more. Ms Meng had that scenario pegged correctly. Will Ms Meng volunteer to be the Ms Meng that’s been kept in third prince’s house? Would that push emperor into a renewed agreement between the families?

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Fitting end

My biggest complaint of this episode is giving YuLou entirely too much screen time without getting to see her death. 😝This took away from far more interesting characters or battles. That being said, it was a fitting death of her Liangya lover to be killed by both Lord Wei and BiZhi. I liked the irony of Shao pushing BiZhi’s blade. It was good to see them united. The advisor’s contempt of women made him disgusting. I actually thought he was a decent advisor initially but the taunts to BiZhi…I am glad he was silenced. I hope the same for the Qiao advisor. He is a pos too.😝 Yan was so brave and so timely. I wish they would have spent any time at all showing him in battle instead of YuLou mourning her seen face and poor fate😝🙄 He did Wei proud and will have a good future. Qu got Liang home and he was given honors. I loved Liang’s character, but here again I wish more time would have gone to the living and fighting. We needed to see the tides turn more than grieve the dead. It would have been nice to see Shao’s first reaction to baby girl and get welcomed back. To see BiZhi and son wrapped up in the good side of Qiao family. A chance to say goodby to Fan rather than YuLou killing her escort and denying love again. She is like a siren in this drama with a black widow ending for all of her spouses. I was glad to see bully general defeated. That was a good moment. The acting and production were top notch. Some of the writing was not.😝 I was entranced by the leads love story and wish them all a happy future. It is well worth the watch in spite of the flaws. This story successfully reunited two clans and overcame the betrayal and mistrust that divided them. They have forged a more promising future that benefits all the peoples of the canals. They are happily going forward with travel rather than war. May they only know peace from now on.

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Revenge on Yang

This was a powerful episode. Poisoned food was somewhat merciful but that trap they set was heinous. They all bravely took the stakes so that any of them could get to the trip wire.I was hoping the uncle could get out. I was surprised and glad that he revealed himself to his uncle. It was a very bittersweet moment but at least the uncle got one bit of joy. The only thing I am sorry about with Yang is that they shut him up too early by killing him. He should have had to last a few miserable days first with no poison assist. He sure sang like a canary and Zang Hai almost got to hear what the cause was for his family’s death. He died too quickly but I think it was justice and vengeance. The revenge part is the uneasiness the rest of them are starting to feel. It is a foreshadowing of something grisly for them. This was very well played. No idea how he stopped the stone. I am hoping he and mentor discuss the mechanics of it later. Chu ain’t gonna be as smiley about things now cause he is the low guy on totem pole. It didn’t bother him before because he thought they were all untouchable. Times has changed.😝 The Marquis knows he signed off on all this so wondering how they are going to reward or hide Zang Hai now. They will want to monitor him but he will have the people’s favor now so they can’t just kill him outright. Using his uncle’s blood as war paint set a tone of defiance and victory.

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Collisions

The episode opens with Dr Lin doing an intricate surgery. He is praised by hospital staff for being an excellent doctor and for being kind. This is a rare combination for a surgeon. A friend calls for him to come to Wuxi for a date with Nie XiGuang. There is a flashback where he has seen her and he accepts the date but is in a horrible accident on the way. Just like Dr Strange a magnificent surgeon has his hands injured so that he can no longer be a surgeon. We now are at XiGuang’s uncle’s home and she is being teased by her cousin, Jian Rui. He is talking about a banquet with her father the previous week. This is where Dr Lin first saw her. XiGuang is tagged to open the door for new tutor and enter Zhuang Xu. Instant crushing from XiGuang. She decides to return to the dorm so she can study better and be in closer proximity to her crush. She comes to the dorm with tons of food when her crush comes up with a girl. The first thing Ye Rong does is introduce him with salary earnings and how he is treating them to dinner. During the meal XiGuang is trying to find out if they are friends or bf/gf. They act closer than friends but there is no confirmation if they are actually dating or not. They are finishing up their studies and talking about job plans. When XiGuang mentions Wuxi, Zhuang Xu started off encouraging her to consider options but then had to add leeching off her parents. He speaks to her like someone on the spectrum that has no filter. He speaks truth but bluntly and not with consideration for how his words are received. Her cousin gets her to do another inconvenient favor for him. He is a pain in the arse for her, but he is cute and good natured so she endures it. Everybody is surprised to see XiGuang back in the dorm and the roommates are telling Rong she needs to clarify her relationship with Zhuang Xu. She wonders if he has changed because he makes a good salary now. Her cousin sweetly greets her after the meal to ride home where she gets to hear her aunt and uncle give the gossip of her divorced parents. Her dad has a new gf and has accepted her daughter as his adding to the gossip. The group of friends are getting their resumes for a job fair and are surprised when XiGuang chooses to go along with them. Zhuang Xu’s words about the lackluster job in Wuxi has her chatting with a stray cat while pondering. 😂Zhuang Xu takes it upon himself to personally submit her resume to his senior in the company but she tries to politely steer him to other companies. Dr Lin is there and he now works for the company and looks over the resume personally. Lin wants to know why he is submitting her resume for her and his opinion of the company hiring her. When he exits the building he lies about where he submitted her resumes. Rong managed to lose her phone and upset she will miss interview news. She becomes jealous when XiGuang gets a call from Shengyuan which is her top choice for future employment. The episode ends with Lin looking over the resumes. This episode gave small slices of life to introduce the various characters in their home/school/work environments as well as how they interact with each other. There’s a lot going on but they are trying to establish why Lin is now at a company instead of hospital and that he has attitude where XiGuang is concerned. Both he and Zhuang Xu want her hired and it’s a good thing Rong only knows about Xu. 😝

