Looking for Period-Era Stories, No Rebirth or Pocket Dimension 年代文（不要重生的，不要带有空间的）求书。

1. 151 出 A Way Forward Through Mountains and Rivers 出路之山重水复 I Am But Floating Dust我本浮尘Urban1.1M WordsCompleted [Period setting + Family + Women + Career + Workplace business battles + No romance + Society + An exploration of human nature] No cheat powers, no dramatic comeback. A deep look at the struggles and prospects of 99% of ordinary people! Wish-fulfillment stories are everywhere, but once the excitement fades, only emptiness remains. In the end, we all have to face the grind of daily life and the warmth or coldness of human relationships. This slow-burning work of realism offers no lucky breaks or 2.5kReads9.5Score36214d adds

   Reader note

   A period novel well worth reading slowly.

2. 152 她 Their Years Against the Wind 她们逆风的岁月 Jing Ran Antang婧冉安棠Modern Romance483k WordsOngoing In 1980, in Sanqiao Village, everyone hoped for a house full of sons. Li Bingyi’s family had three girls in a row, making them the village’s laughingstock as a family destined to die out. Their grandmother was mean, their uncle schemed against them, and their father was paralyzed. Hardship came crashing down on them all at once. But the three Li girls proved themselves against all odds. Who says girls shouldn’t study? They studied anyway, determined to make something of themselves. Who says girl 1.1kReads—Score10014d adds

   Reader note

   All four books are pure period dramas, without reincarnation or time travel elements. The language is simple, the emotions are genuine, and they are deeply moving.

3. 153 弃 The Abandoned Child 弃儿 Jing Ran Antang婧冉安棠Modern Romance491k WordsCompleted She was destined to be a mistake from the moment she was born. Being born the wrong sex brought her a life of misfortune. Hu Sanmei was the most pitiful woman I had ever met. Raised under the oppression of feudal thinking, she struggled against her fate, yet Heaven never once looked kindly upon her, abandoned by her parents at birth. Her mother's experiences and her older sisters' advice made her believe that getting married and having a son would bring her a happy life. But one failed marriage 8.9kReads9.2Score1.1k14d adds
4. 154 改 Remarriage 改嫁 Jing Ran Antang婧冉安棠Modern Romance628k WordsCompleted Two years after Wen Lan married, her husband died in an accident. Young and beautiful, she became the most talked-about widow in the surrounding villages. Having lost her only son, her mother-in-law took all her grief and anger out on Wen Lan. To stop her daughter-in-law from remarrying, she made her swear never to marry again. Even so, the village men still coveted the young widow, and rumors soon ran wild. To make a living, Wen Lan left the mountains with her one-year-old child and escaped the 3.9kReads9.1Score49714d adds
5. 155 怒 The Blossoming Red Plum 怒放的红梅 Jing Ran Antang婧冉安棠Modern Romance847k WordsCompleted After two years of marriage, Ye Hongmei endured endless humiliation from her in-laws because her birth family was poor and she was adopted. Even her premature baby girl was unwelcome. Her husband and mother-in-law refused to pay for treatment, claiming they had no money, and the child died. Her daughter’s death finally opened Ye Hongmei’s eyes, and she resolutely chose to divorce. After the divorce, Ye Hongmei shed her old timid nature and vowed to avenge her daughter, make her ex-husband’s fami 781Reads7.7Score11914d adds
6. 156 大 Daring to Act 大胆作为 Ah Shuilan阿水兰Modern Romance277k WordsCompleted She was as beautiful as a celestial maiden. Raised in a remote mountain village, she became famous far and wide for her beauty, but she was neither delicate nor dependent on men. With an excellent memory, high emotional and intellectual intelligence, and a stubborn refusal to give up, she carved out a place for herself in the world. She studied opera, ran a stall, worked odd jobs, and did business, eventually making her mark in the commercial world. Because of her unusual birth, her life was far 7Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   It's not about rebirth or time travel; it's a classic period drama, full of emotion and sure to bring you to tears.

