Arranged Marriage in the 1970s: A Couple’s Sweet Story

Ning Jia and her best friend An Ye, both office workers who had spent days complaining about a novel they were reading, suddenly find themselves transported into the very book. They awaken in the bodies of two sisters-in-law in a poor, rural Li family during the 1970s. Ning Jia inhabits the body of the sixth daughter-in-law, a skinny, unpopular woman married to Li Yao, while An Ye becomes the fifth daughter-in-law, married to Li Xu. The original characters are depicted as vicious, lazy, and deeply flawed, destined for a tragic end of disability and begging. In stark contrast, the novel’s heroine, Lin Xiaoxi, is an educated youth beloved by everyone, including the matriarch, Old Mrs. Xu, who favors her over her own grandchildren.

Immediately upon transmigration, the two women face severe hardship. The family is impoverished, and Old Mrs. Xu is miserly and cruel, hoarding food and favoring her sons and Lin Xiaoxi. Ning Jia and An Ye are routinely denied adequate meals, with eggs and steamed buns reserved for the dog or given to outsiders. Their first act of rebellion involves outsmarting the matriarch during breakfast, stealing food, and escaping to the fields. At work, Ning Jia confronts villagers who mock her flat chest and poor health, using her modern wit to turn the ridicule back on them. This shift in demeanor confuses Li Yao, who had previously despised his wife’s clingy and stupid behavior.

A key turning point occurs when Ning Jia exposes Old Mrs. Xu for secretly feeding eggs to Lin Xiaoxi while starving her own daughters-in-law. The confrontation causes Ning Jia to faint from malnutrition, forcing the family to seek medical attention. The doctor diagnoses severe anemia, confirming the physical toll of their abuse. Li Yao, who had always resented the marriage arrangement that traded his sister for Ning Jia, begins to show unexpected care. He provides Ning Jia with money for nutritious food and stays home to protect her reputation from village gossip, marking a significant shift in their relationship.

Recognizing that survival requires more than just enduring abuse, Ning Jia recalls a plot point from the novel: a hidden fish pond in the northern mountains where Lin Xiaoxi originally made her first pot of gold by selling fish on the black market. Ning Jia and An Ye secretly visit the pond and successfully catch fish, securing their first source of independent income. They realize they cannot trust the brothers, as Li Xu hands all his earnings to his mother, and Li Yao is too principled to risk involvement. Instead, Ning Jia manipulates the youngest brother, Li Chuan, who is secretly in love with Lin Xiaoxi, to intercept the food Old Mrs. Xu sends to the heroine. This allows Ning Jia to reclaim resources for her family while undermining Lin Xiaoxi’s influence.

As the story progresses, Ning Jia strategically builds a rapport with Li Yao, offering emotional support and practical care without appearing desperate. She uses her knowledge of the plot to anticipate Lin Xiaoxi’s schemes and protect her family from further exploitation. Meanwhile, An Ye navigates her own marriage, dealing with Li Xu’s initial reluctance and his eventual admission that he values her despite using her as a substitute for his first love. The two women form a solid alliance, determined to accumulate wealth and eventually secure a divorce to escape their miserable circumstances. Their journey involves navigating complex family dynamics, outsmarting the manipulative heroine, and adapting to the harsh realities of 1970s rural life while maintaining their modern identities and solidarity.