Chapter Summaries

Su Youqing and Old Lady Su considered keeping Su Qiao to exploit her labor and marry her off for a bride price, while Liu Chunfang and Old Lady Liu worried that pursuing money could damage Su Qiao’s future. Su Qiao silently assessed her own frail, neglected condition as the family discussed the divorce and college expenses.

• The Old Village Chief warned Old Lady Su and Su Youqing to either divide the money and land or risk Su Youqing being fined and arrested.
• Old Lady Su and Su Youqing decided they might keep Su Qiao so she could work for them and bring in a bride price, despite her wish to attend college.
• Old Lady Liu urged Su Qiao to give up the money, and Liu Chunfang offered to save for her college expenses rather than risk harming her reputation.
• Old Lady Liu recalled that she and her husband had offered to support Liu Chunfang, and Liu Chunfang cried as she apologized for refusing their help.
• Su Qiao looked at her calloused hands and dry hair, privately recognizing how badly poverty and neglect had affected her.

Su Qiao rejected Old Lady Su’s plan to keep her in the family and marry her off, insisting that she would attend college. She left the family facing the prospect of paying hundreds of yuan for her education, while she remained determined to recover the fields and money they had taken from her grandmother.

• Su Qiao promised Old Lady Liu and Liu Chunfang that she would reclaim the fields and money taken from Old Lady Liu, and said she would get into the country’s best university on scholarship.
• 444 told Su Qiao that Old Lady Su and her son had changed their minds and wanted her to stay and work for them while marrying her off for a bride price.
• Old Lady Su declared that Su Qiao could stay only if Liu Chunfang left, and Old Lady Liu nearly attacked her before Su Qiao stopped her.
• Su Qiao told Old Lady Su that she had promised her maternal grandfather she would attend college, but Old Lady Su called her a burden and urged her to marry instead.
• Su Qiao argued that opposing her education meant obstructing the government, then explained that university would cost roughly seven or eight hundred yuan in total.

Su Qiao challenged the Su family to let her continue her education, while Old Lady Su resisted giving up money and offered only poor fields. When Yang Yue'e defended Old Lady Su’s offer, Su Qiao accused her of interfering in the Old Su Family’s affairs because she had feelings for Su Qiao’s father, leaving Yang Yue'e rattled and the Old Village Chief warning Su Qiao not to make reckless accusations.

• Su Qiao warned Old Lady Su and Su Youqing that she would make a scene if they kept her from school after she passed her exams, and the Old Village Chief urged them to think carefully.
• Su Youqing gave up on keeping Su Qiao when he learned that educating her would cost eight hundred yuan, but Old Lady Su refused to pay and offered the family poor sandy fields instead.
• Old Lady Liu angrily rejected the offer, and Yang Yue'e argued that sandy fields were still useful and should not be dismissed.
• Su Qiao calmed Old Lady Liu and told Yang Yue'e that she had no right to interfere in the Old Su Family’s affairs while Su Qiao’s parents were still married.
• Yang Yue'e denied Su Qiao’s accusation, and the Old Village Chief warned Su Qiao against making reckless claims as she insisted she was telling the truth.

Su Qiao accused Yang Yue'e and Su Youqing of having an affair and conspiring to send Liu Chunfang and her away without money. As Yang Fugui arrived to defend his sister, Su Qiao insisted she had evidence, leaving the accusation unresolved.

• Su Qiao told Liu Chunfang that Yang Yue'e had been involved with Su Youqing for a long time and accused them of trying to drive them out penniless.
• Su Qiao confronted Guo Qiaoqiao, claiming Su Youqing had bought her clothes and given her spending money while neglecting his own daughter.
• Yang Yue'e cried that she had been widowed and worked hard, while Guo Qiaoqiao denied receiving new clothes from Su Youqing.
• Yang Fugui arrived and challenged anyone who was bullying his sister, prompting villagers to fall quiet.
• The Old Village Chief warned Yang Fugui not to interfere before the matter was settled and cautioned Su Qiao against making accusations without proof.
• Su Qiao swore her claims were true and said she had evidence.

Su Qiao confronted Yang Yue'e and Guo Qiaoqiao by revealing that Yang Yue'e was more than three months pregnant, despite Guo Qiaoqiao's father having been dead for over half a year. The villagers turned suspicious of Yang Yue'e, while Su Qiao proposed confirming the pregnancy and demanded that she name the child's father.

