After Transmigrating into a Famine Refugee

Jiang Tianxu, an eighteen-year-old conscripted soldier, returns to Jiling County after three years of war on the southern frontier. He is one of fewer than fifty survivors from a group of over a hundred villagers who left together. Accompanying him is Ge Chunsheng, a fellow soldier who lost his right arm saving Jiang’s life during the conflict. Ge Chunsheng is a widower and father who lost his entire family to the chaos of the former dynasty’s collapse. He suffers from severe psychological trauma and nightmares, which Jiang Tianxu is determined to help him overcome. Upon their return, the Great Xing Dynasty has established order and offers land reclamation incentives, allowing returning soldiers and refugees to claim wasteland with tax exemptions.

Jiang Tianxu’s homecoming is met with coldness from his father, Jiang Qingfeng, and hostility from his stepmother, Feng Chunhong. Feng Chunhong, who prioritizes her biological son Jiang Xinhu, had already dismantled Jiang Tianxu’s bed to store grain, signaling she expected him not to return. When Jiang Tianxu announces his intention to move out and live with the disabled Ge Chunsheng to care for him, Feng Chunhong sees an opportunity to force a household separation. She argues that since Jiang Tianxu is leaving, the family assets should be divided, hoping to keep everything for herself and her son. Jiang Qingfeng is weak-willed and easily swayed, but Jiang Tianxu remains calm and negotiates for basic provisions, including food and seeds, to survive on his new land.

Ge Chunsheng’s registration is processed through the county registrar, who assigns him to Xiliu Village. Jiang Tianxu and Ge Chunsheng visit Village Head Liu Liqun to claim their allocated ten acres of wasteland each. During this process, they encounter Shen Youran, a young man who appears to be a local but is actually a transmigrator from the future. Shen Youran leads a group of famine migrants from Bingzhou to settle in a nearby new village. He is pragmatic, educated, and skilled at organizing people, having successfully guided his group through the hardships of migration. He befriends Jiang Tianxu and Ge Chunsheng, offering advice on farming and community building.

The three men form a bond as they prepare to cultivate their lands. Shen Youran invites Jiang Tianxu and Ge Chunsheng to his home for a meal, where they meet his grandmother, Li Jinhua, and his younger siblings, Shen Youming and Ah Tao. The meal highlights the stark contrast between the Shen family’s communal warmth and the Jiang family’s neglect. Ge Chunsheng is particularly moved by the children’s vitality, which reminds him of his lost son. Jiang Tianxu explains Ge Chunsheng’s trauma to Shen Youran, who offers a modern perspective on psychological healing, suggesting that community and purpose are key to recovery.

As they begin burning the wasteland to prepare for planting, the neighbors from the new village, including the Qian brothers and Sun Zheng, come to help. This act of communal labor strengthens the ties between the two settlements. Jiang Tianxu, grateful for the assistance, plans to host a meal at Shen Youran’s courtyard, further integrating himself into this new social network. Meanwhile, Shen Youran begins to formulate plans for economic improvement, such as producing tofu and stinky tofu, aiming to lift his family and village out of subsistence living. The story establishes a foundation of mutual support and resilience as the characters navigate the challenges of post-war reconstruction and personal healing.

The narrative explores themes of family duty, trauma, and the rebuilding of community in a turbulent era. Jiang Tianxu’s loyalty to Ge Chunsheng challenges traditional familial expectations, while Shen Youran’s modern knowledge provides a unique lens for solving ancient problems. The interactions between the characters reveal their personalities and motivations, setting the stage for future conflicts and developments. As winter approaches, the characters must rely on each other to survive the harsh conditions and uncertain political landscape. The story concludes with a sense of hope and determination, as the protagonists look forward to the coming spring and the possibilities it may bring.