Any More Realistic Stories Set in a Particular Era? Looking for Recs 有没有真实一点的年代文啊？求推荐

1. 301 重 Back to 1985: Tales of the Northeast 重回1985：东北往事 Heading North向北Urban1.9M WordsCompleted These are fiery years spent feeling one’s way across a river by touching the stones, a time of thriving vitality where the bold could eat their fill, and of wild growth where big shots were everywhere. The rules of this society have never changed: the meek fear the tough, the tough fear the ruthless, the ruthless fear the reckless, and the reckless fear those who don’t care if they live or die. But even those who don’t care if they live or die fear madmen. And so, Zhou Dongbei went mad. (TV adap 86.8kReads9.6Score8.9kShelves

   Reader note

   Let's not talk yet, let's watch first, and then we'll talk.

2. 302 长 An Elder Sister Is Both a Mother and a Father! 长姐如母，亦如父！ Zi Bingfeng紫冰枫Modern Romance1.4M WordsOngoing [A story set in a bygone era, with no transmigration, rebirth, or golden finger. Family life, rural romance, and a hard road to growing up.] Zhou Zimei thought she would soon marry her childhood sweetheart and fiancé. Then an accident happened, and she became what people called an old maid. Her younger siblings' tuition taught her everything she hadn't known how to do. The hardships of rural life, the warmth and coldness of human nature, and the struggle to keep growing... 41.4kReads8.2Score1.9kShelves

   Reader note

   This is a very realistic historical novel without any cheat codes or time travel/rebirth elements; it tells the true story of that era.

3. 303 9 90: Reborn, I Let My Husband Go and Pursued My Career, Then Married an Army Doctor 90：重生让出老公搞事业嫁军医 Dai Mengduole代蒙多乐Modern Romance502k WordsCompleted [Rebirth] [Period Setting] [Child of a High-Ranking Cadre] [Both Leads Have No Past Relationships] [Military Marriage] [Everyday Family Life] [No Space-Based Golden Finger] After ten years of living apart, Bai Yulan was still divorced, and her child was taken away by her ex-husband, who had gone into business and made a fortune. At last, her son graduated with a PhD and found a good job, only to call her over to look after his child. She worked herself to death. When she opened her eyes, Bai Yul 979Reads6.5Score109Shelves

   Reader note

   It's truly a 90s story, featuring an ensemble cast, no female rivalry, meticulous attention to detail, high fidelity to the source material, and avoids mindless wish-fulfillment. The male and female leads are intellectuals who don't hoard houses, and it's not a story of mindless wish-fulfillment.

4. 304 东 Zhang Erlü, Hunter of the Northeast 东北猎户张二驴 Hereditary Caretaker祖传饲养员Urban593k WordsCompleted Reborn + hunting + sign-in + folk tales. Return to the Changbai Mountains in Northeast China in the 1970s, and experience the hunting and mountain-running legends of the educated youth years, folk tales of spirit mediums founding their halls, and wilderness survival with hunting dogs. Everything you're looking for is here. 1.4kReads6.7Score102Shelves

   Reader note

   Male-oriented, set in the 1970s, featuring hunting in rural areas. Engaging, realistic, and humorous stories, including tales of young men, hunting in the remote mountains and rivers of Northeast China, and reflections on the lives of educated youth during the Cultural Revolution.

5. 305 重 Reborn in the 1960s: I Find Myself a Stepmother 重生60年代：我给自己找后妈 Gu Yue Er Dong古月耳咚Modern Romance681k WordsOngoing When Chen Guoping died of lung cancer, his mother was busy having a grand old time gossiping with the neighborhood women! In his previous life, she had kept him under her thumb since childhood: she wouldn’t let him take the college entrance exam, forced him to hand over his wages, and criticized every woman he wanted to marry. Ignoring the nature of his work, she insisted that he and his wife risk having a third child. In the end, he was fired for exceeding the birth quota, and his family of fiv 22.2kReads8.4Score1.4kShelves

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   This book made me so angry I threw my phone, yet so satisfying I slapped my thigh! The male protagonist was verbally abused to death by his own mother, and after being reborn, he doesn't seek revenge or make money; his first priority is to get a new mother! The stepmother is fiercely protective, while his biological mother throws a tantrum and gets a bucket of water thrown out! 100,000 Words have been updated; a must-read for anyone looking for something to read.

