The Big Boss Loves Her Deeply [Era]

Cheng Ning is a young woman living in Beicheng in 1975, raised by her aunt Cheng Suya after her mother’s death. Her father, a factory worker, died when she was an infant. Cheng Ning lives with her aunt and step-uncle Han Qishan, the director of a machinery factory, along with Han Qishan’s three children from a previous marriage: Han Dongzhi, Han Yimei, and Han Dongyuan. In her previous life, Cheng Ning remained in the city while Han Dongyuan, her third brother, took her place and went to the countryside. Six months later, Han Dongyuan lost an arm rescuing flood victims and was subsequently imprisoned for ten years due to a conflict involving a woman named Zhao Zhi. Cheng Ning lived with immense guilt until her death, after which she became a spirit trapped in the Han household for over a decade. Reborn back to January 1975, she resolves to change her fate and prevent the tragedies that befell her family.

Cheng Ning decides to go to the countryside herself, specifically to Shanghan Brigade in Huixian County, where Han Dongyuan is already stationed. Despite her aunt’s reluctance and the Han siblings’ disdain, she insists on the move to clear her conscience and protect her family from future suffering. She gives up her city job, which Han Dongyuan had secured for her, and prepares thoroughly for rural life by studying farming techniques and gathering supplies. Her departure is marked by complex family dynamics; Han Yimei expresses hostility, while Grandma Han, who raised Cheng Ning with love, offers emotional support and advice about her hometown. Cheng Ning also firmly rejects marriage proposals from Ji Chengyun, a childhood neighbor, to avoid the entanglements that plagued her previous life.

During her journey to the countryside, Cheng Ning encounters Zhao Zhi and Gu Jingwen, individuals central to Han Dongyuan’s future imprisonment. In her past life, Zhao Zhi’s testimony and emotional manipulation led to Han Dongyuan’s ten-year sentence. Recognizing the danger she poses, Cheng Ning deliberately distances herself from Zhao Zhi and Gu Jingwen, refusing their attempts at friendship. Upon arriving at Shanghan Brigade, she is assigned to the same dormitory as other educated youths, including Min Ran, whom she befriends. She is reunited with Liao Sheng, Han Dongyuan’s close friend, who helps her settle in. Cheng Ning learns that Han Dongyuan is currently away in the county and has not yet returned.

Cheng Ning quickly adapts to village life, using her knowledge to trade goods with villagers and secure necessary supplies like quilts and basins. She builds good relations with the local women, revealing her background as the daughter of a martyr to gain their respect and avoid suspicion. Her calm demeanor and practical skills contrast sharply with Zhao Zhi, who struggles with the physical demands of farm work and cries over minor injuries. Cheng Ning’s ability to navigate social situations and her proactive approach to survival set her apart from the other newcomers. She also ensures that Liao Sheng’s romantic prospects are not compromised by her presence, clarifying her distant relationship with Han Dongyuan to prevent misunderstandings.

The core conflict revolves around Cheng Ning’s determination to alter the timeline of events that led to Han Dongyuan’s injury and imprisonment. She aims to prevent the flood disaster and the subsequent legal troubles by staying close to the situation and managing relationships carefully. Her presence in Shanghan Brigade disrupts the dynamics that previously isolated Han Dongyuan and led to his downfall. As she settles into her new life, Cheng Ning faces the challenges of rural labor, social scrutiny, and the lingering effects of her past life’s trauma. Her actions begin to diverge from the path of her previous existence, setting the stage for a different outcome for herself and those she cares about.

Cheng Ning’s story is one of redemption and agency. By returning to the past, she seeks to atone for her perceived failures and protect her family from the suffering that defined their lives. Her interactions with Liao Sheng, the villagers, and the other educated youths highlight her growth and resilience. The narrative explores themes of fate, family duty, and the impact of individual choices on collective destiny. As Cheng Ning navigates the complexities of 1970s rural China, she remains focused on her goal: to ensure that Han Dongyuan does not suffer the same fate as before and that her family can live without the burden of guilt and loss.