Looking for High-Quality Republican-Era Novels. I’m Desperate for Something to Read 求高质量民国文，严重书荒中

1. 501 蝶 Butterfly Shadows Return to Dust: Sold into Prostitution by My Mother-in-Law, My Ex-Husband Searched for Me for Ten Years 蝶影归尘：被婆母卖入风尘，前夫寻了我整整十年 Ni Ah Ni Ge Ni氼啊氼个氼55k WordsCompleted The Butterfly’s Shadow Returns to Dust: Sold into a Life of Vice by My Mother-in-Law, My Ex-Husband Searched for Me for Ten Years 319Reads—Score—Shelves

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   The pinnacle of Republican-era tragic romance, *Butterfly Shadow Returns to Dust* | "Sir, you've mistaken me for someone else"—with one sentence, she severed his ten-year obsession. At fifteen, she was Lin Die'er, a daughter of a prestigious family. Forced to marry a dark-skinned man with a square face and thick eyebrows. On her wedding night, she tearfully vowed never to submit. Later, she became a young wife in the Zhang family. For four months, he slept in the study and on the floor, never crossing the line. Until that slap—he was the first to rush forward, shielding her behind him, his trembling hand gently stroking her swollen cheek, his eyes red as he asked, "Does it hurt?" At that moment, she suddenly couldn't tell if it was resentment, hatred, or love. She had just mustered the courage to tell him, "I'm pregnant with your child," but her mother-in-law, under the guise of profit, sold her to her husband's half-son. Later still, she became a prisoner in a deep mansion. Confined to a separate courtyard, she suffered torment day and night, giving birth to a son. The man didn't know—the child wasn't his. She gritted her teeth and survived, just so he would raise the child of his enemy for the rest of his life. Then came the courtesan. Then came the Japanese spy, Chiba Kaoruko. Finally, the soul who took a bullet for someone else. Six identities, three names. Only the name "Lin Die'er" belonged to her until death. Ten years of turmoil, a chance encounter on a long street. His temples were streaked with gray, and he rushed forward like a madman, grabbing her wrist. She merely coldly pulled her hand away, saying in broken Japanese, "Sir, you've mistaken me for someone else." [Almost crying][Almost crying][Almost crying][Almost crying] Turning the corner, she leaned against the cold wall, covering her mouth, weeping silently. He died without knowing that the child he held in the Xiao mansion, named Yi'an, was his and her only son. She died without knowing who she truly loved in her life. Human romance could not wait for a long-lasting union; the butterfly's shadow returned to dust, with no return to be awaited.

2. 502 蝶 Butterfly Shadows Return to Dust: My Husband's Enemy Seizes Me by Force 蝶影归尘：丈夫的的仇人对我强娶豪夺 Ni Ah Ni Ge Ni氼啊氼个氼15k WordsCompleted Butterfly Shadows Return to Dust: My Husband's Enemy Forces Me into Marriage 21Reads—Score—Shelves
3. 503 民 Republican Era: The Young Marshal's Wife Is Dangerous and Alluring 民国：少帅夫人危险又迷人 Meng Ge梦舸Modern Romance377k WordsCompleted There’s no such thing as a chance encounter or love at first sight. It’s all the result of someone’s carefully laid plans... [Marriage First, Love Later + Two Strong Leads + Each with Their Own Agenda + Both Inexperienced in Love + One-on-One] Also known as: “After My Childhood Sweetheart Broke Off Our Engagement, I Turned Around and Married the Young Marshal” [The author is letting loose and writing whatever comes to mind. Feel free to read it casually. Having fun is what matters most, so don’t 226Reads—Score—Shelves

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   [Arranged marriage to love + strong and clean couple + 1v1] There is no such thing as a chance encounter or love at first sight. It is all a long-planned scheme after careful consideration... [Fake overseas-educated high-achieving student and rich heiress × fake loyal minister and filial son warlord young marshal] Even if it means eternal damnation, I will sink into the abyss with you.

