Seventies Rebirth: Farming with a Space

Wang Shuning, a modern woman who died while reading a novel titled A Culinary Master Transmigrates to the 1970s, wakes up in the body of her namesake character in 1970s Beijing. She discovers she has transmigrated into the book as a cannon fodder character destined to pursue the male lead, Lu Beichu, only to be rejected and commit suicide after the female lead, Guo Jingyi, appears. Realizing her fate, Wang Shuning resolves to avoid the original plot entirely. She possesses a mysterious space that appeared after she hit her head, containing fertile land, fruit trees, and a small wooden house with processing equipment. This space becomes her critical advantage, allowing her to grow food and survive independently.

Wang Shuning is an educated youth scheduled for countryside assignment. In the original story, she insisted on going to City B to be near Lu Beichu. Determined to escape this fate, she begs her mother, Song Guiying, to change her assignment location. Song Guiying is initially reluctant, having already spent favors and money to secure the City B placement. Wang Shuning secretly uses fruit from her space to bribe Aunt Li, a connection at the street office, and successfully changes her assignment to City D, a remote and impoverished rural area far from the original plot. Her family is unaware of her secret space, and her mother scolds her for being stubborn and wasteful, though she eventually provides Wang Shuning with money and food coupons for the journey.

On the train to City D, Wang Shuning encounters Lu Beichu, who is also assigned to City D, specifically Dafeng Village. She is shocked to find that the plot has shifted; the female lead, Guo Jingyi, is also on the same train, seated next to another educated youth, Zhao Heping. The original meeting between Lu Beichu and Guo Jingyi on the train to City B has been altered. Wang Shuning keeps a low profile, selling oranges from her space to Lu Beichu to avoid direct interaction while maintaining a facade of politeness. The group arrives in Dafeng Village, where they face housing shortages. The village dormitory is full, forcing the new educated youths to stay with local villagers for a monthly rent.

Upon arrival, Wang Shuning and her peers are pressured by older educated youths who want the better housing conditions. The village chief, He Haiming, reveals that renting a room costs three yuan a month, a significant sum for the poor villagers and newcomers alike. Wang Shuning negotiates with the village chief and the homeowner, He Zhuzhu, a widow with two children. She agrees to pay for repairs and build a separate kitchen in exchange for a lower rent and the use of the family's kitchen temporarily. Her negotiation skills impress the village chief, who notes her cleverness and social grace. Wang Shuning secures a private room, while Guo Jingyi and Zhang Meili share a room with He Pingping, and Lu Beichu and Zhao Heping share with He Zhaoyang.

Wang Shuning explores the local black market in Yihe Town, learning the prices of grain and other goods. She discovers hidden alleys where clandestine transactions occur, planning to use her space's produce to trade for necessities in the future. She buys second-hand household items and supplies, carefully managing her resources. Back in the village, she hosts a dinner for the villagers who helped repair her room, using meat and dishes that are luxuries in the poor village. The meal strengthens her relationship with the village chief and neighbors, establishing her as a respectful and capable newcomer. As she settles into her new life, Wang Shuning remains vigilant about the original plot, knowing that Lu Beichu and Guo Jingyi are now in the same village, and she must navigate her surroundings carefully to avoid becoming entangled in their romance or meeting a tragic end.