Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Expecting a Pregnant Woman”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Han awakens after transmigrating into a novel she recently read, discovering that she is heavily pregnant despite having never been in a relationship.
• She realizes she has taken over the body of Qiao Wanqing, a beautiful but selfish supporting character whose child will become the novel’s future villain.
• The baby’s father is Gu Yanqing, a wealthy and highly accomplished businessman who is destined to become the villain’s biological father.
• In the original plot, Qiao Wanqing drugged Gu Yanqing and slept with him in an attempt to force him into marriage. After he rejected her and gave her money to leave, she became pregnant and planned to use the child to obtain wealth and status.
• Qiao Wanqing was unable to contact Gu Yanqing after he left for work in another province. As her money dwindled, she became increasingly desperate and exploitative.
• She mistreated her son, constantly praised Gu Yanqing’s wealth and status, and raised the child with an obsession over inheritance and social standing.
• Qiao Wanqing later became involved with wealthy older men, serving as a mistress or kept woman. Her abuse and warped values ultimately contributed to her son becoming a cruel, disturbed villain.
• In the original story, the son eventually causes Qiao Wanqing’s death by removing her oxygen support.
• Horrified by this future, Xu Han resolves to change the child’s fate rather than repeat Qiao Wanqing’s life.
• After leaving the bedroom, Xu Han encounters Grandma Qiao, who appears both ingratiating and fearful toward her, suggesting that the original Qiao Wanqing treated her family badly.

Character Developments

• Xu Han/Qiao Wanqing: Xu Han begins in shock and disbelief over her pregnancy and transmigration. Unlike the original owner, she is self-aware, practical, and critical of Qiao Wanqing’s foolish schemes. Her knowledge of the novel gives her a chance to prevent the child from becoming the villain.
• The unborn child: The baby is already active, kicking Xu Han awake. He is identified as the future villain, making his upbringing the central concern of Xu Han’s new life.
• Gu Yanqing: He is introduced as the villain’s powerful and wealthy father. Though highly accomplished and desirable, he is also ruthless and unwilling to be manipulated, rejecting Qiao Wanqing after their encounter.
• Qiao Wanqing’s original personality: Her backstory reveals her vanity, greed, lack of foresight, and fixation on entering high society. Her choices directly lead to her downfall and her son’s psychological corruption.
• Grandma Qiao: Her fearful and submissive attitude toward Xu Han indicates that she has likely suffered under the original owner’s temper and mistreatment.

Significant Themes

• Changing fate: Xu Han’s transmigration creates the possibility of rewriting the predetermined story, particularly the child’s transformation into a villain.
• Parenting and environment: The chapter emphasizes that the child’s future is shaped less by bloodline than by treatment, values, and upbringing.
• Consequences of greed and vanity: Qiao Wanqing’s obsession with wealth and status drives her destructive choices and ultimately ruins both herself and her son.
• Moral responsibility: Xu Han recognizes that merely possessing knowledge of the future is not enough; she must actively prevent the abuse and neglect that created the villain.
• Identity and second chances: Xu Han must live in another woman’s body while confronting that woman’s past actions, giving her an opportunity to become a better mother and person.

Character Interactions

• Xu Han interacts primarily with the unborn child, soothing him as he kicks and mentally reacting to the absurdity of her situation.
• Her thoughts contrast her personality with Qiao Wanqing’s, showing her growing determination to reject the original owner’s behavior.
• The encounter with Grandma Qiao is tense: Grandma tries to please Xu Han but is visibly afraid of her, hinting at a history of emotional abuse.
• Gu Yanqing and Qiao Wanqing do not interact directly in the present chapter, but their past encounter establishes the conflict surrounding the pregnancy and the child’s parentage.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Han, newly reborn in the body of Qiao Wanqing, observes her only relative, Grandma Qiao, and realizes how badly the original Qiao Wanqing had treated her.
• Grandma Qiao has been caring for Qiao Wanqing throughout her pregnancy despite Qiao’s pregnancy outside marriage, difficult temperament, and obsession with appearing wealthy.
• Xu Han discovers a delicate crocheted baby hat Grandma Qiao secretly made for the unborn child. Rather than criticizing it, Xu Han praises the hat and asks her to make one for the baby.
• Xu Han apologizes for her former vanity and claims she has begun reconsidering her values, saying that wealth and status cannot be forced and that living well matters more.
• Because her due date is approaching, Xu Han reluctantly attends a prenatal examination alone. The doctor confirms that the fetus is healthy and advises her to come to the hospital when labor begins rather than arriving prematurely.
• On leaving the hospital, Xu Han encounters a panicked man carrying an apparently seriously ill or injured person. She steps aside to protect her belly and accidentally drops her handbag.
• A sharply dressed professional-looking man picks up the bag for her. He appears momentarily stunned by Qiao Wanqing’s beauty before politely returning it.

Character Developments

• Xu Han: Begins adapting to her new identity and pregnancy. Though inexperienced and anxious, she behaves with greater kindness, patience, and responsibility than the original owner. She recognizes Grandma Qiao’s suffering and makes an effort to reassure her.
• Grandma Qiao: Remains timid and fearful due to years of mistreatment, but Xu Han’s gentleness briefly surprises and comforts her. Her handmade hat reveals her affection for the unborn child despite her difficult circumstances.
• Qiao Wanqing’s original personality: Through Xu Han’s observations, she is shown to have been vain, status-conscious, abusive toward Grandma Qiao, and desperate to enter high society.
• The suited man: Introduced briefly as courteous and attentive. His reaction suggests that Qiao Wanqing’s extraordinary beauty may become significant in future encounters.

Significant Themes

• Kindness and personal change: Xu Han’s treatment of Grandma Qiao contrasts sharply with the original Qiao Wanqing’s cruelty, emphasizing her attempt to become a better person.
• Appearance versus genuine happiness: Qiao Wanqing’s obsession with luxury and social status is criticized, while the simple handmade hat represents sincere love and care.
• Responsibility and motherhood: Despite her fear and lack of experience, Xu Han begins accepting the reality of childbirth and takes steps to protect the baby.
• Class and insecurity: Grandma Qiao’s fear of being judged and Qiao Wanqing’s shame about poverty reflect the pressures created by social hierarchy and materialism.
• Second chances: Xu Han’s rebirth gives her an opportunity to repair relationships and live according to values different from those of the body’s former owner.

Character Interactions

• Xu Han speaks gently to Grandma Qiao, who is startled because she expects criticism. Their conversation over the crocheted hat becomes the first meaningful sign of reconciliation.
• Xu Han apologizes for Qiao Wanqing’s previous behavior, though Grandma Qiao is so accustomed to mistreatment that she insists Xu Han is already “fine.”
• At the hospital, Xu Han interacts with the doctor, revealing her anxiety and inexperience about labor. The doctor reassures her that the baby is healthy.
• Outside the hospital, Xu Han briefly interacts with the desperate man carrying an injured or ill person and then with the suited stranger who retrieves her handbag.

Chapter 2 Summary: “Return to the Countryside”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Han gives birth safely to Gu Siqiao, the future villain from the original story. Despite expecting something ominous, she finds him to be an ordinary—and initially unattractive—baby.
• She keeps his original name but gives him the nickname “Koukou,” because hearing his formal name constantly reminds her of his destined villainous future.
• During her postpartum confinement, Xu Han evaluates her difficult financial situation. Only 50,000 yuan remains from the money Gu Yanqing gave Qiao Wanqing, and it must be reserved for the baby’s formula.
• With no savings, limited employment prospects, and a newborn to care for, Xu Han considers sending Koukou to his father, Gu Yanqing. However, she is unsure how to contact him and has already grown emotionally attached to the baby.
• Koukou’s transformation from a wrinkled newborn into a chubby, adorable infant awakens Xu Han’s maternal affection. Although she knows he is destined to become a dangerous villain, she cannot help loving and doting on him.
• Grandma Qiao borrows Xu Han’s phone to contact Aunt Li in their hometown. She asks Aunt Li’s family to harvest and dry the rice they planted, since Grandma Qiao cannot return home.
• Hearing about the harvest reminds Xu Han of Qiao Wanqing’s rural hometown, which has beautiful scenery, a large courtyard, and space for animals and crops.
• Xu Han realizes that returning to the countryside and farming could offer her a way to support herself and escape the fate assigned to her in the novel—becoming a mistress or dependent woman. She seriously begins considering a return to the countryside.

