1973, May.
The ticket hall of Rongcheng Railway Station was packed with people, the noise overwhelming as long lines formed to buy tickets.
Above the hall, the five bold characters “Serve the People” stood out brightly.
The staff wearing sleeve protectors and holding tin loudspeakers to maintain order… along with the clothing of the people around her, all reminded Song Jinyue that this was the 1970s—not the 21st century.
Song Jinyue had transmigrated here just last night.
Their research institute had just achieved a breakthrough—precision lithography at the one-nanometer level.
Under protection, she had been on her way to meet a superior when, at an intersection, two large trucks came rushing from different directions.
When she opened her eyes again, she had arrived in this backward era.
The original owner of this body shared her exact name—Song Jinyue. She was a student at Peking University, known for both her beauty and intelligence. Her family was well-off; both parents were professors, and her elder brother, Song Xiongguan, was a highly educated returnee from overseas.
She had been the object of admiration and envy for countless people.
But everything changed overnight.
The original host had been set up and ended up having relations with a soldier named Xi Fenglie during a mission. Forced into marriage, she registered her union with him.
Her professor parents believed she had brought shame upon the family. They cast her out and even published a notice severing ties with her.
Unwilling to stay with Xi Fenglie, she asked him to find a way to send her to Rongcheng, where her elder brother worked.
After arriving, she did not get along with her sister-in-law, Chen Jing. The two disliked each other.
Yesterday, feeling unwell, she went for a check-up and discovered she was pregnant. To terminate the pregnancy, she needed the consent of the child’s father—Xi Fenglie.
She returned home in low spirits, only to overhear her brother arguing with his wife about a notice to join the military family.
Her brother had hidden the notice meant for her, but her sister-in-law discovered it, leading to a heated argument.
The original host said nothing and returned to her room. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became—until the anger overwhelmed her completely.
After thinking it through all night, she decided to buy a ticket and go join the military.
Arriving at the train station, she hadn’t expected there to be so many people in the 1970s…
Looking at the overwhelming crowd, Song Jinyue couldn’t help but sigh. “Sigh…”
A voice came from behind her. “Comrade, don’t sigh. It’ll be your turn soon.”
She looked up. Sure enough, there was only one person left ahead of her.
Before long, the person in front bought their ticket and turned away. Song Jinyue stepped forward to the window.
“Hello, comrade. I’d like a ticket to Pingcheng.”
The staff member looked at her. “Introduction letter and identification.”
With the noise around her, Song Jinyue didn’t hear clearly. “What?”
The staff member raised their voice impatiently. “Introduction letter and identification!”
Song Jinyue shook her head. “I don’t have them.”
The staff member glared, voice sharp and loud. “No documents and you want to buy a ticket? Step aside! Move aside! Don’t block others!”
“Next! Next!”
Before Song Jinyue could say anything, the people behind her surged forward, pushing her aside.
“Comrade! I have an introduction letter! I have identification! Give me a ticket to Huayang!”
“I was here first!”
“Don’t push!”
After steadying herself, Song Jinyue looked up and saw several people crowding the window where she had just stood, pushing against each other, unwilling to give way.
Only when the staff started scolding did they quiet down.
A kind voice spoke to her, “Miss, you need an introduction letter to buy a ticket. Your workplace can issue one. If you don’t have a workplace, go to your neighborhood office. Just tell them where you’re going and why.”
Another voice chimed in, “No need to make it so complicated. Just say you need an introduction letter—they’ll know what to do.”
Others nearby nodded in agreement.
“Alright, thank you,” Song Jinyue said.
The woman laughed heartily. “No need to thank me!”
Song Jinyue smiled at her and turned to leave.
But when she looked back—there were people everywhere, filling the entire hall.
Taking a deep breath, she followed behind someone who had just bought a ticket, squeezing her way out step by step.
Finally managing to get outside, she hadn’t even had time to relax when suddenly—someone tapped her shoulder.
She turned around. It was the same kind woman from before.
The woman smiled. “Little comrade, can we talk for a moment…”
A sense of unease rose in Song Jinyue. Her hand instinctively reached for her money pouch—but instead of the pouch, she grabbed a hand.
Turning her head, she met the eyes of a middle-aged man.
The man’s expression changed. Lowering his voice, he threatened viciously, “Money or your life? If you want to live, hand it over. If you want your money, don’t expect to leave this station alive!”
The “kind” woman urged, “Little girl, just give him the money. Better to lose money than your life.”
“Oh?” Song Jinyue said calmly. “What if I refuse?”
The woman froze.
The man’s face darkened. Just as he was about to speak again, a sharp pain shot through his wrist.
“Ah!” he screamed.
The commotion drew attention from the surrounding crowd.
Seeing this, the woman quietly began to retreat.
As if sensing it, Song Jinyue kicked the man’s knee, forcing him to kneel.
She turned and looked at the woman.
The woman’s face turned pale, and she tried to run.
In a single step, Song Jinyue caught her wrist and dragged her back. Noticing the man trying to escape, she stepped down hard on him.
“Ah!!”
The man screamed in agony.
The woman’s already pale face turned even whiter, her body trembling uncontrollably.
In a shaky whisper, she pleaded, “C-comrade… f-for the sake of helping you earlier… p-please let me go…”
“Let you go?” Song Jinyue said lightly.
The woman nodded frantically.
With a faint smile, Song Jinyue asked, “Auntie, if I didn’t have the ability to fight back, would you have let my money pouch go?”
The woman trembled violently.
A voice called out from afar, “What’s going on? Why is everyone gathered here?”
Song Jinyue looked up—the police had arrived.
Before she could speak, the onlookers eagerly explained everything that had happened.
After handing the two over to the police, Song Jinyue left the station and headed toward the neighborhood office to get her documents.
Halfway there, as she passed an intersection—
A shout rang out, “Where did this foreign devil come from?”
She paused and turned, seeing a large crowd gathered on the road to her left.
Then another shout came, “A foreign devil! Must be a spy! Grab him—don’t let him escape!”
Her brow twitched. There were indeed many spies in the 1970s, but… ones this blatant were rare.
She shook her head, about to leave, when a terrified voice shouted in English—
“What are you doing?”
“Help! Help! Somebody help me!”
“Please! Someone save me! Oh my God!”
After shouting for help, the foreigner hurriedly tried to explain that he meant no harm and had come to help the country.
Unfortunately—
He was speaking in a foreign language, and no one present could understand him.
The crowd began discussing loudly:
“What is he saying?”
“Sounds like he’s cursing us.”
“Damn foreign devil! Spying on us and still daring to curse? Let me deal with him!”
A tall man cursed as he raised his fist to strike.
A sharp voice rang out—
“Don’t hit him!”
Before the tall man could react, his wrist was grabbed.