Looking for Good Period-Era Novels 😭 (Something Close to Real Life) 求好看的年代文😭（想要接近现实的）

1. 151 俺 My Mother, Wang Juzhen 俺娘王菊珍 An Xin Dui Yang安心对阳Modern Romance832k WordsOngoing [Based on real life + hardship + historical era + the struggles and perseverance of ordinary people at the bottom of society] This is not a feel-good power fantasy. The protagonist of this book is my beloved and respected great-grandmother, a poor old woman who struggled through the surging tide of an era. Wang Juzhen never had an easy life. Her parents starved to death while fleeing famine, her own sister sold her for a mouthful of grain, and a landlord lusted after her. Only Wang Long gave her 109Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   Good books are rare these days, but this one is one of them. It's not sentimental or contrived; it simply tells a story quietly, yet it touches the softest spot in your heart. After closing the book, you'll have a better understanding of life and a more compassionate heart.

2. 152 七 The Cherished Darling of the 1970s: The Government Official Husband Turns on the Charm 七零娇宠：政界老公撩上瘾 Fourth Master Ah肆爷啊Modern Romance1.5M WordsOngoing (Leave your brain here and pick it up after you've finished!) After completing her final mission in the quick transmigration world, Guan Fuyao was determined to spend her retirement in a comfortable, well-off family. The System granted her wish, but didn't tell her which era it would be. It sent her into a period novel, where she entered the body of an eighteen-year-old girl with the same name. She'd just graduated from high school and was facing assignment to the countryside. Just as she was pl 20.9kReads8.3Score2k14d adds
3. 153 穿 She Made a Killing After Transmigrating to the 1970s 穿越七十年代后她赚麻了 Fourth Master Ah肆爷啊Modern Romance1.4M WordsCompleted (Complete. Brain storage: come back here to reclaim your brain after you finish reading. Love you all!) Zhou An'an, a little princess from the 23rd century who had just lost her grandfather, got a recommendation for a novel from her best friend after acquiring a pocket dimension. Her friend then dragged her into frantically stockpiling supplies. Just as she finished explaining everything, Zhou An'an transmigrated to the early 1970s in a parallel world and became the mother of triplets without ev 5.7kReads8.7Score56814d adds
4. 154 重 Reborn in the 1960s: A Baby Bottle in One Hand, a Pocket Dimension in the Other 重生六十年代她左手奶瓶右手空间 Fourth Master Ah肆爷啊Modern Romance885k WordsCompleted Tang Hua, an all-around female warrior from the apocalypse, arrived in the underworld after dying alongside the Mutant King. The King of Hell wanted to send her to the 1960s and have her put a chaotic era, thrown into disarray by the male and female leads, back on the right track. She refused. She absolutely refused. The King of Hell had no choice but to send her soul directly back to that era, reborn as a baby. A baby who couldn’t feed, wash, or relieve herself? She was so angry she wanted to c 4.3kReads9.0Score30114d adds
5. 155 九 Reborn in '93: An Old Man's Youthful Ride on the Tides 九三重生：老朽少年踏浪潮 Author Daiwa作者呆娃Urban248k WordsOngoing [Reborn] [Urban Farming] [Soul Transmigration] [Making Money] [Stock Trading] [Urban] [Transmigration] [One Heroine] On July 9, 2026, 64-year-old Di Lei unexpectedly transmigrates back to 1993 while playing mahjong. Drawing on his life experience, he starts over and writes a new chapter in his life. This novel is written in a rough, down-to-earth style. 28Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   The first one is a historical text.

