The Younger Sister Who Went to the Countryside Has Returned

Shu Jin Yue is a young woman who has been reborn after dying a tragic death in the countryside. In her previous life, she was sent to a remote village as a Young Educated Youth at age sixteen. Despite her medical skills, she was persecuted by the local production team leader's family, denied university opportunities, and eventually killed by a hooligan. After death, she became a wandering spirit and discovered she was a character in an unfinished period novel. She awakens on a train returning to the city, three years after her initial departure, determined to change her fate.

Shu Jin Yue returns to her family in Liu Ye Hutong, a cramped communal residence shared with her stepfather Shu Li Nong, mother Zhao Wan Qiu, and three half-siblings. Her third sister, Shu Wen Yun, is beautiful and ambitious, having previously stolen Shu Jin Yue's factory job placement by convincing their mother to let her go to the countryside instead. Shu Jin Yue's mother summoned her back under the pretense of illness, but the real purpose is to arrange a blind date with Xu Si Qi, the son of Director Xu from the local Machinery Factory. This match is significant because Xu Si Qi's father was saved by Shu Jin Yue's biological father, Su Li Min, who took the blame for the Xu family patriarch during the war.

During the blind date at People's Park, Shu Jin Yue meets Xu Si Qi, who is already involved with another woman. Recognizing that a romantic relationship is impossible, she shifts her strategy. She performs a scene of grief, pretending to be heartbroken over her hardships in the countryside, which evokes Xu Si Qi's guilt and sense of duty. Although he cannot marry her, he promises to help her secure a job in the city, offering to pay for a placement. This arrangement provides Shu Jin Yue with a crucial lifeline to avoid returning to the harsh rural life.

Financially desperate, Shu Jin Yue attempts to sell a piece of wild ginseng given to her by her sister-in-law. She navigates the city's black market, the Ghost Market, while being watched by suspicious figures. She successfully sells the ginseng to a man from the Medicinal Materials Company for seventy-five yuan, a significant sum that helps her plan her next moves. However, she still needs more money to secure a stable job position, as legitimate placements cost hundreds of yuan.

While returning from the market, Shu Jin Yue witnesses a woman attempting suicide by jumping into an ice hole. She rescues Yao Qingqing, performing CPR to save her life. Yao Qingqing reveals she is the sister of a deceased soldier and is being harassed by her brother's fiancée's family over an inheritance. Shu Jin Yue recognizes the value of Yao Qingqing's property, a courtyard house in a prime location, and sees an opportunity for future alliance or advantage. This encounter highlights Shu Jin Yue's growing network and her pragmatic approach to survival.

Back home, Shu Jin Yue faces tension with her second brother, Shu Wen Ming, who resents her presence in the already crowded house. Her eldest brother, Shu Wen Yan, is obsessed with official status and looks down on their current circumstances. The family dynamics are complex, with Shu Jin Yue realizing that her previous naivety allowed her sister to manipulate her. She now maintains a careful distance, observing everyone's true intentions while preparing to secure her independence. The story follows her efforts to navigate the social and economic constraints of the era, using her medical knowledge and rebirth awareness to build a stable life away from the countryside.