Gu Qingtang and her cousin Gu Mingyue are both reborn. Gu Mingyue takes a fancy to the future great general Chen Tieshan, and plots to swap marriages, pushing the sickly scholar Su Yanzhou to Gu Qingtang. Gu Qingtang goes along with the flow, obtains a jade bracelet through the Su family's betrothal gifts, and unexpectedly unlocks a portable space. Foreseeing an upcoming severe drought, she persuades her family to split up and teams up with her uncles to stockpile food. When the famine strikes, she takes her family to flee as refugees along with the villagers, journeying in company with Su Yanzhou. Enduring perils along the way such as refugee looting, rebel pursuits, and rat plagues, Gu Qingtang transforms from a family-protecting maiden into the backbone of the group.