Any Stories About a Struggle to Succeed That Feel Close to Real Life? 有接近真实故事的奋斗经历吗？

1. 501 人 Clearing Away the Clutter of Life 人间除杂 Drunken Dream Sand City醉梦沙城Modern Romance1.0M WordsOngoing [Adapted from the real-life experiences of a rural woman college graduate] + [Drifting in Beijing] + [Two years alone in a rented room after losing her job] + [Cheated while looking for a rental] + [Parents seriously ill]. If these topics bother you, don't open this book. The reality is heavy. This is seven years of youth in the life of an ordinary country girl with no connections. At 28, I could have been an excellent hydrometallurgical engineer, skilled at removing all kinds of impurities from 21Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   This is completely true, but those looking for thrills should proceed with caution. Because it's based on the author's personal experience, there are no clichés, no satisfying moments, only the author's inner analysis. After struggling, the author ended up unemployed for three months, and how long that will last is still unknown.

2. 502 也 Rainy Days and Sunny Days 也是雨天，也是晴天 Drifting Together in Pairs成双荡悠悠Modern Romance117k WordsOngoing Perhaps one day we’ll no longer walk the same path, but the memories we made together shouldn’t simply be erased. Even if someday in the future you no longer remember me, I’ll silently remember you from behind. —Reads—Score—Shelves
3. 503 三 The Three Treasures Pagoda and Purple Gold Mountain 三宝塔与紫金山 Muzi Surong木子苏蓉Modern Romance114k WordsCompleted The story unfolds slowly between Sanbao Town in southeastern Yunnan and Nanjing, the ancient capital of six dynasties. Yun Kun, a young man from southern Yunnan, dreams of escaping the mountains. Through sheer perseverance, he rises from a poor boy to a faculty researcher at a military academy. Ning Xiang, who lives east of Nanjing, once enjoyed a peaceful, ordinary life, but the tides of the times bring a drastic turn: her household registration is falsified, and she is forced to move to the co 7Reads—Score—Shelves

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   Nestled among the towering mountains of southern Yunnan, Sanbao Town lies quietly in the folds of the red soil plateau; two thousand kilometers to the east, Zijin Mountain overlooks the bustling city of the Six Dynasties. These two place names, separated by a thousand miles, are connected by the footsteps of one man. Yun Kun was a child who came from Sanbao Town. He understood the poverty of the mountains from a young age, but what was harder to erase than poverty was the thought in his heart to fly out of the mountains. Later, he did indeed leave, all the way to the Military Engineering Academy, where he became a researcher in optics—working all day with lenses and mirrors, pondering how to make the eyes see farther and clearer. In eastern Nanjing, Ning Xiang lived a different life. In ordinary alleys and bustling homes, she should have lived a stable life along the lines of everyday life. But the hand of the times gently pushed her, and a falsified household registration pushed her onto another track. The wonder of fate lies in the fact that two lines that seemed never to intersect met at the foot of Zijin Mountain. Yun Kun carries the stubbornness of the red earth; once he sets his mind on something, nothing can sway him. Ning Xiang, on the other hand, is like a resilient willow by the Qinhuai River—gentle on the surface, but incredibly resilient when the storms come. Their union is not merely a union of two people, but a meeting of two different ways of life. In the impoverished days that followed, a speckled hen strolled in the backyard, a few loofah vines climbed the eaves, and Yun Kun crafted a kaleidoscope from scraps of wood, making ordinary light bloom—life was hard, but they found joy in it. The destinies of two generations unfold, connecting the long road from the smoke of the War of Resistance against Japan to the spring breeze of reform. Every year, the Sanbao Pagoda witnesses the mountain people upholding tradition while also trying to venture outward; every day, Zijin Mountain watches the city change, the new and the old constantly colliding. In this transformation, everyone must find their place—Ning Fa is too shrewd with his calculations, Ning Gui's shrewdness is tinged with calculation, Ning Zhonghua's fatherly hands support his family, and Madam Yu steadily shoulders the burden of managing the household. Ultimately, this is a story about food coupons, household registration, and daily life. The long queues for half a pound of meat, the legs worn out from running for a certificate, the bitterness swallowed to maintain dignity—these are all shared memories of this generation. But the story ultimately asks: when the great waves come, what should people hold onto tightly? In the daily changes, what can withstand the erosion? Perhaps the answer lies hidden in the silent vigil of the Three Pagodas and Purple Mountain.

4. 504 我 My Campus Life at a Certain Men's Technical College 我在某男子技术学院的校园生活 McDull Dreams of Traveling the World麦兜兜梦想环游世界Urban108k WordsCompleted I recorded every little detail of my campus life. Half a lifetime has passed, and it all feels like a previous life now. Classes, sports, clubs, romance, and even a national debate competition. I only went as a substitute and never got to compete, but apart from not studying hard, I can say I have no regrets. 2Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   It's a true story from a school campus.

5. 505 寒 A Poor Mountain Boy Is Bullied from the Start, Then Races to Become a Billionaire 寒门山娃开局被欺一路狂飙成首富 Old Stories from the North Slope北坡旧事Modern Romance521k WordsCompleted Born into poverty and raised deep in the mountains, he grew up looked down on, bullied, and trampled into the dirt. Everyone thought he was destined to rot away in the mountains. But no one could have imagined that the moment he was bullied, his life would turn around completely. He endured the harshest hardships and bore the most painful wounds, climbing up from the bottom one step at a time. He bowed to neither heaven nor earth, and relied on no one. Fueled by a fierce refusal to give in, he 37Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   This book feels very real, with a familiar feel to it. It's newly released and doesn't have a rating yet, but it's definitely worth following!

6. 506 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 2.5kReads9.5Score354Shelves

   Reader note

   A novel that tells the stories of two generations. Perhaps it's a story we all share.

