Arc 15The Nie Family and the Famine

Zhou Wanwan outmaneuvered the Nie Family, won a public contest for the Zhou brothers, and used her power to leave the Nie household in disarray. As famine worsened, she organized relief and a farming plan for refugees, then returned to the Nie Family’s new residence and was drawn into a gathering of young ladies.

  • Zhou Wanwan revived Xiao Che and took him into her service, while Old Scholar Tree secretly carried the Nie residence and its treasures away.
  • At the lotus-viewing banquet, Zhou Wanwan wagered on the sweet potato harvest and arranged a match between the Zhou brothers and Nie Feng’s companions, then Zhou Qingchen and Shen Yunshu’s prospective marriage became a public dispute.
  • The Zhou brothers defeated Nie Feng’s group in combat, cuju, and archery, and Zhou Wanwan collected the wagers for her supporters.
  • Zhou Wanwan used Old Scholar Tree’s power to remove the Nie residence again and humiliated Nie Feng after he tried to have her beaten.
  • Zhou Wanwan confronted officials over starving refugees, learned of Cheng Yue’s developmental difficulties, and advised county magistrates to prepare water, grain, and coarse-grain relief.
  • Zhou Wanwan proposed porridge and a farming plan using sweet potatoes and cassava, and Shen Yu'an recruited refugees to cultivate leased wasteland.
  • Nie Rou and the Nie family moved to the Cui household, where Zhou Wanwan sold fruit and served a seafood feast to Nie Rou and the Cui sisters.
  • At Cui Yingying’s gathering, Lu Lan warned the young ladies about Zhou Wanwan and revealed that the Nie Family’s wager winnings had been stolen, after which Cui Yingying ordered Zhou Wanwan to bring out her rare flowers.
Chapters 351–375 Vol. 4 Read

Ch. 351Daddy, Is This Mommy?

Zhou Wanwan went with Nie Shi'an to the Nie residence and pretended to be his daughter, angering Madam Nie and getting herself locked in the family cell. As Old Scholar Tree made the cell comfortable for her, Nie Shi'an and Madam Nie arrived and argued over Zhou Wanwan's claims.

  • Madam Shen told Zhou Wanwan about the Nie Family's immense wealth, and Zhou set off eagerly with pastries and milk tea.
  • At the Nie residence, Zhou called Nie Shi'an her daddy and suggested Madam Nie was her mother, causing Madam Nie to faint in anger.
  • Nie Shi'an ordered Zhou taken to the cell, where Zhou continued pretending he had promised her mother the Nie Family's property.
  • Old Scholar Tree cleaned and furnished Zhou's cell, brought her books and fruit, and made her a comfortable bed.
  • Nie Shi'an and Madam Nie argued outside the cell as he insisted Zhou was a bandit framing him.

Ch. 352More Wronged Than Dou E!

Zhou Wanwan angered Nie Shi'an and Madam Nie with the lavish comforts in her cell, then discovered that her neighbor Xiao Che was a long-imprisoned investigator. She made him pledge his service and used her power and precious herbs to restore his failing body.

  • Madam Nie found Zhou Wanwan living in a richly furnished cell and accused Nie Shi'an of favoring his supposed daughter.
  • Zhou Wanwan pretended that Nie Shi'an had promised her the Nie family's property, deepening Madam Nie's suspicions before she left in anger.
  • Nie Shi'an warned Zhou Wanwan to behave, but she dismissed his concern after he left.
  • Xiao Che told Zhou Wanwan that he had been imprisoned for seven years after investigating the Nie Family's corruption for the emperor.
  • Zhou Wanwan accepted Xiao Che's pledge of service and infused his body with medicinal herbs and her power, repairing his damaged organs.

Ch. 353More Than a Hundred Dishes?

Zhou Wanwan saved Xiao Che, fed him an extravagant meal, and explored the Nie Family compound with Old Scholar Tree. She overheard Madam Nie confess to killing Nie Shi'an’s former lover and threaten to get rid of her.

