Zhao Jianguo

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Zhao Jianguo (赵建国)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Zhao Household; Chaoyang Production Brigade 4 26
Occupation/Role	Zhao Qiancheng's eldest son; a brigade laborer who could earn full work points; the original novel's male lead 1 4
Status	Sentenced to three years of reform through labor on a farm for assisting in the false accusation against Shen Jianan 40
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Background / History

Original novel timeline

In the original plot of The Seventies: My Spicy Life with the White Lotus Heroine, Zhao Jianguo was presented as an upright, ambitious, kind young man and was readily believed because he was the brigade secretary's son. In reality, he ambushed Shen Jianan and Gu Yu on the mountain trail, causing Shen's death and Gu Yu's broken leg. He then claimed to have witnessed Gu Yu murder Shen, leading to Gu Yu's imprisonment and seven-year sentence. 1

The original story later had Zhao Jianguo lead people to Cheng Guang's remains and pay for Cheng Hu's family's graves after Cheng Hu was killed and Cheng Guang disappeared. Shen Jianan suspects these acts concealed Zhao Jianguo's involvement in silencing Cheng Hu, though this remains Shen's inference rather than a confirmed fact. 14

Family background

The Zhao family rose through Zhao Jianguo's grandparents and uncle, Zhao Manjiang, obtaining wealth after reporting landlords. Zhao Qiancheng became brigade secretary, while Zhao Manjiang became a textile-factory production-workshop director. 4

As the Zhao family's eldest son and grandson, Zhao Jianguo was treated as its hope. His family expected him to marry upward and improve their standing rather than marry another village family. 4

Pursuit of Jiang Hongmei

Zhao Jianguo had loved Jiang Hongmei for three years, despite her repeated attachment to Gu Yu. He viewed Gu Yu as an obstacle and initially resolved to get rid of him so Jiang Hongmei would turn to him completely. 2 4

After briefly agreeing to stop seeing Jiang Hongmei and accept blind matchmaking, he resumed pursuing her when she appealed to his feelings. He carried her back to the Educated Youth Station after she was hurt, threatened Li Jiaojiao for criticizing Jiang, and repeatedly defied his parents' objections. 6 7 8

Exposure and downfall

Zhao Jianguo and Jiang Hongmei began an affair and discussed using Zhao Xiufen to marry Gu Yu, claim the bride price, and avoid Jiang bearing a child for the Gu household. Gu Yu overheard the scheme and arranged for the brigade to expose them at the Reed Marsh. 27 28

Caught having sex by brigade members, Zhao Jianguo admitted the relationship and agreed to marry Jiang Hongmei. His father later beat him and blamed him for disgracing the family and undermining its attempt to seize control of the brigade's business. 29 30

He subsequently joined Zhao Qiancheng and Zhao Manjiang in attempting to arrange forced marriages involving Shen Jianan and Zhao Xiaojun, then helped falsely accuse Shen of forcing Zhao Xiaojun into marriage. 33 34 Investigations into the Zhao family's crimes resulted in Zhao Jianguo's sentence to reform through labor. 40

While Zhao Jianguo was being reformed, Jiang Hongmei was sentenced to ten years in prison for destructive actions at the brigade. He was heartbroken and remorseful upon learning of her crimes and the harm his conduct had brought to his family. 48

Appearance

Zhao Jianguo is described as having short hair and a handsome, rugged face. 4 29

• He was formerly regarded as the most popular young man in Red Flag Commune before Gu Yu's arrival. 27
• His self-image was strongly tied to his family standing and reputation as a “born red and raised red” youth. 27

Personality

Zhao Jianguo is proud, status-conscious, and intensely jealous of Gu Yu. He resents Gu Yu's appearance and bearing, believing that Gu Yu eclipsed him despite Gu Yu's politically vulnerable background. 27

His feelings for Jiang Hongmei frequently override his judgment. He recognizes her flaws at times and even resolves to leave her, but repeatedly returns to her when she cries, flatters him, or presents herself as wronged. 2 6 8 28

He is also quick to use his family influence against others. When Li Jiaojiao criticized his conduct with Jiang Hongmei, he threatened to make her life “worse than death,” relying on his parents' positions and Qin Guangtao's militia connections to intimidate her. 7

Abilities & Skills

Social Status and Intimidation

Zhao Jianguo benefited from the Zhao family's local authority as the brigade secretary's eldest son.

• His reputation as a smart, studious, righteous youth made villagers believe his false testimony against Gu Yu in the original plot. 1
• He used his connections to threaten Li Jiaojiao after she publicly criticized him and Jiang Hongmei. 7
• His influence declined after his public scandals, conflicts with brigade cadres, and his family's criminal investigation. 26 34 40

Swimming

Zhao Jianguo states that he can swim when attempting to persuade Jiang Hongmei to hide underwater after they are discovered in the Reed Marsh. 29

Relationships

• Jiang Hongmei — His longtime love interest and later wife. He repeatedly protects her despite her attachment to Gu Yu, and their affair leads to public disgrace and his eventual downfall. 2 7 27 29
• Zhao Qiancheng — His father and the former brigade secretary. Zhao Qiancheng supports his search for a socially advantageous wife but becomes furious over his affair, misconduct, and role in damaging the family's plans. 3 4 30
• Qin Fengying — His mother. She attempts to separate him from Jiang Hongmei and physically removes him from the Educated Youth Station, but later joins Jiang in seeking help after the Zhao men's arrests. 7 35
• Zhao Xiufen — His younger sister. Zhao Jianguo dismisses her attempts to stop him from pursuing Jiang Hongmei, and later considers using her in a scheme to entangle Gu Yu. 28 30
• Zhao Manjiang — His uncle. Zhao Manjiang supports finding him a better match and later participates in the Zhao family's schemes against Shen Jianan. 8 33
• Gu Yu — Rival and target of his jealousy. In the original plot, Zhao Jianguo framed Gu Yu for Shen Jianan's death; later, he and Jiang plot to use Zhao Xiufen against Gu Yu. 1 28
• Shen Jianan — Adversary. Zhao Jianguo resents Shen for disrupting his relationship with Jiang Hongmei and later helps falsely accuse him in the Zhao family's forced-marriage scheme. 9 34

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Original antagonist role — Engineers the mountain ambush and frames Gu Yu for Shen Jianan's death in the original novel timeline. 1
• Jiang Hongmei obsession — Alternates between abandoning and pursuing Jiang, escalating from public defense to an affair. 6 8 27
• Reed Marsh scandal — Is exposed with Jiang Hongmei after their scheme involving Zhao Xiufen and Gu Yu is overheard. 28 29
• Zhao family schemes — Assists attempts to force marriages and frame Shen Jianan, accelerating the Zhao family's collapse. 33 34
• Punishment — Receives three years of reform through labor after the investigation into the Zhao family's crimes. 40
• Remorse — Learns of Jiang Hongmei's later imprisonment and regrets the misplaced devotion and damage caused by his choices. 48

Trivia

• Zhao Jianguo's original-novel image as a righteous male lead directly contradicts his role in framing Gu Yu. 1
• His family initially rejected Jiang Hongmei because she was engaged to Gu Yu and was seen as unsuitable for the Zhao household's social ambitions. 8