During the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, Lin Xiuniang lost her husband just after marrying into the Wang family. Her husband's family made things difficult for her and took away her family property. She left with her young brother-in-law, reclaimed land on the barren hills, grew food, raised poultry, and learned to weave cloth in exchange for money. With her tenacious character, she not only supported her brother-in-law, but also helped her neighbors solve their problems. Eventually, she was spotted by Zhang Yan, an upright scholar, and formed a new family.