7. 157 护 The Village Guardian Ghost 护村鬼 Ah Shuilan阿水兰Mystery382k WordsCompleted Ghosts often haunt Ronggu Village, but the villagers themselves are not afraid. They say the ghosts are protectors of the village and would never harm its people. In fact, they protect them. Outsiders, however, are afraid, especially those who know they have a guilty conscience. That is why outsiders rarely dare to spend the night in Ronggu Village. So what exactly are these guardian ghosts like? Why are they called the village’s protectors? Let me tell you the story. 36Reads6.6Score—14d adds
8. 158 万 The Outcast Ghost of Wancun Village 万丛村的边缘鬼 Ah Shuilan阿水兰Mystery329k WordsCompleted Some say death, the end of life, is the fairest thing of all because everyone dies. But in truth, unfairness is absolute, fairness is relative, and even the end can be unfair. There are homeless wanderers with nowhere to live and no place to call home, and there are the rich, with mansions everywhere. The same goes for ghosts: some are lonely spirits with "nowhere to be buried," while others are wealthy ghosts with burial grounds bigger than a kingdom... Wanderers are pitiful, and lonely ghosts 3Reads—Score—14d adds
9. 159 艳 Beauty That Slays the World 艳杀天下 Shu Yao Jiu舒窈纠Ancient Romance306k WordsCompleted She killed Han Xin and executed Peng Yue, clearing away every one of Liu Bang’s “brothers” for him. She poisoned the King of Zhao and turned a rival into a human pig, leaving no one in the harem daring to challenge her authority. Before her husband died, he made her swear that only members of the Liu clan could be kings, yet she personally placed members of the Lü clan on the throne. Her son hated her, the ministers feared her, and the people of the realm called her a “poisonous woman.” But so w 19Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   She killed Han Xin and executed Peng Yue, eliminating all of Liu Bang's "brothers"; she poisoned the King of Zhao and made him a human pig, ensuring that no one in the harem dared to challenge her authority... Based on history, her writing is brilliant!

10. 160 南 Leaving on the Journey South 南下归途离开 Shanjiu's Home杉玖家Urban371k WordsCompleted Every so often, a generation leaves home to make a living, leaving its youth behind on construction sites and streets far from home. Our fathers left the mountains with worn-out woven-plastic bags on their backs, heading south to find work. They knew nothing of polished talk. They only knew to keep their heads down and work hard, relying on brute strength to feed their families. They lived in cramped shacks, endured grueling day and night shifts, and swallowed their homesickness and grievances. 27Reads—Score214d adds

    Reader note

    A national archive of the builders at the grassroots level, an epic of the most glorious achievements of the working people at the bottom of society in the great rejuvenation of a nation.

11. 161 帝 The Art of Imperial Politics: The Jiajing Era 帝王心术：嘉靖时代 Shu Yao Jiu舒窈纠Historical227k WordsCompleted This novel offers a profound look at Jiajing’s transformation from an energetic reformer into an emperor obsessed with Daoism. Daoist priests such as Shao Yuanjie and Tao Zhongwen used mysticism to manipulate his inner world; Yan Song and his son won favor with Daoist prayers and monopolized power for twenty years; Xu Jie bided his time before finally bringing down the treacherous ministers; and Hai Rui risked his life to submit a memorial condemning the ills of the age. Together, these vivid ch 1.2kReads6.9Score11414d adds

    Reader note

    Jiajing Emperor: "Everyone, tell me, what kind of emperor am I? I can't even acknowledge my own father as my father?! Isn't this the biggest joke in the world?! Who am I bullying?! However, I'm also very powerful 🐮, even though I haven't held court for decades, no one has dared to rebel against me?!"... Based on history, beautifully written! A study of imperial intrigue, worth reading!

12. 162 庸 Beware the Mediocre 庸人小心 Yin Mu殷木Urban370k WordsCompleted Realistic fiction · Unrequited love with a bad ending · Small-town life · Ordinary people · Coming-of-age · No golden finger Based on the true experiences of friends, this story is told from a male first-person perspective and follows Jiang Xin through the ups and downs of his youth in a small southern county town from 2005 to 2014. He was once an elementary-school prodigy admired by everyone. But from the moment he started middle school, his life quietly began to veer off course. As a boy, he 201Reads—Score10714d adds

    Reader note

    A realistic story set in a southern county town between 2005 and 2016, without reincarnation or cheat codes. Following the trajectory of the times, it chronicles the growth and changes of a group of ordinary people over a decade. The male protagonist's unrequited love for Lin Qiyu quietly comes to an end; there are no cheat codes or miraculous comebacks, only the harsh realities of life. The story goes beyond romance, depicting the shattering of ideals, the uncertainty of the future, and the gradual loss of self in life. Through a simple narrative, it realistically portrays the life experiences of ordinary people in that era.

