CompletedA Pretty Widow x A Pure-Hearted Man
In the early 1980s, a coastal town’s communal housing welcomes a new pair of orphans—a stunning widow and her young child. The widow struggles to make ends meet and eagerly seeks a stable partner. Matchmaker Liu Dajie enthusiastically lines up potential suitors for her.
However, after settling on a divorced man, an unexpected accident causes the widow to fall into the water. When she wakes up, her body has been taken over by modern-day spinster Qiao Lu.
Now inhabiting the widow's body and saddled with a small child, Qiao Lu is thrust into a world of relentless matchmaking. But she’s picky. Her ideal partner must be:
Kind, hardworking, and sharp-minded.
Free of toxic masculinity.
Accepting of her second marriage and loving toward her child.
The problem? Such a man doesn’t exist! Liu Dajie, exasperated by her demands, introduces one last prospect—a poor man with a handsome face and a small, dilapidated home.
Initially hesitant, Qiao Lu becomes intrigued when she learns he’s a street vendor, the entrepreneurial spirit of the 1980s. She decides to take the chance. What starts as a marriage of convenience blossoms into love as they navigate life together, transforming a small street stall into a thriving business.
Meanwhile, Xu Haizhou, the male lead, is a hardworking man with no money or background who has moved south to start a business. He never dreamed of having a family until he meets Qiao Lu and falls for her instantly. Accepting her past and her child without hesitation, Xu Haizhou partners with her to build a loving home and a prosperous future.
Together, they become one of the first self-made wealthy families of the 1980s.
Key Themes:
Marriage Before Love: A touching romance that begins after marriage.
Family Dynamics: Heartwarming moments of parenting and mutual support.
Entrepreneurship: The journey of building a business in a transformative era.
CompletedA beautiful widow × a pure-hearted man.
In the early 1980s, a coastal town welcomed a new resident—a young widow and her child. The widow was stunning but struggling, eager to find a partner to rely on.
With the help of a matchmaking neighbor, Aunt Liu, she found a suitor, but an accident led to her modern soul, Qiao Lu, replacing the original.
As a single woman from modern times suddenly saddled with a young child, Qiao Lu faced a slew of matchmaking candidates. However, her standards were high:
Kind and good-tempered.
Hardworking and smart.
Not chauvinistic.
Must accept her as a remarried woman and love her child.
The problem? Such a man seemed impossible!
Aunt Liu tried her best, suggesting:
“Old Li from the steel factory is a stable catch!”
Qiao Lu: “No, he’s 40. Too old!”
“What about Young Song from the chemical plant? Only 29 and sturdy!”
Qiao Lu: “No, he has four kids. My child’s too shy to handle that.”
“Fine! What about Xiao Luo from the radio factory? Honest, hardworking, only one kid!”
Qiao Lu: “No, he’s not attractive enough.”
Finally, Aunt Liu snapped and slammed a photo on the table:
“This is the last one I’ll introduce! He’s unmarried, has no kids, and his finances are tight. Except for his good looks and a shabby old house, he has nothing. Take it or leave it!”
Looking at the photo, Qiao Lu’s eyes lit up—he was handsome, like a movie star!
“What does he do?” she asked.
“He runs a street stall,” Aunt Liu replied.
A street vendor? Wasn’t that the first generation of entrepreneurs?
Rolling up her sleeves, Qiao Lu decided to take the plunge!
But as they got to know each other, she discovered:
His “shabby old house” was in a prime downtown location and slated for redevelopment!
He didn’t just have good looks—he had a brilliant business mind!
This was the jackpot!
Xu Haizhou, who had moved south to start a business, never dreamed of having a wife and child. When Aunt Liu introduced Qiao Lu, he fell for her at first sight. He didn’t mind that she was a widow or had a child. In fact, he welcomed the ready-made family.
Against all odds, the two married. Together, they turned a small street stall into a thriving business, becoming part of the first wave of self-made millionaires in the 1980s!
Reading Notes:
“Stepfather literature”
Male lead is a pure-hearted, first-time lover who dotes on his wife and child.
Slice-of-life story focusing on career, love, and child-rearing.
Features a marriage-first, love-later dynamic with a journey to wealth.
Tags: Farming Life, Sweet Romance, 1980s Era, Slice of Life