Character Development

• Xu Han: Becomes increasingly practical and independent. She recognizes that relying on Gu Yanqing or following the original plot would leave her powerless, so she begins searching for an alternative life. Her maternal instincts also deepen as she grows attached to Koukou despite knowing his future.
• Koukou/Gu Siqiao: Changes from an ordinary, somewhat ugly newborn into a healthy, charming baby. His cuteness strongly influences Xu Han’s feelings and makes her reluctant to abandon him.
• Grandma Qiao: Gradually becomes less fearful of Xu Han after observing her improved behavior during the month after childbirth. She remains timid and deferential but begins interacting with Xu Han more comfortably.
• Gu Yanqing: Does not appear directly, but his absence and financial involvement remain central to Xu Han’s decisions. His potential role as Koukou’s father is considered as a possible solution to Xu Han’s financial problems.

Significant Themes

• Maternal love versus predetermined fate: Xu Han knows Koukou is destined to become a villain, yet her affection for him makes it difficult to treat him as merely a future threat.
• Independence and resistance to fate: Rather than accept the role assigned to her by the original story, Xu Han considers changing her circumstances through work and rural living.
• The burdens of motherhood: The chapter emphasizes both the physical exhaustion of childbirth and the long-term financial and emotional demands of raising a child.
• Idealized rural life: The countryside represents freedom, self-sufficiency, simplicity, and a possible escape from urban dependence and social constraints.
• Practical survival: Money, employment, childcare, and food production shape Xu Han’s decisions as she plans her future.

Character Interactions

• Xu Han bonds with Koukou through feeding, touching, kissing, and playful complaints about his future villainy.
• Grandma Qiao cautiously asks Xu Han for permission to use her phone, showing their evolving relationship and Grandma Qiao’s continued nervousness around her.
• Xu Han helps Grandma Qiao contact Aunt Li and learns about the family’s rice harvest, prompting her interest in returning home.
• Xu Han internally weighs whether to entrust Koukou to Gu Yanqing, revealing her conflict between financial necessity and growing emotional attachment.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Han decides to return to Qiao Wanqing’s rural hometown with Grandma Qiao and baby Koukou. She frames the move as a temporary retreat after confinement, though her real motivation is to prevent the child from growing up under harmful circumstances.
• Grandma Qiao is initially shocked because Qiao Wanqing had always hated and rejected her birthplace. Once convinced Xu Han is serious, she happily prepares for the journey.
• Meanwhile, Gu Yanqing visits Qiao Wanqing’s rented apartment but finds it empty. The landlord confirms that she has not terminated the lease and promises to contact his assistant if she returns.
• Gu Yanqing learns from hospital records that Qiao Wanqing gave birth to a baby boy about a month earlier, and the timing matches his suspicions. He orders his assistant, Wang Xiao, to find her.
• Gu Yanqing assumes Qiao Wanqing hid the child to pressure him into accepting her and believes she is trying to use the baby to improve her social position. His resentment toward her is clear, and he intends to thwart what he thinks are her ambitions.
• Xu Han, Grandma Qiao, and Koukou travel by high-speed train, bus, and truck to Dongyang Village. They arrive at Grandma Qiao’s old mud-brick house, which is dusty, overgrown, and unused but structurally sound.
• Rather than rejecting the rural home, Xu Han accepts it warmly and helps Grandma Qiao clean. By the end of the day, the house is restored and Xu Han begins to see it as her new home.
• Grandma Qiao prepares a simple meal, then buys a fish from a neighbor to make nutritious soup for Xu Han, who needs to maintain her milk supply.

Character Developments

• Xu Han: Shows initiative, practicality, and emotional concern for Koukou. She willingly leaves the city, adapts to rural life, works alongside Grandma Qiao, and embraces the house as a fresh start.
• Grandma Qiao: Reveals deep anxiety about Xu Han’s reaction to the village because of Qiao Wanqing’s past contempt for it. She is relieved by Xu Han’s acceptance and expresses her care through cleaning, cooking, and securing nutritious food.
• Gu Yanqing: Becomes increasingly suspicious and hostile toward Qiao Wanqing. His usual calm and controlled personality is disrupted by matters involving her, especially the discovery that she has a son whose birth timeline may connect him to the child.
• Wang Xiao: Continues to act as Gu Yanqing’s dependable assistant, quickly carrying out his orders and observing how unusually emotional Gu Yanqing becomes around Qiao Wanqing.
• Koukou: Remains mostly passive in the chapter but serves as the central reason for Xu Han’s decisions and relocation.

Significant Themes

• Starting over: The rural home represents a chance for Xu Han and Koukou to build a new life away from conflict and social pressure.
• Family and maternal care: Grandma Qiao’s efforts to clean the house and prepare nourishing food emphasize love expressed through practical acts.
• Class and social judgment: Gu Yanqing views Qiao Wanqing through assumptions about ambition, status, and “climbing socially,” while Xu Han challenges those attitudes by appreciating the humble countryside.
• Misunderstanding and hidden motives: Gu Yanqing believes he understands Qiao Wanqing’s intentions, but the narrative suggests his assumptions may be incomplete or wrong.
• Home and belonging: Xu Han’s declaration that the cleaned house is now her home marks an emotional shift from temporary refuge to genuine belonging.

Character Interactions

• Xu Han reassures Grandma Qiao and encourages her to return to the village, reversing the shame and fear associated with the place.
• Gu Yanqing questions the landlord through Wang Xiao and issues direct orders to locate Qiao Wanqing, displaying his authority and frustration.
• Xu Han and Grandma Qiao work cooperatively to clean the house, strengthening their developing family bond.
• Grandma Qiao cares for Xu Han as if she were a daughter-in-law, while Xu Han responds with acceptance rather than the disdain Grandma Qiao expects.
• The chapter ends with Grandma Qiao preparing fish soup for Xu Han, reinforcing the warmth and mutual care beginning to define their rural life.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Xu Han eats Grandma Qiao’s wild-caught fish despite being tired of chicken and fish after eating them constantly during the previous month. The fish soup is exceptionally fresh and delicious, renewing her enthusiasm for rural food.
• Xu Han suggests raising their own chickens and growing vegetables. Grandma Qiao agrees to buy chicks and seeds at the village market, indulging Xu Han even though she suspects they may not stay long.
• Neighbor Aunt Li visits and praises baby Koukou’s appearance. When she asks about the child’s father, Xu Han claims that he cheated on her during pregnancy and that she divorced him, concealing the more complicated truth about her circumstances.
• Aunt Li sympathizes with Xu Han and criticizes men for infidelity. She also offers practical help, returning rice harvested from Xu Han’s family’s field and inviting them to pick vegetables from her garden.
• Xu Han appreciates the warmth and mutual support of village life compared with the isolation of the city.
• The next day, Grandma Qiao buys ten chicks and a variety of vegetable seeds. After a rain softens the soil, she clears the old garden and plants seasonal vegetables.

Character developments

• Xu Han: Continues adapting to rural life and motherhood. She becomes interested in self-sufficiency, planning to raise chickens and grow vegetables. Her quick, humorous lie about her divorce shows her awareness of village gossip and her desire to protect herself from scrutiny. She also begins to feel comfortable with the village community.
• Grandma Qiao: Demonstrates her deep affection for Xu Han by supporting her wishes, even when she believes their stay may be temporary. She takes responsibility for transforming the neglected garden and caring for the household.
• Aunt Li: Is established as a kind, generous, and community-minded neighbor. She helps the family with rice and vegetables without expecting immediate repayment.
• Koukou: Remains a source of pride and affection, attracting admiration because of his fair complexion and charming appearance.

