Chapter Summaries

Su Qiao agreed to make Feng Han a set of ordinary clothes at Guyin Temple when she had time. Feng Han arranged for Yuan Liu to watch over her brother, while his feelings for Su Qiao continued to show through his actions.

• Feng Han asked Su Qiao to cook for him daily at Guyin Temple, then asked her to make him ordinary clothes when she refused the first request.
• Su Qiao agreed to make the clothes at Guyin Temple, where she could avoid being discovered at home.
• Feng Han offered to take Su Qiao back, but she refused because the journey was long and she worried about his safety at night.
• Feng Han ordered Yuan Liu to watch over Su Qiao's brother, and Su Qiao told Yuan Liu to let him roam the mountains as long as he stayed alive and unharmed.

Su Qiao accepted Yuan Liu’s offer to help her in the future, then left the mountain with Feng Han and his men. Feng Han brought her back toward Willow Tree Village on horseback, where his close hold made her uncomfortable.

• Su Qiao told Yuan Liu she might ask him for help again, and he promised to do his utmost.
• Yuan Wu carried Su Qiao’s basket, and they found Feng Han’s riders waiting beside a mountain path.
• Feng Han offered Su Qiao a horse, then pulled her onto his horse when she said she could not ride.
• Feng Han rode off with Su Qiao seated in front of him, and she grew irritated when he held her close and told her not to move.

Feng Han escorted Su Qiao back to the village and teased her about looking forward to something, while Su Qiao remained unsure what he meant. He rode away with his group, and she realized he had deceived everyone about his true nature.

• Feng Han pulled Su Qiao into his arms to shield her from the wind, and they teased each other as they rode.
• Feng Han stopped outside the village and lifted Su Qiao down, then asked whether she wanted him to escort her inside.
• Su Qiao declined, took her back basket from Yuan Wu, and told Feng Han to hurry back because it was unsafe at night.
• Feng Han asked when Su Qiao would make his clothes, and she said she would come the day after tomorrow because she had something to do tomorrow.
• Feng Han told Su Qiao to look forward to something before riding away, and she realized he had deceived everyone.

Su Qiao returned home after getting lost in the mountains, while Su Yichen remained missing. The family planned to search for him and arrange for him and Su Yihe to travel to school together, and Su Qiao was welcomed back with an extra-large meal.

• Su Qiao met Ernie at the village entrance and told her she had gotten lost while gathering herbs.
• Su Qiao returned to the Su residence, where her family warned her not to go so deep into the mountains again.
• The family worried that Su Yichen had not returned, but Su Yaohui and Zhou Lihua guessed he might have stayed at the private school.
• The old man decided to go to town the next morning to look for Su Yichen and an ox cart, and planned for Su Yihe to attend school with him.
• The old woman served Su Qiao extra food, and the family accepted it because Su Qiao worked hard and had earned them silver.

Su Qiao prepared tooth powder before setting out with her grandfather and Su Yihe, then used 444 to check on Su Yichen. The screen showed Su Yichen stranded and hungry with Yuan Liu, who challenged him to catch a snake for food.

• Su Qiao asked her grandfather and Su Yihe to wait half an hour while she finished preparing tooth powder.
• Su Qiao released 444 and told it to check on Su Yichen.
• Su Qiao saw Su Yichen sitting exhausted and injured across a fire from the composed Yuan Liu.
• Yuan Liu ate roasted snake meat and told Su Yichen to catch a snake if he wanted food.
• Yuan Liu mocked Su Yichen for fearing snakes and made him choose between catching one and starving.

Yuan Liu pushed the starving Su Yichen to catch and cook a snake, helping him overcome his fear. After eating, Su Yichen felt more confident, and Yuan Liu challenged him to be as courageous as his younger sister.

