In early winter, the Zhang family returns to their rural village after the death of Zhang Xi, a scholar who had moved them to town years prior. The family consists of his mother, Wu Qingguo; his brother, Zhang Yi; and his widow, Zhao Jia, along with their two daughters. Zhang Yingying, the older daughter, is strikingly beautiful and cunning, having transmigrated into this body with knowledge of the novel's plot. She views herself as a destined treasure and plans to secure a high-status marriage by clinging to Zhang Yi, who she believes will rise to prominence. Her younger half-sister, Zhang Chuchu, is described as ugly, pockmarked, and slow-witted, though she is actually a modern health enthusiast who has also transmigrated into the body of a cannon fodder character destined to die within two chapters. Chuchu suffers relentless abuse from Zhao Jia, who favors her own daughter and despises Chuchu for being an outsider and a burden.
The central conflict ignites when Zhao Jia, enraged by Chuchu's presence and perceived clumsiness, violently shoves her out of the house. Chuchu falls into a nearby river, an event that serves as the catalyst for her transformation. Rescued by four malnourished sisters from the neighboring Li family, Chuchu realizes she must survive and alter her fate. Unlike the original character, she is intelligent and resourceful. She recognizes that the village is steeped in favoritism and poverty, and she decides to use her knowledge to improve her circumstances. She leads the four Li sisters to a local silver shop, where she sells a raw jade stone she found in the mountains. The shop owners, moved by her plight and shrewdness, not only buy the stone for a generous sum but also provide the children with clean clothes, food, and hygiene supplies.
With the money earned, Chuchu secures medical treatment for herself and her grandmother, Wu Qingguo, who had been injured and neglected. She also buys relief grain for the village, earning the gratitude of the locals and exposing the hypocrisy of neighbors like Li Mei, who hoards resources for her sons while starving her daughters. The Li sisters, traumatized by their mother's abuse, attempt to flee to the mountains but are dragged back. When the youngest Li sister, Si Ya, suffers a severe health crisis due to neglect and abuse, Da Ya, the eldest, seeks help from Chuchu. However, Chuchu and Zhang Yi refuse to take in the additional burden, recognizing the manipulative nature of the Li family's desperation. The village intervenes, forcing Li Mei to pay for proper medical care and criticizing her blatant favoritism.
As the story progresses, Chuchu establishes a fragile independence. She maintains a cautious distance from the Li sisters, understanding that helping them fully could drag her back into their chaotic dynamic. Meanwhile, Zhang Yingying, having left with her mother Zhao Jia, attempts to manipulate her way into a wealthy household, underestimating the resilience and intelligence Chuchu has now displayed. Chuchu continues to manage her health, dealing with the physical aftermath of years of malnutrition, while subtly building a support network through her interactions with Zhang Yi and the villagers. The narrative sets the stage for Chuchu to dismantle the oppressive family structures around her, transforming from a despised outcast into a pivotal figure who controls her own destiny, while Yingying's schemes begin to unravel against Chuchu's growing influence.
