Du Huirou accidentally transmigrated into a book and became the male lead's original wife, who died young.
In the book, after her first husband died, the original owner lived comfortably with her substantial assets and her son. But after falling for the male lead, she threatened him by offering to pay for his mother's medical treatment and forced him to marry her.
After he topped the imperial examinations and rose to power, he decided that the original owner had used money to pressure him and separated him from his childhood sweetheart. He repeatedly made trouble for her, driving her into depression and an early grave.
After the original owner died, the male lead brought his childhood sweetheart into the household, spent the original owner's money, and lived in her house. When the original owner's son tried to harm someone to reclaim the family fortune, the male lead turned him over to the authorities and sent him to prison, clearing the way for himself and the female lead. The two lived happily together until the end.
The transmigrated Du Huirou thought: I've got money, free time, and a son. Only a fool would throw herself at an ungrateful wretch!
She promptly took her son back to their hometown. She had planned to enjoy a peaceful retirement, but when she saw how impoverished the villagers were, she decided to lead the whole village in doing something big.
She bought a plot of land, planted flowers and tea, and opened a tea estate.
The women picked tea, the men handled transportation, and even the children became experts at roasting tea.
Using modern marketing techniques, Du Huirou made the tea estate famous. Demand for its products outstripped supply, and she became a renowned rich woman across the country.
Years later, Du Huirou returned to her hometown and ran into the male lead.
He and his childhood sweetheart had fallen out over the daily necessities of life, and he was no longer the man who had once put love above all else.
Facing Du Huirou, he said, "I know your heart belonged to me before. I'm willing to marry you."
Du Huirou saw the resentment and arrogance in his eyes and smiled scornfully. "You don't actually think that being willing to marry me is some incredible blessing for me, do you?"
Ruan Mingyan, standing beside Du Huirou, stepped forward. "Who do you think you are? Even I, a newly crowned top scholar, can't catch our estate owner's eye."
Theme: Make a living before pursuing love, and love yourself before loving someone else.
