Notable Actors/Actresses
Luo Jin: Pu Quan Sheng
Yuan Shan Shan: Sha Ou
Director:
Chinese Title江山如此多娇
Network: MangoTV
Mini Recaps
[Cyn-opsis] Pu Quan Sheng and Sha Ou find themselves assigned to Wanmixi Village with the purpose of alleviating poverty.
Pu Quan Sheng works for the government. After his colleague dies on the job, he takes on his share of love to lead this village to prosperity. Sha Ou is a reporter who had published a negative (but accurate) article on Pu Quan Sheng which led to his demotion. Meanwhile, her assignment in the village is a stepping stone to her promotion.
[Ep2] Pu Quan Sheng shows Sha Ou, a city girl, to the village’s washroom. She screams. Pu Quan Sheng goes Oh shiet because he forgot to remind her of the pigs that will go after her feces.
[Ep3] Sha Ou insists on living in the mountain top. If Pu Quan Sheng can do it, so can she. Pu Quan Sheng has two hands up to oppose. He’s a man, she’s a woman, they can’t be under the same roof. Sha Ou scoffs. They’re in different rooms. She heaves all her suitcases in one go and picks her room that faces the sun. She likes the sun. The mediator asks Pu Quan Sheng to take care of her. Pu Quan Sheng overreacts, "Do you see her?? You gotta take care of me!" Pft.
Pu Quan Sheng is street smart clever. It’s been over a month since the village’s teacher (Qin Xian Wen) applied for funding for a new school (a one floor building with a roof). He will not allow his students to endure classes outside anymore and will take down trees to build a school himself. Pu Quan Sheng tries to call the office but he only receives a curt reply that the application is still in process. Thus, Pu Quan Sheng reallocates the money that’s meant for the village's streetlights. The money saved will be for the school.
Sha Ou’s intelligence is no less than his. She immediately notices the streetlights don’t meet the regulations. She confronts Pu Quan Sheng. What I like the most about this is that they’re both right. He’s prioritizing the school. She’s following regulations.
Teacher Qin joins in on the argument. If she wants to properly install the lights, that’s fine, he’ll just take the children back out under the sun and the wind. No big deal. Sha Ou is persuaded but her colleague, Zhao Lei, reports Pu Quan Sheng to the office. Pu Quan Sheng will face disciplinary action (=fired). What kind of idiotic regulation will fire a guy who’s giving a roof for children to learn. He will accept responsibility for his actions but he will not admit he was wrong. I cried when Pu Quan Sheng argued against the white shirt men. The villagers are trying to live but the white collars are suffocating them with rules and regulations for the dead. Proof comes in that they did properly apply for funding but the top didn’t care. The chief (Jiang Si Wei) is on Pu Quan Sheng’s side. He tells him to take responsibility by staying in the village. In other words he’s not fired. He is penalized, though.
[Ep4] Sha Ou sticks this message in the village central: 以懶為耻以貧為耻. (Shame on laziness; Shame on poverty). Every villager hates it. That sentence is easy to say if you’re looking at it from top-down. From bottom-up, poverty isn’t something that can be solved by making the poor aware of the shame. Pu Quan Sheng solves it by changing one character: 以懶為耻炫貧為耻. Shame on laziness; Shame on showing off poverty.
Pu Quan Sheng invents a punishment that will whip Ma Zhang Shan (better known as Ma Mi Hu = Ma Confused) in place. It’s a violent shower. Dozens of women take scrubs to scour his naked body at every angle, no spot is un-violated. Lol. It’s the perfect punishment for this man.
There’s a marriage between a man of the upper mountain and a woman of the lower mountain. Both their fathers are ex-chiefs(?). The father of the bride is suddenly against the marriage when they had previously agreed to it. He holds his daughter hostage and won’t let them marry if the groom can’t pay his dowry. Now that’s shameful of the bride’s father and brother. Our bride keep her composure. She throws her wedding blouse to her groom. It’s ripped in half by her brother but the bride tells her groom that if he hangs it in his room then she will be his wife. She will only marry him. She is Xiang Xi Mei and he is Shi Yao Jin.
In a village this traditional, for a man to not be able to marry his bride on their wedding day is shameful but the ones who are truly shameless are the bride's brother and father.
[Ep5]
[Ep6] The village is looking for a new mayor but the votes aren’t enough for either party (upper or lower mountain) to win. Pu Quan Sheng takes matter in his own hands. He changes his citizenship of his city to Wanmixi so that he can run for mayor. It’s a huge sacrifice giving up his own citizenship (a lot of potential money involved). He’s voted but the nays want him, an outsider, to prove he is loyal to Wanmixo Village. Thus, he drinks chicken blood, a village rite. Oh, ew & please, we're still not done with COVID-19, don't need another new variant.
[Ep8] Pu Quan Sheng lies to his mother that his girlfriend is Sha Ou just so he can return to the village. Otherwise, Mom was going to make him quit.
Teacher Qin and Yao Gu have a love story! It was her husband (Lao Ba = Old 8) who forced his way into their relationship. Teacher Qin stays faithful to her still. He passes on all his promotions just to be with her in this village.
