Transmigrating to Ancient Times: Daily Life of Providing for the Family

Song Yeqing, a nineteen-year-old Celestial Master from modern times, dies after a fatal confrontation with a thousand-year-old vengeful spirit on Lingwu Mountain. She awakens in the body of Lady Song, a young woman in the fictional Great An Dynasty who has just survived a bandit attack that slaughtered her entire family. The original Lady Song was the daughter of an embroidery workshop owner in Jiangnan. After her family’s assets were stolen and her parents and siblings killed by mountain bandits, she wandered for days before collapsing in Anshan Village. She was rescued by He Yanxin, a sixteen-year-old orphan, and later married him after recovering. They had two sons, He Chengze and Song Chengsi, before Lady Song died of malnutrition during a severe drought. Song Yeqing inherits this body, her two children, and a destitute household, but retains a dimensional spatial storage filled with modern supplies, weapons, and technology.

Initially, Song Yeqing struggles to adjust to her new reality. She lacks spiritual energy in this world and cannot cultivate, but she possesses martial arts knowledge and a Miao knife. Her primary concern is the survival of the two young boys, who are suffering from chronic hunger. Using items from her spatial dimension, she prepares nutritious meals such as pork and vegetable porridge, which significantly improves the children’s health and morale. She also introduces modern hygiene products and skincare, though she must hide these anomalies from her husband, He Yanxin, who is currently away seeking work in the county town. The children, particularly the eldest He Chengze, notice that their mother’s behavior has changed, becoming colder and more distant, which causes them anxiety. Song Yeqing gradually learns to balance her modern sensibilities with the role of a mother in ancient times, vowing to protect her sons at all costs.

A critical turning point occurs when He Yanxin returns home unexpectedly. However, it is revealed that He Yanxin has also transmigrated. In his previous life, he was a twenty-one-year-old computer science graduate and game company founder who died saving Song Yeqing from the same vengeful spirit. He awoke in the body of the original He Yanxin two days prior to his return. Both protagonists are now aware of their situation, though they have not yet explicitly discussed it with each other. He Yanxin brings back grain and meat, which he shares with their neighbor, Granny Ge, maintaining the facade of a caring husband while navigating his own confusion about the new world. The tension arises from the need to conceal their true identities and the modern knowledge they possess.

The household faces immediate external threats. During the night, intruders attempt to steal food from the He family’s kitchen. He Yanxin confronts them, driving them away without causing fatal harm, given the desperate circumstances caused by the drought. Song Yeqing, armed with her Miao knife, is prepared to defend her children but remains hidden. The incident highlights the increasing danger in the region as famine drives people to desperation. Song Yeqing realizes that her physical body is still weak and that she must recover her strength to perform divination. Her goal is to determine the whereabouts of the original Lady Song’s soul and to understand the mechanics of their transmigration. She plans to use her health as a currency for spiritual inquiry once she is sufficiently nourished.

As the story progresses, Song Yeqing begins to integrate her modern resources into their daily life. She uses a solar-powered generator and induction cooker to prepare food discreetly. She also considers how to sustain the family economically, recognizing that her spatial supplies are finite. The narrative explores the contrast between her past life as a powerful cultivator and her current vulnerability as a mother in a patriarchal, pre-industrial society. Despite the loss of her cultivation, she relies on her strategic mind and martial arts training to navigate threats. The relationship between Song Yeqing and He Yanxin is strained by their mutual secrecy, yet bound by their shared trauma and parental responsibilities. The drought continues to worsen, forcing them to plan for long-term survival in a hostile environment where banditry and starvation are constant risks.

The story direction points toward Song Yeqing’s efforts to restore her health and perform divination to find a way back or to locate the original Lady Song. Simultaneously, she and He Yanxin must manage their household and protect their children from the escalating social instability. The presence of modern items in their space offers a temporary advantage, but the lack of spiritual energy means they cannot rely on supernatural protection. Instead, they must use practical skills and hidden resources to endure the famine. The narrative sets the stage for a survival story where two modern individuals must adapt to ancient constraints while uncovering the mysteries of their transmigration.