6. 156 2 In 2034, I Became the World's Richest Man with Just One Game 2034年，我成为了世界首富，只用一款游戏做到的 Author Daiwa作者呆娃9k WordsCompleted In 2034, I Became the World's Richest Person with Just One Game 7Reads—Score—14d adds
7. 157 你 Your Childhood and Mine Were Actually the Same 你的童年，我的童年，其实都一样 Author Daiwa作者呆娃7k WordsCompleted Your childhood and my childhood were really just the same 11Reads—Score—14d adds
8. 158 3 A 37-Year-Old Man's Dating Diary 37岁老男人的相亲笔记 Author Daiwa作者呆娃Marriage & Romance8k WordsCompleted A 37-Year-Old Man's Dating Diary 8Reads—Score—14d adds
9. 159 亿 A Billionaire Boss Goes Broke and Starts Selling Egg Pancakes 亿万老总破产后卖鸡蛋饼 Author Daiwa作者呆娃8k WordsCompleted Billionaire Boss Goes Broke and Starts Selling Egg Pancakes 15Reads—Score—14d adds
10. 160 妈 The Seventh Door of Mother 妈妈的第七扇门 Tale of the Literary Star文星传Urban304k WordsCompleted For a long time, I never understood my mother’s past. This was the first time I had looked so deeply back on her life: one generation of women interpreting another. In the 1990s, my eighteen-year-old mother left a small mountain village in Nanyang and headed alone for the glittering city. A scrap of gum wrapper brought her face to face with the calamity of her life: Liu Dawang. And so the door to her fate opened. She made a living in urban villages and hotpot restaurants, leaning on her best fr 678Reads—Score6414d adds

    Reader note

    This isn't a wish-fulfillment story; it's a true account of a woman's survival in the 1990s: beauty is the key to success, conscience is a stumbling block, but she didn't throw away either, and forged a third path.

11. 161 重 Reborn 20 Years Ago: From Street Tough to Upstanding Young Man 重生20年从顽主到四有青年 Mr. Red Flag红旗先生Urban1.7M WordsCompleted [Reborn] [No System] [Ensemble cast] [Everyday life] [Business rivalry] [Romance] [Martial world] Does being reborn count as rebirth if you have no memories of your past life? In 2024, business tycoon Chen Yuanping is framed and sent back to the autumn of his nineteenth year. A completely different life begins... At the foot of the imperial city, in Liulichang. A group of young people born in the sixties and seventies leave the crowded courtyard houses in the hutongs, carrying their dreams 4.2kReads7.5Score21314d adds

    Reader note

    I recommend a unique period drama. It's the story of a group of people born in the 1970s growing up. In that wild and untamed era, everyone was striving and fighting for a better tomorrow. It touches on friendship, family, love, business intrigue, and more. It's very good. Readers tired of typical "power fantasy" novels should definitely check it out. You won't regret it.

12. 162 重 The Reborn Prosperity-Bringing Bride: A Sweet Second Life for a Returned Educated Youth 重生旺家媳：重生知青有点甜 Panpan Loves Milk Tea盼盼爱奶茶Modern Romance141k WordsCompleted Period setting, reborn, doting romance, sweet romance, building a fortune, rough-edged man and educated city girl After hearing the truth, she finally understood how terribly wrong she had been! Her husband died by suicide, her child drowned, and her family was destroyed. She opened her eyes and was reborn in 1980! The System activated, and she gained a pocket dimension. She rushed back to the countryside that very night! Weeping, she cried, "I'll never leave you again!" In this life, she'll che 2.1kReads—Score12714d adds

