Mu Qinqin is a powerful cultivator from the cultivation world who spends her time neglecting her duties to chase mythical beasts and plunder secret realms. After being struck by nine bolts of heavenly lightning while pursuing a fire phoenix, she is forcibly transmigrated into the body of a minor cannon-fodder character in a 1970s Chinese novel titled Rebirth in the Seventies: Marrying a Military Officer. The Heavenly Dao, annoyed by her laziness, has dumped her into this mundane world as a form of punishment. Upon waking, she finds herself straddling a bound man in a dilapidated mud house. She quickly realizes the man is Si Chengchen, the tragic male supporting character in the novel who was framed, blinded, and abandoned by his family. The original owner of the body, an innocent educated youth, had been drugged and killed by the novel's heroine, Shen Feng'er, and her friend Chang Qiuyue, who wanted to ruin Si Chengchen's reputation.
Mu Qinqin, retaining her sharp wit and combat skills despite her sealed spiritual power, immediately takes charge. When Chang Qiuyue arrives with villagers to catch them in a compromising position and frame Si Chengchen, Mu Qinqin outsmarts them. She reveals herself on the roof, repairs the damaged ceiling with impressive agility, and publicly exposes Chang Qiuyue's lies and secret affair with another man. This decisive action saves Si Chengchen from immediate scandal and establishes Mu Qinqin as a formidable ally. She then decides to take responsibility for the situation by proposing marriage, a bold move that flusters the reserved and blind officer.
As Mu Qinqin integrates into Si Chengchen's life, she discovers the extent of his suffering. His family, particularly his mother and third brother Si Ming, have neglected him, leaving him to live in squalor with a malicious caretaker, Aunt Zhang, who steals his wages and provides minimal care. Mu Qinqin systematically dismantles these oppressors. She drives Aunt Zhang away through psychological intimidation and physical dominance, using her hidden strength to punish those who bully Si Chengchen. She also confronts the other educated youths who exploited the original Mu Qinqin, including the manipulative Tang Erya, by exposing their greed and hypocrisy.
The story follows Mu Qinqin's efforts to restore Si Chengchen's dignity and health. She uses her remaining resources, such as spiritual fruits and cooking skills, to nourish him and heal his body. Their relationship evolves from a transactional arrangement into a genuine partnership. Si Chengchen, initially cold and guarded, finds himself drawn to Mu Qinqin's boldness, warmth, and unwavering support. Meanwhile, Mu Qinqin navigates the political and social complexities of the 1970s countryside, using her modern knowledge and cultivator's resilience to protect her new husband. The narrative sets the stage for their joint rise against the novel's original protagonists, Shen Feng'er and Si Ming, who continue to scheme in the background, unaware that their target has now acquired a protector far more dangerous than any they have faced before.
