Su Tangxue, a pampered actress from the modern era, transmigrates into a 1970s Chinese novel titled "Love in the Seventies: The Cold Military Officer’s Deep Devotion." In the original story, she was a villainess who attempted to seduce her stepsister’s fiancé, Lu Qinglin, only to be abandoned into a miserable marriage with Liu Zhipeng, where she suffered under a domineering mother-in-law and died giving birth to triplets. Meanwhile, the stepsister, Ning Honglian, became the beloved military wife of Lu Qinglin, enjoying a life of luxury and familial success. Upon waking in the body of the eighteen-year-old Su Tangxue, Su Tangxue realizes she has arrived just before the pivotal events that would ruin her life. She is immediately surrounded by gossiping neighbors, led by the malicious Zhao Xinghua, who accuse her of indecent behavior after she was found unconscious on the street following an encounter with Lu Qinglin.
The core conflict begins as Lu Qinglin arrives to clarify the situation. Contrary to expectations, he publicly states that Su Tangxue did not kiss him, effectively clearing her name but complicating her social standing. Her stepfather, Lu Yulong, decides that to protect her reputation, Su Tangxue must marry Lu Qinglin immediately, despite her initial terror of repeating her tragic fate. Simultaneously, Ning Honglian, who has also transmigrated or been reborn with memories of her past life, is determined to avoid marrying Lu Qinglin, whom she now views as a burden due to his future injury and early death. She manipulates events to ensure Su Tangxue takes her place, hoping Su Tangxue will marry Liu Zhipeng instead, thereby securing her own escape to a better life.
Su Tangxue travels to the countryside with Lu Qinglin, facing the harsh realities of rural life in a dilapidated house. Despite the initial coldness between them, Lu Qinglin demonstrates care by carrying her when her feet are injured and managing household affairs. Su Tangxue begins to see past his stoic exterior, noting his competence and kindness. She also learns crucial details about the plot divergence: Lu Qinglin is currently a company commander, not a battalion commander, and his relationship with Ning Honglian was limited to brief correspondence. This information allows her to strategize for her future, planning to use the coming years to build independence rather than relying solely on her husband.
As she settles into village life, Su Tangxue navigates complex family dynamics, including reconciling with her father’s relatives and caring for Lu Qinglin’s elderly grandmother, who has been mistreated by other family members. She also encounters Ning Honglian’s schemes, sensing the stepsister’s hidden hostility and calculating nature. The story follows Su Tangxue’s efforts to survive and thrive in a new environment, balancing her growing relationship with Lu Qinglin against the lingering threats from Ning Honglian and the societal constraints of the era. Her journey transforms her from a fearful victim of circumstance into a proactive individual determined to rewrite her destiny, while Lu Qinglin gradually warms to her, shifting from resentment to protective affection.
