When Shen Yuenian opened her eyes, she had become an orphan girl in an ancient village.
Her father was dead, her mother had run off with a peddler, and she had been left with a debt of five taels of silver. Now the creditor had come to seize her house.
The original owner had been meek and timid, and would only cry when bullied. Shen Yuenian had this to say: "Can you eat tears?"
She rolled up her sleeves and headed into the mountains. Spring bamboo shoots, mulberries, wild fruit, mushrooms... The ordinary mountain fare in other people's eyes could all become delicious dishes in her hands.
Drunken bamboo shoots made the county's well-to-do crave more, mulberry paste had the maids of wealthy households scrambling to buy it, and once she opened a tea stall, the good times began!
She paid off her debt, repaired her house, and built a thriving life. Meanwhile, the strong, taciturn hunter next door began looking at her in increasingly strange ways.
Shi Dun: "You're my wife-to-be. The money I earn should be yours to manage."
Shen Yuenian: "... When did I ever agree to marry you?"
Shi Dun: "The clan chief witnessed it. You can't deny it."
Theme: Whatever her circumstances, a woman should be strong and independent, and make a good life for herself through her own abilities!