• Su Yichen reached for wild fruit, but Yuan Liu warned him that it might be poisonous and pointed him toward grass snakes instead.
• Hungry and exhausted, Su Yichen searched the grass and caught a snake.
• Yuan Liu lent Su Yichen a knife and instructed him to kill, skin, and roast the snake.
• Su Yichen ate the snake meat and admitted that catching one had not been as difficult as he feared.
• Yuan Liu encouraged Su Yichen by comparing him to his younger sister and reminding him that he had escaped wolves and tigers.

Su Yichen remembered how he had survived a terrifying night lost in the mountains and resolved to work hard for his family. Yuan Liu escorted him toward Willow Tree Village, hoping Su Yichen would put in a good word for him with Su Qiao.

• Su Yichen recalled fleeing through the dark mountains, nearly giving up, and eventually surviving until Yuan Liu found him.
• Remembering his younger sister’s efforts for their family, Su Yichen resolved to work hard.
• Yuan Liu agreed to take Su Yichen to Willow Tree Village and asked him to speak well of him to Su Qiao.
• Yuan Liu reflected that his master had been especially angered by Xiao Wu suggesting that Su Qiao become a concubine.

Su Qiao discovered that a general goods store had copied her toothbrushes and tooth powder and was undercutting her prices. She revealed that the store belonged to Erya’s maternal grandfather’s family, prompting Zhou Lihua to blame Liu Yuehong and rush to confront her.

• Su Yichen arrived with Yuan Liu and calmly described the frightening events he had experienced the previous night.
• Su Qiao, Su Yihe, and Ernie returned from town without selling any toothbrushes or tooth powder.
• Su Qiao explained that a general goods store had copied their products and was selling them for less.
• Su Qiao told her family that the store belonged to Erya’s maternal grandfather’s family.
• Zhou Lihua accused Liu Yuehong of copying their products and said she would go confront her.

Su Qiao discovered that Little Haozi had unintentionally revealed the family’s toothbrush and tooth powder business, and the Xia Family had quickly copied it. Zhou Lihua stormed toward the Xia Family’s home to confront Liu Yuehong.

• Su Qiao questioned how Liu Yuehong had learned about the family’s business, and the family suspected Zhou Lihua before Su Qiao asked Little Haozi.
• Little Haozi confessed that he had bragged to Goudan about earning silver to build a house and buy land.
• Zhou Lihua beat Little Haozi, but Su Qiao pulled him away and said other sellers had been inevitable.
• Zhou Lihua rushed out to confront Liu Yuehong, and Madam Liu caught up with her at the threshing ground.
• Zhou Lihua shoved Madam Liu aside and shouted accusations at Liu Yuehong outside the Xia Family’s home.

Zhou Lihua confronted Liu Yuehong and the Xia Family in public, accusing Liu of stealing the Su Family’s toothbrush and tooth-powder recipe for her maternal family’s shop. Liu denied the accusation, and the dispute remained unresolved as Zhou pointed to matching designs and bottles as evidence.

• Su Yaohui scolded Zhou Lihua for publicly making accusations, but Liu Yuehong and the Xia Family came out to face the commotion.
• Zhou Lihua swore that Liu had once tried to break her engagement and marry into the Su Family, causing the villagers to doubt Liu.
• Liu Yuehong threatened to harm herself, but Xia Qiang restrained her as Old Master Xia and others tried to calm the dispute.
• Zhou Lihua refused to discuss the matter inside and accused Liu of sending Goudan to trick Sanlang into revealing the Su Family’s recipe, then giving it to her maternal family.
• Liu denied stealing the recipe and argued that other shops could sell toothbrushes and tooth powder too.
• Zhou insisted that the goods at Liu’s maternal uncle’s shop had the same carved patterns and identical bottles as the Su Family’s products.

Zhou Lihua confronted Liu Yuehong and Xia Xiaodie, accusing them of wronging the Su Family before leaving with Su Qiao. Back at the Xia household, Liu Yuehong’s husband struck her over the old broken engagement, and she broke down and tried to throw herself against a table.