Significant themes

• Adjustment and rebuilding: Xu Han begins creating a stable life in the countryside after a difficult past.
• Family and care: Grandma Qiao’s actions show practical, unconditional support, while Xu Han’s concern about eating well reflects her commitment to providing milk and caring for Koukou.
• Community versus isolation: The chapter contrasts the close, helpful relationships of village life with the anonymity of the city.
• Self-sufficiency and renewal: Raising chicks and planting seeds symbolize the family’s attempt to establish roots and create a fresh start.
• Social judgment and self-protection: Xu Han’s fabricated divorce story reflects the pressure women face from gossip and societal expectations.

Character interactions

• Xu Han and Grandma Qiao bond over food, household plans, and caring for the baby. Grandma Qiao affectionately indulges Xu Han’s ideas.
• Xu Han and Aunt Li engage in friendly conversation, with Xu Han using humor to deflect questions about Koukou’s father.
• Aunt Li and Grandma Qiao exchange practical support: Aunt Li offers rice and vegetables, while Grandma Qiao intends to repay her later.
• Xu Han observes and values the neighborly cooperation, reinforcing her growing attachment to rural life.

Chapter Summary

Plot and Key Events

• Xu Han helps Grandma Qiao finish planting the vegetable garden over two days, then decides to transform the spacious yard into a flower-and-tree garden.
• She enjoys the peaceful rural lifestyle, appreciating the fresh air, mountain scenery, and naturally sweet village-grown vegetables.
• Xu Han pays to have internet installed but is frustrated by the village shop’s limited and frequently expired goods.
• While caring for baby Koukou, Xu Han notices that a patch of grass has grown unusually quickly. She realizes it may have been fertilized by Koukou’s urine.
• She tests the theory by letting Koukou pee on another patch of weeds. By the following day, the grass has grown significantly faster, confirming that Koukou possesses an extraordinary “spirit urine” ability.
• Excited by the discovery, Xu Han kisses and praises Koukou, believing his power will help her grow vegetables successfully.
• While preparing wild-vegetable dumplings with Grandma Qiao, Xu Han is interrupted by a visitor asking for Qiao Wanqing.
• She goes outside and unexpectedly finds Gu Yanqing waiting at the gate, despite believing the original story had prevented Qiao Wanqing from ever meeting him again.

Character Development

• Xu Han becomes increasingly comfortable and invested in rural life. Her interest in gardening grows into enthusiasm after discovering Koukou’s unusual ability.
• Her scientific background makes her question the grass’s rapid growth and methodically test her hypothesis rather than accepting it immediately.
• Xu Han also shows growing affection and protectiveness toward Koukou, treating his supernatural ability with delight and amusement.
• Koukou develops a new baby behavior—drooling—and displays strong attachment by gripping Xu Han’s finger. His urine is revealed to function as an extremely powerful natural fertilizer.
• Grandma Qiao has become accustomed to Xu Han’s unusual behavior and readily allows her to take part in household and agricultural work.
• Gu Yanqing’s unexpected appearance introduces a major disruption to Xu Han’s understanding of the novel’s original plot.

Significant Themes

• Rural comfort and self-sufficiency: Xu Han finds satisfaction in gardening, fresh food, and creating a better home in the countryside.
• Science versus the supernatural: Xu Han uses rational observation and experimentation to investigate an impossible phenomenon.
• Transmigration and altered destiny: Her presence appears to be changing events from the original novel, particularly through her unexpected encounter with Gu Yanqing.
• Family affection and caregiving: Xu Han’s bond with Koukou deepens as she cares for him and celebrates his abilities.
• Humorous cultivation/farming fantasy: Koukou’s urine becomes an absurd but powerful “golden finger,” giving the story a comedic twist on agricultural success.

Character Interactions

• Xu Han and Grandma Qiao cooperate closely in planting vegetables and preparing dumplings.
• Xu Han lovingly plays with, feeds, soothes, and praises Koukou, while he responds with smiles, gripping her finger, and crying when disturbed.
• Xu Han’s interaction with Gu Yanqing is tense and stunned: both are surprised by the encounter, leaving the chapter on a cliffhanger.
• Uncle Wang acts as the intermediary, bringing Gu Yanqing to the Qiao household and casually asking about their relationship.

Chapter Summary

• Gu Yanqing visits Xu Han: After Uncle Wang leaves, Xu Han confronts Gu Yanqing at her doorway. Although she recognizes his impressive appearance and commanding presence, she remains guarded and refuses to invite him inside. His assistant, Wang Xiao, accompanies him.
• Confrontation over Koukou: Gu Yanqing directly asks whether Xu Han gave birth to his child. Xu Han admits it but claims she did not discover the pregnancy until she was seven months along, using this implausible explanation to avoid discussing her past actions. She insists she does not want him to take responsibility, though she jokingly requests child support.
• Gu Yanqing’s expectations are disrupted: He had assumed Xu Han intended to exploit the child to obtain money or force him into a relationship. Her unexpectedly indifferent attitude leaves him uncertain. He had planned to confirm the child’s paternity, take the baby to the Gu family if he was his son, and compensate Xu Han.
• Gu Yanqing leaves without seeing Koukou: When Koukou begins crying, Gu Yanqing visibly struggles but ultimately tells Wang Xiao to leave. Wang Xiao questions why they are abandoning the matter after finally locating Xu Han, but Gu Yanqing gives no explanation.
• Xu Han discovers Koukou’s special ability: Xu Han begins saving Koukou’s diapers after realizing that his urine has extraordinary fertilizing properties. Diluted and used on her vegetable garden, it causes plants to grow several times faster than normal.
• Successful bok choy experiment: Bok choy watered with the mixture matures in only eight days instead of the usual twenty and becomes unusually lush, crisp, and juicy. Xu Han realizes Koukou’s “Spirit Urine” is effectively her transmigration advantage.
• Keeping the secret: Grandma Qiao is amazed by the vegetables’ rapid growth. Xu Han hides the real reason and claims she learned a special agricultural technique while in school. Grandma accepts the explanation without much suspicion.

Character Development and Interactions

• Xu Han becomes more assertive, practical, and protective of Koukou. She is willing to manipulate Gu Yanqing with absurd excuses and sees the child’s unusual ability as a valuable resource she cannot bear to surrender.
• Gu Yanqing remains cold and authoritative but is visibly unsettled by Xu Han’s changed behavior. His expectations of her as a greedy, manipulative woman are challenged, and his hesitation at hearing Koukou cry suggests emerging emotional conflict.
• Wang Xiao acts as Gu Yanqing’s skeptical assistant, questioning his decision to leave without seeing the child.
• Grandma Qiao remains caring but uninformed, trusting Xu Han’s explanation about the vegetables.

Significant Themes

• Reversal of expectations: Xu Han’s personality and priorities differ sharply from those associated with her original character, confusing Gu Yanqing.
• Maternal attachment and protection: Xu Han’s growing unwillingness to give Koukou away contrasts with her earlier plan to let Gu Yanqing raise him.
• Transmigration and hidden advantages: Instead of receiving a conventional power or system, Xu Han’s unique advantage is Koukou’s mysterious fertilizing ability.
• Practical survival and resourcefulness: Xu Han uses the child’s ability to improve the household’s crops while carefully concealing the truth.
• Misunderstanding and emotional tension: Gu Yanqing and Xu Han interpret each other through preconceived assumptions, creating tension beneath their brief, restrained interaction.

