Chapter Summaries

Su Qiao confronted her parents after they pressured her to marry the disabled Liu Weiye, while recalling how the original Su Qiao's life ended in tragedy. Her parents insisted they could not return the betrothal money, leaving Su Qiao with growing resentment toward the family that had favored Su Baozhu and mistreated her.

• Su Qiao remembered that the original Su Qiao had burned herself and the Liu Family to death after her family sided with Su Baozhu, and she considered her plans to leave the Su Family and arrange Su Baozhu's marriage to Liu Weiye.
• Xiao Aizhen told Su Qiao that the family had no choice but to make her marry Liu Weiye, since Su Baozhu should not have to marry a cripple.
• Su Qiao suggested canceling the engagement and returning the Liu Family's betrothal gifts, but Xiao Aizhen worried about repaying the money and losing Baozhu's gold bracelets.
• Xiao Aizhen claimed Su Qiao's poor reputation made the marriage a good outcome for her, and Su Qiao blamed the family for spreading rumors about her.
• Su Qiao asked Su Guoqiang whether he agreed, and he said they had spent the betrothal money and told her to marry Liu Weiye as repayment for raising her.
• Su Qiao recalled her years of hard labor and poor treatment in the Su household as her resentment toward her parents deepened.

Su Qiao defied Xiao Aizhen and Su Guoqiang after they told her she had to marry, then decided to leave the cold, filthy woodshed and find a way to earn money. 444 revealed it could scan for gold underground, giving Su Qiao a promising way forward.

• Su Qiao challenged Xiao Aizhen by asking whether she would marry Su Guoqiang if he were crippled, and questioned whether she truly belonged to the Su family.
• Xiao Aizhen told Su Qiao that her grandmother had decided she must marry, while Su Guoqiang left without intervening.
• After her parents left, Su Qiao decided to stop clinging to their parental affection and planned to move out of the damp woodshed.
• Su Qiao considered gold mining but worried about the permits, equipment, workers, and risk of finding no ore.
• 444 boasted that it could scan for gold within three hundred meters underground, and Su Qiao teased it by asking whether it was a metal detector.

Su Qiao and 444 discussed trying their luck for gold by the river, since mining was dangerous and she could not cultivate in her malnourished body. The next morning, Su Qiao prepared to go out and encountered Su Baozhu at the courtyard entrance.

• Su Qiao asked 444 about finding gold, and they agreed to try scanning the nearby river if they had time the next day.
• Su Qiao discovered that she could not cultivate and wondered whether her malnourished body was the reason.
• 444 cheered Su Qiao up and went to organize information about gold panning, while secretly deciding to delay revealing who her man was.
• At the beginning of July, Su Qiao washed and dressed, put a hatchet in her Back Basket, and left the house.
• Su Qiao ran into Su Baozhu as she reached the courtyard entrance.

Su Baozhu told Su Qiao that their family intended to marry her off to the Liu family, but Su Qiao challenged her to take the match herself. After Su Baozhu complained to their grandmother, Su Qiao left with a basket and checked that she had enough money for a trip to the river.

• Su Baozhu bragged that Su Qiao would marry into the wealthy Liu family and claimed she had arranged the match for her.
• Su Qiao mocked Su Baozhu’s poor health and suggested that she marry into the Liu family instead.
• Su Baozhu told Su Qiao that their grandmother would force her to marry, and Su Qiao left without backing down.
• Su Baozhu cried to their grandmother, claiming Su Qiao had cursed her and refused the marriage.
• Their grandmother vowed to beat Su Qiao when she returned and insisted she owed the family obedience.
• Su Qiao checked the fifty cents in her pocket, which she expected to cover a trip to the river and back.

Su Qiao visited her injured brother-in-law, Liu Weiye, at the county hospital and asked Little Four about his condition. The chapter left Liu Weiye unable to walk even after his wounds healed, while Su Qiao wondered what had happened to him in the mine.

• Su Qiao traveled to the county seat and went to the hospital’s surgical ward to visit Liu Weiye.
• Liu Ahua asked whether Su Baozhu had sent Su Qiao, then warned her that Liu Weiye was in a bad mood.
• Su Qiao insisted on seeing Liu Weiye and asked Liu Tiezhu to stay in the ward.
• Liu Weiye threw his pillow and shouted for everyone to leave, while his parents tried to reassure him that Su Baozhu still cared about him.
• Su Qiao asked Little Four about Liu Weiye’s injuries and learned that his bones had been reset, but damaged blood vessels, nerves, and tendons meant he would not be able to walk.

