The Village Woman

Miao’er was the prettiest girl in all the surrounding villages. A visit to the mountain god’s temple gave a rakish young man the chance to lay his trap and get his way. She had a child out of wedlock and was driven from her home. Adrift in a strange place, she was fortunate enough to find work as a cook in the Wei household. Miao’er’s dream had once been to marry a rich master, preferably handsome and talented, and enjoy every good thing in the world. But with a child in tow, she unexpectedly found herself attracting the attention of rich masters, honest men, and refined scholars alike. How it will all turn out is hard to say. In the end, a life of illusions is but a dream, and a heartless man is all that remains when you look back.