Chapter Summary: “First Business”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Han realizes that the rapidly growing vegetables, especially bok choy, may spoil before the household can eat them. She suggests selling the surplus at the local market to earn money for daily expenses.
• Grandma Qiao initially finds Xu Han’s ambition amusing but agrees that selling vegetables is practical. They plan to bring their produce to market once it matures.
• Xu Han considers expanding their small farm operation by buying geese, hoping to collect eggs for her son. She dismisses raising pigs for the time being because of the smell and difficulty of preparing feed.
• Xu Han cooks homemade meat-sauce noodles with the unusually healthy bok choy. The meal impresses Grandma Qiao, who had expected Xu Han—an inexperienced young woman—to struggle in the kitchen.
• The family’s bok choy is sold successfully at the village market. The school and kindergarten cafeteria buys the entire basket because it has run out of leafy vegetables.
• The vegetables earn the household 38 yuan, marking Xu Han and Grandma Qiao’s first income. Xu Han uses the opportunity to order a pork leg so they can celebrate.
• The cafeteria worker later visits their home to report that the children loved the bok choy. Even students and kindergarteners who normally refuse vegetables ate everything and asked for more, establishing that the family’s produce is exceptionally delicious and creating the possibility of a steady business relationship.
• The chapter continues by explaining that the nearby villages share one large elementary school and kindergarten, meaning the school could become a significant and reliable customer.

Character Developments

• Xu Han becomes increasingly determined to build a stable life in the countryside. Rather than merely surviving, she begins thinking entrepreneurially about farming, selling produce, raising animals, and supporting her family.
• She demonstrates practical knowledge, confidence, and competence through her cooking and agricultural planning. Her successful first meal challenges Grandma Qiao’s expectations.
• Grandma Qiao shifts from being surprised by Xu Han’s plans to accepting and supporting her ambition. She acts as the family’s representative at the market and helps turn Xu Han’s ideas into reality.
• Koukou continues to grow rapidly and healthily. His chubby appearance and eager nursing reinforce his characterization as a well-fed, cheerful “little foodie.”
• The schoolchildren’s enthusiastic response to the vegetables validates the quality of Xu Han’s produce and hints that her family may develop a profitable local business.

Significant Themes

• Self-reliance and rebuilding: Xu Han begins creating a new livelihood through farming rather than depending on others.
• Entrepreneurship and opportunity: A simple surplus of vegetables becomes the family’s first business venture and source of income.
• Family and cooperation: Xu Han, Grandma Qiao, and Koukou form a small but increasingly secure household, with each person contributing in different ways.
• The value of wholesome food: The bok choy’s exceptional taste and quality make even reluctant children enjoy eating vegetables.
• Transformation of ordinary resources: Farm waste, kitchen scraps, and household labor are presented as useful parts of a sustainable agricultural cycle.
• Warmth and domestic happiness: Cooking, shared meals, caring for the baby, and celebrating their first earnings create a sense of belonging and comfort.

Character Interactions

• Xu Han and Grandma Qiao discuss selling vegetables and raising geese, showing their growing trust and cooperation.
• Grandma Qiao is impressed by Xu Han’s cooking and praises her, while Xu Han invites her to share the meal, strengthening their family bond.
• Xu Han affectionately feeds and observes Koukou, enjoying his energetic appetite and imagining his future personality.
• Grandma Qiao sells the vegetables directly to the cafeteria worker, establishing a personal connection that leads to the family’s first customer.
• The cafeteria worker later praises the produce and returns to request more, linking the family’s household farming with the wider village community.

Chapter 9 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Aunt Zhu, who works in Dongyang Elementary School’s cafeteria, explains how the school received government support after provincial leaders saw impoverished children eating poor lunches. The school was given a cafeteria and free meals, attracting students from surrounding villages.
• The children unexpectedly develop a strong liking for Xu Han’s vegetables, especially leafy greens. They finish them eagerly and ask for more, unlike vegetables purchased elsewhere.
• Xu Han explains the unusually fast-growing, delicious vegetables by claiming that her agricultural studies taught her advanced cultivation techniques. She insists she uses only farmyard manure and no pesticides or chemical fertilizer, successfully convincing Aunt Zhu.
• Realizing the school has a steady demand for fresh greens, Xu Han offers to supply its cafeteria. Aunt Zhu agrees to daily deliveries, with payment settled monthly.
• Xu Han gives Aunt Zhu a large bundle of vegetables and begins cultivating spinach, lettuce, and other crops to provide variety. She considers expanding until she supplies the school’s entire vegetable needs.
• Xu Han also wonders whether Koukou’s mysterious “Spirit Urine” can help grow out-of-season vegetables.
• Grandma Qiao asks whether Xu Han plans to remain in the village. Xu Han confirms that she intends to stay for now, enjoying rural life and hoping to raise Koukou into an ordinary, morally upright person.
• At the chapter’s end, after putting Koukou to sleep, Xu Han goes outside to harvest lettuce and discovers an unexpected person waiting inside the courtyard.

Character Development

• Xu Han: Becomes more confident and entrepreneurial. She recognizes the commercial value of her magically enhanced vegetables and finds a practical, convenient way to earn money. She also grows more emotionally committed to staying home and raising Koukou properly, motivated by fear of his possible future as a dangerous villain.
• Aunt Zhu: Initially skeptical about the vegetables’ rapid growth and unusual taste, she is persuaded by Xu Han’s fabricated agricultural explanation. She becomes enthusiastic about the supply arrangement and views Xu Han as highly capable.
• Grandma Qiao: Quietly observes Xu Han’s plans and begins to understand that Xu Han may be settling permanently in the village.
• Koukou: Though mostly off-page, he remains central to Xu Han’s decisions. Xu Han is determined to guide him away from the villainous fate described in the original story.
• The schoolchildren: Their enthusiastic response to the vegetables demonstrates their exceptional quality and provides the opportunity for Xu Han’s new business.

Significant Themes

• Parenting and redemption: Xu Han believes a nurturing environment may prevent Koukou from becoming evil, emphasizing the influence of upbringing over predetermined fate.
• Rural life and self-sufficiency: The chapter presents village life, farming, and local relationships as peaceful and meaningful alternatives to urban living.
• Ingenuity and entrepreneurship: Xu Han turns an unexpected agricultural advantage into a reliable source of income.
• Food, health, and nutrition: The school’s concern over children eating vegetables highlights the importance of balanced meals, while the children’s preferences show the difference between fresh, quality food and mass-produced produce.
• Deception for protection and opportunity: Xu Han invents a credible explanation for her vegetables’ growth to conceal their supernatural origin and secure the school contract.

Character Interactions

• Xu Han and Aunt Zhu build rapport through a discussion of the vegetables’ taste and cultivation. Xu Han’s confident bluff earns Aunt Zhu’s admiration and trust.
• Their conversation leads directly to a business partnership supplying fresh vegetables to the school.
• Xu Han and Grandma Qiao have a quieter but significant exchange about Xu Han’s future. Xu Han’s decision to stay reveals her growing attachment to the village and her commitment to Koukou.
• The closing discovery of an unidentified visitor introduces a new element of suspense.

Chapter Summary

• Plot and events: Qiao Wanqing/Xu Han returns from the vegetable garden carrying greens, attracting the household chickens and goslings. Wang Xiao arrives on Gu Yanqing’s behalf to settle the issue of their child, Koukou. He offers her a one-million-yuan check and a formal agreement, presenting the payment as generous compensation and warning her not to use the child to pursue Gu Yanqing. His contemptuous remarks anger Xu Han, who rejects the money, orders him to leave, and threatens legal action for harassment. Afterward, she decides to repair and lock the yard gate to prevent similar intrusions.
• Character developments: Xu Han demonstrates her growing independence and determination to raise Koukou herself. Although she initially remains calm, Wang Xiao’s condescending attitude awakens Qiao Wanqing’s lingering resentment, causing her to react forcefully. She also begins reconsidering whether accepting financial support would truly benefit Koukou. Her concern is not merely money, but the emotional and legal consequences of allowing Gu Yanqing into the child’s life.
• Character interactions: Wang Xiao treats Xu Han with disguised politeness and open disdain, recalling his earlier mockery of Qiao Wanqing. He assumes she wants to exploit her connection to Gu Yanqing and attempts to pressure her into signing the agreement. Xu Han refuses to submit, exposing the conflict between Gu Yanqing’s wealth and her desire for dignity and autonomy. Her interaction with Koukou afterward is gentler: the baby recognizes and watches her, reinforcing their developing mother-child bond.
• Themes: The chapter contrasts wealth and material compensation with dignity, emotional security, and parental responsibility. It explores social class prejudice, the stigma surrounding single motherhood, and the lingering emotional influence of Qiao Wanqing’s past. Xu Han’s worries also introduce the theme of a child’s identity and whether knowing an affluent biological father might undermine his contentment with a simple rural upbringing.

