Ning Xiaoman spent twenty years in a loveless marriage to Xu Yannian, a researcher who married her solely because his first love, Su Nuan, was unable to have children. In her final days, confined to a nursing home, she endured verbal abuse from her adopted son, who revealed that Xu Yannian despised her lack of education and viewed her only as a convenient caretaker. The revelation that her husband had used her while maintaining a relationship with Su Nuan broke her spirit, leading to a refusal to eat or take medication. When Xu Yannian visited, he dismissed her suffering and refused to divorce, insisting she should be grateful for the comfortable life he provided. During a heated argument in the nursing home stairwell, a frail Ning Xiaoman grabbed Xu Yannian and pulled him down, causing them both to fall.
Instead of dying, Ning Xiaoman woke up in the winter of 1980, finding herself back at the beginning of her nightmare. A matchmaker named Aunt Liu was present, urging her to accept the marriage to Xu Yannian to help her family repay debts with a bride price of 300 yuan and four big items. In her previous life, Ning Xiaoman had naively agreed, believing Xu Yannian’s shy affection and sacrificing her future for her family’s financial stability. This time, she realized the cruelty of her fate and the emptiness of the promises made. She firmly rejected the matchmaker, stating she was not willing to marry into the Xu family.
Aunt Liu attempted to persuade her, claiming Xu Yannian truly liked her and that the arrangement was a great deal. Ning Xiaoman, however, was resolute. She knew that in her past life, the promised gifts never materialized, and her sacrifice led to two decades of servitude and emotional abuse. To ensure the matchmaker would not try to broker the deal again, Ning Xiaoman spread a rumor that Xu Yannian was impotent, suggesting she did not want to become a living widow. The comment was overheard by Xu Yannian, who had been waiting outside. He entered the room, his eyes cold and calculating, and retorted that he did not want a woman with such baggage either.
The encounter marked a significant shift in their dynamic. Both Ning Xiaoman and Xu Yannian seemed to retain memories or at least a heightened awareness of their past interactions. Xu Yannian, who had previously viewed Ning Xiaoman as an obedient and compliant wife, was confronted by a woman who no longer feared him or sought his approval. He sneered and told her not to come looking for him again, leaving the matchmaker stunned. Ning Xiaoman watched him leave, feeling a sense of liberation she had never experienced during their twenty-year marriage.
With the marriage off the table, Ning Xiaoman faced the immediate challenge of her family’s financial situation. Her parents, factory workers with meager salaries, had been counting on the bride price to settle their debts. The rejection of Xu Yannian meant this solution was no longer available, forcing her to confront her family’s poverty without the safety net of a wealthy husband. However, she was determined not to repeat the mistakes of her past life. She refused to let her obedience define her existence or allow others to exploit her kindness for their gain.
The story follows Ning Xiaoman as she navigates this new timeline, armed with the knowledge of how her life would have unfolded. She must now find a way to support her family and build a life on her own terms, free from the shadow of Xu Yannian and the expectations of those around her. The rejection of the arranged marriage serves as the catalyst for her transformation from a passive victim into an active agent of her own destiny. As she steps out into the world of 1980, she leaves behind the identity of the suffering wife and begins to forge a path that prioritizes her own well-being and autonomy.
Xu Yannian’s reaction to the rejection also hints at deeper complexities in his character. His immediate dismissal of Ning Xiaoman suggests that his interest in her was never rooted in genuine affection but rather in convenience and control. The power dynamic between them has shifted, with Ning Xiaoman no longer playing the role of the submissive wife. This change sets the stage for future conflicts and interactions, as Xu Yannian may find his plans disrupted by her unexpected defiance. The narrative explores themes of regret, redemption, and the courage to change one’s fate, as Ning Xiaoman seizes the opportunity to rewrite her story and escape the tragic path she once walked.
