Chapter Summaries

Su Qiao brought her maternal family improved Xuan Paper, surprising them with its quality and her growing skills. Her mother, Zhou Lihua, revealed that Su Qiao had endured years of hunger and possessed extraordinary strength, leaving the Zhou Family astonished.

• Su Qiao gave her eldest cousin and Fourth Uncle a stack of Xuan Paper she had made, and they praised it as whiter and sturdier than the paper sold in town.
• Old Master Zhou, the old madam, and Zhou Lihua celebrated Su Qiao’s ingenuity and joked about her plans to buy her mother gold jewelry.
• Zhou Lihua said Su Qiao had developed ways to earn money because she had never had enough to eat.
• Su Qiao tried to reassure her maternal grandparents, but Zhou Lihua explained that Su Qiao had been hungry and dizzy throughout her childhood.
• Zhou Lihua described Su Qiao lifting and carrying a three- or four-hundred-jin millstone, convincing the Zhou Family of her extraordinary strength.

Su Qiao visited her maternal family, where her grandmother learned she had often gone hungry and insisted on feeding her well. Su Qiao then explained the work opportunity involving shoes, socks, and bags, and her grandfather accepted after hearing her in-laws had agreed.

• He Shi went to prepare extra rice, corn buns, and dough-drop soup at the old lady’s request.
• Su Qiao’s grandmother comforted her for having gone hungry, while her relatives expressed pity and concern.
• Su Qiao explained to 444 that her extreme strength during her escape from the Coal Mine required an excuse.
• Old Master Zhou rejected the idea of using the toothpaste formula, saying the Zhou family would not act dishonestly.
• Su Qiao described the shoe, sock, and bag work, and Old Master Zhou agreed to accept the in-laws’ offer of help.

Su Qiao brought fabric and her designs to the Zhou family, where her relatives praised her drawing and learning. She asked to study Old Master Zhou’s books on Chinese herbs, while Grandma fussed over feeding her.

• Su Qiao had her male cousins carry the fabric inside and showed Fourth Maternal Uncle her drawings.
• Su Qiao told Fourth Maternal Uncle and Old Master Zhou about her studies, including teaching Little Brother characters.
• Zhou Lihua said Su Qiao should learn to read land deeds and manage accounts like wealthy wives.
• Su Qiao asked Old Master Zhou for books on Chinese herbs and began looking through them while 444 scanned them.
• Grandma brought Su Qiao sugar water and promised to have a chicken stewed to nourish her.

Su Qiao visited her grandmother’s home, where her grandmother insisted on stewing a chicken for her despite Su Qiao’s objections. Su Qiao taught her female relatives embroidery and bag-making, then planned to make cosmetics and scented sachets for them.

• Zhou Lihua complained that the chicken was always slaughtered for Su Qiao, but the old lady dismissed her claim that she had lost weight.
• Su Qiao asked the old lady to spare the chicken, but the old lady ordered her daughters-in-law to prepare it and ready the west room for Su Qiao and her mother.
• After the uncles left, Su Qiao taught her pregnant Third Maternal Aunt, Fourth Maternal Aunt, and two older female cousins how to make shoes, socks, and bags.
• Su Qiao showed her cousins her embroidery and explained that she had made her own outfit with her younger female cousin and second aunt.
• When her second cousin asked how her face had become fair, Su Qiao said she would bring face masks and also make rouge, powder, lip paper, and incense sachets for the women.

Su Qiao rushed to Guyin Temple after a busy morning and brought Feng Han the clothes she had made. Feng Han welcomed her and prepared to share lunch, while Su Qiao offered to roast meat and make him Orleans Baked Chicken.