6. 306 稻 When the Rice Flowers Bloom 稻香花开 Liu Ningduochang刘宁多昌Modern Romance368k WordsCompleted The novel follows the hardships endured by farmers in two villages in Xiangnan County, Dongyuantun and Da’ai Village, from the Republican era through the founding of the People’s Republic of China and on through the people’s commune system, the Cultural Revolution, the household responsibility system, and the Reform and Opening-Up period. The villagers endure one hardship after another and witness the changing times. The protagonists, Zhang Yiping and Zhou Xueyun, are forced to leave school beca 216Reads8.1Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   A true account of rural life in a bygone era

7. 307 回 Memories of 1931: Hunting, Fighting the Japanese, and Raising a Family 回忆一九三一养家打猎打鬼子日子 Broken Little Toe骨折得小脚趾Urban2.9M WordsOngoing In 1931, the Japanese invaded China. Ling Feng hunted to feed his family and fought the Japanese to capture supplies. He and his good brothers enjoyed the good life, built houses, and got married. 17.6kReads8.5Score1.2kShelves

   Reader note

   It's all about being real.

8. 308 7 1979: A Happy Life Begins at a State-Owned Factory 79，进国营厂开始的幸福生活 Sugar Tangerine沙糖橘子Modern Romance234k WordsCompleted [Period romance + personal growth + family life + mutual secret crushes + true and fake heiresses + romantic tension + taking down scumbags] The protagonist joins a wilderness survival livestream, loses her footing, and falls to her death. She transmigrates into Xiao Caixia, a pitiful girl abused by her entire family. She turns the tables on her tormentors and lands a job at a major company. Bai Jianjun, a decorated military officer with a limp, gradually falls for her. Using modern rehabilitati 610Reads6.8Score100Shelves

   Reader note

   The material comes from real life. It's a very moving, delicate, and authentic read.

9. 309 重 Reborn in 1958: Grandpa and Grandson Stockpile for the Famine Together 重生58爷孙空间联动囤爆灾荒年 Asking the Sword, Listening to Snow问剑听雪Urban790k WordsOngoing Peng Yi built his fortune from nothing, amassing billions, only to have his own children pull the plug and abandon him in his final years. He died full of hatred. Kneeling before the grave of his beloved Su Wanqing as he drew his last breath, he learned that she had once carried his child. At just twenty-three, she had died in a famine, and mother and child had suffered every hardship life could bring! Heaven had shown mercy: Peng Yi was reborn in 1958, on the eve of their flight from famine! A 5kReads—Score452Shelves

   Reader note

   Authentic and engaging period dramas

10. 310 七 The 1970s: My Son and His Dad Both Have Off-the-Charts IQs 七零：崽和崽他爹智商双爆表 Li Jia Qiqi黎家七七Modern Romance1.2M WordsCompleted {The short drama is now streaming ♥ Title: The Best Mom in a Period Novel} [Alternate-history period setting + transmigrating into a book + adorable child + cozy everyday life] After transmigrating into a book set in the 1970s, Su Taotao faced two choices: 1. Follow the original plot, abandon her husband and child, return to the city, and rekindle her romance with her childhood sweetheart; 2. Do nothing and wait for her husband of convenience to show up six months later and take her back to the 22.2kReads9.3Score2.3kShelves

    Reader note

    This book is amazing, you'll know once you read it.

11. 311 爬 After Getting into the Wrong Bed, I Married an Army Hero and Was Spoiled Senseless 爬错床后闪婚兵王被宠得无法无天 Liu Youchun柳又春Modern Romance2.2M WordsOngoing [Period setting + military marriage + devoted couple + sweet romance] [Bossy, commanding mature woman who’s actually a sweet, seductive little minx x cold, reserved war hero who’s actually a secretly passionate, innocent big bad wolf] Leng Qianyue transmigrates into a period military-marriage novel and becomes a timid cannon-fodder woman who’s constantly bullied by her scumbag father and stepmother, then disappears after running away from home. She’s schemed against as soon as she arrives. He 673Reads7.9Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This period military romance novel has no cheat codes or special abilities; it's very realistic and down-to-earth, making it highly relatable. [OK] The male lead is ridiculously handsome and deeply affectionate, while the female lead is vibrant and lively, like a warm little sun. [Laugh] If you want to read a truly authentic novel, click here. [Thinking]

12. 312 我 I'm Good! Please Don't Hurt Me! 我很乖！请你不要来伤害！ Liu Li Fei Cheng刘李菲程Modern Romance697k WordsOngoing [Contemporary fiction] [Ensemble of women] [Scheming] [Red and Black] [Playing dumb while taking down enemies] [Clear-eyed heroine] A must-read for anyone born in the seventies, eighties, or nineties! This is a northern take on The Red and the Black, set in a glittering world of fame and fortune where everyone wears a false mask. The heroine seems sweet and obedient on the surface, but she sees things more clearly than anyone! She can live without love, but not without money! She can put up with 70Reads8.8Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    You say he's your ideal man, you say he's your sweet girl next door, come on, he's incredibly handsome.