7. 507 都 The City's Ultimate Player in Love 都市情场高高手 Wandering the World Without a Sword无剑走天涯Modern Romance304k WordsCompleted Lao Liu, an urban office worker, unexpectedly runs into the girl he had a crush on as a teenager. After much hesitation, he decides to pursue his youthful dream. Through a twist of fate, he ends up meeting his dream girl’s cousin by accident. Caught between the two women, he is confused and carried away by his feelings, yet too timid to act... 458Reads9.4Score105Shelves
8. 508 关 My Days as a Dumpster Diver in America 关于我在美国捡垃圾的日子 Boss Dai Who Loves Water Chestnut Cakes爱吃荸荠饼的戴总Urban149k WordsCompleted After committing every kind of crime in China, he has no choice but to seek a living in America. Unable to speak English, he can only scavenge for trash and hunt in the wild. Then, by chance, he helps a gang boss, changing the course of his life and rising to the top. 8Reads—Score—Shelves
9. 509 武 Martial Arts School Graduate 武校毕业生 Yu Xiaoyan预小言Urban1.1M WordsOngoing Martial arts school / traditional martial arts / realistic / passionate / brotherhood / jianghu Adapted from real experiences. No fantasy, no System, and no cheats. A true-to-life portrayal of what life at a martial arts school is really like. A boy defies his family's objections to pursue his martial arts dream. Day after day, he trains relentlessly at school, enduring the long, monotonous years of practice alongside his fellow students and brothers. After graduation, he enters the wider world, 742Reads—Score—Shelves

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   Based on true experiences and drawn from top martial arts schools in China! Purely documentary, rooted in the author's real martial arts training experience, without any cheat-like encounters, fantastical moves, or smooth-sailing growth. It restores the rigorous and monotonous daily training of martial arts schools, the pure way the teenagers interacted, and tells the true story of what it's like to graduate and enter society, shedding the halo of martial arts and facing the hardships of life.

10. 510 9 The 1990s: A Business Empire Built from Five Thousand 90年代：五千起步的商业帝国 Sun and Moon in Gold金中日月Urban843k WordsOngoing [Stock Trading + Ancient Wisdom + Comeback + Entrepreneurship + Opportunities of the Era + Romance] In 1997, on the eve of the handover, Lin Tiebo entered the stock market at its peak with 5,000 yuan in his pocket. It was all the money he had, and his only hope of finding Xiaomei. The first time he made a move, people laughed at him in public for “not even understanding the rules.” Yet this outsider used ancient wisdom from works like the Biographies of Merchants to buy precisely at the bottom a 1.3kReads8.8Score100Shelves

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    If you're tempted to give up after the first chapter, please persevere for a few more. When the protagonist begins to decipher the market manipulators' codes and teams up with their team to achieve a dual victory in both the stock market and business warfare, you'll be glad you didn't miss this rare and realistic masterpiece of business drama. The real excitement awaits you later.

11. 511 司 The Young People at the Judicial Office 司法所里的年轻人 The Flying Pencil Case飞翔的铅笔盒Urban104k WordsCompleted Fresh graduate Xu Daqi starts working at a judicial office. He goes from inexperienced and clueless to mature and steady, navigating the minutiae of grassroots work and the bizarre realities of life on the ground. After learning that good deeds are not always rewarded, he comes to understand that kindness must be accompanied by diligence. From suspicious-death investigations and land-flooding disputes to group petitions over contract breaches, he holds fast to the belief that public service is a 10Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A lighthearted, conversational novel about life within the system. Based on real experiences, written gradually. Welcome to check it out! [Laughs]

12. 512 黑 Tracking the Black Zone 黑域追踪 Eternal Restlessness无恒安息Mystery424k WordsCompleted A sweeping crime thriller about combating organized crime. All stories in this book are fictionalized adaptations of real cases and events. Names and places have been changed; any similarities are purely coincidental. A cold case has been pursued for ten years, and at last the gray sky screen over Linjiang is torn open. The corrupt empire collapses, and the protectors behind it fall from power. Detective Zheng Xiaotian wins the battle, yet chooses to leave the front line. His departure tells eve 41Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Life is far more exciting than novels

13. 513 我 The Twists and Turns of My First Half of Life 我这跌宕起伏的前半生 It's Me in August是八月的我Modern Romance65k WordsOngoing How can a thirty-year-old divorced woman at the bottom of society turn her life around? Exploited by her own parents and hurt by those closest to her, she fights back harder and shines brighter with every victory. This is a brief account of the first half of a divorced woman's life at the bottom of society. —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Based on true events

14. 514 查 The Charlie IX Story Collection 查理九世故事集 Cherry Blossom Snow Fate樱花雪缘Mystery270k WordsOngoing [Horror + Mystery + Alternate Universe + Anime...] Mo Duoduo: “Ghosts, the dead coming back to life, haunted houses, Tibetan mastiffs... Charlie, why do I feel like our adventures are getting more and more dangerous?” Charlie rolled his eyes and said disdainfully, “You scaredy-cat, Duoduo! The world has always been full of unsolved mysteries. Solving them is an adventurer’s mission!” 113Reads6.2Score—Shelves
15. 515 县 A Junior Civil Servant in the County Government 县直单位的小公务员 The Flying Pencil Case飞翔的铅笔盒Urban501k WordsCompleted My new work is out! You're welcome to read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you'll enjoy it. Your support motivates me to write, and I'll do my best to tell every story well! 88Reads—Score—Shelves
16. 516 铁 Rust and Blossoms 铁锈与繁花 Tian Yuefang of Deer West Island鹿西岛的田月芳Modern Romance136k WordsCompleted 1990s + inspirational realism + female awakening + a determined comeback + making a life far from home + workplace transformation + family ties + sincere romance + friendly neighbors At seventeen, she never imagined that the peachwood talisman her mother pressed into her palm would accompany her through so many storms: from the crowded sleeper cars of a green train to the fluorescent-lit workshop of an electronics factory; from an old night-school building overgrown with ivy to the desk in her o 648Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Authentic struggle, genuine feelings.