• Su Qiao revealed Yang Yue'e's pregnancy, shocking the villagers and enraging Yang Yue'e.
• Old Lady Liu defended Su Qiao, while Liu Chunfang realized her late husband had likely been involved with Yang Yue'e and wept.
• Su Qiao comforted Liu Chunfang and suggested having Granny Li or a town doctor confirm the pregnancy.
• Guo Qiaoqiao argued that the child might not be Su Qiao's father's, and Su Qiao challenged Yang Yue'e to identify the real father.
• Su Qiao warned that the man's wife might retaliate, making several village women suspicious and hostile toward Yang Yue'e.

Granny Li confirmed that Yang Yue'e was more than three months pregnant, stirring up the villagers’ suspicions and anger over who had fathered the child. Yang Fugui slapped his sister and blamed Guo Qiaoqiao, while Old Lady Su rushed to shield Yang Yue'e for the sake of her unborn grandson.

• Old Village Chief sent for Granny Li, who examined Yang Yue'e and confirmed that she was a little over three months pregnant.
• The villagers gossiped about Yang Yue'e’s pregnancy and questioned whether Su Youqing or another man had fathered the baby.
• Tian Guihua accused the village men of lusting after Yang Yue'e and threatened her husband, Li Zhuzi, when his excuse suggested he had thought about her.
• Yang Fugui slapped Yang Yue'e and berated her for disgracing him, then blamed Guo Qiaoqiao for failing to keep her mother in check.
• Old Lady Su stepped between Yang Fugui and Yang Yue'e, pleading with him not to hurt her precious grandson.

Su Qiao exposed Su Youqing and Yang Yue'e's affair and negotiated for her mother Chunfang to leave the Su family. Old Lady Su agreed to pay, but Su Qiao demanded 800 yuan, and Su Youqing challenged her for being heartless.

• Yang Yue'e shoved Su Youqing away after he asked whether she was all right, while villagers realized he was the father of her unborn child.
• Su Qiao told the village chief that she and Chunfang would leave the Su family if they received 515 yuan in tuition fees and their farmland.
• Su Youqing urged Old Lady Su to pay, but she refused until Su Qiao warned that Yang Yue'e's child could not be registered or attend school without the divorce.
• Old Lady Su agreed to pay for the sake of her grandson, and Su Qiao demanded 800 yuan instead of 515.
• Su Youqing called Su Qiao heartless for demanding the money from her biological father.

Su Qiao pressed Old Lady Su to compensate her for the poor land, while villagers condemned the Su Family’s treatment of Chunfang and her daughter. After Old Lady Su insulted Lin Xiuying, Xiao Jingsheng threatened the crowd, and Su Qiao confronted Old Lady Su over defying the government.

• Su Qiao argued that the Su Family should pay her a few hundred yuan for the unproductive plot at Xiahe Ridge.
• The Old Village Chief and villagers backed Su Qiao, and Tian Guihua said Chunfang and her daughter could sue for compensation.
• Old Lady Su cursed Tian Guihua and Lin Xiuying, prompting Xiao Jingsheng to threaten anyone who insulted his mother.
• Su Qiao approached Lin Xiuying and Xiao Jingsheng, then accused Old Lady Su of going against the government.

Su Qiao and Liu Chunfang severed ties with the Su family and secured the money and land deed they had received. Su Qiao revealed that the family had planned to marry her to an abusive older man, leaving Liu Chunfang furious and grateful her daughter had escaped.

• The Old Village Chief ordered Old Lady Su to give Chunfang and her daughter the money and transfer the land, and he agreed to witness Su Qiao severing ties with the Su family.
• After the others left, Old Lady Liu hid the money and land deed, and Su Qiao told her and Liu Chunfang that they would rely on one another from then on.
• Su Qiao urged Liu Chunfang to stop dwelling on the Su family and reminded her how badly they had treated them.
• Su Qiao revealed that the Su family had planned to marry her to an abusive man nearing forty, enraging Liu Chunfang and Old Lady Liu.
• Old Lady Liu said Su Qiao's late father had regretted supporting Liu Chunfang's marriage to Su Youqing.

Liu Chunfang reunited with Old Lady Liu and worried that Yang Fugui might make trouble for their family, but Su Qiao reassured them that the Su family's sandy field would be useful. The family took comfort in their fresh start and Su Qiao revealed that a future government requisition could bring substantial compensation.