Chapter Summary: “Rice Noodle Rolls (Revised)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Han worries that Koukou may inherit his biological mother Qiao Wanqing’s greed and, like Gu Siqiao in the original novel, eventually compete with Gu Yanqing’s male lead for wealth and property.
• Since Gu Yanqing has stopped contacting her and she has changed her phone number, Xu Han focuses on her own life and does not concern herself with his future plans.
• She experiments with growing out-of-season vegetables using Koukou’s mysterious “Divine Urine” as fertilizer. The plants grow rapidly, suggesting the method may work even without a greenhouse.
• Needing more space, Xu Han discovers that an abandoned plot beside the house actually belongs to her family. Grandma Qiao explains that their relatives bullied her out of using it after Qiao Wanqing’s parents died.
• Determined to reclaim the land, Xu Han plans to clear it with Paraquat, fertilize it with manure, and plant greens. She deliberately plants lower-quality vegetables densely, apparently intending to lure the greedy relatives into revealing themselves or “taking the bait.”
• After working in the field, Xu Han checks on Koukou. She mischievously pokes him while he sleeps, only to discover that he has soiled his diaper and must be cleaned.
• With the chores finished, Xu Han decides to make rice noodle rolls using an old stone mill Grandma Qiao found. The food reminds her of a beloved rice noodle roll shop from her college days.

Character Developments

• Xu Han: Becomes increasingly decisive, practical, and protective of her household. Rather than passively tolerating family bullying, she confidently reclaims the land and devises a plan to deal with the relatives. Her playful teasing of Koukou also shows her growing affection and comfort in her role as his mother.
• Koukou: Remains innocent, cheerful, and unaware of the adult conflicts surrounding him. His resemblance to Gu Yanqing and possible inheritance of Qiao Wanqing’s traits continue to trouble Xu Han.
• Grandma Qiao: Reveals the history of her family’s exploitation and bullying. Although initially timid and doubtful, she trusts Xu Han’s confidence and cooperates with her.
• Qiao Wanqing’s relatives: Are portrayed as greedy and domineering, claiming land they do not use simply to prevent Grandma Qiao from benefiting from it.
• Gu Yanqing: Does not appear directly, but his absence and failed attempts to contact Xu Han remain part of the background.

Significant Themes

• Nature versus heredity: Xu Han questions whether Koukou will inherit Qiao Wanqing’s greed and ambition, raising concerns about whether personality is determined by blood or shaped by upbringing.
• Reclaiming autonomy: Xu Han refuses to remain vulnerable to Gu Yanqing or her relatives and takes control of her land, household, and future.
• Greed and rural social conflict: The relatives’ refusal to let Grandma Qiao use abandoned land illustrates how people may fight over property even when they have no practical need for it.
• Family and caregiving: Xu Han’s humorous but affectionate care for Koukou shows their relationship becoming warmer and more intimate.
• Self-sufficiency and resourcefulness: Gardening, recycling old tools, and making food from scratch emphasize Xu Han’s efforts to build a stable, independent life.

Character Interactions

• Xu Han questions and comforts Koukou while holding him, though she privately worries about his future character.
• Grandma Qiao explains the family’s land dispute, and Xu Han responds by challenging the relatives’ authority and deciding to cultivate the land.
• Xu Han and Grandma Qiao work together to clear, fertilize, and plant the abandoned field, strengthening their practical partnership.
• Xu Han playfully torments Koukou while he sleeps, then fulfills her maternal responsibilities by cleaning and changing him.
• The chapter ends with Xu Han turning to cooking, using a stone mill to prepare rice noodle rolls connected to a fond college memory.

Chapter Summary

• Key events: Xu Han prepares traditional rice noodle rolls from scratch, using soaked and stone-ground rice, pork, scallions, chicken broth, lettuce, and a richly seasoned shrimp-and-soy-based sauce. Grandma Qiao helps with the batter and enthusiastically praises the food, though Xu Han doubts her judgment because Grandma praises everything she makes. A visitor then arrives: Gu Yanqing, who has come alone.
• Character developments: Xu Han remains wary of Gu Yanqing and wants to resolve their past conflict so he will stop intruding on her new life. She deliberately invites him to eat, expecting him to reject the food based on his former disgust toward her, but he unexpectedly accepts. This makes her realize that events are diverging from the original novel’s plot. Gu Yanqing, despite his usually cold and unreadable demeanor, is visibly affected when he sees the child, Koukou—his first encounter with the son he never knew existed. He immediately recognizes the boy as his because of their strong resemblance.
• Character interactions: Xu Han and Gu Yanqing exchange guarded but relatively civil remarks. He notices her cooking and admits he is hungry, while she is surprised by his willingness to enter her home and eat her food. Xu Han has intentionally placed Koukou’s bed where Gu Yanqing will see him, hoping the sight of the adorable child will help him accept the situation. When Gu Yanqing asks the boy’s name, Xu Han reveals it is Gu Siqiao, combining Gu Yanqing’s surname with characters associated with longing and Qiao Wanqing’s name. She enjoys seeing his normally controlled expression become visibly uncomfortable. Gu Yanqing avoids commenting on the embarrassing implication of the name and simply says that the child is cute.
• Significant themes: The chapter emphasizes the contrast between the original novel’s predetermined plot and the changing reality Xu Han now inhabits. It also develops themes of unexpected family connections, emotional restraint, and domestic warmth. Xu Han’s cooking and care for Grandma Qiao and Koukou show her growing confidence and independence, while Gu Yanqing’s willingness to eat her food and acknowledge the child hints that his attitude may be changing.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Gu Yanqing accepts Xu Han’s invitation to eat and tries her homemade rice noodle rolls.
• He is pleasantly surprised by the dish’s quality, especially the lettuce, and realizes that Qiao Wanqing—whom he had assumed was incapable of housework—is actually an excellent cook.
• Xu Han privately jokes that the lettuce was grown using his son Koukou’s urine, while Gu Yanqing remains unaware.
• Koukou wakes up and happily interacts with Xu Han. His affectionate behavior toward his mother creates a warm family scene that leaves Gu Yanqing with an unfamiliar emotional reaction.
• Xu Han feeds and changes Koukou while Gu Yanqing waits in the living room.
• Gu Yanqing apologizes for Wang Xiao’s previous rudeness toward Xu Han.
• He asks whether Xu Han will allow Koukou to return to the Gu family, but accepts her refusal without forcing her.
• Gu Yanqing gives Xu Han his business card and phone number, offering to help if she changes her mind.
• He promises to transfer money into an account for Koukou every month, with the card’s password provided.

2. Character Developments

• Xu Han: Continues to handle Gu Yanqing calmly and confidently. She is amused by his reactions and remains determined to raise Koukou herself. Her thoughts reveal awareness of the original body’s tragic circumstances and her desire to change the fate written in the novel.
• Gu Yanqing: Shows himself to be polite, restrained, and responsible rather than arrogant. He appreciates Xu Han’s cooking, apologizes for Wang Xiao, respects her decision regarding Koukou, and offers financial support as the child’s father.
• Koukou: Demonstrates growing awareness and attachment to Xu Han. He recognizes her, reaches out to her, and responds joyfully to her affection.
• Gu Yanqing and Koukou: Gu Yanqing notices the baby and briefly interacts with him, but remains emotionally distant and does not ask to hold him.

