The heir Lu Jing lost his beloved wife to a difficult childbirth, leaving behind a toddler with no one to rely on. His only condition for choosing a second wife is that she must not have any more children.
Though the marquis's estate is grand and wealthy, and Lu Jing is tall, handsome, and refined, with his late beloved wife in the past, a doted-on child to care for, and no possibility of having more children, what noblewoman would dare jump into such a pit?
So although word goes out that the Lu family is seeking a new bride, little progress is made on the marriage.
*
In her previous life, Zhou Fu could not have children. She endured bitter medicinal brews for over a decade and suffered through years of trying to conceive, only to discover that the son she had adopted as a baby was actually her husband's illegitimate child. In the end, her cheating husband and his mistress conspired to murder her, leaving her to die a miserable death.
Reborn, she wants neither to marry nor to have children. She only wants to eat and wait for death, spend her fortune down to the last coin, and live this life for herself alone.
But her family's wealth is no longer hers to live off, so she has no choice but to find another fortune to feed on.
Lu Jing was short-lived in her previous life, with little time left, and he had a young child with no one to rely on. A man with no heirs to speak of was exactly what she wanted.
*
After marrying into the Lu family, Zhou Fu honors her parents-in-law, serves her husband, treats her stepson kindly, and gets along with her sisters-in-law.
Mother-in-law: You really don't have to come serve me so early every day. From now on, you can come a little later-
Zhou Fu: Of course! I'll follow your instructions, Mother, and leave right away... I mean, take my leave. I won't bother you again.
Grandmother: Jing is busy from dawn to dusk, and it's taking a toll on his health. You need to take good care of him.
Zhou Fu readily agrees, then goes back and pulls out a list of attendants, picking the four most capable ones to send to his study that very night.
Her stepson is sent over so they can bond as mother and child.
Zhou Fu smiles and pinches his cheeks playfully. "Mother loves you!"
Then she turns to the wet nurse and says, "All right, we've bonded for today. Take him back."
As for the sister-in-law who is constantly worried Zhou Fu will seize control of the household, Zhou Fu gets right to the point: "As long as you send me a bowl of bird's nest soup every day, plus seven dishes and soup three times a day, right on schedule, I promise I won't covet your household authority."
Wei, her sister-in-law, wishes she could move the entire kitchen into the main residence.
Only after completely giving up on trying did Zhou Fu realize how carefree and happy a person could be!
The everyday squabbles of family life, and a little payback for the cheating husband and his mistress along the way.
Theme: Mutual respect and affection