Sha Ou is a courageous one. She stands in the middle to protect Yao Gu from her husband spanking her. Dude. Pu Quan Sheng solves it again! He lies to Lao Ba that the beans were from him (and not Teacher Qin). He uses the leftover money to prove it because it has bean stench. I like how Lao Ba actually sniffs out the bill, lol. To these villagers, there’s nothing unhygienic about money.
Sha Ou is reporting back to work for a few days. When she’s leaving the village she hums her happy song. The way Pu Quan Sheng looks at her makes me wonder if he realizes he’s in love with her. Then he starts humming the exact same tune when she’s gone. Oh yass, he loves her. So cute how he sings!
[Ep9] Pu Quan Sheng likes Sha Ou! But she has to leave :( Sha Ou is soon to be promoted. Pu Quan Sheng is upset at her but she has tears in her eyes. She doesn’t want to leave either. He apologizes. He should be congratulating her.
The city learns of her departure. Xi Mei asked each villager to turn on their lights so Sha Ou can take a night photo of Wan Mi Village. However, the electricity is out. Sha Ou didn’t know so she moped that no one liked her. When she learns about the electricity, she mopes that even the skies are against her. Suddenly the village lights up. Every family is making a bonfire for her. Awwweeee. Even the laziest guy (Ma Mi Hu) makes a light with his lighter. Aw! The family that went ring-a-round with the logs was funny, heh. Sha Ou feels all warm and fuzzy. She too is accepted into Wanmixi village.
[Ep10] Xi Mei’s cape move with the laundry to get her brother off her ear was so funny. Her brother and father (Xiang You Liang) are forcing her to sign with a media company so that they can use her social media platform to earn money. It’s a platform created by her and Sha Ou to earn money for the village, not for herself. Although Sha Ou isn’t here, Xi Mei is keeping to that oath. However, the stupid men in her family are locking her up (again!). Sha Ou solves it! Her TV station will sign Xi Mei to promote the village as promised.
Sha Ou is back! It’s because Pu Quan Sheng sent her a touching video. She gives up her promotion to be back in the village. Pu Quan Sheng goes straight to pick her up.
[Ep11]
[Ep12] Pu Quan Sheng and Sha Ou have a little rift. He tells her to not look at what’s in right front but widen her perspective. She yells at him "My hair is so long so my perception is short!" Lol. I learned a new retort.
Pu Quan Sheng signs a land for the village to harvest produce. The project is called “Planting the Sun”. It will also provide jobs for the villagers. However, before the project even starts, it fall through. The investors pull out. Everything they work on will have no profit. Pu Quan Sheng makes his announcement alerting the villagers they're not going to get paid. All the men stop eating, pick up their shovel, and silently make their way to Pu Quan Sheng. Are they going to attack him? No. They’re here to work. AW. Team work! Family! So beautiful!
Sha Ou finds an investor! It’s Zhao Lei! He's a CEO now. He’s the guy who couldn’t accept Pu Quan Sheng’s ways and quit his job. Pu Quan Sheng piggybacking him across the stream wasn’t a good deed gone unnoticed. Everything comes back around. Zhao Lei remembers the last thing Pu Quan Sheng said to him: "Clean is a type of dignity too". Zhao Lei wholeheartedly agrees with him and that’s why he’s back. Pu Quan Sheng gives Zhao Lei a 90 degree bow.
[Ep13] Xi Mei’s father is unlikable, so so so unlikable. Xiang You Liang underhandedly and elusively bargains with Yao Jin’s father that if he yields the manager position to him then he’ll let his daughter marry over. After learning this, Xi Mei packs her bag and will marry herself to Yao Jin instead. She tells her father that if she were to marry Yao Jin after he gets the manager position then the whole village will know he sold her. Xiang You Liang gives in. He brings her daughter over in wedding gown and everything to a groom who doesn't even know he's a groom today.
Liang Gui Xiang (Doctor) and his wife, Long Dong Dua (known as Dian La Ba = Electrical Horn because she's loud like one) are really poor. They can't even afford to buy their daughter a book at school.
[Ep14] To earn money for his daughter, the doctor almost dies! He kept his life but needs operation. The hospital fees are a burden for the family. The eldest daughter quits school and runs away. She’s working to earn money. There’s a problem with the health insurance because the Doctor's family didn’t properly apply for it. The first stipulation to get the health insurance is to get their blood pressure and heart rate examined. Well, if the hospital is over 500 miles away… Thankfully, the chief is a good man, he’s on Pu Quan Sheng’s side and makes it so that Liang Xui Xiang gets his insurance. The daughter also gets a scholarship to go to university!
