Back to the '80s with a Farmstead: From Hated Stepmom to Family Favorite

Xu Sangluo, a successful businesswoman who had built a thriving farmhouse resort in her previous life, dies in a car accident and awakens in 1983. She finds herself reborn as a young woman in the body of Zhao Xiaoman, a girl who had been trafficked and rescued by Qin Zhiyi, a retired soldier. In her past life, Xu Sangluo had made a critical mistake by fleeing the Qin family after being wronged by her stepmother, Liu Xiuhe, and stepsister, Xie Huaishu. This abandonment led to the Qin family’s downfall: Qin Zhiyi’s mother lost her leg to infection, and his adopted son, Qin Yan, drowned in a river. Determined to correct these regrets, Xu Sangluo resolves to stay and protect the Qin family.

The story begins with Xu Sangluo adjusting to her new reality in the impoverished Qin household. She discovers that she has retained her spatial dimension, a mystical storage space containing spiritual water and resources from her previous life. Using these assets, she begins to improve the family’s dire living conditions. She cooks nutritious meals, such as dumplings and meat bone soup, which win over the initially skeptical Qin family members. Her kindness and competence gradually soften the hearts of Qin Zhiyi’s mother and his three younger siblings, particularly the orphaned Qin Yan, who had been neglected and frightened in her previous timeline.

A central conflict arises from Xu Sangluo’s past. Her stepmother, Liu Xiuhe, and stepsister, Xie Huaishu, had stolen her university admission notice and subjected her to abuse. In her previous life, this led to her being forced into a marriage with Qin Zhiyi out of obligation, which she resented. Now, armed with foreknowledge and a vengeful spirit, Xu Sangluo confronts her stepmother. She blackmails Liu Xiuhe into paying five thousand yuan in hush money to prevent the exposure of Xie Huaishu’s identity theft and the family’s illegal activities. During this confrontation, Xu Sangluo also discovers and reclaims jewelry and savings that belonged to her biological mother, Xu Xiangyu, which Liu Xiuhe had stolen.

With the money secured, Xu Sangluo moves back into the Qin family home, not as a reluctant bride, but as a tenant who contributes to the household. She uses her capital to start a small business, buying ingredients and selling food at the local market. Her cooking, enhanced by the spiritual water from her space, becomes a sensation in the village, drawing neighbors with its irresistible aroma. This economic independence allows her to support the Qin family, helping them recover from the poverty that had plagued them in her previous life.

The narrative also explores the evolving relationship between Xu Sangluo and Qin Zhiyi. Initially, Qin Zhiyi misunderstands her intentions, believing she is still seeking to escape the marriage. However, as Xu Sangluo demonstrates her genuine care for the family and her resilience in the face of past trauma, their relationship shifts. Qin Zhiyi becomes protective and supportive, helping her with tasks and respecting her decisions. Xu Sangluo’s goal is not only to prevent the tragedies that befell the Qin family but also to build a genuine connection with them, ensuring that Qin Yan survives and the family remains united.

As the story progresses, Xu Sangluo continues to navigate the challenges of 1980s rural China while secretly leveraging her spatial abilities. She plans to rebuild her business empire, this time with the support of the Qin family. The threat from the Xie family looms in the background, as Liu Xiuhe and Xie Feng are revealed to be dangerous and manipulative. Xu Sangluo’s ultimate aim is to secure her family’s future, redeem her past mistakes, and ensure that the Qin family thrives, avoiding the tragic fate that awaited them in her previous existence.