After her parents pass away, Shen Li moves in with her older brother and sister-in-law. She is stuck with a miserable life of getting up early to cut grass and feed the livestock, working in the fields during planting season, chopping firewood in the mountains when she has free time, and embroidering by lamplight at night.
Even the village chief's dog, who lives at the east end of the village, has it better than she does.
One day, Shen Li firmly turns down Matchmaker Wang's proposal, but accidentally tumbles down a hillside. Somehow, her misfortune turns into a blessing: she gets a wonderful husband and goes on to live happily ever after, with plenty to eat and drink, a loving husband, understanding in-laws, and well-behaved children.
[A purely wholesome slice-of-life tale about rural happiness, with no grand worldbuilding.]