[Ep15] Ma Mi Hu makes a huge mistake that the entire village has to gather to fix. He can’t pay for the damage and is kicked out! Yes! But Pu Quan Sheng brings him back and gives him work (to make honey). Well, that’s fine too.. I don't hate him that much, I just think he needs a proper lesson. The only parasite left is Lao Ba (y'know the guy who abuses his wife and makes her work while he loses all her money with gambling). He didn’t even bother helping the village when in need. (Ma Mi Hu was locked up after making the mess and he cried and begged them to let him go so that he could help.) Lao Ba's inferiority complex won’t allow him to be at the village’s bottom and so he tempts Ma Mi Hu to drink with him while he's on duty. Ma Mi Hu smashes his alcohol. Pu Quan Sheng helping him is worth it!
One year later.
Lao Ba brings his people to demand for his dividends (what work did you do, bro??). The field isn’t earning as much money compared to last year. He doesn't care about that, he just wants his money now.
Tian Hui (Grandpa Tian's granddaughter) comes back to the village in a police car. Ma Mi Hu sees her. She asks him to keep it a secret and to also bring honey to her grandfather every month. A love blossoming? I never thought there’d be an episode I would support Ma Mi Hu in a relationship.
Tian Hui (Grandpa Tian's granddaughter) comes back to the village in a police car. Ma Mi Hu sees her. She asks him to keep it a secret and to also bring honey to her grandfather every month. A love blossoming? I never thought there’d be an episode I would support Ma Mi Hu in a relationship.
[Ep16] Dian La Ba’s conversation with her doctor husband in which he tells her to set her vision farther, they’ll have money tomorrow: "What use is having food for tomorrow when we’re going to starve to death today?" Ah.
So what's the problem? There’s no money for the dividends and the villagers are complaining (which all originated from Lao Ba). As a result, they rank Pu Quan Sheng and Sha Ou last to mean they failed at their responsibilities and it’ll be reported to their superiors. Sha Ou cries that she wants to go home. She had way better options than staying here being yelled at. So true. Pu Quan Sheng lets her vent out everything. After she’s done, he tells her who told us to plant the sun here – cue touching music – to give hope to this village? “We’re the bottom two but we’ll always be each other’s steel brothers (nothing can break our determination and loyalty).”
Sha Ou’s TV station has approved a funding for Wanmixi villagers to take a look at the world outside, to expand their vision, basically a "Learning Expedition". However, that doesn’t replace the lacking funds that are supposed to be deposited to the villagers pockets. Lao Ba is furious that not only did the bottom-rankers not suffer any penalty, Sha Ou even got a small promotion. Next morning, a tabloid is pasted in the central city criticizing the “Learning Expedition” is just a vacation fund for Sha Ou’s favourites.
Pu Quan Sheng has a secret plan to fix everything. Even Sha Ou can’t know. It has to do with a movie he’s going to play for the village and the flower Xi Mei sews of her handkerchief. He’s going to use Xi Mei’s social platform to raise money to support the village and in return, donators will get the village’s specialties plus a hand sewn handkerchief (the one Xi Mei wears).
[Ep17] Sha Ou is mad at Pu Quan Sheng for leaving her out of the plan (which raises an extraordinary amount of money). She doesn’t talk to him as she accelerates through the mountain road in her car. He’s freaking out at her driving. She ignores all of it as she speeds through the curves and bumps and ditches. Lol, poor Pu Quan Sheng. She takes him to a bar far from the village so that she can yell at him to her heart’s content. He knows and lets her yell. She’s mad he never treated her as a friend. He goofs around, “It’s okay, I always thought of you as a friend so don’t worry! We can change our interaction if you want to brothers.” Lol. Every complaint turns into a joke when he answers her.
Since both of them drank, they stay in the hotel instead of driving home. He doesn’t have the extra money to book a room for himself. He secretly sleeps in the car the whole night. Pu Quan Sheng can be making a lot of money but he sacrifices so much for this village. Next morning they’re back in the village and he complains his back hurts. Yao Jin glances at him suggestively knowing who he was with last night. Heh.
Lao Ba is the one who made the tabloid. Despite that, Pu Quan Sheng won’t let anyone fall behind. He lets him participate in Xi Mei’s videos of making wine. Gosh, don't tell me that's it to his redemption.
Since both of them drank, they stay in the hotel instead of driving home. He doesn’t have the extra money to book a room for himself. He secretly sleeps in the car the whole night. Pu Quan Sheng can be making a lot of money but he sacrifices so much for this village. Next morning they’re back in the village and he complains his back hurts. Yao Jin glances at him suggestively knowing who he was with last night. Heh.
Lao Ba is the one who made the tabloid. Despite that, Pu Quan Sheng won’t let anyone fall behind. He lets him participate in Xi Mei’s videos of making wine. Gosh, don't tell me that's it to his redemption.
[Ep18] Right after Pu Quan Sheng convinces Lao Ba to go work in the city, Sha Ou wants Lao Bao to approve of Lao Gu teaching children how to sing (because she won a singing competition before). He turns skeptical immediately. He thinks they want him to leave the city so that Yao Gu can be with Teacher Qin. Pu Quan Sheng confronts Sha Ou what her motives are. She says it's for the children but he knows she wants something more: she wants to hook up Yao Gu and Teacher Qin. Meanwhile Pu Quan Sheng angrily asks her what will Lao Ba do after he divorces her? He'll never escape from poverty.