• Su Qiao taught her maternal aunts and cousins how to make shoes, socks, and bags before leaving with Zhou Lihua to buy cloth and visit Guyin Temple.
• Feng Han read news from the capital and told Yuan Wu he would wait until his opponents had revealed themselves before returning.
• Feng Han waited anxiously for Su Qiao, and Little Gui reported that she had arrived.
• Su Qiao explained how she had hurried from Shahe Village to town and then to Guyin Temple, and Feng Han offered her tea, pastries, and a chance to rest.
• Su Qiao offered to roast meat and make Orleans Baked Chicken, while Feng Han picked up the robe she had brought in her bag.

Su Qiao finished making Feng Han a wine-red robe, and he maneuvered her into helping him put it on. After she praised how it looked, she headed off to prepare roast meat.

• Su Qiao told Feng Han to try on the wine-red robe she had made for him.
• Feng Han emerged in his inner robe and asked Su Qiao to help fasten the sash after the others had left.
• Su Qiao dressed Feng Han and told him to learn to put on his clothes himself next time.
• Feng Han caught Su Qiao as she tried to leave for the kitchen and asked how the robe looked on him.
• Su Qiao praised his appearance, and Feng Han asked why she had not looked at him before trying to leave.

Su Qiao and Feng Han discussed whether she would return with him to the capital, but she was reluctant to leave her village. Feng Han asked her not to seek anyone else, and she promised before going to cook.

• Su Qiao explained that she had rushed to make food for Feng Han and Little White, while Feng Han complained that she had praised his clothes without looking.
• Feng Han embraced Su Qiao and asked her to return to the capital with him, but she refused because she liked her life in the village.
• Feng Han offered to let Su Qiao live and farm at one of his estates near the capital, and she said she would think it over.
• Feng Han asked Su Qiao to promise not to look for anyone else, and she agreed after reminding him that she was only fourteen.
• Su Qiao went to cook, and Feng Han said he would change clothes and help her.

Su Qiao and her family prepared a large batch of goods to sell in town and the county. Feng Han met her on the way and offered to take her to the county in his faster carriage, while his men followed the town-bound group to guard them.

• Su Qiao left Feng Han's residence after lunch to help her family make goods for sale.
• Twenty-one women made more than eight hundred sets of shoes and socks and over six hundred bags in three days.
• Su Qiao's family split into groups, sending Second Uncle, Second Aunt, and Ernie to town while Su Qiao traveled to the county with Zhou Lihua and Su Yihe.
• Feng Han met the ox carts at the foot of North Mountain and sent Yuan Liu with two men to discreetly guard the town-bound group.
• Feng Han offered Su Qiao a ride to the county office, and she agreed to travel in his carriage.

Su Qiao questioned Feng Han about whether he sought revenge or the throne, then set conditions for supporting whatever he chose. The chapter left Feng Han teasing her about whether she feared he would marry someone else.

• Su Yihe and Zhou Lihua loaded their goods into Feng Han's larger carriage, and Little Gui invited Su Qiao to speak with his master.
• Feng Han had the carriage move while Su Qiao was inside, and she accused him of acting shamelessly.
• Su Qiao asked Feng Han whether he was pursuing revenge, the throne, or both.
• Su Qiao told Feng Han he could do as he wished if he avoided other women and stayed alive.
• Feng Han asked Su Qiao if she was worried he would marry someone else.

Su Qiao and Feng Han teased each other about her jealousy before he let her sleep during the journey to the county seat. Once they arrived, Su Qiao began selling her handmade goods at a busy market stall, where customers quickly gathered.

• Su Qiao warned Feng Han that she would make his identity live up to its name, and he laughed and admitted he was happy she felt jealous.
• Feng Han told Su Qiao that he loved her and wanted her affection, then invited her to keep making jealous remarks.
• After noticing Su Qiao was exhausted from working late and rising early, Feng Han covered her with his cloak and let her sleep on the way.
• Feng Han brought Su Qiao and the others to the county seat, arranged a large market stall, and went with the others to the county government office.
• Su Qiao displayed patterned socks, slippers, ornate bags, furry designs, and animal-shaped crossbody bags, drawing a crowd of madams and young ladies.

