The Cold Officer and His Charming Educated Youth in the '70s

Dr. Su Xiaowan, a skilled traditional Chinese medicine practitioner from modern times, awakens in 1976 to find herself transmigrated into the body of a vicious female supporting character in a novel. The original owner of this body was a spoiled woman from the provincial capital who married Lu Hanzhou, a military officer discharged due to a leg injury, only to despise him and desperately pursue her neighbor, Bai Fulin. Su Xiaowan finds herself in a dilapidated warehouse with a mad old man, a scenario that leads to her immediate divorce in the original plot. Realizing the fatal consequences awaiting her—insanity and death—she fights off the lunatic using her knowledge of acupoints and confronts Lu Hanzhou and the village crowd with a bold display of vulnerability, claiming she was terrified and seeking his protection.

Lu Hanzhou, initially cold and determined to divorce her, is confused by her sudden change in demeanor. Su Xiaowan discovers she possesses a mysterious space linked to a bracelet, which unlocks supplies such as shampoo, body wash, and silver needles as she increases intimacy with Lu Hanzhou. Understanding that her survival and comfort depend on securing resources, she decides to stay married and improve her relationship with her husband. She treats his sister, Lu Yanxi, and mother, Zhang Meiju, with genuine care, using her medical knowledge to diagnose Lu Yanxi’s liver heat and Zhang Meiju’s severe qi and blood deficiency. Her actions begin to chip away at the family’s hostility, though Lu Yanxi remains suspicious of her motives.

The narrative shifts when Tang Wenxi, the novel’s original female lead, appears. Tang Wenxi is also reborn, remembering her past life where she rejected Lu Hanzhou for his disability and suffered a tragic marriage. In this timeline, she attempts to reconnect with Lu Hanzhou by having her mother faint and calling for his help. Su Xiaowan intervenes, using traditional Chinese medicine techniques to save Tang’s mother, thereby preventing Tang Wenxi from gaining Lu Hanzhou’s gratitude and closeness. This encounter establishes Su Xiaowan as a capable woman who refuses to yield her husband to the original protagonist.

Later, Su Xiaowan encounters Bai Fulin on the mountain while gathering herbs. She demonstrates her competence and detachment from him by killing a viper with an axe, a stark contrast to her previous delicate image. When she feigns fear to Lu Hanzhou to maintain his perception of her as a fragile wife, he sees through the act but chooses not to expose her, instead helping her carry the herbs. This moment deepens his curiosity about her true nature. Back home, she clashes with Lu Yanxi and Tang Wenxi, asserting her authority and rejecting Tang Wenxi’s attempts to ingratiate herself with the family. Su Xiaowan slaps Lu Yanxi when she defends Tang Wenxi, shocking the household but earning a silent approval from Lu Hanzhou, who begins to view her as a protective ally rather than just a troublesome wife.

As Su Xiaowan continues to treat her mother-in-law and manage the household, she uncovers more about the mountain’s resources and her own capabilities. She realizes that Lu Hanzhou’s leg injury is worsening, likely aggravated by their earlier encounter on the mountain. Determined to cure him, she plans to use her silver needles and herbal knowledge. The story follows her strategic efforts to rebuild her reputation, secure her place in the Lu family, and unlock more benefits from her space, all while navigating the romantic and social intrigues of the reborn Tang Wenxi and the distant but observant Lu Hanzhou.