13. 163 沂 A Family by the Yishui River 沂水河畔一家人 Li Xinxin李馨欣Modern Romance540k WordsCompleted This book tells the story of a large family over nearly a century, from the late Qing dynasty to the end of the twentieth century, through turbulent changes, banditry and warfare, twists and turns, and eventual reversals of fortune. Led and subtly influenced by the protagonist, several generations endure decades of hardship yet remain upright, united, and determined to improve. In different eras and historical circumstances, they do everything they can, persevering in their efforts to contribute 6.1kReads8.8Score56414d adds

    Reader note

    No rebirth or time travel, just a completely real life experience.

14. 164 穿 Transmigrating to the Seventies: The Young Educated Youth Is Dumbfounded 穿越七零，小知青她懵圈了 Miss Zhou周大小姐Modern Romance1.8M WordsOngoing (Everyday life of sent-down youth, not a strong female lead, a touch of an ensemble cast, unhurried pacing, with a couple) Gu Xiaoman, from the twenty-first century, dies suddenly after getting drunk while celebrating landing a job. She wakes up aboard a green-painted train carrying sent-down youth in the 1970s. No space, no System, no golden finger, and not even the original owner’s memories. She’s definitely the most wretched transmigrant in history, with none of the usual perks. Good heavens! 11.9kReads8.7Score1.2k14d adds

    Reader note

    There are no cheat codes or spatial systems. The male and female protagonists are both educated youth sent to the countryside during the Cultural Revolution. The story follows their struggles to return to the city and become wealthy after taking the college entrance examination. It features a small ensemble cast, no awful characters, no melodramatic plot twists, and everyone is intelligent. The story is relevant to the era.

15. 165 明 The Ming Dynasty’s Special Reconnaissance Troops: The Night Watchmen 明朝特种侦察兵夜不收 Shu Yao Jiu舒窈纠Historical456k WordsCompleted A battle of wits between elite scouts, a shadow war of espionage full of twists, and a poignant romance between two people caught in forces beyond their control: all this awaits in the legendary tale of the Ming Dynasty’s Night-Rejecting scouts! During the Jiajing era, unrest flares along the frontier as the Mongols and Jurchens watch hungrily from the shadows. An elite reconnaissance unit known as the Night-Rejectors becomes the sharpest hidden blade guarding the Ming border. Shen Yan, the son 414Reads6.4Score10014d adds

    Reader note

    "Night Scouts" were a special and elite reconnaissance force within the Ming Dynasty's border armies. Witness: hardcore reconnaissance battles, espionage twists and turns, and deeply moving emotions entangled in conflict—all in this legendary tale of Ming Dynasty special reconnaissance soldiers! Thrilling, suspenseful, and fraught with danger…it's incredibly exhilarating…Rise up, Han Dynasty…

16. 166 平 The Plains' True Colors 平原底色 Ban Liang搬凉Urban116k WordsOngoing Beginning in the twenty-first century, this novel follows Fang Lizhu, a child of the post-80s generation growing up in the rural Jianghan Plain of central China. Through Fang Lizhu's education, work, and the many people he meets and events he experiences, the novel portrays how life has changed for people across the plains since the start of the new century. It also depicts the many ways ordinary people respond to sweeping changes in a new era and a shifting social landscape: the choices they ma 17Reads—Score11414d adds

    Reader note

    A purely realistic and engaging story, currently being serialized! The novel begins at the start of the 21st century, told from the perspective of Fang Lizhu, a post-80s child from a rural area in the Jianghan Plain in central China. Through depicting the various people and events Fang Lizhu encounters during his studies and work, the novel reflects both the changes in the lives of the people of the plain after the turn of the century and the diverse lives of ordinary people facing the dramatic changes of the times, whether they actively or passively choose to persevere or passively escape.

