Zhuo Le is a woman who has transmigrated into the body of a young mother in early 1980s rural China. In her previous life, she lived a grueling existence, and in this new life, she has resolved to live comfortably as a dependent wife, relying on her husband, Wei Tianxia, a decorated military officer who recently achieved the rank of deputy battalion commander. She has a four-year-old son, Wei Xiaojia, who is unusually mature, intelligent, and deeply devoted to her, and a massive German Shepherd named Mountain King, a descendant of police dogs that serves as their loyal guardian. The family lives in a small, rented yard after being estranged from Wei Tianxia’s abusive and greedy extended family, particularly his mother, Old Woman Wei, who despises Zhuo Le and constantly schemes against her.
The story begins with Zhuo Le and Wei Xiaojia returning from the mountains to find the village in an uproar. Old Woman Wei is publicly accusing Zhuo Le of killing her son, claiming that Wei Tianxia has died in action. While the villagers whisper and judge Zhuo Le for her perceived laziness and bad reputation, she remains outwardly calm and indifferent. However, internally, she is shocked and suspicious, as she harbors deep affection for her husband and cannot accept his death without verification. Old Woman Wei attempts to seize the bereavement payment and the train tickets sent by the military unit, but Zhuo Le outmaneuvers her by using Mountain King to scare off the mob and then promptly leaving for the commune to secure new travel documents before the Wei family can intercept her.
Zhuo Le boards a train with her son and dog, heading toward the provincial capital and eventually Dongzhou City, where Wei Tianxia’s unit is located. During the journey, she encounters various challenges, including a theft attempt by a thief on the train, which Mountain King thwarts, and a complex incident involving human traffickers at a transfer station. Zhuo Le demonstrates sharp observational skills by identifying a pair of child traffickers who attempted to use a lost child as bait to rob her. She assists the railway police in capturing the criminals, earning the respect of the officers and gaining useful connections. She also meets a kind-hearted woman named Bai Hui and her spoiled but cute daughter, Ruan Mianmian, with whom she forms a tentative friendship.
As the train journey progresses, the group faces overcrowding and discomfort, but Zhuo Le maintains her composure, prioritizing her son’s education and well-being. Wei Xiaojia continues to act as the responsible head of the household, caring for his mother and managing their affairs with surprising competence. Upon arriving in Dongzhou City, tragedy strikes when Bai Hui’s daughter, Ruan Mianmian, goes missing in the crowded station. Zhuo Le helps Bai Hui search for the child, and soon after, police inform them that a ransom note has been sent to Bai Hui’s in-laws, indicating that Ruan Mianmian has been kidnapped. The story concludes with Zhuo Le and Bai Hui facing the distressing reality of the kidnapping, while Zhuo Le prepares to uncover the truth about Wei Tianxia’s fate and navigate the dangerous criminal underworld that has emerged in their path.