The problem now: Children. They're separated from their parents and only meet once a year and talk on the phone once a month. These children miss their parents but the parents have to work in the city. Sha Ou believes that singing will bring them warmth and with Yao Gu's love, these children will be in good hands.
Lao Ba almost kills Teacher Qin with an axe and it creates a spectacle. After Lao Ba is calmed, Re Ah Gong (Grandpa Tian) convinces Lao Ba to work and allow Yao Gu to be a music teacher. Otherwise he really won't be able to keep Yao Gu.
[Ep19] The class puts together their first singing talent show for the village. The song is Planting the Sun. Lao Ba and Ma Mi Hu are crying.
[Ep20] Pu Quan Sheng isn’t fired! Not only that, he’s complimented. Evidence and compliments right and left to prove that he didn’t hit Lao Ba. Pu Quan Sheng doesn’t feel comfortable. Lol. It’s too good to be the but it is true. Everyone loves him (:
The village has cellular signal now but no one has a phone. Sha Ou has a way. She puts on lipstick. Pu Quan Sheng, “If putting on makeup can get us 300 phones then if I put some on, we can get 600.” Lol. Sha Ou ignores him and turns on her livestream and asks her fans to donate old phones.
Pu Quan Sheng helps Lao Ba open up a supermarket for the village. Sha Ou is in support because if Lao Ba has work then Yao Gu will be blissful. Ugh. I don’t want Lao Bao happy though. At least not without some decent suffering! Pu Quan Sheng helps him with the bank loan and Sha Ou helps him with the supply discounts. ...........
Jiang Si Wei visits Pu Quan Sheng’s father’s grave and updates him on his son who continues to save the village. I teared up at this simple scene.
Pu Quan Sheng tells Teacher Qin he wants to introduce him to a girlfriend. He refuses. Even if he’s given an option to leave the village, he’ll stay. Sha Ou pities Teacher Qin. Pu Quan Sheng tells her that Teacher Qin watching Yao Gu being happy is perhaps his happiness.
Lao Ba is causing trouble again!! Gah. I don't want redemption for this guy at all. Lao Ba wants money and protests against the construction worker from touching his tiny piece of land. Then he insults Pu Quan Sheng's mother (a common insult, just like English swear words). Pu Quan Sheng erupts at this. He hits him once. The others hold him back but Lao Ba runs his head into him and hits the axe Pu Quan Sheng was holding. He bleeds from the impact and threatens to sue Pu Quan Sheng.
Pu Quan Sheng packs his bag to leave. He's still burning with rage. Sha Ou doesn't understand why Pu Quan Sheng can't just apologize. All their hard work will go to waste. She adds that if he leaves, what will she do without him? Pu Quan Sheng can't hear her and won't hear her. All he tells her is that "this village cannot yell at my mother." The villagers outside his home yell at Pu Quan Sheng for hitting Lao Ba. WTF?? After all he's done for them???? Okay Drama, I don't like this.
Re Ah Gong makes an announcement to the village. We learn about Pu Quan Sheng's father, Pu Jia Xiang. He also worked at Wanmixi Village just like Pu Quan Sheng. He wanted to blast the mountain to create a road but Re Ah Gong is against destroying nature so he brought a group of men to protest. Lao Ba's father was in the front line. He was about to hit by a large rock. Pu Jia Xiang saved him but lost his life. At that time his wife was pregnant with Pu Quan Sheng. I'm sobbing... That's why this village can't yell at his mother. And now Lao Ba is out to destroy Pu Quan Sheng. Yao Gu yells at Lao Ba that if he were to earn money this way, she will leave him.
The whole village gives Pu Quan Sheng a grand apology. Lao Ba sincerely bows to Pu Quan Sheng. Sha Ou glances at Pu Quan Sheng reaction and knows he wants to stay. She exclaims to the crowd he’s staying but a call comes in. It's from headquarters asking about the violence that has been reported. Leaving or not lies in the hands of his superiors.
The village has cellular signal now but no one has a phone. Sha Ou has a way. She puts on lipstick. Pu Quan Sheng, “If putting on makeup can get us 300 phones then if I put some on, we can get 600.” Lol. Sha Ou ignores him and turns on her livestream and asks her fans to donate old phones.
Pu Quan Sheng helps Lao Ba open up a supermarket for the village. Sha Ou is in support because if Lao Ba has work then Yao Gu will be blissful. Ugh. I don’t want Lao Bao happy though. At least not without some decent suffering! Pu Quan Sheng helps him with the bank loan and Sha Ou helps him with the supply discounts. ...........
Jiang Si Wei visits Pu Quan Sheng’s father’s grave and updates him on his son who continues to save the village. I teared up at this simple scene.
Pu Quan Sheng tells Teacher Qin he wants to introduce him to a girlfriend. He refuses. Even if he’s given an option to leave the village, he’ll stay. Sha Ou pities Teacher Qin. Pu Quan Sheng tells her that Teacher Qin watching Yao Gu being happy is perhaps his happiness.
