Xu Yaping, a middle-aged corporate drone, dies suddenly after working overtime. When he opens his eyes, he has transmigrated to a courtyard house in old Beijing in 1961, as the younger brother of the awful Xu Damao. The Xu family is dirt poor, Xu Damao is selfish and stingy, and the courtyard is full of all sorts of characters: the clingy Silly Zhu, the insatiably greedy Qin Huairu, the calculating Third Uncle, and the biased Deaf Old Lady. Every one of them wants to push the Xu family around.
With no System and no golden finger, Xu Yaping relies on his modern experience and knowledge of the original story to set Xu Damao straight. The brothers go from constantly rubbing each other the wrong way to being close and respectful, caring for their parents together and protecting their little sister. During the difficult years, he keeps a low profile, avoids trouble, and quietly saves money. When reform and opening up begin, he seizes the opportunity, combining Xu Damao's experience as a film projectionist with his own business sense. Starting with outdoor film screenings, he gradually builds a film company and rises to become a billionaire.
