Episode Summary
This episode saw the Shen family's hopes of returning home dashed. They decided to make a new life by opening a restaurant, a plan Lin Yan surprisingly supports. However, their new business venture and Lin Yan's investigation into a rival tavern are already pointing toward serious trouble.
Spoiler Alert
The Full Moon Fizzle
A Bittersweet Goodbye... Or Not
The big night is finally here. It's the full moon. The Shen family is pretty sure this is their ticket back to the modern world.
Shen Jianshe cooks up a special lamb dish. The whole family is feeling a little sad about leaving Jingzhao Prefecture. But they really want to go home. Lin Yan shows up late. He tries the lamb and actually thinks it's delicious. The Shens see his nod of approval and just about lose their minds with joy.
They all start thanking him. Li Fengxia tells him to look after his health. Shen Shaojie wishes him a successful career. Lin Yan is completely baffled by all this sudden gratitude. He was planning to talk about canceling the engagement. But since they're leaving, he figures he'll just let it go.
Later, Lin Yan takes Shen Shaoguang and Shen Yangyang to a nearby field. It’s full of fireflies. It's a really nice moment. Shaoguang realizes Lin Yan isn't just some cold official. He's a genuinely sincere guy. She feels a little sad, knowing she's just a visitor here. Lin Yan admits he feels the same way.
Waking Up in the Wrong Century
While all this is happening, Shen Shaojie is on cloud nine. He's been getting fan mail from noblewomen all over the city. Some are even love letters. He plans to take them all back home as an ego boost.
The family drinks a lot that night. They're all feeling sentimental. According to the script they found, they should wake up back in their own time.
The next morning, Shen Shaoguang is dreaming about exchanging ancient gold for modern money. Then a handmaiden wakes her up. She's still in Yong'an City. The trip home failed.
Shaoguang tries to figure out what went wrong. But the rest of the family has mixed feelings. Shen Shaojie isn't even disappointed. He was a slacker back home, but here he's popular. Shen Jianshe is excited for next year's cooking competition. Li Fengxia thinks it's easier to make money in this time period. Shaoguang can't think of another way back, so they have no choice but to stay.
So, What's the New Plan?
Pitching the Restaurant Idea
Now they have to break the news to Lin Yan. Shen Jianshe and Shen Shaojie try to explain, but they both chicken out. They just end up cooking him a huge meal instead.
Li Fengxia finally steps up. She tells Lin Yan they can't leave just yet. She makes it clear they won't be freeloaders. Their plan is to open a small restaurant in Juxian Alley. As part of the deal, they'll cover Lin Yan's three meals a day and pay him rent at the end of the month.
Lin Yan Is Totally Fine With It
You might expect Lin Yan to be annoyed. He isn't. He seems perfectly happy with this arrangement. He just tells the family to stay and get comfortable.
His buddy Liu Chang notices Lin Yan is in an amazing mood. He's so happy he's literally walking funny. Liu Chang is glad to see his friend so cheerful. But he also gives him a serious warning.
Complications Are Brewing
A Warning for Lin Yan
Liu Chang tells Lin Yan he absolutely must cancel the engagement with Shen Shaoguang. Right now. He says that while some officials might not care, someone could use the fake engagement against him. It could drag up the old, messy business with the Cui family.
The Hunt for a Restaurant
Meanwhile, Shen Jianshe and Li Fengxia are out looking for a rental property. They find a small place in a corner of Juxian Alley. The landlord is a well-known food expert who only rents the space to people opening a restaurant.
The real estate agent points out a bonus. There's an attached pavilion, and he says they can expand into the space between the buildings later. Li Fengxia asks if that's even legal. The agent just shrugs. He says Yunlai Tavern did a much bigger expansion and nobody said a word.
This is where things get interesting. Lin Yan is currently investigating that exact tavern, Yunlai Tavern, for illegal construction. Liu Chang warns him to tread lightly. Every restaurant in that alley has powerful backers. The connections are a total mess. Liu Chang suggests just making it look like he's doing his job. Lin Yan refuses. He's not going to be a corrupt official.
That Ending!
Shen Shaoguang is still pretty down about being stuck in the past. The family tries to cheer her up. They tell her to focus on the business for now. Maybe they'll find a way back when they least expect it.
She goes to a lake to be alone with her thoughts. On her way back, a silk scarf blows into her face. She can't see where she's going. She stumbles and falls right into the lake.
