It's me again--the one who's read everything Apothecary Diaries related several times. :) Later in the books, Jinshi gives her another hair stick, detailed with vines and poppies, which are symbolic for rest and consolation as well as beauty and remembrance. This is significant! For Jinshi, Maomao is the person he turns to for emotional support, calming him and making sure he gets some sleep (this is her way of showing that she cares about him). He also thinks she is beautiful, but encourages her to wear her freckles so that others won't notice it, too. He is a little possessive of her in that respect! He also wants to ensure Maomao isn't going to forget about him. When a man gives a woman a hair stick, it is a sign of affection, that he likes you and belong to him romantically. When they officially get engaged, Chinese tradition says that the bride-to-be gives her fiancee her hair stick, and he returns it after the wedding. If it is given by a woman (Consort Lihua gives one to Maomao), it's similar, but not romantic--it means you have a connection or association with that person, which is why Gyokoyou is a little upset that Jinshi, by giving Maomao a hair stick, makes Maomao "his", too (Gyokoyou's "hair stick" was a jade necklace). And Maomao is clueless to all of that--she thinks it's a nice gift, but doesn't understand the symbolism. Maomao has a tendency to ignore or deliberately avoid finding out information in order to remain as neutral as possible--she sees this as essential to her survival. As a "lowly" commoner (she's not, really--she is technically an important member of the La family, who are minor nobility). It was her birth that put her mother's (and grandmother's) brothel into nearly going bankrupt, and she feels a responsibility there. It may be that the reason Granny constantly wants money for her (and wants to put her to work in the Verdigris House), that she blames Maomao's entirely innocent presence for their financial woes when she was little. Maomao is also emotionally desensitized, partially due to her lack of motherly love or caring, partially due to being ignored when she cried as a baby, and partially due to the emotional detachment that Luomen and Granny show her. It may also be a natural sort of defense mechanism that protects her from being hurt. And as a medical person, she needs to be able to maintain a professional neutrality with patients. She is a very interesting and complex character, and I'm enjoying seeing her adapt to the various circumstances life throws at her.
@AkiraAnimeExpress2 ай бұрын
That's it I consider you as my senior! I knew he gave her another stick but had no idea that it had THAT much significance 😭 I read about the Chinese tradition the day the hair stick/garden party episode came out and that was the MOST non intimate romantic thing everrrr, I am going, to be honest, when I watched the first episode where she got kidnapped her ‘father’ didn't react like any normal parent should have I felt kinda weird, and as I continued to read I realized that her way of care is much different than others because that's all she knows (from lumen and grams). Also, where does it tell the whole thing about grams, her mother, and the brothel? Cuz Now I am now kinda more mad at the madam (she always ticked my nerves) for blaming the lil maomao 😭 But as far as I have read, she has come a long way and I am so looking forward to her more character development!
@wingerwcАй бұрын
Hello fellow Apothecary diaries addict. I also have read everything apothecary diaries (except the web novel since I can't find it). This slow burn romance is killing me internally lol. I can't even begin to say how many times I have watched this video because it is about apothecary diaries.
@animehuntress901826 күн бұрын
My favorite aspect of this story, which we haven't gotten to in the Anime and have only glimpsed in the Manga but we are hardcore into in the LN, is how layered the story is. Similar to going to an air port where you have hundred of thousands of stories and things occurring but with a singular purpose, you have a story that connects all those layers of differences and parallels together. Nothing is chance in this story. Something as simple as someone throwing a flower away and nearly never appearing again, has huge significance and impact later! It's like putting puzzle together but not being able to see the picture your putting together, lol. Even the things you thought you knew the purpose of come back in surprising ways later! I absolutely love that!
@ginkage58633 ай бұрын
When she showed that arm to her bullies... The went limp 🤣
@AkiraAnimeExpress3 ай бұрын
It’s even funny cuz they miss judged the scars 😂
@ginkage58633 ай бұрын
@@AkiraAnimeExpress and these are the girls that supposed to have passed the court lady test🤦♀️
@AkiraAnimeExpress3 ай бұрын
@@ginkage5863 ikr! Maomao was wayyy better than them 👑 she didn’t even slap them back smh
@Zy5y3 ай бұрын
@@AkiraAnimeExpressI would’ve slapped her right away I ain’t keeping any debts
@Icycoldwynter3 ай бұрын
@@AkiraAnimeExpressif I were her I would’ve taken my sweet revenge right then and there.
