The steel factory's residential compound in 1972.

Several people sat around inside the Du family's house, the atmosphere heavy and somber.

Du Jianshan rubbed his throbbing temples, trying to process what was happening before him.

Just minutes ago, he was reborn.

We've returned to September 28, 1972.

The day before he took the blame for his stepson, Li Fuqiang.

The eight years of dark and hopeless imprisonment in his previous life flashed through his mind like a joke.

"Jianshan, your mother wants to discuss something with you."

The voice of her mother, Liu Xiuqin, came through, carrying a deliberate gentleness.

Du Jianshan's fingers dug deeply into his palms, the pain confirming that this was not a dream.

The outside world overlapped perfectly with the memories of the previous life.

He remembers the scene, every word, every expression.

Even the smell of coal smoke in the air was exactly the same as in my previous life.

He took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and went into the outer room.

Liu Xiuqin sat at the wooden table, with her younger brother Li Fuqiang, who was not related to her by blood, beside her.

A confession lay on the table, the metal nib of the pen gleaming coldly under the kerosene lamp.

“Jianshan, you should take the blame for Fuqiang! Fuqiang is young and still needs to study.”

"If I graduate and become a worker, our whole family can live a good life."

"Can't you make a sacrifice for this family?"

"Fuqiang is still young. If he gets branded as a hooligan, his life will be ruined..."

Liu Xiuqin's voice was like poison mixed with honey, and her fingers nervously twisted the edge of her faded apron.

Du Jianshan stared at the new wrinkles at the corners of his mother's eyes.

In his past life, he read "helplessness" in these wrinkles, but now he only sees naked scheming!

And a kind of obsequiousness, eager to show loyalty to her new husband and this stepson.

Du Jianshan remained silent, unwilling to reply. The flame of the kerosene lamp flickered in his eyes, reflecting the burning anger in his pupils.

What a convenient excuse for sacrificing oneself! And what a convenient excuse for being too young!

In his past life, he was deceived by this pitiful appearance!

After her father passed away, Liu Xiuqin married her coworker Li Guodong.

Li Guodong's biological son, Li Fuqiang, is a mischievous brat who is always causing trouble and making a mess of things.

Being a stepmother is difficult; she cannot discipline Li Fuqiang too much and can only compromise and indulge him.

But what happened next?

Li Fuqiang treated the mother and son like pushovers, becoming increasingly lawless.

Today, he even climbed over the wall to peep at Widow Liu next door while she was taking a bath!

If caught red-handed, he'll be charged with hooliganism!

Then you remembered him, the older brother?

He nodded amidst his mother's seemingly pleading but actually coercive words, but what did he get in return?

Eight years in prison!

He suffered in prison, while Li Fuqiang lived a carefree life outside, taking over the worker position left by his biological father.

When he was released from prison, his family regarded him as a "stain"!

Liu Xiuqin gave birth to a new child and continued to live with the pension left by her biological father.

Do you still want him to take the blame?

Seeing that Du Jianshan remained silent, Liu Xiuqin continued to speak, her voice as if a dull knife was cutting flesh.

"Jianshan, Mom knows you feel wronged, but someone has to make sacrifices in this family!"

"It's Mom who's wronged you. If you want to hate someone, hate me instead!"

"Please try to understand Mom's difficulties..."