Treasures Around Episode 2 Recap
> Treasures Around Recap
Pei Pei pulled Shan Dandan directly in front of his mother, accusing Shan Dandan of being a spy sent by Su Jue and insisting she was working for him. His mother asked Pei Pei to provide proof. Unable to mention his visit to the Full Bloom Market Street, Pei Pei couldn't offer concrete evidence.
Despite the lack of proof, his mother insisted on keeping Shan Dandan, even arranging for her to assist in the jade selection process for the upcoming Jade Competition. She stated that if Shan Dandan performed well, she could stay. Pei Pei began to object, but his mother interrupted him, declaring that if he didn't want Shan Dandan to participate, he would have to take her place in the competition. Left speechless, Pei Pei turned and walked away.
Returning to her room, Pei Pei's mother wept privately. Pei Pei's reluctance to participate in the Jade Competition stemmed from his late father, Pei Chu Feng, having forbidden him from it when he was alive. His mother explained that his father had done it for the greater good and the family's safety, and regretted it before his death. However, Pei Pei refused to listen.
She mused that the household desperately needed a trustworthy person, as she suspected a traitor within Precious Pei Pavilion. She found Shan Dandan likable and hoped she hadn't misjudged her, believing Shan Dandan might help Pei Pei find his footing again. She admitted that placing Shan Dandan with Pei Pei was precisely because he disliked her, hoping Shan Dandan could challenge him and help him stand up again, which she considered would be a great contribution.
Shan Dandan busied herself constantly cleaning and tidying, severely disrupting Pei Pei's routine. Frustrated, Pei Pei offered her double the amount his mother was paying her to leave, but Shan Dandan wasn't interested in the money or leaving. Pei Pei wanted to find a reason to dismiss her, so he asked his attendant, A'Liu, to inspect her work. A'Liu reported that the cleaning was impeccable, leaving no grounds for dismissal.
Pei Pei then taunted Shan Dandan about her name, calling it ridiculous, but she cleverly retorted with a pun on his name, leaving him momentarily speechless. He decided he would find a way eventually. Pei Pei's mother instructed Shopkeeper Hao to take Shan Dandan to Precious Pei Pavilion's workshop so she could learn about jade selection and prepare for the competition.
Shopkeeper Hao explained that pairing for the competition was based on voluntary teams and told Shan Dandan to find someone willing to work with her. Shan Dandan approached several craftsmen, but they were all hostile and refused to team up. Defeated, she decided to seek a breakthrough by observing the jade sales instead. A'Liu secretly followed her.
Shan Dandan went to the front desk, offering to help, but Shopkeeper Hao rebuffed her, saying if she did everyone's job, they would face unemployment. Just then, a couple entered. The man suggested buying jade, but the woman scoffed, calling the pavilion's items outdated, and insisted they go to Su Jade Pavilion instead. A new idea struck Shan Dandan: if she could help Precious Pei Pavilion reverse its fortunes, it would be more valuable than working for Su Jade Pavilion.
She went outside Su Jade Pavilion to observe. She overheard conversations and noticed a woman with a hairpin. To her surprise, she recognized the design as one from Precious Pei Pavilion, now being sold at Su Jade Pavilion. This seemed to confirm the existence of a traitor. She then saw her sister, Shan Shuangshuang, who worked as a designer at Su Jade Pavilion. They stepped aside to talk.
A'Liu, who was still trailing Shan Dandan, saw the beautiful Shan Shuangshuang and was instantly smitten, almost losing track of Shan Dandan. Shan Dandan expressed her worries about the copied designs appearing at Su Jade Pavilion and mentioned that Old Madam wanted her to manage Young Master Pei.
Shan Shuangshuang worried about Shan Dandan being at Precious Pei Pavilion given her past actions that offended Pei Pei and whether Old Madam had ulterior motives, but Shan Dandan reassured her sister that Old Madam genuinely liked her and believed in her capabilities. Upon returning to the residence, Shan Dandan observed the kitchen leftovers to understand Pei Pei's food preferences. She then remarked to Cui Liu how inadequate her service was, listing Pei Pei's dislikes based on the leftover dishes.
Her keen observation slightly changed Pei Pei's perception of her, though he didn't consciously realize it. Shan Dandan began working on a new design concept: interweaving two jade bracelets. She enlisted the help of an apprentice named Yang Yu Huan, but the apprentice's skills were unrefined, resulting in significant material waste. Shan Dandan requested additional funds from Shopkeeper Hao for the competition, but he refused. Pei Pei also mocked her for wasting his family's money.
While Shan Dandan worried about funding, Pei Pei's mother invited her to play mahjong. She promised Shan Dandan half the winnings if she helped. Shan Dandan eagerly acted as her consultant, and they won over two hundred taels. Witnessing this, Pei Pei was further displeased. A'Liu suggested a "honey trap" strategy.
Pei Pei realized this could work; his mother detested people who sought to climb the social ladder, and presenting Shan Dandan as trying to seduce him might convince his mother she had misjudged Shan Dandan, leading to her dismissal. Later, Cui Liu angrily came to inform Shan Dandan that Pei Pei had specifically requested her presence to serve him while he bathed.