4. 504 南 Nanjing Photo Studio: I Won't Take This Kind of Crap 南京照相馆：劳资不受窝囊气 His Majesty the Sleeper Has Arrived觉皇大人参上Urban2.0M WordsCompleted [System Conquest] [Alternate World War II] [Founding a Nation Overseas] = [An Emperor Unifies the World] On the eve of World War II, Su Lie transmigrates and activates the War Replication System! Copy skills, armies, weapons, and industry! While everyone else fights tooth and nail in World War II, he quietly establishes a nation overseas and crowns himself emperor! He stays out of the chaos and reaps the rewards! With the System's power, he sweeps aside all opposition, subdues the great powers, 580Reads7.2Score112Shelves

   Reader note

   A different kind of Republican-era fireworks

5. 505 双 Twin Rivers: Bloodbath in Republican-Era Shanghai 双川民国之沪上血战 Good Luck Keeps Coming好运不断Urban2.6M WordsOngoing Su Tianci has spent 25 years as a working stiff. After leaving the military, he has the job he earned stolen by someone with power and influence. His attempts to seek justice come to nothing, and with the other side's overwhelming influence, he has no choice but to become a delivery driver. Who could have guessed that while performing a good deed, he'd be struck by a heavy truck and sent straight to the Republican era? Then his transmigration golden finger turns out to let him travel between the 172Reads7.2Score149Shelves

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   At least gambling on the mountain

6. 506 三 Adventures in the 1930s 三零年代历险记 Orange Fragrance, Green Tangerines橙香橘绿Modern Romance367k WordsCompleted I was born with talent, and even a born loser wants to lie flat. Gu Xiaoman, a university student from the 21st century, finds herself in the wrong body: Gu Yiman, a wealthy young lady in the eleventh year of the Republic of China. She thinks she can finally enjoy a life of luxury, with everything brought to her, but instead she has to stay relentlessly driven just to survive. Watch her protect her home and country amid the chaos of war and become a national role model. 60Reads—Score—Shelves

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   The story begins in January 1932

7. 507 虞 The Poppy Has No Tears 虞美人没有眼泪 Jialulu嘉禄禄Modern Romance478k WordsCompleted A young lady in Republican-era China: no CP, no golden finger, no transmigration, but plenty of money and brains. The heroine is the daughter of a Huizhou merchant, a mental arithmetic prodigy fluent in four languages. She excels at lightning-fast connections across fields (smell perfume → chemical formula → business conspiracy), has a gift for languages (six dialects and four foreign languages), and possesses keen powers of observation (she can tell someone's profession from the wear on their 2Reads—Score—Shelves

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   No time travel, no romantic pairing, the female lead is intelligent.

8. 508 督 Commander, Your Little Dumpling Is Bringing Good Luck Again 督军，你家奶团子又锦鲤附体了 Ink-Dyed Green Wound Tears墨染圊殇泪Modern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Republican era + adorable kids + lucky star + adored by everyone + childhood sweethearts + animal speech] Juanjuan was orphaned when her adoptive parents died. Her uncle sold her to the Governor’s residence for ten silver dollars, where she was to bring good luck to the Governor’s gravely ill only son, Si Jinchen. She thought she was walking into a living hell, but the moment she took Si Jinchen’s hand, the young master on the brink of death miraculously began to recover. The doctor needed a hu 5.2kReads9.1Score736Shelves

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   🐾Here it comes! Juanjuan, whose adoptive parents died during the Republic of China era, was sold by her uncle to the governor's mansion for ten silver dollars to bring good fortune to the critically ill only son, Si Jinchen. She thought she was entering a living hell, but to her surprise, the moment she held Si Jinchen's hand, the young master, on the verge of death, miraculously recovered! The doctor was missing a hundred-year-old wild ginseng for medicine, and a city-wide search yielded no results? No problem! After gathering information with her friend Xiaowu on the balcony, Juanjuan unearthed a rare old ginseng in the governor's mansion garden. The governor's mansion was short of funds? No worries! She accompanied the governor to gamble on stones and made a fortune.

9. 509 旧 The Spirit Hidden Beneath an Old Qipao 旧旗袍下藏风骨 Doudou from Starry Sky Pavilion星空阁的兜兜11k WordsCompleted A Backbone Beneath the Old Qipao 17Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   Good books from the Republican era

