Jiang Sui, a modern obstetrician and gynecologist, awakens in the body of a vicious female supporting character in a novel set in 1970s rural China. The original owner had forcibly married Song Sichen, a disgraced former soldier and son of a wealthy family who was sent to the countryside as a dangerous element. Upon realizing her situation, Jiang Sui finds herself in a precarious position: Song Sichen is severely injured, tied up, and on the verge of killing her after the original owner attempted to assault him. Recognizing that Song Sichen is the male protagonist who will eventually rise to power, and that the original Jiang Sui meets a tragic execution, she decides to change her fate by avoiding further conflict and seeking a divorce.
Jiang Sui unties Song Sichen and tends to his infected wounds with professional medical skill, a stark contrast to the original owner's cruelty. She transports him to the village clinic in the middle of the night, enduring his hostility and suspicion. Song Sichen, suffering from high fever and deep-seated trauma, is bewildered by her sudden change in behavior. He expects harassment but receives competent medical care instead. Despite his cold warnings and refusal of her kindness, Jiang Sui maintains a respectful distance, focusing on her own survival and the need to repair her ruined reputation.
The narrative shifts as new characters enter the story. Lin Wanyu, the novel's heroine and Song Sichen's destined partner, arrives in the village as an educated youth. In the original plot, their meeting was a romantic encounter that sparked their relationship. However, due to Jiang Sui's interference and Song Sichen's heightened paranoia, the interaction goes awry. Song Sichen, misinterpreting Lin Wanyu's kindness as another trap similar to Jiang Sui's past behavior, rejects her harshly. Lin Wanyu, driven by recurring dreams that she is destined to marry Song Sichen, is confused and hurt by his rejection.
Jiang Sui, aware of the plot, deliberately distances herself to allow the protagonists to connect, hoping to avoid her cannon fodder fate. She discovers that the original owner had a stable job as a film projectionist, which provides Jiang Sui with a means of financial independence. She also learns about the poor medical conditions in the village and expresses interest in becoming a health worker, aiming to use her modern medical knowledge to improve her standing and help others.
As days pass, the dynamic between Jiang Sui and Song Sichen remains tense but evolves. Song Sichen begins to notice changes in Jiang Sui; she is cleaner, more composed, and no longer the vulgar woman he despised. He observes her cooking simple meals with care and sharing food with a hungry neighbor, actions that contrast sharply with her past behavior. Although he remains guarded and suspicious, his hostility softens slightly as he witnesses her genuine efforts to coexist peacefully. Jiang Sui, meanwhile, focuses on establishing her new role in the village, balancing her desire to avoid the male protagonist with the inevitability of their intertwined fates. The story sets the stage for Jiang Sui to navigate the complex social landscape of the 1970s countryside while trying to alter the tragic ending destined for her character.
