TaleNeverTold

I don’t think he’s aiming for GJZ with this potential promotion, he wouldn’t have talked his servant off like that if he’d still entertained the thought. But I do think he’s aiming to delay his wedding and maybe gain some power to his name so his marriage wouldn’t be decided by a need to cover up for his biological father. P.S. CYY would NEVER let him near GJZ anyways :)

Well, this can go few ways… 1) I can point out that You Guys (tm) have nothing to complain about that character except the same repetitive thing — and we shall be in impasse. 2) I can point out that I’m yet to see a credible reason for liking any other male character that would pass the reality check — but that would be immature of me and would look like I’m trolling, and I’m too old for this type of bickering. 3) I can point out that We Guys (tm) don’t need multiple reasons to like that character nor do we need to entertain You Guys (tm) with kaleidoscope of reasoning and justify our likes — and here’s where I will stand, I guess. To each their own :)

Guns back then were really not very precise… hoping for luck, I guess?

I (the mature boring one) appreciate you taking the time to say ‘sorry’ :) I hope you live your best exciting life!

Yes, she would get back her dowry, especially since their divorce was signed as Harmonious Separation (voluntary). In historical Chinese legal codes, the dowry was considered the woman’s private property and a "safety net" provided by her natal family. The husband’s family was expected to manage the assets during the marriage, but they didn’t technically own them. Thus, mama’s dowry and her uncollected debts technically should revert to granny as matriarch of that family — unless she’d officially entrusted GJZ to handle this matter :)

I don’t think it’s about competitors. In his mind the sequence of events is: 1) she says she will go to some town to live her days as lonely business woman, 2) he proposes and is waiting for her to answer, 3) he finds out she’s packing to go to that exact town, 4) he assumes her silent escape is THE ANSWER, 5) he expected better communication between them considering the manage to communicate by imperceptible tone changes and half-glances, 6) he storms in to demand direct answer, 7) turns out she’s not actually leaving anywhere (hello, granny is still kicking!) but she still plans to become a spinster, 8) he considers dragging her to the capital for some perspective (though I think it’s more of dramatic gesture rather than real threat), 9) on her own personal accord she is coming to the capital and he’s just smiling in the background about workings of fate :)
As I said earlier, I do not necessarily like his tone but I understand where his frustration comes from - he did think she’d made an ultimate ‘not marrying you’ move and he got scared (he skipped out on work!). Still, he pleased me greatly in episode 18 so I’m feeling magnanimous! So I’ll give him few episodes to go back to straight and narrow path of dignified adult :)

I am, somewhat, too. He’s getting frustrated with not having the response he wants and is acting a bit rash. However, I’m reserving final judgement on his courting style until I see more of it as in previews he seemed to have come back to being respectful of her boundaries and pace. So far he didn’t do anything unforgivable and his ‘imma have you come back with me to the capital’ may be attributed to playful banter considering her reaction (I don’t think she believes he would actually force her!) and his follow up comments on her power play :) we’ll see tomorrow!

We know that 3 years passed since she moved to grandma’ town because 1) aunty says so and 2) the mourning is over. So, in episode 18 GJZ is now 18-19 years old.

Really interesting genetics game in this show - how were GJZ and her cousin born of those parents? It seems, both their families are rotten and only grandma’s genes save the pool! Phew! P.S. Conversely, GJZ and CYY kids are bound to be geniuses, right?

Nuh, white truck of doom actually has the mortality/severe injury rate of 100% while cliffs in c-dramas operate as bouncy castles and only NPCs ever die when falling off of them. The highest mortality rate in c-dramas (outside of weapons, of course) belongs to liquids (teas and soups).

I believe she’s 15-16 in the first episode as she mentions that she was kicked out of her home (for the second time) at 6 and it’s been 9 years since. The age difference, I presume, is to place her at the beginning of her matrimonial path and him very much out of this path. Being older and widowed and of different status makes them completely implausible at the beginning which allows them some level of ease and comfort to just around each other without all that ceremony that goes with meeting of ‘eligible youth’. But in the show he’s not more than 28-30 so once she grows a bit (I believe one year has passed in show’s time) and since the age of 17-18 is socially acceptable for marriage at those times, I’m guessing the tables will turn :)

Where are you watching this?

I think she’s already 16 because they mention passing of time every now and then but still, very young. FL reminds me of FL in A Prisoner of Beauty with her poise, wits, unwavering support. Love this for her :)

Totally, goes both ways, doesn’t it :)

From personal perspective and experience, CYY would be the best choice. Because the two characters just match: in intelligence, in morality and principles, even their dangerous streaks match. He would be able to meet her thought for thought, freak for freak. He’ll challenge her and will be open to be challenged by her. He will give her a safe haven to be tired and distraught, and would not think her weak for it. He will share his burdens too, he will trust her judgment on how to deal with those challenges without being over-instructive or micromanaging her.
How do I know that? He already did all of those things. And not because he’s in love with her (he wasn’t until very recently) but because it’s the part of his character, to treat people with respect until they prove unworthy of it.
And once the sparks fly… ooh, boy, lemme tell you something, calm waters are deep and there’s much energy stored in their depth!
To sum up, she will not be bored with CYY :)
P.S. Disclaimer: I’m not speaking about all age-gap pairing or older gentleman in general, be it real or reel. Just this one character, this one pairing in this one drama, the way they are portrayed in the drama.

Emphasis on ‘burn’! It’s the most burn I’ve seen in all c-drama slowburns ;) and that’s not even accounting for the abs (also the most abs, btw)

Totally agree! I also picked CYY-type and it’s MUCH MORE FUN that dramas make it out to be! Alas, Chinese censorship would not allow to show all the freaky demons hiding underneath that polished and intelligent demeanor… all I can say, our teenage son thinks we’re embarrassing him on purpose and we should ‘be old already!’ ;)

He should send a physician to secure granny’s heath and pick up praying regularly!

Some people wants them to do more than kissing but I know the pacing and period-appropriate etiquette (and our lead characters are nothing if not very proper… to an extent) so I’ll respectfully wait till they catch up with my less than pure ideas for them *crawls back to the gutter*

Ah, fellow sage! we shall sit here, sipping our tea, listening to passionate youth learn the wisdom of life. Inner peace, dinner with peas, dinner please… and all that jazz =)