Ancient Drama Star Offers "Universal" Comeback Line for Annoying Relatives

The historical drama "Tian Geng Ji," starring Zeng Shunxi and Tian Xiwei, adapts the novel "Rebirth of a Small Landlord." The series blends elements of gaming, farming simulation, family intrigue, business management, and romance. Tian Xiwei portrays Lian Man'er, a contemporary girl who finds herself in an ancient world through a game.

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What's it to you? Why are you in such a hurry?

From the outset, Lian Man'er confronts pressures of arranged marriage. Fortunately, she encounters Shen Nuo, played by Zeng Shunxi, a key character within the game's world, who assists her in dealing with her eccentric relatives. To achieve her mission of earning a thousand taels of gold, Lian Man'er embarks on a path to prosperity through farming.

The drama highlights not only the realistic portrayal of farming but also the infuriating "weird relatives" that resonate with viewers. Lian Man'er faces constant challenges from her grandmother and uncle, and is even pushed towards a "ghost marriage" – a posthumous union. Unwilling to be controlled, she flees and meets a severely injured Shen Nuo, forging a connection. To resolve her marriage crisis, Shen Nuo dramatically enters the Lian family home with a baby, claiming to be Lian Man'er's lover and that they already have a child, a plot twist that has audiences buzzing.

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quite melodramatic

Zeng Shunxi described the plot as "quite melodramatic," likening his character's relationship with Tian Xiwei's to "the love-hate relationship between a game player and an NPC." Tian Xiwei shared that if faced with similarly maddening relatives, one could use Lian Man'er's line: "What's it to you? Why are you in such a hurry?" She called it a "very universal sentence."

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the love-hate relationship between a game player and an NPC

Beyond the on-screen drama, the actors immersed themselves in the farming theme. Zeng Shunxi found himself continuing the "farming life" off-screen, growing scallions for his meals. The production team also arranged for actors to experience farm work firsthand, including tilling soil and harvesting rice. Zeng Shunxi recalled waking at 6 a.m. to help with the rice harvest, learning to use a sickle and even experiencing an allergic reaction. This hands-on experience gave him a profound appreciation for the labor involved, leading him to gift his boss rice he harvested himself.

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a very universal sentence