Is My Dad a Villain?

In the Daliang Dynasty, during the twelfth year of Jingrui, Jiang Zhimiao awakens in the body of a one-year-old infant in a poor farming household. He is the son of Jiang Qingshi, a handsome but seemingly idle scholar, and Lin Guilan, a capable woman who married him against her family's wishes. Jiang Zhimiao, a teenager from a previous life who died saving a drowning child, finds himself in a fractured extended family. The Jiang household is headed by Old Master Jiang, a hypocritical patriarch who favors his youngest son, Jiang Jinyao, and his scheming third wife, Madam Feng. Jiang Qingshi, the third son, has been suppressed and financially exploited by his elder brothers, Jiang Wujiang and Jiang Wenjiang, and their wives, who view him as a useless burden despite his scholarly ambitions.

The core conflict centers on the family's declining wealth and the bitter struggle for the last remaining family asset: a liquor shop. The second daughter-in-law, Yuan Yuexian, is particularly hostile toward Jiang Qingshi and Lin Guilan. She accuses them of stealing family valuables to fund Jiang Qingshi's studies, not realizing that Lin Guilan’s dowry supports them. The tension escalates during a family meal when Yuan Yuexian publicly humiliates Lin Guilan, implying she had improper relations with a local butcher. Jiang Qingshi, who has been playing the role of a submissive weakling, suddenly reveals his true nature. He coldly confronts Yuan Yuexian, exposing a secret about her son that forces her to apologize publicly. This display of hidden strength shocks his family and solidifies his resolve to separate from the toxic household.

Jiang Qingshi uses the confrontation as a catalyst to demand a division of the household. He accepts the family's offer of two dilapidated, pigsty-derived rooms in exchange for leaving the main estate. Old Master Jiang, eager to remove the "burden" and protect his secrets regarding his gambling addiction to cricket fighting, agrees immediately. Jiang Qingshi, Lin Guilan, and their son move into the run-down property. Despite the poor conditions, the family is united and free from the harassment they faced in the main house. Jiang Zhimiao, observing his parents, realizes that his father is not the idle scholar he appears to be, but a calculating man who has orchestrated their escape to pursue his goals without interference.

With their new independence, Jiang Qingshi and Lin Guilan begin to build a life for themselves. Jiang Qingshi reveals his plan to Lin Guilan: he intends to take the county examinations in the upcoming February. He explains that the nearby waterway trade brings merchants and travelers to Xichun Town, creating a market opportunity. He encourages Lin Guilan to use her culinary skills to sell cooling teas and drinks at the dock during the summer heat, rather than returning to the labor-intensive tofu business. Lin Guilan, supportive and admiring of her husband's insight, agrees to the plan. She also begins to shed her previous restraint, feeling empowered by Jiang Qingshi's promise that she can be her true self in their new home.

As they settle into their new life, Jiang Zhimiao struggles with the challenge of communicating his adult intelligence while maintaining the appearance of a toddler. He observes his father's sharp perception, noting that Jiang Qingshi is already suspicious of his son's unusual behavior and quick wit. Despite this, the family enjoys a period of relative peace and happiness. Jiang Qingshi focuses on his studies, while Lin Guilan prepares to launch their small business. The story moves toward their economic improvement and Jiang Qingshi's eventual rise through the imperial examination system, marking a decisive break from the oppressive Jiang family hierarchy.