A beauty in the 1970s married an officer by mistake

Wen Nan is a modern woman who transmigrates into the body of a girl with the same name in 1960s China. The original owner, Wen Nan, was an orphan who lost her mother during the Great Chinese Famine and her father shortly after. She lived with her aunt, who provided minimal support in exchange for monthly remittances from Wen Nan’s older brother, Wen Guo. Wen Guo was a soldier in the Xiping City army. When Wen Guo died unexpectedly on a mission, the financial support stopped. His comrade contacted the commune to arrange a marriage for Wen Nan with a soldier surnamed Chen in the Nanyang City Fenglin County army. Misunderstanding the details, Wen Nan traveled alone to find her fiancé. Upon arrival, she was knocked down by refugees, suffered a head injury, and died, allowing the modern Wen Nan to take over her body.

Wen Nan learns that the Chen brothers are Chen Xu, a Battalion Commander in the First Regiment, and Chen Zhou, who had recently transferred to Dong Hua City. She initially approaches Chen Xu, claiming to be his arranged fiancée, but he denies knowing her brother or any marriage arrangement. Chen Xu is stern and distant, initially threatening to call the security department to remove her. However, Wen Nan provides her brother’s unit details and a letter of introduction. Chen Xu verifies her identity by contacting her brother’s former unit and her family in the countryside. He discovers that her uncle had mistreated her and that her brother’s comrades had indeed arranged the match, though the specific soldier remains unknown. Realizing Wen Nan has nowhere to go and faces abuse from her uncle if she returns, Chen Xu offers her temporary shelter at his grandmother’s house.

Wen Nan moves into the Chen household, where she meets Grandma Chen, a kind elderly woman who raises her grandsons. Wen Nan is treated as a distant relative, specifically as the granddaughter of Grandma Chen’s sister, to avoid gossip. She forms a bond with Grandma Chen, helping with household chores and cooking. She also befriends Zhao Xiaomai, a young girl from a neighboring village who works hard to earn money for her dowry. Zhao Xiaomai’s family favors her brother, and she endures bullying from neighbors, including Lin Meizhen, the wife of a local company commander. Wen Nan defends Zhao Xiaomai against Lin Meizhen’s harassment, using her knowledge of the era’s political climate to deter further abuse.

Seeking independence, Wen Nan takes on temporary work cutting grass for the army’s cattle. The physical labor is difficult for her, and her hands become blistered and scratched. Lin Meizhen, resentful of Wen Nan’s earlier confrontation, attempts to sabotage her work by hiding burrs in the grass pile. Chen Xu discovers Wen Nan struggling with the heavy baskets and helps her deliver the grass. He also notices her injured hands and expresses concern, though he maintains a formal distance. Wen Nan insists on continuing her work to avoid being a burden, but Chen Xu offers to help her find less strenuous employment and transfer her household registration once he has leave.

As Wen Nan settles into her new life, she navigates the complex social dynamics of the military family quarters. She observes the hardships of the era, including food shortages and the rigid social hierarchies. Her relationship with Chen Xu evolves from one of suspicion and duty to a cautious mutual respect. Chen Xu begins to appreciate Wen Nan’s resilience and kindness, while Wen Nan recognizes his underlying compassion beneath his stern exterior. The story follows her efforts to survive and find her place in this unfamiliar time, while uncovering the truth about her brother’s connection to the Chen family.

Wen Nan continues to work at the livestock farm, facing ongoing hostility from Lin Meizhen. She relies on Zhao Xiaomai’s assistance and Chen Xu’s occasional help to manage the demanding tasks. The narrative highlights her adaptation to the physical and social challenges of 1960s rural China. Her interactions with the Chen family deepen, particularly her growing affection for Grandma Chen, who provides the maternal warmth she lacked. Meanwhile, Chen Xu’s protective instincts toward Wen Nan become more apparent, though he struggles to express his feelings due to his reserved nature and the formal expectations of their relationship. The story sets the stage for Wen Nan to build a new life, supported by her growing network of allies in the family quarters.