Reclaiming the Wilds of Apricot Blossom Village [Farming]

Wang Xing disguised herself as a man to survive, only for a matchmaker to force a marriage on her.

With no other choice, she made an agreement with her unseen “bride”: it would be a sham, and they wouldn’t actually marry.

Liu Yu climbed into a bridal sedan chair to escape her own wedding. She never saw the groom, but instead found herself meeting a pair of clear, cool eyes.

The veil was lifted, and their gazes met.

Wang Xing’s heart skipped a beat.

Liu Yu’s sharp eyes immediately recognized that the other woman was disguised as a man, and her anxious heart finally settled.

Just as the two stared at each other, unsure how they were supposed to share a room, the flames of war and the thunder of iron hooves tore through the dusk.

In a world thrown into chaos, wealth and fame were all hollow. Survival was the only thing that mattered.

To escape the fighting, the two joined hands and fled to the remote wilderness behind the village.

Living together under one roof, they reclaimed the land to make a living.

Wang Xing discovered that this pampered young lady from an official family could fall face-first into a muddy ditch while planting vegetables, then climb right back out without a care. She was clumsy and stubbornly resilient…and kind of adorable.

Liu Yu, meanwhile, discovered that her “fake husband” was skilled at clearing land and farming, and an excellent cook to boot. Especially when Liu Yu praised her, the tips of Wang Xing’s ears would turn red, and she’d sneak off to a corner to grin like a fool.

The wasteland gradually became fertile farmland, and the shade beneath the grape trellis grew lush.

As they spent time together, a certain feeling quietly took root and slowly blossomed.

Then one night, Liu Yu squeezed onto Wang Xing’s bed and asked softly, “Why don’t we…make our sham marriage real?”

Wang Xing stiffened and said hoarsely, “I’m a woman.”

“I’ve known that for ages.”

This novel has a complete outline and detailed chapter plan.

Reader’s guide:

1. Set in a Peach Blossom Spring-inspired world, with an alternate history and customs modeled on the Wei and Jin dynasties. A warm, sweet story about reclaiming land and rural life.

2. A blend of plot and romance. The relationship develops slowly and steadily, and the protagonists continue to grow.

3. Wang Xing, a kind, gentle, practical hunter × Liu Yu, a radiant beauty with a hidden calculating side.

4. Ages: the pursuer is 18, the pursued is 16. Older pursuer, sweet and doting romance, healing everyday life.

A rural-life novel with land reclamation, community-building, and food.

Coming soon: The Exiled County Magistrate’s Mute Wife

An Mu is learned and capable, but refuses to go along with corruption and is targeted for it, demoted to county magistrate in a poor, remote backwater.

On her way to take up her post, she happens upon a young woman trying to hang herself and rescues her.

The young woman is called Xu Rou. Born mute, she has been treated worse than a pig at home.

Her parents want to raise travel money for her older brother’s imperial exams, so they plan to sell her as a concubine to a wealthy landowner.

Xu Rou escaped in the middle of the night and, with nowhere left to go, decided to jump off a cliff, only for An Mu to stumble upon her.

“You’re selling your daughter anyway. You might as well sell her to me.” An Mu tossed down a silver ingot.

Xu Rou’s mother bit the silver, then happily went on her way.

Xu Rou stood where she was, tears in her eyes as she gazed at the beautiful woman before her.

An Mu turned back with a smile. “Would you like to come with me?”

Xu Rou nodded as hard as she could.

Later, everyone gossiped about the new woman county magistrate and her precious little mute wife.

When An Mu reviewed documents, Xu Rou ground ink beside her;

When An Mu went to the countryside to investigate cases, Xu Rou quietly followed behind.

Some people advised An Mu that marrying a mute was beneath her.

An Mu replied leisurely, “My wife warms my bed, embroiders my sachets, and makes hangover soup for me. Can you do that?”

One day, Xu Rou learned to write. Blushing, she slipped An Mu a note with three crookedly written characters.

“I like you.”

An Mu folded the note and tucked it into her robes, then smiled and kissed her eyes. “What a coincidence. I like you too.”

P.S.

Scheming pursuer × gentle pursued

Theme: Be content and find joy