3. Significant Themes

• Parental responsibility: Gu Yanqing begins taking practical responsibility for Koukou, even though he is not yet emotionally close to the child.
• Changing fate: Xu Han reflects on how a simple change—such as having Gu Yanqing’s contact information—might have prevented the original character’s tragedy.
• Appearances versus reality: Gu Yanqing’s assumptions about Xu Han are overturned when he discovers her domestic ability and kindness.
• Family and emotional connection: The affectionate bond between Xu Han and Koukou affects Gu Yanqing and hints at future emotional involvement.
• Transmigration and narrative awareness: Xu Han understands that she is living inside a novel, but recognizes that real choices and relationships may alter the predetermined plot.

4. Character Interactions

• Xu Han playfully questions Gu Yanqing about the lettuce, while he sincerely praises its taste.
• Gu Yanqing observes Xu Han caring for Koukou and is quietly moved by their closeness.
• Xu Han and Gu Yanqing discuss Koukou’s future; she refuses to give him up, while Gu Yanqing respects her decision.
• Gu Yanqing apologizes for Wang Xiao and offers Xu Han a way to contact him, establishing a more cooperative relationship between them.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gu Yanqing offers Xu Han a bank card, but she refuses both the money and his involvement in raising Koukou.
• Xu Han insists that she can support her son herself and asks Gu Yanqing to pretend Koukou does not exist. She fears that acknowledging his powerful father will expose Koukou to the novel’s hostile plot and turn him into a disposable villain used to advance the male lead.
• Gu Yanqing becomes increasingly irritated by Xu Han’s refusal to cooperate. She deliberately teases him with domineering-CEO clichés, claiming that rejecting him will only make him more interested. Angered, he leaves.
• Xu Han assumes Gu Yanqing’s pride will prevent him from returning after being rejected twice.
• Two days later, Qiao Xinde and Luo Yangxiu arrive to dispute the family’s land. They insult Xu Han, destroy the vegetables she planted, and throw the debris into her courtyard.
• Rather than argue, Xu Han calmly allows them to cause damage while waiting for the police, intending to establish clear evidence of their misconduct.
• After the police arrive, Xu Han produces the land ownership certificate, proving that the property belongs to her side of the family.
• The police order Qiao Xinde and Luo Yangxiu to stop trespassing and destroying her crops. They must clean up the mess, and the officer warns that scattering glass in the field would constitute intentional injury and could lead to imprisonment.
• Frightened by the legal consequences, Qiao Xinde quickly claims that Luo Yangxiu’s threat was only a joke.

Character Developments

• Xu Han: Demonstrates independence, resolve, and strategic thinking. She prioritizes Koukou’s safety over financial comfort and refuses to rely on Gu Yanqing. In dealing with her relatives, she remains calm and uses legal authority rather than emotion or physical confrontation.
• Gu Yanqing: His arrogant, controlling temperament becomes clear. He expects Xu Han to cooperate once he offers money, but her rejection frustrates and confounds him.
• Qiao Xinde and Luo Yangxiu: Their bullying behavior is exposed as dependent on intimidating weaker people. Once the police intervene, their confidence collapses, revealing their cowardice.
• Koukou: Though absent from the events, he remains central to Xu Han’s decisions. She is determined to protect him from the novel’s predetermined fate and from becoming a tool for the protagonist’s growth.

Significant Themes

• Rejecting fate: Xu Han refuses to accept the tragic role assigned to Koukou by the novel’s plot and intends to create a safer future for him.
• Maternal protection: Her refusal of Gu Yanqing’s money reflects her desire to shield Koukou from dangerous connections, even at personal financial cost.
• Independence versus power: Xu Han resists Gu Yanqing’s wealth and authority, proving that she will not be controlled through money.
• Justice over brute force: Against her relatives, Xu Han uses documentation, patience, and the law to counter intimidation.
• Appearance versus reality: Gu Yanqing’s domineering image is undermined by Xu Han’s mockery, while the relatives’ apparent boldness disappears in front of the police.

Character Interactions

• Xu Han and Gu Yanqing clash over money, parental responsibility, and control. His formal demands contrast with her sarcastic, irreverent responses.
• Xu Han confronts Luo Yangxiu without matching her insults, calmly turning her threats into evidence for a police complaint.
• The police serve as the authority that confirms Xu Han’s land rights and forces the relatives to retreat.
• Xu Han’s interactions throughout the chapter show her shifting from someone vulnerable to someone capable of protecting both herself and Koukou through strategic action.

Chapter Summary: “Koukou Cried”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After causing trouble in Xu Han’s yard, Luo Yangxiu and her husband are reprimanded by the police and forced to clean up before leaving. Luo gives Xu Han a threatening glare, but Xu Han remains confident and unafraid.
• Xu Han expands her vegetable garden and orders bamboo fencing from Aunt Li to protect the crops from chickens.
• Her unusual vegetables grow successfully despite being planted out of season. They are also free of pests because Koukou’s urine both accelerates plant growth and repels insects, allowing Xu Han to grow pesticide-free produce.
• Xu Han realizes the vegetables could become a valuable source of income, especially after she turns down a one-million-yuan child-support payment.
• She cooks snow peas with home-raised pork belly and is astonished by their exceptional freshness and flavor. Grandma Qiao also enjoys the simple but delicious meal.
• Xu Han takes freshly harvested vegetables to the village elementary school cafeteria. Aunt Zhu reveals that the school’s current vegetable supplier is connected to a school administrator and provides poor-quality produce, likely because of corruption and favoritism.
• Xu Han proposes becoming the school’s supplier, despite learning that the vice principal may expect kickbacks.
• The school staff later eat a meal made with Xu Han’s vegetables and are amazed by their superior taste. Principal Qiu and the teachers praise the dishes, suggesting Xu Han’s produce may gain the school’s approval.

Character Development

• Xu Han becomes increasingly self-reliant and entrepreneurial. She refuses to be intimidated by hostile relatives and begins looking for legitimate ways to profit from her extraordinary crops.
• She also shows generosity by sharing her harvest with the school rather than focusing solely on personal gain.
• Aunt Zhu acts as a trustworthy intermediary, openly explaining the school’s supply problems and helping Xu Han explore a business opportunity.
• Principal Qiu is presented as a principled, devoted educator who genuinely cares about his students, contrasting with the potentially corrupt vice principal.
• Luo Yangxiu remains hostile toward Xu Han, hinting that the family conflict is not necessarily over.
• Koukou’s mysterious abilities continue to benefit Xu Han’s household and livelihood.

Significant Themes

• Self-reliance and resourcefulness: Xu Han turns her unusual circumstances into an opportunity to build an income.
• Quality versus corruption: The school’s poor vegetable supply reflects favoritism and possible bribery, while Xu Han offers a fresher and more honest alternative.
• The value of simple pleasures: Fresh ingredients and a home-cooked meal bring greater satisfaction than the more elaborate food Xu Han once ate in the city.
• Generosity and community: Xu Han shares her harvest with the school, strengthening her ties with the village.
• Rural life and abundance: The chapter celebrates home-grown food, local labor, and the potential economic value of farming.

