The Delicate Farmer's Daughter

Xia Li, a modern woman who died in a car accident alongside her dog, transmigrates into the body of a twelve-year-old girl in the Great Harmony Dynasty. The original Xia Li was pushed into a river by Li Darang, a widower whose marriage proposal to Xia Li’s mother, Mrs. Xia, had been rejected. Rescued by her uncle Xia Shan, the girl fell into a coma, during which Xia Li’s soul took over. She awakens in a comfortable household in Xiaowa Village, where she and her widowed mother live in a blue-brick courtyard with a private well—a rarity that attracts covetous relatives.

The central conflict revolves around family scheming. Old Mrs. Xia, Xia Li’s grandmother, and her sister-in-law Little Mrs. Yang scheme to have Xia Li’s cousin Xia Sanbao adopted into the household, intending to seize the family’s property through marriage and control. Mrs. Xia, though gentle, is resolute in protecting her daughter’s inheritance and initially refuses all adoption proposals. Meanwhile, Xia Li discovers she possesses far-seeing eyesight, a trait the original host had hidden for fear of being labeled a monster. Rather than viewing it as useless, Xia Li sees potential in combining this ability with her modern knowledge and archery skills.

Xia Li’s key turning point comes when she decides to improve her family’s financial standing. She observes the local flora and recalls a modern dessert called Icy Jelly, made from Blue Lantern seeds. Despite the seeds not ripening until autumn, she experiments with the stored seeds and successfully creates the jelly using lime water as a coagulant. The treat is refreshing, cheap to produce, and has high profit potential, especially as summer approaches and ice becomes expensive for the poor. She presents the idea to her mother, who agrees to let her sell it.

Throughout the narrative, Xia Li navigates complex family dynamics. She maintains a close bond with her supportive uncle Xia Erhu, who often sneaks food to their house, and shows kindness to her neglected cousin Xia Erni, who is overworked and underdressed. She also confronts Little Mrs. Yang’s greed and Sanbao’s entitlement, refusing to be manipulated. Her grandfather, Old Man Xia, supports her right to manage her own future, opposing the older women’s schemes to control the property.

Xia Li also begins rigorous physical training, practicing archery with her grandfather’s bow and learning combat skills from her previous life. She resolves to become strong enough to protect herself and her mother, recognizing that vulnerability invites predation in this society. Her goals are clear: build wealth through business, secure her family’s independence, and avoid the fate of being controlled by relatives or forced into an unwanted marriage. The story sets the stage for her entrepreneurial endeavors and personal growth in a historical setting where women have limited agency.