Su Qiao and her family sold all their shoes, socks, and bags in the county town and town. After reuniting with her second uncle’s family, she noticed Yuan Liu and two Imperial Guards watching from a teahouse.

• Su Qiao raised the prices in the county town, where customers quickly bought all the goods and Imperial Guards stopped troublemakers.
• Su Qiao treated her mother and second brother to a restaurant meal, packed food for the guards, and hurried back to town to check on her second uncle’s family.
• Su Qiao found that her second uncle’s family had also sold all their goods and collected their silver.
• Su Qiao gave her second uncle and aunt roast chicken and saw Yuan Liu sitting with two Imperial Guards in a teahouse across the road.

Su Qiao bought fabric and took Ernie to a jewelry shop, where they discussed buying silver jewelry for the family. There she learned that Zhou Tianyou’s mother and younger sister had come to see him, and she left Ernie considering what she wanted.

• Su Qiao thanked Yuan Liu for protecting them, then sent her relatives home while she and Ernie continued shopping.
• Su Qiao bought twelve bolts of cloth and three bundles of scraps from the cloth shop.
• Su Qiao heard that Madam Xia and Zhou Tianyou’s younger sister had come to see him after Madam Zhou heard he was spending time with a village girl.
• Su Qiao explained that she wanted to buy silver jewelry first and save her earnings to build a house for Ernie.
• Su Qiao urged Ernie to choose jewelry, pointing out that Xia Xiaodie already had several pieces.

Su Qiao comforted Ernie about Xia Xiaodie and gave her a pair of silver earrings. She explained how to expose people who pretended to love someone for themselves, leaving Ernie curious about Xia Xiaodie's true nature.

• Ernie complained that Xia Xiaodie and her mother had harmed others but still acted as if they were in the right.
• Su Qiao said that people like Xia Xiaodie blamed others whenever their own interests were affected.
• Su Qiao put a pair of silver earrings on Ernie and persuaded her to keep them by promising to buy a matching pair for herself.
• Su Qiao told Ernie that a person’s façade could be tested by asking for help during a fabricated financial crisis.

Su Qiao explained how Xia Xiaodie would supposedly manipulate a rejected suitor, leaving Ernie confused about the meaning of “saying one thing while meaning another.” She began illustrating the phrase with an example involving a silver hairpin.

• Su Qiao described how a woman might reject a man after learning his family was bankrupt, while pretending to be heartbroken and devoted to him.
• Su Qiao told Ernie that Xia Xiaodie and her mother would behave the same way, and Ernie asked whether Xia Xiaodie was really like that.
• Su Qiao explained that “saying one thing while meaning another” meant acting as though someone wanted the opposite of what they truly desired.
• Su Qiao used a silver hairpin as an example of how Xia Xiaodie might want a man to buy her something without asking directly, and Ernie wondered how he would know.

Su Qiao explained to Ernie how manipulative women could make men and bystanders take their side, while Madam Zhou and her daughter overheard. Ernie connected the examples to Xia Xiaodie and her mother, recalling how they had turned villagers against Su Qiao’s family after being caught with the stolen formula.

• Su Qiao described how a woman could act hesitant or wronged to make a man spend money or blame an innocent woman.
• Ernie sympathized with the innocent women and called men who fell for such schemes foolish.
• Madam Zhou and her daughter overheard Su Qiao’s remarks at the gold jewelry counter and reacted unpleasantly.
• Su Qiao warned that a manipulative woman might abandon a man in hardship and leave him blinded to her deceit.
• Ernie recalled how Xia Xiaodie and her mother had stolen Su Qiao’s family formula, then cried to the villagers and gained their sympathy when their tooth powder scheme failed.

Su Qiao advised Ernie to keep her distance from Xia Xiaodie and her mother, then continued shopping for jewelry. Feng Han arrived at the shop and suggested buying Su Qiao a set of ornaments, though she said the jewelry was for her mother and grandmother.

