Are You the One Episode 5 Recap, Plot

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Cui Xingzhou was fuming with anger during the banquet, and even when he returned home, he was still full of frustration. Liu Miantang helped him take off his boots and gently advised him to drink less in the future. She mentioned that the alcohol outside was often mixed with other substances, suggesting that he should instead enjoy some fine wine at home. Cui Xingzhou had never heard such tender words before.

Usually, he was pressured to handle everything independently, dealing with crises and bringing honor to his family. But now, Liu Miantang was comforting him, telling him to relax a bit. She even mentioned that once the porcelain business improved, he could lead a more leisurely life. Liu Miantang helped Cui Xingzhou undress, and he slept peacefully that night. In his dreams, he once again saw Liu Miantang as she was when they first met.

Back then, Liu Miantang had been swept to the edge of a waterfall by the current, her head struck against a rock, and she lay motionless, with blood dripping from her wrist, staining the surrounding water red. Cui Xingzhou saw her pale face and thought she was dead. He wondered who could have been so ruthless as to sever the tendons in both her hands, a question that still haunted him.

Seeing Cui Xingzhou drowning his sorrows in alcohol, Liu Miantang couldn't help but worry. She wanted to do her best to ease her husband's burden, so she began looking for ways to improve the business. She visited various shops in the area and noticed that one store was particularly successful. Upon entering, she discovered that every piece of porcelain in the shop had a seal at the bottom, indicating that it was made by an official kiln.

This reputation naturally attracted many customers. Liu Miantang sincerely sought advice from He Zhen on how to join the trade association. He Zhen suggested that she ask her husband to take the lead, as the association didn’t allow women to join. However, Liu Miantang didn't give up. When she returned home, she mentioned what she had learned to Cui Xingzhou. He disagreed with her making public appearances and told her to stay in the shop.

It was normal for there to be no business at the beginning, but Liu Miantang was not satisfied. She insisted on trying to join the association and planned to visit them soon. However, she reluctantly followed Cui Xingzhou’s advice, though he left in frustration. That night, the leader of the trade association came to see Cui Xingzhou, asking the prince to plead with the court to reduce some taxes. The association was struggling as taxes increased yearly.

Since Cui Xingzhou was already troubled by Liu Miantang’s desire to join the association, he agreed to negotiate with the court. In return, he requested to be included in the association’s tribute offerings that year. The leader, of course, agreed readily. The next day, Liu Miantang actually went to the trade association, but the members looked down on her, mocking her for relying only on her beauty.

One of them, feeling smug, said they would only allow her to join if she could get their porcelain into the palace. With no other choice, Liu Miantang racked her brain to figure out a way to sell the porcelain to the palace. As she walked through the market, she saw a notice posted. The next day, Shi Yikuan would be inspecting the river channel that Cui Xingzhou was working on. An idea came to Liu Miantang.

She hurried home and instructed her nanny to visit all the shops selling koi fish and buy some to release, believing it would help ward off disaster. The nanny took her instructions seriously and did as Liu Miantang asked. Liu Miantang also prepared a large porcelain fish tank freshly made in their shop. The next day, after Shi Yikuan completed his inspection of the waterworks, he released many koi into the river.

Since koi are considered symbols of good fortune, Shi Yikuan immediately ordered his men to retrieve a few from the water. Liu Miantang seized the moment and had her prepared porcelain tank brought over. In this way, the porcelain her family made was smoothly delivered to the palace. Liu Miantang boldly requested a reward from the guards.

When Cui Xingzhou heard that Liu Miantang was coming to see him, he quickly found an excuse to hide in his carriage, so Liu Miantang did not realize his true identity. Excited, Liu Miantang reported the news of her porcelain being sent to the palace to the trade association. To her shock, the members laughed and told her it was all just a joke to dismiss her. Liu Miantang was so furious that she was left speechless.

When Cui Xingzhou returned home, he criticized Liu Miantang for not behaving like a proper wife. He had already told her that morning to stop pursuing the trade association, yet she went ahead anyway. Liu Miantang was also angry, feeling that Cui Xingzhou lacked ambition and that he was holding her back as well. This marked the beginning of their second major conflict.

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