Yun Ting dies in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies, holding a lighter as flames consume her. She awakens in 1973 China, inhabiting the body of a young woman from a harmonious factory-worker family. Having survived the end of the world, she views the scarcity and political tension of the 1970s as a peaceful respite. Her new identity places her as the fourth child in a loving household with two older brothers, an elder sister, and a younger brother. Her father is a workshop director at a steel factory, and her mother works at a textile mill. The family is close-knit, and Yun Ting resolves to protect this warmth she never had as an orphan in the apocalypse.
Shortly after waking, Yun Ting discovers she possesses a spatial ability—a secluded dimension containing a thatched hut, a well with restorative spiritual water, and arable land. She also retains a wood-element ability that accelerates plant growth. Realizing the value of these assets in an era of rationing and scarcity, she begins testing her powers. She purchases seeds and supplies from the black market, using her space to grow rice and vegetables rapidly. The space allows for preservation of temperature and infinite storage, enabling her to stockpile food and generate income secretly. She trades high-quality rice and apples to a black market boss under the alias Sister Qian, accumulating significant savings before her departure.
Yun Ting learns she is scheduled to be sent to the countryside as part of the Educated Youth movement. Although the original owner of the body was terrified of this prospect, Yun Ting accepts it as an opportunity to use her abilities away from prying eyes. Before leaving, she shares meals with her family, strengthening bonds and receiving money and advice from her parents and siblings. She also visits her best friend, Li Wanting, promising her to continue studying despite the suspended college entrance exams.
On the train to Heilongjiang Province, Yun Ting encounters other sent-down youths, including Lu Jiayan, Yang Qingqing, and Yin Jiao. She recognizes Yang Qingqing and Lu Jiayan as the protagonists of a novel she once read, realizing she has transmigrated into a fictional world. Determined to avoid the dramatic entanglements of the original plot, she chooses a low-profile existence. She befriends Yang Qingqing, who also appears to be a transmigrator with a similar space ability, and they form an alliance for mutual support. Yun Ting’s primary goal is to accumulate wealth and secure a comfortable life, planning to buy property in Beijing once the college entrance exams are restored.
Upon arriving at Shengli Commune in Hechuan County, the group faces harsh conditions. Yun Ting, Yang Qingqing, and Wang Xue rent a dilapidated former landlord’s house, escaping the overcrowded dormitory. They repair the property and establish a separate living space. Yun Ting navigates local politics and social dynamics with caution, avoiding conflict with difficult characters like the spoiled Yin Jiao while building rapport with village elders. She secures furniture and cooking supplies through barter and purchase, maintaining her secret wealth. As she settles into rural life, Yun Ting balances agricultural work with her hidden activities, preparing for a future where she can leverage her space and knowledge to achieve financial independence and safety.