@Playdeadweeb3 ай бұрын
My favorite fact about her is that She scares ppl without trying 😂
@Sheeeshchill3 ай бұрын
Without trying? My lady does that on purpose
@AkiraAnimeExpress3 ай бұрын
What you mean?! *they get afraid of her for no reason*
@AkiraAnimeExpress3 ай бұрын
That’s only for the bullies tho She’d *never* scare any innocent person on purpose
@StayArtsy2 ай бұрын
I also have that skill lol
@Playdeadweeb2 ай бұрын
@@StayArtsy life must be tough for you
@Anniee-v1g2 ай бұрын
As for Jinshi and Maomao, I think Maomao doesn't love Jinshi or at least not yet in the anime and manga. She falls in love with him later in the LN after realizing she can trust him and accepts his feelings.. but it's a VERY SLOW burn on Maomao's part and it takes her years to fall in love and years more before confessing it to herself, I think the slow way their relationship progresses is right and also consistent with the character since she has had repressed emotions since she was little.
@AkiraAnimeExpress2 ай бұрын
Her slowly falling for him would have to be one of the best parts of this novel
@Anniee-v1g2 ай бұрын
@@AkiraAnimeExpress Yes, I agree. I like that for once it's not the girl who falls in love first and that it takes longer, unlike many anime where the girl is a kind of goose who runs after the male protagonist as if it were his only reason to life.
@AkiraAnimeExpress2 ай бұрын
So trueee 😂 We love our genius independent cat!
@gabriellacardosopaiva4172 ай бұрын
When exactly she falls for him in LN?
@Anniee-v1g2 ай бұрын
@@gabriellacardosopaiva417 For Maomao I don't think there is an exact moment, the more she gets to know him the more she becomes attached to him until she falls in love (even if very slowly)
@animehuntress90183 ай бұрын
That scene had nothing to do with the honey and everything to do with how it was being served, lol! 🤣
@AkiraAnimeExpress3 ай бұрын
Still can’t get over the fact that Maomao told Gaoshuan to lick off jinshi's fingers the next time when he apologized for his account ☠️😂
@Icycoldwynter3 ай бұрын
Ok so here are some of my facts about her -she doesn't like bullies -she is an aroace -she has horrible humor (for others) -She has no filter in her mouth -she can appear to be a pervert - she can't understand others emotions -she finds logic in everything -she really loves her friends and found family -she wants nothing more than herbs and the freedom to use them Feel free to add more…
@AkiraAnimeExpress3 ай бұрын
Waoh…. Hmmm here are some minor ones • she have her father’s eyes • she enjoy teaching others • she can be clueless sometimes • her bd on wiki is … (I forgot) 😂 If I add her star sign and personality type it’d be a biography ☠️
@CapeEniEer12 күн бұрын
Maomao is such an accurate depiction of someone with neurodivergence.
@ArcaneMaiden2 ай бұрын
Maomao poses as a mage/healer, but considering all the tanking she does, she's probably tougher than Sun Wukong. 🧐
@AkiraAnimeExpress2 ай бұрын
Sometimes it is hard to tell that she is an apothecary 😂 Also!!! An ORV person?!
@ArcaneMaiden2 ай бұрын
@@AkiraAnimeExpress ORV? /ᐠ。ꞈ。ᐟ\?
@Sandcastleprincess3 ай бұрын
I would say she is neurodivergent as is every biological family member of hers that we are introduced to.
@jacksparrowismydaddy2 ай бұрын
I love the fact that some people in China are named Cat. I wanted it as a nickname in middle school but people gave me a hard time cause they were idiots and thought I thought I was a cat... if I knew Mao means cat I totally coulda called my self that. those people were idiots I doubt they'd figure it out.