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Family feud

As with the episode of stepmom’s history, I had no interest in the self absorbed bullies of shogi family.😝 That she had the temerity to ask Asuka not to take him away from them😝omg as if she had any desire to do so. I enjoyed Asuka’s reaction to his complete bs monster excuse for deserting his ‘beloved’ family. He deserves the family he now has and they are well aware that he does. My favorite person in this episode was Yuna. She was palpably emanating all her positive energy Asuka’s way. I have no clue why she stayed with the brother, but love is blind. This finale game was not as riveting for me as I expected it to be. Yuna’s reaction was the most stand out for me. Asuka got to tell the shogi world to kiss off after the game but I am glad she allowed herself to enjoy the game and not let it rule her life negatively like her father and Todo did. She plays because she loves it, not possessed by the need to win. I was with her in how anticlimactic defeating him seemed when all was said and done. He gave himself a moment of fatherly pride at her soaring past him, but I could not appreciate it because of his treatment of his first wife and daughter. Once he bodily tossed Asuka out the door and told her to stop playing, he lost any fatherly right to appreciate her competence and skill with the game. This time with her mother’s ashes I didn’t find it creepy like I did with Todo’s dad’s ashes. She was letting her mom know she was going to live her best life and they were acknowledged by the third member of their family at least on paper. Her brother might be less of an ass in future and there is even a glimmer of hope for the dad. His second family may reach a better than tolerate each other stage. Asuka’s family is at the bar living out of the shadow of shogi and ushering in the new era of women joining the game. I wanted Asuka to have some response for her dad, but she was lost in the game still stunned that it was all over and she didn’t find the ecstasy she expected at beating him. She was happy she won the game but at this point I don’t think she really had any more feelings for her dad. She burned them up responding to his written words to Todo and once the game was truly won, there really was nothing she needed to say. The slap of the pieces on the board said everything that needed said between them.I have mixed feelings in how they ended this. They tried to soften the father’s desertion and make his family appear vulnerable. That didn’t work for me at all in both episodes where they visited their histories. The woman that died pining for his sorry ass deserved his acknowledgment in person before she died. That he lacked the spine to include them in his book said everything about him that we need to know. I liked that Asuka’s smile matched her mother’s when she won and Yuna exploding from her chair to cheer makes me hopeful those two will become shogi buddies for life. They can take turns beating up her little brother.😂🤣It’s a good watch even if you know nothing about the game. She wanted to overcome the shitty world her father had left her in and I think she was quite successful with that. She is playing the game on her terms and enjoying it, while Todo can let go and enjoy his family. The burning anger in both Asuka and Todo has been released and whether or not the father has learned anything, they are soaring high above him with no care in their eyes for anything except a shining future.

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Finishing up

All three are back working together to make trap for Kang. I thought they did quite a good job and was an especially nice touch to have police officer that started the case all those years ago be able to end it. This series did a good job with scamming the scammers while working on revenge. It had a ‘Leverage’ vibe to it and for the most part was well done. They seem to be gearing up for a second season which I will be sure to watch. My only complaint is not truly ending the revenge on Kang but leaving it open. The actors did a good job on their own without needing this device for a season two. For me, this downgraded the entire point of the season, to have a reckoning with the one that killed a father and traumatized a young child. I am disappointed that they thought they needed to carry this over to another season rather than ending it here and starting with a new case entirely. I would have accepted this better had he been dealt with in some fashion and then escaped or appealed out of it, but for him to never be caught officially, for me, undermined the point of the revenge and did not resonate well.