13. 313 被 After Her Children Abandon Her Surgery, the Old Woman Is Reborn in the 1980s 被儿女放弃手术后老太太重生八零 Adorably Cute Little Eleven小十一萌萌哒Modern Romance375k WordsCompleted Era setting + rebirth + realistic slice of life + everyday life (a feel-good power fantasy where the heroine is either beating someone up or on her way to do so; a story about an ordinary person growing and changing) In her previous life, Feng Yun favored boys over girls. When she grew old and became useless, she could only watch as the unfilial son she had painstakingly raised abandoned her to die. She died full of regret. When she opened her eyes again, she was in her prime, and things had not 196Reads8.0Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    You can really immerse yourself in every character here—the female lead, the eldest daughter, the second and third children, and even the supporting characters. They all feel very real and down-to-earth.

14. 314 重 Back to the 1970s: A Village Girl's Path Beyond the World 重回七零年代，村女的破界之路 Green Grain Shining on the Fields青禾照野Modern Romance270k WordsOngoing [Elderly woman + reborn + 1970s + dumping a scumbag + no romance + family life + spatial storage] After being angered to death at the age of seventy, Zhou Qiuying is reborn in 1975. In 1975 in her previous life, Zhou Qiuying was an eighteen-year-old country girl. She gave up her secure job as an elementary school teacher to marry an educated youth sent down to the countryside. In return, her husband cruelly abandoned her after passing the college entrance exam, and her loved ones died tragical 168Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A very enjoyable period drama, authentic and unpretentious, with historically accurate details that make it easy for readers to immerse themselves in the story. It captures the everyday lives of ordinary people and is written in a smooth style. Highly recommended!

15. 315 讲 No Matter How Much You Cherish It, Nothing Lasts Forever 讲究终将不能长久 Ask About Work问问工作Modern Romance266k WordsCompleted This should be a story about a woman’s growth, set in a bygone era. A girl who has lived at the bottom of society since childhood works hard and thinks she has crossed into a higher class, only to realize she has climbed just one step. Exhausted, she resigns herself to fate and looks for someone on that same step to lean on. But the person she thinks she can rely on only wants to use her to climb higher. To achieve his own ends, he has to kick her down a step so he can leap a little farther. If 9Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    It's a true story set in a real era, focusing on real life. Take a look!

16. 316 校 The Campus Belle’s Diploma Is Torn Up? Her Devoted Officer Won’t Back Down 校花毕业证被撕？痴情军官死死磕 The White-Faced One of the Elixir Pavilion丹阁白面者Modern Romance791k WordsOngoing "Young Master Xiao, Who Has Kept to Himself for Years..." Era, modern romance, sweet romance; school life, campus belle, business and entrepreneurship, urban life, military, equally matched leads, technology and research. Thank you, readers, for your reviews. The book has received a rating. It may not have shot straight to the top, but every review you leave helps raise its overall score. Thank you for your support. I also hope new readers will give it a few chapters. You won't regret investing 579Reads8.2Score101Shelves

    Reader note

    A story by Xi Kangwen. Some say it could be adapted into a short drama, and some have even cast the male and female leads. 1. A major who has lived alone for many years... 2. The most extraordinary woman in the martial arts world, actually an abandoned daughter of the Empress! 😘

17. 317 穿 After Transmigrating into a Book, I Take the Children to Find Their Long-Dead Father 穿书后我带孩子找到他们早死的爹 Yan Sanyue燕三月Modern Romance583k WordsCompleted [Transmigrate into a book + 1950s + daily life + raising children] Su Zhaozhao stayed up all night finishing a period novel. When she woke up, she’d been tossed into the book’s world as the male lead’s early-deceased ex-wife, a character who wasn’t even given a name and was barely mentioned. He thought she was gone, and she thought he was dead. The ex-wife struggled to survive with her two children until exhaustion took her life. Then Su Zhaozhao landed in her place… In this era of shortages, Su 37.8kReads9.3Score4.2kShelves

    Reader note

    All of these are highly-rated masterpieces; there's bound to be one you'll like.

