She transmigrated into the body of a farmer's wife. Her husband died unexpectedly, leaving her with two young children.
Su Qinwei thought: What a deal, I'm a mom of two! Raising them until they're grown, building a house, and finding them wives will cost a fortune. I should run while I still can.
Halfway through her escape, however, she realized that the older child seemed to be the male lead of a novel.
The whole book was about a boy born to a farming family. His biological father died young, and his cruel stepmother nearly killed him. He survived against all odds, broke through the class barrier, entered officialdom, and eventually became chief minister in an inspirational rags-to-riches tale.
And she had transmigrated into the role of the male lead's wicked stepmother. According to the plot, once he rose to power, she would be exiled and punished.
Su Qinwei had no choice but to take on this burden. She worked from dawn to dusk to support the children, finally getting their living situation under control and saving enough to send them both to school.
Education cost money, so Su Qinwei worked even harder. By a twist of fate, she went from being a peasant woman to a major landowner, turning herself into the heroine of her own inspirational story.
Years later, Su Qinwei looked at the vast estate she'd built up, then at the two pillars of the imperial court, and felt she could finally retire in peace.
But the male lead kept trying to set her up with the Grand Tutor, Chang Yunchen, supposedly so she'd have someone to keep her company.
But Su Qinwei's heart belonged to the scholar next door, who had given everything he had to help her and her two children when they were struggling.
Unfortunately, after the scholar moved away, she never heard from him again.
Later, Su Qinwei saw that scholar again.
The scholar bowed to her. “Chang Yunchen pays his respects to Madam Su.”
Theme: Strive with determination.
