This is an inspiring story about an ordinary man struggling against misfortune and fighting with all his might, ultimately rising to become the richest man in the region.
He Jiang accidentally kills someone and flees for his life, eventually finding refuge in a merchant's home in Tangshi Town, Zhangzhou. After many twists and turns, he marries the merchant's daughter. Through hard work, honest business practices, and fair dealing with everyone, He Jiang builds the merchant family's business into the second-largest in Tangshi. After being framed, he loses his mother-in-law, sells off the family property, and moves with his family to Ji'an.
In Ji'an, He Jiang mistakenly buys the site of a derelict house, abandoned for ten years and associated with violent deaths, and builds an elegant residence there. This sets in motion a series of events in which He Jiang and Yu Bingbiao, the fugitive son of the site's former owner, join forces to solve cases and battle to the death against the ruthless merchant Wang Mengjiang and his son. After He Jiang's wife dies of illness, he takes the daughter of Ji'an's assistant prefect as his second wife. With his father-in-law's help, He Jiang and Yu Bingbiao bring the villain Wang Mengjiang to justice. Years later, Wang Mengjiang's son Wang Xuewu sneaks back into Ji'an and murders He Jiang's father-in-law, new wife, and daughter. Seeking revenge and fighting unscrupulous merchants, He Jiang uses his great intelligence, courage, and decisive methods to wipe out the bandits led by Wang Xuewu and the corrupt merchants of Ji'an. He creates a fair and cooperative business environment and becomes both Ji'an's richest man and its most charitable benefactor.
The novel is tightly structured, with a plot full of twists and turns. Through intricate stories of revenge and the conflict between good and evil, treachery and loyalty, it brings its characters vividly to life and makes for highly engaging reading.
