WindBlows

I am on the fence about how to rate and review this drama. Overall, I have enjoyed it along with reading/talking about it here. Obviously I am waiting for its ending to form a final opinion, but even now my feelings are mixed.

I appreciate the intentions behind the storytelling. However, the execution was hit and miss for me. I enjoyed seeing Tou Tou be mischievous, learn and grow, discovering the complexities of the Ren family (individual members and family dynamic), the TCM insights and how they can benefit people with very different life backgrounds and concerns.

Tian Zhen surprised me the most. I disliked him from the very beginning and, after the drinking by the lake incident, I doubted his redemption could be credible. But he proved me wrong and I am glad of it. He and Tou Tou are cute together and definitely bring out the best in each other.

My biggest complaint is the Meng Meng plot. Incredibly problematic, illogical and it dragged for too long. I remembered someone was spot on in the comments about what her underlying condition and issues were. I just did not know your username.

I think Li Quan's boss asked him to be an intermediary and basically bribe Mr. Wu to disclose confidential information.

They may still find a way to make TT the successor, we'll find out soon enough. But I agree with you that she doesn't need this position to fulfill her mission and become a great TCM doctor.

I believe that her dream of inheriting the sect was more about TT having roots, a sense of belonging since she was alone most of her life. But now TT is surrounded by many people who love her and they can be the family she deserves.

I would be surprised if TZ's mom hasn't figured it out as well, considering the way he was looking at TT. Then LL had an interesting facial expression when she heard TZ talk about TT needing a lifelong partner, as life is not all about TCM. Love is very strongly in the air. I just hope they will find a way to be happy together and become competent doctors.

I think so too. TT might be somehow connected to Little Lark, hence RXZ talking about TT as his daughter. Or it could be he was considering making her legally his daughter to help with the sect succession, since TT is apparently not the rightful biological heir.

Yes, I remember that scene. All the points you mentioned are strong possibilities. However, I don't like the way TZ avoided TT's gaze. It felt like he was hiding something. Worst case scenario - he noticed signs but chose to ignore them, since he desperately wanted to cure MM and thus validate his worth as a doctor.

I believe they gradually became friendlier from episodes 11-15. Ep. 16 was pivotal in shifting TZ's feelings from friendship to attraction and then something more. And yes, the fact that TT protected him yet again by taking the blame for the lost pendant definitely helped.

However, TZ asked her 3 times why she did such a thing. TT eventually answered that she had high hopes for him. Her faith in him was the main trigger.

I think there was someone who mentioned this possibility here in the comments early on. It also explains why MM was drawn to TZ rather than anyone else. What strikes me as odd is that he did not notice anything unusual about her behaviour, considering they were constantly together.

Much of MM's back story will remain shrouded in mystery. While I am sorry for what happened to the character, a large part of me is glad she has finally exited. Otherwise, TZ's growth as a person and medical professional would have been stunted. He had already attached his sense of worth and confidence as a doctor to MM's wellbeing. But he was not equipped to help her to begin with, let alone enable MM to save herself, simply because her issues ran deeper than anyone cared or was afraid to probe.

During the conversation with her mother, TZ promised to cure MM or at least take care of her for life as a doctor. Good intentions aside, no one can make such guarantees. And let's be honest - with MM by his side in an ambiguous relationship, most people (including TT) believed he also had romantic feelings for her.

TT would have always treated TZ as a friend, until she fell in love with someone else and maybe started a different journey away from him. TT has blossomed very quickly under RXZ's influence and will soon be able to stand on her own merits. But TZ needs her faith and presence by his side to gain the confidence he sorely lacks.

I think there was a play upon words (not sure though), when TT and TZ were talking about doing free consultations. At such times I deeply regret not being able to catch the native language subtleties. TZ stressed the word ''together'' though. And this together would not have happened with MM in the picture.

I watched the end of ep. 27 and all of 28 at least thrice 🥰 It was very well done - script, acting, the emotions conveyed, dose of humour. I loved it all! TT and TZ truly bring out the best in each other, as friends and now as a new couple.

About TZ's parents back story, I completely agree with you. I thought RXZ was colder and more detached by nature, considering how he acts towards his wife and son. Yet his relationship with TT proves that he can be caring and patient in words and actions, while his face literally lit up when mentioning Little Lark.

I appreciate they created RXZ as a flawed character, especially when it comes to his personal life. Gathering various information, I think he was a very talented young man from a family with few resources (e.g. working in the fields while studying TCM). He met LL's father who realized his potential and became his teacher.

There were many advantages to marrying LL for RXZ. Social credibility for an aspiring scholar and relatively unknown young TCM practitioner. Financial security to pursue his dreams. He eventually became the head of a well established and prosperous TCM clinic. And obviously a loving and doting wife in LL, whom he often takes for granted.

However, I feel you were spot on in that his primary motivation for marrying LL was to pass on the great TCM genes and legacy. Both him and his teacher/ father in law seem obsessed with ensuring the continuation of knowledge and bloodlines. But, unlike his teacher, RXZ probably had unrealistic expectations of TZ from before he was born. He wished his son to be an unparalleled prodigy. When that was not the case, his disappointment manifested in constant criticism and disapproval, which further undermined TZ's potential.

I am happy to see that TT and TZ's story has, at least in my opinion, a healthier foundation. They are very young still so we'll see how they overcome difficulties together. But I am definitely rooting for their happiness!

