Daily Life and Survival at the Northern Borderlands

Tang Wan, a woman who had lived over a decade in the twenty-first century, finds herself drowning in the icy waters of the Da Yong Dynasty. After being rescued from the river by a man named Lu Zheng, she wakes in the body of her past self, a fifteen-year-old granddaughter of a deceased military clerk. She possesses memories of two distinct lives: her original childhood in this historical era and her adult life in modern China. Upon regaining consciousness, she learns that her younger brother, Tang Mu, has been caring for her. The family is in dire straits following their grandfather's death and the financial support they provided to the Chen family, particularly Chen Wenyan, to whom Tang Wan was engaged.

The core conflict arises when Tang Wan discovers that Chen Wenyan deliberately pushed her into the river. He intended to break their engagement to marry into a wealthier military family, the Zhou family, and believed her death would secure his future. When Tang Wan confronts him, he feigns concern while secretly plotting to silence her. Tang Wan, however, is not the naive girl he remembers. Having survived death once before, she is determined to protect herself and her brother. She feigns continued unconsciousness to manipulate the situation, instructing Tang Mu to demand the repayment of all money and grain the Chen family received from their grandfather over the years.

Tang Mu, though young, executes his sister's plan with precision. He gathers neighbors, including Old Shen and Ge Sanniang, to witness the confrontation at the Chen household. Chen Wenyan, terrified that Tang Wan might reveal the truth if she wakes, attempts to appease them by paying a small sum. However, Tang Mu insists on a full accounting of the debts. Miao Guizhi, Chen Wenyan's mother, initially refuses, claiming the engagement was already broken by mutual consent and attempting to slander Tang Wan's reputation. The threat of involving the Zhou family forces Miao Guizhi to capitulate. She is compelled to return thirty-three taels and eight mace of silver, the total amount the Tang family had supported them with over the years.

With the debt settled, Tang Mu publicly tears up the marriage certificate, severing all ties with the Chen family. The neighbors witness the Chen family's true nature, having lived in poverty while secretly hoarding wealth provided by the Tangs. Tang Wan then reveals she is awake, shocking the community and confirming her survival. The siblings use part of the recovered money to buy gifts for their helpful neighbors and Lu Zheng, strengthening their social support network. They also hide the bulk of their silver in the backyard for future security.

The story shifts focus to Tang Wan's adaptation to her new reality. She realizes she cannot return to her modern life and must survive in this historical period. Her modern knowledge, particularly in cooking and resource management, becomes an asset. She prepares meals that improve their diet and considers her future, noting that the government will assign her a marriage partner in two years. The narrative establishes her resolve to navigate the political and social complexities of the military household community, protect her brother, and ensure their financial stability after the betrayal by the Chen family.