17. 167 东 Tales of the Northeast: Women Who Climbed Over the High Walls of Grand Estates 东北往事之翻过深宅高墙的女人们 Midnight Woodpecker午夜啄木鸟Modern Romance868k WordsOngoing In 1946, on the black soil of Northeast China, Chunxiang, daughter of tenant farmer Wang Mazi, marries Liu Laogen, the landlord's son. Her father receives several acres of good farmland and dozens of silver dollars as a handsome betrothal gift. She thinks she has married into wealth and will live a secure life as a young madam, but Liu Laogen has a hidden ailment, and their marriage proves to be one in name only. Chunxiang is determined to escape the prison that has trapped her, but her greedy f 55.2kReads8.7Score3.1k14d adds

    Reader note

    Just you wait and see, I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

18. 168 高 The Matriarch of a Powerful Family Reborn as a Wicked Cannon Fodder in a Period Novel 高门主母穿成年代文中恶毒炮灰 The Light of Fuguang扶光的光Modern Romance249k WordsCompleted (1980s setting + transmigrate into a book + everyday life + sweet romance + feel-good story) Just after Su Ke became a First-Rank Lady of Imperial Decree, she transmigrated into a vicious cannon-fodder female character in an 1980s romance novel. The original character worked as a nanny in the male lead's home. Just as the leads were about to confess their feelings, she barged in, only to accidentally help them make up and get together sooner. As a disposable side character, the original woman's 9Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Not having a special ability or cheat codes doesn't mean being reborn; it means transmigrating into a book.

19. 169 下 After Going to the Countryside, the Female Educated Youth Is Doted on by a Future Senior Officer 下乡后女知青被未来首长娇养了 Dyeing the Years染流年Modern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Military Marriage + Period Setting + Transmigration + Swapped Marriage + Devoted Couple + Marriage First, Love Later + Beloved by the Whole Family] Lin Xia never imagined that all she had to do was take a vacation, only to find herself dropped into a whole new world. There, she meets a group of people. When someone spreads rumors about her, Lin Xia has just started rolling up her sleeves when her future mother-in-law pulls her behind her and swings a huge broom. “You dare bully my Xiaxia? Try d 3.1kReads8.5Score24714d adds

    Reader note

    Completed novel recommendation, I've read it and it was pretty good!

20. 170 我 I Wish Us Joy Forever 我愿常欢喜 Wang Erqiao汪二峤Marriage & Romance1.7M WordsCompleted [Women’s Growth + Romance and Marriage + Workplace + Relationships] Girls from different family backgrounds will all find their own happiness! A rose raised in a greenhouse will weather life’s storms, while a girl who grows like a weed will find her own spring. She is a rich girl from a big city, yet she falls prey to a gold-digging boyfriend, sexual harassment at work, and exclusion by her colleagues... She is a small-town academic who gets extorted by a fellow villager and drained by parents w 46.7kReads9.7Score5.9k14d adds

    Reader note

    Nostalgic novels from the past that you'll want to stay up all night to read.

21. 171 旧 Childhood in the Old Days 旧时光里的童年 The Second Kid in the Old Days旧时光里的小二Urban134k WordsCompleted The author recalls a rural childhood in Wuchang County, Heilongjiang Province, during the 1970s and 1980s. The book describes rural life and the changes brought about by the household responsibility system in the early days of reform and opening up, along with the joys and hardships of the author’s childhood before the age of ten, major family upheavals, and the warmth and coldness of human nature. 41Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    This is a novel based on real-life experiences from the 1970s and 80s, depicting rural life in Northeast China during that era, as well as the major family upheavals and coldness in human relationships experienced by the protagonist.

22. 172 关 The Guanshan Saber 关山刀 Yearning for Yaoshan尧山眷恋Historical86k WordsCompleted On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, the Kitchen God ascended to Heaven. Yan Feilong's father did not come home. Three days later, his mother was found dead in the village temple, a wound in her stomach. The twelve-year-old boy slipped a chipped knife into his clothes and walked into the salt flats, looking for a man: tall and thin, with a mole on his chin. He found him. Three strikes. One for his father, one for his mother, and the last so he could go on living. His revenge was d 46Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Historical fiction, especially the first volume, and the new work.

