In the first year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty, there was a young couple in Wujia Village of Fengxiang Mansion. The man's name was Lu Zhengyang, a scholar. Because his family was poor, he married a woman from an ordinary farmer in a neighboring village. His mother, Liu Shi, was very satisfied with her daughter-in-law who had just passed through the door. In her eyes, her daughter-in-law, Hongmei, was not only industrious and simple, but also very filial to the elderly. He often told his son to treat his wife well.

In order to let her husband study with peace of mind, Hongmei and her mother shared all the big and small affairs of the family. Lu Zhengyang studied hard day and night, and two years later, he got his wish in the Juren exam. Luck couldn't stop it, and after two months, Hongmei unexpectedly found out she was pregnant. For the whole family, this is double happiness! The mother is looking forward to her son's achievement in the next year, and is happy to enjoy his old age and wait for his grandson. Wu Zhengyang did not dare to slack off. He studied hard and looked forward to participating in the conference next year and winning first place in one fell swoop.

In the blink of an eye, a few months passed, and Lu Zhengyang said goodbye to his family and embarked on the road to Beijing to take the exam. Since Lu Zhengyang left home, it was like he had disappeared from the world, and there was no news. The mother felt that her son must be doomed, so she washed her face in tears all day, and it didn't take long for her to die. Originally, the family was very poor, and the only savings she had were entangled by Lu Zhengyang. When her mother passed away, Hongmei couldn't even afford a coffin. In desperation, she ran to the street to sell herself and bury her mother.

People were very sympathetic when they saw a pregnant woman selling herself, but no one was willing to buy her home. Everyone felt that the child in her belly was simply a burden. Hongmei was sad, kneeling on the ground and wiping her tears sadly.

Just then, a foreign businessperson passed by and happened to see Hongmei selling herself to bury her mother. The businessperson's name was Peng Cheng. Two years ago, his wife passed away due to childbirth, and his child died not long after birth. When he saw poor Hongmei, he thought of his dead wife and children, and felt compassion.

He helped Hongmei buy a coffin and bury her mother. Hongmei tearfully recounted his unfortunate experience. Peng Cheng couldn't help but be moved by her filial piety when he learned that the deceased was not Hongmei's biological mother, but her mother-in-law. Such an affectionate and righteous woman is really admirable. Peng Cheng was kind, and he didn't want anything in return. He just regarded Hongmei as his sister.

From then on, Hongmei helped Peng Cheng do laundry and cook, sew and mend, and manage household chores. A few months later, Hongmei gave birth to a son, Wenxiang. Peng Cheng regarded the child as his own and loved him very much. In the eyes of outsiders, they were more like a family of three, harmonious and beautiful, and happy. Over time, love developed between Hongmei and Peng Cheng, but neither of them made it clear.

Peng Cheng's parents were old and uncared for. A year later, Peng Cheng returned to his hometown with Hongmei and her son. He planned to start a local business so that it would be convenient to take care of his parents. Soon, he inspected the market and opened a local herb shop.

Later, with the help of her mother, Hongmei and Peng Cheng became husband and wife. Every day Peng Cheng took care of the business of the store outside, Hongmei carried the burden of the family. She did laundry and cooked every day, took care of her in-laws and children, and never complained. Both in-laws praised Hongmei as a good daughter-in-law.

One day, she was cleaning the yard at home when the young man in the store ran in in a panic. He told Hongmei that Shopkeeper Peng was framed and arrested in the county yamen's office. It turned out that there was a herb shop in the town a long time ago, and the owner of the shop was surnamed Wang, known as Shopkeeper Wang. He relied on the power of his family to monopolize the local herb business. In order to make huge profits, he shoddy, cheated, and made a lot of money over the years.

Since Peng Cheng's herb shop opened, shopkeeper Wang's business has plummeted, and he holds a grudge against him. He found someone to frame Peng Cheng, saying that the herbs he sold were fake, and asked someone to go to the county yamen to report him. Witnesses and physical evidence were all there, and Peng Cheng was indisputable and thrown into prison. Hongmei heard this and was filled with indignation. She put down her work and ran to the county jail.

Hongmei came to the lobby, looked up at the county magistrate, and was immediately dumbfounded. It turned out that the county magistrate in the lobby was none other than Hongmei's ex-husband Lu Zhengyang. Back then, Lu Zhengyang went to Beijing to take the exam, and was awarded the post of county magistrate of Lu'an Mansion by the imperial court. On the day of the announcement, scholars gathered together and toasted together to celebrate.

Lu Zhengyang was very knowledgeable and had a good appearance, so someone was matchmaking for him during the dinner. I heard the woman came from a famous family and had been an official for generations. Considering his career, he concealed the truth that he had been married, and finally climbed into this marriage. After thinking about it again and again, he decided to give up the idea of going home and going directly to Lu'an Mansion to take office.

Lu Zhengyang never dreamed that he would meet Hongmei in the lobby. Knowing that his mother had passed away, Lu Zhengyang felt ashamed and sorry for his mother, wife and children. Later, he ordered someone to investigate thoroughly and finally found out the case. Peng Cheng was acquitted and returned home safely.

From then on, Hongmei no longer cared about Lu Zhengyang, and she lived with Peng Cheng wholeheartedly. A year later, the two gave birth to another daughter, a family of six, who loved each other and lived happily together. For Hongmei, she finally found true love in the world.