Transmigrated into a ’70s Novel and Married a Handsome Educated Youth

Yang Tao, a modern woman, transmigrates into the body of an eighteen-year-old rural girl in 1973 China. She wakes up in a mud-brick house in Yang Family Hollow, having been unconscious for three days after saving an educated youth from drowning. Lacking any supernatural cheats or systems, she accepts her new reality and resolves to survive. The original owner of the body, also named Yang Tao, was the third child in a large, extended family living under one roof. Her father, Yang Dazhu, and mother, Liu Xiulian, have two sons and two daughters. The household is crowded, with relatives ranging from elderly grandparents to young cousins. Yang Tao observes the family dynamics, noting that her cousin Yang Ju is competitive while the younger cousins are lively and chatty. She decides to keep a low profile to avoid suspicion, as she fears her modern knowledge and behavior might reveal her true identity if she stays too long.

The central conflict arises when the educated youth she rescued, Chen Yichen, recovers and visits the Yang family. The grandmother, seizing the opportunity to secure a match for her granddaughter, pressures Chen Yichen to marry Yang Tao due to the rumors of physical contact during the rescue. Chen Yichen, a university graduate from Beijing with a military family background, initially seems reluctant but ultimately agrees to take responsibility. Yang Tao, captivated by his handsome appearance and recognizing the strategic advantage of marrying a city-educated man, accepts the arrangement. She harbors a secret hope that marrying him might allow her to return to Beijing, although she is aware that educated youths often remain in the countryside for years. The marriage is arranged quickly, with plans to build a house and wed within the month.

As the wedding preparations proceed, Yang Tao discovers that Chen Yichen is not merely a grateful rescuer but a man of substance. He uses family funds to build a blue-brick house, a luxury in the village, and provides a substantial bride price of five hundred yuan. During this time, Yang Tao encounters another educated youth, Zhou Yan, who harbors a romantic interest in Chen Yichen. Zhou Yan attempts to sabotage Yang Tao by accusing her of pushing her into a mud puddle. Chen Yichen defends Yang Tao, revealing that he trusts her judgment and rejects Zhou Yan’s advances. This incident solidifies the bond between the couple, and Chen Yichen begins to treat Yang Tao with genuine care, bringing her small gifts like candy and ensuring she is comfortable.

A pivotal turning point occurs when Yang Tao and Chen Yichen register their marriage in town. While examining the marriage certificate, Yang Tao notices that Chen Yichen’s name and family background match those of the male lead in a novel she read before transmigrating. She realizes she has entered the world of a book where the original Yang Tao was a minor character who died saving Chen Yichen’s brother, allowing the female lead, Liu Yiyi, to eventually marry Chen Yichen. Determined to alter her fate, Yang Tao resolves to keep Chen Yichen for herself. She shifts her focus from merely surviving to actively building a life with him, aiming to make him fall in love with her and prevent the original plot from unfolding. The story concludes with the couple establishing their new home and preparing for a future that diverges from the novel’s trajectory.