Reborn in the '70s: Marrying the Toughest Man in the Village

Shu Ning, a woman of wealth and beauty, endures a nightmare in her final moments. Her best friend, Zhu Qiulan, and her fiancé, Bai Zhiping, reveal a sinister plot: they orchestrated the car accident that crippled Shu Ning, stole her child, and ultimately murdered her by removing her oxygen mask. Zhu Qiulan confesses that she coveted Shu Ning’s life and loved Bai Zhiping, while Gu Zhao, Shu Ning’s husband, died protecting her from the explosion they had arranged. As darkness consumes Shu Ning, she is violently pulled back from death by a pair of strong arms. She gasps for air, surrounded by the noise of a riverbank and the voices of villagers from a bygone era. Opening her eyes, she sees a young, handsome man with bronze skin and fierce eyes—Gu Zhao. He is not the burned, dying husband she remembered, but a spirited, wild youth. Shu Ning realizes with shock and joy that she has been reborn, transported back to the autumn after her second year as an educated youth in the countryside. She is at the exact moment she fell into the river and was rescued by him.

In her previous life, Shu Ning had misunderstood Gu Zhao’s rescue as harassment, slapping him and driving a wedge between them. This time, driven by fury at the betrayal of her past, she initially strikes him again, only to freeze when she recognizes him. The villagers, led by the righteous Xin Wenyue and the duplicitous Zhu Qiulan, accuse Gu Zhao of taking advantage of her. Gu Zhao, humiliated by her anger and the crowd’s hostility, lashes out in pride, declaring that he will marry her. Shu Ning, seizing the opportunity to alter her fate and protect herself from her enemies, agrees to the engagement. She rushes to Gu Zhao’s dilapidated home, bringing her precious ration coupons as a betrothal gift. Gu Zhao, confused by her sudden change in attitude, tries to refuse, but Shu Ning insists, declaring that she wants to marry him. Her boldness flusters the young man, who is known as a bully but is actually hardworking and secretly wealthy through black-market dealings.

Shu Ning’s transformation is immediate and stark. When Bai Zhiping arrives, mocking her for chasing another man, she publicly humiliates him, stripping him of his vanity and returning his gifts with disdain. She reveals that she was pushed into the river, not that she attempted suicide for love. Zhu Qiulan, feigning concern, attempts to manipulate the situation, but Shu Ning sees through her friend’s “white lotus” persona. That night, Shu Ning orchestrates a confrontation with Chen Daming, the man Zhu Qiulan bribed to push her into the water. Disguising herself as a vengeful spirit, she terrifies Chen Daming into confessing that Zhu Qiulan hired him. The truth is exposed, and Zhu Qiulan is arrested for attempted murder. Shu Ning refuses to show mercy, ensuring that her betrayer faces the full weight of the law.

As Shu Ning settles into her new life with Gu Zhao, she discovers the depth of his character. He is not the reckless hooligan the commune believes him to be, but a capable provider who supports his younger siblings and runs a successful secret business selling tofu and chili paste. He also protects her from his abusive grandmother and cousins, who attempt to steal his resources. Shu Ning, in turn, supports him, using her knowledge of the future to help him expand his enterprises. The story follows their growing partnership as they navigate the political and social complexities of the era. Shu Ning is determined to correct the mistakes of her past life, ensuring that Gu Zhao lives a long, healthy life free from the tragedy that claimed him before. She also plots to dismantle the schemes of Zhu Qiulan and Bai Zhiping, who remain dangerous threats. Through wit, courage, and a strong bond with Gu Zhao, Shu Ning reclaims her agency and builds a future where she is no longer a victim, but the master of her own destiny.