The opening of "The Little Fish and Flowers Without a Trace" immediately grabbed countless viewers with its laugh-out-loud comedic spoof.
Those who initially tuned in for Jiang Ling's looks and acting were thoroughly captivated by the plot.
As the story unfolded, the two protagonists, Zhang Weijian and Xie Tingfeng, predictably garnered immense attention and popularity.
Jiang Yushuang, who plays Tie Xinlan, learned a great deal of acting essence from Jiang Ling due to filming together. Her portrayal of Tie Xinlan was nuanced and flavorful, winning her a considerable fan base.
By the sixth episode, the highly anticipated character, Jiang Yuyan, played by Jiang Ling, made her dazzling debut.
Her appearance prompted fans to flood the screen with comments, forcing viewers to turn off the barrage of bullet messages.
Jiang Yuyan's introduction takes place in a brothel, where she is being forced by the madam to entertain customers.
The madam, with a sinister smile, says to Jiang Yuyan, "What's so bad about being a brothel woman? Many men spend a fortune just for a glimpse of a beauty. But as a wife, to ask your husband for a bit of loose change to buy some rouge and powder, you have to kowtow to his every whim."
This statement, echoing through time, speaks to the hardships and helplessness of many wives.
[The madam's words are so true. That scumbag I'm married to happily spends money on his mistress, but is stingy with me. He's a modern-day Scrooge.]
[Mine is the same pathetic excuse for a man. He'll spend thousands on cosmetics or tens of thousands on a designer bag for some floozy without batting an eye, but if I spend a few hundred on a Mao Shan Wang durian I really like, he calls me a spendthrift. It's infuriating!]
[Exactly. As the legitimate wife, you're treated worse than a mistress, damn it!]
[Women should pursue both love and career. Don't listen to men saying 'I'll support you.' Isn't it better to earn your own money to spend as you please?]
[Right, being a stay-at-home wife is the most detrimental profession for women. Even working on an assembly line is better. Household chores should be shared equally by both genders, and men should experience the breakdown of being swamped with chores, a crying baby, and the constant demands of diapers!]
Many stay-at-home mothers in front of their screens deeply resonated with the madam's words and took to typing in the bullet messages, pouring out their grievances.
Jiang Yuyan, however, did not heed the madam's words. Her dying mother had warned her that falling into prostitution was a path of no return. As a noble lady of the Jiang family, she must never fall, or her life would be ruined forever.
Jiang Yuyan refused to accept customers, even at the cost of her life. Coincidentally, Xiao Yu'er and Hua Wuque passed by, caused a ruckus in the brothel, and rescued her. From then on, Jiang Yuyan developed a deep admiration for Hua Wuque.
Jiang Ling, originally a vibrant and striking beauty, managed to captivate viewers with her new, pure and exceptionally beautiful demeanor.
Indeed, true beauty shines regardless of adornment; any style or makeup can be effortlessly mastered.
This transformation left the audience and fans feeling refreshed.
However, her purity was merely a facade; like father, like daughter.
Her biological father, Jiang Biehe, was a sinister and vicious hypocrite. Jiang Yuyan surpassed him, not only feigning helplessness but also possessing ten times the cunning, schemes, and tactics of her father.
While many viewers were drawn to Jiang Ling's purity, a segment of netizens criticized it.