    Reader note

    Sweet Romance Novels

13. 163 重 Reborn in the Seventies: I’ll Love the Short-Lived Supporting Character 重生七零，短命路人甲我来爱 Panpan Loves Milk Tea盼盼爱奶茶Modern Romance189k WordsCompleted Reborn out of nowhere, Li Jingsu is stunned. Luckily, she gets a pocket dimension and plenty of supplies, so even if she decides to lie flat, she’ll be fine. Wait, she’s transmigrated into a book?! Don’t be scared, short-lived passerby A. I’ll save your life! What? You’re confessing after meeting me just once? Th-this is moving way too fast… Lu Huaimin, the passerby A: “You saved my life. I should repay you by giving you mine.” After that, the two work hard together and lead the villagers to pro 108Reads6.4Score—14d adds
14. 164 穿 I Transmigrated into the Ex-Wife Who Abandoned Her Husband and Child, and Now I’m Terrified 穿成抛夫弃子的前妻，我瑟瑟发抖 Panpan Loves Milk Tea盼盼爱奶茶Modern Romance290k WordsCompleted Overnight, she transmigrates into the body of a pregnant woman! The kind who later abandons her husband and child and runs off with the money. Her daughter dies tragically, while her ex-husband is wrongfully imprisoned for ten years. She trembles with fear! Thankfully, when she transmigrates, none of it has happened yet. There's still time to change everything... 246Reads—Score—14d adds
15. 165 舔 The Reborn Simp Dumps the Scumbag and Starts a Happy Life 舔狗重生，撕渣男，开启美满人生 Panpan Loves Milk Tea盼盼爱奶茶Modern Romance260k WordsCompleted [Reborn in a bygone era, sweet romance, mutually devoted, one-to-one romance, a pocket dimension golden finger] In her previous life, the System forced her to be a lovesick fool. All it took was one sweet word from the scumbag, and she was controlled into doing all kinds of stupid things. She spent money on him until she had none left, then stole from her family. When they refused to give her more, she borrowed from loan sharks. In the end, her eldest brother was beaten and crippled while trying 62Reads—Score214d adds
16. 166 真 The Real Heiress Transmigrates to the 1970s 真千金穿越70年代 Panpan Loves Milk Tea盼盼爱奶茶Modern Romance246k WordsCompleted A sweet romance! Both leads are inexperienced! One-on-one pairing! In the modern world, Bai Dongmei was the daughter of a wealthy family who had been lost as a child. She thought being reunited with her birth family would be the start of an even happier life, but who knew their adopted daughter was so scheming? There was no happy life, only one disaster after another. After being framed by the fake heiress yet again, she transmigrates into the body of an educated youth sent down to the countrysi 14Reads—Score—14d adds
17. 167 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 194Reads—Score—14d adds

    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.

18. 168 小 The Little Bridge Cave Family Compound 小桥洞家属院 Miss Lego乐高小姐Modern Romance500k WordsCompleted [Period Setting] [Ensemble Cast] [Everyday Life] The results came out a few months after it was completed. This novel is fantastic! Zhang Yan and Deng Yang were born in the Xiaoqiaodong factory compound and grew up beneath the chimneys of the State Chemical Plant. There was no glamour or respectability here, only the bustle of daily life, sweat, arguments, and warmth. In 1997, as firecrackers exploded to celebrate Hong Kong's return, they still thought their parents would wear their work uniform 591Reads8.1Score10214d adds

    Reader note

    This is a true story!

19. 169 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 179Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    A high-quality historical novel, close to reality, highly recommended.

20. 170 七 The Family's Beloved Girl: The Cannon-Fodder Darling of Her Terrible Family 七零团宠：极品家人的炮灰娇娇女 Ten Red Leaves十红叶Modern Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Brooding, Brawny Man + Sweet Wife + Completed] Lu Jiajia is delicate and soft. Then, in the blink of an eye, she becomes a useless cannon-fodder character in the 1970s, with a whole family of vicious oddballs in tow. Yet in an era that favors men above women, she is the apple of her family’s eye. Her father and mother: “Jiajia is our precious girl. She deserves to be spoiled.” Her brothers: “My sister is frail and sickly. How could she do farm work!” Lu Jiajia: “…I want the ultimate winning han 105.5kReads9.4Score9.8k14d adds

    Reader note

    Highly recommend checking out [Sparrow's Delight]! A fantastic period drama with excellent writing and delicate emotional descriptions 👍👍! Lu Jiajia, delicate and frail, unexpectedly becomes a useless cannon fodder in the 1970s, along with her entire vicious family. Yet, in this extremely patriarchal era, she is the family's precious darling. Lu's parents: "Jiajia is our darling, she must be pampered." Her brothers: "My sister is weak and sickly, how can she do farm work!" Lu Jiajia: ... I need a royal flush! Lu Jiajia kicks away the gigolo and finds the strongest man in the village...🍉

21. 171 错 Wrongly Married in 1975: The Rugged Man and the Sophisticated Beauty 错嫁1975：糙汉与御姐 Wan Qian, Who Loves Cantonese Soup爱吃广府汤的万千帝主Modern Romance475k WordsCompleted [Period setting + military marriage + marriage first, love later + farming + cuisine] [Realistic and down-to-earth + slice of life + light comedy + heartwarming] Qiao Yujie, a 34-year-old elite doctor. During the Qingming tomb-sweeping festival, she bowed nine times to her ancestors, and five thousand strings of firecrackers burned to ash Then she was gone. When she opened her eyes again, it was 1975, and she was being "packed off" to marry a man in a military district. Her fiancé had gone fro 181.2kReads8.3Score25.7k14d adds

    Reader note

    A realistic period drama, not exaggerated or melodramatic, depicting life as a military dependent, with lighthearted humor, contrasts, and wit.