17. 517 冬 Spring Winds in Winter 冬季有春风 Three Lives of Joy三生欢Modern Romance783k WordsOngoing [Female Growth] [Childhood Sweethearts] [Turning the Tables Against the Odds] [Realistic] A girl battered by her dysfunctional family wants nothing more than to save the naive young boy who loves her. Life in the cramped alleyways is always the same, while the surging tide of the times takes everyone by surprise. In the winter at the end of the century, the gears of Xu Chunfeng's fate quietly began to turn. 3kReads8.0Score127Shelves

    Reader note

    # Highly Recommended for Book Suffering🔥Realistic Era Heroine | "Spring Breeze in Winter" Who understands! Tired of rebirth with golden fingers and mindless face-slapping wish-fulfillment novels? I've found this down-to-earth Shanghai-style entrepreneurial novel! 😭 Set in a Shanghai alleyway in the 1990s, the protagonist, Xu Chunfeng, grew up in the mire of male chauvinism. Her uncle's family constantly exploited her, her mother favored her younger brother, and one hardship after another plagued her family. On the day of her college entrance exam, she missed the exam to save her best friend, shattering her dream of going to university💔 She sadly parted ways with her childhood sweetheart, Li Dongdong, her youthful love defeated by reality. Starting as a saleswoman in a clothing store, she rose step by step into the foreign trade industry; then she encountered her mother being scammed and incurring huge debts, losing all her savings in the financial crisis, and being cheated out of her job by her own uncle, experiencing several setbacks in her life. There were no cheat codes, no lucky breaks, she gritted her teeth and endured all the hardships✨ After awakening, she no longer compromised and tolerated, breaking free from the shackles of her original family. Seizing the opportunities of the times, she and her partner embark on a cross-border e-commerce business in apparel. Leveraging the Belt and Road Initiative, they sell Chinese-made clothing overseas, resisting malicious suppression from foreign capital and becoming dazzling female entrepreneurs. The twenty-year love-hate relationship between childhood sweethearts is incredibly touching! The male lead isn't a domineering CEO; he's an ordinary person who grew up following the rules, defying societal norms for love, giving up high-paying jobs and stock options to endure hardship alongside the female lead. Their mutual devotion, long-awaited reunion, and enduring love are anything but artificial. The book depicts the wave of layoffs, alleyway demolitions, the rise of foreign trade, and the internet revolution, brimming with the atmosphere of the era. Family entanglements, reconciliation, female empowerment, and the everyday realities of life are all vividly portrayed. The characters are lively, with both pain and warmth, and the story has a powerful impact! ✅ No rebirth | No system | Realistic | Female growth | Urban entrepreneurship | Historical setting | Childhood sweetheart reunion. Sisters who enjoy reading about ordinary people striving against the tides of time and strong female protagonists building their careers, go for it! #BookRecommendationForSuffering#RealisticPeriodNovel#FemaleEntrepreneurialProtagonist#ChildhoodSweets#FemaleAwakening

18. 518 我 I'm No Stock Market Guru 我不是股神啊 Nine-Dragon Porter九龙挑夫Urban270k WordsCompleted I have no extraordinary talent, nor do I have a cheat-like golden finger. I’m so ordinary that I’d vanish into a crowd in an instant. But I refuse to settle for mediocrity. Gritting my teeth, I borrowed money and went all in on the stock market, plunging headfirst into its unpredictable rises and falls and ruthless battles... 9Reads6.4Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Three collections of realistic masterpieces recommended, all heartfelt stories rooted in reality and reflecting the times: 1. *I'm Not a Stock Market God* | Serialized urban novel, told from a first-person perspective, retracing decades of stock market ups and downs. Stripped of fantastical tropes, it realistically portrays the struggles and triumphs of early stock market investors, weaving together market dynamics, family bonds, and everyday life. The experiences of ordinary people rising and falling in the tides of history are exceptionally real and poignant. 2. *Little River, Little Stream* | Completed urban slice-of-life novel, focusing on the ups and downs of ordinary people's lives. Following the changing times along the river, it tells the stories of ordinary people striving for a living and supporting their families. The simple language reveals a microcosm of a generation's life. Completed without a disappointing ending, suitable for those who prefer a slow-burn, realistic style. 3. *Iron-Blooded Acacia* | Completed anti-Japanese war romance novel. Based on the bonds of family and country, and the choices, love, hate, and patriotism during the war years, the characters' growth is closely tied to the historical context, and the story is profound and historically rich. All three books are based on real-life logic and depict the struggles of life. Readers who enjoy documentary-style or period novels can choose to read them according to their needs.

19. 519 小 Little Streams 小江小河 Nine-Dragon Porter九龙挑夫Urban303k WordsCompleted This is an inspirational novel about ordinary Hakka people in the last century. Despite enduring countless hardships, these humble folk keep fighting and striving until at last they see brighter days. The book is full of childhood memories that left a lasting impression, as well as moving descriptions of farming life and young people chasing their dreams in and out of school. Reading it will set your thoughts churning... Hakka dialect, Hakka folk songs, Five-Line Ballads, and local Hakka customs 6Reads—Score—Shelves
20. 520 铁 Ironblood Locust Fate 铁血槐缘 Nine-Dragon Porter九龙挑夫Urban471k WordsCompleted As the nation lay shattered, the male lead resolutely set aside his brush and took up arms. Tempered into steel, he shed his blood to forge a “lifeline” for the resistance on the southwestern frontier. There he met the female lead, a volunteer with a medical rescue team. They exchanged “Mountains and Rivers” yellow locust-wood combs and Red Cross badges as tokens of their love, beginning a bond that would span lifetimes. The two leads met and parted again and again as fate took them through coun 1Reads—Score—Shelves
21. 521 重 Reborn in 2016: The Rise of Douyin 重生2016抖音风云 Rain Falls When the Wind Whispers听风就下雨Urban360k WordsCompleted At 46, Lu Chen was drowning in debt. His mortgage and car loan left him barely able to breathe, and he couldn’t even afford his two sons’ tuition. His wife endured the hardship alongside him without a single complaint. He worked himself to the bone delivering takeout, until he finally collapsed and died on the road. When he opened his eyes, he was back in 2016, the year Douyin first launched. That year, a funny video he and his wife had filmed on a whim went viral. They gained 50,000 followers, 591Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Take a look at this book.

