Back to the Eighties Bridegroom Swap, Flustered by the Rough Man

Fang Yao awakens on her wedding night in 1982, realizing she has been reborn to the moment before her tragic death in a previous life. In that past existence, she suffered five years of infertility orchestrated by her husband Xu Manjiang and his cousin Li Xuemiao, who secretly fed her contraceptive pills. When Fang Yao discovered their affair and Li Xuemiao’s pregnancy, Xu Manjiang beat her to death during a confrontation. Now reborn, Fang Yao recognizes that the man entering her bridal chamber is not the drunk Xu Manjiang, but his cousin Xu Qingzhou, a military officer. She deduces that Li Xuemiao, also reborn, deliberately swapped the bridal chambers to marry Xu Manjiang while avoiding the disabled Xu Qingzhou, whom she knew would soon be injured.

Chaos erupts when the truth is revealed. Xu Manjiang, having been sent to the wrong room, had already consummated his relationship with Li Xuemiao. Fang Yao publicly slaps Xu Manjiang, exposing the scandal in front of the entire Xu family. The matriarch, Old Mrs. Xu, faces a dilemma: her son is tainted, and Li Xuemiao’s reputation is ruined. Xu Qingzhou, initially cold and distant, intervenes to prevent the marriage swap from collapsing entirely. He proposes that Fang Yao marry him instead, arguing that since her reputation is also damaged, she has no better option. Fang Yao, pragmatic and seeking revenge, agrees but sets strict conditions, demanding two thousand yuan in compensation from Xu Manjiang’s family for the disruption.

Fang Yao negotiates aggressively, leveraging the Xu family’s fear of public scandal to extract the full compensation. She secures the money and the return of her dowry, establishing financial control over her new marriage. Xu Qingzhou, impressed by her sharpness, hands over the key to his iron box containing his savings and military allowance, promising that all his earnings will be under her control. Despite her distrust of men due to past betrayals, Fang Yao observes that Xu Qingzhou is fundamentally different from Xu Manjiang. He is disciplined, respectful, and surprisingly considerate, often tending to the stove and ensuring she is warm at night.

As Fang Yao settles into her new life, she begins to build a relationship with Wang Hua, Xu Qingzhou’s mother. Unlike Wang Cuilian, who abused Fang Yao in her previous life, Wang Hua is kind and supportive. Fang Yao learns to knit and manages the household finances, depositing her compensation money in the bank. She also anticipates future economic opportunities, knowing that the area will soon become a development zone. Meanwhile, Li Xuemiao and Xu Manjiang struggle with their own dynamics; Li Xuemiao tries to win over Wang Cuilian by offering her dowry to cover the compensation, but Fang Yao remains vigilant against their schemes.

The story progresses as Xu Qingzhou accompanies Fang Yao to visit her parents. Her mother, Liu Bailan, is furious about the bride swap and initially refuses to acknowledge the marriage. However, Xu Qingzhou’s sincerity and Fang Yao’s insistence that she chose this path eventually persuade the family elders. Old Master Fang accepts the union, and the family prepares for a formal wedding banquet. Fang Yao reflects on her mother’s concerns, realizing that Liu Bailan’s anger stems from fear that Fang Yao will be bullied by a wealthier family. Despite the initial turmoil, Fang Yao finds herself gradually trusting Xu Qingzhou, who treats her with respect and care, marking a significant shift from her abusive past.