10. 510 谍 Espionage: Code Name Big Dipper 谍战：红色特工代号北斗星 The Little Scribe文抄小郎君Urban1.1M WordsOngoing In 1936, an era of turbulent waves! There was a group of people feeling their way through the darkness, using the flame of their faith to light up the pitch-black night sky. Jiang Huo, code-named Polaris, went undercover in the Special Service Office, walking on thin ice and teetering on the edge of a cliff! In the narrowest of spaces, the struggle was cruel and merciless! In the dark of night, it was a tale of hardship and greatness! Their names may have been forgotten amid the years of raging 565Reads8.2Score—Shelves
11. 511 程 Has Mr. Cheng Started Pursuing His Wife Again Today? 程先生今天追妻了吗 Chen Yu of Tianming City天明城的陈屿Modern Romance131k WordsOngoing Cheng Yanhuai has had a bit of a headache lately. His father, who already has six concubines, is taking a new wife, and this time he’s making her his legal wife. Cheng Yanhuai watched his shameless old father shower his new stepmother, a woman younger than him, with money and houses. His father even gave her the home his own mother had left him. Cheng Yanhuai was not happy. No, she’s young enough to be your daughter-in-law. Ning Yunshu just wants to study hard and take care of her family. She 7Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    It's a great show right now. The male lead sets a trap for the female lead, and then he goes through a "wife-chasing-after-the-crime" scenario.

12. 512 民 Republican-Era Espionage: The Secret Agents All Call Me Chief 民国谍战：特务都叫我处座 Li Xuanhe李玄河Urban2.3M WordsCompleted A righteous soul transmigrates to the twenty-second year of the Republic of China. By then, the Japanese were already preparing to invade China. Lu Yang, a Chinese student studying abroad, is recruited into their spy organization. A transmigrator takes advantage of the situation and embarks on a thrilling mission worthy of Mission: Impossible. He starts out as a low-ranking police officer in the Nationalist government, then gets recruited by both the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics and th 1.4kReads6.9Score100Shelves
13. 513 谍 Spy War 1937: From the Start, I Wiped Out the Special Higher Section 谍战1937：开局血洗特高科 Zixiao Ke紫霄客Urban2.8M WordsCompleted Transmigration + Spy Warfare + Bloody Slaughter + Spatial Power While playing a game, modern young man Zhang Yunhe transmigrates to 1937 and becomes an agent for the Blue Shirts Society. To his surprise, he has brought along the Iron Warriors’ equipment from the game. Using its cloaking ability, he wipes out the entire Special Higher Police Agency from the start, striking such terror into the enemy that they tremble in fear. After that, he easily acquires enemy intelligence and maneuvers through 5.3kReads8.3Score339Shelves
14. 514 快 Quick Transmigration Notes 快穿记事薄 Lightly Tipsy White Tea白茶微熏Modern Romance2.0M WordsCompleted [No romance]+ [No System]+ [Slow transmigration] After an accident, Xie Ning is swept into the torrent of countless worlds. In an age torn by war, she gives everything she has learned to her country. In a world controlled by conglomerates, she climbs to the top one step at a time. In a feudal dynasty, she opens a new path for women like herself. In worlds where the barriers are thin, she roams the gray areas between the living and the dead… The heroine has a consistent personality. No matt 6.4kReads9.1Score678Shelves

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    Don't be put off by the title of the first book, it's super good! The male and female leads are both intelligent and emotionally intelligent, their interactions are engaging. The female lead grew up in the countryside and comes to the city to fulfill her marriage vows. She's a skilled doctor with an independent personality, and the male lead is very tolerant of her. The second book's first world is set in the Republic of China era. The female lead is a mechanical expert, conducting secret research, and is a valuable talent. Don't be fooled by the low rating; it's because fewer people have rated it. The content is still worth reading. The first world has over a hundred chapters. The third book's female lead focuses on learning to strengthen herself and contribute to society.

15. 515 谍 Espionage: I Can See Hidden Information 谍战：我能看到隐藏信息 Zhu Sansui竹三岁Urban1.5M WordsCompleted My new story is here! You can read my work on Tomato Novel. I hope you enjoy it. Your support inspires me to write, and I'll do my best to tell every story well! 2.7kReads8.5Score141Shelves
16. 516 高 Beiyang in a Martial World: From the Start, I’m a Refugee Who Crushes the Great Powers 高武北洋：开局流民，我横推列强 I Am the Little Divine King吾乃小神王Urban915k WordsOngoing War fires rage across a chaotic age. Warlords vie for control of the Central Plains, while foreign powers circle like vultures, carving up a nation on the brink. In the high-martial Beiyang era, the martial arts flourish and magic runs rampant. Supernatural force, barrier defenses, and weapons that break spells coexist with firearms and modern artillery in this turbulent age. A martial artist from a respectable family, Cao Zhenghao is swept into the army with the refugees, rising from the depth 1.1kReads—Score139Shelves

