Su Qingrou

Biodata

Background / History

Exile and marriage

Su Qingrou was born into an official’s family in the Sacred Martial Dynasty. After her father was convicted of a crime, she was implicated and exiled to the Desolate Ruins. There, she married Chen Qingye, Chen Shi’an’s elder brother, and became the mother of Chen Tiantian 2.

Her husband served as a City Guard Battalion squad leader. Following his death, the household faced dwindling savings, Chen Shi’an’s gambling habits, and a six-tael City Construction Tax that threatened their ability to remain in Windrise Stronghold 1 7.

Threatened sale and household recovery

Before Chen Shi’an’s transmigration, the original owner of his body accepted a deposit to sell Su Qingrou and Chen Tiantian to Zhao Desheng. He tried unsuccessfully to drag her from the courtyard, striking his head against the old willow tree in the process. The newly transmigrated Chen Shi’an instead promised that mother and daughter would remain part of the Chen household 1.

Su Qingrou initially suspected another trick. Losing their household status would also mean losing the stronghold’s protection, leaving them with nowhere safe to go. Chen Shi’an subsequently refused to surrender them to Zhao Desheng and killed him after learning that Zhao had caused Chen Qingye’s fatal accident 1 6.

With the tax still due, she offered to sell her treasured jade pendant. Chen Shi’an returned it and provided the money himself. Paying the tax and enrolling Tiantian in private school brought back the smile that had long been absent from Su Qingrou’s face 7 8 9.

Chen Su Ji

Chen Shi’an taught Su Qingrou to make fermented black beans and chili sauce, then proposed selling the sauce so that she could stop washing clothes for other households 9 10.

Harassment and protection

Zhang Mazi used a fight between his son and Tiantian to demand either one tael of silver or a month of Su Qingrou’s labor. His demand concealed an interest in her beauty. Chen Shi’an intervened, defeated him and his assistants, and obtained a city-guard ruling requiring Zhang Mazi to pay the Chen family four taels 9 10.

When Wang Tianye visited, Su Qingrou initially did not recognize him. Learning his identity frightened her because she had heard of his brutality. She understood Chen Shi’an’s request to collect Tiantian as a signal to stay away and delayed their return until dusk; afterward, she questioned his claim that Wang had merely offered condolences 14 15.

She opposed Chen Shi’an’s plan to join the Demon Hunting Team, believing their successful sauce business already provided a livelihood. He argued that money alone could not protect them from powerful enemies. Later, she learned that Zhao Ling was a ninth acquired-stage martial artist capable of helping safeguard the household during his absence 29 39.

Appearance

Su Qingrou is fair-skinned and beautiful, with a seemingly delicate build. She is recognized as a notable beauty on her street, attracting unwanted attention from Zhao Desheng and Zhang Mazi 2 4 9.

• Slender, willow-leaf brows 17.
• Long eyelashes 23.
• Slender fingers 7.
• Graceful figure, noticed by Wang Tianye when she leaves the courtyard 15.

Personality

Su Qingrou is cautious and conciliatory, particularly when her daughter’s safety is at stake. Early on, she repeatedly apologizes for Tiantian’s sharp words and warns her not to anger Chen Shi’an. Her restraint reflects the practical danger of being expelled from the household rather than confidence in his former character 3 4 9.

She is frugal and protective of family resources. She stretches their grain by cooking watery rice, questions spending on meat, and initially considers private schooling too expensive for their circumstances. Nevertheless, she teaches Tiantian characters herself and later worries about the strain of combining school with Spirit Medium training 4 8 21.

Her concern for Chen Shi’an includes a persistent effort to arrange his marriage. After mistaking his nighttime saber practice for masturbation, she becomes convinced that he needs a wife. She introduces Cheng Qiaogu, emphasizing her diligence, family business, and suitability for bearing children; even after Chen Shi’an joins the Demon Hunting Team, she insists that marriage deserves priority 5 15 23 24 39.

Her kindness also extends to newcomers. Although she initially protests the purchase of the gravely wounded Zhao Ling, she immediately accepts responsibility for her care. She welcomes Qin E’na to the family, defends her guarded behavior, and reassures both women that they can support one another without dwelling on their painful past 25 26 40.

Abilities & Skills

Cooking and sauce production

• Learns fermented-black-bean and chili-sauce preparation from Chen Shi’an and becomes proficient within ten days 9.
• Handles the household’s cooking and the production work behind Chen Su Ji 19 21.
• Expands production to meet demand, though her daily output remains limited 15 21.

Literacy

• Teaches Chen Tiantian characters at home before her enrollment in private school 8.

Negotiation and judgment

• Bargains with Anfeng Restaurant over the price of a large sauce order 19.
• Recognizes signs of Qin E’na’s comfortable upbringing from her bearing and smooth hands 26.
• Understands Chen Shi’an’s unspoken warning during Wang Tianye’s visit and keeps Tiantian away until later 15.

Familiarity with saber techniques

• Knows basic movements—including splitting, chopping, upward sweeping, and thrusting—from watching Chen Qingye practice 3.
• Offers Chen Shi’an advice but has no cultivation training of her own 3.

Equipment / Items

• Phoenix jade pendant — An emerald-green, translucent pendant about half a palm in size, carved with a phoenix and engraved with “Qingrou.” Her father commissioned it at her birth from a famous carver in the Sacred Martial Dynasty’s royal capital. Worn for more than twenty years, it is her last link to her birth family. She estimates that even a bargain sale would fetch ten taels, but Chen Shi’an refuses to let her sell it 7.
• Army-Breaking Saber Technique manual — Preserves Chen Qingye’s treasured manual, awarded when he became a squad leader, and gives it to Chen Shi’an once he begins practicing 7.

Relationships

• Chen Qingye — Late husband and Tiantian’s father. After seeing Chen Shi’an’s transformation, she wonders whether her husband’s spirit has intervened to reform his younger brother 2 8.
• Chen Shi’an — Younger brother-in-law. Years of gambling and misconduct make her distrust his initial promises, but his sustained efforts earn her trust. She remains willing to scold him over marriage, manners, and his treatment of Qin E’na; no romantic relationship is confirmed 1 26 39.
• Chen Tiantian — Daughter. Su Qingrou protects her, teaches her to read, and tries to balance education with the family’s finances and Tiantian’s well-being 4 8 17 21.
• Hou Fang — Her late husband’s sworn brother. She recognizes him during the Zhang Mazi dispute and warmly welcomes his later visit to pay respects 10 11.
• Qin E’na — Household member and sauce-making helper. Su Qingrou treats her as family, discourages her from calling Chen Shi’an “Master,” and frequently takes her side during their arguments 26 29 39.
• Zhao Ling — Injured newcomer whom Su Qingrou helps accommodate. She cannot stomach treating Zhao Ling’s exposed wound, but later learns that Zhao Ling is a powerful martial artist who can protect the family 25 39.
• Cheng Qiaogu — Prospective bride introduced to Chen Shi’an. Su Qingrou favors the match and tries to smooth over his abrupt departure when Qiaogu and her mother visit 23 39.

Notable Quotes

“Most importantly, don’t just pick someone because she’s pretty. Beauty won’t put food on the table.” 24

“Let the past go. Now that you’ve come to Windrise Stronghold, we’re family. We’ll support one another and live well together.” 40