Transmigrated to the ’80s: The Widowed Sister-in-Law Quits!

Zhou Ping, a forty-year-old woman who had achieved financial independence in her previous life, dies and is reborn into the body of Zhou Pingguo, a twenty-year-old widow in rural China in 1986. The original owner died from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by improper use of coal briquettes while distracted by a neighbor's television. Zhou Pingguo left behind three young children to care for: Zhou Sen, an eleven-year-old brother who had assumed the role of head of household after their parents died; and Zhou Lei and Zhou Jing, six-year-old twins. The family lived in poverty, with Zhou Sen tightly controlling all finances out of fear and insecurity. Zhou Ping immediately established her authority, confronting Zhou Sen about his harsh treatment and demanding a share of decision-making power. She revealed that she had nearly died due to the poor-quality coal briquettes the family could only afford, forcing Zhou Sen to acknowledge her as the sister-in-law rather than a servant.

Recognizing that survival required immediate income, Zhou Ping began knitting sweaters for a local workshop to earn small wages. However, she identified a more lucrative opportunity after observing a fraudulent earthworm breeding scheme at the town market. Realizing that the villagers' desire for quick wealth made them vulnerable to scams, she pivoted to a legitimate agricultural venture. She decided to grow leek greens, a delicacy in the county town that was rare during winter due to the lack of greenhouse technology in the area. Using the family's firewood room, she experimented with temperature control and light deprivation, with Zhou Sen assisting her by keeping records of the growth process.

The first harvest was successful, yielding enough leek greens to sell at the Red Star Hotel in the county town. Zhou Ping strategically marketed the product as an aphrodisiac, a claim that appealed to the hotel manager, Tao Zaishan. The leeks sold at four yuan per kilogram, significantly more than the price of pork, generating a substantial profit. Encouraged by this success, Zhou Ping expanded her operations to the second floor of the house, constructing bamboo shelves to increase production capacity. She maintained secrecy about the specific cultivation technique, telling neighbors she was raising earthworms to avoid competition.

As the Lunar New Year approached, Zhou Ping's business grew. She secured a consistent supply contract with the Red Star Hotel, delivering increasing quantities of leek greens. The income allowed her to improve the children's diet, buy them new clothes, and provide a festive atmosphere for the first time since their father's death. Zhou Sen, initially resistant to her authority, gradually accepted her leadership as he saw the tangible benefits to the family's welfare. He began to trust her with financial decisions, though he remained frugal by nature.

The turning point came when Manager Tao expressed interest in learning the cultivation method to supply restaurants in the provincial capital. He offered Zhou Ping five thousand yuan—two thousand upfront and three thousand upon successful training of his staff. This offer presented Zhou Ping with a significant opportunity to secure a large sum of money quickly. She agreed to the deal, recognizing that the technology was not complex and that maintaining a good relationship with the hotel was beneficial. The transaction provided the capital she needed to further expand her business and improve the family's living standards. Throughout this period, Zhou Ping also addressed the children's education and emotional needs, fostering a supportive environment that contrasted with the neglect and hardship they had previously endured.

The story follows Zhou Ping's adaptation to her new life, her efforts to overcome the economic constraints of the era, and her gradual integration into the family dynamic. By leveraging her modern knowledge and business acumen, she transforms a struggling household into a financially stable one. The narrative highlights the challenges of rural life in 1980s China, including limited resources, social conservatism, and the need for innovation in agriculture. Zhou Ping's journey is one of resilience and strategic planning, as she navigates the complexities of raising three children, managing a small business, and establishing her place within a family that initially viewed her with suspicion.