Daily Life of Raising Children in the 1960’s

Lin Yue, a modern workaholic, dies in a car accident and transmigrates into the body of a woman who just gave birth to twins in rural China during the winter of 1960. The original owner, also named Lin Yue, was a timid girl sold by her abusive adoptive parents for half a bag of grain. She married Zhang Yuandong, a soldier who had been absent since their wedding, and was cruelly mistreated by her mother-in-law, Sun Hongmei. After being kicked out of the family home during her pregnancy, the original owner died in childbirth due to malnutrition and lack of care. Lin Yue wakes up to find herself in a dilapidated warehouse with two weak newborns and no breast milk. She is rescued by village women, particularly Su Ximei, who perform rudimentary CPR to save her life.

Lin Yue quickly adapts to her new reality, securing a lactating ewe from the brigade to feed the twins. Her life is complicated by the arrival of Xu Enyuan, a man who claims to be her biological father. Xu Enyuan is a former capitalist who was sent to the countryside as an educated youth. He had searched for his missing daughter for years but was kept away by the original owner’s fear of her political background. Lin Yue discovers she has inherited a mysterious spatial dimension bound to her soul. This space contains a spirit spring that accelerates healing and growth, with time flowing five times faster inside than outside. She uses this advantage to recover her health, grow food, and care for the twins more effectively than would be possible in the harsh famine conditions of the era.

The central conflict arises from Lin Yue’s refusal to submit to the abuse she endured in the original owner’s memories. When Sun Hongmei confronts her, accusing her of having an improper relationship with Principal Xu, Lin Yue fights back physically instead of cowering. This shock to the village dynamics draws the attention of various factions. Sun Hongmei attempts to humiliate Lin Yue publicly, but the confrontation escalates into a brawl involving other villagers, including the notorious Widow Liu. Lin Yue’s defiance changes how the village perceives her, shifting from a pitiable victim to a woman who will not be bullied. Meanwhile, Xu Enyuan continues to support her secretly, providing food and protection while maintaining a low profile to avoid political trouble.

As the weeks pass, Lin Yue establishes a routine of balancing her responsibilities as a mother with the management of her secret space. She uses the spirit spring water to enhance the nutrition of the twins and herself, ensuring their survival in a time of scarcity. The village women, initially wary, begin to accept her after seeing her kindness and resilience. They offer advice on child-rearing and household management, integrating her into the community. However, tensions remain with her in-laws, who resent her independence and the support she receives from Principal Xu. The story follows Lin Yue’s efforts to protect her children and build a stable life despite the political turmoil and economic hardship surrounding her.

Lin Yue faces the challenge of raising twins alone in a patriarchal society where a woman’s value is often tied to her husband’s status. Zhang Yuandong remains absent in the army, leaving her to navigate the complex social hierarchy of the village. She learns to manipulate social expectations to her advantage, using her status as a military dependent to deter further harassment from Sun Hongmei. The narrative explores her internal struggle between her modern sensibilities and the traditional constraints of the 1960s. She gradually builds a network of allies among the village women, who appreciate her honesty and willingness to help. The story sets the stage for future conflicts as Lin Yue’s secret space and her growing influence in the village attract both support and suspicion from those around her.