• Su Qiao told Ernie that Xia Xiaodie and her mother had turned the villagers against them by playing on sympathy, and Ernie agreed to avoid them.
• Su Qiao signaled the shop assistant to bring out the silver bracelets and earrings they had chosen.
• Feng Han entered the shop, and Little Gui ordered the other customers to leave; Madam Zhou took Zhou Shirou and hurried out.
• The shopkeeper nervously greeted Feng Han, who asked Su Qiao whether she was buying a set of head ornaments.
• Su Qiao said she was buying jewelry for her mother and grandmother, but Feng Han insisted she was old enough to wear prettier ornaments.

Su Qiao refused Feng Han’s offer to return to the capital and bought jewelry to give away, insisting on paying for it. As they left town, she told Ernie that Feng Han wanted her to train and help raise a pet, and Ernie realized she meant the huge White Tiger.

• Feng Han offered to have the Imperial Workshop make jewelry for Su Qiao, but she refused to go to the capital.
• Su Qiao bought three pairs of bracelets and three pairs of earrings as gifts, and the shopkeeper accepted thirty taels after Feng Han told him to take her money.
• Feng Han asked Su Qiao to buy jewelry for herself, but she said she disliked wearing it and had no need for more.
• Su Qiao and Ernie rode away in the loaded carriage while Feng Han boarded his own carriage.
• Ernie asked about Feng Han, and Su Qiao said he wanted her to train and help raise a pet; Ernie asked whether she meant the huge White Tiger.

Su Qiao returned home with Ernie and reported that their sales had earned the family 485 taels. She also gave the women silver jewelry bought at a discount after meeting Feng Han, leaving the old man troubled by their repeated encounters with him.

• Su Qiao spotted Feng Han smiling at her from his carriage and glared at him before closing the curtain.
• Su Qiao told Ernie that the White Tiger had not bitten her because she was strong and fast.
• Su Qiao returned home with Ernie, unloaded the goods, and counted out 485 taels in earnings for her family.
• Su Qiao revealed that she had bought silver bracelets and earrings for the women in the family and for herself and Ernie.
• Ernie explained that the shopkeeper had charged half price because they had met Feng Han, and the old man grew troubled.

Su Qiao and Ernie gave silver jewelry to their grandmother, who gladly accepted their filial gift. Zhou Lihua and Madam Liu also tried on jewelry, leaving the family sharing in the excitement.

• Su Qiao reassured the old man that the shopkeeper had charged only the cost price, and he accepted her explanation.
• The old madam suggested that Su Qiao and Ernie take the jewelry for their future marriages, but Su Qiao gave her the bracelets and earrings chosen for her instead.
• Su Qiao promised to buy her grandparents gold and jade jewelry and servants once the family earned more money.
• Zhou Lihua revealed that she had secretly put on jewelry meant for the old madam, and Su Qiao told her it looked good.
• Ernie urged Madam Liu to try on the remaining jewelry and personally helped put it on her.

Su Qiao discussed the family’s plans for their silver, new goods, and a wind-powered water wheel. The family prepared to deliver cloth and pay the artisans the next morning, while Su Qiao stayed behind at the old master’s request.

• Madam Liu agreed to wear the new item after the old madam encouraged her, and the family admired it, forgetting the silver on the table.
• Su Qiao stopped Little Haozi from biting a silver coin, and he asked whether they could build a new house because he no longer wanted to share a room with his brother.
• Su Qiao told the old master that her maternal relatives were nearly finished making the wind-powered water wheel and that she would bring them over to assemble it.
• Su Qiao explained that she had bought twelve bolts of cloth and would continue sending work to artisans while preparing new patterns and bag designs.
• The old master and old madam agreed to deliver the cloth and pay the artisans the next morning, then the old master asked Su Qiao to stay behind.