The protagonist, a 15-year-old girl from Hongsha Village. She is hardworking, capable, and independent-minded. She sells mushrooms to earn money and secretly saves it with her friend Dingqing because her mother Li Sanniu confiscates any money she keeps. Baolan dreams of going to Mingfeng City to find factory work and escape her family's plans to force her into an exchange marriage for her cousin Xing Baosong. She is resourceful, having forged an introduction letter with Dingqing's help to travel to the city. She is referred to as Second Sister by Baoju and Erdou by her mother.