22. 172 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 233Reads8.1Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    A realistic and engaging socially accurate historical novel set in the past.

23. 173 尾 The Tail Fire Tiger and Kui Wood Wolf 尾火虎奎木狼 Rein in My Horse, Brandish My Blade勒马横刀Urban491k WordsCompleted As the old saying goes: Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles; traveling ten thousand miles is not as good as meeting countless people; meeting countless people is not as good as spending every day with masters; and having an expert show you the way is not as good as reaching enlightenment on your own. Over the years, I’ve read plenty of books, traveled many roads, met many people, and experienced many things. I’ve also spent time with masters, and gained a fe 9Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    It's basically a memoir, very realistic, you might want to consider it.

24. 174 闯 Heading to the Northeast: Lin Erni's Bumpy Road to Happiness 闯关东：林二妮的颠簸幸福路 Liu Piao留飘Modern Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [No contrived twists] [No cheat powers] [Traditional] [Realistic] [Period] [Rural] [Hardship] [Inspirational] Lin Erni was born in Heze, Shandong, and married into Harbin in the Northeast. She struggled to get by amid the freezing snow in the mountains, then later had no one to rely on and went alone beyond the mountains to make a living. The first time, she was tossed from one place to another like a bag of steamed buns, made a child bride, and beaten and cursed. The second time, her father sol 21.8kReads9.4Score2.1k14d adds

    Reader note

    This book guarantees that the characters are absolutely real people from real life.

25. 175 风 The Playboy and the Five Golden Flowers 风流之子与五朵金花 Thirteen of Me十三个我Urban420k WordsCompleted [Completed] If you happened to click on this, please read a few more pages, or even a few dozen, and help boost my stats. Thanks for your support! This is the story of a group of people who came from elsewhere to work and put down roots in Zhuhai. They fall in love, get married, buy homes, and have children. The first half covers their lives up to marriage. The second half explores marriage, human nature, changes in society, and growing up in middle age. This novel has a calm and gentle tone, pe 87Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    I can take a look at this one; it started in the 1990s.

26. 176 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

    No special space, no system, no cheat codes, the male and female leads are both educated youth sent to the countryside, a small ensemble cast, no awful characters, everyone is intelligent, and the plot fits the era.

27. 177 有 There Was a Girl Named Xiaohua 有个女孩叫小花 My Little Warm Jackets我的小棉袄们Modern Romance420k WordsOngoing My new work is here! You’re welcome to read it 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! This book captures some of the culture and food of rural northern Fujian in the 1980s and 1990s. Follow Xiaohua and her family as they work hard and lead warm, ordinary lives. No exaggeration, melodrama, or foolish antics. It’s not a feel-good power fantasy, and there’s no rebirth or transmigration. There’s no golden finger, just 33Reads8.9Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    1. A realistic story set in an indigenous era, without exaggeration, melodrama, or mindlessness. 2. A realistic story about the daily lives of urban working people, a tale of bread and love.

28. 178 徐 Xu Xue’er 徐雪儿 My Little Warm Jackets我的小棉袄们Modern Romance210k WordsOngoing The everyday work life of Xu Xue'er, an ordinary office drone and medical student, and the sweet romance that blossoms between her and engineer Zhou Dongyang... A warm, down-to-earth story filled with delicious food and all kinds of sweet, thoughtful interactions!!! 20Reads8.7Score—14d adds
29. 179 重 Reborn in the 1980s: My Wife Is a Little Spicy 重生八零：媳妇有点辣 Dressed in Splendor宝妆成Modern Romance5.0M WordsCompleted Her parents died young, her family was poor, and she was plain-looking. Xia Xiaolan had been dealt a terrible hand, but after nearly twenty years of hard work, she became an executive at a multinational corporation and finally put her life back on track... Then she wakes up to find herself reborn in the 1980s, as another Xia Xiaolan, this time with a face capable of bringing a kingdom to ruin. The original Xia Xiaolan had been dealt a winning hand, but chose to take her own life under the pressu 44.4kReads9.5Score5k14d adds