[Ep21] Pu Quan Sheng's mother is at Wanmixi village. She is determined to bring her son home. Pu Quan Sheng begs Sha Ou to help him lie that she's his girlfriend. At first, mom sees through them. They're awkwardly holding hands to greet her. Mom asks them if that's how they work. Sha Ou quicly lets go of his hand. Afterwards, Sha Ou does a brilliant job and convinces mom she is his girlfriend. Pu Quan Sheng reaches a hand behind his mother to give Sha Ou a huge thumbs up.
Sha Ou takes Pu Quan Sheng to the city to retrieve 400 phones. Then they have lunch and she orders bowls and bowls of crayfish. Pu Quan Sheng bashfully admits he doesn't have enough money for her bill. LOL. She smiles and says she's treating. That's a big no in his book, especially after she got the village all these phones. Sha Ou glares at him, "So are you going to let me eat or not going to let me eat?" Pu Quan Sheng heaves a heavy sigh. He orders her one two more batches of crayfish. Ha. By the way, who's paying phone bills?
[Ep22] Tian Huai is divorced. She is now a single mother.
Sha Ou and Pu Quan Sheng have one of their biggest arguments (she doesn't want Tian Huai to sign back to Wanmixi because she wants her to take her husband to court to take back what belongs to her). Sha Ou moves out.
When Pu Quan Sheng begs Sha Ou to talk to him, he's bitten by a wild dog. Karma for fighting with Sha Ou? Lol. Now he has to get a big needle for rabies immunity. Pu Quan Sheng screams a high one. LOL. I remember his back pain from I Will Find You A Better Home and now this xD.
Pu Quan Sheng trains Xi Mei to lead the villagers to convince Jiang Si Wei to not take down their home and force them to move.
Pu Quan Sheng trains Xi Mei to lead the villagers to convince Jiang Si Wei to not take down their home and force them to move.
[Ep23] Jiang Si Wei plays Cupid between our arguing couple (soon to be couple). Pu Quan Sheng also convinces Jiang Si Wei to allow the villagers to continue living in Wanmixi and turn it into a tourist site instead.
Ma Mi Hu is an absolute coward to pain (just like Pu Quan Sheng, haha) but he appears strong to Tian Hui. He likes her.
Ma Mi Hu is an absolute coward to pain (just like Pu Quan Sheng, haha) but he appears strong to Tian Hui. He likes her.
[Ep24] Wanmixi Village is officially a tourist site after Pu Quan Sheng and Sha Ou working together like the A team they are. Lol. I love the way they follow up with each other’s words.
Pu Quan Sheng tells his mother he broke up with Sha Ou. That’s a lie but the reason why they broke up is his real feelings. He doesn’t think he’s a match for her. When it comes to financial or social status, she’s way above him.
Tian Huai’s grandfather wants Dian La Ba to introduce Ma Mi Hu a wife. He doesn’t want her granddaughter to be with him. Meanwhile Ma Mi Hu who always wanted a wife, any wife, refused a girl! He is so in love with Tian Huai. The last man I ever thought would be romantic. He’s such a man in front of Tian Huai, hahaha.
[Ep25] Tian Lao Ba and Ma Mi Hu fight because of Tian Hui. Lao Dao is her cousin and can’t stand seeing Ma Mi Hu with her. In their fight, they knock over a bunch of bees and now both of them are swollen.
Although Tian Hui likes Ma Mi Hu, she’s filial to Re Ah Gong. She breaks up with Ma Mi Hu. Ma Mi Hu decides to leave the village (temporarily) to earn money so that he has the criteria to love Re Ah Gong's granddaughter. Is that enough though? Sha Ou isn’t optimistic.
Lands needs to be confiscated to build a road. This road is important for business and tourism. So sad seeing how tearful Yao Jin’s father was to give up his land. To these villagers, land is their everything. He was convinced by Xi Mei. However, the villagers still aren’t convinced. Yao Gu is all in for helping Pu Quan Sheng. However, if she sides with Pu Quan Sheng, she’ll be a traitor to the village.
Pu Quan Sheng loses his voice trying to convince the villagers. Did Luo Jin really lose his voice?
[Ep26] Xiang You Liang offers to help Sha Ou and Pu Quan Sheng convince Re Ah Gong to give in his land (because once he yields, everyone will follow). Xiang You Liang not genuinely being nice, he just wants to brownnose Pu Quan Sheng.
Re Ah Gong refuses. He doesn’t want the land Xiang You Liang is offering in exchange even if it’s better than his own land. If he accepts it than his name would be ruined for taking advantage of Xiang You Liang. Good! Don’t let this man take advantage. Re Ah Gong’s main reason for rejecting though is because he wants to keep his land for his granddaughter.
Ma Mi Hu solves it. Teacher Qin gave him a hint that he can give in his land in Re Ah Gong’s stead. His land is right next to Re Ah Gong’s so the road can be easily adjusted. Teacher Qin is helping because he sees himself in Ma Mi Hu.
