The Beautiful Female Supporting Character in the Period Novel

Meng Yinyin is an eighteen-year-old educated youth sent to the Nanjiao Brigade during the Cultural Revolution. Her life changes abruptly when her parents, both university professors, are labeled as class enemies and sent to labor camps. To protect her, they use their remaining connections to send her to the countryside overnight. Arriving at the rural brigade, Meng Yinyin struggles to adapt to the harsh physical labor. Having spent her entire life in comfort, she lacks the strength and skill for farming, earning only five work points a day, half of the standard rate. Her inability to contribute adequately threatens her food rations and places her in danger of being expelled from the brigade, a fate she cannot face as she has no home to return to.

The brigade leader assigns Lu Chen, a tall, silent, and intimidating young man, to guide Meng Yinyin. Lu Chen is an orphan raised by his uncle, Lu Dashan, and is viewed with suspicion by the villagers due to rumors that he is a jinx who caused his parents' deaths. Initially, Lu Chen avoids Meng Yinyin, maintaining a cold distance. However, after Meng Yinyin falls asleep during work and nearly loses her points, Lu Chen secretly helps her by preparing bamboo strips and claiming the work as his own, allowing her to earn three points. This act reveals a hidden kindness beneath his stoic exterior, though he refuses to explain his actions.

Meng Yinyin, desperate to survive without working, proposes a transaction: she will pay Lu Chen to do her farm work in exchange for work points. Lu Chen refuses the dishonest arrangement but agrees to teach her the skills she needs. During their time in the bamboo forest, their relationship begins to shift. Meng Yinyin witnesses Lu Chen’s exceptional skill and hard work, while Lu Chen finds himself unsettled by her presence and her unusual directness. He is intrigued by her beauty and her lack of fear, despite his reputation for being dangerous.

Back at the educated youth dormitory, Meng Yinyin faces social hostility from Lin Xiaoxia, a fellow educated youth who is jealous of the attention Song Yue, the male educated youth leader, pays to Meng Yinyin. Lin Xiaoxia spreads rumors and attempts to undermine Meng Yinyin, but Meng Yinyin stands her ground, earning the respect of her peers through her sharp wit. Meanwhile, Meng Yinyin learns that the Lu family, specifically her uncle Lu Dashan, is one of the wealthiest in the brigade, owning a rare red-brick house. She begins to see Lu Chen as a potential husband who could provide the security she lacks, although she is unaware of the complex dynamics within his family.

Lu Chen’s uncle and aunt, Lu Dashan and Jiang Guihua, exploit him, treating him as a servant rather than family. They force him to do household chores and manual labor while providing him with minimal care. Lu Chen endures their treatment silently, maintaining his independence and dignity. The narrative highlights the contrast between Meng Yinyin’s privileged past and her current vulnerability, and Lu Chen’s isolation and resilience in the face of familial neglect and village prejudice.

As the story progresses, Meng Yinyin attends a wedding banquet at the Lu family home, where she observes the wealth and status that Lu Chen lacks. She continues to navigate the social hierarchies of the brigade, balancing her desire for comfort with her growing respect for Lu Chen. The central conflict revolves around Meng Yinyin’s struggle to survive in a hostile environment and her evolving relationship with Lu Chen, who becomes her unlikely protector and teacher. Their interactions reveal mutual curiosity and a budding connection that challenges their preconceived notions of each other.

The story sets the stage for a romance that transcends social and economic boundaries. Meng Yinyin must learn to value hard work and integrity, while Lu Chen begins to open up to someone who sees him as a person rather than a jinx or a servant. The narrative explores themes of class, survival, and the impact of political turmoil on personal lives, all while focusing on the gradual development of trust and affection between the two protagonists.