18. 318 青 The Phoenix Girl with Azure Markings Shines Over Rivers and Mountains 青斑凤女照江河 The White-Faced One of the Elixir Pavilion丹阁白面者Ancient Romance340k WordsCompleted Also known as: The Martial World’s Most Remarkable Woman Is the Empress’s Abandoned Daughter! A strong female lead, transmigration, sweet romance, devoted couples, two equally powerful leads, a deranged male rival, and a comeback. (The author's new book, Was the Campus Belle's Diploma Torn Up? The Devoted Officer Won't Let It Go, also known as Young Master Xiao, Alone for Years, is just as exciting. Follow it for updates!) Born a phoenix girl and a princess, Zhao Fei'er was abandoned by the empr 68Reads8.8Score—Shelves
19. 319 七 The Second Wife in the Seventh-Decade Compound 七零大院二婚妻 March Typewriter打字机三月Modern Romance2.0M WordsCompleted Era setting + family compound + raising children + regret and reconciliation + transmigration and revenge + love after marriage Liu Mianmian, a master of green-tea tactics, transmigrates into a period novel as a doomed supporting character who dies young. Her husband gets a job in the city and, after making a name for himself over the next few years, runs into his childhood sweetheart, the woman he's always carried a torch for. While the faithless husband and his first love rekindle their roman 3.4kReads9.1Score360Shelves

    Reader note

    1. Set in a rural northern China during the 1970s and 80s, the male protagonist comes from a poor family. His father suffers from dementia, but his mother perseveres despite her hardships, never abandoning her husband and son. The protagonist studies hard and strives to succeed, eventually carving out a niche for himself. The content is positive and uplifting. 2. The female protagonist transmigrates into a book as a rural woman with a daughter, abandoned in the late 1970s. She remarries with a divorced, retired soldier, and they build a family together. The story revolves around the female protagonist's pursuit of progress. The content is relatively realistic.

20. 320 穿 Transmigrating into a Book: The Stepfather in a Period Novel 穿书之年代文里的继父 Director Jiang, Who Likes Elephant Orchids喜欢象鼻兰的蒋院主Modern Romance581k WordsCompleted (The new book’s rating just opened, everyone. It’ll go up!) 1970s setting + sign-in System + raising kids + mutual devotion. The moment I open my eyes, I’ve transmigrated into a period novel and become the cannon-fodder stepfather who abused his stepchildren and eventually died miserably in a cowshed. I look at the three thin, malnourished children staring at me in fear, and their gentle, resilient but distant teacher wife. I silently activate the Daily Sign-In System. Today, a pound of meat. 98Reads6.0Score118Shelves

    Reader note

    Historical Fiction #DailyCheckInSystem Upon waking, Jiang Xiao found himself transmigrated into a historical fiction novel, becoming the cannon fodder stepfather who abused his stepchildren and ultimately died tragically in a cowshed. Looking at the three emaciated children before him, their eyes filled with fear, and his gentle yet resilient and distant teacher wife, he silently activated the daily check-in system. Today a pound of meat, tomorrow a bag of candy, and the day after tomorrow, rare fruit candy. While other children gnaw on cornbread, his little one has a poached egg hidden in his bowl.

21. 321 熬 Outliving My Wicked Mother-in-Law and Stepmother, I Survive a Century of Chaos 熬死恶婆后娘，乱世活百年 Han Zifeng, Who Loves Vegetable Yogurt爱吃蔬菜酸奶的寒子峰Modern Romance478k WordsCompleted [No contrived plot] [Not a wish-fulfillment novel] [No cheat abilities] [Traditional] [Realistic] [Period] [Rural life] [Hardship] Thank you all so much for your support and comments. Mom, my story finally got a rating! Though it only just came out!! Chen Xiulan was my maternal grandmother. She passed away at the age of 103. Only now does that promise I’d let lie for so many years pierce my heart: I once promised to write her a thick memoir. As a child, I was always clinging to her, listening t 795Reads6.7Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Adapted from stories of people around us

22. 322 时 A Painkiller for Time and Space 时空止疼片 Han Zifeng, Who Loves Vegetable Yogurt爱吃蔬菜酸奶的寒子峰Modern Romance188k WordsCompleted [Realistic] [You Were Once Here] [Beautiful] At 37, he should have been at the height of his fame, with a bright future ahead. But an unexpected fall from a building brought his life to a permanent stop at its most dazzling moment. I was just an ordinary fan who quietly admired him. One day, I happened to come across news about him, and an immense grief hit me so hard I could barely breathe. In my memory, he was always so radiant: earnest and focused at work, gentle and bright in life, with a s 7Reads—Score—Shelves
23. 323 未 I Never Told You I Loved You 未曾说爱你 Wisteria Blossom Brew紫藤花酿Modern Romance84k WordsCompleted At 47, Jiang Yao is the head of the consulting department at the China Association for Urban Digital Development. Rational and capable, she leads a stable life. During a business trip, she unexpectedly runs into Lu Hong at the airport, a former colleague she was forced to let go of twelve years ago because of reality and responsibility. Both have since gone through changes in their marriages, and now they meet again at a career summit. He is a regional executive at a leading company in the indus —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This is a story about time, reason, and courage. It makes readers believe that love is never late; it simply arrives in a richer, more meaningful way, quietly waiting for its destined partner at a turning point in life.

