Su Wanchuan is a poor shop assistant at a rice shop in Jiangnan. He owns nothing but an abacus. The city's entire trading network is controlled by Qian Sihai, the chairman of the merchants' guild, leaving small businesses with no chance to get ahead. Unwilling to accept his fate, Su faces suppression at every turn. His trading routes are blocked, he is forbidden from docking at the wharves, and no one dares to do business with him. Driven to the brink, he gathers a group of other oppressed commoners, ventures overseas, builds his own wharf, and fights his way to a new path. After achieving success, he distributes the entire foundation of his trading enterprise among his companions, relinquishes his position as alliance leader, and retires to teach at a charity school by the wharf. Throughout his life, he upholds eight guiding principles: live by rules and integrity, and make honesty the foundation of all dealings. What if he comes from humble beginnings? He can still win at life with dignity and honor.