{year}=2025{episode}=EP.20{type}=TV{ongoing}
Plot Summary
Many viewers dropped this great drama at the first episode because they didn’t like the main characters, the scary heroine and the scary and scared male lead. After reading my review, I hope viewers give this drama a chance and I hope you won’t be disappointed. This drama reminds me of many real couples from the olden days (for the younger generation who are getting divorced) with a strong queen for a wife and a cat for a husband.
Hu Jiao (Zhang Hanyun) is illiterate, unskilled and fierce because she is a butcher, but also a smart businesswoman and knows how to protect her enemies and her family. She was married to Xu Qingjia (Tong Mengshi) since childhood. Xu Qingjia is an educated, poor and weak-hearted person. He was appointed as a lowly magistrate in another small town, and after getting married, the couple moved to live in that town. Their relationship starts out very hostile as Hu Jiao refuses to marry such a weak husband without love. She is stronger than her physical appearance. And the way she treats Xu Qingjia is almost like a slapstick comedy in the early part of the story. Several times she beats him unconscious because she doesn’t want him to get close to her. The scenes are hilarious. In their journey of struggling through difficulties and dangers, they grow to trust and love each other. In times of despair or weakness, they give each other courage and give each other energy. She is his emotional support and he is hers.
Although the female and male leads are completely different, they complement and complement each other like dental instruments that work harmoniously and clearly. Both are honorable, upright, wise, strong and brave. They believe in a simple philosophy: 尽人事安天命 or “do your best.” With their brilliance, they transform enemies into allies, and peace prevails.
This is a new show for me, but I enjoy the performances of everyone here. Zhang Hanyun makes a believable Hu Jiao, and her knife skills, whether grinding pork or shaving a crook’s hair, are both believable and hilarious. Tong Mengshi’s Xu Qingjia is gentle and endearing. As much as I love the main characters, my favorite character is Gao Zheng (Chen Yilong), the district lieutenant. This is one of the best supporting actors I’ve seen. Gao Zheng faces off coldly without emotion, but when he’s provoked by words or actions, the skin on his forehead twitches violently, even for a moment, showing the audience that this man really does have some deep hidden feelings. The drama also gives us some lovely love scenes. I love Gao Zheng and Yu Niang (Zeng Yixuan); it’s so beautiful and heartfelt. Although the kissing scenes are very limited here, the emotions shown in the actors’ eyes, especially in Chen Yilong (Gao Zheng) and Zeng Yixuan (Yu Niang) when they look at each other, are real and believable.