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    A deeply unearthed, privately-collected original epic novel, *High Martial Arts in the Beiyang Era: From Refugee to Overthrowing the Great Powers*! The story is rooted in the turbulent Beiyang period, building a brand-new, original high-martial arts fantasy world. The fast-paced, exhilarating narrative is immersive and captivating from the very first read. The protagonist, Cao Zhenghao, faces a hellish start, born into poverty and reduced to a destitute refugee, penniless and with nowhere to turn. There are no systems, no unexpected opportunities, and no cheat codes. His peak martial arts skills, a lifetime of empire built amidst chaos, and thousands of loyal followers are all forged through bloodshed and near-death experiences. His grassroots rise to power is realistic and compelling, maximizing reader immersion. The most touching and heartwarming highlight of the book is the protagonist's early orphanhood, relying entirely on his widowed aunt for survival. During the darkest years of famine, displacement, and surviving on grass, only his aunt remained steadfastly by his side, doing everything in her power to protect him. In a harsh era when no one believed in him or offered him salvation, the uncle and aunt found warmth and support in each other, clinging to each other through dire straits. Amidst the cold and cruel chaos of war, this gentle and pure bond is exceptionally healing and moving. The characters are well-developed, the emotions are solid, and the story is genuinely engaging, avoiding melodrama and clichés. The book's style is a delightfully contrasting blend of warmth and coolness: it features the everyday life of ordinary people in the chaotic world, the lighthearted banter among companions, and numerous hilarious and absurd moments that balance the oppressive atmosphere of the era; it also boasts unique and explosive high-level martial arts combat! Ancient martial arts masters clash head-on with the modern firepower of the Beiyang Army, creating a clash between old and new eras. The fights are intense, visceral, and refreshingly original, maintaining a consistently high level of excitement. The plot is meticulously crafted with a long-term structure, progressing layer by layer, with foreshadowing and a closed loop, growing ever more expansive: the protagonist starts as a penniless refugee, enduring hardship, forging a resilient spirit, navigating the chaos, uniting hearts and minds, and accumulating strength. Without rash actions or greed for fame, the protagonist patiently and meticulously plans each step, steadily building a solid foundation. From struggling to survive, to establishing himself in a chaotic world, gathering elite forces, and carving out his own territory, he eventually assembles a group of loyal and righteous individuals. The later stages unfold dramatically: consolidating his territory, stabilizing the people, confronting various warlord forces head-on, and finally raising his banner to face foreign powers, fiercely defending his borders and sweeping away foreign enemies! It features heartwarming stories of ordinary people, hilarious everyday moments, martial arts thrills, political intrigue and restraint, warlord conflicts, and a strong sense of national pride! The plot is solid and engaging, the characters remain consistent throughout, and the long-term storyline is incredibly stable. The more you read, the more captivating it becomes. A treasure of an original long novel that readers can jump right in!

17. 517 谍 Espionage: I Have a Pocket Dimension, but I Choose to Go It Alone 谍战：我有空间，但我选择单干 Once Loved Wang Heping喜欢过王和平Urban1.3M WordsCompleted [No System, but with a Map + Resistance-Era Spy Thriller + Portable Storage Space + Won't Side with Any Faction + Fighting the Japanese Alone] Ma Liang is a top-tier field agent. During an escort mission, alien technology is accidentally activated at an agent supply depot, sending him to the era of the War of Resistance Against Japan. The depot transmigrates along with Ma Liang, becoming his portable storage space, and his physical abilities are enhanced to three times their normal level. As luc 37.8kReads8.6Score2.6kShelves
18. 518 超 Super Agent: Codename Sun Wukong 超级特工：代号孙悟空 Monkey God Uncle2020猴神大叔2020Urban1.5M WordsCompleted Fang Ping, a promising young doctor in the medical field of the twenty-first century, transmigrates to the War of Resistance era and becomes a doctor at Headquarters 76. Though trapped in the devil's lair, his heart remains with the light. The scalpel he uses to save lives also becomes a blade turned against the enemy. Like Sun Wukong burrowing into Princess Iron Fan's stomach, he leaves his enemies trembling with fear and terror. [A heartfelt story. Dive in without worry.] 14.5kReads8.1Score1.2kShelves
19. 519 饥 In the Famine Years: From Runaway Factory Girl to Maid in a Gilded Cage 饥荒年，从逃厂女工到金屋丫鬟 Willow Branch Hanging Over Water垂枝于水Modern Romance307k WordsOngoing Set in 1920. (Escape and hardship / growing up / love blossoming over time / period setting / farming) “Poor little girls like her die by the dozen every day in the slums. She isn’t fit to even shine the shoes of a young master as precious and noble as you.” And yet someone just like her became the young master’s most cherished person. During the famine, she goes from an abusive factory where she is tormented, to serving as a young lady’s companion, and then to life in a grand mansion. Not a fee 117Reads8.2Score107Shelves

