The Chubby Wife of the 80s Is Beautiful and Sweet; the Reserved Tough Guy Went to Get the Marriage Certificate

Lin Su transmigrates into the body of a tragic supporting character in a 1980s novel, waking up in a river after being saved by Qin Zhoucheng. The original host, a child bride married to Yu Minghai, was abused by her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, abandoned by her husband for a city girl, and driven to suicide. Lin Su, a fashion designer from the 21st century, immediately agrees to the divorce and uses her knowledge of the plot to secure a fair property settlement, including a sewing machine, savings, and household goods. However, before she can leave, a mountain flood sweeps her into the river. Qin Zhoucheng rescues her, but the incident is misinterpreted as hooliganism by her hostile in-laws, who attempt to extort compensation and frame him. To protect Qin Zhoucheng from legal trouble and to secure her own social standing in the conservative village, the village party secretary coerces them into a marriage of convenience. Qin Zhoucheng, who has his own hidden agenda and fake identity as an orphaned technician, agrees to the arrangement to stay in the village and complete his mission.

Lin Su and Qin Zhoucheng move into a dilapidated riverside hut, starting their new life with minimal resources. Despite the poor conditions, Lin Su remains optimistic and determined to build a better future. She leverages her advanced fashion design skills from her past life to create stylish clothing that is far superior to the plain, outdated garments available in the county supply cooperatives. Her first major success comes when she designs and sews a fashionable dress for a local couple, earning her first significant income. She begins taking custom orders, including from a saleswoman at the county cooperative and a local couple preparing for their wedding. Her business grows rapidly, attracting attention and envy from her former in-laws, particularly Yu Xiuli, who is jealous of Lin Su’s new husband and success. Qin Zhoucheng supports her endeavors, buying her skincare products and helping her source materials, gradually developing genuine feelings for her despite his initial pragmatic motives.

A pivotal turning point occurs when the village learns that a major steel factory is acquiring land in the area, which will bring factory jobs and housing to the villagers. The villagers are excited about the prospect of stable employment and improved living conditions. However, the village secretary initially denies Lin Su and Qin Zhoucheng land allocation due to their household registration status, favoring Yu Minghai’s family. The situation changes dramatically when it is revealed that Qin Zhoucheng is not merely a technician but the chief person in charge of the Hui Steel land acquisition and relocation project. This revelation shocks the villagers and shifts the power dynamic entirely. Old Madam Sun and Yu Xiuli, who had previously bullied Lin Su, are now forced to reconsider their attitude toward her. Qin Zhoucheng offers Lin Su a factory job through his connections, but she firmly refuses, insisting on pursuing her own entrepreneurial ambitions and preparing for the college entrance exam to study fashion design. She envisions building her own clothing brand, aiming to create a domestic equivalent of international luxury houses. Meanwhile, Lin Su’s adoptive mother, Feng Xiuhua, appears, revealing her selfish motives for having abandoned Lin Su as a child bride. Feng Xiuhua demands money for her son’s wedding dowry, rekindling old tensions and highlighting the abuse Lin Su endured in her childhood. The story sets the stage for Lin Su to rise above her past trauma, establish her business empire, and navigate her complex relationship with Qin Zhoucheng as she builds a new life in the reform era.