  • Zhou Wanwan revived Xiao Che, who agreed to obey her because she had saved his life.
  • Old Scholar Tree brought Zhou Wanwan and Xiao Che more than a dozen dishes from the Nie Family’s feast, and Zhou Wanwan judged the food only passable.
  • Old Scholar Tree opened the prison’s iron door, then carried Zhou Wanwan around the heavily guarded Nie Family compound unseen.
  • Zhou Wanwan admired the Nie Family estate and planned to move it to one of the mountains owned by Black Wind Stronghold.
  • Madam Nie admitted to Nie Shi'an that she had caused his former lover Huiniang to drown, and she threatened to get rid of Zhou Wanwan.

Ch. 354Do you think I have the ability to move a house this big?

Zhou Wanwan watched the Nie household turn against one another, while Old Scholar Tree secretly carried off the residence and its treasures overnight. Nie Shi'an moved Zhou Wanwan to a worse cell and threatened her family if her promised sweet potato harvest failed.

  • Nie Shi'an blamed Madam Nie and Zhou Wanwan for his troubles, then ordered his manservant to teach Zhou Wanwan a lesson.
  • Madam Nie ordered a maid to give the prisoners laxative-laced sweet soup, but Old Scholar Tree forced the soup on the maid and Madam Nie instead.
  • Old Scholar Tree directed more than ten thousand trees to carry away the Nie residence and its storerooms while Zhou Wanwan slept.
  • Nie Shi'an and Madam Nie discovered their home was gone, searched unsuccessfully for clues, and decided to stay at another courtyard house.
  • Nie Shi'an moved Zhou Wanwan into a dark cell and threatened her family if her sweet potatoes did not yield several thousand jin per mu within half a year.
  • Old Scholar Tree furnished Zhou Wanwan's new cell after Nie Shi'an left.

Ch. 355What Law Did She Break?

Zhou Wanwan remained in the Nie residence after being locked in a dark room, while Madam Nie defended the family’s treatment of her at a lotus-viewing banquet. Madam Shen arrived with other guests, and Zhou Wanwan appealed to her for help as the dispute over her imprisonment continued.

  • Madam Shen and Shen Congrong discussed Zhou Wanwan’s new crops and wondered whether she was suffering at the Nie residence.
  • At the Nie Family’s lotus-viewing banquet, Shen Wanjun, Cheng Xiao, and Gu Sinian challenged Nie Feng and Lu Lan over Zhou Wanwan’s imprisonment.
  • Madam Shen explained the dispute to the gathered madams, while Madam Nie claimed Zhou Wanwan had spread harmful lies and was being treated well.
  • Madam Nie had Zhou Wanwan brought from the dark room to a grand courtyard before the guests arrived.
  • Zhou Wanwan clung to Madam Shen and said she had been frightened in the dark room and wanted to go home.
  • Madam Shen rebuked Madam Nie for humiliating Zhou Wanwan, who had come as a guest and was a xiucai.

Ch. 356Lord Nie, Do You Dare to Bet?

Zhou Wanwan challenged Lord Nie to a wager over whether she could grow a crop yielding two or three thousand jin per mu, securing her release from prison and permission to take Xiao Che. At the Nie Residence gathering, she introduced Shen Yunshu to her brothers, and Zhou Qingchen shyly began speaking with her.

  • Madam Nie accused Zhou Wanwan of lying, but Zhou Wanwan's brothers and Gu Sinian demanded that she be allowed to go home.
  • Zhou Wanwan asked Lord Nie to wager on the crop yield, and they signed a contract promising riches and an apology if she succeeded, or triple compensation if she failed.
  • Zhou Wanwan asked Lord Nie not to imprison her again and to let Xiao Che leave with her; Lord Nie agreed to arrange her lodging and allow Xiao Che to go.
  • Madam Nie invited the guests to a meal and tried to bring Shen Yunshu and Nie Feng together, but Shen Yunshu said she did not know him well.
  • Zhou Wanwan introduced Shen Yunshu to her brothers and teased Gu Sinian about marriage; he told her not to arrange an engagement for him.
  • Zhou Qingchen stood beside Shen Yunshu and shyly asked what she liked to do.

Ch. 357Auntie, What Do You Think of My Brother?

Shen Yunshu rejected Nie Feng and his family’s claim that she was promised to him, while Madam Nie tried to shame her into marrying Nie Feng. Zhou Wanwan proposed her brother Zhou Qingchen as Shen Yunshu’s husband, and Madam Shen approved, leaving the match opposed by Madam Nie and Lord Shen.