TT is far from LL's ideal girlfriend for RTZ. Now the mom has clearly said she would like someone well mannered, with a respected family background and attending postgraduate study. TT doesn't fit two of those criteria. And although TT has a good family lineage, she is still an orphan so no connections to help with her or RTZ's future careers.

About RTZ liking TT, I am reasonably sure his father is aware of it. But I have a feeling the grandparents think he likes MM. Why? Because RTZ has consciously fueled the ambiguity. I assume it is his way of protecting TT, considering his mother would definitely want TT out of the house thus jeopardizing her future.

RTZ also likes to see TT thrive in the family environment, alongside learning TCM. I expected him to be slightly resentful of TT's relationship with his father, as RXZ is so caring towards TT while being incredibly harsh to his son, even when he hasn't done anything wrong. But RTZ just smiles and is happy for TT.

He has grown quite a lot. I am sure the father's attitude still hurts him. So I hope to see them become closer and get along better in the future. It will not be an easy process though.

What bothers me most is that spoiler clip indicating RXZ told RTZ that TT is his biological daughter. He retracted it, but can you imagine the strain this put on their already complicated dynamic? And I don't understand RXZ's reason for doing it to begin with. Did he mean to test his son's feelings? Such a statement would only cause hurt to everyone involved.

There are many unanswered questions about MM's situation. I also felt there may be other trauma triggering her state, apart from the ectopic pregnancy and its aftermath. I do see MM's parents as being abusive, since they chose to lock her up time and again, saying she is spoiled and should somehow snap out of it without help. They are ignorant, but also too selfish to explore different ways to actually support their child.

Yes, you are right, I forgot that detail. When I hear about electro-shock therapy, I remember how it has been wrongfully used for decades on patients, resulting in torture rather than treatment. Couldn't MM's parents first try gentler forms of counselling? I know there is a social stigma in China regarding mental illness, but they can afford to send her abroad. It goes to show MM is the least of their priorities. It is very sad yet an accurate reflection of some parents'relationship with their child.

The ectopic pregnancy was at fault, but it resulted in other complications as well. She was rushed to the hospital and probably underwent surgery. Afterwards, she reverted to a child-like state.

I enjoyed parts of the lecture, particularly the body-mind-spirit connection. It could have been more concise though.

As much as I am sorry for MM, I am more than ready for this arc to be over, since it was handled very poorly from the beginning. Now we also find out she was underage when moving in with her ''doctor's'' family. No proper therapy, not going to school - the situation had to end at some point.

And I hope Li Quan has good things waiting for him, though it will probably be after a fall of some kind.

I don't believe there was or will be any cheating involved. That lady was probably RXZ's first love, but in the end he chose to marry SLL. If RXZ did break a promise, he might wish to see how she is, ask for forgiveness and then let bygones be bygones.

Look more closely at RTZ's facial expressions when he said ''it's none of your business''. To me it looked like he was annoyed at TT for asking such a question, as in how could she not know already how he feels... Childish, but he's not yet emotionally mature.

I really like how the drama showed their gradual progress from animosity to friendship to crushing on each other. And everything is subtly conveyed though small gestures and facial expressions. I know the caliber of Lusi's acting and anticipated that the experienced actors would give us a great performance.

But I am also quite impressed by Luo Yi Zhou playing RTZ. His eyes are very expressive, especially when looking at TT, which is quite rare to pull off convincingly.

I was saying before that, in my opinion, RTZ and RXZ were very similar in some respects. Both have this odd way of teasing or rather provoking the person they care about with unflaterring remarks. There are many examples both in RXZ and LL's interations and the banter between RTZ and TT. It reminds me of kindergarden to highschool behavior, where some boys would pick on the girl they liked to the point of making her cry....

Looking back, from the start I was wondering why someone like RTZ, who is laser focused on his affairs, would give negative attention to a relative stranger like TT. Why be bothered about her at all? I think a small part of him was attracted to TT from early on and expressing it poorly.

Obviously that does not justify his appaling behavior throughout the drinking by the lake incident. But he has redeemed himself to a large extent and now they look very cute together.

I agree with your assessment of the dynamic between RTZ and his parents. RXZ may be a brilliant doctor and great teacher, but he is lacking as husband and father. The funny thing is that TT has called out both father and son about not treating LL the way they should and appreciating her wholehearted devotion.

I also hope RTZ will gradually become closer to his father. It doesn't help that they are too similar in some respects.

I think RTZ has experienced a lot of character growth in a rather short span of time. He used to strike me as selfish and unmoved by the struggles of others. Although he loves his family, his needs and wishes would take precedence and he would lie/deceive/manipulate to achieve those goals.

Harvesting the old ginseng to help the TCM school and saving TT from the snake bite showed me that RTZ can also be altruistic. I actually feel that everything he did was first and foremost for TT's sake. She was so sad at the prospect of the school being closed and thus being forced to go back to doing deliveries. And RTZ wanted to do something to help her. Perhaps a part of him remembered how TT had to kneel in that stolen delivery case, seeing firsthand the hardships she had to endure.

I know RTZ told his mom the reason for retrieving the ginseng was to preserve his father's legacy, yet those words seemed like lip service to me. RTZ has angrily said before to his father that there is no place for him within RXZ lofty ideals. He also feels restricted by the family's expectations and TCM legacy. So why would he care about the TCM school, considering he is not really affected by it either way? Unless it became a personal issue for him due to TT.

I also felt a bit sorry for RTZ at the time. He saved TT, had barely recovered from the snake poison, was very worried and went looking for her. And TT only asks him 'are you ok now?' She was too caught up in her newly found sense of purpose and her attention was focused on her master.