Chen Ningya, a woman who lived a regretful life and died, is reborn into the body of Deng Shi, a woman who had just been attacked and left for dead in a mountain ditch. In her previous life, Deng Shi, the daughter-in-law of the Wen family, had abandoned her husband Wen You Shan and their five children after her mother-in-law’s death, believing her marriage was a prison. Her departure led to the children’s suffering and eventual deaths, a fate she now seeks to prevent. Upon waking in Renxin Hall clinic, she is rescued by Shen Bian, the county magistrate, and his pregnant wife, Luo Shi. Chen Ningya fabricates a story of being kidnapped and sold by the Deng family, leveraging Shen Bian’s authority to have Deng Laosan and his son arrested and exiled, while securing twenty taels of silver in compensation.
Wen You Shan, her husband, had been desperately searching for her, driven by grief and duty. When Chen Ningya returns home, visibly injured but alive, the village is stunned. In her past life, she was cold and distant, but now she embraces her role as a mother and wife. She tends to her children, particularly the two youngest, Wen Yuanzhen and Wen Yuanhong, who fall ill with chickenpox and wind-cold. Remembering that these two died in her previous life, she cares for them meticulously, ensuring they survive. Her transformation confuses her eldest son, Wen Yuanliang, who had grown resentful of her neglect, but her consistent kindness and authority begin to win him over.
Chen Ningya decides to educate her children, starting with Wen Yuanzhen, who shows a keen interest in learning. She uses sand tables and bamboo sticks to teach them characters, a radical step for a poor mountain village where education is considered unattainable. Wen You Shan, initially bewildered by her sudden literacy and ambition, supports her wholeheartedly, even going into the mountains to hunt and gather goods to sell in the county town to fund the children’s schooling.
The family’s financial situation is dire, with total savings of less than ten taels of silver. Chen Ningya takes charge of the household finances, planning to use the compensation money wisely. She encourages Wen You Shan to sell rabbit pelts and wild eggs, maximizing their income. Her practical approach and newfound diligence earn the respect of neighbors like Sun Lai Fu, who had previously criticized her laziness.
As the children recover and the household stabilizes, Chen Ningya faces the challenge of rebuilding her family’s future. She is determined to ensure her children do not suffer the same fate as in her previous life. The story follows her efforts to balance maternal care, household management, and the pursuit of a better education for her children, all while navigating the complexities of rural life and her evolving relationship with Wen You Shan.