  • Nie Feng mocked Zhou Qingchen and claimed Shen Yunshu was his fiancée, but Shen Yunshu said their marriage arrangement had been called off and condemned Nie Feng’s mistreatment of servants and affairs with other women.
  • Madam Shen stated that the families had never made a binding agreement and that Shen Yunshu did not want to marry Nie Feng; Madam Nie insulted the Shen family and threatened Shen Yunshu’s reputation.
  • Zhou Wanwan asked Madam Shen whether she would accept Zhou Qingchen as Shen Yunshu’s husband, prompting Madam Nie and other women to ridicule the idea because Zhou Qingchen was a poor xiucai.
  • Lord Shen objected to the proposed match because Zhou Wanwan’s family had once cleaned out his house, but Madam Shen said she was willing to consider Zhou Qingchen, who promised to treat Shen Yunshu well.
  • Madam Nie warned that the match would ruin Shen Yunshu’s life, and Madam Shen replied that her daughter must marry a good person.

Ch. 358Your Whole Family Has Something Wrong with Their Heads

Madam Nie and Nie Feng mocked Zhou Qingchen, but Zhou Wanwan backed her brother and offered the legendary Sky-Splitting Dagger as a prize for a contest. As the competition against Nie Feng’s group was about to begin, Zhou Wanwan also gave Shen Yunshu an even more ornate dagger and casually teased Madam Nie by calling her Mother.

  • Madam Nie praised Nie Feng and insulted Zhou Qingchen, while Madam Shen and Shen Congrong defended the Zhou family and criticized the Nie family.
  • Zhou Qingchen said he would treat Shen Yunshu well and never take a concubine, and Shen Congrong approved of him.
  • Nie Feng challenged Zhou Qingchen to compete in martial arts, cuju, and archery, and Zhou Wanwan offered the Sky-Splitting Dagger as the prize.
  • Zheng Xing'an revealed the dagger, and the gathered young masters recognized it as a legendary weapon worth five thousand taels of gold.
  • Shen Yunshu worried that Zhou Qingchen and his brothers could not defeat Nie Feng’s group, while Zhou Wanwan gave her a jeweled dagger and said she had many at home.
  • Zhou Wanwan complained about the refreshments and called Madam Nie Mother, prompting Madam Nie to angrily deny any kinship.

Ch. 359Are These City Bumpkins Crazy?

Zhou Wanwan confronted Madam Nie over her mother Huiniang while the Zhou brothers prepared to fight Nie Feng and his companions. As the crowd wagered on the match, Madam Nie brought out chests of treasure, and Zhou Wanwan invited her side to place their stakes.

  • Zhou Wanwan told Madam Nie that her mother's name was Huiniang, and Madam Nie reacted in shock because she believed Huiniang had died.
  • Nie Feng and his three companions insulted the Zhou brothers, who dismissed their taunts as empty talk.
  • Lu Lan, Shangguan Wan'er, and other onlookers wagered valuables on Nie Feng's victory, while Zhou Wanwan mocked their confidence.
  • Madam Nie opened ten chests filled with gold, jade, and other treasures and challenged Zhou Wanwan to match the stake.
  • Cheng Chao and Fang Zhiyuan bet one million and one hundred thousand taels of silver on Zhou Wanwan, prompting their fathers to complain about their sons.

Ch. 360Can the Women in Our Family Play?

Zhou Wanwan’s side overwhelmed Nie Feng’s team in the fight, but the next contest was cuju, where Nie Feng gathered a dozen martial artists. Zhou Qingyan asked if the women in their family could play, leaving the crowd laughing at Zhou Wanwan’s team.

  • Shen Wanjun and Madam Shen brought out money and valuables to support Zhou Wanwan’s bet, and Zhou Wanwan’s chests of treasures eclipsed Madam Nie’s display.
  • Zhou Wanwan’s supporters questioned their chances, while Fang Zhiyuan said he believed Gu Sinian would win.
  • The four Zhou brothers swiftly defeated Nie Feng and his three companions in combat, and Zhou Qingchen warned Nie Feng to stay away from his wife.
  • Shen Congrong praised his son-in-law after the victory, while Madam Nie was furious at her son’s defeat.
  • Nie Feng assembled eleven cuju players, and Zhou Qingyan asked whether the women in their family could join as the crowd mocked them.

