Chapter Summaries

Su Qiao told her parents that the mine had collapsed but warned them not to ask about the dangerous matter behind it. Su Yaohui suspected the powerful lord connected to Guyin Temple was involved and ordered the family to keep quiet and stay home.

• Su Qiao assured Su Yaohui and Zhou Lihua that she was fine after resting overnight.
• Su Qiao confirmed the mine had collapsed but refused to explain further, warning that knowing more could put them in danger.
• Su Yaohui asked whether the incident concerned the lord who had recently visited Guyin Temple, and Su Qiao recognized the dangerous man.
• Su Yaohui warned Zhou Lihua that even the County Magistrate would not dare provoke the lord and stopped her from mentioning the person at the top.
• Su Yaohui ordered Zhou Lihua to keep Dalang and Sanlang at home and decided Dalang should take three days off from private school.

Su Qiao recovered at home while her parents argued over whether her eldest brother should take leave to rest. As she realized how poor her family was, 444 explained that she lived in a remote village in an unfamiliar dynasty.

• Su Yaohui and Zhou Lihua argued about their eldest son’s exam prospects and whether he should come home to rest.
• Su Qiao told her parents to stop arguing and let her sleep, and they left after praising her and promising her two eggs.
• Su Qiao asked 444 whether her family was truly poor, and 444 described their thin, poorly clothed relatives and leaky house.
• Su Qiao asked 444 to keep watch while she rested and sorted through her memories.
• 444 explained that Su Qiao lived in Willow Tree Village, a poor farming village in the Tianyuan Kingdom in the year 1072.

The chapter introduces Old Master Su Dehong's struggling family and the original Su Yiqiao's selfish, slothful upbringing. Su Yiqiao and her younger brother went to the coal mine to steal coal, hoping to sell it for food.

• Old Master Su Dehong sacrificed to educate his eldest son, Su Yaohui, but Yaohui failed to pass the licentiate examination.
• Dehong put his hopes in his grandson Su Yichen and used his wages from the village coal mine to fund the boy's studies.
• Su Yiqiao grew up lazy and selfish under the influence of her mother, Zhou Lihua, and she and her brother Su Yihao sometimes stole food.
• After learning the mine had suspended operations, Su Yiqiao entered through an abandoned passage with Yihao to steal coal and sell it for food.

Su Qiao assessed the original owner's wishes and realized that her filthy habits and poor reputation made marrying into a wealthy family an unlikely goal. She discovered the room was packed with garbage just as Physician Li entered the main room, and the system urged her to change and clean up.

• Su Qiao judged the original owner's wish to marry into wealth unrealistic given her appearance, laziness, and lack of skills.
• Su Qiao found that the clothes she had changed into were greasy and searched the cabinet for a cleaner set.
• Su Qiao nearly tripped over a basket of stolen vegetables and noticed the room was filled with junk and filthy clothes.
• The system warned Su Qiao that Physician Li had entered the main room and told her to change and tidy up.

Su Qiao cleaned herself up and her room after realizing she had grown taller and changed physically, while Physician Li revived Old Master Su with acupuncture. The chapter left the Su Family relieved around the awakened patriarch.

• Su Qiao changed into clean clothes and noticed that her sleeves and trouser legs had become too short.
• Su Qiao combed her hair, tidied her room, and soaked her dirty clothes for washing.
• Physician Li inserted two needles and woke Old Master Su, easing the Su Family's fears.
• Su Yaohui, Su Huai'an, Su Yichen, and the old woman crowded around Old Master Su and asked how he felt.
• Old Master Su regained his bearings and told the family to stop making a racket.

Physician Li confirmed that Old Master Su’s injuries were minor, and the family revealed that Danie had carried him home from the mine. The chapter ended with Physician Li going to examine Danie, whose courage had caught his interest.

• Su Yaohui apologized to Physician Li and asked him to prescribe medicine for Old Master Su.
• Physician Li said Old Master Su’s forehead scrape was minor and that he would recover with rest and external medicine.
• Zhou Lihua told Physician Li that Danie had carried her unconscious grandfather home from the mine.
• Old Master Su learned that Danie had rescued him, and Su Yaohui hinted that they would discuss the rest later.
• Su Yaohui asked Physician Li to examine Danie, and Physician Li went to the west room.

Physician Li examined Su Qiao after Old Master Su asked him to treat her injuries and prevent her arm from scarring. Su Yaohui and Zhou Lihua were shocked to see how serious the abrasion was, while the system explained it had kept the wound visible to avoid suspicion.

• Old Master Su agreed to rest and asked Physician Li to examine Su Qiao and treat her arm without regard to cost.
• Physician Li followed Su Yaohui to Su Qiao's room and was surprised that she did not match the rumors about her.
• Zhou Lihua introduced Physician Li, and Su Qiao refused to return to bed so he could examine her more easily.
• Physician Li checked Su Qiao's pulse and right arm, then noted that her abrasion was severe.
• Su Yaohui and Zhou Lihua realized they had mistaken the blood on Su Qiao's arm for Old Master Su's and worried that she had hidden the injury.
• The system told Su Qiao that it had kept the injury visible to prevent others from becoming suspicious.

