When Zhao Jinhe divides the family, she only gets a toad. With her mother gravely ill, a severe drought in the village, and villagers fleeing, Zhao Jinhe gives her last half-cake to the orphans Xiaoshitou and Erya. The toad thus awakens into the village-guarding golden toad, spitting gold coins according to the number of villagers. Using grain to pay workers to dig a reservoir, taking in refugees, building roads and opening marketplaces, setting up schools and clinics, and defeating the eldest brother who colludes with Liu Laocai, she turns the poor village into a rich one. The golden toad leaves behind a village-guarding plaque and temporarily departs.