Transmigrating to the 1970s: Battling Villains, Remarrying a Soldier, and Raising Three Treasures

Set in 1976 in the remote Linjia Village of Yongxing County, the story follows Su Ying, a modern travel blogger who transmigrates into the body of a tragic supporting character in a novel she read the night before. In the original story, Su Ying was a mild-mannered girl abused by her alcoholic father, Su Fugui, and her cruel stepmother, Tian Cuifen, who sold her off for marriage to support their biological son and daughter. The narrative begins on a day of heavy snow when Su Ying is woken to find her fiancé, Jiang Xiaofei, the village party secretary’s son, tied to a locust tree for having an affair with Song Min, an educated youth. Tian Cuifen drags Su Ying to the scene, intending to force her to accept the engagement and secure the three hundred yuan betrothal gift, which she plans to use for her daughter Xiuxiu’s dowry.

Instead of submitting to her fate as the original character would have, Su Ying asserts herself in front of the entire village. She publicly declares her refusal to marry Jiang Xiaofei, threatening to commit suicide on the locust tree if forced. Her bold defiance shocks the villagers and her family. During the confrontation, Jiang Xiaofei attempts to assault Su Ying, but he is stopped by Lu Dongsheng, a twenty-four-year-old company commander from a military district who is visiting the area. Lu Dongsheng, initially drawn to Su Ying’s unexpected courage despite her frail appearance, intervenes and protects her from her abusive stepmother and fiancé. He learns her name and becomes intrigued by her resilience, deciding to pursue a relationship with her.

Back at home, Su Ying faces immediate retaliation from her family. Tian Cuifen and Su Fugui, furious that their plan to sell Su Ying to Jiang Xiaofei has failed, attempt to drug her with poisoned brown sugar water. However, Su Ying’s younger stepsibling, Su Dabao, drinks the poisoned mixture instead and falls ill, requiring medical attention. Su Ying seizes the opportunity to assert her authority, beating Su Dabao and refusing to serve her family, thereby disrupting the household’s oppressive dynamic. Meanwhile, Lu Dongsheng returns to his family and announces his intention to marry Su Ying. His mother, Zhao Yulan, and sister, Lu Xiaofang, oppose the match due to Su Ying’s peasant background and poor family, preferring Lu Dongsheng to marry Han Miaomiao, a dancer from a similar social standing. Despite their objections, Lu Dongsheng remains steadfast in his decision.

Unaware of Lu Dongsheng’s proposal, Su Ying’s parents secretly arrange another marriage, selling her to a lame man from a distant mountain village for a betrothal gift of four hundred and fifty yuan. They plan to drug and kidnap Su Ying in three days to execute the sale. Su Ying overhears their plot and realizes the gravity of her situation. She understands that the story’s trajectory has diverged from the original novel due to her actions, and she must now navigate a new path to escape her family’s exploitation. As Lu Dongsheng prepares to send a matchmaker to propose, Su Ying resolves to fight for her freedom, setting the stage for a conflict between her determination to change her destiny and the entrenched forces of her abusive family and societal expectations.