Exiled Fisher Girl: Gathering Seafood, Building a Fortune, and Captivating the Tyrant

Gu Yi, a woman from a modern era plagued by environmental destruction and pollution, transmigrates into the body of Gu Jiayi, a thirteen-year-old noble girl who has just attempted suicide by drowning. The original owner was the daughter of a disgraced War God Marquis whose family was exiled to a remote coastal village after her father’s military defeat. Cast aside by her grandmother and left with her frail mother and four younger siblings, the original Gu Jiayi died of despair in the harsh, unfamiliar environment. Gu Yi awakens in the sea, her innate ability to breathe underwater and her protective shield saving her from drowning. Rescued by local fishermen, she realizes she has inherited the body and its memories. Instead of succumbing to the original owner’s depression, Gu Yi embraces this pristine, natural world, finding joy in the clean ocean and the opportunity to survive through fishing and foraging.

Upon returning to her dilapidated stone house, Gu Yi confronts the reality of her family’s poverty. Her mother, Wang Yulan, is gentle but weak, while her siblings range from the protective eldest brother, Dalang, to the sickly second brother and two young sisters. The family is immediately harassed by Lin Shi, the wife of the second branch of the Gu family, who attempts to extort money under the pretense of helping Gu Jiayi return to her grandmother. Gu Yi, possessing the mature mind and combat knowledge of an adult, violently rebuffs Lin Shi, shocking her family and relatives who are accustomed to her previous submissive demeanor. She declares that her branch will sever all ties with the main Gu family, refusing to be exploited further.

The conflict escalates when Wang Yulan and Dalang attempt to beg for food and money from the Old Madam Gu, only to face public humiliation and refusal. Gu Yi intervenes, exposing the second aunt’s past scandal of attempting to seduce her father-in-law, which causes chaos and forces the family to negotiate. Using the threat of damaging the reputation of the third uncle’s son, who is preparing for the imperial examinations, Gu Yi forces a settlement. She secures five taels of silver and kitchen supplies, officially severing ties with the Old Gu family. This act marks a turning point, as the family begins to accept their new identity as commoners rather than fallen nobility.

With their independence secured, Gu Yi takes charge of the family’s survival. She demonstrates unexpected medical knowledge, treating her second brother’s illness through acupressure and herbal prescriptions, and later diagnosing a pregnancy in a neighbor, He Hu’s wife. These skills earn the family allies among the villagers, particularly Aunt Cao, who helps them sell their catch. Gu Yi’s most significant advantage is her ability to swim and dive underwater, a skill she uses to harvest rare and valuable seafood, including starry groupers and sea urchins, which she sells at a premium to a high-end restaurant in the county. The family’s financial situation improves rapidly, allowing them to buy food, clothing, and fishing gear.

As the story progresses, Gu Yi continues to navigate the social dynamics of the fishing village. She faces hostility from villagers like He Chunli, who resent the newcomers, but she handles these conflicts with sharp wit and physical prowess. Her relationship with her siblings deepens, particularly with Dalang, who struggles with the burden of responsibility but finds comfort in his sister’s guidance. Gu Yi’s modern perspective allows her to challenge traditional gender roles and family hierarchies, empowering her mother and siblings to contribute to the household. The narrative follows their adaptation to a life of hard labor and simplicity, contrasting sharply with the luxurious but treacherous court life of their ancestors. Gu Yi’s primary goal remains the welfare of her family, using her unique abilities and knowledge to build a stable and prosperous life in exile, while keeping a watchful eye on the political intrigues that may still threaten her from the past.