Su Qiao stopped Liu Weiye’s frantic outburst and told his parents she could repair his leg and treat his other injuries if they acted quickly. She revealed that Su Baozhu had refused to marry him and that the Su family intended to force Su Qiao into the marriage, then left the Liu family to decide whether to seek her help.

• Su Qiao used a golden needle to calm Liu Weiye after his parents failed to stop his frantic thrashing.
• Su Qiao told Liu Weiye and his parents that surgery could restore much of his leg’s function and that his other injuries could also improve with treatment.
• Su Qiao urged the Liu family to arrange an operating table and equipment quickly, warning that delays would worsen Liu Weiye’s recovery.
• Su Qiao revealed that Su Baozhu had refused to marry Liu Weiye and that the Su family planned to force Su Qiao to marry into the Liu family.
• Su Qiao reminded Liu Weiye that Su Baozhu was selfish and unlikely to marry him, then told his parents she would not have come to help if she had not been dragged into the matter.

Su Qiao agreed to operate on Liu Weiye after his parents chose to trust her as his last chance of recovery. After seven hours in the operating room, she emerged exhausted, leaving the result of the surgery unknown.

• Su Qiao left the hospital to look for other ways to earn money, while Liu Weiye sank into despair over his injuries.
• Liu Weiye decided to risk Su Qiao's surgery, and Liu Tiezhu agreed to bring her back despite Liu Ahua's doubts.
• Liu Tiezhu found Su Qiao and brought her back to the hospital, where Liu Weiye's parents prepared the operating room and accepted responsibility for the procedure.
• Su Qiao changed into surgical clothes and began operating under the watch of Professor Du and the hospital staff.
• After seven hours, Su Qiao left the operating room exhausted, and Liu Tiezhu and Liu Ahua hurried to meet her.

Su Qiao told the Liu couple that Liu Tiezhu’s surgery had succeeded and offered to prepare more medicine, while warning them to keep her medical skills secret. After she left, Liu Ahua blamed the Su Family for endangering her son and resolved not to let them off.

• Su Qiao told Liu Tiezhu and Liu Ahua that the surgery had succeeded and that she had given Professor Du instructions for his care.
• Su Qiao accepted Liu Tiezhu’s money, promised to bring more effective medicine, and gave the couple written precautions.
• Su Qiao warned the couple to keep her medical abilities secret and said that forcing her into marriage with Liu Tiezhu would have killed him.
• Su Qiao left for a Chinese medicine shop to prepare medicine before catching the last bus.
• Liu Ahua accused the Su Family of wanting her son dead and recalled that she had urged the village to arrange his marriage to Su Baozhu.

Liu Tiezhu and Liu Ahua discussed Su Baozhu’s hidden abilities and worried about crossing her, while hoping Liu Weiye would recover. After returning to Banyan Tree Village, Su Qiao headed to her maternal uncle’s home, where 444 alerted her that the Great Demon King was nearby.

• Liu Ahua condemned Su Baozhu, and Liu Tiezhu warned her not to interfere in the girl’s affairs.
• Liu Tiezhu recalled a supposedly capable old man from Banyan Tree Village and said unusual people might have strange methods.
• Liu Ahua and Liu Tiezhu felt relieved that Liu Weiye had survived and left his future marriage decision to him.
• Liu Tiezhu hired a minivan to take Su Qiao back to Banyan Tree Village after she missed the last bus.
• Su Qiao got out before the village entrance and headed to her maternal uncle’s home.
• 444 excitedly told Su Qiao that the Great Demon King was just ahead.

Su Qiao arrived at her uncle Xiao Aimin’s home and met the fierce young man Gao Jinghui, whom she decided she would keep close despite his bad temper. She then reunited with her aunt Tian Guihua and broke down in her arms, remembering how kind her aunt and uncle had been to her.