    Reader note

    Both of these period dramas are incredibly good, very down-to-earth, and not melodramatic—just the kind of stuff my readers love. I especially recommend the second one. The female lead, Jin Chanchan, died tragically in her previous life due to being obsessed with love, and is reborn in 2007, on the day after her college entrance exam. She tears up love letters and vows to only focus on making money, not on romance! The book features female characters helping each other, without competition or humiliation. The female lead is intelligent and resourceful, and the plot is fast-paced and engaging. Purely handwritten, purely original creation! Rejecting the clichés of typical wish-fulfillment novels! Fresh, trendy, and unique! High-energy and exhilarating from start to finish, lighthearted, funny, and heartwarming! Readers who jump in will definitely not regret it! [OK][Rose][Firecracker]🎆

30. 180 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… 11.7kReads9.4Score99414d adds

    Reader note

    In the 1990s, Xia Xueer accidentally walked into a casino and had a startling look at the underworld boss, leading her to the point of no return.

31. 181 欠 A Lifetime Owed to My Parents 欠父母的一生 Zi Bingfeng紫冰枫Modern Romance567k WordsCompleted {Period setting, alternate history, reborn, feel-good, no golden finger, everyday family life} Zhang Mianying spent her whole life striving and suffering, raising her son to be a success, only to end up alone in her old age. Regret, remorse, helplessness, and grievance: her emotions were a tangled mess. When she opened her eyes again, Zhang Mianying discovered that she had returned to the time before she went to college. Now that she had another chance, she would never foolishly spend this life 211Reads6.7Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Authentic rural life, period drama, genuine emotions.

32. 182 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

    This is a coming-of-age story set in a realistic era, eschewing the typical rebirth/power fantasy trope. Tired of the formulaic 1980s novels filled with rebirths, village bullies, melodramatic conflicts, and overnight riches, this book offers a refreshing change. It features no time travel, no spatial systems, and no exaggerated, high-conflict plots, focusing entirely on the ordinary lives of ordinary people. Based on real-life experiences, the story focuses on the complete life of an ordinary boy in a small town during the 1990s. The protagonist lacks a powerful persona or extraordinary opportunities; he is introverted and timid, his life filled with setbacks and hardships. His elementary school years are filled with glory, middle school with gossip and isolation, high school with wasted time, a missed opportunity with his childhood sweetheart, and a life of constant wandering and poverty as an adult. All these hardships are the real daily experiences of ordinary people from the lower classes of that era. The book avoids contrived family feuds, power struggles, and forced childbirth—the details of neighborhood life, school, and working life are faithful to the era. Living conditions and character mindsets are realistically portrayed, avoiding any detached, privileged settings. The writing style is plain and restrained, focusing on growth and the small, everyday moments. The regrets and blank spaces are natural and gentle. There is no revenge or reversal like in fast-paced novels. It focuses on depicting the quiet and bumpy years of ordinary people. It is suitable for readers who pursue realism and do not like exaggerated or melodramatic plots.

33. 183 到 In Another World, I Use Taoist Arts to Empty My Enemy's Warehouse 到了异世，我用道术搬空仇人仓库 Ling Ling Qi Xuan泠泠七炫Modern Romance913k WordsCompleted An alternate history setting. Please do not compare this story with real history! Gou Yunshu, a modern Daoist exorcist, was betrayed by her best friend during an exorcism. She was struck down by heavenly retribution, killed by a bolt of lightning. She transmigrated into the body of a young girl in the Great Xia Kingdom of the Republican era and discovered that her grandfather had been captured by the Japanese army. To rescue him, she took her younger siblings, bought a house, and left Laolongtan 1.3kReads—Score10714d adds

    Reader note

    A reborn old woman severs ties with her family and becomes incredibly wealthy through land expropriation!