24. 324 野 Wild Chrysanthemums, No Tears 野菊花，不流泪 Shui Wenqiu水问秋Modern Romance508k WordsCompleted “The eldest gets doted on, the youngest gets spoiled, but the one in the middle suffers most!” In the late 1970s, under the weight of son preference and the pressure of family planning, Xiaojü was born in the middle. Her tragic life began from the moment she was born: an unwanted child, abandoned by both Heaven and Earth! When Xiaojü was four, the grandmother who had raised her passed away. In her final moments, Grandma told her that she had been born in a season when wild chrysanthemums were i 2.3kReads8.4Score159Shelves

    Reader note

    A more realistic period drama

25. 325 我 My Elders 我的长辈 Lion Mound狮子墩Modern Romance335k WordsCompleted In the 1980s, as people flock to the cities, all kinds of stories unfold! Mu Fang suffers from asthma, so many people keep their distance. After several unsuccessful matchmaking attempts, she meets someone on a day when sleet begins to fall. It feels like fate has brought them together, and they fall in love at first sight. Defying her family’s objections, Mu Fang marries her second uncle, who is more than ten years her senior. She never looks down on him for being poor and from the countryside, 312Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Historical fiction, literary quality

26. 326 林 I, Lin Daiyu, Have Transmigrated to the 1990s 林黛玉本玉穿到九十年代了 Mu Yunshu木蕴枢Modern Romance625k WordsCompleted [Little cutie + adorable child + everyone’s favorite + top student + ancient-to-modern transmigration + school life + Northeast China + raising a child] Lin Daiyu, who died after crying herself dry, transmigrates into a five-year-old girl in rural Northeast China. She lives in a brick house, eats coarse grains, and has to herd geese, dig for wild vegetables, and help with chores. But she even has to wear a sleeveless undershirt and shorts? Waaah, no, no, no… “What are you bawling about? Want noo 4kReads9.2Score418Shelves

    Reader note

    The era is relatively realistic, and it focuses on family relationships.

27. 327 腐 A Sour Story for Fujoshi 腐女酸文 Girl from the Old Days旧时丫头Modern Romance359k WordsCompleted Hello, everyone. I’m the author of this book, and also its protagonist: Yatou. This book tells the true story of my life. Every word comes from my own experience; nothing is fabricated or plagiarized. Over the years, I’ve weathered countless ups and downs and struggled through one storm after another. To make it this far feels like a hard-won miracle. Many people wonder about the meaning of the title, The Bitter Ramblings of a Fudanshi. It’s really a reflection of the first half of my life: “ 3Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    I unexpectedly discovered a treasure of a book—it's an autobiography! It's very authentic, yet also quite surprising. You can tell that every chapter was written with great care. [Thumbs up]

28. 328 穿 After Transmigrating to the 1980s and Becoming a Substitute Bride, I Became the Army Officer's Most Beloved 穿越八零替嫁后我成了军官心尖宠 Over Ten Thousand a Day日收过万Modern Romance1.6M WordsCompleted [Transmigration + Substitute Marriage + Military Marriage + Stepmom + Mutual First Love] (Fictional Military Marriage + Everyday Life as a Military Wife) Yang Niannian, a college student, was so furious after losing ten ranked matches in a row in Honor of Kings that she blacked out and transmigrated to the 1980s. The moment she opened her eyes, her mother was pressuring her to marry, sobbing and sniffling all over her. “Lu Shishen is a soldier with a secure government job. If you marry him, you’ 112.6kReads9.2Score14.9kShelves

    Reader note

    These books are all good; they're relatively realistic and not exaggerated.

29. 329 重 Reborn: Back in the 1980s to Make My Fortune 重生：回到八零当富翁 Frenzied Banana发飙的芭蕉Urban1.8M WordsCompleted A rebirth story set in a bygone era, with no mindless wish fulfillment, a single heroine, no courtyard-house drama, and a warm, everyday feel. Xu Erlong is reborn, returning to the eve of the day his family forced him to haul bricks at a black kiln to pay for his cousin's university education. Why should his cousin get meat while he has to make do with bran? Why should his cousin go to university while he is forced to haul bricks? Xu Erlong refuses to put up with it any longer and decisively 18.9kReads9.1Score1.3kShelves

    Reader note

    It included many photos from that era.

