Chapter 1: Rebirth in the Year 1973

It had been three days. Shen Nanzheng finally confirmed one thing: he had been reborn. He had returned to 1973. That such a thing, defying both science and the laws of nature, had happened to him felt incredible. Yet, he was grateful it had happened to him. The timing was perfect; he could marry her even sooner this time.

Just as he was lost in thought, the sound of the door opening reached him. He immediately lay back down in the hospital bed and squinted his eyes. As the sound of footsteps and sobbing approached the bedside, he suddenly opened his eyes and feigned surprise. "Mom, why are you here?"

"Your Uncle He told me, and I was scared to death! To think you almost lost your life for the sake of chivalry!" His mother, Zeng Lanhui, patted him in a mix of distress and affection.

He let out a few coughs, which immediately made her feel guilty. "Did I hurt you?"

"No. I just told him not to tell you!" Shen Nanzheng frowned deeply, though he had actually counted on Uncle He, the hospital director, to inform her; otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed to be transferred to the City East Hospital.

Zeng Lanhui had always felt guilty toward her son, and now she felt even worse. A shadow passed over her face, which still retained the charm of her youth. "Nanzheng, I know you blame me for divorcing your father and even more for remarrying your Uncle He, but the fact that you are my son cannot change. My love for you will never diminish."

Shen Nanzheng understood that when it rains, it rains, and when a mother wants to remarry, she will. Besides, Uncle He was a decent man; he had treated him well even after having his own children with his mother, which was all one could ask for. Moreover, those were the affairs of the previous generation, and he had no desire to interfere.

His main purpose for having her come today was not to discuss her marriage, but his own. After a moment of silence, he said, "I am going to get married."

"Married?" Zeng Lanhui’s mind went blank. "You don't even have a girlfriend. Who are you marrying?"

"I will go to propose as soon as I am discharged." Shen Nanzheng thought of his wife, who had committed suicide by jumping from a building in his past life due to depression, and he ached to appear before her immediately.

Zeng Lanhui ran through every girl she knew, but couldn't think of anyone. The few girls she had introduced to him had been rejected without a glance. In the army, he rarely even saw a female mosquito, let alone a young woman! It had even made her wonder if her son wasn't interested in women at all.

His son was twenty-seven; he should have been married long ago. While his years in the military had made him cold, his character was beyond reproach. His excessively handsome features sat on a sharp-angled face without any sense of discord, exuding an imposing air of heroism. Even lying in bed, he still appeared tall and powerful, though he seemed to be wrapped in an aura that warned strangers to stay away.

Regardless of who he had set his sights on, it was a good thing. She decided not to pry further and let out a long sigh of relief. "Mom knows you are a man with his own mind. Whoever the girl is, as long as you like her, that is enough. I won't interfere. I have a few silk brocade quilt covers; I’ll make them into wedding quilts when I get back so you won't have to find someone else to sew them after I give you the cotton coupons. As for the rest—the cloth coupons, sugar coupons, overseas remittance certificates, and industrial vouchers—I’ll bring them all to you later. Don't treat the girl poorly."

"As you wish," Shen Nanzheng said, moved by her thoughtfulness. In his past life, he had held a grudge against her for years for remarrying, only realizing the hardships she endured after he married himself. Unfortunately, his mother had passed away early due to an accident.

Seeing that he did not object, a smile touched the corners of Zeng Lanhui’s eyes. Just as she was about to continue, she caught a glimpse of olive green military attire outside the window and hurriedly said, "I’m leaving now. I’ll send them over later."

Shen Nanzheng: "..."

Less than three minutes after Zeng Lanhui left, Shen Zhaoting, his father—now a high-ranking officer—entered the room. Shen Zhaoting had intentionally waited outside the window, avoiding his ex-wife, and had overheard half of their conversation. He scrutinized his son for a moment and asked, "Which family’s daughter are you marrying? What is her political status and background? You’ve performed meritorious service this time, so a promotion to regiment commander is guaranteed. You cannot miss this opportunity because of a failed political background check on her part!"

