Cinderella Strikes Back

Her name suited her: Xue Cao, a little blade of grass buried beneath heavy snow. She grew up surrounded by cold-hearted, treacherous people. Her father was weak and useless, while the neighbors bullied the weak and feared the strong. Trouble piled upon trouble, and hurt followed hurt. On top of it all, her studies were overwhelming. Eventually, she developed chronic headaches and dropped out of high school before graduating. Her dream of going to college was shattered, but she never gave up on her dream of making something of herself. She was certain that, like the snow covering the grass, the hardships she faced would eventually melt and nourish her. While working odd jobs, she studied whenever she could, and caught the eye of the son of a medicinal-herb business owner. After the two fell in love, she put aside her personal grudges to help her beloved’s company through its troubles. Qiao Xuecao forgave the neighbors who had once bullied her family, then led the villagers in growing medicinal herbs and building their fortunes together. She also kept her promise to her mother: she would make everyone who looked down on her family see them in a new light!