34. 184 老 The Old Woman Is Reborn Before the Demolition, and Beats Her Evil Son and Vicious Grandson with a Stick 老太重生拆迁前，棒打恶子毒孙 Ling Yun灵韫Modern Romance3.3M WordsOngoing Old Madam Zhou spent her whole life worrying herself sick over her four sons. She even divided the property and cash she received from the demolition compensation among them. She thought she had treated them all equally and taken each son into consideration. But in each son’s eyes, she was biased, and they all resented her and refused to support her. Old Madam Zhou should have been enjoying her retirement, but instead, at her advanced age, she survived by collecting trash and eventually died of 52.2kReads8.6Score2.9k14d adds
35. 185 史 The Poorest County Magistrate's Wife in History Leads the Whole County to Prosperity 史上最穷县令夫人带全县百姓赚钱 Ling Ling Qi Xuan泠泠七炫Ancient Romance993k WordsCompleted Hang Ying, head of a reclusive modern-day clan, dies during an expedition and transmigrates into Yingzi, the wife of Xu Mengran, a penniless county magistrate in the Great Chu Empire. Who ever heard of a county magistrate being poor? Well, this one wears a patched robe, and his wife earns money washing and mending clothes to help him pursue a career in the imperial examinations. They have no maids or guards, the yamen runners look down on them, and a rich young lady even comes to their door to b 611Reads7.0Score—14d adds
36. 186 彩 Fifty Years of Bride Price: In 1974, It All Began with a Broken Engagement 彩礼50年，1974从悔婚开始 Uncle Wang Tells Stories王叔说故事Urban171k WordsOngoing In the bitter winter of 1974, Zhao Shuangzhu publicly called off his engagement and was given three days to come up with a hundred yuan for the bride price. He swallowed his pride and borrowed from every neighbor he could, took the old folks’ burial savings, and went into the mountains at night to hunt rabbits and trade them for cash on the black market. Dodging the market inspectors, he stumbled through the hardest hurdle of his life. He spent the rest of his life marrying, raising children, an 113Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Very real, with a strong sense of age, highly recommended

37. 187 快 Quick Transmigration: The Art of Splitting into Clones 快穿之：分身有术 I Promise You the Best Years我许年华Modern Romance416k WordsCompleted The most important thing in life is not where you stand, but the direction you face. In the real world, some people laugh, some cry, some shout, and some remain silent. Life is, in essence, an exercise in endurance. Beauty and ugliness, good and bad: everyone has their own feelings about them. Faced with this tumultuous world and the countless selfish thoughts crowding our minds, we often find ourselves wanting to do more than we can, because there simply aren’t enough hours in the day. But what 60Reads8.6Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    [Laughs][I also highly recommend it][Thinking][OK]

38. 188 半 Half-Mad 半痴 I Promise You the Best Years我许年华Modern Romance166k WordsCompleted Meeting you was the best fate of all, so why spend the rest of my years pining for you? I awoke halfway through my life as if born anew. Reborn, I returned, and my boat had already sailed past a thousand mountains. This is my first full-length novel, so it has plenty of shortcomings. I hope you’ll feel free to offer advice, and I thank you in advance. With your support and encouragement, I’ll work even harder. Let’s go! 4Reads—Score—14d adds
39. 189 重 Reborn: From the Start, I Can Hear the Young Intellectual’s Inner Thoughts 重生，开局就偷听女知青心声 Chief Steward of the Yang Household杨府大管家Urban388k WordsOngoing [The rating just came out and will keep rising!] [Period rebirth, farming, pure romance, slow-paced and not violent] If you like this kind of story, come take a look! If you don't, head on over to Tomato Book City, where plenty of great books are waiting for you! Su Yun is reborn in 1974 as an educated youth sent to the countryside. From the start, the educated youths' dormitory collapses, so he has no choice but to board with a local family. By chance, he ends up under the same roof as Lin Qing 1.6kReads6.2Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    This book is recommended.

40. 190 魂 My Soul Travels Back to 1972, Where I Raise Beauties and Ride the Tide of the Times 魂穿七二，培养美人横扫时代浪潮 Stars Can Set the Prairie Ablaze星星可以燎原Historical1.7M WordsCompleted [Period] [Sign-In] [Divine Doctor] [Space] [Farming] [Sweet Romance] A real estate tycoon transmigrates into 1972 and binds to the Red Dust Karma System from the start! Ling Feng uses supplies and skills to establish absolute authority, winning hearts through “feeding” and “protection.” Ling Feng has a portable space, peerless medical skills, and deadly combat abilities. He knows that in these unusual times, supplies give you face, personal connections are the substance, and your fists are your 13.9kReads7.5Score1.6k14d adds

    Reader note

    It's so good, come on, it's addictive, and it sounds amazing!