22. 522 她 Her Walled-In World 她的围城 Su Laosan素老三Modern Romance5.0M WordsOngoing This book is based on a true story. It's not a wish-fulfillment novel, and it is slow-paced. In the 1990s, Jing An gets married. Unsure yet hopeful about marriage, she endures her in-laws' schemes and her sister-in-law's attempts to drive a wedge between her and her husband. At last, she and Jiuguang make it through their difficult adjustment period, and she thinks a brighter future is finally within reach. But that light is stolen by another woman. And so begins a battle of schemes and rivalr 29.1kReads9.2Score796Shelves

    Reader note

    Based on a true story, this novel tells the story of a housewife's struggles and awakening. After breaking free from the confines of marriage, she encounters various setbacks. She has to work, support her family, and realize her long-held dream. Did she find the life she wanted?

23. 523 打 A Working Stiff's Little Journal 打工小记 The Village Is Not Late村不晚Urban270k WordsCompleted Urban daily life + earning a living through hard work + multiple heroines + healing The story of an ordinary wage earner: from drifting to Guangzhou to drifting to Beijing, from Shaoxing to Foshan and then to Majiaqiao in Beijing. Fifteen years in all. See how a worker at the bottom makes his way through life... I went south at fifteen and drifted north at thirty. The fiercest gamble of my life took fifteen years to pay for. Over those fifteen years, I worked in an electronics factory, served 43Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The working stories of ordinary people

24. 524 歪 A Crooked Road Through Life 歪歪人生路 Crooked-Crooked Comics歪歪漫画Urban1.1M WordsCompleted University admissions send Lu Xiaojun and Liu Yajuan down different paths. He follows her to her city for love, fighting his way up from the bottom, while she leaves without a word because of her own troubles. Years later, they meet again and rekindle their relationship, but their marriage soon faces another crisis. After their divorce, fate brings them close once more… Can this tangled half-life finally lead them to stay together? 48Reads9.4Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A man's true story of struggle.

25. 525 老 Old Liu and His Daughter 老刘和他的女儿 Old Du Soup老杜汤Modern Romance108k WordsCompleted Lao Liu is an ordinary, down-and-out farmer with nothing to be proud of. But his ideas about raising his children are completely at odds with the mainstream. After 18 years of perseverance, his daughter has given him his proudest reason of all. Is he happy or unfortunate? Everyone probably has their own answer. 591Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The true story of a farmer's daughter becoming a PhD

26. 526 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 224Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This book is based on a true story.

27. 527 花 The Legend of a Huacheng Programmer 花城程序员传 Little Vampire Cat血族小猫Urban881k WordsOngoing The story takes place in a beautiful flower city in the south. A group of IT professionals from a major metropolis have gathered to form a community they grandly call the “Flower City Programmers’ Home.” In truth, it’s a motley crowd: mostly IT elites and code slaves (programmers), mixed in with bosses, HR staff, stock-market gurus, lawyers, accountants, the unemployed, club princes, and nightlife goddesses. As the saying goes, wherever there are people, there’s a world of its own, and every day 27Reads7.1Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The story takes place in a beautiful flower city in southern China. A group of IT professionals living in a first-tier city have gathered together to form a circle, euphemistically called "Flower City Programmer's Home." In reality, this circle is a mixed bag: the vast majority are IT elites and coding slaves, mixed with bosses, HR professionals, stock market gurus, lawyers, accountants, the unemployed, as well as club princes and nightclub goddesses. As the saying goes, where there are people, there is a world of its own, and every day, interesting and absurd legends circulate within this world… [Almost crying][Almost crying]

28. 528 花 Sister Hua's Story 花姐的故事 BeardMan须根Man6k WordsCompleted The Story of Hua Jie 6Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Yes, yes, yes, plenty of [admiration]

29. 529 我 My Stories of Macau's Stormy Underworld 我的澳门风云故事 Fading Memories on the Wind浅忆随风Urban1.5M WordsCompleted Once you've been to Macau, it's yours for life! What kind of city is A-Ma-Gau? Why are so many people obsessed with it? What kind of tumultuous life awaits a naive young woman who ventures into Macau alone? Here, stories unfold every day, and miracles happen every day. In these most authentic stories, you'll see human nature at its rawest, the most insatiable desires, and the cheapest emotions. Welcome to my life in Macau. 25.8kReads8.9Score1.7kShelves

    Reader note

    Although it's a story, it's so real it will leave you with plenty of room for imagination.

30. 530 渡 Chronicles of Crossing the Sea of Suffering 渡苦纪 Yinning音凝Modern Romance772k WordsOngoing A true-life autobiography, a firsthand account. Born deep in the mountains, raised by a single parent, with a lonely and difficult childhood. A widow and her six children, dropping out of school, sleeping in a pigsty. I left home at fourteen. At fifteen, I was tricked and nearly married off to a deaf-mute man of appalling character. After marriage, I raised two children while living with my twins in a rabbit hutch. I met a devil of an ex-husband and endured every kind of suffering over the cours 155Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This book is based on true stories! It's incredibly captivating, moving, tearful, and thought-provoking. You'll find that some parts resonate with your own experiences!

