PeachBlossomGoddess

I think of him more as a narrator but he is also the glue that keeps
all the villagers and the resettlement effort together.

There are actually quite a number of outstanding and critical so called propaganda dramas. China experienced many policy failures along the way on its multi decade path to reform and opening up. One of the key drivers of their success is their ability to self criticize and learn from mistakes. They tried to tame the Gobi as far back as the Cultural Revolution and failed countless times. Shan Weijian’s book Out of Gobi contains his personal memories of his time as one of the early settlers of the Gobi.

I think most of the characters in this drama make moral compromises because they have no voice, the system fails them. Sangeng already knows from working in the yamen that sometimes the end justify the means. He knows his master has questionable dealings but he still regards him as mostly a good person. I think it’s ok for him to not be further disillusioned bc it would ruin his relationship with Gui’er and maybe make him another Lu Zhi - they are parallel characters. As for Magistrate Wei he is no longer a turtle but a 7th ranked magistrate- higher than Judge Song. He could have tried legal means to redress the case but I guess he had no faith in the system either. It’s a small point not a big hole.

Judge Song. I don’t like it when main characters to get killed off by stray bullets. I don’t mind that he dies but it shouldn’t be random.

Yeah it’s a pity she hasn’t make that many dramas I really want to watch. Its too bad S2 or Longest Day never happened.

He got cut when Xiaobao rescued him from that fight and the kid fortune teller told him
it will leave a permanent scar. That’s why both he and Xiaobao remember it years later.

No he didn't really recognise anyone. He just remembered that Lu Buyou had a permanent scar over his eyebrow and that is what he recognised. But Xiaobao cut himself there to assume Lu Buyou's identity bc he was seeking revenge in his name.

Yeah he did well in this.

I think there’s a YouTube link in the thread but watch it on the big screen if you can.

Always enjoy chatting with you too! 😘

I think something along the lines of - You taught Lu Zhong how to write and he wrote the tell that gave you away.

I went back to rewatch that scene. I think Turtle told him Lu Zhong wrote everything down and it was just the irony that he was the one who taught Lu Zhong how to write, thus indicting himself that enraged him.

Without Mr Zhao’s testimony Lu Zhi would never have inherited. His testimony is part of yamen records so his involvement is easily deduced.

Yes

Nope he never finds out.

Yes

I think Sangeng did realize his master did wrong things when he chose justice over revenge in the end. And I think Captain Leng came to regret what he did which is why he never spent the money and mentored Sangeng. He is in love with Gui’er - it would be a shame to have that knowledge come between them.

Apparently Turtle saved his life or something so he will do anything for him.

I agree that the young Turtle or Lu Buyou couldn’t have done anything with the testimony. But as a 7th rank magistrate I think he could have tried another way. Like trying to force a confession from one of the blackmailed conspirators such as Master Wang or Dr Cheng. It would have been more convincing if he tried to do that first and ended up accidentally torturing them to death. I do think he wanted to kill Wang bc he killed his friend. That one was definitely personal for him. But in any case it’s not a big bug for me bc I think Turtle is not that smart or sophisticated to begin with. It’s implied his assistant also helps him with his writings. So it fits his profile that this was the best plan he could come up with.

I wonder what he whispered to Lu Zhi at the end that made him stab him?

Yups - quite sure the poem at the end is one of his beautiful poems about apricot blossoms.

I always thought Turtle was Magistrate Wei bc the Director said in an interview they did their best to cast people that look similar for the aged roles. The big misdirect for me was Turtle was illiterate and the killer was well schooled in the Analects. He was always a righteous boy - he told Lu Zhi he stole pastries from the mean prostitute and not the nice one. Whereas Lu Zhi would have done the opposite. That was a very telling conversation.
I also suspected Lu Buyou was Sangeng or Judge Song bc the young actor they cast could have aged into either of them. I ruled out Judge Song bc his character design is the famous Ming poet and painter Tang Bohu and it would be sacrilege to make him a murderer.