Transmigrated as the Cousin of a Period Novel’s Female Supporting Character

Qiao Jiajia is a woman from the twenty-first century who transmigrates into the body of a one-year-old girl in 1956 China. Born into the Qiao family, she finds herself the center of affection in a household that values her deeply despite the era's traditional preferences for sons. Her grandmother, Qiao Zhufang, had previously given up her factory job to raise Jiajia, while her grandfather, Qiao Qiusheng, works as a highly respected Grade 8 Fitter at the provincial steel mill. Her parents, Qiao Heping and He Yingying, are both factory workers who dote on their only child. The family resides in a spacious apartment in a building formerly occupied by Soviet experts, a privilege granted to Qiao Qiusheng due to his technical expertise and seniority.

Jiajia’s internal monologue reveals that she cherishes this new life because it offers the family warmth she lacked as an orphan in her previous existence. Although she possesses the mind of an adult, she adapts to the constraints of being a toddler, finding joy in simple activities like learning to walk and eating tomatoes from the family’s vegetable patch. The narrative establishes a peaceful domestic atmosphere, highlighting the close bond between Jiajia and her grandparents, who share a lifelong affection rooted in their childhood as playmates. Qiao Qiusheng’s sharp temper is reserved for outsiders, while he remains gentle and devoted within his home.

The central conflict arises from the attitudes of their neighbors, particularly the Hu family. Master Hu, who lives next door, openly expresses his preference for sons and criticizes the Qiao family for having only a daughter. He suggests that Jiajia is a financial burden and implies that He Yingying should have produced a male heir. This verbal aggression escalates when Master Hu’s wife, Ma Dahua, confronts He Yingying under the guise of offering advice, subtly criticizing her work ethic and domestic situation. The Qiao family, particularly Qiao Qiusheng and He Yingying, respond with sharp wit and refusal to tolerate such disrespect, establishing a clear boundary between their values and those of their neighbors.

A key turning point occurs when the Qiao family uncovers the Hu family’s financial dishonesty. It is revealed that Master Hu has been borrowing money from neighbors while claiming poverty, yet he spends lavishly on his son, providing him with milk powder, new clothes, and treats that the lenders’ own children cannot afford. Qiao Heping orchestrates a plan to expose this hypocrisy by discreetly informing the creditors about the Hu family’s true living standards. This leads to a confrontation where neighbors demand repayment, resulting in the Hu family losing a significant portion of their wages and produce to settle their debts.

The story continues to explore the daily life of the Qiao family as they prepare for Jiajia’s first birthday celebration. The narrative emphasizes the family’s unity and their rejection of patriarchal norms. Qiao Heping and He Yingying are content with having only one child, valuing the ability to provide undivided attention and resources to Jiajia. They plan a modest gathering with close friends and He Yingying’s relatives from He Family Village, reinforcing the theme that familial love and support are more valuable than traditional expectations of lineage. The early chapters establish a slice-of-life tone, focusing on interpersonal dynamics, social justice within the community, and the quiet joys of raising a cherished child in a specific historical context.