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Time with gma

Zhao was placed in a communist brig of some sort. Wen had made half the money and still coming up with the rest. I guess he did hear Fang or didn’t want to burden Yi, but he made a huge mistake not enlightening. Zhao gave his friend his watch to repair and they parted. Shortly after, Zhao committed suicide. Wen was devastated by the news. While he was processing the information in his study, Yi came over with window dressings for the house to lighten things up. She kept referring to Zhao helping her get Wen to appreciate finer things. At this point Wen burst out of the study, ripped the curtains down yelled about not needing or wanting those types of things and told her to get lost. She was desperate enough to ask directer Fang what was wrong and Fang told her about Zhao and that Wen had collapsed from an old war injury. She said he must not have trusted her like his first wife or she would have known these things. She left and her husband said Yi could not visit him in hospital that he needed his rest. Yi gave him six months of rest while she toured the north west getting more inspiration for her designs. She asked Qing to return his pen and camera right after she left. I have no pity for Wen here. His stance on strict oversight of himself for every possession, is as obsessive as Yang thinking he has the power and authority to do as he saw fit. Yang has been moved to a first floor quarters. I think this is so they can monitor him easier. It is obvious he is mentally unwell. Qing brought him some food and meds making it clear she was visiting for the committee and not herself. He tried to play up his loneliness and she took the liquor bottle out with her and said he should stay away from it and left. I am so glad she wasn’t even tempted with his routine. Her alone time with Yi has helped her become the sister she was always supposed to be. This time, you can see how fragile Yang is because he sits on his bed going how did I get here? This is one thing I think he and Zhao felt similarly. Their vices took them from the things truly important and ultimately broke their spirits. When Yi came back from her adventures, she was happily greeted by Qing and head seamstress. Her designs did well in the contest, so she was happy with the news. Qing told her she got into school and wanted to show Yi her class. She took her where she could see Wen teaching and mentioned that he had started teaching classes because somebody had told him the story of Marpessa. While Yi is staring at Wen, Qing screams for him and runs away. 😂 I was not sure if I would ever like that young lady but I find that I do. She will find her own way just like Yi did. Wen saw her and left his class to give her a hug. She already figured out while she was gone why he didn’t tell her the sad things. She told him she didn’t need his protection of the bad stuff. They needed to face it together. His class runs out to spy on them and he hugs her tighter.🥰 I do not know how much time has passed, but Wen’s son has gone from an angry adolescent to an angry man. He has cut ties with his father and Yi is trying to negotiate. He is not having his daughter share his name and if they write to her, the letters will be sent to his workplace and he will choose if to read them to her. It is not said why he left, but I am guessing between Wen not helping the family that raised him and Zhao taking his life that he felt his dad was both responsible and could have prevented it. He is right, but life is complicated. As he grows older and his daughter grows up he might come to understand his father better. In 1984 Wen passed away and left all his savings to his granddaughter. It is not said if the family reconciled, but at least she and Yi seem close. The 50’s arc ends with no further comment about Qing or Wen’s daughter. I found this arc as interesting as the first, but the transition to start and end it did not flow so well. We are now in the 90’s and back to the wedding Ye Xi Ning was visiting. She is meeting the brother of the groom and they commiserate how they were used for cash and life had greatly changed because of what the couple did. We are not told why they stole, just that they used those closest to them to get the cash and then disappeared leaving a wake of financial ruin for the unsuspecting victims. XiNing had saved herself by pawning Cheng’s watch. Seems it was worth the 50k to counter the theft. The young man she was meeting, was not as fortunate. The groom stole his US Visa and stole 60k from the faculty using his name. The college gave him two months to repay and suspended his classes. This also caused his trip abroad to never happen. His drinking celebration over his US Visa with friends gave the groom the opportunity for the identity theft. Why they did what they did is still the biggest mystery.

