Reborn in the summer of 1985, Qiao Xiaoman’s first priority is to protect the borrowed high school textbooks at all costs and ask the village secretary to help her fight for the right to keep studying.
In her previous life, her grandmother tore up her books, and she was sent to Shenzhen to work. In the end, she was sold to a coal magnate in exchange for a sky-high bride price that fed her uncle’s family.
This time, before her grandmother can lay a hand on the books, she has her younger brother snatch them away, sends her younger sister to ask the village secretary to “settle things fairly,” and then persuades her spineless parents to split from the extended family!
Study, make money, support her family, and get into Qingbei!
Qiao Xiaoman’s revenge plan is packed from top to bottom.
But then an unexpected variable throws her plans into disarray: a transfer student with an impossibly high opinion of himself moves into the village’s mysterious old Western-style mansion. His name is Xie Zhimo.
As soon as he arrives, he takes the first place she had held with ease, and keeps teasing her. “Qiao Xiaoman, was your brain made from one of those elm knots at the village entrance?”
Qiao Xiaoman grits her teeth. I’ll remember this grudge!
But later she realizes that whenever she starts a business, he invests; when she stays up all night, he leaves her notes; and whenever she runs into trouble, he just happens to pass by.
Until one day, he blocks her path after school. His ears are bright red, but his tone is cocky as ever. “Hey, country girl. Qingbei or Shanhe? Pick one.”
Qiao Xiaoman’s eyes roll as she blurts out, “Shanhe University!”
Xie Zhimo curls his lips. “I’ll be waiting for you!”
Qiao Xiaoman curls her lips too. Go wait for the northwest wind! It’s a long way off, and there’s no room for two tigers on one mountain. Heh heh heh!
When Qiao Xiaoman finally arrives at the gates of Qingbei University with her luggage, a tall, lean figure appears before her once again. His smug voice rings out, “Good thing I know you well enough!”
Qiao Xiaoman: …
