Cannon Fodder Beauty Picks up a Hong Kong Tycoon [80s]

Chen Baoyin, a survivor of a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by natural disasters and severe food shortages, transmigrates into the body of a college graduate in 1984 China. Upon waking, she finds herself in Chenjia Village, a small fishing community near the sea. Her new body has a fractured skull and fragmented memories, but her subconscious sense of danger drives her to return to her family home. She discovers she is in a "Group's Favorite Era Novel," where the original Chen Baoyin served as a cannon fodder character who died in the first chapter to help the female lead gain fame. Determined to avoid this fate, Chen Baoyin decides to stay in the village, far from the novel's main plot, and enjoys the abundance of food and peace that contrasts sharply with her previous life.

Chen Baoyin possesses a unique ability: water manipulation. This power, which she brought from her past life, allows her to control water, heal her injuries, and condense water into a special essence that attracts marine life. Her first act in this new world is to test her abilities by tide-pooling with her neighbor, Xiao Qiu. Using her water essence, she effortlessly catches valuable seafood, including large green crabs and a lobster, surprising those around her. Meanwhile, her family faces a significant crisis as rumors spread that the state-owned fishing ground they depend on will be restructured and leased to an outside businessman, threatening their livelihoods.

The conflict escalates when the fishing ground manager announces plans to lease the entire fishery to a wealthy outsider. The villagers, including Chen Baoyin's father and brother who work at the fishery, are devastated. Chen Baoyin realizes that if the fishery is privatized, her family will lose their stable income. She devises a plan to stir up opposition among the villagers. By subtly pointing out the disadvantages to her sharp-tongued second aunt, He Caojie, she encourages the woman to lead a protest. The demonstration forces town officials to reconsider, resulting in a compromise: the fishing ground will be divided into smaller sections for individual lease.

However, the lease fees are prohibitively high, ranging from 20,000 to 100,000 yuan, far beyond the means of the local fishermen. Chen Baoyin sees an opportunity. She uses her water essence to catch a massive wild yellow croaker, which sells for 800 yuan to a Hong Kong businessman on a yacht. This windfall brings her family hope but also attracts unwanted attention and envy. Her second uncle, Chen Xiaoqiang, attempts to exploit the situation by promoting a shady finance company that offers high-interest loans to the villagers, hoping to drag Chen Baoyin's cautious father into debt.

Chen Baoyin warns her father about the risks, and he refuses to co-sign the loan. Undeterred, she continues her fishing expeditions, now venturing further out to sea with a small wooden boat. She discovers that her water essence can attract schools of valuable fish, such as redstripe fish and sailfish. In one outing, she catches a sailfish that sells for 2,000 yuan, significantly boosting the family's funds. She also finds a rare conch pearl worth thousands, which she plans to sell in the city.

As Chen Baoyin accumulates wealth, she aims to lease a section of the fishing ground to secure her family's future. Her abilities allow her to dive into the ocean, breathing underwater and harvesting rare seafood like giant sea snails and lobsters. Her loyalty to her family and her desire for a peaceful, prosperous life drive her actions. She navigates village politics, family conflicts, and the growing interest of a mysterious man on a yacht who has noticed her, all while building a new life in this vibrant era.

The story follows Chen Baoyin's efforts to use her supernatural abilities to overcome economic challenges and protect her family from exploitation. As she gains more confidence and resources, she becomes a key figure in the village's struggle against the proposed privatization. Her journey is one of survival, adaptation, and the pursuit of a better life in a time of economic change. The narrative highlights the contrast between her traumatic past and the opportunities available in 1980s China, as she leverages her unique powers to secure a future for herself and her loved ones.