23. 173 荒 A Traveler in Years of Famine 荒年客 Yearning for Yaoshan尧山眷恋Urban338k WordsCompleted A survival epic about ordinary Chinese people. From rural China to the torrents of modern life, three generations of the Hou family are swept along by the tide of history. The grandparents put down roots in the land. Their values, admonitions, and “family scandals” form the family's original identity and its shackles. The parents struggle through a time of transition, inheriting heavy burdens while kindling a desire to change their fate. As someone born in the 1980s, I linger at the divide betwe 133Reads6.6Score10514d adds
24. 174 公 Upholding Justice 公义立身 Bright Sunny Day灿烂晴天Urban102k WordsCompleted Xu Zhiqiang was born into a poor rural family in the 1960s. Through sheer hard work, he got into university. After graduating, he was assigned to work at a steel mill, where he brought a near-bankrupt factory back from the brink. Later, an anonymous letter changed the course of his life once again. After enduring setbacks in life as well as pressure and blows at work, Xu Zhiqiang entered the real estate business and rose to the pinnacle of success. 15Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    The male protagonist was born into a poor family, but through hard work he got into university, and after graduation he was assigned a job and began his career.

25. 175 七 Military Marriage in the 1970s: The Supporting Actress Builds Warplanes and Defies Her Fate 七零军婚：女配造战机撕碎炮灰命 Jin Xilan金汐澜Modern Romance2.1M WordsOngoing [Period Setting] [Side Character Awakening] [Power Couple] [Light Ensemble Cast] [Military Marriage] [Both Leads Are Loyal in Body and Heart] Lan Huan accidentally took a fall and passed out. She had a dream and discovered that they were living inside a military romance novel. And she was nothing more than a nameless, doomed side character, brought in to make the male and female leads reunite, while also causing the second male lead to fall in love with the heroine at first sight. To stay alive, 2.3kReads—Score20414d adds

    Reader note

    The female lead, initially a cannon fodder, awakens and goes on to do what she wants! The male lead, who was problematic at first, later becomes her lackey!

26. 176 女 The Female Bank President's Last Resort 女行长的穷途末路 Xu Ci珝慈Modern Romance102k WordsCompleted A teller's act of withholding checks toppled the first domino in the bank run at Yunhai City Commercial Bank. Though bank president Ma Yuquan fought desperately to contain the crisis, she ultimately could not counter the enormous fallout from the sudden disappearance of the bank's major shareholder and the head of its controlling rural bank. Ma Yuquan sensed the situation was full of hidden twists and turns, yet never revealed the secret of who she had been with during her brief disappearance, w 947Reads9.3Score12214d adds

    Reader note

    The story of the female bank manager has a bit of a vintage feel to it.

27. 177 我 I Am a Scout: Zhan De 我是侦察兵一一湛德 Splashing Water from the Far Bank隔岸拍水10k WordsCompleted I’m a Scout: Zhan De —Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    An unexpected beginning and a delightfully unexpected ending—this is the first truly heart-wrenching period romance novel, *Listening to the Wind's Song*. It's a story of profound sorrow and bittersweet laughter, filled with regrets yet also incredibly worthwhile.

28. 178 贵 The Pinnacle of the Noble Consort 贵妃之巅 Shu Yao Jiu舒窈纠Ancient Romance372k WordsCompleted “A twisted romance” + “palace intrigue” + “a tragedy of the age.” During the Chenghua reign of the Ming dynasty, palace maid Wan Zhen'er spent ten years bringing Crown Prince Zhu Jianshen, confined in the Cold Palace, back from hell to the world of the living. What began as a desperate act of protection warped, under the influence of power, into a twisted symbiosis. Seventeen years older than him, she was his nursemaid and elder sister, and eventually became his only Noble Consort, as well as hi 824Reads—Score10014d adds

    Reader note

    "Abnormal love affair" + "palace intrigue" + "Ming Dynasty tragedy". Wan Zhen'er was 17 years older than Emperor Zhu Jianshen of the Ming Dynasty, but Zhu Jianshen loved her to death and even set up the Western Depot, a special agency for her... Ironically, Consort Wan almost poisoned all of his princes!

29. 179 清 Tales of the Qingshui River 清水河往事 Bright Sunny Day灿烂晴天Modern Romance133k WordsCompleted Zhao Xinran was once a young high school teacher. He left the classroom to take the civil service exam and became the mayor of a town. Thanks to his dedication and strong results, he was promoted to director of a county bureau, and eventually became the director of a municipal department. Two female students worked under him, one specializing in the humanities and the other in the sciences. Both made significant contributions to their hometowns, earning Zhao Xinran political achievements while d 676Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    The first book features a female protagonist who, in the mid-1990s, graduated from a teachers' college but gave up her assigned job to go south, while the male protagonist also gave up his job in his hometown to work in the south. The two of them create a future together.