• Old Lady Liu and Liu Chunfang cried together as Liu Chunfang apologized for staying away and regretted not returning before her father died.
• Su Qiao comforted them, and Old Lady Liu praised her for standing firm against the Su family to secure the field and money.
• Liu Chunfang worried that Yang Fugui might retaliate when they delivered their grain, but Old Lady Liu and Su Qiao said he could not act against them if they followed the rules.
• Liu Chunfang accepted that divorce was worthwhile because it freed her and Su Qiao from the Old Su Family and eased Old Lady Liu's worries.
• Su Qiao explained that the one-and-a-half-mu field could bring substantial compensation if the government requisitioned it.

Su Qiao told Old Lady Liu that a planned railway might pass through their land and warned her to protect the deed. The next morning, Su Qiao went into the mountains to hunt so she could bring meat home for her mother and grandmother.

• Su Qiao told Old Lady Liu and Liu Chunfang about the possible railway and the compensation their land might bring.
• Su Qiao urged Old Lady Liu to keep the land deed safe, and Old Lady Liu promised to guard it.
• At dawn, Su Qiao set out with a Back Basket and woodcutter's knife to gather pigweed and wild vegetables.
• As Su Qiao climbed the mountain, she told 444 she planned to hunt because her mother and grandmother rarely got meat.

Su Qiao gathered rabbits and rare medicinal herbs in the mountains to help care for her family, then rescued Xiao Jingsheng from a venomous snake. She warned him about the danger as he turned away in irritation.

• Su Qiao cultivated Internal Energy and went into the mountains, with 444 scanning for small animals as she searched for medicinal herbs.
• After six hours, Su Qiao returned with rabbits, two ginseng roots, and a lingzhi mushroom, explaining that she wanted to help her mother and grandmother while keeping a low profile.
• 444 spotted Xiao Jingsheng ahead, apparently teasing a snake in the grass.
• Su Qiao recognized the snake as highly venomous and knocked it away with her woodcutter's knife.
• Xiao Jingsheng turned to leave, and Su Qiao hurried after him to warn him that the snake could have killed him.

Su Qiao gave Xiao Jingsheng two rabbits and a bundle of herbs for his sick mother, telling him how to prepare the medicine. Xiao Jingsheng questioned her ability to treat illness, but Su Qiao insisted he take the herbs.

• Xiao Jingsheng complained that Su Qiao had humiliated him, and she offered him two rabbits she had caught.
• Su Qiao told Xiao Jingsheng not to catch venomous snakes again and forced him to accept the rabbits as thanks for his mother's support.
• Su Qiao handed Xiao Jingsheng a bundle of herbs and warned that his mother's illness could become tuberculosis if left untreated.
• Xiao Jingsheng asked whether Su Qiao knew how to treat illness, and she told him to take the herbs home and boil them as directed.

Su Qiao reassured Xiao Jingsheng that the illness she was treating could be cured, then left him with rabbits and medicine packets before returning home. She also gave Tian Guihua a rabbit to repay her help, and arrived to find Liu Chunfang worried after searching for her.

• Su Qiao told Xiao Jingsheng the illness would be cured within half a month and offered to prepare him medicine, but he refused.
• Su Qiao left Xiao Jingsheng with two rabbits and medicine packets, while he grumbled that he would return four rabbits next time.
• Su Qiao detoured to Tian Guihua's house and tossed a rabbit into the courtyard to repay her kindness.
• Su Qiao returned home, where her grandmother said Liu Chunfang had gone out searching for her.
• Liu Chunfang came out and asked Su Qiao if she was all right after she had been gone so long.

Su Qiao brought home three hares she caught and made Liu Chunfang and Old Lady Liu proud, then went to rest and prepare medicine. Xiao Jingsheng told his sick mother that Su Qiao had given him two hares, and Lin Xiuying insisted he return them.

• Su Qiao showed Liu Chunfang and Old Lady Liu three hares she had smoked out of a rabbit burrow.
• Liu Chunfang and Old Lady Liu praised Su Qiao, then urged her to wash up and rest while they prepared the rabbits.
• Su Qiao went to rest, intending to prepare medicine.
• Xiao Jingsheng gave Lin Xiuying warm water when her coughing worsened, then told her Su Qiao had given him two hares.
• Lin Xiuying scolded Xiao Jingsheng for accepting the meat and told him to return it, then punched him when he claimed Su Qiao might have beaten him.