• Zhou Lihua grabbed Liu Yuehong by the hair, and Madam Liu and Su Qiao restrained her before Zhou slapped Liu Yuehong.
• Xia Xiaodie defended her mother, while Zhou accused her of nearly causing Su Qiao’s death in a coal mine; Su Qiao stopped Zhou from saying more and persuaded her to leave.
• Zhou warned Liu Yuehong and Xia Xiaodie not to steal from the Su Family again, then returned home with Su Qiao as villagers watched the Xia women in disapproval.
• Old Master Xia and the old madam rebuked Liu Yuehong and went into the courtyard, followed by the other household members.
• Liu Yuehong’s husband slapped her and asked whether she had once wanted to end their engagement to marry Su Yaohui.
• Liu Yuehong protested that she had served her family faithfully, then tried to hurl herself at a table as Xia Xiaodie and Goudan held her back.

The Xia Family confronted Liu Yuehong over taking the Su Family’s toothbrush and tooth powder formula and giving it to her maternal uncle. Liu Yuehong fainted and was carried away, while Old Master Xia worried that the family’s reputation had already suffered.

• Old Master Xia demanded that Goudan explain whether he had asked Little Mouse of Su Family about the toothbrushes and tooth powder, and Goudan’s reaction exposed Liu Yuehong’s actions.
• Old Master Xia asked Liu Yuehong to explain herself, but Xia Qiang turned away and Old Madam Xia rejected Liu Yuehong’s usual threats to harm herself.
• Liu Yuehong fainted, and Xia Qiang carried her back to the east room while Xia Xiaodie and her younger brother followed.
• Old Madam Xia dismissed the accusations about Goudan asking for the formula, but Old Master Xia warned that outsiders would not believe the Xia Family and recalled other scandals that had spread.

The Xia family discussed Erya’s ambitions and the dispute with the Su family, while Madam Tang wondered how Danie had changed and whether the Su family’s new products were profitable. The Su family’s old master then ordered his family not to make another public scene.

• The Xia old lady urged Old Master Xia to find Erya a husband soon, but he objected to marrying her off young or making her a concubine.
• The old lady blamed Zhou Lihua for the dispute, and Madam Tang said the Su family had new clothes and ate meat often, suggesting their toothbrushes and tooth powder brought in money.
• Madam Tang remarked that Danie had become clever, attractive, and hardworking, but Old Master Xia warned her not to pursue a marriage between the families.
• Xia Wu cut Madam Tang off and sent her to do her work.
• The Su family returned to their main house, where the old master ordered them not to make another public scene and bring shame on the family.

Su Qiao explained that the Liu family’s tooth powder was an inferior imitation of her product and urged her family to wait for customers’ reactions before deciding what to do. After the family went to eat, the old man considered buying more land.

• Zhou Lihua and the old lady complained that the eldest branch had gone too far, while the old man asked to hear Su Qiao’s plan.
• Su Qiao showed the family tooth powder bought from the Liu family’s general store and explained that it used different ingredients and worked less well than hers.
• Ernie and Zhou Lihua celebrated the Liu family’s poor product, but Su Qiao clarified that it was inferior rather than fake and recommended waiting to see how customers reacted.
• The family left the main room to eat, and the old man said they should buy more land, puzzling the old lady.

The Old Su Family decided to invest its silver in more farmland, while postponing marriage plans until the sons’ schooling and exams were clearer. The old man bought paddy fields and nearby wasteland, and Su Qiao reassured her grandmother that the family could still save enough to build a new house.

• The old man persuaded the old woman that buying land would help the family and give their sons more to inherit, while they agreed to delay marriage plans until after the New Year.
• The family celebrated the decision to buy land, and the old man purchased ten mu of paddy fields for thirty taels and nearby wasteland for six taels.
• The old woman questioned how they would plow and irrigate the new fields and protested that they needed to save for a new house.
• The old man explained that he planned to buy an ox cart and use the wasteland to expand their home and grow vegetables and sweet potatoes.
• Su Qiao told her grandmother that the family would earn more silver and soon be able to build a new house.

