[Marriage before love + Strong female and male leads + Face-slapping and crushing scumbags + Sweet, indulgent wish-fulfillment + Family life + Making it big in a bygone era]
Sharp-tongued, career-minded heroine × aloof male technician
When Lin Zhaocai opens her eyes, her own grandmother has her pinned to the table, selling her for 300 yuan to a lame old bachelor from the neighboring village.
She grabs the stunning technician Lu Chenzhou as he passes by and kisses him in front of everyone. "This is my man!"
To escape an arranged marriage and help him fend off his superior's matchmaking schemes, the two clever minds hit it off: a fake marriage, a real partnership.
He gets out paper and pen and solemnly writes down three rules: no sharing a bed, no crossing the line, no getting attached.
Lin Zhaocai nods enthusiastically, then crawls into his bed that very night. "Comrade Lu, I'm cold."
She takes on awful relatives, starts side businesses, and sneaks into the black market at midnight to sell "Ten-Thousand Blessings Bangles," making their life together a whirlwind.
He does research, draws blueprints, and quietly gets big things done, becoming a technical specialist the province takes seriously.
Everyone says Lu Chenzhou has a bad family background and is lowering himself by marrying a village girl.
Only Lin Zhaocai knows that this man is as cool as the moon on the outside, always buttoned up to the collar. But beneath that layer of cloth are a scorching waist, a taut back, and ears that keep turning red for her.
"Lu Chenzhou, your ears are red again."
"...Shut up."
Later, he burns the agreement to divorce after six months and kisses her in the morning light.
"Lin Zhaocai, you're not getting away from me for the rest of your life."
