Transmigration: A Cowardly Father and Starting Out by Stockpiling Food to Flee the Famine

Gu Nianzhi, a survivor of a past life apocalypse, transmigrates into the body of an eleven-year-old girl with the same name in a historical novel. In the original story, this cannon fodder character was sold by her cruel grandmother to a lustful elderly landlord as a concubine. After enduring misery, she foolishly returned all the landlord's wealth to her family during a chaotic rebellion and was ultimately killed by arrows while protecting the novel's female lead. Upon waking in the new body, Gu Nianzhi discovers she has brought her spatial storage, filled with massive supplies accumulated during her previous life, including food, water, and tools, though weapons are prohibited. She realizes a catastrophic drought and famine will strike in six months, forcing a mass migration. Determined to survive and rewrite her fate, she decides to separate from her toxic family before the disaster begins.

The core conflict arises immediately as Old Madam Gu, driven by greed to pay for her favorite grandson’s education, attempts to sell Gu Nianzhi to Landlord Liu for five taels of silver. Gu Nianzhi’s mother, Madam Liu, and younger brother, Gu Nian’an, beg for mercy but are powerless against the matriarch and their spineless father, Gu Dachui, who prioritizes filial piety and family reputation over his own children’s safety. Gu Nianzhi, however, refuses to be a victim. She confronts the steward sent to collect her, citing the illegality of private human trafficking since her mother did not consent. When the family attempts to physically force her onto the cart, she fights back, injuring her uncle and aunt, and takes the steward hostage with a bamboo skewer. She forces him to leave, effectively canceling the sale, but warns the family they must return the five taels or face legal consequences.

Following this confrontation, Gu Nianzhi orchestrates a divorce for her mother. She leverages the threat of exposing the family’s illegal sale of a child to the village head and the county magistrate, knowing it would ruin the eldest branch’s scholarly ambitions. Under pressure, the village head mediates, allowing Madam Liu to divorce Gu Dachui. Madam Liu demands her dowry back and custody of her son, Gu Nian’an. Old Madam Gu reluctantly agrees, losing both the selling price and the dowry. The three of them leave the Gu household with nothing but the clothes on their backs, seeking refuge in abandoned huts at the foot of the northern mountain.

Life in the new home is harsh but free from abuse. Gu Nianzhi uses her survival skills and spatial supplies to provide for her family. She hunts wild game, including rabbits, pheasants, and a massive python, selling the meat in town to generate income. She also discovers a hidden water source and starts a vegetable garden. With the money earned, she buys rice, pork, salt, and household items, dramatically improving their diet and living conditions. She carefully manages her spatial storage, only revealing enough to sustain them without drawing suspicion. As they settle in, Gu Nianzhi plans for the upcoming famine, aiming to stockpile enough resources to survive the migration that will force the population southward.

The story follows Gu Nianzhi’s strategic efforts to build a secure foundation for her and her family. She repairs their dilapidated hut, buys bedding, and establishes a sustainable food supply through hunting and farming. Her relationship with her mother and brother strengthens as they share meals and labor. Meanwhile, the Gu family faces the fallout of their failed scheme, dealing with the loss of silver and the stigma of their internal conflict. Gu Nianzhi remains focused on the impending disaster, using her future knowledge to prepare for the chaos ahead while maintaining a low profile in the village.