Looking for Good Period Pieces with Less Romance 求好看的年代文，男女之间的感情戏少一点

1. 1 这 In This Life, I Reconcile with My Old Wounds 这一世，我与旧殇皆和解 Lady of the Clouds云端女公子Modern Romance319k WordsCompleted [Slow Burn / Period Setting / Family / Coming of Age / Beautiful Prose (Inspired by the Style of the Mao Dun Literature Prize) / Unconventional Rebirth] Reborn at the age of ten, Lin Wanqiu discovers: Her mother will tear up the test results that could save her life. Her father will go to the mine and lose a finger. On the day her grandmother calls her name from her deathbed, she won't go back. Her best friend will marry a man who beats her at seventeen. And she herself will marry a man who, whi 8Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   The first book is a historical romance; the protagonist is reborn not for revenge, but emphasizes family ties and downplays romantic love. Those with a strong romantic drive should avoid this! It's very heartwarming and well-written! The second and third books will require some thought! You'll need to use your brain while reading them!

2. 2 我 I Pocketed All the Incense Money Meant for the Gods 我把神明的香火钱全贪了 Lady of the Clouds云端女公子Ancient Romance382k WordsCompleted Ye Miao wasn't born a liar. Until she was eight, she was the most devout little believer in Lanhe Village. Every morning, she was the first to offer incense at the Earth God Temple, giving the gods the only half a flatbread she had. Her mother suffered from a chronic illness that could only be cured by divine grace. But Lanhe Village was so poor that the offerings from the whole village in a year weren't enough to get the Medicine God to spare her a glance. One winter, when Ye Miao was eight, sh 6Reads—Score—14d adds
3. 3 所 No One Knows the System Is a Human Trafficker! 所有人都不知道，系统是人贩子！ Lady of the Clouds云端女公子Ancient Romance343k WordsCompleted Su Nian was eating dumplings her mother had made when she died. When she opened her eyes again, a mechanical voice rang in her ears, so enthusiastic it gave her goosebumps: [ Ding! Congratulations, Host, you've been bound to the transmigration System. Get ready to begin an exciting new life...] "Wait a second." [What would you like to ask, Host?] "What happened to the dumpling in my mouth?" [...This System isn't responsible for food-related matters.] "Then what about my mom? She's waiting in the 34Reads—Score—14d adds
4. 4 重 Reborn in the Eighties: No More Being a Doormat! This Is So Satisfying 重生八零，不再当受气包！爽翻天 Qing Li青笠Modern Romance265k WordsCompleted [1980s setting + plot-driven + slow burn + reborn + making money + entrepreneurship + daily life + heartwarming + steady and gradual + family matters + building wealth + one-on-one romance + happy ending] In her previous life, Chen Baorong worked herself to the bone to support her family. Eventually, she fell ill from overwork. She had no children, and only before she died did she discover her scumbag husband’s affair with her younger sister. When she opened her eyes again, Chen Baorong had retu 19Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   The period drama is a slow-burn story. The female lead breaks off her engagement at the beginning, avoids entanglements with the male supporting character, uses the compensation money to start a business—from a street stall to a tailor shop and a large factory. But every scene involving the male and female leads is very engaging!

5. 5 千 I Traveled a Thousand Miles to Join My Husband, Only to Be Rejected? The Military Wife Is So Capable, the Nation Has Its Eye on Her 千里奔夫被嫌？军嫂太强国家盯上 Sweet Blossoms on Brocade锦上甜花Modern Romance800k WordsOngoing [Romance] [Military Marriage] [Agricultural Research] [Pride and Prejudice] Renowned agricultural scientist Lin Hongying has become a country girl who traveled a thousand miles to join the army and seek refuge with her fiancé. She is dressed in rags, gaunt and sallow, and seems both unsophisticated and uneducated. Everyone tells her arranged marriages never bring happiness. Everyone looks down on her and despises her. Look down on her? Despise her? So what? She has a heart full of ambition to 6.4kReads9.3Score46814d adds

   Reader note

   The first book features a female protagonist dedicated to agriculture, while the male protagonist is a pilot. Their romance is relatively minor, focusing primarily on the female protagonist's career. The second book features a very calm and clear-headed female protagonist who doesn't dwell on love and romance, choosing only what's most advantageous for herself. She marries the male protagonist solely because he earns a lot, has a harmonious family, and doesn't go home much.