    Reader note

    This perfectly captures the Republican era, and the author's writing is excellent. A treasure found by a bookworm of over a decade during a reading slump. The only downside for me is the infrequent updates. Highly recommended. It's truly excellent; I can't stress enough how excellent it is! It's fantastic, fantastic, fantastic! Also, it's not one of those typical Republican-era novels. If you like that kind of story, don't buy it.

20. 520 谍 Espionage: Infiltrating the South Manchuria Railway as a Junior Train Conductor 谍战从潜入满铁当小乘警开始 Old Zhang0612老张0612Urban1.3M WordsCompleted Synopsis One: A train is a world of its own. What is espionage? To borrow an old saying from Zhang: espionage isn’t about fighting and killing, but about human relationships and worldly affairs... This is the story of a family of three who transmigrate into a world of spy dramas and films... Synopsis Two: A HUAWEI Mate 50 and a 22-month-old orphan appear in Dalian, under Japanese control in 1912… 1.3kReads8.4Score104Shelves
21. 521 夜 Ye Tinglan 夜听澜 Seeking News寻闻Modern Romance143k WordsOngoing Mu Wanting asked Jiang Yu what kind of partner she hoped to find. Jiang Yu thought it over carefully, picturing a vague silhouette in her mind. She couldn’t quite put into words what that person would be like. After meeting Yi Shiheng, she thought, it must be someone like him. Ten years later, they met again, but he stood on the other side. They had once held fast to the belief that ideals mattered more than anything, even each other, yet neither had imagined they would one day become strangers 1Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Espionage, reconciliation after a broken relationship, a Republican-era Mr. & Mrs. Smith story with a strong sense of national pride, and the emotional turmoil between the male and female leads is particularly compelling.

22. 522 福 Fuzhou: Blades and Bloodshed in 1949 福州：刀光血影一九四九 Long Jia Shu龙嘉树Urban348k WordsCompleted A few words in a local dialect, as indistinguishable as the wind. Once their eyes meet, the hunt and counterhunt begin. Messages whispered on the wind, blood and chaos, a fight to the death... At the end of February 1949, the Huacha secret team, entrusted with a vital mission, encountered an accident on its way to Rong. Team leader Hu Dayi vanished without a trace, and his guard, Wu Erzhu, was captured. At the same time, the Kuomintang's Secrecy Bureau System was carrying out its covert Thunder 149Reads—Score—Shelves
23. 523 镜 Tea Fragrance on Jingling Ridge 镜岭茶香 Shanyanxi Xiaoxiaosheng剡溪笑笑生Urban119k WordsOngoing A new story is here! You’re welcome to read my work on Tomato Novel. I hope you’ll enjoy it. Your support inspires me to write, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! 3Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    That would be fine, go take a look.

24. 524 随 Chasing the Waves with the Wind 随风逐浪 Young Master of the Misty Rain Pavilion烟雨少阁主Urban1.3M WordsCompleted One crisis follows another, and China is beset by turmoil. Every son and daughter of the nation has a duty to do their part! In the early years of the Republic, young Chinese students studying in Europe returned home to serve their country. A young Chinese American from San Francisco awakens to his calling, leaves home, and sets off for China. He conceals his identity, puts down his pen to take up arms, and rides the tides of history to become a king of the covert front. 252Reads5.8Score—Shelves
25. 525 谍 Espionage: The Little Spy's Great Reversal 谍战：小特务大逆袭 Si Ruolan思若兰Urban1.8M WordsCompleted [Love for the Nation + Passionate Resistance Against Japan + One Heroine + Tense, Thrilling Plot + Ruthless and Decisive] With our nation on the brink of destruction, we have no choice but to risk everything and fight to save it. Military academy student Qin Tian transmigrates to the snowbound city of 1938 and becomes director of the General Affairs Section of the secret service bureau. On the surface, he is a carefree playboy, but in truth, he is a long-time undercover agent for the Communist P 8.1kReads8.6Score584Shelves
26. 526 追 Chasing the Wind: I Am Wei Ruolai 追风者：我是魏若来 Songbreaker歌破Urban331k WordsOngoing Transmigrating to Shanghai during the Republic of China, in an age of awakening where the tides of change make survival difficult. The protagonist joins the Central Bank of Shanghai. Reborn with memories from a later era, he can see what lies ahead. A literary giant, a trendsetter, the 128 Resistance War, and a stock certificate scandal. 169Reads6.7Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The Republican era. The 1930s.