@AkiraAnimeExpress2 ай бұрын
Make some smart friends and tell them Xiaomao as your nickname 😌
@raeveii3 ай бұрын
Before I continue I'm wondering if the video includes spoilers from LN6 and up? I'm currently reading LN6 and maybe I'll the save the video for later after I'm done reading it:)
@AkiraAnimeExpress3 ай бұрын
Oooo what are your thoughts so far! And No it doesn’t really have LN 6 spoilers… I just took one or two pictures and maybe a ss from them for editing 😌 So you are safe from major ones
@raeveii3 ай бұрын
@@AkiraAnimeExpress I just love each one🤌🏻✨ Very cleverly planted details and twists. Also that it's comedy packed cuz you never know what Maomao would do or say next LMFAOO. Anyway, I definitely loved the shi-arc in LN4 and definitely cannot wait for it to get animated😭🙏🏼
@AkiraAnimeExpress3 ай бұрын
@@raeveii shi arc made me cry so much 😭 Some scenes in LN6 made me go 😱🤭
@Jinshi__.__563 ай бұрын
3:55 ??? She never cared about bruh and she didn’t even check if he’s dead or alive after going to the medical office as a court lady
@Zy5y3 ай бұрын
They never said she *cared* about him, She does have a soft spot for him whether you accept it or not
@Jinshi__.__563 ай бұрын
@@Zy5y she didn’t seem to have one though
@AkiraAnimeExpress3 ай бұрын
I felt so bad for him! But I’d still say it’s progress on maomao’s side because she never had a ‘kind of a older sibling’ relationship with anyone, we know she is reserved and her ways of care are different than others (like teaching him about medicines) so I won’t cut her character so short and use words *never* 😭 but yeah it is one of the scenes where I didn’t liked her character so much…
@joaoafonso2112 ай бұрын
@@AkiraAnimeExpressBom como você mesmo disse faz parte da personalidade dela, então não faz sentido não gostar
@sebonoangmolemohi68173 ай бұрын
Where do you read the Apothecary diaries online? Where can you download it ? I enjoyed your video.❤
@AkiraAnimeExpress3 ай бұрын
Thank you 🤭 You can download the LN online from jnovels website they have both pdf and epub
@sebonoangmolemohi68173 ай бұрын
Thank you ❤@@AkiraAnimeExpress
@AkiraAnimeExpress3 ай бұрын
My pleasure 💕
@phoenixjaphoenixja122 ай бұрын
Can someone tell me the hidden meaning behind the reason jinshi gave her the hairpin? I’ve only watched the anime and it is not clear
@AkiraAnimeExpress2 ай бұрын
After hearing her story about using makeup to make herself look less attractive as a protective measure against future potential assaults he basically give it to her to express his desire to protect her, to signal to others that Maomao was under his protection. In Chinese tradition When a man gives a woman a hair stick, it is a sign of affection, that he likes her and that she belong to him. If it is given by a woman, it's similar, but not romantically, it means you have a connection with that person. And in ancient China the hairpin was considered as a way for ladies in waiting (who can’t go home until dismissed) to go outside (as in a date) but Maomao obviously didn’t know that… so she used the stick given to her by lihaku instead of the one given to her by jinshi Hope it make sense 🤞🏻
@szahrasnape20563 ай бұрын
Hey, I really like your videos but I wonder where you read the novel, because I would like to read it to.🤔😊🌀
@AkiraAnimeExpress3 ай бұрын
Hiiii Thank you so much! I download them from the jnovels website ✨
@szahrasnape20563 ай бұрын
@@AkiraAnimeExpress Thank you very much☺️🌀
@AkiraAnimeExpress3 ай бұрын
@@szahrasnape2056 my pleasure 😌✨
@Hazelliliies2 ай бұрын
WAIT SHE TOOK IN A CHILD???? I haven't read that part...
@AkiraAnimeExpress2 ай бұрын
Oops… It’s right after shisui arc They have more like a sibling relationship than a parental relationship tho
@Hazelliliies2 ай бұрын
@@AkiraAnimeExpress that's so cool! I love the adoptive parent/older sibling trope especially for characters like Maomao
@Sandcastleprincess3 ай бұрын
I would say she is neurodivergent as is every biological family member of hers that we are introduced to.