6. 6 穿 I Became an Army Wife in the 1970s 穿到七零年代当军嫂 Shui Bo1984水波1984Modern Romance778k WordsCompleted [Period]+ [Space]+ [Family Life]+ [No Going to the Countryside] Xu Di was born in the 1980s. After graduating from high school and failing to get into college, she spent two years working a sewing machine in a clothing factory. At twenty, she found a match through a blind date, got married, and had a child. In 2020, Xu Di, who was always bottling up her anger, was diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer. She underwent surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, and her short life came to an en 16.2kReads9.1Score1.4k14d adds
7. 7 逼 You’re Forcing Me to the Countryside? This Scientist’s Wife Will Empty Your Whole House 逼我下乡？科研军嫂搬空你全家 Huihui Cat茴茴猫Modern Romance7.6M WordsOngoing [Military Marriage + Period Setting + Powerful Lead + Face-Slapping + One-on-One Romance] Xia Li, a powerful wielder of both thunder and space abilities, had just come through the apocalypse. She became the founding general entrusted with the New World's Omniscient Eye System, ready to enjoy a quiet retirement. She only took a short nap, but transmigrated instead. After transmigrating, she faced two choices: Either marry a self-important mama's boy who expected her to put up with his mistress af 125kReads9.4Score10.2k14d adds

   Reader note

   The romance between the male and female leads hasn't progressed at all in the last 500 chapters 😳 There's no ambiguity whatsoever.

8. 8 重 Reborn in the 1980s, I Take My Mom With Me to Get a Divorce 重生八零，我带着妈妈一起离婚 A Little Tree Sprout一点小树芽Modern Romance104k WordsOngoing Period setting + face-slapping + multiple male leads + building wealth + size difference Zhou Xiaoya transmigrates to 1985. In three days, she’s supposed to marry her aunt’s dim-witted son. She chooses to call off the engagement, but his father won’t let her. He beats her, and he beats her mother, too. Then we’re done with this family. Mom, I’ll take care of you! 363Reads—Score10914d adds

   Reader note

   I recommend this book; I personally think it's quite good. It's not mindless, the logic is sound, and the author clearly came from that era. It's realistic and unpretentious. A good read!

9. 9 七 The 1970s Villain Dotes on His Little Wife 七零反派娇宠小媳妇 Lan Yalan澜雅澜Modern Romance851k WordsCompleted [Complete] [Period Drama + Transmigrate into a Book + Sweet Romance + Rugged Man + She Pursues Him] Wen Zhizhi transmigrates into a book and becomes the runaway wife of the story's twisted villain. Afraid that the tragic ending from the book will befall her again, she has no choice but to sweet-talk the villain every day and keep him happy. But somewhere along the way, things start to feel a little off… Cao Erman: “Wifey, you're so good to me.” Wen Zhizhi: “…” Cao Erman: “Wifey, you're so beaut 4kReads8.8Score25414d adds
10. 10 七 The 1970s: Reborn as a Cannon Fodder Educated Youth Bride to a Rough Country Man 七零：穿成糙汉的炮灰知青前妻 Wild Radish狂野萝卜Modern Romance1.1M WordsCompleted (Period setting + rugged hero + sweet romance + devoted to each other) After getting drunk one night, Wei Jingjing slept with Lu Zheng, the strongest and most rugged man in a period novel she had read. She was the early-death cannon-fodder female supporting character, a young intellectual sent to the countryside. Though this character came from a decent family and was beautiful and vibrant, she was hopelessly in love with the male lead, the young intellectual Jing Chen. To make him jealous, she 4.5kReads9.1Score67914d adds
11. 11 七 Marrying a Rugged Disabled Man in the 1970s, I Bring a Warehouse and Make My Husband and Son Thrive 七零嫁残疾糙汉，带仓库旺夫旺仔 Achoo Achoo啊啾啊啾Modern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted The short drama adaptation, The Seventies' Lucky Little Wife, is now streaming [Complete] [Rugged Hero + Sweet Wife + Gourmet Food + Transmigrate into a Book + Pocket Dimension + Secret Identity + Feel-Good Story] Jiang Congyu, a top chef who had cooked for the finest state banquets, was suddenly killed when a crystal chandelier fell on her while she was cooking. When she opened her eyes, she had transmigrated into a book she'd read before. And the timing couldn't be worse: it was her wedding ni 15kReads9.3Score2k14d adds
12. 12 重 Reborn in an Era of Hardship: The Tough Wife Is Terrifying! 重生年代之悍妻超凶哒！ Bodhi Fruit菩提果Modern Romance1.6M WordsCompleted Xia Ranan never imagined she would end up transmigrating into a wretched woman who caused trouble at every turn, loved eating and hated working, and was carrying on with another man. Her husband was away serving in the army, leaving behind his six- or seven-year-old younger brother, but the original owner had beaten the boy so badly he was bedridden! Faced with a thousand pointing fingers and ten thousand scolding voices, Xia Ranan declared, “I’m not taking the blame for this!” She wasn’t a wret 1.6kReads9.0Score22614d adds
13. 13 重 Reborn in the 1960s: The Supporting Character with the Wrong Script Makes Her Fortune 重生六零：拿错剧本的女配要发家 Lin Pu林葡Modern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Zhao Wanqing was reborn in the final year of the 1960s. Somehow, she ended up marrying the most handsome and cultured man in the village. And she was already pregnant, too. Her family was dirt poor, but at least she didn’t have any awful relatives. Zhao Wanqing glanced at her System, then felt around her pocket dimension. Time to get rich! 14kReads9.0Score99414d adds

    Reader note

    I've read them all, and I highly recommend the second and fifth books.

Other lists with In This Life, I Reconcile with My Old Wounds