Xu Nian, a gifted pharmaceutical researcher in her previous life, died alone after dedicating her entire existence to medical science. Upon regaining consciousness, she finds herself in the body of a young woman in 1970s rural China. The original Xu Nian was the youngest daughter of a butcher in Cotton Village, spoiled rotten by her parents and three older brothers. She had never performed manual labor and was accustomed to a life of comfort. Two months prior, she had fallen for Xiao Chen, the son of the village production brigade leader who was serving in the military. Encouraged by a so-called best friend, she had drugged him and forced him into marriage. When he returned to his unit, the loneliness drove her to begin an affair with Qian Wenyuan, an educated youth stationed in the village. Qian Wenyuan had convinced her to terminate the pregnancy, leading to the scene where Xu Nian awakens on an examination table in a filthy, illegal clinic.
A woman dressed as a doctor prepares to perform the abortion while Qian Wenyuan waits outside. Xu Nian, retaining her modern medical knowledge and sharp instincts, fights back against the attendants. She slaps the woman and grabs a surgical scalpel from an aluminum lunch box. When Qian Wenyuan enters the room, he attempts to coax her into proceeding with the operation, claiming she has changed her mind. Xu Nian rejects his manipulation, asserting that interfering in a military marriage is a criminal offense and that the child is not a bastard. Her demeanor is cold and commanding, causing Qian Wenyuan to feel an inexplicable pressure and fear. She dismisses him and attempts to leave the clinic.
As she exits, Xu Nian observes the squalid conditions of the illegal facility, noting the rats, cockroaches, and general filth. She reflects on the foolishness of the original Xu Nian, who nearly sacrificed her life for a man who viewed her as a disposable convenience. Determined to survive and protect herself, she decides to keep the baby. Qian Wenyuan follows her into the alley, becoming aggressive when she refuses to return. He grabs her wrist, demanding she submit to the abortion regardless of her wishes. Xu Nian slaps him hard across the face, shocking him into disbelief. When he attempts to physically force her back, she drives her knee into his groin with full force. The pain causes him to scream and double over, giving her the opportunity to flee.
Xu Nian runs blindly through the narrow alleyways of the village, her body weak and unaccustomed to exertion. Her blood sugar drops dangerously low, causing her vision to blur and her heart to race. Just as she is about to collapse, she experiences a flash of white light and finds herself transported into her medicinal space, a private realm she possessed in her previous life. The space has accompanied her through the transmigration. Overjoyed, she rushes to the medicinal garden and drinks from a bamboo tube of Spirit Spring water, which rapidly restores her strength and vitality. She rests on the soft grass under the clear blue sky of her personal world, processing the sudden changes in her existence.
Reflecting on her past, Xu Nian recalls her loneliness and her sole focus on research. Now, she has a family, a husband, and an unborn child, though the circumstances are complicated. After recovering her strength, she steps back out of the space into the alley. Her eldest brother, who had been searching for her, calls out her name. Xu Nian responds and hurries toward him, ready to face her new reality. She intends to live properly in this new life, prioritizing her own well-being and that of her child. The story follows her navigation of rural life in the 1970s, dealing with the consequences of the original Xu Nian's actions while leveraging her medical expertise and the advantages of her transmigration space.
The core conflict arises from the clash between Xu Nian's modern mindset and the restrictive social norms of the era. She must contend with Qian Wenyuan, who refuses to accept her rejection, and the broader societal pressures facing educated youths and military families. Her relationship with Xiao Chen remains uncertain, as he is unaware of the events that transpired during his absence. The original Xu Nian's reputation in the village is tarnished, and Xu Nian must work to alter how others perceive her. Her family's protective nature, particularly her brothers, becomes a significant factor in her new life. The narrative explores her adaptation to this historical period, using her knowledge of medicine and her supernatural space to improve her circumstances and protect her loved ones. The story sets the stage for her journey from a spoiled, manipulated woman to an independent and capable individual who controls her own destiny.
