The Former Maid’s Quiet Life in a Small County Town

Jiang Yu, a woman with a modern soul transmigrated into the body of a young maid, served He Nanyan, the second daughter of the He family. Born to a concubine who was tormented to death by the legitimate wife, He Nanyan endured a harsh childhood, relying on Jiang Yu and the kind wet nurse Granny Liu for companionship. After Granny Liu died due to lack of medical care, Jiang Yu and He Nanyan grew up as close confidantes. To escape her oppressive family and secure a better future, He Nanyan arranged her own marriage to Zhang Yan, the dissolute young master of the Zhang family, whose father held a significant official position. Jiang Yu, fearing Zhang Yan’s lustful nature, left the He residence before the wedding, releasing her indenture contract to return to a life of independence.

Months after the wedding, Zhang Yan died unexpectedly from a fall while intoxicated. The Zhang family accused He Nanyan of cursing her husband to death and sent her to Yingmei Temple to live as a nun. Jiang Yu, suspecting foul play, visited the temple and discovered that He Nanyan was pregnant. Fearing for her life if she returned to the Zhang or He families, He Nanyan asked Jiang Yu to take her newborn daughter, Sui-Sui, back to their hometown of Jiangdu and raise the child as her own. Jiang Yu agreed, smuggling the baby out of the temple disguised as her own child, and fled the capital with Granny Lu, an older servant she had hired to help.

Settling in Qushui County, Jiang Yu purchased a small courtyard and established a food stall selling noodles, dumplings, and various side dishes. Her business prospered, aided by her modern culinary knowledge and the help of Granny Lu and later Madam Wang, a local woman she hired to assist with the workload. Jiang Yu navigated the social dynamics of the county, becoming friendly with her neighbors, including the warm-hearted Mrs. Wu and the chatty Cui Shuang. Her stall became a local hub, attracting students and officials alike.

Among her regular customers were the Cheng brothers, Cheng Jin and Cheng Yi. Cheng Jin, a talented but disillusioned scholar who had passed the provincial exam but failed in the capital, was a reclusive novelist struggling with writer’s block. Cheng Yi, his younger and more outgoing brother, frequently visited the stall with his brother. Through their interactions, Jiang Yu and Cheng Jin developed a quiet rapport. Cheng Jin found inspiration in Jiang Yu’s resilience and kindness, subtly modeling his novel’s female protagonist after her. He also began to develop romantic feelings for her, though he remained shy and hesitant due to her status as a widow with a child.

As Jiang Yu’s business grew, she expanded her offerings, introducing fermented rice ball soup and planning to bake egg yolk pastries, which required building a specialized oven. She hired Fang Wu, a skilled bricklayer, to construct the oven, demonstrating her entrepreneurial drive. Meanwhile, Cheng Jin continued to support her, helping with physical tasks and offering quiet encouragement. The story follows Jiang Yu’s journey from a displaced maid to a self-sufficient business owner, balancing her duties as a mother to Sui-Sui with her growing relationship with Cheng Jin, while He Nanyan remains in the capital, plotting her own path forward.