41. 191 重 Reborn in 1982: This Rogue Refuses to Become a Street Loafer 重生八二：浪子绝不做街溜子 What Is There to Eat吃的是什么Urban1.9M WordsOngoing Chen Weiguo is reborn on October 24, 1982, the day before his family falls apart. In his previous life, he was a no-good drifter: idle and irresponsible. He caused his wife and daughter to die tragically, and after his family was shattered, he had no choice but to leave home. He worked hard all his life, only to die alone. This time, he has the chance to start over. Life may be tough, but he's determined to shake off his reputation as a drifter and give his family a good life. Once despised by e 43.1kReads7.9Score4k14d adds

    Reader note

    [Add one to bookshelf][Add one to bookshelf][Add one to bookshelf]

42. 192 1 Another Spring of the 1977 College Entrance Exam 1977年高考又一春 Young Master Xiaoxiao孝孝公子Modern Romance3.6M WordsOngoing [A story-driven take on history. Note: There is no single fixed protagonist. Multiple leads reflect the changes of the era and offer a full picture of the 1977 restoration of the college entrance exam.] [The story focuses on several main characters: Hu Wei and Wang Ting, Pan Xia, and Lu Xiaoyun. Their stories weave in and out according to the timeline. If you prefer to follow one character at a time, you can read their chapters in sequence for a complete biography. The other characters may only 5.8kReads8.0Score41014d adds

    Reader note

    This is very realistic! The arduous process of the resumption of the college entrance examination during the era of educated youth sent to the countryside, the youthful years of educated youth going to the countryside and the stories of the bright moon in the countryside, the difficulties of returning to the city, confusion, love, and the college entrance examination—a true record of an era.

43. 193 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

    It's alright, it's already finished, so you can buy it without worry.

44. 194 八 A Warm Romance in the Eighties: A Transmigrated Couple’s Century-Spanning Promise 八零暖婚：穿越夫妻的跨世纪约定 One Bite of Red Bean Qingtuan一口红豆青团Modern Romance213k WordsOngoing [One-on-one romance + period setting + dual transmigration + System + marriage first, love later + raising a child + everyday life] In 2025, food lover Qin Wanwan was a history PhD student. One day, she transmigrated to 1985 and became an honest village girl who had only recently married. Faced with a mysterious, aloof husband and an adopted son of unknown origins, Qin Wanwan screamed inwardly! And with the System’s even more ridiculous missions, she was completely at a loss~ But she was already 28Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    The male and female protagonists from different eras travel back to the 1980s, enter into an arranged marriage that blossoms into love, and enjoy a slice-of-life story. They weather storms together and witness history. The story has elements of patriotism and a system (not much, mainly for comedic relief).

45. 195 隔 The Rugged Man Next Door Is Too Wild, and the Village Beauty Blushes in His Embrace 隔壁糙汉太野，村花害羞怀里娇 Qi Xiao Tong栖小桐Modern Romance558k WordsOngoing [Rugged Hero + Pure Romance + Marriage Before Love + Sizzling Chemistry + Sweet Married Life + Building a Fortune] [Delicate Village Beauty VS Cold, Rugged Neighbor] The night Song Qingshan returned to the village, he heard cries coming from next door before he had even entered his own home. He climbed onto a haystack and stole a peek. Poor Wen Sui was bent over a millstone, being beaten. She trembled with pain and sobbed pitifully, looking utterly heartbreaking. The sight set Song Qingshan’s bl 18.2kReads6.6Score65714d adds

    Reader note

    This book is a worthwhile investment; it's definitely worth reading.

