Madam Zhou

Biodata

Background / History

Poverty and Poor Health

Madam Zhou’s household endured years of bullying, beatings, and abuse from Yun Zhen’s relatives. Her husband and their ten-year-old sons worked in town to support the family, while their home and clothing showed severe poverty 1 5.

Her prolonged weakness resulted from failing to recuperate after giving birth to her twin sons. At Zhenyuan Hall in Red Camp Town, a doctor found no serious illness and prescribed nourishing food rather than treatment for a major disease. Yun Manman carried her to town because even her malnourished husband struggled to bear her weight 7.

Protecting Her Children

When Yun Manman returned home with purple eyes, Madam Zhou initially feared that she had another fever. After learning that the color would not change back, she embraced her daughter and assured her that she looked even prettier. She then broke down upon hearing that the family elders had arranged an assault on Yun Manman, blaming herself for being unable to protect her. Yun Manman reassured her that she had escaped without being violated 5 6.

During the visit to her sons’ workplace, Madam Zhou heard Master Shen and his wife humiliating the boys and saw their bruised arms. After Yun Manman intervened and took them away, she and Yun Zhen held their sons and cried 7 8.

Separation from the Old Yun Family

Yun Manman and Yun Zhen secured a written severance from the old Yun household. Madam Zhou joined her husband and children in expressing hope for their future, then helped prepare a celebratory meal 11.

After a month of recuperation, the family’s complexions had visibly improved; Yun Manman was also adding Returning Lotus Fruit juice to their food. When offered martial-arts instruction, Madam Zhou questioned whether her weak health would permit it, and Yun Manman proposed basic self-defense techniques for her 13.

The severance did not end the relatives’ interference. When they returned with Zhang Gouzi, who claimed to have purchased Yun Manman, Madam Zhou openly expressed disgust at their arrival. Her sons held her back from approaching the threatening group 14.

Yun Manman’s Pregnancy and Childbirth

Madam Zhou noticed Yun Manman’s growing belly while sewing beside her. She became distressed when the pregnancy was confirmed, initially hoping that the father would marry her daughter to prevent gossip. Yun Manman instead told the family that he had died, and the household agreed to support her and the children 36 37.

Throughout the pregnancy, Madam Zhou helped care for Yun Manman, serving her chicken and broth. She contrasted her daughter’s easy pregnancy with her own severe nausea while carrying Yun Zewu and Yun Zeren 38.

Madam Zhou remained with Yun Manman through labor despite having already spent the afternoon at her bedside. She encouraged her daughter to cry out if necessary and was bewildered by the absence of pain. After the twins’ safe birth, she tucked in Yun Manman’s quilt and remarked on her good fortune 39 40 41.

Attack on the Family Home

When Yun Xiao warned that attackers were approaching, Madam Zhou reached for him, but he evaded her and insisted on defending the household. Yun Zhen pushed her inside for shelter before going into the courtyard with his saber 50.

Appearance

• Face and build: Delicate features, a pale complexion, and a thin body reflecting years of poor health 5.
• Hair: Long, tied with a strip of cloth at her introduction 5.
• Clothing: Heavily patched garments and shoes during the family’s impoverished period 5.
• Weight: A little over eighty jin when Yun Manman carries her to town 7.

Personality

Madam Zhou is affectionate and protective, placing her children’s safety above questions about Yun Manman’s changed personality or sudden martial abilities. Her response to Yun Manman’s purple eyes is reassurance rather than rejection, while threats to her children leave her visibly shaken and prone to blaming herself 5 6 7.

Her gentleness coexists with firm preferences. She openly resents the old Yun family after the severance and refuses to treat their renewed interference as legitimate. She also opposed Yun Zhen’s proposed names for their children strongly enough that a schoolteacher chose their actual names instead 14 41.

She enjoys Yun Manman’s increasingly playful behavior, laughing when she overhears her daughter praising herself. When Yun Manman returns after an extended absence, Madam Zhou’s first response is to hug her while scolding her for making the family worry 6 31.

Abilities & Skills

Sewing

Madam Zhou makes clothing for the household and takes pride in its fit and stitching 9 36.

• Suggests buying cloth rather than ready-made clothes, saying her own work will fit better and have neater seams 9.
• Continues sewing during the family’s more prosperous period 36.

Cooking

Madam Zhou prepares family meals and food for Yun Manman’s work outside the home 11 13 33.

• Cooks with Yun Zhen after the family severs ties with his relatives 11.
• Makes the chive pockets Yuanwei brings to Yun Manman in the fields 33.

Self-Defense Instruction

Yun Manman offers to teach Madam Zhou techniques suited to her physical condition 13.

• The proposed training is basic self-defense, rather than the broader martial instruction offered to other family members 13.
• No named cultivation realm or combat achievement is documented for her.

Relationships

• Yun Zhen / Old Father Yun — Husband. He calls her Xiuniang, supports her when she is weak, and reassures her when she worries about Yun Manman. During the attack on their home, he places her inside before confronting the danger 5 31 50.
• Yun Manman — Daughter. Madam Zhou offers unconditional affection, while Yun Manman arranges medical care, carries her to town, and works to improve the household’s living conditions 5 7 9.
• Yun Zewu and Yun Zeren — Twin sons. Madam Zhou is devastated by their mistreatment under Master Shen; the boys later try to keep her away from Zhang Gouzi’s threatening group 7 8 14.
• Yun Rui and Yun Xiao — Twin maternal grandsons. She helps care for their mother during pregnancy and opposes giving the babies names like those Yun Zhen once proposed for their children 38 41 50.

Trivia

• Yun Zhen originally proposed Daya, Tietou, and Gousheng as their children’s names. Madam Zhou credits her determined opposition with securing their eventual schoolteacher-chosen names 41.
• During her pregnancy with Yun Zewu and Yun Zeren, the smell of a wild chicken made her vomit for three days; afterward, even seeing wild vegetable cakes triggered nausea 38.