27. 527 谍 Espionage: I Have a Double Possession, and You Want Me to Be an Informant? 谍战：我双重附体，让我做线人？ Missl Miss LiMissl李小姐Urban256k WordsCompleted [Humorous and funny] [No romance, no do-gooder heroine] [Self-interest above all] [Feel free to dive in] Gou Dadan is timid and afraid of trouble. The chaos of wartime turns him into a fastidious egoist. From the start, he transmigrates to Shanghai in 1937, just before the nationwide resistance against Japan begins, and becomes an ordinary soldier. [Early story] Forced to become a secret agent for the Military Statistics Bureau, he brings along his blind younger sister. Military Statistics Burea 36Reads8.1Score—Shelves
28. 528 还 Restoring the Jade 还璧 Mi Bao靡宝Modern Romance786k WordsCompleted [Republican-era romance + two equally strong leads + mutual healing] A double-sided master thief returns to her old trade, while a calculating tycoon pulls the strings from behind the scenes. Together, they join forces to hunt down a national treasure. A society beauty and master thief versus a vengeful tycoon! By day, she outsmarts scheming rivals as a gifted designer. By night, she scales walls and rooftops as a female thief who faked her death years ago. In the glamorous world of high society 485Reads9.2Score110Shelves

    Reader note

    [Laughing][Laughing][Laughing]

29. 529 穿 Back to the 1940s: Fleeing Famine to Shanghai 穿回四十年代逃荒去上海 Longing for a Girl盼妞Modern Romance250k WordsCompleted In 1942, Wang Li woke up in a cellar and discovered she had transmigrated into the body of a landowner’s wife. From the start, she was fleeing famine, and along the way she got separated from her companions. Well, if she had to flee, she had to flee! Life hadn’t been great in the modern world either. Now it was just her and a simple-minded girl. After enduring all kinds of hardships, they finally made it to Shanghai and bought a house. In her spare time, she even helped herself to the belongings 2.6kReads8.2Score136Shelves

    Reader note

    The side stories are also great; fans of Republican-era fiction should definitely check them out.

30. 530 金 Jinling Nights 金陵夜 Lan Ze兰泽Modern Romance447k WordsCompleted He is the powerful and ambitious Commander of Jiangbei, with authority over all under Heaven. She is a lowly, illegitimate daughter from Jiangnan who has endured endless humiliation. One fleeting glimpse in the night of Jinling, and he took her to heart. Little did he know that once he did, it would be for a lifetime. 47Reads9.2Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The female protagonist has two marriages. The first one was very cruel and abusive to her, while the second one was very kind, falling in love with her at first sight and getting rid of her concubines.

31. 531 云 Sunset on Cloud Peak: The Ghost Rider 云顶落霞：幽灵骑士 The Qin's Music Keeps Me Company琴音伴我8k WordsCompleted Sunset on the Cloud Peak: The Ghost Rider 38Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    In "Night Shanghai: Triumph in Shanghai," Japanese agents Okada and Nakajima Shigeko collaborate to steal a defense map of Pukou. Lin Ge discovers their scheme in time, strengthening the defenses and thwarting the Japanese hopes of undermining the Nationalist government.

32. 532 穿 Transmigrated as a Maid in the Republic of China, I Turned the Young Master and Miss Into Completely Different People 穿成民国丫鬟，爆改小姐少爷 Ri Yue Xing Chen日玥星辰Modern Romance368k WordsCompleted (An alternate-history Republican-era setting, with a highly intelligent heroine who has many skills and is also a formidable fighter) Special forces soldier Zhong Xia transmigrated to the Republican era and became the maid of the Su family’s young lady, Su Qianning. Su Qianning was hopelessly lovestruck, willing to lay down her life for a scumbag and lavish money on him, only for him to treat her as a backup option. Zhong Xia thought the money would be better spent supporting the country. At the 2.3kReads9.0Score260Shelves

    Reader note

    ① The female protagonist, having just transmigrated to the Republican era, faces starvation due to famine. She eats a pancake given to her by a kind person and accepts a dying request to find a contact, slowly becoming entangled in a web of intrigue… In a war-torn era, she infiltrates enemy territory, engaging in espionage and intrigue within intrigue. The male and female protagonists support each other throughout, forging ahead against the odds. ② A special forces soldier transmigrates to the Republican era, becoming a maid in a wealthy family. She transforms a love-struck young lady into a famous female writer and career woman, and turns a spendthrift young master into a physics and mechanics expert. Great! Go watch it!

