South Street Bakery [1990s]

Tao Tao, a thirty-year-old woman running a small bakery, falls asleep during a summer afternoon and wakes up in the body of her eight-year-old self in 1997. The setting is Zhangxi Town, a modest district where her father, Tao Guangzhi, operates a struggling pastry shop called South Street Bakery. The shop, located in an old alleyway, sells traditional Chinese pastries but fails to attract the youth demographic that favors Western-style baked goods. Tao Tao quickly realizes she has been reborn into her childhood, a time when her family was still intact but financially precarious. Her father, once a laid-back state-owned factory worker, is now trying to make ends meet, while her mother is absent from the narrative, having left the family years prior.

The central conflict arises from the arrival of Tao Guangzhi’s new wife, Yu Meizhen, and her son, Yu Luan. Yu Luan is a quiet, shy boy who exhibits signs of autism, including sensitivity to noise, difficulty with social interaction, and rigid routines. In Tao Tao’s previous life, she had been hostile toward Yu Luan, viewing him as an intruder who stole her father’s affection. She had bullied him relentlessly, leading to a strained relationship that ended in tragedy when Yu Luan died at age seventeen in Hong Kong. Now inhabiting her younger body, Tao Tao is haunted by guilt and regret. She witnesses Yu Luan’s vulnerability firsthand and resolves to change their dynamic, offering him kindness and protection instead of the cruelty she previously inflicted.

A key turning point occurs when Tao Tao, still adjusting to her new reality, experiences an emotional breakdown while hugging Yu Luan. She sobs uncontrollably, overwhelmed by the memories of his death and her own past behavior. Yu Luan, confused but gentle, offers her a piece of candy, telling her that eating it will cure her sadness. This moment of innocence and compassion solidifies Tao Tao’s determination to make amends. She begins to treat Yu Luan with the care she denied him before, shielding him from her friend Rao Lili’s teasing and including him in their playtime activities, such as knocking down mangoes from trees.

Simultaneously, Tao Tao faces the challenge of improving her family’s financial situation. She recognizes that the bakery’s traditional offerings are outdated and that the shop is losing customers to newer, more modern bakeries. Using her adult knowledge of baking techniques and market trends, she plans to introduce Western-style pastries like egg tarts and Swiss rolls to attract a younger clientele. However, she must navigate the limitations of her eight-year-old body and her father’s skepticism. Tao Guangzhi is content with the status quo and resistant to change, making it difficult for Tao Tao to implement her ideas without revealing her true nature.

The story also explores Tao Tao’s relationships with her childhood friends, particularly Rao Lili and Zhang Jiaming. Rao Lili is a tomboyish girl who enjoys outdoor adventures, while Zhang Jiaming is a studious but rebellious boy who secretly longs for freedom. Tao Tao’s interactions with them highlight the contrast between her adult mindset and her childlike surroundings. She must balance her desire to help her family with the need to maintain a normal childhood, all while dealing with the academic pressures of returning to elementary school.

As the narrative progresses, Tao Tao’s efforts to connect with Yu Luan begin to yield results. He starts to trust her, following her around and seeking her approval. This growing bond provides Tao Tao with a sense of purpose and redemption. However, the shadow of Yu Luan’s future death looms over her, creating a tension between her hope for a better outcome and the fear that history may repeat itself. The story concludes with Tao Tao committed to changing her family’s fate, both emotionally and financially, as she prepares for the challenges of school and the evolving dynamics within her household.