A Substitute Bride in the 1970s: I Faked Infertility and Won My Freedom

For three years after marrying into the Zhou family, Lin Qingyao worked in the fields and served her parents-in-law. She was the perfect, dutiful daughter-in-law.

But the Zhou family was bent on climbing the social ladder. They looked down on her rural household registration and used her "inability to conceive for three years" as an excuse to force her out with nothing and make room for the new woman.

Lin Qingyao gave a cold laugh, tore up the marriage certificate, and flung an infertility diagnosis in front of everyone.

"You don't have to kick me out. I'm damn well sick of this life already!"

Everyone laughed at Lin Qingyao for leaving Regiment Commander Zhou, certain she'd spend the rest of her life scraping by in the dirt. No one expected that once she walked away, she'd pick up her medicine kit and use her astonishing acupuncture skills and ancestral remedies to rise from a poor village all the way to the business world of the capital.

She opened a pharmaceutical factory, broke monopolies, and became an industry giant.

The Zhou family, who had once treated her like dirt, couldn't find a doctor willing to treat them. All they could do was kneel outside her factory, begging.

Lin Qingyao sat in an imported Jeep, the window lowered just a crack, her gaze cool. "Comrade Zhou, you know the rules for getting a place in line to see a doctor, don't you?"

On her way to making money and building a name for herself, Lin Qingyao caught the eye of the capital's most notorious smuggling magnate.

He Chen, known as Lord He, was a ruthless businessman who had fought his way through life-and-death battles on the border. Cold and unfeeling, he became utterly obsessed with the aloof, brilliant doctor.

Everyone in the capital said Lord He was willing to strike out on his own and turn against the century-old He family for Lin Qingyao.

On the day a heavy snowstorm sealed off the city, He Chen personally guarded the factory entrance to protect her last shipment. His gaze was fierce.

"Qingyao, I've cleared the road ahead for you in the north. Anyone who dares make you suffer will see their business die before spring."

[What to look forward to]

Cool, multitalented businesswoman in pharmaceuticals VS arrogant, wild business tycoon

Building a business from scratch / Instant karma / Face-slapping / A powerful partnership

Historical setting: Late 1970s to early 1980s. Pure business competition, with no political privilege involved.

Theme: Women are great.