Shen Nanzheng frowned subconsciously. "She won't affect me. Her parents are of the working class, with a clean and red heritage. She is a native of Beicheng."

"Working class is good, a clean heritage is good, and being a local is even better. You focus on recovering; I will handle the rest!" Shen Zhaoting was satisfied with his reply, then added, "I will go get the bicycle coupon, sewing machine coupon, watch coupon, and industrial vouchers now. I have a radio; it’s new and still in the box. I’ll have my orderly deliver everything to you."

Shen Nanzheng feigned integrity. "There is no need for a high-ranking officer like you to worry about it. I have my salary."

"What can that little salary of yours do? Don't think I don't know you secretly support your men! Aside from the 'three rounds and one sound,' I’ll prepare some cash and common vouchers for you. You cannot be stingy with the betrothal gifts!" Shen Zhaoting’s current position did not allow for stinginess; everything had to be done with dignity—especially to outdo Zeng Lanhui; he couldn't let her prepare more than he did.

This was exactly the effect Shen Nanzheng wanted, but it wasn't enough. He needed to secure more for their small family so his wife wouldn't have to worry about household trivialities. He added, "Help me get a house in the family courtyard!"

"What???" Shen Zhaoting squinted, ready to lose his temper. The boy hadn't even married yet, and he was already thinking about moving out. But on second thought, it was rare for his son to show interest in marriage, and he couldn't discourage him.

He gritted his teeth and said, "If you don't produce a grandson for us to play with soon after you’re married, I won't spare you!"

Shen Nanzheng watched him hurry away and sat up abruptly. Getting his wife to have children soon would be difficult. In his past life, although they were often separated, they had certainly tried hard enough. They had tried every folk remedy for infertility, visited every hospital big and small, and even underwent IVF, all to no avail. Her inability to conceive had led her into deep depression. Adopting a daughter had not brought her joy; instead, it had worsened her condition.

Thinking of his wife’s desperate and distant eyes, his heart stung sharply. Perhaps he had missed something; he hadn't known her well enough after all. Based on the timeline, she hadn't been sent to the countryside yet. He had to re-get to know her before she was sent away. She had always been tight-lipped about her time in the countryside, which meant she must have suffered greatly. He would never let her go there again.

Meanwhile, his wife from his past life, Song Wenran, had developed a high fever after being caught in the rain and had a long, long dream. In the dream, she lived in a book titled *The Innocent Years That Cannot Be Returned*. The protagonist was her classmate and best friend, Ruan Ling—independent, confident, and from a wealthy family. Despite her own romantic troubles, she achieved great success.

Song Wenran, however, was just a tragic supporting character who refused to listen to the protagonist's repeated warnings. Ruan Ling had urged her to be wary of her cousin, but she ignored it, and her fiancé—who had been promised to her since childhood—was stolen away. Ruan Ling also advised her not to follow her father’s arrangements to go to the countryside in her cousin's place, but she didn't listen either, and as a result, she nearly lost her life several times due to the harsh living conditions and brutal local customs.

When she finally returned to the city with Ruan Ling’s help, she discovered that her father had remarried and her mother was in a mental institution. After passing the university entrance exam, her acceptance letter was secretly torn up by a male educated youth who had a crush on her. She ended up married to an older military officer by chance, remained childless for life, and the daughter they adopted turned out to be an ingrate, eventually leading her to a mental breakdown.

She, who had always been so afraid of pain, had jumped from a building over thirty stories high. The vivid scenes were so realistic that she broke out in a cold sweat. But could one still feel pain after dying in a dream?

As she rubbed her temples, an argument erupted outside the door.

"Song Jianshe, I’m telling you, Ranran is my own flesh and blood! I will not agree to let her go to the countryside to suffer in place of that girl Wenxin!"