Ch. 361I'd Like to See If These Women Can Beat Us

Zhou Wanwan’s team defeated Nie Feng’s side in cuju and archery, while Madam Nie accused Zhou Wanwan of seeking revenge. Nie Feng fainted after his disastrous archery performance, and Zhou Wanwan denied responsibility for his condition.

  • Zhou Wanwan fielded eight women to play cuju against Nie Feng’s team, and the spectators doubted they could win.
  • Zhou Qingchen blocked Nie Feng’s shot, and the women overwhelmed the opposing defense to help the Zhou Family win the match ten to nothing.
  • Madam Nie berated Nie Feng’s players, and Zhou Wanwan mocked them before the final archery match.
  • The four Zhou brothers hit the bullseye with every arrow, while Nie Feng and his invited archers performed poorly.
  • Nie Feng fainted in anger, and Madam Nie accused Zhou Wanwan of trying to bring her down.

Ch. 362I'm Here to Join You

Zhou Wanwan forced Madam Nie to honor the wager after Nie Feng fainted, then divided the winnings among her companions. The Nie family lost the jewels, while Zhou Wanwan’s allies celebrated their gains.

  • Zhou Wanwan offered to treat Nie Feng for payment, but Madam Nie ordered her and her companions to leave and threatened her over the wagers.
  • Zhou Wanwan demanded that Madam Nie admit the Nie Residence could not accept defeat, and Nie Shi'an persuaded his wife to hand over the winnings.
  • Zhou Wanwan gave Madam Shen the two chests she had won, and Shen Congrong praised her while criticizing the Nie family.
  • Zhou Wanwan told Shen Wanjun, Cheng Chao, and Fang Zhiyuan to collect their shares; Cheng gave his to Zheng Xing'an, and Fang celebrated his hundred thousand.
  • Zhou Wanwan's guards carried away the remaining valuables, leaving Madam Nie baffled by their sudden appearances.

Ch. 363Do You Think Lu Yao Looks Like Lu Xuening?

At the Nie Family’s outing, Lu Yao was rescued from the water, and Zhou Wanwan learned from Old Scholar Tree that Lu Yao was Lu Xuening in disguise. Zhou Wanwan then discovered that Lu Xuening’s mother, Lu Zhiwei, was posing as a sixteen-year-old and was being presented as a prospective palace entrant, leaving Zhou unable to contain her laughter.

  • Zhou Wanwan joined the pleasure-boat outing, where Lu Yao fell into the water and Nie Feng rescued her.
  • Lu Lan introduced Lu Yao as her younger sister, and Madam Lu and Madam Nie reached an agreement after the group returned to shore.
  • Old Scholar Tree told Zhou Wanwan that Lu Yao was Lu Xuening, who had changed her face.
  • Zhou Wanwan noticed a woman watching her viciously, and Old Scholar Tree revealed she was Lu Xuening’s mother.
  • Lu Lan introduced the woman as her sixteen-year-old aunt, Lu Zhiwei, and Old Madam Lu praised her beauty and talents while announcing she would enter the palace.
  • Zhou Wanwan laughed and mocked Lu Zhiwei for pretending to be young despite being nearly forty.

Ch. 364Put Dozens of Venomous Snakes in Her Room Tonight

After Madam Nie ordered venomous creatures placed in Zhou Wanwan’s room, Zhou Wanwan used Uncle Scholar Tree and his trees to strip the Nie Family’s house and trap Madam Nie and Nie Shi'an in a hidden chamber. The family found its home gone the next morning, while Zhou Wanwan denied responsibility and accused them of stealing her valuables.

  • Lu Yao and Lu Zhiwei revealed their plan to send Lu Zhiwei into the palace selection and use Shen Yunshu to get the Nie Family’s money, while Zhou Wanwan declined to interfere.
  • Madam Nie warned Zhou Wanwan to behave, then ordered an old maidservant to put venomous snakes, scorpions, and centipedes in her room that night.
  • When the creatures entered her room, Zhou Wanwan told Uncle Scholar Tree to carry away Madam Nie’s house and imprison Madam Nie and Nie Shi'an in the hidden chamber.
  • The Nie Family’s servants awoke to find the house gone, and Nie Feng discovered his bed had been moved beside the latrine.
  • Zhou Wanwan suggested Madam Nie and Nie Shi'an might be in the hidden chamber, and Nie Feng’s searchers found and rescued them.
  • Madam Nie accused Zhou Wanwan of bringing people to the Nie Family, but Zhou Wanwan denied it and accused the family of taking her gold, silver, and jewels.