30. 180 文 Literary Giant, 1936: A Book from the Future Blows Apart the War Against Japan 文豪1936：未来之书炸穿抗日 Teacher He, Who Loves Teaching Composition爱教作文的何老师Urban1.2M WordsCompleted On the Ten Crimes of Traitors, A Proclamation Against Surrender, A Letter to Our Chinese Compatriots, The Book of Hope, The Flower of Despair, The Yellow Millet Dream, and The Astonishment of Our Friendly Nations A true literary genius does not plagiarize + blazing passion + fervor for resistance against Japan + saving the nation through the power of the written word + words as weapons + one thrilling payoff after another + love for home and country Transported into the chaos of Beijing in 1936, 46Reads6.0Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    A literary hero in turbulent times, his pen can shape the world! His soul transmigrates to the Republic of China era to become a great writer during the War of Resistance against Japan. He doesn't copy books, but writes patriotic manifestos, punishing traitors and igniting the spirit of the people. His words are more piercing than bullets—this tear-jerking patriotism and passionate resistance against Japan will make you cry!

31. 181 退 Rejected Manuscript Hell: Starting in the Alluring Hell 退稿地狱：从魅惑地狱开始 Teacher He, Who Loves Teaching Composition爱教作文的何老师Mystery223k WordsOngoing Hell-dungeon power fantasy + live-streamed writing and counterattacks + seamless shifts between genres + literary genius made real + rapid-fire twists + emotional tension at its peak After death, Gu Jinfei is thrown into “Hell of Rejected Manuscripts” and bound to the Short-Form Writing Champion livestream System. Forced to livestream his way through challenges in hell, he faces a place where one substandard story means his soul is obliterated and the rules are so harsh they make people kneel. B 12Reads—Score—14d adds
32. 182 聊 Strange Tales from the Chatting House: Whose Ghost Story Is This Comforting? 聊宅志异：哪家的鬼故事这么治愈 Teacher He, Who Loves Teaching Composition爱教作文的何老师Modern Romance166k WordsOngoing If the first two stories don’t make you cry and leave you feeling comforted, you can stop reading. Supernatural suspense + urban mysteries + heartwarming healing + female-oriented supernatural fiction At three in the morning, someone knocks on the door! A girl in a red dress begs me through tears to hear her story, a strange rusty smell drifts from the kitchen, and the ghost of a ten-year-old boy leaves bloody writing on the fridge... I, Pu Lingling, a struggling supernatural fiction writer, was 1Reads—Score—14d adds
33. 183 末 Transmigrated to 1980s Tibet in the Apocalypse, Straight Into a Love Triangle From Hell 末世穿八零藏族，撞上顶级修罗场 Laughter Brings Radiance笑笑生辉Modern Romance356k WordsCompleted Fengxi, who lived in the apocalypse, transmigrates into the body of a young girl named Chi Fengxi in the 1980s. With a letter and her mother’s ashes, Chi Fengxi sets foot in her mother’s hometown of Tibet for the first time. As the bus rocks along the mountain road, Fengxi decides to live the rest of the life of the young girl who died so suddenly. Fengxi never expected that the next step in the girl’s life would be to stay in Tibet and get married. Ajia, who is about to become her mother-in-law 693Reads9.0Score11814d adds

    Reader note

    This one is okay.

34. 184 石 Shi Shun's Growth 石顺的成长 Shi Shunzhi石顺之Modern Romance320k WordsCompleted About Growth At the foot of the Dabie Mountains, a young man named Shi Shun journeys forward, one step at a time. Over the first half of his life, he experiences sincere family affection, treasures friendships forged through hardship, encounters tender love, and strives to build an ordinary career. He grows from a naive, awkward youth into a steady and responsible man, tempering his character amid the everyday bustle of life and coming to understand what life means through the companionship of 4Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    A truly excellent piece of writing from a bygone era; authentic, touching, inspiring, relatable, and healing; down-to-earth yet relatable, revealing genuine emotions in the ordinary, and demonstrating that even the mundane can be extraordinary.

