Fleeing Famine in the 1970s: Spoiling the Rough Man with Billions in Supplies

Lin Qiuman dies in a modern city after being crushed by a falling billboard, her life defined by decades of regret and sin. In her final moments, she reflects on how she betrayed the Shen family, particularly Shen Linghua and his younger brother Shen Lingkang, for the sake of Wu Jianxun, a man who exploited her devotion. Upon opening her eyes, she finds herself reborn in 1977, three days into a desperate famine escape alongside Wu Jianxun on a moving train. The hatred she harbors for him is immediate and visceral, but she recognizes that open violence would only ruin her chance at redemption. Instead, she executes a calculated plan: she confiscates his identity documents and glasses, then kicks him off the moving train near Han City, ensuring he is left stranded without the means to prove his identity or continue his plans. She survives the jump and treks alone to West Hope Village, where she collapses at the entrance.

Shen Linghua, the capable but rough-looking third son of the Shen family, is ordered by the village chief to take her in as a wife. Lin Qiuman, aware of his character and her past crimes, refuses to burden him with a marriage she does not deserve. She instead offers her services as a substitute teacher at the local primary school, a position originally meant for Wu Jianxun. The village chief agrees, providing her with minimal rations and a room at the school. Upon arriving, Lin Qiuman is reunited with Shen Lingkang, the ten-year-old brother she previously abused and abandoned, leading to her emotional breakdown. She vows to protect him and make amends for the injuries she caused in her past life, which left him mentally impaired and ostracized.

A significant turning point occurs when Lin Qiuman discovers a supernatural ability linked to a red string on her wrist. She can enter a fully stocked shopping mall from her previous life, which serves as her personal storage and resource space. Initially overwhelmed by the prospect of luxury, she quickly realizes she must use these resources discreetly to survive and help others without exposing herself to accusations of profiteering in the rationed era of the 1970s. She uses the mall to secure food, clothing, and tools, including weapons for self-defense, while maintaining a humble exterior in the village.

Lin Qiuman establishes herself in West Hope Village by implementing new teaching methods and offering free evening classes to villagers, including the men who had previously been excluded. She identifies Shen Linghua’s potential and encourages him to pursue development opportunities, suggesting the village start a furniture factory using local timber. Her efforts attract the attention of local hooligans like Li Qiang, who attempt to harass her, but Shen Linghua intervenes to protect her, signaling a shift in their dynamic from strangers to allies. Meanwhile, Lin Qiuman confronts the Shen family’s elder sisters-in-law, who mistreat Shen Lingkang, and begins to quietly support the boy, giving him food, a new pencil, and a haircut, restoring a sense of dignity to his life.

The narrative follows Lin Qiuman’s dual struggle to navigate the harsh social constraints of the era while rectifying her past mistakes. She faces opposition from villagers who resent her presence and from family members who wish to keep Shen Lingkang subservient. Her goal is not only to survive the famine but to ensure the Shen brothers are treated with respect and to prevent the tragic fate that befell them in her previous life. As she integrates into the community, she also plans for the future, using her knowledge of coming historical changes to guide the village toward prosperity, all while keeping her supernatural advantage hidden.