There are farmhouses deep in the bamboo forest

Li Youyin is a poor, orphaned farmer in Peach Blossom Village who, despite being the second son of a wealthy family, was denied a fair inheritance due to his parents' favoritism toward his elder and younger brothers. He marries Shen, a virtuous woman with chronic health issues stemming from childbirth complications, and they raise three children: Li Guo, the capable eldest daughter; Li Xing, the middle daughter; and Li Wen, the youngest son. The family lives in poverty in three dilapidated adobe houses on the village edge, struggling to make ends meet while facing hostility from Li Youyin’s elder brother, Li Youjin, and his wife, Zhao, who frequently attempt to extort resources from them.

Li Guo emerges as the family’s strategic mind, driving efforts to improve their livelihood through innovation and hard work. When her younger brother Li Wen falls seriously ill with a fever, the family’s lack of resources is starkly highlighted, motivating Li Guo to seek sustainable income sources. She introduces a revolutionary rice transplanting method, growing seedlings in a nursery before moving them to the fields, which increases crop resilience and yield. This agricultural innovation draws curiosity and mockery from villagers but ultimately proves successful, establishing the Li family’s reputation for ingenuity.

Beyond farming, Li Guo identifies economic opportunities in wild resources. She leads her siblings into the mountains to gather wild vegetables such as shepherd’s purse, water bamboo, and fiddlehead ferns, which they sell at the town market for significant profit. The family also catches wild ducks, fish, and rabbits, diversifying their income. Li Youyin weaves durable bamboo baskets and fish traps, which attract the attention of Steward Qin, a servant of a wealthy town family, securing a large order that provides crucial capital. These ventures allow the family to accumulate savings, purchase better food, and improve their living conditions.

Conflict arises primarily from Zhao, Li Youyin’s sister-in-law, who resents the family’s success. After failing to steal their caught game, Zhao spreads rumors and encourages villagers to undercut prices by selling similar wild vegetables, threatening the Li family’s market dominance. Despite this competition, Li Guo maintains their edge through quality control and strategic pricing, while also expanding their rabbit farming operation, which breeds rapidly and provides additional meat and income.

Personal challenges also surface, including Li Guo’s broken engagement to Sun Wenjie, who abandoned her for a wealthier match. This event damages her social standing but frees her to focus on her family’s prosperity. Meanwhile, Shen’s health gradually improves with better nutrition and care, allowing her to support her husband and children emotionally. The story follows the Li family’s steady ascent from poverty to stability, highlighting Li Guo’s leadership, the family’s unity, and their resilience against external hostility and economic hardship.

As the narrative progresses, the family’s savings grow, enabling them to invest in tools, livestock, and future opportunities. Li Guo’s foresight in preserving wild vegetable seeds and maintaining sustainable hunting practices ensures long-term viability. The story concludes with the family enjoying relative comfort, their rice fields thriving, and their social standing improving, though tensions with Zhao and the broader village community remain unresolved, setting the stage for ongoing challenges in their rural life.