30. 330 山 Chronicles of Mountains and Rivers 山河志 A Dao阿刀Urban1.9M WordsCompleted His beautiful mother was nearly assaulted by a village lout, but she tearfully begged the man who rescued her not to call the police. Young Gao Yuan couldn’t understand why at the time. Only when he reached his thirties and looked back on the past, with those scenes flashing through his mind, did he realize that the lives of countless rural people together form a chronicle of the mountains and rivers of China! 84.2kReads9.6Score9.2kShelves
31. 331 黑 The Allure of Darkness 黑色之诱惑 Qiu Zimo秋子末Urban442k WordsCompleted By chance, Xia Xue’er steps into a casino and catches a fleeting glimpse of Chen Feng, the underworld boss. It proves to be a trap laid by fate. From then on, she is seized by the demon of gambling and takes one step after another toward the abyss of crime. The curtain rises on her tragic life… 12.6kReads9.4Score1.1kShelves

    Reader note

    In the 1990s, Xia Xueer accidentally stumbled into a casino and had a fleeting encounter with a triad boss, which led her down a path of no return.

32. 332 潇 The Late Sound of Drizzling Rain 潇潇雨声迟 Meng Zhiwan孟栀晚Modern Romance120k WordsCompleted Years after graduation, a gossip post begins circulating on the message board for City Experimental School. The school's 2011 beauty, Ye Xiao, and its most handsome boy from the same year, Ruan Yusheng, are a couple. Their classmates, who know them well, rush over to set the record straight: it's pure rumor. There was never any spark between the two of them. Ye Xiao's profile even says, “Person I hate most: Ruan Yusheng.” People in the know go so far as to say, “Ye Xiao feels nothing but hatred 81.1kReads9.7Score14.1kShelves
33. 333 逃 Fleeing Famine and Farming: A Country Girl's Struggle to Support Her Family 逃荒种田，农家女娃养家忙 Blue Fox蓝狐狸Ancient Romance257k WordsCompleted Fleeing famine in the early stages, farming and gathering herbs later on. Mingyue dies in a car accident and transmigrates just as a drought strikes. Her gentle mother says, “Xiaoyue, eat this poached egg.” Her father looks at her expectantly too. “Come on, eat up. You'll need the strength for the journey.” Her doting older brother brings it to her lips. Touched by the love of her parents and brother, she feels her heart stir. A young man gazes at her with deep affection in his handsome eyes. “Y 1.2kReads8.0Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Authentic rural literature that is close to real life

34. 334 民 Bandit Village in the Republic of China 民国土匪村 Uncle Li of the Island Reef海岛礁的黎叔Urban2.1M WordsCompleted Period-drama fans, come take a look! (Not a wish-fulfillment story, no ghosts or gods, no System.) It covers romance, household intrigue, bandits, fierce resistance against the Japanese, fleeing famine, and the lives of educated youths. Everyone who’s read it says it’s great! Hei Niu and Xiu Zhen could have lived happily together, but because Xiu Zhen was so beautiful, bandits set their sights on her. By then, Hei Niu had become the chief steward of the Huang family estate. He learned that ban 3kReads8.1Score435Shelves

    Reader note

    If you enjoy realistic, multi-female-centric historical fiction, you should definitely check this out! The book covers a wide range of themes including domestic intrigue, bandits, the War of Resistance against Japan, famine relief, the Korean War, and the experiences of educated youth sent to the countryside. You're guaranteed to love it! [Heart emojis]

35. 335 被 I Escaped My New Life After Being Traded in Marriage 被换亲的我逃出新生 Eighteenth Uncle十八叔Modern Romance143k WordsOngoing Zhao Xuemei had just turned eighteen when Zhao Youde traded her for 1,500 yuan in betrothal gifts for her older brother. She said, "Dad, when you send me to the Sun family, tell me ahead of time so I can change into a new outfit." Then she changed into new clothes, took her 58.3 yuan, and ran away. She wasn't reborn, and she had no System. All she had was a pair of worn-through cloth-soled shoes and a mouth bold enough to slap the village party secretary's desk. No one taught her how to make 2Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Take a look at this book, a true story of struggle and emotion.

36. 336 世 A Harsh World 世道维艰 Gu Keming古克明Urban505k WordsCompleted A series of kidnappings in Binjiang City in 2005 revealed a tangled web of underworld forces lurking beneath the city. During the special period when the planned economy was rapidly giving way to a market economy, Binjiang City required more than a thousand state-owned enterprises under its jurisdiction to complete their restructuring within a year, with 90% of them to be restructured. The unscrupulous businessman Shang Lei seized the opportunity to buy off and corrupt officials, using his conn 5Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This is a good book. It tells the story of the era of state-owned enterprise reform, written in a realistic style. Reading it alongside other similar books helps you better understand that era.