31. 531 别 Don’t Be Foolish, He Only Likes 18-Year-Old Girls 别傻了，他只喜欢18岁小妹妹 BeardMan须根ManUrban121k WordsCompleted “Ran, how long does it take to train like you?” Chen Nan asked curiously. His eyes shone with admiration and envy for Xiao Ran’s strength. Xiao Ran smiled faintly and replied with conviction, “I’m at Level Five of the Beginner Martial Arts rank now. I’ve been training for three whole years.” At that number, Chen Nan’s eyes widened in surprise. He murmured to himself, “It takes that long...” He seemed to feel a little pressure about the training that lay ahead. —Reads—Score—Shelves
32. 532 高 Pressing Forward with Courage 高歌勇进 Lay Buddhist of Three Blessings三有居士Urban128k WordsCompleted This is the story of my ventures into entrepreneurship and wage work, along with my experiences in society and in life, including my failures and reflections. All success is built on ability. Even in the dark, you must be able to see the light. Stay confident, strive to improve yourself, and keep surpassing your limits. Only then might you overcome one obstacle after another. There are the sneers of petty people, the support of brothers, the mockery of classmates, and parents who don’t understan —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    "Singing and Forging Ahead" is a story of struggle that closely resembles a real person's experience. It's just a pity that it's a story of failure, not success. The most painful part is the hardship and torment before achieving success.

33. 533 四 Siheyuan: Transmigrated as the Head Master's Nephew 四合院：穿成一大爷的亲外甥 Wool Socks毛袜Male-Channel Fanfiction2.2M WordsCompleted [Siheyuan + period setting + farming + portable dimension + one heroine] Li Anye transmigrates to an era of scarcity, with no parents and not a penny to his name, so he has no choice but to seek help from his maternal uncle, Uncle Yi. As the saying goes, a maternal uncle is worth more than the heavens. Surely no one can complain if he leans on his uncle for support? After graduating from vocational school, Li Anye gets a decent job at a steel mill thanks to his uncle. His uncle, Yi Zhonghai, is 21.2kReads8.4Score1.1kShelves
34. 534 老 The Husband Rules 老公最大 Windblown Sword风吹剑Modern Romance1.5M WordsCompleted The campus belle, the top student, and the domineering CEO. This is the love story of Li Luoluo and He Kuang. Li Luoluo runs into He Kuang at her best friend's home, where a drunk He Kuang forcibly steals her first kiss. That unexpected encounter brings them together, taking them from bickering enemies to lovers. Their relationship begins by chance, caught between society's prejudice and the relentless advances of rivals, while danger and intrigue swirl through the business world. Li Luoluo does 775Reads6.7Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    It just finished airing. Hope you're happy every day.

35. 535 从 From Pangu to Puyi 从盘古到溥仪 Wang Weisheng王尾生Historical3.0M WordsOngoing [A Tomato-style Records of the Grand Historian + a blessing for audiobook listeners + grounded in historical sources + told with the flair of a novel] [Also known as From Pangu's Creation of the World to the Last Emperor's Abdication] A million-character epic spanning from Pangu's creation of the world to the last emperor's abdication. This isn't a mindless power fantasy: it combines historical authenticity with an engaging, nuanced touch. The book tells the whole story of Chinese history, from 615Reads8.3Score130Shelves

    Reader note

    This book is suitable for people of all ages. Teenagers can learn to distinguish right from wrong and grow wiser; middle-aged people can find life lessons in history; and the elderly can reflect on their own lives while reading. That's the charm of a good book—it doesn't discriminate between readers; everyone can find something they want in it.

36. 536 戒 Five Years Without Gaming: I Rose to Become a Third-Class Merit Officer 戒游戏五年·我逆袭成为三等功军官 The Masked Kamen Rider Scorpion of the Netherworld Pavilion幽冥阁的假面骑士剑蝎18k WordsCompleted Five Years Without Gaming: I Rose to Become a Third-Class Merit Officer —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    I've unearthed a truly compelling coming-of-age story! "After Five Years of Quitting Gaming, I Became a Third-Class Merit Officer." From a game-addicted teenager who died suddenly in an internet cafe to a third-class merit officer, the protagonist rewrote not only his life in five years, but also his debt to his family and how he made amends. The details are both heart-wrenching and inspiring!

