(Not reborn, pure period drama; proceed with caution if that’s not your thing)
The story centers on Gu Lanyu and her family:
It tells of the tragic fate of rural women in Xinghua Village in the 1990s, and the persecution they endured under the shackles of a preference for sons over daughters.
After her first marriage failed, Gu Lanyu remarried Zhang Linxian, bringing Chunyu with her. Only after the wedding did she realize Linxian was selfish, lazy, and abusive. She deeply regretted her decision, but it was too late. All she could do was swallow her resentment and carry on.
Lanyu was disliked by her in-laws and bullied by the villagers. Life was full of setbacks, and her family was poor. She struggled to improve her lot, doing her best to raise Xiayan (Zhang Yu) and the others.
After giving birth to three girls, she was mocked and shunned. She tried hard to change things, but nothing worked.
Rural education was so inadequate that Chunyu dropped out at sixteen to get married. In the village, this was commonplace.
Xiayan (Zhang Yu) once thought she would follow in her sister’s footsteps. But after her sister married, a chance opportunity took her to the city with Lanyu, changing the course of her life. She went from knowing very little to understanding the importance of education.
She tried to adapt to this unfamiliar environment and change her fate. At first, she succeeded: she got into a good middle school and then a good high school. She thought that if she worked hard enough, she could go to college too. Sadly, she failed the college entrance exam. At that moment, she didn’t even have the courage to cry. Her eyes held nothing but disappointment and confusion. She had no idea what to do next…
