Exiled to the Border, the Criminal Wife Clears the Wasteland and Raises a God of War

Su He, a logistics officer from a post-apocalyptic era, transmigrates into the body of a criminal slave on the Liaodong border. The original owner was a first-class maid in the household of a corrupt minister who was executed for bribery. Stripped of her status, Su He is among eighteen women sentenced to be distributed as wives to soldiers or sent to the rear camp, where they would effectively become military prostitutes. Recognizing the dire consequences of her situation, Su He relies on her survival instincts from the apocalypse: strength and choosing the right leader. She identifies Xiao Zheng, a towering, scarred, and fiercely capable soldier who ranks first in military merit, as the only viable path to safety. While other slave girls covet the shrewd Shen Feng, Su He deliberately steps forward to claim Xiao Zheng, declaring her ability to farm, cook, and manage a household without burdening him. Her directness and practicality impress the onlookers and Xiao Zheng himself, who is initially reluctant to take a wife due to his family's poverty.

Xiao Zheng, a hereditary military household member, struggles to support his widowed mother, younger brother Xiao Jun, and younger sister Xiao Yue. His pay is minimal due to corruption and drought, and he fears he cannot feed another person. However, he accepts Su He after she proves her resilience and willingness to work. Upon arriving at their modest earthen home, Su He observes the family's harsh living conditions and their close-knit, hardworking dynamic. She discovers that her wood-element superpower, though weakened, has mutated to include a perceptual ability that allows her to sense the location and condition of plants within a kilometer. This discovery becomes her key to survival and prosperity.

On her first morning, Su He accompanies Xiao Yue to the mountains to gather wild vegetables. Using her enhanced perception, she locates hidden patches of purslane and wild astragalus, a medicinal herb valuable for both health and income. The family is astonished by their bountiful harvest, and Su He’s reputation for having good luck begins to spread. She plants the astragalus in their courtyard, using her power to accelerate its growth secretly, and prepares to sell it for profit. Wang Guixiang, initially skeptical of the delicate-looking maid, warms to Su He as she sees her daughter-in-law’s industriousness and contribution to the household.

As Su He integrates into the Xiao family, she takes charge of improving their diet and finances. She plans a modest wedding banquet to formally recognize her marriage, contributing her own resources to ease the family's burden. The story follows her efforts to build a stable life in a harsh environment, leveraging her unique abilities to overcome food shortages and economic hardship. Her relationship with Xiao Zheng evolves from a pragmatic arrangement into a partnership based on mutual respect and shared goals. Meanwhile, Shen Feng and Su Lan, who married each other, view Su He with disdain, underestimating her capabilities. Su He remains focused on her mission to secure her family's future, using her apocalyptic knowledge and supernatural powers to transform their destitute existence into one of comfort and security.