Ch. 365Easy to Invite a God, Hard to Send One Away

After Zhou Wanwan’s jewelry was stolen, Nie Shi'an moved his family to a shabby residence and asked Prefect Fang for help, but Prefect Fang urged him to let Zhou Wanwan go. The chapter ended with Prefect Fang explaining to Fang Zhiyuan that Black Wind Stronghold was too powerful to confront, while Fang Zhiyuan continued praising Gu Sinian.

  • Zhou Wanwan demanded breakfast and complained that the Nie family had left her in a dusty, empty room at their new residence.
  • Nie Shi'an confronted Prefect Fang about the thefts, but Prefect Fang denied knowing who was responsible and advised him to release Zhou Wanwan.
  • Nie Shi'an rejected Prefect Fang’s claim that Zhou Wanwan was behind the trouble and left without agreeing to let her go.
  • Prefect Fang and Cheng Xiao complained that Fang Zhiyuan and Cheng Chao had become devoted followers of Gu Sinian and Zhou Wanwan.
  • Fang Zhiyuan praised Gu Sinian, and Prefect Fang explained that Black Wind Stronghold was so formidable that even generals had failed to defeat it.

Ch. 366He Looked Like a Lamb Waiting to Be Roasted

Zhou Wanwan settled into a shabby courtyard that her helpers transformed, then punished Nie Feng when he came to attack her. Nie Feng fled to Madam Nie with his hair burned off, claiming he had accidentally hurt himself, while Madam Nie mistook him for a bald intruder.

  • Old Scholar Tree and the others renovated Zhou Wanwan's courtyard, where she and Zheng Xing'an enjoyed fruit and discussed their produce sales in the capital.
  • Nie Feng barged into Zhou Wanwan's courtyard and ordered his servants to beat and tie her up.
  • Zhou Wanwan magically bound Nie Feng and his servants, then threatened to roast Nie Feng over a bonfire until he begged for mercy.
  • Zhou Wanwan released Nie Feng after he admitted he was wrong and warned him not to provoke her again.
  • Nie Feng ran to Madam Nie's courtyard, where she mistook him for a bald monk and had him beaten before recognizing him.
  • Nie Feng lied that he had burned himself while tending a fire, and Madam Nie told him to focus on martial arts and his studies.

Ch. 367I Didn't Expect You to Have a Barbecue Stall Going Here

Nie Feng planned to secretly torment Zhou Wanwan while she lived at the Nie residence, but Zhou Wanwan spent the evening grilling vegetables and seafood for her visitors. Shen Congrong paid ten taels for a feast, got drunk praising the food and wine, and Nie Shi'an arrived to find the gathering.

  • Nie Feng blamed Zhou Wanwan for his defeat and decided he would find a way to get rid of her, while his manservant said her ropes had resisted a dagger.
  • Zhou Wanwan grilled vegetables and seafood as Gu Sinian, her three brothers, and Shen Congrong climbed over the wall to visit her.
  • Shen Congrong asked Zhou Wanwan to cook lobster, paid her ten taels, and waited in the pavilion with fruit and fruit tea.
  • Zheng Xing'an prepared a seafood feast, and Shen Congrong praised the lobster, oysters, fish, and wine before drunkenly asking Zhou Wanwan to become sworn siblings.
  • Nie Shi'an arrived with a manservant and accused Zhou Wanwan of living comfortably instead of struggling for food.

Ch. 368Really, Thanks to the Nie Family

Zhou Wanwan returned Shen Congrong’s food and learned that Nie Shi'an was keeping her to claim credit for the sweet potato harvest, while the famine outside the city worsened. She left the city with Old Scholar Tree and witnessed starving people threatening to take a woman’s infant, as the child’s father agreed to help them.

