70’s : Rewriting the Miserable Life of the Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character

Lin Qiyue, a modern woman who died from overwork, transmigrates into the body of a tragic supporting character in a novel set in 1970s China. In the original story, this Lin Qiyue was the wife of the male lead, Lan Yuchu, a marriage arranged to repay a debt of gratitude from her late parents. The original character was manipulated by her scheming sister-in-law, Shen Qingmiao, who stole her wages and spread rumors to isolate her. Driven to madness by the betrayal and the false belief that her husband despised her, the original Lin Qiyue died young, allowing the male lead to eventually marry his true love, Duan Manyue. Upon waking, Lin Qiyue finds herself in a life-threatening situation: an older man is attempting to assault her, and to escape him while protecting her reputation in this conservative era, she jumps into a lake. Her leg cramps, and she begins to drown, only to be rescued by a man in a military uniform.

The rescuer is revealed to be Lan Yuchu, her husband of three years, who had been away on military duty. He takes her to the hospital, where he learns she is severely malnourished despite his regular financial remittances. Confused by her frail state, Lan Yuchu becomes determined to uncover the truth. When they return home, they are met with hostility from Shen Qingmiao, who continues to exert control over the household. Lin Qiyue, no longer willing to be a passive victim, confronts the gossiping neighbor, Liu Zhaodi, who had spread rumors that Lin Qiyue jumped into the lake out of shame for an affair. The confrontation escalates into a physical fight, which Lan Yuchu witnesses. He firmly defends his wife, exposing Liu Zhaodi’s slander and demanding an apology, marking the first time he actively protects Lin Qiyue from external harassment.

The conflict intensifies when Lan Yuchu confronts the family about the missing money. He demands that Shen Qingmiao return all the wages Lin Qiyue earned and the funds he had sent home over the past three years. The total amount, exceeding two thousand yuan, shocks the family. Shen Qingmiao attempts to deflect blame, but Lan Yuchu’s mother, Qian Xiuying, realizes the extent of the eldest daughter-in-law’s greed and cruelty. Qian Xiuying, who had previously been distant toward Lin Qiyue, feels guilt for not noticing the abuse and sides with her second daughter-in-law. She forces Shen Qingmiao to repay the money, restoring Lin Qiyue’s financial independence and altering the course of the original plot.

With her finances secured, Lin Qiyue focuses on improving her health and living conditions. Lan Yuchu, observing her weakness, insists that she and his younger sister, Lan Yusui, join him for morning jogs. Although the training is grueling, it signals a shift in their relationship from strangers to a supportive couple. Lan Yuchu also takes Lin Qiyue shopping, buying her new clothes and fabric, and later proposes that she accompany him to the countryside to visit her parents' graves. This gesture indicates his growing sense of responsibility and care. Lin Qiyue, initially seeking a divorce to escape the toxic family dynamics and avoid her tragic fate, finds her plans complicated by Lan Yuchu’s refusal to let go. He dismisses her mentions of Duan Manyue, stating he has no romantic feelings for her, and insists on maintaining the marriage. As Lin Qiyue begins to sew new clothes for both herself and Lan Yuchu, the boundaries between them blur, suggesting a potential romantic development that diverges significantly from the novel’s original ending.