After My Redemption, I Married a Hunter

Xu Ruyi, a modern office worker who died of cancer, transmigrates into the body of a fifteen-year-old bonded servant girl in a wealthy estate. The original host had been framed for stealing a valuable jade hairpin by a rival servant named Chen Xiang. After enduring brutal interrogation and imprisonment, the original Xu Ruyi died from her injuries. Upon waking, the transmigrated Xu Ruyi learns that Chen Xiang has been exposed and executed, and she is rewarded with silver and gold by the benevolent young mistress, Wang Jing Shu. Xu Ruyi discovers she possesses a magical spatial dimension that can preserve items indefinitely, a secret advantage she decides to keep hidden. She spends the next two years working diligently in the estate, mastering embroidery and calligraphy while secretly accumulating wealth. She uses her space to stockpile food, grain, and supplies, preparing for potential disasters and her eventual departure.

When the Wang family prepares to move to the capital for the young mistress's marriage, Xu Ruyi seizes the opportunity to redeem herself from servitude. She negotiates with Madam Wang and receives her contract, along with financial compensation and gifts. After securing her legal status as a commoner, she purchases gifts for her family and travels back to her hometown, Daliu Village. On the journey, she is followed by a tall, muscular man named Zhao Lie, who turns out to be a childhood acquaintance. Although Xu Ruyi initially fears he is a bandit, he reveals his identity and guides her safely to her family home, carrying her heavy loads. The reunion with her parents, Xu Dashu and Wang Cuihua, and her younger siblings, Xu Sigui and Xu Niannian, is emotional and warm. Her grandparents and extended family also gather to celebrate her return.

During a family dinner, the topic of marriage arises. Xu Ruyi learns that under local law, women who are not married by the age of eighteen are assigned husbands by the government. This creates an urgent deadline for her, as she is only seventeen. She expresses a desire to marry within the village to a family with simple dynamics, preferably one that is already separated from a larger household. Zhao Lie, who has harbored romantic feelings for her since childhood, is visibly disappointed but respects her boundaries. He continues to assist her, helping her gather medicinal herbs on the nearby mountains. During one such trip, Xu Ruyi discovers a valuable patch of Danggui. Zhao Lie helps her harvest the herbs and provides her with game meat, further demonstrating his interest in her.

Xu Ruyi remains cautious about Zhao Lie's advances, recognizing his strong feelings but also being aware of his family's modest circumstances. She plans to investigate his background through her mother before making any decisions. Meanwhile, she focuses on establishing her independence in the village. She uses her embroidery skills to earn additional income and continues to manage her hidden stockpile of resources. The narrative highlights her determination to build a stable life free from the vulnerabilities she experienced as a servant. She navigates family dynamics, including the subtle disdain shown by her elder cousin's wife, Liu Hong, who views Xu Ruyi's return with skepticism. Xu Ruyi maintains a polite but distant relationship with such relatives, prioritizing her close bond with her immediate family. The story sets the stage for her future endeavors in rural life, balancing the pressure of impending marriage with her goal of financial security and personal autonomy.