Zhu Ning transmigrates into the body of a mother raising a child alone. Taking little Rou Rou and her donkey, Xiao Hui, she returns to Xiaotianji to visit Granny Liu. She accepts a bounty to assassinate Zhang Yuanwai and rescues Su Wanning and her daughter, making the acquaintance of Magistrate Guo and Governor Zhou. Back in the village, she takes on Zhang the Widow and Wang Er, subdues a band of displaced people, and secures household registration for Rou Rou. Guo Huaian enlists her help in bringing down the Hu family, while Yuanwai Huang rewards her with gold. Su Yuniang arrives in the village to teach embroidery and shows unusual affection for Rou Rou, arousing Zhu Ning's suspicions. When Zhang the Widow leads bandits in a nighttime raid, Zhu Ning eliminates the threat. The village then builds a school, hires a teacher, and introduces heated brick beds. Meanwhile, Shi Wu's identity remains suspicious, though he secretly protects Rou Rou.