Su Qiao pretended to worry about a deep cut on her arm leaving a scar while Physician Li examined it. Physician Li said rare, expensive ingredients might prevent scarring, and Su Qiao asked him to write them down so she could search for them herself.

• Su Yaohui and Zhou Lihua worried over Su Qiao's wound and asked Physician Li whether it would leave a scar.
• Physician Li said a remedy might be possible if they could find rare and expensive medicinal ingredients.
• Zhou Lihua offered to ask her parents' family for help, and Su Qiao chided her for repeatedly relying on them.
• Zhou Lihua said she expected to enjoy good food and fine drink with Su Qiao after she married, and Su Qiao stopped her from saying more.
• Su Qiao asked Physician Li to list the ingredients so she could look for them and bring them back for him to prepare the medicine.

Su Qiao showed Physician Li courtesy and explained that she simply wanted a comfortable life, changing his opinion of her. Physician Li praised her, while Su Yaohui felt relieved that she had behaved well.

• Su Qiao sent Zhou Lihua to fetch paper and ink, then apologized to Physician Li for the lack of tea.
• Su Yaohui realized he had neglected his guest and apologized to Physician Li.
• Physician Li admitted that he had judged Su Qiao by the rumors about her mother and praised her frankness.
• Su Qiao modestly brushed off Physician Li's praise by saying she was only a little girl who had learned a few characters.

Su Qiao used her childhood lessons to explain her literacy and secured a prescription for her grandfather. She persuaded Zhou Lihua to pay the medical bill by promising food and new clothes, but Zhou remained doubtful.

• Physician Li praised Su Qiao’s speech and learning, and Su Yaohui explained that he had taught her to read and write when she was young.
• Zhou Lihua brought paper and ink, and Physician Li wrote a prescription that Su Qiao read and put away.
• Su Qiao told Zhou Lihua to pay the bill rather than make her grandparents pay, but Zhou resisted spending her hidden money.
• Su Qiao promised to repay Zhou three times over and offered her meat and new clothes, persuading her to settle the bill despite her doubts.

Su Qiao planned to hunt for food and gather medicinal herbs while thinking about how to improve her family’s finances. She refused 444’s suggestion to gamble and wondered why the Overlord had come to inspect a remote coal mine in person.

• Su Qiao persuaded Zhou Lihua to go inside and retrieve her private savings.
• Su Qiao defended her changed behavior, saying the accident had frightened her and could explain why she was acting more sensibly.
• Hungry and short of money, Su Qiao decided to hunt for food and search for medicinal herbs.
• 444 urged Su Qiao to sneak into a gambling house, but she refused and chose to focus on improving her family’s life through honest means.
• Su Qiao asked why the Overlord had visited a remote coal mine and gone down into it himself.

Su Qiao rejected any connection to the foolish Great Demon King, then changed her bedding and fell asleep while thinking about ways to make money. Meanwhile, the old master questioned Sanlang about how he and Su Qiao had ended up in the mine tunnel.

• Su Qiao dismissed the Great Demon King and said she had already tried but could not cultivate.
• Su Qiao replaced her bedding, soaked the old set, and considered making soap to sell for money.
• 444 sighed over the Great Demon King's choice to take the body of a powerful eunuch chief with many enemies.
• The old master summoned Sanlang to ask how he and Su Qiao had ended up in the mine tunnel.
• Little Haozi tried to run, but his mother caught him by the ear and dragged him back.

Little Haozi revealed that he followed Su Daya into an abandoned passage behind Coal Mountain after Erya told her about it. The family warned one another to avoid Erya, then argued over Su Daya’s reputation and marriage prospects.

• Little Haozi admitted he had followed his sister into the passage and explained that Erya had told her the mine was unattended and there was a way in.
• Zhou Lihua tried to confront Erya, but Su Yaohui stopped her to protect Su Daya’s reputation.
• The old man advised the family to keep their distance from Erya, suspecting she had too many schemes.
• Su Yaohui scolded Zhou Lihua for not considering how the village viewed Su Daya as she neared marriageable age.
• Zhou Lihua defended her daughter, arguing that she was healthy and could understand Physician Li’s prescription.

After hearing Little Haozi describe the mine collapse, Old Master Su learned that Danie had returned to save him and praised her courage. Zhou Lihua recounted how Danie had also calmed the family, leaving Old Master Su surprised by how much he had misjudged his granddaughter.