  • Zhou Wanwan sent Shen Congrong’s seafood, wine, and fruit back with him, and Nie Shi'an stopped the Nie Family from providing her meals.
  • Nie Shi'an told Madam Nie he was holding Zhou Wanwan so the Nie Family could claim credit if the sweet potatoes succeeded, and he planned to win her trust.
  • Old Scholar Tree warned Zhou Wanwan that disaster victims were starving as drought drove grain prices up, and she asked him to take her outside the city.
  • Old Scholar Tree carried Zhou Wanwan to a vast camp of desperate refugees outside the city.
  • Five starving people surrounded a woman and demanded her two-month-old child, and the child’s father offered to hold her down so they could take him.

Ch. 369When Hunger Strikes, People Really Do Eat People!

Zhou Wanwan rescued Guiying and her child from starving villagers who planned to sell or eat them, then learned that the locals were waiting for government relief grain. After Guiying’s husband accused Zhou Wanwan of abducting his family, he led several officers to confront her.

  • Zhou Wanwan asked Guiying to join her at the mountain stronghold, and Guiying agreed to go with her and her child.
  • Guiying’s husband proposed capturing Zhou Wanwan for food, but Guiying and other women formed a human wall to protect her, forcing the men to flee.
  • Zhou Wanwan learned that the villagers had exhausted nearby wild plants and were waiting for the authorities to distribute relief grain.
  • Guiying’s husband threatened Zhou Wanwan for interfering with his plans, then accused her to several officers of abducting his wife and child.
  • Guiying’s husband led the officers to Zhou Wanwan and demanded they beat her with boards.

Ch. 370People Just Shouldn't Get Too Pleased With Themselves

Zhou Wanwan challenged the officials over their refusal to distribute grain to the disaster victims and learned they were deliberately waiting for the victims to weaken. After physicians confirmed that Cheng Xiao’s son Cheng Yue had suffered brain damage during birth, Zhou Wanwan went to meet with the magistrates of Anyi County, Huaiyuan County, and Chengping County to discuss what to do next.

  • Zhou Wanwan went with the constables to the county yamen and confronted Cheng Xiao and the officials about their grain stockpiles and the starving disaster victims.
  • Cheng Xiao said the officials were wearing down the disaster victims to prevent a riot, while Shen Yu'an and the magistrates of Anyi County, Huaiyuan County, and Chengping County argued that the people deserved to know no grain would be distributed yet.
  • Zhou Wanwan told Cheng Xiao that his son Cheng Yue had a problem, prompting Cheng Xiao to take the child to two physicians.
  • The physicians told Cheng Xiao and Feng Caigu that Cheng Yue had been deprived of air during a prolonged birth and would have below-average intellect and difficulty learning.
  • Zhou Wanwan went to Yunxi County to discuss the next steps with the magistrates of Anyi County, Huaiyuan County, and Chengping County.

Ch. 371Zhou Wanwan Unleashed Her Ultimate Move Right in Her Face

Zhou Wanwan organized disaster preparations across four counties, then returned to the Nie Family and uncovered Madam Nie’s plot to poison her with Mind-Bewildering Powder. When Nie Rou stole the poisoned clothes and confronted Zhou Wanwan, Zhou Wanwan used Old Scholar Tree’s power to make Nie Rou and her matrons slap themselves while she ate in front of them.

  • Zhou Wanwan told the four county magistrates to stockpile water and grain and prepare coarse-grain relief to deter people seeking free food.
  • Zhou Wanwan overheard a flowering crabapple tree reveal that Madam Nie planned to send her clothes and sachets laced with Mind-Bewildering Powder.
  • Madam Nie gave Zhou Wanwan clothes, sachets, and jewelry, but Nie Rou intercepted the gifts and claimed them for herself.
  • Nie Rou wore the clothes, then went to Zhou Wanwan’s courtyard and ordered her matrons to smash Zhou Wanwan’s lavish meal.
  • Zhou Wanwan used Old Scholar Tree’s power to make Nie Rou and the two matrons kneel and slap themselves while she ate the dishes in front of them.
  • After Old Scholar Tree released them, Nie Rou ran to Madam Nie and asked what they would have for dinner.

Ch. 372Are You Really Going to Give Her That Much Fruit Every Day?

Nie Rou coveted Zhou Wanwan’s comfortable courtyard and was knocked unconscious when she tried to claim Zhou Wanwan’s bed, while Zhou Wanwan planned to indulge her appetite. Later, Zhou Wanwan returned to Black Wind Stronghold and proposed distributing porridge to disaster victims, though her ministers worried they could not sustain the effort.