37. 537 胡 The Gangster Tycoon Who Rose from the Hutongs 胡同里杀出来的流氓大亨 The Mental Patient from East Village东村精神病Urban2.5M WordsCompleted Previously published under the titles Dragon City Years and Thirty Years in a Bloodstained Underworld. This is a lawless age where every corner is ruled by a big shot. This is the story of a naive young man who turns into a bloodthirsty beast just to survive. This is an underworld tale full of thrills and passion! Welcome to the 1980s… 40.4kReads9.2Score3.8kShelves
38. 538 老 My Wife Comes First 老婆最最大 Windblown Sword风吹剑Urban513k WordsCompleted Fang Jianqiao never imagined that his first time would change his life so dramatically, all because of a married woman. What shattered him even more was that after just one brief lapse, the woman became pregnant with his child! From then on, the wheels of fate spun wildly. Su Jiaoru entwined herself around his life like a vine, pressuring her husband to divorce her at any cost and stubbornly demanding that Fang Jianqiao marry her, dragging him into a storm of emotions and moral conflict. This s 205Reads—Score102Shelves
39. 539 恒 The Constant Register of Parables 恒籍寓鉴 Xuanyuan Badao轩辕霸道Modern Romance1.2M WordsOngoing Synopsis of The Book of Constant Records: Tales to Awaken the Mind and Discern the Truth With “drawing wisdom from the classics to illuminate the questions of today” as its guiding principle, this book selects over a hundred classic fables and anecdotes from the various schools of philosophy, historical biographies and notes, and folk tradition. These include “The Frog at the Bottom of the Well” from Zhuangzi, “Making Up the Numbers” from Han Feizi, and “The Man from Qi Who Worried the Sky Would 8Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Ji Menyan: The Wisdom of Observing Water in a Chaotic Game of Poker. In the mid-Warring States period, amidst the flames of war raging across the Central Plains, the seven states vied for supremacy. Each state was a player in a game of chess, except for the state of Wei, sandwiched between Wei, Zhao, and Qin, which was merely a pawn to be manipulated. On the banks of the Pu River in the capital city of Puyang, sat a man in a faded scholar's robe, named Ji Menyan, a descendant of a declining aristocratic family in Wei. He neither discussed politics nor military matters, but stared intently at the river's currents, more absorbed than anyone else. The people on the riverbank laughed at his folly, saying that the Ji Men clan had once been loyal ministers to the ruler of Wei, and now such a descendant only knew how to watch the water. Only Ji Menyan's cousin, Ji Menshuo, knew that this seemingly carefree patriarch possessed a secret strategy of "observing water," able to see the lifeblood of the rise and fall of the states from the ebb and flow of the Pu River. In late spring of that year, Pang Juan led 100,000 Wei troops to besiege Handan, the capital of Zhao. News of their overwhelming force reaching Puyang threw the Wei court into chaos. Wei sent envoys to Wei, demanding provisions for the war effort, threatening to march south otherwise. Zhao also sent envoys seeking aid, promising to divide Wei's territory equally after defeating it. The court officials were divided into two factions, arguing heatedly. The pro-Wei faction argued, "Wei is too powerful; a mantis trying to stop a chariot will only lead to its downfall!" The pro-Zhao faction roared, "If Zhao falls, Wei will be next!" The Wei king, sitting on his dragon throne, was deathly pale, his hand trembling as he gripped the imperial seal. Just then, Ji Menyan, who had been hiding in the corner of the hall, slowly emerged. He bowed deeply to the Wei king and declared loudly, "King Wei seems unstoppable, but in reality, he is like a towering flood; though the waves are high, he is already at his limit." These words caused an uproar throughout the hall. The Prime Minister pointed at his nose and cursed, "You arrogant brat! The Wei army has besieged Handan for three months, and the Zhao army has suffered defeat after defeat. Is this what you call a spent force?" Ji Men Yan remained calm and said, "When a flood is raging, it may seem like it can breach the banks, but if the upstream water source is cut off, even the highest waves will vanish in an instant. The Wei army has been besieging the city for three months, their food supplies are exhausted, and the people are full of complaints. The Zhang River has also flooded and washed away fertile fields. This is the 'false momentum' of the flood peak—it seems powerful, but in reality, it is depleted. Our Wei state is weak and is currently in the period of low water in the Pu River. At this time, whether we ally with Wei or help Zhao, we are just plugging a dike that is about to collapse. The only thing we can do is lie low and wait for the 'spring flood east wind' to blow." The King of Wei was half-convinced, but Ji Men Yan had already turned around and returned to his residence. He ordered his clansmen to dredge the ditches, cultivate the land to plant millet, weave hemp and make cloth, and sent his trusted confidants with the remaining few hundred bushels of millet to infiltrate the remnants of the Zhao army camp outside Handan. At that time, the Zhao army was routed, and the soldiers were so hungry that they ate tree bark. Ji Menyan's men used millet as payment to exchange for thousands of Wei prisoners who had fled. His cousin, Ji Menshuo, was so anxious that he stamped his feet: "Master, we are already short of food, why feed these prisoners?" Ji Menyan pointed to the pond in the courtyard that was filled with water and laughed: "When the water is dry, we store water in the pond, and others will only see it as a waste pond; when the spring flood comes, the pond water can flow into the rivers and nourish the fertile fields." This prediction came true. Three months later, Tian Ji and Sun Bin of Qi led their army to attack the Wei capital, Daliang. Pang Juan returned to rescue it, but was ambushed at Maling Pass and died from being pierced by a thousand arrows. The main force of Wei was wiped out, and the siege of Handan was lifted without a fight. This was the "spring flood east wind" that Ji Menyan had been waiting for—the flood peak passed, the false momentum dissipated, and the drought-stricken Wei finally got the opportunity to draw water. He immediately brought the Wei prisoners to the palace and said to the King of Wei, "The King of Wei has just suffered a defeat, and the people are in a state of panic. They need to be appeased. We will return the prisoners, asking for nothing but the return of the three cities we ceded earlier." The King of Wei followed his advice, and the King of Wei was overjoyed. He not only returned the cities but also signed an alliance with Wei to establish trade relations. After this battle, Ji Men Yan's reputation soared, and the King of Wei appointed him as a high-ranking official. However, even after entering the court, he remained as unassuming as ever. At that time, the conflict between the two factions in the Wei court intensified. The pro-Wei faction advocated aligning with Wei and using its strength to resist Qin; the pro-Zhao faction advocated allying with Zhao against Wei and dividing Wei's territory. The King of Wei was so disturbed by the conflict that he could not eat or sleep, so he summoned Ji Men Yan for advice. Ji Menyan bluntly stated, "The current strength of the State of Wei is like the slow-moving undercurrent of the Puyang River, just beginning to rise from its low point, its foundation unstable. To rashly choose