• Little Haozi told the family that Danie had freed him from the rubble and run back into the mine to find Old Master Su.
• Zhou Lihua explained that Danie had knowingly returned because her grandfather was still inside.
• Old Master Su said falling timbers and earth had knocked him unconscious before Danie reached him, and credited her with saving his life.
• Old Master Su praised Danie as a responsible descendant of the Su family.
• Zhou Lihua recalled that Danie had calmly stopped the family from rushing to the mountain and told them to go home and discuss what to do.
• Old Master Su expressed surprise at Danie's courage and composure.

The family praised Danie for saving the old man and recognized how commanding she had been. The old man warned everyone to stay quiet about the dangerous mountain incident, leaving them fearful and uncertain about what had happened.

• Zhou Lihua and Su Yichen described Danie's imposing presence when she rescued the old man.
• The old man warned the family that the incident could cost them their lives and ordered them not to go out or talk about it.
• The old man singled out Zhou Lihua as the person most likely to let the secret slip.
• Zhou Lihua said Danie had already told her not to go out, ask questions, or discuss the matter.
• The old man repeated Danie's warning, and the family grew more afraid.

Old Master Su worried that the Coal Mine incident could bring disaster on his family, though he tried to reassure his wife that they might be overlooked. He told the old lady to slaughter a chicken for Danie, who had saved him, and she scolded Ernie and Madam Liu for begrudging the meal.

• After the family left, Old Master Su admitted his fears to the old lady and said they could only leave their fate to chance.
• Old Master Su tried to calm the old lady by pointing out that he and Danie were still safe and no one had come to their home.
• Old Master Su ordered the old lady to kill a chicken for Danie, thanking her for saving his life.
• Ernie complained when the old lady entered the chicken pen, and Madam Liu quietly rebuked her for being jealous.
• The old lady scolded Ernie and Madam Liu, then carried an old hen to the kitchen.

Ernie challenged her family’s habit of favoring the eldest branch, arguing that Su Yihe deserved the chance to study and that their relatives should share the farm work. Her father struggled to defend the family’s choices as she dismissed his claim that her eldest uncle had worked in the fields.

• Su Huai'an and Su Yihe defended Su Qiao after Ernie complained about the chicken, saying she had saved their grandfather and deserved respect.
• Ernie confronted Su Huai'an and Su Yihe, asking why their family had to work hard while the eldest branch received the benefits and opportunities.
• Su Huai'an said he had been unsuited to studying, while Ernie insisted that Su Yihe was clever and could have studied.
• Madam Liu and Su Yihe explained that the family could only afford to support one scholar and needed Su Yihe to help with the farm and earn money by weaving baskets.
• Ernie argued that the eldest branch could work the fields too, and scoffed when Su Huai'an claimed her eldest uncle had farmed.

After Ernie insulted Danie for repeatedly falling ill at convenient times, Su Yihe explained that Danie had risked her life to save Grandpa and urged Ernie to judge her by that act. Ernie agreed to stop speaking badly of Danie, and the family turned to preparing dinner.

• Ernie accused her uncle of faking his illnesses, prompting Su Huai'an to scold her and Madam Liu to take the blame for her behavior.
• Su Yihe pulled Ernie aside and reminded her that Danie had risked her life to rescue Grandpa from the collapsing Coal Mine.
• Ernie admitted she would not have had the courage to save Grandpa and promised not to speak badly about Danie anymore.
• Ernie hung up the laundry and went to help Grandma tend the fire while Su Huai'an and Madam Liu relaxed.
• Madam Liu offered to help prepare dinner, and Su Huai'an told her not to overwork herself.

Madam Liu and Danie prepared the chicken while the old madam watched them closely, and Madam Liu tried to explain why she still respected her mother-in-law. The chapter ended with Zhou Li entering Su Qiao’s room, smiling brightly.

• The old madam told Madam Liu and Danie to clean the chicken thoroughly and warned them not to scheme about it.
• After the old madam left, Danie said she knew her grandmother looked down on their branch, and Madam Liu urged her not to speak ill of her elders.
• Madam Liu began to explain that the old madam had once saved her from starvation or being sold, but stopped before revealing more.
• Madam Liu sent Danie to fetch cold water, and Danie obeyed despite wanting to ask about her mother’s past.
• Zhou Li entered Su Qiao’s room and sat on the bed, smiling without checking whether her daughter was asleep.

Su Qiao woke up to wash her clothes and quilt, then realized she had no coarse paper and decided she could make some to sell. She enlisted Zhou Lihua to do the laundry, leaving her mother to whisper something to her.

• Zhou Lihua rushed out to keep an eye on the food, and Su Qiao recalled how she and Little Haozi used to sneak meals.
• Su Qiao got up to wash her clothes and quilt, then went to the outhouse and complained to 444 about having no coarse paper.
• Su Qiao decided to make coarse paper herself and consider selling it as her first way to earn silver.
• Zhou Lihua offered to let Second Uncle's family wash Su Qiao's clothes, but Su Qiao persuaded her mother to do the laundry instead.
• Zhou Lihua glanced toward the kitchen, leaned close to Su Qiao, and began to whisper.