The lands are signed but there are rites the villagers have to do. Giving away their land is giving away their ancestors. Today, Xi Mei leads the ladies with her drum sounds to walk across the land that is to be confiscated. Sha Ou asks Pu Quan Sheng to take a commemorating photo of this land before it turns into a road.
Ma Mi Hu is aplologetic to his ancestors too. He bows to his late parents alone at night. He cries. Giving up his land was a huge sacrifice for him too. However, he doesn’t regret it for the woman he loves. Tian Hui hears it all.
[Ep27] Sha Ou has a minor concussion and is mainly alright. Xiang Deng Gao (Xiang You Liang’s son) is okay too but he’s arrested by the police for illegally changing the construction leading to the explosion.
Villagers are pessimistic about their poverty because of Xiang Deng Gao. He now owes a fortune despite being able to leave the impoverished village.
Sha Ou leads an unwilling crowd to invest in the village’s next construction project (a road). She puts in a huge chunk of her money to motivate the crowd. Not a soul is supportive. Fortunately, Xiang You Liang appears, and being the village’s expert in construction, he invests in the project too. Others start following. The project is a go. Xiang You Liang is helping because Sha Ou and Pu Quan Sheng helped his son.
Sha Ou cheerfully sings her “Planting the Sun” song the rest of the way home. Pu Quan Sheng asks Sha Ou what she’s going to do if no one followed her investment. She was ready for the worst. She had her mother’s approval to loan the rest of the money. If anything she'd fork out the rest of the money. Incredible.
[Ep28] There’s a problem with the construction project. The calculated budget is insufficient if they want to complete the construction in 6 months. The detail was picked up by Xiang Deng Gao.
Pu Quan Sheng and Sha Ou proceed to raise funds outside the village (e.g. collaborating with other villages and promoting on TV stations). Xiang Deng Gao carries the responsibility to complete the construction. He and his father go around to all the excavators to pray for success, heh.
Sha Ou leads an unwilling crowd to invest in the village’s next construction project (a road). She puts in a huge chunk of her money to motivate the crowd. Not a soul is supportive. Fortunately, Xiang You Liang appears, and being the village’s expert in construction, he invests in the project too. Others start following. The project is a go. Xiang You Liang is helping because Sha Ou and Pu Quan Sheng helped his son.
Sha Ou cheerfully sings her “Planting the Sun” song the rest of the way home. Pu Quan Sheng asks Sha Ou what she’s going to do if no one followed her investment. She was ready for the worst. She had her mother’s approval to loan the rest of the money. If anything she'd fork out the rest of the money. Incredible.
[Ep28] There’s a problem with the construction project. The calculated budget is insufficient if they want to complete the construction in 6 months. The detail was picked up by Xiang Deng Gao.
Pu Quan Sheng and Sha Ou proceed to raise funds outside the village (e.g. collaborating with other villages and promoting on TV stations). Xiang Deng Gao carries the responsibility to complete the construction. He and his father go around to all the excavators to pray for success, heh.
Pu Quan Sheng is awarded for all his work. He’s recognized by his leaders and Chen Bu Sheng wants to promote him so that he can work in the city and have stable job. Pu Quan Sheng temporarily refuses because he wants to stay in Wanmixi until he accomplishes what he promised the village: to take them out of poverty.
Wanmixi’s class is chosen to represent the city in a singing talent show. Yao Gu is to lead them.
[Ep29] Yao Gu is pregnant. Ah, my secret desire of her leaving Lao Ba for Teacher Qin is completely wiped out. Lao Ba thinks the child belongs to Teacher Qin. It has nothing to do with Teacher Qin but he’s disgusted Lao Ba could even think that so he lies that he does have a relationship with the child. Yao Gu is disgusted too. She wants a divorce with Lao Ba. Yes!
Pu Quan Sheng manages to chase after Teacher Qin. He tells Pu Quan Sheng that “Letting go is a type of love too.” Out of everyone in the village, Pu Quan Sheng feels the most remorseful to him. Teacher Qin had the most potential to escape from poverty but he chose to stay despite for such a meager pay. All his sacrifices are for the one woman he loves who cannot return his feeling. Ugh, this love story tortures me. Pu Quan Sheng asks him to leave a contact but Teacher Qin stays silent. He won’t tell him where he’s headed to either.
Omg Jiang Si Wei is in a coma (he sustained an injury while on duty). Why is this episode so sad!! Pu Quan Sheng asks a staff if he could play this music every time it’s lunch because that’s the music Jiang Si Wei hears when the ladies outside his window dance in the city central.
Pu Quan Sheng decides to start a tea business for Wanmixi. He remembers looking at Zhao Lei’s report that this village’s land is perfect for harvesting tea. Pu Quan Sheng tells Sha Ou that they can’t just rely on one method (tourism) to lift the village from impoverishment.
[Ep30] Wanmixi needs money for the tea business but now they only have empty land because there’s no money. Pu Quan Sheng nervously asks Sha Ou if they can sell Xi Mei’s account. They need money now. Fortunately, headquarters (Chen Bu Sheng) are moved by Sha Ou and Pu Quan Sheng, and apply for funding from the government. The tea business is a go.