33. 533 民 Snatching Treasures in Republican-Era China: From the Start, I Steal Leng Qingqiu 民国捡漏，开局截胡冷清秋 Yan Tang Huang闫唐荒Male-Channel Fanfiction1.3M WordsOngoing Antique appraisal and treasure hunting + TV and film fan fiction + multiple heroines + portable space + fighting Japanese invaders. In the turbulent years of the late Qing and early Republic, China is impoverished and weak, surrounded by foreign powers while its people suffer in misery. Antique appraiser Lu Xiuyuan arrives through transmigration with a portable space, makes a name for himself in the antiques trade, and rides boldly into the world of beautiful women. He seizes a hundred tons o 40.7kReads7.3Score3.8kShelves

    Reader note

    A time-travel novel set in the Republican era. Starting as a shop assistant in an antique shop, he becomes a warlord after intercepting hundreds of tons of gold, has many concubines, and possesses a portable space.

34. 534 朔 The New Moon and Full Moon Seem Like a Dream 朔望似梦 Pikachu Person皮卡丘丘人Modern Romance192k WordsOngoing At first, she was the master and he was her servant. Later, she became the prey, and he the hunter. [Amnesia] [Lost and Found] [Fictional Late Qing and Early Republican Era] [Mutual Healing] [Both Virgins] [Old Flames Rekindled] [Happy Ending] She is Sang Fengyue, the willful, unruly third daughter of the richest family in Shencheng. He is Shi Muyun, top assassin of the Pili Hall, a man of extraordinary skill who was raised by his adoptive father to be emotionally manipulated and knows how to k —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Whose male lead gets sold out at the beginning? This Republican-era romance is super good! #I would call it the best Republican-era romance! I love it so much! The female lead is a spoiled rich girl, but she's beautiful and cool (^n) The male lead goes from a cold-blooded killer to a little wolf dog, who is considerate and gentle to the female lead, and only has eyes for her "Я( `)3)) The mutual love is absolutely beautiful! In the beginning, the male lead is a little wolf dog, but later he becomes a great handsome man. In the beginning, the female lead is ridiculed every day for adding "who" to her name, but later she makes everyone's faces swell up! You won't regret investing in it.

35. 535 我 I See the Spring Breeze 我见春风 Yang Sui杨碎Modern Romance273k WordsCompleted The elders of the Shen family arranged a fiancée for Shen Heli. They said Miss Song had studied abroad, and that she was a woman of unmatched beauty and talent. But Shen Heli only found it troublesome. If she'd studied abroad, why would she agree to an arranged marriage? After he finally met her, he had only one thought: He really was lucky after all. 289Reads8.3Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A beautiful romance novel set in the Republican era, it blends patriotism with personal emotions. The male and female protagonists are not one-dimensional characters typical of traditional romance novels; their emotions are nuanced and their personalities are realistic.

36. 536 凤 The Phoenix-Eyed Agent: I Tear My Rotten Enemies Apart in Republican-Era China 凤眼女特工：我在民国手撕渣敌 Tomato Ketchup Stir-Fried with Tomato Juice番茄酱炒番茄汁Urban371k WordsCompleted I, Su Wanqing, am a small-time female thug at the bottom of the heap at Jiangcheng Wharf. My only talent is hearing other people’s thoughts. For three years, I used that ability to dodge countless assassination attempts, until I met a coachman who was nearly beaten to death. My heart skipped a beat: this man’s thoughts were actually pure. 1Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    I would call this the best Republican-era intellectual battle novel of 2026. Without a doubt. It left me feeling emotionally heartbroken after reading it.

