I’ve got to say, the opening scene where Zhang Shuai can hear the doctors talking about him being dead while he’s still conscious is such a creepy and effective hook. I felt that panic right along with him. But then Wang Qiang’s wailing about the ten thousand yuan he’s owed completely shattered the mood—honestly, I couldn’t stop laughing. That twist was so brutally real and darkly funny, it set the tone perfectly for the kind of grounded, everyday garbage life this story seems to be about. It’s not some heroic moment; it’s just a broke loser worried about his debt.
The train journey to the Northwest must have been brutal. Half a month with multiple transfers, no proper sleep, and constant fear of being caught or robbed. The story doesn't dwell on it, but I can imagine the physical and mental toll it took on An Min. When she finally arrives at the station, looking haggard, it's easy to empathize with her desperation for a hot bath and a bed.
2 One thing that bothers me—how did Lin Wang get from the ancestral hall to the office? The transition from "dream" to "reality" is glossed over. He's in the ancestral hall, then he's waking up in the office. Was the ancestral hall a real place he escaped from? A vision? A different dimension? The wooden plaque proves it wasn't just a dream, but there's no explanation of how he physically moved from one location to another. I hope this gets addressed later because it feels like a missing scene.
I really enjoy Qing Jing’s characterization. She’s not your typical scheming noble lady or a naive girl. She’s a survivor. She is decisive, practical, and a bit ruthless in her planning. But she isn't heartless. She cares deeply about her mom, she feels gratitude towards Chen Zhuoxun, and she has that hint of rebelliousness from her career. The 20 years of martial arts training is a nice touch. She isn't just a planner with a cheat code; she has the physical ability and mental fortitude to back it up.