• Su Qiao met Gao Jinghui at the gate and told him he should not swear, then mocked his threat to beat her.
• After Gao Jinghui returned to his courtyard, 444 told Su Qiao about his family troubles and how his stepmother and younger brother had framed him.
• Su Qiao entered Xiao Aimin’s courtyard and went into the main room.
• Tian Guihua hurried out of the kitchen, and Su Qiao dropped her back basket, embraced her aunt, and began to cry.

Su Qiao told Xiao Aimin and Tian Guihua that her parents planned to marry her to Liu Weiye, her sister’s injured fiancé, rather than return the betrothal gifts. Her uncle promised to intervene the next day, and Su Qiao rested at their home.

• Su Qiao explained that her family intended to send her to marry Liu Weiye, who was badly injured and unable to stand.
• Xiao Aimin grew furious and tried to take Su Qiao to confront her parents, while Tian Guihua suggested going to the Village Committee.
• Xiao Aimin persuaded Tian Guihua to wait until morning and promised Su Qiao he would stop the marriage.
• Su Qiao ate, bathed, changed into clean clothes, and went to bed at her aunt and uncle’s house.

Xiao Aimin and Tian Guihua grieved over Su Qiao's mistreatment and vowed to protect her. The next morning, Old Lady Liu confronted Old Lady Su in front of the Su Family home, accusing them of trying to force Su Qiao into the Liu Family after Liu Weiye was injured.

• Tian Guihua lamented that Su Qiao was treated unfairly, and Xiao Aimin promised to speak with his sister and protect Su Qiao.
• Old Lady Liu arrived at the Su Family home and loudly demanded that Niu Erya come out.
• Old Lady Liu accused Old Lady Su's family of turning against the Liu Family and trying to force Su Qiao into marriage with Liu Weiye.
• Old Lady Su tried to defend herself, but Old Lady Liu argued that they should have openly broken the engagement instead of pushing Su Qiao onto her injured grandson.
• Su Guofu nudged his wife as the crowd of onlookers grew.

Old Lady Liu came to the Su Family to break off Liu Xiaoye’s engagement to Su Baozhu and demanded the return of the betrothal gifts and gold bracelets. She insisted the family pay 3,460 yuan, while the villagers judged the Su Family and ignored Su Qiao.

• Liu Hong tried to bring Old Lady Liu inside, but Old Lady Liu refused and announced she was ending Liu Xiaoye and Su Baozhu’s engagement.
• Old Lady Su argued that the Su Family would not return the gifts or bracelets, while Old Lady Liu accused Su Qiao of bringing misfortune to her injured grandson.
• The villagers criticized the Su Family and repeated their superstitious beliefs about Su Qiao, without showing concern for her.
• Liu Hong admitted the Su Family had used the gifts, and Old Lady Liu demanded 1,500 yuan for the gifts and 1,960 yuan for the bracelets to finalize the breakup.

Old Lady Su delayed Su Baozhu’s marriage to Liu Weiye by pointing out that Baozhu was underage, while Old Lady Liu demanded repayment for the family’s past expenses. After Liu’s departure, Old Lady Su urged Baozhu to stall until she could attend college and choose a more influential husband, and Baozhu noticed Su Qiao returning.

• Old Lady Liu demanded 3,460 yuan from the Su family, claiming it covered gifts and years of expenses for Su Baozhu.
• Su Guofu warned Old Lady Su that they could not afford to cancel the marriage, and Old Lady Su insisted they were not calling it off.
• Old Lady Su argued that Su Baozhu was only seventeen and could not legally marry until she turned eighteen, so Old Lady Liu agreed to wait a year while threatening her.
• After Old Lady Liu left, Old Lady Su told Su Baozhu to delay the marriage until after college, and Baozhu felt reassured.
• Su Baozhu spotted Su Qiao walking over and told Old Lady Su that her little sister had returned.

Su Qiao’s family accused her of bringing Old Lady Liu to their home after the Liu family objected to the planned marriage. Her uncle Xiao Aimin defended her and challenged the superstition used to blame her for the family’s misfortunes.

• Old Lady Su accused Su Qiao of contacting the Liu family and tried to beat her with a broom.
• Xiao Aimin stopped Old Lady Su and said he had brought Old Lady Liu himself to defend Su Qiao.
• Tian Guihua pulled Su Qiao into her arms and rebuked Su Guoqiang and Xiao Aizhen for treating her cruelly.
• Xiao Aimin confronted his sister Xiao Aizhen and asked how she could mistreat her own daughter.
• Xiao Aimin told Old Lady Su and Liu Hong that Su Qiao was not responsible for the mine accidents or the family’s misfortunes.

