In 1974, Zhao Ke is a factory worker at the Shuangshan Bearing Branch Factory, leading a deliberately low-key life after dying from overwork in her past life. She prefers to do the minimum required at her job, avoiding the intense competition and pressure that characterized her previous existence. Her only concern is maintaining a peaceful routine until the reinstatement of the college entrance examination, which she hopes will secure her future without excessive effort. Her life is stable until a vivid dream reveals that she has transmigrated into a novel set in her hometown, Zhao Village Production Team. In this book, her family plays supporting roles in a story centered on educated youths and romantic entanglements. The plot details her elder sister Zhao Mian’s tragic marriage to a man named Li Dasheng, her younger brother Zhao Feng’s descent into villainy, and her own premature death by drowning. Upon waking, Zhao Ke is initially skeptical, but her doubts vanish when her father announces that her sister is set to meet Li Dasheng, a name she could not have known from her own life. This confirmation forces her to confront the reality that she is now an active participant in the novel’s world, with the power to alter its predetermined tragic outcomes.
Zhao Ke returns to Zhao Village to investigate and intervene. She observes her family dynamics closely, noting that her elder sister is gentle and self-sacrificing, while her younger brother is spoiled and naive. Her mother, Yu Xiulan, is strict and authoritative, controlling the household with an iron fist. Zhao Ke quickly identifies Li Dasheng as a dangerous match due to his arrogant and entitled nature, which aligns with the novel’s depiction of him as a abusive husband. During the matchmaking meeting, Li Dasheng displays inappropriate interest in Zhao Ke rather than her intended bride, Zhao Mian. Zhao Ke responds with subtle disdain, humiliating him and causing him to leave in anger. This interaction leads to the immediate cancellation of the engagement, disrupting the original plotline.
Seeking to further secure her family’s future and escape her factory job, Zhao Ke proposes transferring her position to her elder sister. She argues that Zhao Mian, who secretly passed the high school entrance exam but gave up her spot to support the family, is far more suited for the role. Despite initial resistance from her parents, who fear sacrificing Zhao Ke’s independence, she reveals Zhao Mian’s hidden academic achievements. Convinced by the evidence and Zhao Ke’s persuasive arguments, her parents agree to the transfer. Zhao Ke successfully navigates the bureaucratic process, securing approval from the factory and the production team. Meanwhile, she keeps a watchful eye on the new educated youths arriving in the village, particularly the female lead Zhuang Lan and the male lead Fu Hang. She also discourages her brother’s infatuation with Zhuang Lan, recognizing the potential for heartbreak and disruption. Through these actions, Zhao Ke aims to dismantle the negative trajectories of her family members, ensuring they avoid the fates prescribed by the novel while she pursues her own goal of a quiet, unburdened life.