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Marpessa — choosing a simple and ordinary life

I am very annoyed with Zhao. He’s having an affair and that is why the guy in white suit calls him brother in law. He’s the brother of the mistress. Zhao’s wife knows something is up and tries to talk with Wen, but he can’t imagine his friend acting like Fu.😝His ‘check in’ with Wen was to be with his wife as the four of them shared a meal. It goes to a cute scene where Yi has thrown away the collapsed chair and bought him a nice one for his study. It is not decorative and is simply a good quality plain chair. She tells him she understands his principles but he doesn’t have to be an ascetic monk. She agrees not to throw out anything again without discussing it. She later sees him mending his daughter’s dress and she sees more evidence of his frugality. She is going to convince him that a firm mattress is better than a board to sleep on.😝😂 They are cute at the bus stop not wanting to say goodbye before work. 🥰 An old friend has come to visit and his son and Wen’s are similar age. He is hoping Wen will keep his son in Shanghai and find a position for him. His friend plans on returning home as he has a job lined up. Wen will not guarantee a job and the old guy gets upset. This crying is very exaggerated and does not go with the calm softer way his chat has been. His son gets irate because this family pretty much raised him and he thinks his father is wrong to not help. Yi offers a temp job at her shop but Wen doesn’t think she has the authority to do that. Here Wen should have let Yi decide her own terms where her workplace is involved. This is where he is too meticulous in appearing above board. Kindness can be rewarded without it being improper. The boys run off and Wen let’s the father know he will keep the boys in Shanghai a few days and not to worry. He sees his friend off and then heads out with Yi and food to find the boys. Wen’s son is still seething. He thinks he is owed an apology and reflection paper. Yi hands them food and Wen tells his son about his mother. She and Wen were fighting guerillas and their son was starving. To keep him safe they left him with their friends but she was devastated they had to make that choice. He wanted his son to understand why he was so angry when he spoke badly of her. Yi steps up and said they were here so his father could apologize and write a reflection paper. 😂 Zhao was there at the house having an arm wrestling contest between the boys. When his son didn’t want to try, Yi assured him he could win. Yi and Zhou made sure that he did.😂 Her uniform design task is down to the last 2 months and she needs inspiration. She is looking through Wen’s books and he helps her find the right one. Here they have a chat about Greek mythology. He likes Prometheus and she likes Marpessa. When he asked why she said she just wanted to live a simple ordinary life. When he gives her the camera, she should have told him it wouldn’t be proper and see what he had to say😝😂 She accepted it kindly because it was meant for her to take pictures for inspiration with her designing. This is the first episode that hasn’t flowed nicely. They were trying to cram too much past and present to finish things up with this arc.

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Measuring and matchmaking

Minister Wen was a bit flustered after getting measured for new uniform.😂 The gulping water to cool down spoke volumes.🤣 After measuring, while on the bus, she ruminates on her encounters with Wen. He is actually there waiting for her to get off the bus to talk. Here is where I wish she would have let him say what he wanted to say. She gave him a way out and he took it. If he can’t fight for her, he doesn’t deserve her. Qing is not only trying her hand at matchmaking, she is appointing herself as chaperone.🤣 To her credit, she at least got in the vicinity of correct unlike Wen’s matchmakers. I think she considers him a candidate because he is nothing like her brother. I don’t see Yi interested in anybody Qing can boss around.😝And is this the director’s assistance to distract from Wen? Qing has adjusted pretty quickly to the idea of Yi finding someone else so I am thinking her comrades must have had some influence. This is both better and worse for Yi. I had a good chuckle when she stashed the professor’s flowers in Qing’s pocket and said these are for you.😂🤣 Fu is shmoozing with directer Zhao. He wants him to drive his Mercedes around longer. I am disappointed that he isn’t firmer about leaving his gifted watch on. Yang , Directer Fang, and Wen are seeing Yang off with his new employer. The one thing I have appreciated this episode is that both Qing and Yang have less volume. My ears thank you. Wen notices Fu’s car but also the change in license plates. Here I fear his buddy may really be like Dalun. He is noting his friend commenting on the plates. It skips to the finishing up of the blind date meeting for Yi. Qing actually tries to sound like a mother explaining why Yi needs time.😝🙄 This child is very damn clueless on propriety. At this point the last thing Yi wants is a double date with sis and Yang so she sets up her own meeting at the studio and professor Xu rides off happily. He is an odd duck spouting out Italian phrases in Qing and Yang volume.😝😂 Yi’s response…are you done? She tells him quite candidly she doesn’t like him and that she likes someone else. 😂 Zhao visits Wen and has gifts. Wen is noticing his friend liking finer things. Wen understands that small bribes lead to bigger ones so he tells his friend to talk to him before anything happens. Qing 😂🤣 Yi has finally had it with her and treats her like the irritable child she is.😂🤣 Qing trying to talk softly is somewhere between a whisper and squeaking like when you have laryngitis.😝😂 Yi has had enough of their gossip and finally makes it clear she will file charges if they keep it up. Yay for her. She gets back to work and head seamstress shows up. She mentions that Wen assigned her the job. Her family shows up and the kids are hungry so Yi surprises her by suggesting they go to her place to get noodles. Wen and Zhao start well looking at new project site but things go downhill rapidly when a young man calls him brother in law and wants to use his car. Zhao tells him no and the kid flattens his tire for him. Zhao and Wen have it out about gift receipts. Here I think Wen goes overboard in accepting nothing, but after seeing his friend I understand why. He wants his friend to report the car and his friend refuses. Wen is totally pissed off and heading to town on foot and the episode ends.

