The Female Cannon Fodder Joins the Army and Mistakenly Recognizes the Wrong Childhood Betrothal Partner

Su Man transmigrates into the body of an orphan in 1970s China, inheriting a tragic fate. Her father, a butcher, had recently died, leaving her vulnerable to exploitation by her uncle Su Ercheng and aunt Xia Hongxia. They had already swindled her father’s savings and were plotting to marry her to Zhang Tianci, the abusive and lustful son of a factory director. Knowing the original storyline, Su Man refuses to accept this destiny. She confronts her relatives, demanding the return of her stolen inheritance. When her aunt denies taking the money, Su Man fabricates evidence, accusing her aunt of sending the funds to her maternal family. The threat of public scandal forces the relatives to return the money and coupons, securing Su Man’s financial independence.

Before leaving, Su Man discovers a letter from the Qi family, revealing a childhood engagement arranged by her father with a soldier named Qi Xiaoyuan. Her uncle and aunt had intercepted this letter to force her into the marriage with Zhang Tianci. Su Man decides to honor the engagement, not out of romantic desire, but as a strategic escape. She sells her job at the textile factory and her father’s house to a kind neighbor, Aunt Liu, ensuring her relatives cannot reclaim these assets. She also registers her cousin and cousin-brother for sent-down youth programs, sending them to remote rural areas and cutting off their ability to harass her.

On her journey to the military unit, Su Man encounters Qi Xiaoyuan on a train. He is the regiment commander, known as "King Yama" for his cold and fierce demeanor. Initially, he mistakes her for a thief when she catches a pickpocket, but later saves her from the thief’s knife. Unbeknownst to Su Man, Qi Xiaoyuan had run away from his own arranged marriage to Su Man’s cousin, having been told the bride was ugly and overweight. He believes Su Man is his cousin and is reluctant to marry her. However, Su Man is unaware of this mix-up and assumes he is her destined fiancé.

Upon arriving at the military unit, Su Man meets Qi Xiaoyuan, who is shocked to find she is beautiful and delicate, not the monstrous woman he expected. He attempts to distance himself, introducing her as a sister to avoid gossip, but Su Man interprets this as rejection. Meanwhile, Zhang Tianci arrives at Su Man’s former home to claim her, only to find she has vanished. Aunt Liu reveals the truth about the engagement and Su Man’s departure. Enraged, Zhang Tianci demands compensation, but his family’s reputation is already crumbling due to an anonymous letter Su Man sent reporting his crimes.

Su Man’s plan unfolds perfectly. The Zhang family faces investigation, and her relatives are left with nothing but shame. Su Man, now at the military unit, prepares to navigate her new life. Qi Xiaoyuan, confused by his growing attraction to her and pressured by his family, must reconcile his initial reluctance with the reality of his situation. The story sets the stage for a complex relationship between two strong-willed individuals, as Su Man seeks freedom and security while Qi Xiaoyuan confronts his prejudices and duties.