Su Qiao reassured her family that she could arrange irrigation for their fields, then showed her grandmother the new embroidered goods she and Ernie planned to sell themselves. The chapter left Su Qiao considering more ways to use wood, including carved lettering.

• Su Qiao promised to find a way to bring water to the fields, and her grandfather assured the family that he would handle the matter.
• Su Qiao called her grandmother over to inspect the goods she and Ernie were preparing to sell in town instead of taking them to the embroidery workshop.
• Su Qiao showed her grandmother embroidered socks and slippers, explaining how the new products could be made from leftover fabric.
• Ernie presented a crossbody bag with a wooden button and demonstrated how easily it fastened.
• Su Qiao reflected on the many things that could be made from wood and recalled her skill at carving characters.

Su Qiao persuaded the old lady to let them use stored fabric to make socks, slippers, and bags to sell, while the old master urged her to pay attention to Little Haozi’s education. Su Qiao went to find her younger brother and discovered him fighting several boys.

• Su Qiao convinced the old lady to provide fabric for a small first batch of goods to test the market.
• Su Qiao and Ernie reassured the old lady that they would not waste the cloth, while the old master silently watched their scheme.
• The old master told Su Qiao to make sure Little Haozi started learning characters and arithmetic, hinting that she should not neglect him.
• Su Qiao sent Ernie back with the socks and slippers to ask Second Aunt for help, then went to find Little Brother.
• Su Qiao found Little Brother fighting seven or eight boys, who had surrounded and beaten him.

Su Qiao rescued Little Haozi from a group of children who were beating him and lectured him about picking fights and knowing when to retreat. She then took him to the bamboo grove at the foot of the mountain to show him what real combat power looked like.

• Su Qiao threatened the children attacking Little Haozi by splitting a thick wooden stick with her palm, and they fled.
• Su Qiao carried Little Haozi away and scolded him for getting into fights he could not win.
• Little Haozi explained that he had wanted revenge because Goudan’s family had tricked Su Qiao’s family out of a recipe.
• Su Qiao told Little Haozi that retreating strategically was wiser than charging into a fight outnumbered.
• Su Qiao grabbed Little Haozi and took him to the bamboo grove to demonstrate her fighting ability.

Su Qiao tried to persuade Little Haozi to learn martial arts by promising he could become a Protector General, then demonstrated her sword skills in the bamboo grove. Little Haozi watched in awe as she pierced a thick bamboo stalk, leaving him amazed by her abilities.

• Su Qiao asked Little Haozi whether he wanted to study for the Imperial Examination or learn martial arts, and he rejected studying but eagerly chose martial arts.
• Su Qiao described the hardship required to become a Protector General, making Little Haozi hesitate when he learned he would have to excel at everything.
• Su Qiao asked the host to confirm that Little Haozi could cultivate internal energy, and the host said he could.
• Su Qiao performed a powerful sword technique among the bamboo, using a branch to pierce a thick bamboo stalk.
• Little Haozi stared in astonishment and told Su Qiao that the branch had gone through the bamboo.

Su Qiao convinced Little Haozi that her strength came from a secret martial arts manual and agreed to teach him. The chapter ended with her telling him that since he could not read, learning the skills might take twenty or thirty years.

• Little Haozi admired Su Qiao's strength and asked when she had learned martial arts.
• Su Qiao showed Little Haozi a manual and claimed she had trained with it since childhood.
• Su Qiao warned Little Haozi that only the person who found the manual was destined to learn its martial arts, so he had to keep their lessons secret.
• Little Haozi agreed to hide the secret and asked Su Qiao to teach him so he could become a general.
• Su Qiao told Little Haozi he would need to learn to read first, then said that without reading he might need twenty or thirty years to master the martial arts.