  • Nie Rou complained to Madam Nie about Zhou Wanwan’s food and courtyard, so Madam Nie brought her to see it.
  • Madam Nie ordered Zhou Wanwan to become Nie Rou’s personal maid and gave Nie Rou the courtyard.
  • Nie Rou ate Zhou Wanwan’s fruit, then Old Scholar Tree knocked her unconscious when she tried to climb onto the golden-thread sandalwood bed.
  • Zhou Wanwan told Zheng Xing'an to serve Nie Rou plenty of fruit, fish, meat, desserts, and pastries whenever she visited.
  • Zhou Wanwan returned to Black Wind Stronghold and proposed distributing porridge made with sweet potatoes, sweet potato leaves, and coarse rice to disaster victims.
  • Zhao Muyuan and the ministers warned Zhou Wanwan that they could not keep distributing porridge indefinitely.

Ch. 373Why Is Someone Targeting Our Residence?

Zhou Wanwan arranged drought relief by offering refugees wasteland, seeds, and well-digging in exchange for a share of their harvest. Meanwhile, the Nie Family found its residence and possessions gone again and set off for Young Madam Nie’s powerful maiden family, while Nie Rou continued treating Zhou Wanwan as a maid.

  • Zhou Wanwan proposed planting sweet potatoes and cassava, digging wells, and leasing wasteland to refugees for a portion of their harvest.
  • Shen Yu'an announced the farming offer to refugees at porridge stalls across four counties, and nearly all of them signed up for land.
  • Nie Rou, Madam Nie, and Nie Shi'an woke to find the Nie residence and their belongings missing, and Young Madam Nie offered to take them to her family.
  • The Nie Family traveled by carriage to Young Madam Nie’s maiden home, while Nie Feng warned Nie Rou that Zhou Wanwan was a scholar and should be respected.
  • Nie Rou insisted Zhou Wanwan become her maid, and Nie Feng failed to make her understand his warnings.

Ch. 374See What She Was Really Eating for Lunch

Zhou Wanwan accompanied Nie Rou to the Cui Family residence and supplied rare fruit, but refused to eat the leftovers offered to her. Nie Rou led the Cui Family’s young ladies to Zhou Wanwan’s courtyard to see what she was really eating.

  • Nie Rou asked Zhou Wanwan to bring fruit to the Nie Residence, and Zhou Wanwan arrived with watermelons and crates of assorted fruit.
  • Nie Feng warned Zhou Wanwan not to harm his family, while Madam Nie introduced her to the Cui Family as a child her husband had brought home.
  • When Nie Rou demanded more fruit, Zhou Wanwan charged fifty taels; Young Madam Nie paid her and gave her extra money to obtain more.
  • The Cui Family’s young ladies offered Zhou Wanwan unwanted leftovers, but she refused and walked away.
  • Nie Rou claimed Zhou Wanwan ate better than she did, so Cui Yingying and the others followed Nie Rou to Zhou Wanwan’s courtyard, where they found her enjoying a hearty meal in the shade with ice to keep cool.

Ch. 375No Credit, No Exceptions

Zhou Wanwan charged Nie Rou and Cui Yingying for lavish meals and insisted on advance payment for a banquet. At Cui Yingying’s flower-viewing gathering, Lu Lan and Shangguan Wan’er mocked Zhou Wanwan over her supposed wealth and the theft at the Nie residence, and Cui Yingying demanded that Zhou bring out her rare flowers.

  • Nie Rou and the Cui sisters ate Zhou Wanwan’s seafood feast, then Nie Rou paid ten taels and Cui Yingying paid a hundred taels in advance for a banquet.
  • At Cui Yingying’s gathering for young ladies from Dongshan Prefecture, Lu Lan warned her about Zhou Wanwan, and Shangguan Wan’er mocked Zhou Wanwan’s interest in money.
  • Lu Lan accused Zhou Wanwan of becoming wealthy from bets and claimed the winnings had been stolen at the Nie Family residence; Zhou Wanwan concealed her delight at the revelation.
  • The young ladies complained that the Cui Family’s flowers were ordinary, so Cui Yingying pulled Zhou Wanwan aside and ordered her to bring out her rare flowers.
Arc 15 of 36
Arc 15 of 36