After working himself to death from overwork, modern young man Li Weiguo finds his soul transmigrated to snowbound Beijing in 1965, where he becomes a starving, freezing “drifter.” As he teeters on the brink of death, he is rescued by He Yuzhu, a cook from the courtyard house, also known as Silly Zhu, and unexpectedly activates the “Daily Good Deeds System.” Its first beginner task is to obtain a promise from Silly Zhu that he can stay somewhere safe for at least 24 hours.
New to this place, Li Weiguo must not only adapt to the harsh conditions but also navigate the complicated relationships among the courtyard’s neighbors. Xu Damao, the courtyard’s film projectionist, regards Silly Zhu as his sworn enemy. He makes a fuss over Li Weiguo’s unknown identity, trying to drive him out of the courtyard and sparking a fierce clash with Silly Zhu.
While fetching water for the Third Master, Li Weiguo witnesses the plight of Qin Huairu’s family in the east wing. His mother-in-law, Jia Zhangshi, is selfish and mean, even snatching food from her grandson Bang Geng and leaving little Huaihua so hungry that she cries on the doorstep. Though Li Weiguo’s own stomach is empty, Huaihua’s helpless sobs move him deeply. He resolutely breaks off most of the flatbread he has just traded for from the Third Master, even though he needs it himself, and secretly slips it to Huaihua, telling her to hide it.
Qin Huairu sees this act of kindness. The look she gives Li Weiguo shifts from initial scrutiny and indifference to a complicated, barely perceptible stirring, followed by the slightest nod. With the System’s initial help and his own kindness, Li Weiguo has taken a difficult first step toward survival and finding his footing in this unfamiliar courtyard. But it also foreshadows that he will be drawn into even more feuds and entanglements among its residents.
