Gu Huanxi and Xu Huaiyi, a modern couple expecting their first child, transmigrate simultaneously to the Great Xia Dynasty during the Jianxing era. They awaken in the body of a poor, abused live-in son-in-law named Xu Huaiyi and his wife, Gu Huanxi, who is in the midst of a difficult childbirth in Xu Family Village. The original host had died from exhaustion and despair after being forced to kowtow to his cruel family for medicine money. The couple discovers they have brought their fully stocked recreational vehicle with them, which serves as their primary sanctuary and resource base. Gu Huanxi, a former medical professional, uses supplies from the RV to stabilize her postpartum condition and save their newborn daughter, A'Li.
The central conflict arises from the Xu family's extreme exploitation and abuse. The family, led by the greedy Granny Zhao, views Xu Huaiyi as a disposable laborer and his wife as a burden. They refuse to spend money on medical care for the bleeding mother, preferring to use any available silver for the education of their favorite son, Xu Huaiyu, who is preparing for imperial examinations. The couple's modern sensibilities clash with the feudal hierarchy and clan dynamics of the ancient world. Gu Huanxi instructs Xu Huaiyi to abandon his previous submissive nature and adopt a strategy of calculated resistance and acting.
A key turning point occurs when Xu Huaiyi confronts the family in the main house. Instead of begging for money, he publicly exposes the family's hypocrisy and their financial dependence on the Gu family's dowry, which funded their current lifestyle. By feigning extreme filial piety while simultaneously threatening the family's reputation, he forces them to tacitly allow him and his wife to leave. The family, eager to rid themselves of the "unfilial" third son and his useless daughter-in-law, agrees without offering any support.
The couple moves into the dilapidated three-room house left by Gu Huanxi's deceased father at the foot of the mountain. They begin to establish their independence, utilizing the RV's modern amenities to care for the newborn and prepare for the future. However, they face an external threat in the form of a severe drought that has plagued the region, leading to rising grain prices and the imminent danger of famine. The villagers are already suffering, with some resorting to eating bark and others selling their children. The couple plans to flee the famine once Gu Huanxi completes her postpartum confinement, but they must first secure their new home and resources. The story follows their efforts to survive in a harsh ancient environment while navigating the complex social structures of the Xu clan and the broader village community, all while raising their daughter and planning for long-term stability.