Re Ah Gong wants Teacher Qin to leave the village. He won’t. He did nothing wrong. Natta! To Re Ah Gong, whether he did anything doesn’t matter when everyone thinks they did. His presence is a constant threat to Lao Ba.
It’s the singing competition. Everyone is in awe at how beautiful Yao Gu is singing. Pu Quan Sheng and Sha Ou are in tears. Teacher Qin stares lovingly on the side of the stage. He’s looking so good in a suit! After Yao Gu and the class finish their beautiful song, Teacher Qin exits the backstage. Wait. Where you going! He has left. He’s leaving the village. In a letter he left for Yao Gu, he thanks her for gracing him a beautiful memory before he leaves. Nooo! He never left her all these years because he needed to protect her but now that his presence is an obstacle for her happiness, he leaves.
Pu Quan Sheng manages to chase after Teacher Qin. He tells Pu Quan Sheng that “Letting go is a type of love too.” Out of everyone in the village, Pu Quan Sheng feels the most remorseful to him. Teacher Qin had the most potential to escape from poverty but he chose to stay despite for such a meager pay. All his sacrifices are for the one woman he loves who cannot return his feeling. Ugh, this love story tortures me. Pu Quan Sheng asks him to leave a contact but Teacher Qin stays silent. He won’t tell him where he’s headed to either.
Omg Jiang Si Wei is in a coma (he sustained an injury while on duty). Why is this episode so sad!! Pu Quan Sheng asks a staff if he could play this music every time it’s lunch because that’s the music Jiang Si Wei hears when the ladies outside his window dance in the city central.
Pu Quan Sheng decides to start a tea business for Wanmixi. He remembers looking at Zhao Lei’s report that this village’s land is perfect for harvesting tea. Pu Quan Sheng tells Sha Ou that they can’t just rely on one method (tourism) to lift the village from impoverishment.
Chen Bu Sheng was able to allocate funds to the tea business by cutting down department spending. One of the person who doesn't get her promotion because of this is his own wife. That’s not an easy sacrifice to make. The wife certainly isn't happy.
Tian Hui’s ex wants custody of their child and will take their daughter forcefully if he has to. The next day Tian Hui asks Ma Mi Hu if she can take two barrels of bees from him. She uses the bees to remind her ex where he fell is where he should rise again. She motivates him to work again. His family used to raise bees too.
Sha Ou’s last task before she leaves the village is to be Ma Mi Hu’s cupid (her three year term is up). She promises Re Ah Gong she’ll get Chen Bu Sheng to be their wedding officiant because that way his granddaughter can marry gloriously.
Ma Mi Hu and Tian Hui marry! Ma Hi Hu has a new hair cut and he looks like young boy all of a sudden, aw.
Sha Ou asks Pu Quan Sheng if he has any last words for her. He hesitates and says no. She has words for him though. The three years with him has createdmore memories than the entire life she had before this. They take their first selfie together. Pu Quan Sheng, say something! Sha Ou drives off.
A few months later. Wanmixi’s poverty is alleviated. Pu Quan Sheng is to be promoted. Now, there’s a problem. Who will be the village’s next mayor? The seniors agree on Yao Jin (over Xiang Deng Gao). However, Pu Quan Sheng wants to recommend Xi Mei instead. Wanmixi has never had a female mayor. On the phone, Sha Ou encourages Xi Mei too. Thus, she enters the race for mayor. Yao Jin, being a traditional man, can’t accept a wife like that (i.e. better than him).
Another obstacle for Xi Mei to enter the race is a proper recommendation but Re Ah Gong supports her. Him supporting her is like the entire village voting for her.
Pu Quan Sheng speaks to Yao Jin. The latter asks the former for his opinion on his wife being the mayor. Pu Quan Sheng says Xi Mei is creative and innovative. Yao Jin is better at developing a business that’s already established. Pu Quan Sheng reminds him that he can be village’s number one too. The mayor that everyone admires is his wife at home. Is it just me or does Pu Quan Sheng treat Yao Jin like an idiot, lol. Yao Jin is happier now.
Pu Quan Sheng continues to visit Jiang Si Wei. He’s still in a coma but his passion for bringing prosperity lives on in Pu Quan Sheng, Chen Bu Sheng, and Sha Ou; their passion will touch many more and it’ll be a never ending chain. ♫ Mountains connects mountains, water connect water ♫
Pu Quan Sheng invites Sha Ou to be the first ones to drive through the new road they’ve built together. Once they exit the tunnel, the village they planted the sun in is right there waiting for them. It’s Wannixi.
The end.
Remarks
[First Impression (Ep1-12)] I never thought of watching this seriously. There’s an older cast and it’s about a poor village. That’s not exactly interesting, is it? Well, colour me surprised. I cried for the heartwarming scenes when the villagers accepted our main leads (Ep7&9). I laughed at the villagers (especially Ma Mi Hu) and bonded with them when I know none of the actors and all of them look plain. There’s also a small romance where our ML falls in love with our capable FL. The romance is small but cute.