37. 337 上 A Shanghai Girl Raised on Rice Soup 上海吃泡饭长大的小囡 The Writer Who Writes in Shanghainese用上海话写作的人Modern Romance387k WordsOngoing After Shanghai Porridge, the author, who writes in the Shanghai dialect, has written another full-length novel in Shanghai dialect about life in Shanghai’s alleyways. It tells of the discovery and destruction of the Li family’s “heirloom treasure.” As people vie for the “rare treasure,” the novel reveals the many faces of life: some seize what they want by cunning and force; some are consumed by jealousy and covetousness; some are calculating, while others are calm as still water; some even sink 66Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Another Shanghai story written in Shanghainese, with intrigue, trickery, family ties, and love, all woven together in the quest for a treasure.

38. 338 七 The Sweet Young Lady of the 1970s 七十年代小娇娇 Plain Robes, Pure Melody素衫清韵Modern Romance1.3M WordsCompleted The moment the young educated youth Wen Wan arrives in Lu Jiazui, she becomes famous: famous for her beauty, famous for taking her time, and famous for her sharp tongue and soft, sweet manner. When the educated youths first arrive, Lu Dongping sees Wen Wan and thinks, How is this little thing supposed to work in the fields and earn work points? Whichever team gets her will be unlucky. Take her home and she'll be treated like an ancestor. Later, Wen Wan becomes his very own little ancestor. 1.3kReads8.9Score250Shelves

    Reader note

    In this real-life era, there is no reincarnation, no spatial dimension, and no system; there are only ordinary people's lives.

39. 339 总 The CEO Is Reborn: Back in 1984 as a Technician 总裁重生：回到1984当技术员 Operating Without Anesthesia不打麻药就开刀Modern Romance176k WordsOngoing [Rebirth + female CEO + taking on a state-owned industrial giant + changing her fate] Wei Yumei, an iconic designer in China's high-end fashion industry and CEO of Yunqifang, is reborn, returning to 1984 and the place that changed her destiny after she left: Nanfeng Silk Spinning Mill! Armed with memories of her past life and secrets gathered from the Nanfeng Silk Spinning Mill Museum, she enters an era when the planned economy and market forces coexist. For her parents, her boyfriend, and the m 4Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Does this count? It's based on a real silk spinning factory in Nanning. [Eating popcorn emoji]

40. 340 九 The Unhinged Woman of the 90s: I Started Getting Rich Working in Dongguan 九零女疯批：致富从东莞打工开始 Pile of Money钱堆堆Modern Romance959k WordsCompleted A realistic story set in the 1990s, with no rebirth, transmigration, or golden finger. Everyone in Anziping knows An Xiaowu is a total psycho. She's not only crazy but vicious, picking fights that turn into life-or-death struggles at the drop of a hat. But no one expected her to be so ruthless that she wouldn't spare even her own family. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, she fights her father for her life. "What's so special about New Year? If you mess with me, I'll dig you out of your cof 11.8kReads8.6Score1kShelves
41. 341 雨 There’s a Rainbow in the Sky After the Rain 雨后的天空有彩虹 Fire Rabbit Lantern火兔灯Modern Romance243k WordsCompleted When the college entrance exams were reinstated, Zheng Hongmei left her three-year-old son, Wenge, behind in the countryside. Wenge always dreamed of studying hard, getting into college, and finding his mother. Fifteen years later, on the very first day his adoptive father took him to college, he ran into her. His mother was a professor at the university, but he no longer recognized her. His adoptive father was the one who told him she was his mother. But his mother coldly told him not to distur 2kReads—Score130Shelves

    Reader note

    An inspiring story of an orphan of educated youth sent to the countryside. A good read.

42. 342 东 The Northeast Era Drama's All-Time Great King of the Waistline 东北年代剧天花板金牌腰王 Saint Seiya Star Bliss圣斗士星爽Urban2.7M WordsOngoing [Period] [Jiahao in 1980] [No System, Just Unbelievably Tough Luck] [The 1980s] [Reborn] [Satisfying Read] [The Strongest Second Sister-in-Law in History] [The Most Unhinged Novel in Northeastern Dialect] Li Qi is reborn, returning to the day before his kidney was cut out. In his previous life, his father put family ties first, his brother and sister-in-law asked him to sacrifice himself for everyone, and his younger brother cried that he wanted meat. So he steeled himself and donated his kidney 94.7kReads8.4Score6.5kShelves

    Reader note

    A hilarious, realistic, and logical novel set in rural Northeast China.

