In 1884, Zhou Ying follows her adoptive father, Zhou Laosi, to Guanzhong. After losing all his money, Zhou Laosi sells her to the Shen family as a servant. While escaping, Zhou Ying hides in the sedan chair of Wu Pin, the eldest young master of the Wu family's Eastern Compound. Her keen business sense wins the admiration of Wu Weiwen, who allows her to stay with the Wu family. Shen Xingyi suspects that the Shen family's eldest son was killed by Wu Pin and attacks him, leaving him injured. To save the unconscious Wu Pin, Zhou Ying marries into the Wu family in the hope of bringing him good fortune. Wu Pin dies, and the Wu family falls into dire straits. Zhou Ying resolves to restore the Eastern Compound.
Zhou Ying invests in the Shaanxi Weaving Bureau, but it comes under attack from forces in the court opposed to the Self-Strengthening Movement, and the Shaanxi Machinery Weaving Bureau must be rebuilt. To save Zhou Ying, who has been imprisoned, the Wu family gives up all its shares in the Shaanxi Machinery Weaving Bureau, along with its raw-silk contract with foreign merchants. After her release, Zhou Ying rekindles her resolve and establishes the Jingyang Cloth Factory, bringing new life to the Wu family's businesses. During the Boxer Crisis, Zhou Ying takes it upon herself to restore the Wu family's fortunes and leads the way in reform amid a turbulent era.
