The Timid Beauty Travels to the 1970s: The Wild, Ruffian Commander Is Busy Pampering His Wife

Shen Tang, an orphan from the modern era, awakens in the body of a girl with the same name in 1970s China. The original owner was a reincarnator who had devoted her life to Han Zhongguo, a divorced man with three children, only to die exhausted and bitter. Her so-called best friend, He Qiu, also a reincarnator, stole Han Zhongguo by drugging the original Shen Tang and taking her place on a blind date. The betrayed original Shen Tang died of heartbreak, allowing the modern Shen Tang to take over. Upon waking, Shen Tang finds herself in a military residential compound, staying with her aunt Zhou Ling, the director of the local Women’s Federation. He Qiu, having failed a junior high school teacher exam, accuses Zhou Ling of sabotage and incites a public confrontation led by their relative, He Chunhua. Shen Tang, though socially anxious, steps out to defend her aunt’s reputation.

During the confrontation, Shen Tang reveals the truth: He Qiu is not a top student but a fraud who borrowed money from the original Shen Tang for years. She exposes that He Qiu stole her blind date with Han Zhongguo by drugging her with laxatives. When He Qiu attempts to play the victim, Shen Tang pours a bucket of water over her head, shocking the crowd. Han Zhongguo arrives and defends He Qiu, but Shen Tang firmly rejects his accusations, stating she never liked him and only tried to warn him about He Qiu’s true nature. He Qiu’s deception is further dismantled when a teacher confirms her exam score was only forty-five points. He Chunhua, realizing she was manipulated, apologizes to Zhou Ling and leaves. Han Zhongguo, unable to pay the six hundred yuan debt He Qiu owes Shen Tang, gives two hundred yuan before storming off with He Qiu.

Shen Tang’s health deteriorates due to the stress and fever. He Xu, a tall, handsome battalion commander and childhood acquaintance, helps her to the hospital. He Xu is known for his sharp tongue and cold demeanor, and he frequently teases Shen Tang, calling her a coward. Despite his rough exterior, he ensures she receives medical care and repays the hospital fees. Shen Tang learns that her grandfather’s seventieth birthday is approaching, and she plans to return to the capital to prevent a tragedy that befell her family in her previous life. In that timeline, the Shen family was framed and destroyed, leading to the deaths and disfigurement of many relatives. Shen Tang intends to expose the plot before it happens.

Back at the song and dance troupe where Shen Tang works, she faces bullying from a group of female soldiers led by Xu Ting, who resent Shen Tang’s beauty and popularity among the male soldiers. Xu Ting attempts to slap Shen Tang, but Shen Tang retaliates by slapping her first. Shen Tang boldly confronts Xu Ting, threatening to report her for bullying, which silences the aggressors. Lin Xiao, a lead dancer, warns Shen Tang to be careful but offers a rare gesture of kindness. Shen Tang, now determined to live for herself, rejects the path of the original owner. She begins to interact more with He Xu, who remains enigmatic and occasionally protective. Their relationship is marked by banter and mutual curiosity, with He Xu dismissing any romantic interest while secretly being drawn to Shen Tang’s newfound assertiveness. Shen Tang prepares for her trip to the capital, aiming to save her family and forge a new future independent of Han Zhongguo and He Qiu’s schemes.