37. 537 两 Traveling Between Two Worlds: The 1970s 两界穿梭之七零年代 Trying to Stay Alive2努力活着2Urban3.2M WordsOngoing Wu Xiaoyao is a working-class nobody, a corporate drudge who likes to unwind by grilling skewers and letting loose whenever he has a bit of free time. But an out-of-control dump truck sends him hurtling back to the fiery age of the 1970s. What surprises him is that he can travel back and forth between the seventies and 2025. Two completely different eras now lie before him. 131Reads7.6Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Okay, once upon a time in the village there was a man named Ah

38. 538 两 A Trader Between Two Worlds: From 1988 to 2025 两界倒爷从1988到2025 Striving to Stay Alive8888努力活着8888Urban469k WordsOngoing Su Tianci was an unemployed street loafer in 1988. He was planning to head into the mountains to hunt for some meat, but accidentally fell off a cliff. When he opened his eyes, he had transmigrated to 2025, an age of booming economic growth. Even more astonishingly, two vastly different eras now lay before him, and he could travel back and forth between them. 1.1kReads—Score—Shelves
39. 539 女 Disguised as a Man: The Young Warlord Storms the Green Gang 女扮男装：军阀少帅勇闯青帮 Full Moon Su满月苏Two Female Leads220k WordsCompleted “Strong female lead + dual female leads + angst + ensemble cast” An alternate Republic of China era, a fantastical world A warlord’s young marshal, second in power only to The Outcast, and the famed cross-dressing beauty known as “Young Master” in the bustling foreign concessions, is stripped of her position overnight. Misunderstood and estranged from her father, the president, at odds with her elder brother, drawing guns on her Green Gang comrades, and, at that very moment, abandoned by the per 106Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This book is really good.

40. 540 快 Quick Transmigration: The Green Apricot Space 快穿之青杏空间 No Solution无解Modern Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [Republican Era] [Period] [Apocalypse] [Cultivation] Four stories that stand alone yet are connected, following the female lead’s gradual growth. If you’re looking for a power fantasy, this one isn’t for you. Lin Zizai taught herself to cultivate from a young age and developed a cubic spatial dimension. She had an extraordinary memory, but no one to teach her how to handle people and navigate the world. One day, her supposedly beloved grandmother, who had ulterior motives, possessed her, setting 2.7kReads8.7Score272Shelves

    Reader note

    The female protagonist was raised as a vessel by her grandmother from a young age. At 24, she was possessed by a witch. Because she had secretly learned cultivation from her grandmother since childhood and even created a one-cubic-meter space, her soul was transported to the body of an 18-year-old girl in the Republic of China era. Finally freed from her grandmother's control, she can freely make friends and breathe freely. But what if she's still unwilling to simply give her body to that old witch?

41. 541 纸 A Glamorous Waiter’s Rise to Power, Conquering Shanghai 纸醉金迷侍应生，逆袭横扫上海滩 I Am a Quiet Pebble我是安静的鹅卵石Urban692k WordsCompleted Shanghai in a time of turmoil, with an unconventional tale of espionage and resistance against Japan. Wei Tianhao transmigrates to the Republic of China era with a billion rolls of toilet paper and takes a job as a waiter at the Jindongkai Song and Dance Hall in Shanghai. Before long, the dance hall manager seduces him and makes him her lover. Soon, female agents from foreign consulates are flocking to his side. Most outrageous of all, he actually trades toilet paper for a Japanese female spy~~ 190Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Light novel genre, an unconventional Republican era setting, with a completely novel premise, easy and smooth reading experience.

42. 542 1 1937: I Have an Arsenal 1937：我有个军火库 Fang Shaobai方少白Urban617k WordsCompleted A modern soldier transmigrates to the Republican era, where he studies intangible cultural heritage and uses the military knowledge he learned in the future to support the war of resistance. Every inch of land is soaked in blood; a hundred thousand brave men fight with all their might! How can four hundred million Chinese compatriots let the Japanese invaders run rampant? Kill the invaders and defend our homes and country! For a soldier's honor and the dignity of our people, China's passionate s 11Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Traveling back to the Republic of China era, first living an ordinary life, then participating in the War of Resistance against Japan.

43. 543 民 Republican Era: From the Start, I Spoil the Warlord Showdown and Give the Commander a Headache 民国：开局剧透军阀混战大帅麻了 Da Shun Da Li大顺大莉Urban1.1M WordsCompleted The rating has just come in, and it's going up! The Beiyang era. After transmigrating into the lowest of the low, a rickshaw puller, Chen Kai casually sent a shocking political essay to the Peking Gazette: “The Zhili clique's defeat is certain, and Feng's forces will surely switch sides!” When it came out, his fellow pullers laughed that he'd gone crazy from hauling rickshaws, his landlord sneered that he was daydreaming, and a famous Peking pundit even publicly wagered that he'd eat the newspap 359Reads7.1Score351Shelves

    Reader note

    Extremely high quality! An unexpected historical trajectory.

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