Chen Suihuan, a modern woman who had saved sixty thousand yuan before her death, transmigrates into the body of a nineteen-year-old girl in 1975 Beijing. The original Chen Suihuan died after a violent confrontation with her paternal grandmother, Chen Shi, and her uncles, who had attacked the siblings following the deaths of their parents. Her father, a soldier, had died in the line of duty, and her mother had passed away from illness shortly after. The grandmother, driven by greed for the father's martyr compensation and the mother's factory job, had harassed the children relentlessly. Upon waking, Chen Suihuan discovers she has inherited a fifty-mu dimensional space from her previous life. This space contains fertile land, a river with spiritual water that accelerates growth, and livestock that have multiplied rapidly due to the time dilation effect within the space. She realizes this space will be crucial for her survival and prosperity in this new era.
The core conflict arises from the grandmother's continued attempts to seize the siblings' assets. Chen Suihuan decides she cannot stay in Beijing, as the grandmother will never stop tormenting them. She resolves to sell her mother's factory job and their apartment to secure funds, then move to the countryside to live freely. She approaches Director Ji Muxuan at the textile factory, who helps her sell the job position for one thousand yuan. Simultaneously, she sells their three-bedroom apartment to a neighbor's nephew for fifteen hundred yuan. With the money secured, she prepares for her departure. Her younger brother, Chen Sui'an, decides to join the army, following in their father's footsteps, while Chen Suihuan registers as an educated youth to be sent to Shengli Commune in Heilongjiang province.
Before leaving, Chen Suihuan visits the black market to exchange surplus goods from her space for cash and valuable tickets. She sells rice, flour, meat, and poultry to a black market boss, receiving money, ration coupons, and gold jewelry. Upon returning home, she confronts her grandmother and relatives who have invaded her house. Displaying a fierce and ruthless demeanor, she brandishes a shovel and kitchen knives, threatening to kill everyone if they do not leave. Her dramatic performance, combined with genuine rage, scares them away. She then stages a public scene, crying to neighbors about the abuse she and her brother have suffered, gaining their sympathy and support.
Chen Suihuan and her brother share a poignant farewell before parting ways. He joins the military, and she boards a train to the northeast. On the train, she encounters Lu Xingyan, a stern military officer who helps her catch two thieves attempting to steal from a mother and son. Their interaction establishes a connection, though Chen Suihuan remains focused on her goal of returning to the city in two years when the college entrance exams are reinstated. Upon arriving in Heilongjiang, she meets other educated youth, including Liu Lainan, who is immediately attracted to Lu Xingyan. Chen Suihuan arrives at the Shengli Brigade and is assigned to the educated youth site, where she begins her new life in the rural north, equipped with the secrets of her dimensional space and a determination to build a better future for herself and her brother.