43. 343 重 The Reborn Tycoon's Rise 重生之首富行 Young Master of the Yu Family于家少主Urban540k WordsCompleted Back to the turbulent 1980s! Opportunities abound, and so do wolves. In his previous life, he was honest and diligent, crushed by big business and cheated by unscrupulous merchants. He spent his life struggling to get by, only to end up with nothing and meet a miserable end. Now reborn, he brings forty years of business foresight and knows every trend before it takes off. He tears up his mediocre old life and starts over! He starts out selling goods at a vegetable market, taking advantage of his 143Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    "Rebirth of the Richest Man" is a fast-paced and exciting entrepreneurial novel set in the 1980s! The protagonist seizes the opportunities of the times, starts from scratch in a vegetable market, and rises to become the richest man. It's a fast-paced and addictive read.

44. 344 八 The 1980s: The True Heiress Strikes Back 八零：真千金逆袭记 Birdsong in the Quiet Mountains鸟鸣山幽Modern Romance527k WordsCompleted [Period Setting + Military Marriage + Fake and Real Heiresses + Self-Improvement + Everyday Life + Striving] [The heroine grows quietly, then amazes everyone; she won’t take abuse and always talks back] Xia Xiaoxi lost both her parents at a young age. Her uncle’s family moved into her home under the pretense of raising her, took all the family’s money, worked her and her brother to the bone, and eventually tried to make her take her cousin’s place in an arranged marriage. Furious, Xia Xiaoxi fou 177.3kReads9.2Score13.1kShelves

    Reader note

    A realistic period novel is here! 😎😎😎 ① This one is so realistic that some parts are quite unpleasant. But the female lead is really resilient. [Laughs][laughs][laughs] ② This one is more heartwarming. The female lead goes from student to working professional, gradually becoming stronger, and gains family, friendship, and love. [Learned][Learned][Learned] ③ Transmigration into a book, no cheat codes.

45. 345 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 864Reads9.3Score120Shelves

    Reader note

    A realistic historical novel set in a specific period. Not bad.

46. 346 带 The Thorny Rose Blooms in Silence 带刺的玫瑰静悄悄地开 Flowers Bloom Along the Road陌路花开Modern Romance677k WordsCompleted A beautiful young woman from a remote mountain village goes through several relationships and gradually grows stronger and braver, becoming a rose with thorns. Determined to seize control of her fate, she works tirelessly and perseveres until she finally puts down roots in the city, where she also meets the love of her life. The successive deaths of loved ones and the hardships of life help her mature, and by middle age, she has finally built a remarkable life. 56Reads8.8Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The writing is delicate, the emotions are sincere, and the author's first-person narrative style makes the reader feel as if they are there! A realistic historical novel, highly recommended!

47. 347 穿 Transmigrate into a Book Set in the 1970s: Even a Slacker Has to Hustle 穿书七零，咸鱼也得卷起来 Hawthorn Syrup山楂糖水Modern Romance585k WordsCompleted Yun Shu transmigrated into a book, becoming a supporting character in a period novel. She didn't need to be sent to the countryside because she was already there. She didn't need to deal with horrible people because she was one of them. She didn't want to go back to school, but had to hide there to stay alive. She didn't want marriage to change her fate, yet rumors about her never stopped. She didn't want to attract attention, but kept getting thrust into the spotlight... She thought she had alw 3.1kReads8.9Score219Shelves

    Reader note

    Struggling to survive without a cheat code

48. 348 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 6.8kReads8.8Score611Shelves

    Reader note

    Real life, real experiences.

49. 349 七 The Rugged 1970s Husband and His Sweet Wife 七零糙汉娇妻甜蜜蜜 Bells Ring Across the Nine Provinces铃动九洲Modern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Military marriage + sweet romance + devoted couple + fraternal twins Lin Xiaoran transmigrates to the 1970s by accident. From the start, her family wants to sell her to an illiterate hooligan from the neighboring village in exchange for a bride price. To escape her predicament, Lin Xiaoran immediately heads into the city to find a match for herself, where she unexpectedly meets Shen Li, a gruff man who appears to have left the military. Everyone in the residential compound knows Shen Li is im 7.5kReads9.0Score849Shelves

    Reader note

    I recommend this one. The protagonist doesn't have any major cheat codes; he gets rich mainly through his own hard work.

50. 350 走 Through the Trials 走过劫难 Li Xinxin李馨欣Modern Romance275k WordsCompleted Disaster strikes a once-happy family of five. After suffering a heartbreak so piercing it feels like ten thousand arrows, how will a mother who has only just reached middle age, and is already frail and sickly, lead her three underage children through hardship and toward the future...? 137Reads—Score—Shelves

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