35. 185 二 Erzhu and His Women 二柱和他的女人们 Ink-Wash Creek水墨小溪Urban63k WordsOngoing Gao Fei, a country boy nicknamed Er Zhu, received guidance from a master after a fall left him injured. The master taught him remarkable medical skills and martial arts. Strong and fit, clever and resourceful, he had a unique personal charm that won the admiration of countless women. From the countryside to the city, and from campus to the workplace, he went from strength to strength and began an extraordinary life of his own. —Reads—Score—14d adds
36. 186 丰 A Voluptuous Beauty in a Country Village, and the Amnesiac Officer Who Falls for Her 丰腴美人小村妇，失忆军官沦陷了 Nan Wanwan南绾绾Modern Romance102k WordsOngoing [Period Setting + Family Life + Adorable Kids + Reunion After Years Apart] Jiang Mingyue transmigrated into the body of a pushover everyone could bully in 1960. Her awful relatives wanted to push her around? Her ungrateful son smashed bowls and cursed at her? Jiang Mingyue answered with a whip, teaching them how to behave! On the streets of the county town, she spent her money to buy a handsome “idiot” who was paralyzed. The whole village laughed at her for going crazy. Raising a cripple would —Reads—Score11814d adds

    Reader note

    🥺"Take off your clothes," she commanded coldly. The paralyzed, mentally challenged man she had picked up from the street instantly blushed, clutching his tattered cotton-padded coat tightly, looking like a virtuous woman being harassed. She sighed, "I'm a doctor, I'll give you a medicinal bath!" When she saw the gruesome gunshot wounds all over his body and the calluses on his hands, her eyes welled up with tears. In her past life, he had shielded her from a bullet; in this life, she would protect him! Later, when a wicked relative tried to sell her son for money, she single-handedly kicked open the black market door. The man who had been paralyzed descended like a god of death, crushing the trafficker's bones with a single hand: "Dare to touch my wife's child? You're asking for death!" #PastLife #Redemption #RoughManDotingOnHisWife #AnAddictivePeriodNovel #SweetAndAngstyIntertwined

37. 187 最 The Purest Love 最纯洁的爱 Happy Soy Milk快乐的豆浆Urban2.0M WordsCompleted Qin Feng returns to China after completing his studies in Russia, just as the country reforms its education system and universities abolish guaranteed job assignments for graduates. He then moves with his family to a coastal city, where he meets Xie Lan, a local girl from the countryside. Xie Lan is six years younger than Qin Feng and left school after junior high. They come from vastly different backgrounds in age, education, and family circumstances. Both sets of parents oppose their relations 4Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    The most passionate love is like the radiant light shining on the forehead of a unicorn, mysterious and noble. Once it appears, it adds a dreamlike color to ordinary life.

38. 188 雅 The Yama Mountains 雅玛山脉 Liu Jin刘瑾Modern Romance109k WordsCompleted The Yama Mountains lie on the plateau, far from the bustle of the cities, amid cold and desolate surroundings. Herdsmen have lived here for generations, and their peaceful, quiet lives are suddenly shattered one day when a group of strangers enters the area… 15Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Chronicles!!

39. 189 黄 Sunset on the Yellow River 黄河落日 Liu Jin刘瑾Urban244k WordsCompleted Sunset over the Yellow River is a work set against the 1938 Huayuankou Incident. The story unfolds against a backdrop of warfare and follows two love stories experienced by a woman who cannot speak... 68Reads—Score—14d adds
40. 190 北 North Gate, South City 北门南城 Liu Jin刘瑾Urban226k WordsCompleted The front line stretches from north to south, and the story begins in a small town in the Northeast. Decline, hope, redemption, hardship, pain, and love reaching ever farther: it all feels like a dream. The story unfolds through its male and female leads, depicting the helplessness of wartime. 50Reads—Score—14d adds
41. 191 山 Wild Pansy 山堇花 Liu Jin刘瑾Modern Romance165k WordsCompleted Lin Meng escaped the great bombing of Wuhan, only to be kidnapped and sold to a wealthy household in the countryside as the bride of an idiot. Her life was full of misfortune, yet she found a different kind of happiness... 48Reads—Score—14d adds
42. 192 幽 Chronicles of the Netherworld 幽冥记 Liu Jin刘瑾Eastern Fantasy175k WordsCompleted Set against the backdrop of Song dynasty mythology, the story begins with a journey through the underworld and unfolds through a series of characters and tales. As the Buddha says, “Goodness is the root of all things,” and so loyalty and filial piety are the foundations of being human. Holding on to a single good thought is the righteous path of this world. The Buddha also says, “Desire is the source of resentment in the human heart.” Love can fill the heart with the joy of blooming flowers, but 91Reads—Score10014d adds
43. 193 八 The Village Belle of the ’80s: I’m Done Waiting on You! 八零村花：她不伺候了！ 24K Pure Fat24K纯肥Modern Romance141k WordsOngoing [Period novel + no rebirth + no transmigration + ensemble cast + family life + slow burn] For forty years, she stood by her rough-and-tumble husband, helping him rise from nothing to a fortune worth tens of millions. In return, he carefully plotted to frame her for “cheating” and abandon her. Rescued after attempting to take her own life, she became the laughingstock of the whole village. All the years of humiliation at her in-laws’ hands and the worry she poured into raising her children turne —Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    I highly recommend an author I really like; this is purely a reader's recommendation. Their writing is excellent.