Xiao Aimin challenged the Su family’s claims that Su Qiao caused their misfortunes, and Tian Guihua defended the girl against village gossip. Su Qiao asked Xiao Aimin and Tian Guihua to take her in, claiming she could bring them prosperity and a child.

• Xiao Aimin accused the Su family of blaming Su Qiao for events caused by their own actions, including Su Guoqiang’s lost job.
• Villagers reconsidered whether Su Qiao was responsible for the Su family’s troubles, though some still called her fate harsh.
• Tian Guihua rebuked the villagers and said Su Qiao had been unwell without her family seeking medical help.
• Su Qiao hugged Tian Guihua’s arm and asked her and Xiao Aimin to make her their child.
• Su Qiao claimed an old fortune-teller had said she was blessed and could bring prosperity and a child to their family.

Su Qiao defended her decision to leave the Su family and confronted Li Xiaohua for insulting Tian Guihua. Her parents reacted with anger and disbelief after hearing her speak against them.

• Li Xiaohua criticized Su Qiao for rejecting her parents’ plans, and Tian Guihua threatened to report her for her backward views.
• Su Qiao comforted Tian Guihua and warned Li Xiaohua that her cruel words would bring trouble upon her.
• Li Xiaohua insulted Tian Guihua, and Su Qiao told her that evil would eventually be repaid.
• Su Aizhen and Su Guoqiang recovered from their shock, and Su Guoqiang accused Su Qiao of being unfilial.

Su Qiao confronted the Su family over years of abuse and unequal treatment, explaining why she intended to leave. She exposed how Su Baozhu had been favored while she was forced to work and denied schooling, leaving the villagers to compare the sisters’ circumstances.

• Su Qiao told her parents that they had treated her like an orphan and described years of labor, hunger, neglect, and beatings.
• Old Lady Su defended the family’s treatment of Su Qiao, claiming that working, scolding, and hitting her were normal.
• Su Qiao contrasted her hardships with Su Baozhu’s comfortable life, better clothes, food, and schooling.
• Old Lady Su said Su Baozhu deserved special treatment because she was fortunate, pretty, and a good student, while Su Qiao had poor grades.
• Su Qiao explained that being kept home to work had prevented her from attending classes regularly, and the villagers looked from Su Baozhu’s fine clothes to Su Qiao.

Su Qiao challenged Su Baozhu’s claim that she had always been weak, angering Old Lady Su and drawing rebukes from her parents. Xiao Aimin and Tian Guihua defended Su Qiao and demanded that her family explain what she had said wrong.

• Su Baozhu cried to Old Lady Su that Su Qiao had insulted her secondhand clothes, and Old Lady Su comforted her while blaming Su Qiao.
• Su Qiao questioned whether Su Baozhu had really been weak since childhood, pointing out that she had passed the physical examination for a key high school.
• Old Lady Su berated Su Qiao and blamed Su Guofu for raising her, while Su Guofu complained that Su Qiao had embarrassed the family.
• Su Guoqiang and Xiao Aizhen ordered Su Qiao to apologize to Old Lady Su and Su Baozhu.
• Xiao Aimin and Tian Guihua defended Su Qiao and challenged the family to identify anything she had said wrong.

Su Qiao rejected her parents and prepared to leave with Xiao Aimin and Tian Guihua, who stood up for her. Old Lady Su agreed to let them take her only if they paid 800 yuan, while Su Guoqiang and Xiao Aizhen resisted the idea of her leaving.

• Xiao Aimin and Tian Guihua defended Su Qiao, and Su Qiao told Su Guoqiang and Xiao Aizhen she would no longer call them her parents.
• Su Qiao challenged Heaven to strike her with lightning if she was wrong to leave, but the sky remained clear.
• Old Lady Su agreed to let Su Qiao go in exchange for 800 yuan.
• Su Guoqiang and Xiao Aizhen objected, but Su family's second son and Liu Hong persuaded them to consider sending Su Qiao to her maternal family.