Rebirth in The 1970s: The Rich and Beautiful Socialite from Beijing Goes to The Countryside to Dote on a Rugged Man

Mo Yutong, a thirty-six-year-old woman running a successful beauty salon in Beijing, falls deeply in love with Yan Mingli, a wealthy and refined hotel chain owner. Their ten-year marriage is filled with passion and mutual devotion, but their happiness is cut short when Mo Yutong is diagnosed with terminal cancer. As she lies dying in his arms, Yan Mingli reveals the hardships of his childhood, marked by poverty and struggle. Mo Yutong expresses her regret at not having met him earlier to care for him, and they promise to reunite in the next life. She dies with the wish that she will find him in Tongzi Commune, the poorest rural area in Sichuan Province where he once suffered.

Mo Yutong awakens in 1975, back in her seventeen-year-old body. Remembering her past life and her promise to Yan Mingli, she resolves to go to Tongzi Commune to find him and prevent him from enduring the starvation and suffering he faced in his youth. Despite being the only daughter of a well-off cadre family, she defies policy and family expectations to sign up as an educated youth sent to the countryside. Her parents are shocked and distressed by her sudden decision, especially since she is delicate and unaccustomed to hard labor, but they ultimately support her, providing her with money, tickets, and supplies for the journey.

Before departing, Mo Yutong discovers she possesses a mysterious spatial ability linked to a future supermarket. Although she cannot bring items directly from the future, she can store goods purchased in the present within this space, allowing her to secretly accumulate supplies for her future life. She spends her remaining time in Beijing buying men's clothing, food, and daily necessities, which she hides in the space. Her second brother, Mo Wenzhe, suspects she is involved with a man and warns her about relationships, misunderstanding her preparations for Yan Mingli.

Meanwhile, in Tongzi Commune, Yan Mingli is a nineteen-year-old young man burdened with responsibility. Orphaned and labeled as a political outcast due to his family's background, he works tirelessly to support his two younger siblings, Yan Mingxue and Yan Mingcheng. He lives in a dilapidated mud house and survives on meager rations. To feed his siblings, he hunts in the forest, risking punishment for trespassing on collective land, and occasionally sells blood at a black market to buy grain and essentials. He is harshly treated by the local production team leader, Nie Hongshan, who harbors prejudice against him.

Mo Yutong arrives at the remote commune, eager to reunite with her husband. She learns that Yan Mingli is the eldest brother of a poor family and is determined to change their fate. As she settles into communal life, she begins to interact with Yan Mingli, who is initially guarded due to his difficult circumstances and social status. The story follows their rekindled relationship as Mo Yutong uses her knowledge of the future and her spatial abilities to help Yan Mingli improve their living conditions, protect his siblings, and navigate the political and social challenges of rural 1970s China.

The narrative explores the contrast between Mo Yutong's privileged urban upbringing and the harsh realities of rural life, as well as Yan Mingli's resilience and dedication to his family. Their reunion is not immediate or simple, as they must first establish trust and overcome the obstacles posed by their environment. Mo Yutong's presence brings both hope and disruption, as she challenges the status quo and supports Yan Mingli in ways that attract attention from neighbors and authorities. The story sets the stage for their journey to build a better life together, rooted in love and shared struggle.