Shen Lingruo was not an unparalleled beauty, but she was charming and graceful, with an oval face, big, bright eyes that seemed able to speak, a small nose, cherry-red lips, and a hint of baby fat still clinging to her chin. She was the sort of girl who inspired affection at first sight. Though her father had abandoned scholarship to go into business, he still valued learning deep down and had a tutor brought to their home to teach his daughter. But Shen Lingruo was naturally lively and disliked sitting at a desk all day. She preferred stories about wandering heroes, talented scholars, and beautiful ladies to poetry and song. When the tutor lectured, she appeared to sit quietly and listen, but her thoughts had already flown out the window. Whenever she had a chance, she would sneak out when there were no lessons, either chasing flowers and butterflies in the back garden or persuading a maid to slip out with her through a side gate to watch the bustling streets. Then, while buying storybooks at a bookstore one day, she caught the eye of Wang Zhenyu, the local magistrate's son. He was a notorious bully, greedy and lecherous, and already had six concubines. After several failed attempts to ask for her hand, he threatened to abduct her and make her his bride three days later.
Theme: Self-reliance
