Episode Summary
Ning Xiuxiu fully integrates into the Feng family, embracing a life of hard farm labor and winning over her in-laws, despite conflict with her own father, Ning Xuexiang. She handles family disputes with maturity, including a confrontation over a debt owed by Feng Si. A visit from her sister reveals a past deception, but Xiuxiu focuses on the future, making plans to rent land to fulfill her father-in-law's dream and secure her family's prosperity.
Spoiler Alert
This Thriving Land Episode 8: A New Life and Old Wounds
Choosing a life of hardship with Big Foot Feng over bowing to her father, Ning Xuexiang, Ning Xiuxiu fully embraces her new role. She dedicates herself to learning housework and farming from her mother-in-law, quickly becoming proficient. She begins to call her in-laws, Feng Er and his wife, "Mom" and "Dad," which fills them with joy. Big Foot Feng, in particular, is as happy as a child to see his wife so accepted and content.
This new reality is a bitter pill for Ning Xuexiang. While inspecting his fields, he sees Xiuxiu toiling away with the Feng family. Heartbroken, he confronts Feng Er, leading to a heated argument. When Xiuxiu intervenes, she firmly sides with her new family, telling her father that this is the life she has chosen willingly. Her defiance leaves Ning Xuexiang hurt and speechless.
Life on the farm is not easy. Xiuxiu’s delicate skin is chafed raw by the carrying pole. Seeing this, Big Foot Feng brings her ointment, and her mother-in-law uses eggs to help soothe the swelling. In a touching, if misguided, gesture, Big Foot Feng gives Xiuxiu the family's only water vat for a bath. This angers his father, Feng Er, but Xiuxiu quickly apologizes, explaining she didn't know it was their only one. Her mother-in-law smooths things over, and Big Foot Feng later makes amends by hauling numerous buckets of water for his father.
As Xiuxiu learns to carry water from the well, unsteady on her feet, the villagers watch and praise her resilience. Her struggles don't go unnoticed by her family. Her father complains to Ning Kejin about her suffering, and Ning Ke suggests he give the fifteen acres of land to Feng Er, but Ning Xuexiang flatly refuses. Later, Ning Ke visits and finds Xiuxiu in the mountains cutting firewood with Big Foot Feng. Pained to see her working so hard, he listens as Xiuxiu insists she is happy and that she owes her survival through the winter to the Feng family. Ning Ke makes Big Foot Feng promise to always treat her well and sends a gift of firewood to the family. Slowly, Xiuxiu's presence transforms the family. Even Feng Er, initially gruff, grows fond of her and declares she will no longer have to do heavy labor.
As the year-end approaches, an old debt comes due. Feng Si, fearing a visit from Ning Xuexiang, is cornered at his home. Xiuxiu stands with her father, demanding Feng Si repay his debt or forfeit his pigs. When Feng Si's wife tries to bar the door, their son accidentally reveals they own four acres of land, which Ning Xuexiang then forces Feng Si to sign over as payment. Feng Si’s wife later comes to the Feng household, begging Xiuxiu to intervene with her father. Feng Er refuses to let her, and the woman causes a scene, crying and rolling on the ground. Feng's mother puts a stop to it, publicly shaming her and her husband for being lazy and unfilial, which is the cause of their misfortune.
Looking to the future, Xiuxiu suggests to Big Foot Feng that they could make and sell straw raincoats. He agrees it's a viable idea, though the necessary grass won't be available until autumn. She wants to learn the craft from her mother-in-law, but Big Foot Feng worries the rough work will injure her hands.
A visit from her sister, Ning Susu, brings a shocking revelation. Susu confesses that she and Fei Wendian consummated their marriage after a night of drinking. Xiuxiu finally realizes that Fei Zuoshi had deceived her from the beginning. Letting go of the past grudge, she advises Susu to focus on building a good life with her husband.
The Spring Festival arrives. While Fei Zuoshi has the house lavishly decorated, Ning Susu feels like an outsider, missing the New Year celebrations at her own home. Meanwhile, Xiuxiu is happily cutting paper decorations with her new family. She learns that her father-in-law's greatest wish is to own a lot of land. Unwilling to ask her father, she resolves to rent a few acres from Fei Zuoshi after the festival, a plan that Big Foot Feng wholeheartedly supports.