The '70s Beauty Goes to the Frontier and the Tough Guy Kisses Her to Tears Again

Lin Shuyao, a twenty-first-century crop science PhD, transmigrates into the body of a tragic female supporting character in a period-era romance novel titled The Cold-Faced Professor's Sweet Little Wife. In the original story, the naive Lin Shuyao is exploited by Chen Zhiheng, a refined grain-seed specialist, who steals her research, credits, and breeding samples while she humbles herself to win his affection. She publicly insults her husband, Lu Chengjing, a stoic battalion commander, and ultimately dies in prison after being framed for crimes committed on behalf of the novel's female lead, Su Man. Having died in her previous life after years of dedicated research, Lin Shuyao views this second chance as an opportunity to live well and pursue her passion for agriculture, regardless of the impoverished conditions of 1970s China.

Realizing that staying at the Kyoto Academy of Agricultural Sciences places her on a path toward inevitable death and exploitation by Chen Zhiheng, Lin Shuyao decides to transfer to the newly established Southwest Grain Seed Experimental Station. This remote and harsh location is her only viable option for escape, primarily because her nominal husband, Lu Chengjing, is stationed there. She believes that by distancing herself from the original plot's gravitational pull, she can avoid the fate of the cannon-fodder character. She secures her transfer approval and departs from her family in Kyoto, enduring a grueling three-day train journey that leaves her physically weakened. Upon arrival in the Southwest, she collapses from acute altitude sickness and is hospitalized, where she encounters Lu Chengjing for the first time. He is a strikingly handsome and disciplined soldier, vastly different from the vague, unattractive husband described in the original novel.

Lu Chengjing, who had previously agreed to a marriage of convenience to reject an arrangement to marry his widowed sister-in-law, Bai Qiaolan, is initially skeptical of Lin Shuyao’s sudden change of heart. He has received numerous letters from her demanding a divorce, yet upon her arrival, she insists she wishes to stay and build a life with him. Lu Chengjing agrees to withdraw his own divorce application and assist with her job transfer, though he remains guarded. Lin Shuyao moves into the Lu family courtyard, where she faces immediate hostility from Bai Qiaolan, who views Lin Shuyao as a scheming interloper threatening her bond with Chengjing. Bai Qiaolan spreads rumors and attempts to undermine Lin Shuyao’s reputation, accusing her of using connections to secure a position at the experimental station.

Despite the domestic tension, Lin Shuyao’s professional credentials impress the staff at the Southwest Grain Seed Experimental Station. However, Chen Zhiheng intervenes by calling the station and disparaging Lin Shuyao as an incompetent assistant who merely ran errands, attempting to destroy her chances of employment. The station director, Director Li, decides to give Lin Shuyao a chance through an interview, initially assigning her to a low-level logistics position in the experimental fields. Lu Chengjing supports her by providing meals and shielding her from gossip, leading to rumors of affection between them. Lin Shuyao leverages these rumors to her advantage, publicly calling him "A-Jing" to solidify their marital front against detractors like Su Xiaohong, a rival applicant and daughter of a brigade commander who seeks to discredit her. The story follows Lin Shuyao’s determination to prove her agricultural expertise through hard work on the plateau while navigating the complex dynamics of her marriage and the schemes of those who wish to see her fail.