Chen Pandi

Biodata

Background / History

Family and Early Life

Chen Pandi is the third of the Chen family’s four older daughters. Her parents, Chen Aiguo and Su Hongmei, kept their daughters at home into their early twenties because the household depended on the work points they earned. At twenty-three, Pandi is still unmarried and shares a room with her younger sister, Chen Sidi 1 4 6.

The daughters’ original names were imposed by their great-grandmother, who resented the absence of a male heir and insisted that their names contain “di.” Their grandfather pressured Chen Aiguo into accepting her demands, and the names remained in use after Chen Haichao’s birth 29.

Marriage in the Previous Timeline

In Chen Haichao’s previous life, Pandi married Wang Zhiwen after a successful matchmaking meeting. Wang subsequently beat and berated her while maintaining an affair with an older widow. Haichao fought with him several times after hearing reports of the abuse 4 6.

When villagers eventually discovered the affair, Haichao confronted Wang at his home with a knife. Pandi then resolved to divorce him, but the scandal left her unable to hold her head up in the village 6.

Rejecting Wang Zhiwen

After his rebirth, Haichao interrupts Pandi’s riverside matchmaking date before any marriage agreement is settled. Pandi initially considers Wang suitable because he appears refined and gentle; she hopes that such a man would not beat his wife. After Haichao warns her about his affair, she rejects the match and becomes disgusted by Wang’s earlier attempts to touch her hand 4 5.

Pandi keeps the accusation from Sidi while Haichao seeks proof, saying only that she has not taken a liking to Wang. Su Hongmei agrees to turn down the matchmaker and later confirms that she has done so 6 7 18.

Pandi witnesses Wang and Liu Chunlan being exposed together at the old educated youth station. Walking away with Sidi, she acknowledges that she had mistaken Wang’s polished manner for good character 16 17.

The Family’s Seafood Sideline

Pandi accompanies Haichao to the abandoned salt fields immediately after their departure from the matchmaking date. She initially imagines that his promised “treasure” might be buried silver dollars. Instead, he shows her brine shrimp. She refuses to reach into the pond and recoils when he thrusts a handful toward her, though she becomes less frightened once she recognizes their resemblance to tiny shrimp 5 6.

She later helps collect seafood and spread cooked shrimp across bamboo trays. Initially worried that selling the catch could be treated as speculation and profiteering, she becomes enthusiastic about its earning potential: two hundred yuan would exceed what the entire household normally earns in half a year 14 15 22 24.

As the work expands, Pandi suggests drying mussels and continuing to gather shrimp for possible future sales to the truck driver. She also offers to postpone marriage for another year so she can keep helping her family 24 28 29.

Choosing the Name Chen Panpan

When Haichao proposes changing his sisters’ names, Pandi admits that she dislikes hers but has assumed the process would be difficult. Once their parents agree, she insists that their two married older sisters should also have the opportunity to change theirs 29 30.

Pandi chooses Chen Panpan herself. Chen Aiguo takes her and Sidi to the village fortune-teller, who approves Panpan’s chosen name as suitable for her birth date and hour. The family plans to obtain certificates and update the household register before the New Year; completion of that paperwork is not shown in the provided passages 33.

Employment Prospects and Renewed Marriage Pressure

Under her new name, Panpan takes an examination for a temporary job alongside Chen Sitian, formerly Chen Sidi. Having left school years earlier and not studied since, she says she could not answer most of the questions and doubts she passed. Her father later suggests that she could take over Sitian’s job if Sitian enters college; this remains a possibility rather than an appointment 37 42.

Wang Zhiwen’s mother, Zhao Guilan, subsequently returns to press the marriage proposal despite Wang’s marriage to Liu Chunlan. Panpan angrily clarifies before the neighbors that she barely knows Wang and rejected him on the day of their only blind date. Her family refuses the renewed proposal and defends her reputation 42 43.

Appearance

• Described by Haichao, together with Sidi, as pretty and hardworking 22.
• Wears a padded jacket and Liberation shoes during the visit to the abandoned salt fields 5.
• Usually wears her older sisters’ hand-me-downs; she is delighted when her mother buys cloth for new family outfits before the New Year 29 33.

Personality

Pandi is hardworking and attentive to the household’s needs. She offers to delay marriage to contribute another year of labor and volunteers to help make the family’s New Year clothes. Su Hongmei privately regards Panpan as the one child who does not cause her worry 24 29 37.

Her consideration extends to both older and younger siblings. She asks that the married sisters be included in the name changes, remembers to request candy for the twins, and catches Chen Xiaoqi by his collar when he stumbles in the dark. Haichao notices her quietly peeling shrimp for the younger children and reflects on how easily her thoughtfulness goes unnoticed 29 30 31 42.

She also enjoys teasing and village gossip. She jokes that Haichao’s quickest route to overnight riches is a midday nap, follows the exposure of Wang’s affair with excitement, and predicts further commotion once Liu Chunlan joins his household 6 16 22.

Although initially cautious about trading and changing her name, she becomes proactive once reassured. Her suggestion to keep drying shrimp for later sales matches Haichao’s own plans 14 29 30.

Abilities & Skills

Seafood Gathering and Processing

Pandi regularly assists with the family’s coastal harvest and drying work 15 22 47.

• Scoops shrimp and gathers other small seafood at low tide 15 25.
• Spreads cooked shrimp on bamboo trays and judges when batches need turning 22 28.
• Cleans fish for drying and household use 47.
• Suggests additional products and continued harvesting for future sales 28 29.

Household Work

Pandi helps prepare meals and takes over practical tasks when needed 7 12 41.

• Assists her mother with cooking and vegetable preparation 7 12.
• Offers to help make new clothes for the family 29.
• Tends her mother’s cut finger with plant ash and a handkerchief, then offers to finish preparing the vegetables 41.

Relationships

• Chen Haichao — Younger brother, whom she calls “Abao.” His intervention prevents her marriage to Wang Zhiwen; she later contributes ideas and labor to his seafood-selling plans 4 6 29.
• Chen Sidi / Chen Sitian — Younger sister and roommate. They work together, discuss their new names, and take the temporary-job examination together. Sitian publicly defends Panpan against Wang’s family 6 30 37 43.
• Su Hongmei — Mother. Rejects Wang’s proposed match, supports Pandi’s name change, and protects her from further public association with him 12 18 30 43.
• Chen Aiguo — Father. Accompanies her to the fortune-teller, considers a possible employment opportunity for her, and forcefully rejects Zhao Guilan’s renewed marriage proposal 33 37 42.
• Her two older sisters — Pandi insists that they should receive new names too, rather than leaving them out of the family’s decision 30.
• Chen Xiaoliu and Chen Xiaoqi — Younger twin siblings. She watches over them, requests treats for them, and helps feed them at meals 28 29 31 42.
• Wang Zhiwen — Abusive husband in the previous timeline; rejected matchmaking partner in the changed timeline. Pandi repudiates his family’s later attempts to revive the match 6 43.

Notable Quotes

“Then I'll get married later and help the family for another year...” 24

“Mom, what about Eldest Sister and Second Sister? If we're changing ours, shouldn't they change theirs too? It can't be just us. Their names should be changed too.” 30

“I don't know him well. Someone introduced us on the first day of the holiday, and we met for a blind date. I told them that same day that we weren't suited.” 43