Character Interactions

• The police mediate the conflict between Xu Han and Luo Yangxiu’s household, reinforcing Xu Han’s refusal to yield to intimidation.
• Xu Han relies on Aunt Li to obtain bamboo and on Aunt Zhu to navigate the school’s supply system.
• Xu Han and Grandma Qiao share a simple meal, emphasizing their warm household relationship.
• Xu Han discusses the cafeteria’s corruption with Aunt Zhu and begins forming a practical business plan.
• Principal Qiu and the teachers bond over the unexpectedly delicious cafeteria food, creating a positive first impression of Xu Han’s vegetables and opening the possibility of a new supply contract.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The school cafeteria’s food is noticeably tastier than usual, prompting Principal Qiu and the teachers to praise the dishes.
• Aunt Zhu explains that the improvement comes from Xu Han’s family-grown vegetables. The students, who usually leave substantial leftovers, finish nearly all their food.
• Impressed by the vegetables’ quality and their effect on the children’s appetite, Principal Qiu asks Aunt Zhu to arrange a supply agreement with Xu Han.
• Xu Han signs a one-year contract to provide vegetables to the school, earning approximately 4,000 yuan per month. This significantly improves her family’s financial situation.
• While taking Koukou to the hospital for a vaccination, Xu Han realizes how inconvenient rural transportation is. She decides to buy an electric scooter to make trips to Town and vegetable deliveries easier.
• Koukou remains composed during the injection but pretends to cry after being praised for his bravery. He eventually bursts into tears when Xu Han comforts him.
• Xu Han purchases a pink two-seater electric scooter with a long-range battery for 2,600 yuan. The shop owner will deliver it to her home the following day.
• On her walk home with Koukou and her purchases, Xu Han hears a rustling sound in the roadside grass and becomes startled, suspecting that something may be hiding there.

Character Developments

• Xu Han: Gains a stable source of income and begins moving from poverty toward modest financial security. She also becomes more proactive and practical, recognizing the need for personal transportation and investing in an electric scooter despite its cost.
• Principal Qiu: Demonstrates concern for the students’ health and nutrition. After personally tasting the vegetables and observing the students’ improved eating habits, he takes concrete action by contracting Xu Han’s family.
• Koukou: Shows his cheerful, playful personality. He tolerates vaccinations bravely, then comically performs distress after receiving praise, revealing both his sensitivity and mischievous nature.
• Aunt Zhu: Acts as an important link between Xu Han’s family and the school, enthusiastically promoting the quality of the vegetables.

Significant Themes

• Hard work leading to stability: Xu Han’s agricultural efforts begin producing tangible economic benefits.
• Quality and nourishment: Fresh, naturally grown food improves the students’ appetite and highlights the importance of wholesome meals.
• Rural inconvenience and adaptation: Limited transportation creates practical difficulties, forcing Xu Han to find solutions and become more independent.
• Family and caregiving: Xu Han remains attentive to Koukou’s health and emotional needs, carefully preparing him for his vaccination and comforting him afterward.
• Everyday humor: Koukou’s delayed crying after being praised adds a lighthearted moment to the otherwise practical chapter.

Character Interactions

• Principal Qiu discusses the unusually delicious food with the teachers and learns from Aunt Zhu that Xu Han’s family supplied the vegetables.
• Aunt Zhu reports the students’ improved eating habits and helps establish the contract between the school and Xu Han.
• Xu Han interacts with the doctor during Koukou’s vaccination, receiving reassurance that his quietness and pain tolerance are normal.
• Xu Han comforts Koukou after the injection, while the doctor jokes about the old saying that children should not be praised.
• Xu Han negotiates with the electric-scooter shop owner, who offers home delivery and makes the purchase more convenient.

Chapter Summary: Fate’s Wheel

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Han discovers a small, long-bodied brown-and-white animal eating a stolen chicken in the grass. Although she initially suspects it is a fox and worries about her own chickens, the creature is unusually fearless and follows her home.
• The animal refuses to leave even when Xu Han tries to chase it away. She eventually allows it to remain temporarily and feeds it cherry tomatoes.
• Grandma Qiao identifies it as a weasel, traditionally called a “Yellow Immortal” in local folklore. She explains that such animals were once common chicken thieves but are now rarely seen. Rather than drive it away, she suggests treating its arrival as a good omen, provided it leaves their chickens alone.
• The weasel settles into the household, happily eating both meat and the family’s homegrown produce.
• Xu Han receives the electric scooter she ordered and quickly learns to ride it with help from a village woman.
• The bamboo Xu Han ordered is delivered by Alai, a shy, honest young villager. Her casual compliment makes him blush and become flustered.
• When Alai later sees the weasel, he becomes excited and reverently bows to it, asking for help finding a wife before the year ends. Xu Han is amused by his superstition and by the fact that he has very little time left to fulfill his wish.
• At the end of the chapter, Xu Han notices that Koukou’s eyes are red, suggesting he has been crying, though the reason is not yet revealed.

Character Developments

• Xu Han: Demonstrates practicality and compassion. Although she worries about the weasel stealing her chickens, she cannot bring herself to harm it and gradually accepts its presence. She also shows confidence and adaptability by quickly learning to ride the scooter.
• Koukou: Shows strong curiosity toward the animal and tries to reach for it. His later red eyes hint at an emotional or physical problem that may become important.
• Grandma Qiao: Provides local knowledge about the weasel and village customs. Her calm, traditional attitude influences Xu Han’s decision to tolerate the animal.
• Alai: Is introduced as hardworking, shy, and socially awkward. Xu Han’s friendly teasing embarrasses him, while his devotion to the “Yellow Immortal” reveals his superstition and hopefulness.
• The Weasel: Becomes the household’s unofficial pet despite being wild. It is fearless, intelligent-seeming, and unusually fond of Xu Han’s produce.

Significant Themes

• Acceptance and unexpected companionship: Xu Han reluctantly accepts the weasel, which may become a meaningful companion rather than a nuisance.
• Folklore and superstition: The villagers view the weasel as a Yellow Immortal capable of bringing luck, showing how traditional beliefs shape everyday life.
• Kindness toward animals: Xu Han’s unwillingness to drive away or hurt the creature reflects her gentle nature.
• Rural community life: The chapter highlights village relationships, local customs, informal help, and small exchanges among neighbors.
• Hints of romance and matchmaking: Alai’s wish to marry, combined with his immediate embarrassment around Xu Han, introduces a possible romantic thread.

Character Interactions

• Xu Han and Koukou share a playful moment while observing the weasel; Koukou’s fascination contrasts with Xu Han’s caution.
• Xu Han repeatedly tries to manage the weasel but ultimately gives in to its stubbornness.
• Grandma Qiao reassures Xu Han and interprets the weasel’s presence through village folklore.
• Xu Han’s casual praise makes Alai visibly flustered, suggesting he may be shy around her.
• Alai treats the weasel with reverence and asks it for marital luck, amusing Xu Han and reinforcing the chapter’s blend of ordinary life and superstition.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Koukou is frightened by unexpected firecrackers near the village school. Although he initially recovers, the experience later affects him: during his nap he begins crying, and by afternoon he develops a dangerously high fever of 40°C.
• Xu Han and Grandma Qiao rush him to the town hospital. After receiving a fever-reducing injection and physical cooling treatment, Koukou’s fever subsides.
• Earlier that day, Aunt Zhu asks Xu Han to prepare a basket of fresh vegetables for Dongyang Elementary School. A wealthy city donor has funded a new teaching building and, after eating at the school, praised Xu Han’s naturally grown vegetables.
• Xu Han and Aunt Zhu gather and wash a colorful assortment of cauliflower, tomatoes, radishes, and other produce as a gift for the donor.
• After leaving the hospital, Xu Han, Grandma Qiao, and Koukou stop near a snack shop. Xu Han unexpectedly encounters Koukou’s mysterious biological father, Qiao Wanqing’s former husband and the story’s “villain’s father.”

Character Developments

• Xu Han shows increasing emotional attachment to Koukou. Though she once regarded herself as only his temporary or “bargain-bin” mother, the medical emergency makes her realize she now loves him deeply and no longer cares about his parentage.
• Koukou is portrayed as clever and occasionally manipulative, but also genuinely vulnerable. His delayed reaction to the firecrackers demonstrates that frightening experiences can affect him even after he appears calm.
• Grandma Qiao is caring and remorseful about accidentally exposing Koukou to the firecrackers. She supports Xu Han during the hospital crisis and notices Xu Han’s own distress afterward.
• Aunt Zhu acts as a connection between Xu Han’s family and the local school, helping spread recognition of their exceptional produce.
• Koukou’s father makes an unexpected reappearance, disrupting Xu Han’s assumption that he had left the plot.

