Back to the 1970s marrying a scientific research leader and having three children

Xu Qingqing lived a tragic life defined by betrayal and manipulation. Once a promising medical student, she was systematically ruined by her jealous former best friend, Liu Nuannuan, who intercepted letters, stole her college admission, caused her to lose her medical license, and orchestrated the rape that shattered her spirit. Her childhood sweetheart, Gu Yan, remained loyal but was kept away by Liu Nuannuan’s deceptions. In her final moments, Xu Qingqing was reduced to a cleaning lady attending a class reunion, where Liu Nuannuan revealed the full extent of her crimes before pushing Xu Qingqing from a building. Xu Qingqing dragged Liu Nuannuan down with her, ensuring they both died. Gu Yan, devastated, spent years mourning her. Upon dying, Xu Qingqing was reborn, returning to 1975, just before she was forced to leave the city for the countryside.

Waking up in her damp storage room, Xu Qingqing found herself face-to-face with Liu Nuannuan, who was announcing their upcoming departure. In her previous life, Xu Qingqing had been too weak to resist, but this time, she choked Liu Nuannuan until she regained her senses, realizing that killing her enemy now would only lead to her own execution. She feigned illness to buy time while observing her stepmother, Zhao Cuixia, and step-sister, Xu Honghong, who had stolen the job Gu Yan had arranged for her. Xu Qingqing understood that her family had sold her future for their own gain. Instead of confronting them publicly, she quietly gathered money, gold bars, silver coins, and warm clothing from her parents' hidden stash, swapping her old cotton padding for Xu Honghong's new supplies. She also packed a radio, a flashlight, and a knife, preparing for the harsh journey ahead.

Before leaving, Xu Qingqing mailed a letter to Gu Yan and sent a telegram clarifying that their relationship was intact and that Liu Nuannuan had been intercepting their correspondence. She also warned Gu Yan about an impending disaster involving his professor. On the train to the Northeast, Xu Qingqing distanced herself from Liu Nuannuan, who attempted to manipulate her as she had in the past. When Liu Nuannuan tried to steal Xu Qingqing’s letter from a mailbox, Xu Qingqing reported her to the police, resulting in Liu Nuannuan’s temporary detention. This marked a significant shift in their dynamic, as Xu Qingqing refused to be a passive victim.

Meanwhile, Gu Yan received the telegram and realized Xu Qingqing was still alive and aware of the truth. He rushed to save Professor Wu from a framed investigation, preventing the professor’s suicide and subsequent tragedy. Gu Yan then transferred to Harbin University, moving closer to Xu Qingqing’s destination. Upon arriving at Da Li Village, Xu Qingqing quickly established herself by offering her cooking pot to the communal kitchen and gifting a radio to Secretary Li in exchange for lighter work assignments. She claimed knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine, a skill she intended to use to gain independence and avoid the grueling farm labor that had plagued her in her previous life.

Xu Qingqing began collecting medicinal herbs on the back mountain with Chen Yufen, a classmate who had warned her about Liu Nuannuan in her past life. They discovered a large patch of Schisandra berries, which Xu Qingqing processed and sold, securing a steady income and better food rations. Liu Nuannuan, unable to bear the physical exertion, followed them at a distance, plotting her next move. Xu Qingqing, now confident and strategic, focused on building her value in the village while keeping her enemies close enough to monitor. She established a alliance with Secretary Li and his daughter, Li Xiufang, ensuring she had protection and support in the remote village. As winter approached, Xu Qingqing prepared to use her medical skills and herbal knowledge to carve out a new life, determined to never be manipulated again.