Synopsis

In a remote mountain village during the 1980s, Wang Xiulian seems to have nowhere left to turn. Her in-laws despise daughters, her husband is addicted to gambling, and even her own parents see her as nothing more than a source of money. When her young son falls critically ill with a high fever, every plea for help is rejected, forcing her to climb into the mountains alone in the dead of night to gather medicinal herbs. From that moment on, she vows to rely on no one but herself. She reclaims barren land, gathers mountain produce, opens market stalls, and eventually builds a small grocery store. Along the way, she endures theft by her husband, humiliation from her mother-in-law, exploitation by her parents, and vicious rumors from the villagers—yet she never gives up. Through hard work, she helps her daughter become the county's top student and supports her son in learning a trade. Years later, she forgives her changed husband and repentant mother-in-law, and even her former enemies become her allies. Against all odds, Wang Xiulian carves out a brand-new life with her own hands.