Significant Themes

• Motherhood and emotional bonds: Xu Han’s attachment to Koukou has grown beyond obligation or circumstance; his illness reveals how deeply she now regards herself as his mother.
• The delayed effects of fear and trauma: Koukou’s initial forgetfulness does not mean the firecracker incident caused no harm, emphasizing that children may process frightening events later.
• Rural authenticity versus wealth: The wealthy donor prefers the family’s humble, naturally grown vegetables over expensive meat and seafood, highlighting the value of simplicity and genuine quality.
• Comedy and genre awareness: Xu Han treats the unfolding romance and “overbearing CEO” conventions with skepticism, openly mocking the cliché that mistreating a powerful man might make him interested in her.
• Community relationships: Xu Han’s farming success strengthens her connection with the village and school, while the family’s generosity is recognized by others.

Character Interactions

• Xu Han comforts Koukou after the firecrackers and later urgently cares for him during his fever.
• Grandma Qiao explains what happened and shares responsibility for caring for Koukou, while also comforting Xu Han after the hospital scare.
• Aunt Zhu and Xu Han cooperate to harvest and prepare vegetables for the school’s wealthy donor.
• At the end of the chapter, Xu Han confronts Koukou’s father with irritation and suspicion, immediately resisting the possibility of a clichéd romantic development.

Chapter Summary: “Crying and Fussing”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gu Yanqing visits Xu Han because he suddenly dreamed that something had happened to their son, Koukou. Although he previously felt emotionally detached from the child, the dream makes him worry enough to seek them out.
• Xu Han is surprised that Gu Yanqing has found her yet again, especially since the original story’s female character repeatedly failed to encounter him. Gu explains that he first learned about her pregnancy through an employee who saw her at a prenatal checkup.
• Gu follows Xu Han, Grandma Qiao, and Koukou into a noodle shop. The owner assumes the four are a family and becomes intimidated by Gu Yanqing’s imposing presence.
• Koukou recently suffered a high fever of forty degrees, though it has already subsided. Seeing the child looking unwell, Gu Yanqing becomes anxious and asks to hold him.
• Gu awkwardly holds Koukou for the first time. His unfamiliar posture makes the baby uncomfortable, and Koukou begins to fuss. Xu Han takes him back.
• During the handoff, Gu accidentally brushes against Xu Han’s breast. Both are startled and embarrassed, with Xu Han blushing and glaring at him.
• Gu notices Xu Han’s shy, youthful reaction and begins to see her differently—not merely as the difficult woman who claims not to like him, but as a beautiful young woman.
• The group eats the shop’s recommended clear-broth noodles, beef pocket soup, and dumplings. Gu enjoys the food enough to finish both bowls, though he leaves the lettuce behind.
• After eating, Xu Han regains her energy and prepares to tease Gu about his dislike of lettuce.

Character Developments

• Gu Yanqing: His concern for Koukou reveals the beginnings of paternal attachment. Holding the baby gives him an unfamiliar sense of warmth and emotional connection, despite his insistence that he has no feelings for the child. He also becomes newly aware of Xu Han’s femininity and youthful vulnerability.
• Xu Han: She remains wary and sarcastic toward Gu, but her protective feelings toward Koukou are clear. Her embarrassment during the accidental physical contact exposes a shy, inexperienced side that contrasts with her usual boldness.
• Koukou: Though mostly asleep, his fever and fussing drive the chapter’s events. His resemblance to Gu Yanqing reinforces their biological connection and prompts Gu’s emotional response.
• Grandma Qiao: Nervous around Gu Yanqing, she tries to minimize her presence but helps him hold Koukou safely and explains the child’s condition.

Significant Themes

• Emerging parental love: Gu Yanqing’s concern and first experience holding Koukou suggest that paternal affection may develop gradually through direct interaction.
• Fate and coincidence: Xu Han reflects on how improbable encounters have repeatedly brought her and Gu together, contrasting her current circumstances with the original plot.
• Awkward intimacy and romantic tension: The accidental touch creates embarrassment but also shifts Gu’s perception of Xu Han, hinting at growing attraction.
• Family roles: The shop owner’s assumption that they are a family highlights the increasingly family-like dynamic among Xu Han, Gu Yanqing, Koukou, and Grandma Qiao.
• Comedy through contrast: Gu’s intimidating appearance, awkwardness with babies, dislike of lettuce, and Xu Han’s teasing create lighthearted tension around otherwise emotional developments.

Character Interactions

• Xu Han questions Gu about how he located her, leading to an explanation of the coincidence that connected him to Koukou.
• Gu and Grandma Qiao interact cautiously, with her feeling intimidated but ultimately trusting him enough to hand over the baby.
• Gu’s inexperienced handling of Koukou contrasts with Xu Han’s confidence as a mother figure.
• The accidental contact between Gu and Xu produces mutual embarrassment and subtly alters their relationship.
• The meal ends on a playful note, with Xu Han ready to resume teasing Gu about the lettuce he leaves uneaten.

Chapter Summary

Plot and Events

• Because of the freezing winter weather and Koukou’s weakness, Xu Han accepts a ride home from Gu Yanqing instead of using her electric scooter. Gu Yanqing pays to have the scooter delivered, demonstrating his wealth and practical generosity.
• At Xu Han’s home, Gu Yanqing is surprised to meet Yellow Immortal, a pet weasel that peacefully lives alongside the family’s chickens.
• Xu Han serves Gu Yanqing leftover taro rice with cured pork, mushrooms, and stir-fried greens. Although he initially plans to eat only politely, he is deeply impressed and ends up eating the most, recognizing the appeal of Qiao Wanqing’s simple home cooking.
• Gu Yanqing refuses to leave because Koukou’s fever might return, and Xu Han reluctantly allows him to spend the night.
• Koukou later wakes crying intensely in his sleep. Neither Xu Han nor Gu Yanqing can calm him or get him to drink milk.
• Grandma Qiao begins a traditional ritual involving incense, rice, and Koukou’s clothing, believing it may help. Gu Yanqing objects strongly, viewing the ritual as dangerous superstition that could delay proper medical care.
• He decides to take Koukou to the hospital, but Xu Han argues that the child may simply have been frightened and that a doctor cannot necessarily solve the problem.

Character Development

• Xu Han remains practical and independent but shows growing willingness to rely on Gu Yanqing when circumstances require it. She is also fiercely protective of Koukou and reacts defensively when she feels Gu Yanqing is criticizing her caregiving.
• Gu Yanqing becomes increasingly involved as a father. His concern over Koukou’s health reveals genuine paternal attachment, while his willingness to stay overnight and pay for the scooter shows consideration beneath his reserved exterior. His strict opposition to superstition also exposes his rational, educated outlook and anxiety about losing control over Koukou’s welfare.
• Grandma Qiao represents the household’s rural traditions and faith in folk remedies, contrasting sharply with Gu Yanqing’s modern medical skepticism.
• Koukou remains physically fragile and emotionally distressed, prompting the adults’ conflict.

Themes

• The chapter contrasts modern rationalism with rural superstition, especially in matters of childcare and illness.
• It emphasizes parental anxiety and conflicting approaches to protection: Gu Yanqing trusts hospitals, while Xu Han and Grandma Qiao interpret the crying as fright and seek familiar traditional solutions.
• Domestic intimacy and class contrast appear through Gu Yanqing’s enjoyment of humble home cooking and his use of money to solve practical problems.
• The events also suggest the gradual formation of a shared family dynamic, despite Xu Han and Gu Yanqing’s disagreements.

Character Interactions

• Xu Han and Gu Yanqing exchange teasing, restrained banter, particularly about his enjoyment of her household food.
• Gu Yanqing’s stay brings him into closer contact with Xu Han’s unconventional rural home life.
• His confrontation with Xu Han over Grandma Qiao’s ritual marks a sharper conflict between them, with both claiming to act in Koukou’s best interests.
• Their argument reveals mutual concern for the child, even though they differ strongly in judgment and parenting methods.