The Pretty Daughter-in-law of the Staff Compound [Retro Era]

Gu Ying, a frail and sharp-witted young woman, moves with her mother Sun Lan from Nancheng to Beicheng to care for her father, Gu Changming, who has recently regained his standing after a period of disgrace. The family settles into a machinery factory compound where Sun Lan is cautious and eager to avoid conflict, while Gu Ying observes social dynamics with keen intelligence. Her first significant interaction occurs when a rude, distant relative of the Ming family asks for directions. Gu Ying deliberately misdirects the woman, predicting correctly that the visitor’s true intent is to solicit favors rather than show concern, a move that frustrates her mother’s desire for peace but demonstrates Gu Ying’s perceptiveness.

Gu Ying’s social circle is limited, but she forms a genuine friendship with Zhang Kuo, a mild-mannered and kind boy. She gifts him a hand-woven Tongxin (Heart-to-Heart) Chinese knot, a symbol reserved for close friends. Meanwhile, Gui Xiwen, a handsome but hot-tempered university graduate and the son of the deputy factory director, is reeling from his broken engagement to Ming Xue. Gui Xiwen feels humiliated by the public nature of the breakup and is the subject of compound gossip. His encounter with Gu Ying begins when she avoids him, leading to a confrontation where he forces her to his home to find a sugar ration ticket, an interaction that establishes a tense, albeit curious, connection between them.

A major conflict arises when Gu Ying discovers Ming Xue wearing the Chinese knot she gave to Zhang Kuo. Gu Ying confronts Ming Xue at a breakfast stall, leading to a physical altercation where Ming Xue pushes Gu Ying, causing her to stumble. Gui Xiwen intervenes, catching Gu Ying and reprimanding Ming Xue, which further escalates the tension between the two families. Gu Ying withdraws from Zhang Kuo, upset by his carelessness with her gift, but Zhang Kuo diligently learns to weave a new knot to apologize, a skill Gui Xiwen surprisingly masters quickly while waiting.

The narrative shifts dramatically with the revelation that Ming Xue has been reborn. Having died as a widow after a disastrous marriage to Gui Xiwen in her previous life, she has returned to the past with foreknowledge. Determined to avoid Gui Xiwen and secure a better future, she sets her sights on Zhang Kuo, knowing he will become the wealthiest man in the country. Ming Xue manipulates her parents by claiming she and Zhang Kuo have already shared a marital relationship, a lie designed to force their hand. Her father, Ming Deyong, is enraged by her rejection of the prestigious Gui Xiwen in favor of an ordinary worker, but Ming Xue remains steadfast in her new plan.

As the compound buzzes with rumors of Ming Xue’s impending marriage to Zhang Kuo, Gu Ying remains unaware of the deeper currents driving the events. She continues to navigate her fragile health and social environment, while Gui Xiwen finds himself increasingly drawn to Gu Ying’s unique personality despite his initial hostility. The story sets the stage for complex romantic entanglements, with Ming Xue pursuing Zhang Kuo based on future knowledge, Gu Ying developing feelings for Zhang Kuo based on present affection, and Gui Xiwen’s attitude toward Gu Ying shifting from annoyance to interest, all within the restrictive social landscape of the factory compound.