Transmigrated into the Wicked Biological Mother in a Historical Stepmother Novel

Lin Zhi, a twenty-eight-year-old woman from the twenty-first century who had worked hard to build a modest life with a car, a house, and a grocery store, finds herself transmigrated into a novel she read the night before. She inhabits the body of the original owner, an eighteen-year-old woman named Lin Zhi who is the biological mother of twin boys, He Ze and He Run. The original owner was a malicious and lazy woman who married He Ting, a company commander in the military, primarily for his status. Upon arriving in the 1970s, Lin Zhi discovers she is in a state of extreme poverty and squalor. The family lives in a filthy courtyard in a military compound, and the twins are severely malnourished, covered in bruises, and traumatized by years of physical and emotional abuse. The father, He Ting, is frequently away on missions, leaving the original owner to vent her frustrations on the helpless children. Lin Zhi wakes up in this chaotic environment with a throbbing headache and a starving stomach, realizing she must survive in this era of ration tickets and scarcity.

The core conflict arises from Lin Zhi’s immediate need to care for the twins while managing her new reality. She discovers she possesses a "golden finger," a supernatural grocery store from her previous life that appears whenever she focuses on it. The store’s inventory refreshes automatically, allowing her to access modern goods like soap, food, and clothing that are unavailable or scarce in the 1970s. Her first actions are to clean the twins, feed them eggs and porridge, and wash their filthy clothes. She uses the store’s supplies to improve their living conditions, replacing broken items and providing nutritious meals. However, she must maintain the original owner’s reputation as a harsh and unreasonable woman to avoid suspicion. She adopts a persona of gruff care, scolding the twins loudly when feeding them to justify her kindness to watching neighbors, ensuring no one questions the sudden change in her behavior.

As Lin Zhi settles into her role, she begins to transform the twins’ lives. She takes them to the nearby village to exchange goods for fresh vegetables and buys hens for eggs. She also takes them on a trip to the county seat via military transport, where she purchases meat and ensures they receive medical checkups. During these outings, she encounters Wen Xiuxiu, the novel’s female protagonist, who is known for her kindness and diligence. Wen Xiuxiu attempts to assert dominance and criticize Lin Zhi’s parenting, but Lin Zhi firmly shuts her down, refusing to be bullied. Lin Zhi’s sharp tongue and refusal to conform to societal expectations of a submissive mother alienate her from other military wives, yet her consistent provision of food and care begins to win over the twins, who are initially terrified of her but slowly start to trust her.

The story direction shifts as Lin Zhi focuses on long-term stability. She plants a vegetable garden, learns to cook with the limited resources available, and uses her store to provide the twins with new clothes and hygiene products. She confronts the social hierarchies of the military compound, refusing to let others take advantage of her or the children. Her interactions with neighbors reveal the harsh economic realities of the time, where even small acts of kindness are scrutinized. Despite the challenges, Lin Zhi remains determined to raise the twins well, using her modern knowledge and supernatural store to navigate the difficulties of the era. The narrative highlights her growth from a confused transmigrator to a capable mother figure, setting the stage for further developments in her relationship with the twins and the broader community.