My favourite part of this drama is the characterization and the messages. All the villagers have such distinct personality, I can easily differentiate dozens of them. The ML has a heart of gold. He's strategic and tenacious. He’s selfless; he doesn't care about his own career prospect as long as he can make Wanmixi Village thrive. Our FL is an extra brain and heart for him once they get on the same page. She too carries a strong sense of social justice and using her social media know-how’s, she finds innovative ways for this village to succeed. They’re the perfect team. He makes the (good) risks, she fills the holes. It's blissful watching these two collaborate.
P.S. There's beautiful scenery and OST! Also, it’s not 40 episodes!
[Actors/Actresses] Luo Jin! I love Luo Jin’s partnership with the same director from I Will Find You A Better Home. In this drama, he's even better at reeling me in with the ease of his acting and the rawness of his emotions. If Luo Jin is anything like his characters, then Tiffany Tang is the luckiest girl in the world. Anyways. Together with Yuan Shan Shan (Mabel Yaun), our CP brings so much sunniness to this warm, warm drama. ♪ Hums Sha Ou’s sunny tune now ♪
[Behind the Scenes]
[Ending] Happy!
The main romance is an open ending, though. It'll most likely happen with a bit of your imagination.
The only person who makes me sad is Teacher Qin. His love runs deep. Everything he does is for Yao Gu's happiness. He stays in the village for her when he has a better future elsewhere. To stay with her he as to act even more distant than a stranger when they clearly knew each other and had even loved each other. Yao Gu is just that type of traditional good girl. She married the man and she will be loyal to that man. Teacher Qin's love is doomed to be unrequited. Although, I was sad he had to leave, that's the better future for him if he really does love Yao Gu. Despite how much I still dislike Lao Ba, he's not in the wrong to fear Teacher Qin. Teacher Qin is better than him in every aspect and even if Teacher Qin doesn't do anything, his constant presence alone is a threat to Lao Ba. It's a love not meant to be. Please find someone else who'll love you, Teacher Qin!
Pu Quan Sheng’s passion is invigorating. Sha Ou’s sense of social justice is sterling. These two are the dream team who can alleviate a village stricken with poverty. They have a project called “Planting the Sun” and what they’ve accomplished is planting hope in the villagers and planting warmth in my heart.
Contrary to the serious topic, this drama is mostly light and sprinkled with humour in unexpected ways. It’s in the way our main leads banter or when Pu Quan Sheng and Ma Mi Hu are wimps against pain or when Ma Mi Hu receives his divine bath punishment.
The dialogues are the next thing I love. There’s small witty lines (that sometimes make no sense but have some sense) like “my hair is long and so my perception is short.” Then there are these grand speeches mostly by Pu Quan Sheng that put me to tears.
At the core of this drama is its sincerity. I feel it in the way this drama is created and the way the actors carry themselves and in the whole message the drama delivers. If not for this sincerity, this is almost too ideal (with perfect people) for a humanistic drama.
Pu Quan Sheng and Sha Ou are the A-team within the drama. I love them, I really do but the OTP is Luo Jin and the director, An Jian. If there’s ever a third drama with these two I’d watch it without any hesitation. When a talented actor and an exceptional director have this synergy, I can’t see how a drama can fail.
Overall it's a sincere drama with unexpectedly lovable characters.
Final Review
[Review] Like its name, this drama is lusciously rich in beauty. From the storytelling to the characterizations to the dialogues to the cinematography to the music, there’s so much to admire. It took me into a shabby looking village and introduced me to grubby looking villagers but now all I see are ravishing greenery and beautiful souls.
Pu Quan Sheng’s passion is invigorating. Sha Ou’s sense of social justice is sterling. These two are the dream team who can alleviate a village stricken with poverty. They have a project called “Planting the Sun” and what they’ve accomplished is planting hope in the villagers and planting warmth in my heart.
Contrary to the serious topic, this drama is mostly light and sprinkled with humour in unexpected ways. It’s in the way our main leads banter or when Pu Quan Sheng and Ma Mi Hu are wimps against pain or when Ma Mi Hu receives his divine bath punishment.
The dialogues are the next thing I love. There’s small witty lines (that sometimes make no sense but have some sense) like “my hair is long and so my perception is short.” Then there are these grand speeches mostly by Pu Quan Sheng that put me to tears.
At the core of this drama is its sincerity. I feel it in the way this drama is created and the way the actors carry themselves and in the whole message the drama delivers. If not for this sincerity, this is almost too ideal (with perfect people) for a humanistic drama.
Pu Quan Sheng and Sha Ou are the A-team within the drama. I love them, I really do but the OTP is Luo Jin and the director, An Jian. If there’s ever a third drama with these two I’d watch it without any hesitation. When a talented actor and an exceptional director have this synergy, I can’t see how a drama can fail.
Overall it's a sincere drama with unexpectedly lovable characters.
Random Recommendation: I Will Find You a Better Home. More Luo Jin!
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