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Empress dowager director says no feudal thinking here😝

Qing is with director Fang whining because she doesn’t think Yi should be allowed to ever be interested in another man. Wonder how she would feel if the director said she and Yang not compatible and can’t get married? Her youth and devotion to brother quite evident. This is why Yi takes it in stride and the director finds it adorable. Yi and head seamstress agree there is something missing from clothing line and seamstress suggests a walk. This is kinda sad that Yi didn’t think this permissible. She mentions her bike and Qing is out fixing it. She has no clue what her sis in-law is capable of when Yi says where she’s been on a bike and carrying it if something happened. Qing is so sure she is lying that she mocks the very idea. She wants that bourgeois tag on Yi’s forehead saying fragile and spoiled with no work capabilities. Wen spots her as she’s sketching and Yi finds herself on an unexpected adventure. They have noodles at a friend’s new eatery and Wen wants to supervise how to eat. When she serves him soup his friend wants served too.😂They are so like Ao and Dalun with Yi Sun in back. It took his friend a minute to get why Wen wanted him to slow down. When the car overheats, Wen finds fruit and friend tells her about the jeep’s military exploits. It is hilarious that Wen doesn’t want his friend to have any.😂 Yi eats one and hands him the rest. Wen isn’t as enthused with that but he gives his friend permission. It is really funny watching the buddy be Wen’s wingman.😂🤣Wen wants to be gallant and wash her handkerchief but slides in the water instead. He is embarrassed but he brushes it off pretty well. She finds herself invited to the daughter’s bday party where she sees Wen has a HS aged son and the daughter. The children spend the bulk of their time living at school which is part of the concessions a single dad has to accept. Yi offered to go help in the kitchen but Wen takes her to his study instead. His frugality is noted when the chair collapses under her. 😂🤣Looking around the house this has to remind her of how her husband would live if necessary. There is a nice selection of books and music but there is a complete absence of decorative decor. He watches her look through his books and notes she takes out the one her husband did not get to read. Their conversation is interrupted by director and the nurse who wasn’t invited. She puts the nurse and Yi in the kitchen to show off the young woman’s culinary skills. I do not understand why she thinks Wen would want to date someone barely older than his son. Can you picture that nurse his stepmom? She is as hopeless as his buddy if she thinks that doe eyed school age girl would appeal to an honorable, refined and educated middle aged man. Here she shows she is the labor party wife and not scholar magistrate mentality. Wen takes the nurse to the study for a chat and the director takes Yi out for one as well. It is funny how she declares feudalism with women having to stay single forever is abolished while simultaneously being the empress dowager director declaring Wen must have the proper wedding alliance. 🙄😝 It is so funny when these people pronouncing judgment never see themselves doing the same thing. She brushes the children aside for her important conversation when it was supposed to be their day and it is their home.😝🙄Yi tells her straight up that they have read her diary and know her thoughts on what she finds important. She just wants to make a living and doesn’t expect anything. Now the dowager pshaws that notion and said she should make opportunity. She might just have to lower her expectations. Her arrogance is straight up royal full of yourself crap. The crime they accuse Yi of.😝🙄Minister Wen has put it in simplest enough terms that the nurse finally understands. She is far from stupid she just naively believed wholeheartedly the exaggerations and flat out lies the director told her. And she gets mad at Wen rather than the one who lied.😝 Director empress dowager has made it clear Yi doesn’t measure up. She boldly tells her conversation with Yi and that she sent her on her way. Wen is annoyed he is in hot water with his guest and that director took it upon herself to be the head of his home.😝 Yi works all night and is slammed with a new ‘have to do’ task. She must make them uniforms. She says she isn’t familiar with men’s clothing and someone more capable should do it. The seamstress slams it down and says refusal is not an option. I really wanna know where her creative mind will take her with this task. As far as empress dowager director Fang goes, Wen has an ace if willing to use it. She wants her lackey Yang and he wants to date Yi. He will swap a Yi for a Yang. Neither will like that arrangement, but both would get their way where it matters most to them. I really hope this comes into play because I would love to watch her face through this negotiation. How much does her chosen boy really mean to her?

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