Xiao Jingsheng persuaded Lin Xiuying to keep the rabbits Su Qiao had given him, promising to repay her later, and tried to reassure his mother about their future. After Lin Xiuying insisted he pursue university, Xiao Jingsheng brought out the medicine Su Qiao had prepared for her, then realized he had called Su Qiao “Xiao Qiao.”

• Lin Xiuying warned Xiao Jingsheng not to hit girls, and he explained that Su Qiao had insisted he take the rabbits.
• Xiao Jingsheng convinced Lin Xiuying to keep the rabbits for now, promising to repay Su Qiao in the future.
• Lin Xiuying urged Xiao Jingsheng to study hard and get into university, while he worried about their finances and who would care for her.
• After Lin Xiuying's coughing worsened, Xiao Jingsheng fetched the medicine packet Su Qiao had given him and said she expected Lin Xiuying to recover after half a month of taking it.
• Xiao Jingsheng realized he had referred to Su Qiao as “Xiao Qiao.”

Xiao Jingsheng hesitated to give Lin Xiuying the medicine Su Qiao had provided, then brought Su Qiao rabbit meat and eggs at his mother's request. He insisted he would repay her double, while struggling with his growing thoughts about her.

• Xiao Jingsheng considered taking Lin Xiuying to the Health Clinic but agreed to boil Su Qiao's medicine after his mother praised her skills.
• Lin Xiuying said she would clean the rabbits and stew rabbit meat, though Xiao Jingsheng urged her to rest.
• That evening, Xiao Jingsheng brought Su Qiao a bowl of rabbit meat topped with three eggs.
• Su Qiao questioned why his family was giving her food, and Xiao Jingsheng insisted he would repay her double.

Su Qiao explained that Xiao Jingsheng brought meat and eggs to thank her for treating Aunt Xiuying, then reassured her family that she had learned medicine from her maternal grandfather and books. She gave Old Lady Liu and Liu Chunfang packets of strengthening medicine, and showed them she had prepared some for herself too.

• Old Lady Liu and Liu Chunfang tried to refuse the food Xiao Jingsheng had delivered because his family was poor.
• Su Qiao explained that Xiao Jingsheng brought the food to thank her for preparing medicine and treating Aunt Xiuying.
• Liu Chunfang worried that Su Qiao had acted recklessly, but Su Qiao said she had studied medicine with her maternal grandfather and read medical books.
• Old Lady Liu praised Su Qiao’s abilities and became emotional remembering her late husband.
• Su Qiao gave Old Lady Liu and Liu Chunfang a month’s supply of body-strengthening medicine and said she had prepared a packet for herself too.

Su Qiao settled into life at her mother’s home and prepared for school while Liu Chunfang resolved to stand up for her. On the walk to morning study, Xiao Jingsheng followed her, reported that his mother was improving, and Su Qiao arranged to check her pulse after school.

• Liu Chunfang took the medicine packet from Su Qiao and promised to give her a bowl each morning and evening.
• Liu Chunfang regretted making Su Qiao suffer, and Old Lady Liu urged her to hold her head high and not let anyone bully her.
• Su Qiao left before dawn for school and stopped by the creek after noticing Xiao Jingsheng following her.
• Xiao Jingsheng said he was protecting Su Qiao and told her that his mother had improved after taking the medicine.
• Su Qiao told Xiao Jingsheng to wait for her after school so she could check his mother's pulse and teach him to hunt.

Su Qiao took Xiao Jingsheng into the mountain to teach him how to hunt, using burning grass and medicinal powder to knock out small animals. Xiao Jingsheng watched her method in astonishment and learned how it worked.

• Xiao Jingsheng challenged Su Qiao to meet him by the river and prove he could catch a rabbit.
• Su Qiao and Xiao Jingsheng headed toward the mountain after school, and she pulled him up a steep slope with ease.
• Su Qiao made a fire at the edge of the woods while Xiao Jingsheng gathered dry branches.
• After half an hour, rabbits, bamboo rats, and other small animals lay unconscious nearby.
• Su Qiao explained that burning grass attracted the animals and medicinal powder knocked them unconscious.