Good Farming and Self-Support in the 1970s

Ye Xin, a twenty-first-century corporate worker, transmigrates into the body of a sixteen-year-old educated youth in rural China, 1970. The original host, also named Ye Xin, had been sent to the Fengshui Brigade during the Down to the Countryside Movement. Upon waking in a dilapidated mud-brick house, Ye Xin discovers she is engaged to Shen Zhuo, a local farmer whose father recently died. The original host had moved into Shen Zhuo’s home under the guise of caring for his father, only to demand an annulment immediately after his death because the family was too poor. Now, Ye Xin must navigate a hostile social environment where she is despised by other educated youths for her previous laziness and vanity, while facing the immediate threat of starvation and social ostracization.

Ye Xin quickly realizes she possesses a mysterious spatial dimension with fertile land and a spring, which she identifies as her advantage for survival. However, her immediate priority is securing food and avoiding eviction from the Shen household. When Shen Zhuo confronts her about her strange behavior and demands she leave, Ye Xin pleads for mercy, citing her inability to cope with the other educated youths. Shen Zhuo, despite his cold demeanor and initial reluctance, agrees to let her stay, though he remains distant and suspicious of her sudden change in personality. Their dynamic shifts from antagonistic to a fragile coexistence as Ye Xin attempts to prove her diligence.

The narrative follows Ye Xin’s struggle to adapt to the grueling physical demands of agricultural labor. She participates in rice transplanting under the scorching June sun, earning only four work points, which is insufficient for adequate food rations. Despite her exhaustion and lack of farming experience, she persists, learning to plant rice alongside Shen Zhuo, who is a skilled and efficient farmer. Her efforts to integrate into village life are met with skepticism and mockery from peers, particularly Liu Hongxia, who openly ridicules Ye Xin’s past behavior and current appearance. Ye Xin endures these insults silently, focusing instead on her work and survival.

A pivotal moment occurs when Ye Xin receives a letter and a package from her family, including thirty yuan and food supplies. This financial injection allows her to plan a trip to the town market. She convinces Shen Zhuo to accompany her on his bicycle, a valuable asset in the village. During the trip, they interact more closely, with Ye Xin purchasing meat, seeds, and household necessities. The shared experience softens Shen Zhuo’s attitude slightly, though he remains guarded. Ye Xin uses the opportunity to send a letter to her sister, expressing gratitude and attempting to repair family ties, while also reflecting on the favoritism she received at home.

Back at the Shen household, Ye Xin begins to transform their living conditions. She cooks meals using the preserved meat sauce from home, improving their diet and fostering a sense of domestic normalcy. She also starts planting seeds in her spatial dimension, experimenting with agricultural techniques to potentially increase yields. The story highlights her determination to survive and improve her circumstances through hard work and strategic planning, rather than relying on the original host’s manipulative tactics. As she continues to work in the fields and manage her household duties, Ye Xin gradually earns a measure of respect from her peers, though the path ahead remains fraught with challenges related to poverty, social stigma, and the harsh realities of rural life in 1970s China.