sides now would be like a sudden, overwhelming flood—seemingly a temporary surge, but in reality, it would breach its own banks, leading to total defeat." He offered a "neutral strategy": "Do not ally with Wei, nor befriend Zhao, but only open border markets to trade with both countries. Do not sell grain or weapons, only hemp cloth and millet. In this way, Wei and Zhao will be at peace for mutual benefit and will not easily attack Wei. This is like dredging the river, allowing the water to rise steadily and impartially, so that Wei, this shallow pool, can firmly hold its banks." The ruler of Wei followed his advice. Within two years, the markets outside Puyang were bustling with activity. People from Wei came to buy Wei's hemp cloth, and people from Zhao came to buy Wei's millet. Wei's treasury gradually filled, and the people lived in peace and prosperity. The pro-Wei and pro-Zhao factions fell silent, neither willing to block their own irrigation canals. Ji Menyan stood on a high platform by the Pu River, watching the passing merchants, and said to Ji Menshuo, "Surviving in chaotic times is like controlling water; dredging is worse than blocking, defense is worse than contention, and only by not striving to be the first to flow can one achieve lasting peace." Five years of peace passed. A new ruler of Zhao ascended the throne, ambitious and determined to unite with Wei to resist Qin's eastward advance. Zhao's envoys arrived in Wei with substantial sums of money and maps, promising to return all previously occupied Wei territory and bestow upon the Wei ruler the title of "Marquis of Zhao West" if Wei formed an alliance. The pro-Zhao faction erupted in excitement, urging the Wei ruler to seize the opportunity and revive Wei's former glory. However, Ji Menyan once again stepped forward, stopping the Wei ruler's brush. He pointed to the map on the table and said in a deep voice, "The new ruler of Zhao has just ascended the throne, the old officials within the country are not yet convinced, and the people's hearts are not yet settled. It seems that Zhao is eager to make progress, but in reality, it is like a stream flowing into a river, steady but not turbulent—the water is rising, but it has not yet reached the point of surging. His desire to form an alliance with Wei is merely to make Wei act as a dam to hold back the flood, to protect Zhao from the torrent of the Qin army. If we agree, it would be like welcoming a flood before the foundation of the dam is solid. Once Qin attacks Zhao, Wei will be the first to be swept away." He paused and continued, "Only by slowly building up momentum can a river flow far and wide. Zhao's strength needs to wait until its internal stability is achieved, and the waters converge into a river, in order to last. We can form a 'trade alliance' with Zhao, exchanging goods and services, but without sending troops to help in the war. In this way, we will neither offend Zhao nor invite trouble upon ourselves, and we can also use the opportunity of trade to deepen our own reservoir and secretly accumulate strength." The King of Wei agreed wholeheartedly and politely declined Zhao's military alliance, signing only a trade agreement. The Zhao envoy was furious, but powerless to do anything about it. Seeing that Wei had not allied with Zhao, Qin indeed temporarily halted its covetousness of Wei. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Ji Menyan reorganized the military, trained soldiers, and forged weapons. Wei's strength, like the slow flow of the Pu River, grew steadily and quietly. Ten years passed in the blink of an eye. Qin's iron cavalry trampled the capital of Han and then captured Handan, the capital of Zhao. The six states were shaken, and everyone felt insecure. When the news reached Puyang, the Wei court was plunged into unprecedented panic. The King of Wei, clutching the Imperial Seal, wept, saying, "Qin's power is unstoppable. Only by surrendering the entire nation can I save the lives of my people." All the officials bowed their heads and wept, except for Ji Menyan, whose face remained calm. He slowly stepped forward and helped the King of Wei to his feet: "Your Majesty, Qin has swept across the six states, its military might unmatched. This is like a cascading flood, wave after wave. But the tide will eventually recede. Qin's years of war have exhausted its people and its soldiers are weary of battle. This is the final wave about to overflow the banks. To surrender now is like going against the current when it's already at its peak—you'll be swept away. To fight to the death is like throwing an egg against a rock, a mantis trying to stop a chariot." He offered a final strategy: "Send envoys to Qin, offering to become a 'vassal state,' not as king, but as a sovereign, paying tribute annually, while preserving Wei's ancestral temples and people. This may seem humiliating, but it's actually going with the flow, avoiding the brunt of the attack—guarding our own banks before the flood recedes, preserving the flame of Wei." The King of Wei had no other choice but to follow the plan. Unexpectedly, King Ying Zheng of Qin made an exception and agreed. Looking at the letter of surrender from the State of Wei, he smiled and said, "The State of Wei is weak, yet it has survived to this day in this chaotic world. It must have had the help of a wise man. I will keep the State of Wei alive so that the world can see that those who submit to the Great Qin can also preserve their ancestral temples." Thus, the State of Wei became the only small state to survive after the fall of the Seven Warring States. After Qin unified the world, Ji Menyan resigned from his official post and went into seclusion. Before leaving, he left the ruler of Wei a scroll of bamboo slips. On the front of the scrolls were sixteen large characters: "Avoid disaster during floods, gather strength during droughts, go with the flow, and know when to stop." On the reverse side are a few seemingly ordinary maxims for observing water, yet they reveal the true essence of survival in chaotic times: - A powerful nation, exhausted by war, is like a raging flood; when its momentum wanes, it will inevitably collapse. - A powerful enemy, thwarted, is like a flood passing by; do not rush to block it, but observe its flow. - A weak nation, lying low and waiting for its opportunity, is like a pond storing water during a drought; when the spring flood arrives, it rises with the tide. - A small nation rises in three stages, like a gentle stream rising three times; when the tide rises again, it recedes; do not be greedy for power. - Once a powerful nation declines, it is like a dam bursting; if it has no foundation, it will surely perish. - When accumulating strength, be like a trickle gathering in a pond, patient and unyielding; when at its peak, be like a flood receding, withdrawing gracefully. Years later, the former residence of Ji Menyan collapsed, and this bamboo scroll was lost to the people. Only then did the world understand that the survival strategy of this lone minister of the Warring States period was hidden in the rise and fall of the Pu River. And the law of that chaotic jungle was never the law of the jungle, but understanding water, going with the flow, and not being greedy for power. Just like the last words Jimen Yan said to his descendants before his death: "The game of chess in this world is never about winning in a moment of battle, but about winning in a lifetime of simplicity and humility—like controlling water, go with the flow and guard your heart, only then can you last long."