46. 196 镜 Awakening from a Mirror Dream 镜梦觉 Zhang Guofu张国富Urban119k WordsCompleted What is a dream? Is it an illusion, an extension of reality from the tangible to the intangible, another “distorted” reflection of life, or perhaps all of these? And what is a mirror dream? I think it is a process of introspection: by observing, examining, and reflecting on dreams, one comes to an understanding and is then able to see what kind of person “I” ought to be. This book explores the theme “See as it is, think as it is, act as it is” through three main sections: Mirror Dream, Looking 24Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Not a wish-fulfillment novel, a rebirth novel, or a time-travel novel… *Standing at the Crossroads of Fate* and *Mirror Dream Awakening* are two novels grounded in reality, reflecting reality, and sincerely addressing reality. Their portrayal of reality is not for its own sake, but rather to help readers better understand themselves and achieve self-realization, enabling them to live better lives in the real world. *Standing at the Crossroads of Fate* primarily explores the personal choices individuals make amidst the tides of history through the life experiences of the protagonist, Sun Shigui (fleeing from war, family upheavals, emotional entanglements, workplace perseverance, etc.). The story is divided into five parts, covering multiple life trials from the old society to the modern era, ultimately concluding with the protagonist's return to his writing career, reflecting a questioning of the essence of fate. *Mirror Dream Awakening* is a psychological coming-of-age novel exploring the intertwining of reality and dreams, mainly revolving around the protagonist Gao Yangming's awakening process amidst workplace and emotional dilemmas. I once saw a quote that said, "When you feel tired and in pain, it often means you are on the road to climbing uphill." Youth is beautiful because we follow our hearts and do what we want to do and what is unforgettable. And all of these things point to the steps I, as a subjective being, want to become a better version of myself, which is why I have become a better version of myself.

47. 197 站 At the Crossroads of Fate 站在命运的十字路口 Zhang Guofu张国富Urban243k WordsCompleted This book explores Standing at the Crossroads of Fate through five major sections. 1. Fleeing for Their Lives: This section recounts how the protagonist Sun Shigui’s grandparents left their landlord’s household to make a life of their own amid the hardships of the old society, and how, after enduring countless trials during the War of Resistance Against Japan, they fled all the way from Nanjing to Shiqi Village and finally settled there. 2. A Life of Hardship: This section follows the many hards 57Reads—Score—14d adds
48. 198 刘 Liu Zhihao's Years of Youth 刘志豪的芳华岁月 Third Aunt from the Farm农家三姑Urban223k WordsOngoing [Period novel + workplace + family + society] The story takes its time to unfold, growing richer the further you read. It is grounded in reality, depicting social life, education, love, careers, officialdom, and rural life in the 1990s, offering a sweeping portrait of everyday life in that era. After graduating from university, the protagonist, Liu Zhihao, is assigned to teach at a middle school in his hometown. From then on, his life enters a new phase as he witnesses the development of educati 25Reads—Score114d adds

    Reader note

    Good period novels

49. 199 昂 A Life Full of Vigor 昂扬的生命 Pomegranate Blossoms in May榴花映五月Modern Romance616k WordsCompleted I dedicate this book to the first generation of only children, and to the teachers’ college graduates who devoted themselves to education in this land. Each person has only one life. How should we live this one and only life? Looking across history and around the world, many inspiring books have explored this theme. I, an unknown nobody, hope to join their ranks and have chosen the same theme. I hope my work won’t be lost among the masterpieces of celebrated writers. This work will focus on Ji 238Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    This book is an incredibly good period drama, a true reflection of reality.

50. 200 重 Reborn in the 1970s: After Divorcing, I Cleared Out My In-Laws’ Home and Went to the Countryside 重生七零：离婚搬空婆家去下乡 Laughing Mad Sword狂剑笑Modern Romance638k WordsOngoing [1970s Setting, Rebirth Power Fantasy, Spirit Spring Space, Making a Fortune, Miracle Doctor, Revenge] Synopsis: On the sixteenth day of her marriage, Xiao Mandong grabbed a thermos full of boiling water and smashed it over her cheating husband and widowed sister-in-law on the bed! In her previous life, she had given everything to support the Lu family, only to have her child switched, her loved ones die tragically, and herself left to die alone with terminal lung cancer. Reborn, she refused to 5.4kReads6.5Score60214d adds

    Reader note

    It's close to reality and looks great!

Other lists with My Mother, Wang Juzhen