44. 194 穿 Reborn as a Vicious Woman in the 1970s, I Got Rich After Turning Over a New Leaf 穿成七零恶女，弃恶从善后暴富了 Zi Shan Mu Yu子山木雨Modern Romance130k WordsOngoing A marriage first, love later. One-on-one, devoted couple. The leads focus on building their own careers. After working herself to the bone for days, Xia Tian, the office workaholic, gets into a car accident from driving while exhausted. When she opens her eyes again, she discovers she has transmigrated to the 1970s. Worse, she’s caught in the act by her mother-in-law. “You shameless hussy! You were the one who kept throwing yourself at my son, and now you dare to cheat on him while he’s away? I’ —Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Give this book a try! It's about a man and a woman working together to build a career; it has both laughter and tears, and it's worth reading.

45. 195 硬 Stubborn as a Mule 硬颈种 Xu Wenqing徐文卿Modern Romance348k WordsCompleted [Not a Power Fantasy, No Cliches, No Stupid Characters, Mutual Devotion, Striving for a Better Life, Realistic Growth] In Hakka, someone stubborn to the core is called a "hard-necked sort." When Wang Lili was ten, she snatched a big chicken leg at the dinner table. Her father ordered her to give it to her younger brother. She said, "I won't." When Zhao Ruxun was ten, he was forced to let his mother beat him fifteen times in public for protecting his younger brother. He gritted his teeth and didn 10Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    I highly recommend this book. Both the male and female leads are incredibly stubborn. It's a newly released work, so not many people know about it yet. Currently, over 90% of readers are following the story. It's the kind of book that you can't get out of once you start reading. You should give it a try.

46. 196 穿 I Transmigrated to the 1970s to Help My Sister Woo an Officer, but He Set His Sights on Me 穿越七零，帮姐撩军官他却盯上我 The Salted Fish Flails in My Dreams梦里咸鱼在扑腾Modern Romance339k WordsCompleted Bai Shao transmigrates and sets out to help her sister get rid of a two-timing scumbag. But the unfaithful man refuses to take the hint, so she grabs a branch and chases after him, yelling that he’s a pervert. He gets so scared that he runs whenever he sees the sisters. Regiment Commander Zhang seems like a good catch: handsome and a guaranteed long-term meal ticket. After they marry, Bai Shao will follow him to his posting. She can use him to keep her awful grandmother and third uncle in check. 258Reads6.7Score10314d adds

    Reader note

    Purely relying on brains, strongly recommending this article.

47. 197 凤 The Phoenix Man Makeover Plan 凤凰男改造计划 A Cup of Taro Balls and Grapes来杯芋圆葡萄Modern Romance283k WordsCompleted When Zhang Mingyuan knocked over a reagent and made a “heroic rescue” of her, Lin Xiaotang could barely hold back her laughter. “Watch out, classmate!” His lab coat fluttered with a perfect drama-series flourish as he caught her around the waist. She stared at his bobbing Adam’s apple and thought, His acting is terrible, but his collarbones are gorgeous. Zhang Mingyuan had no idea Lin Xiaotang had assigned a number to every fish in his dating pool. Until one day, Wang Xiuqin spotted a telling de —Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    No reincarnation or transmigration, purely native, male protagonist's perspective.

Other lists with A Way Forward Through Mountains and Rivers