Jiaojiao, a fox spirit who had cultivated demonic power for hundreds of years, was struck by lightning and transported into a human world known as the Small World. She awoke in the body of Li Qiao, an accountant at Textile Factory No. 1, who was on the verge of marrying Chen Yu, a long-distance truck driver. The original Li Qiao had died of stomach cancer five years into her marriage, leaving behind an unfulfilled wish to prevent her younger sister, Li Mai, from being kidnapped. A system named Tuotuo, claiming to be from the Star River Management Bureau, informed Jiaojiao that she was bound by contract to complete this mission or face soul erasure. Jiaojiao was initially furious, having lost her demonic power in the transition, but she agreed to proceed after the system promised she could use items to adjust her husband to meet her criteria of a "top-tier man."
The background of the host's family was complicated. Li Qiao’s father, Father Li, had remarried Ma Yan’er, a woman five years younger who bore a son. Since then, Li Qiao and her sister Li Mai had been treated as outsiders in their own home, with resources prioritized for the son. Ma Yan’er had eventually moved out with Li Mai, leaving Li Qiao to live alone until her marriage. The original Li Qiao had agreed to marry Chen Yu partly to escape this oppressive household environment. Chen Yu was a successful truck driver who had formed the Dongjiang Fleet. He had been divorced previously, though rumors circulated that his first wife had cheated on him with an ex-boyfriend while he was away driving. In reality, Chen Yu and his first wife had never consummated the marriage, but the scandal had damaged his reputation in the industry.
Chen Yu had chosen Li Qiao after seeing her at the textile factory, deciding immediately that he wanted to marry her. He provided a substantial bride price, which improved the financial situation of the Li family. However, tragedy struck when Li Mai was kidnapped by traffickers who demanded a ransom of 50,000 yuan. Li Qiao had pleaded with Chen Yu for the money, and he had given it without hesitation. Despite his payment, the traffickers disappeared with Li Mai, and she was never found. This event devastated Li Qiao, who blamed herself for flaunting their wealth, leading to her depression and eventual death from cancer. Jiaojiao, possessing the original host's memories, realized the gravity of the task ahead.
Jiaojiao’s primary objective was to save Li Mai from the fate that had befallen her in the original timeline. She also needed to navigate her new marriage with Chen Yu while maintaining her cover as Li Qiao. The system provided her with a map and guidance to locate Chen Yu, allowing her to assess whether he truly qualified as a top-tier husband. Jiaojiao’s attitude toward the mission shifted from reluctant compliance to cautious engagement, driven by the system's promise of compensation and the possibility of restoring her powers. She interacted with Li Mai, who was thin and malnourished, and demanded meat to improve their health, signaling her intent to alter the course of events. The story follows Jiaojiao as she attempts to rewrite the tragic ending, using her knowledge of the plot and the system's resources to protect her sister and redefine her marriage.
As Jiaojiao settles into her new life, she faces the challenge of balancing her supernatural nature with the mundane realities of 1980s China. The social dynamics of the textile factory community, the gossip among neighbors, and the complex family relationships all pose potential obstacles. Chen Yu’s past and his current standing in the trucking industry add layers of complexity to her situation. Jiaojiao must determine how much of her fox spirit abilities she can use without exposing herself, while also ensuring that Li Mai avoids the kidnapping that led to the original host's demise. The narrative explores her adaptation to human society and her strategic approach to solving the central conflict of saving her sister and finding a suitable partner.