40. 540 末 The Apocalypse: I Just Want to Be with You 末日，我只想和你在一起 BeardMan须根ManSci-Fi & Apocalypse84k WordsCompleted In a desolate world after the apocalypse, mutated creatures run rampant and human civilization has collapsed. Survivors struggle to stay alive in desperate circumstances. On this perilous journey through the apocalypse, can they find enough supplies and make it safely to Tianjing City? And how will they protect one another and keep hope alive in this cruel world? —Reads—Score—Shelves
41. 541 重 Reborn in 2001: I Start Boxing and Live Life to the Fullest 重生2001从练拳开始快意人生 Pan-Fried Buns and White Porridge煎包白粥Urban2.6M WordsOngoing [Rebirth + Pocket Dimension + Top Student + Traditional Martial Arts + Pressure-Point Techniques for Five Hundred Coins] Everyday urban life, reborn in high school, keeping a low profile at school, an ancestral martial arts manual, cultivating inner energy, mastering pressure-point techniques, dual-cultivation methods, a harem of multiple women, wealth, companions, techniques, and territory, exploring mysteries and searching for treasures, doing business and managing enterprises, fighting foreig 16.8kReads7.8Score1.3kShelves

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    Come on! [Thumbs up]

42. 542 北 The Storms of Beicheng 北城风云 The Mental Patient from East Village东村精神病Urban1.5M WordsCompleted Synopsis: (This story is entirely fictional. Its original title was Northern City’s Turmoil.) What is the jianghu? Wherever there are people, there is a jianghu, and wherever there is a jianghu, there is conflict! The jianghu is about fighting, killing, and the law of the jungle, but it’s also about human relationships and social conventions. This book will take you back to the jianghu of the 1980s and 1990s, where you’ll witness the extraordinary path of Chen Yanan, a generation’s ruthless hero 12.7kReads9.4Score1.1kShelves
43. 543 回 Back to the Three Kingdoms: I Married a Wife in Eastern Wu 回到三国，我在东吴娶老婆 BeardMan须根Man8k WordsCompleted Back to the Three Kingdoms: I Married a Wife in Eastern Wu 1Reads—Score—Shelves
44. 544 上 Shanghai People Eat Rice Porridge 上海人吃泡饭 The Writer Who Writes in Shanghainese用上海话写作的人Modern Romance627k WordsCompleted In the middle of the night, Wang’s Granny was being beaten so badly she could barely move, and could only call for help. Uncle Huang was still fuming over how she had humiliated him during the day, so angry he couldn’t sleep. He heard what sounded faintly like a cat meowing, but when he listened more closely, he realized it was a cry for help coming from Wang’s Granny’s house. He was about to go save her when his wife grabbed hold of him... 471Reads8.1Score—Shelves

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    A book currently being published, dubbed by the media as the online version of "Blossoms," tells stories of everyday life, family matters, love, and hate in the alleyways of Shanghai.

45. 545 阿 A Dog's Tragic Life and Comeback 阿狗的悲剧人生逆袭 BeardMan须根Man7k WordsCompleted A Gou's Tragic Life Turned Around 1Reads—Score—Shelves
46. 546 塞 Storms Over the Northern Frontier 塞北风云 Big Brother Xuanyi玄一哥哥Urban5.7M WordsOngoing [Underworld Kingpin]+ [Rise to Power]+ [Take Down the Boss and Claim His Wife]+ [Multiple Female Leads]+ [Ensemble Cast]+ [Passionate Underworld Adventures]+ [Scheming and Hilarious] Be an ordinary man: greedy for money and fond of beautiful women. That was one thing I realized after getting out of prison. I used to be an underworld boss who could turn the tide with a flick of my hand. But my brothers were either locked up or gone. I used to be a pushover too, until I met that woman. She changed 41.9kReads9.1Score3.1kShelves

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    A story of struggle, close to reality, without a system or outlandish plot—that's probably what you're looking for.

47. 547 寻 Ordinary Days 寻常的日子 Blue Blood Sacrifice蓝倾血祭Urban101k WordsCompleted Life stretches on before us, and we are all ordinary people walking its road. After graduating from a junior college, Chen Ping'an couldn't find a more suitable job. To make ends meet and keep his family from worrying, he took a referral and became an assembly-line operator at an electronics factory. The work was simple and repetitive, the shifts turned night into day, and most of the people around him were content to muddle through. At first, he thought he would settle in and figure things out 1Reads—Score—Shelves

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    It tells the story of an ordinary college graduate.

48. 548 从 Starting with a Street Stall: My Entrepreneurial Journey 从摆摊起步，我的创业人生 BeardMan须根Man7k WordsCompleted Starting with a Street Stall: My Entrepreneurial Journey 19Reads—Score—Shelves
49. 549 两 Two Abnormal Humans and a Motorcycle 两个非正常人类与摩托车 Old Du Soup老杜汤Urban120k WordsCompleted Love that defies social norms has often been seen as a symbol of courage and freedom, admired and celebrated. This is the one kind of love people will always despise. This is not a novel, just a story from real life. There are no thrills, no climaxes, no pacing, only despair and oppression. It might be of some small help to people who truly love motorcycles, but be prepared to be mocked. This story has an unconventional outlook on life, values, and the world, and portrays a world of abnormal peo 1.3kReads—Score214Shelves

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    The reality is not struggle, but hard work.

50. 550 一 A Gambling Addict's Return to the Right Path 一个网赌仔的浪子回头 BeardMan须根ManCompleted A Gambling Addict's Turnaround —Reads—Score—Shelves

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