In a Reading Slump. Any Recommendations for Period Stories with Good Writing and Sound Values? 书荒了，有没有年代文推荐呀 （文笔好 三观正）

1. 51 知 The Educated Youth Years: Starting with an Escape from the Village 知青年代，从村子里逃亡开始 Lone Shepherd独牧人Urban3.3M WordsOngoing 1976. Liu Haibo, a sent-down youth, falls in love with Yang Xiuqing, a village girl. Her family vehemently opposes his proposal, forcing him to flee Shibantian Village and return to Haicheng, a thousand miles away. Just as he is preparing to start a new life with Wu Jie in Haicheng, Yang Xiuqing suddenly shows up at his door, stirring up an emotional entanglement that spans the years. 2023. Seventy-year-old Liu Haibo is driving an Audi with Yang Xiuqing to Shibantian Village when they are involv 32.5kReads8.4Score2kShelves
2. 52 乌 Black Gauze and Rouge 乌纱与胭脂 Writer Lu Tao作家鲁涛Modern Romance205k WordsCompleted Human nature is like the sun: impossible to look at directly. Many people appear charming and refined on the surface, but strip away the facade and you’ll see human nature laid bare. By portraying the real chaos of society, this work exposes the evil and filth within human nature and calls on people to choose kindness and uphold social decency. 7.6kReads—Score479Shelves

   Reader note

   With its unique perspective, delicate writing, and incredibly compelling plot, it's impossible to put down once you start reading the first chapter. It offers a raw and unfiltered portrayal of human nature.

3. 53 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 6kReads8.7Score601Shelves
4. 54 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 20.9kReads8.3Score2kShelves
5. 55 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 4.8kReads9.0Score344Shelves
6. 56 疯 My Unhinged Wife Is a Little Pig 疯批媳妇儿是小猪 Shi Qibao十柒宝Modern Romance261k WordsOngoing [Childhood Friends] [Loyal Dog] [Unhinged] [Wife-Obsessed Protector] He Pingye was knocked silly, and became both crazy and domineering. But nobody knew he had simply been reborn. In his previous life, he died horribly. His soul drifted without a home as he watched the "little pig" he had personally cared for and protected for twenty years, his little moon, sacrifice her freedom and lose the use of her legs for dancing in order to avenge him. She endured everything in silence, suffering one humi 3.8kReads—Score224Shelves

   Reader note

   This is a new book! From the early 90s, the story is great, and the writing is excellent! [Learned something new]

7. 57 农 Rural Sisters-in-Law 农村妯娌 Little Pear Blossom O小梨花OModern Romance739k WordsCompleted This is a story of war and peace between two women, and also a miniature epic chronicling the transformation of rural China from collectivization to the modern era. When the well in Liuxi Village was filled in and running water reached every home, the women who had once argued, wept, and whispered secrets beside that well proved through their lives that time can bury old grudges, and that a resilient spirit can blossom in the soil. 2.3kReads7.1Score255Shelves

   Reader note

   Purely historical fiction, very realistic.

8. 58 五 The Woman with Five Marriages 五婚女人 Little Pear Blossom O小梨花OModern Romance394k WordsCompleted Among contemporary Chinese literature's portrayals of rural women's lives, Zheng Guozhen's story grips readers with its astonishing realism and tragic depth. Through an ordinary rural woman's five failed marriages, this novel sketches the hardships of rural women's lives and inner worlds during China's social transformation in the 1990s. From an arranged marriage imposed by her parents to a self-serving union built on dependence on power, from an emotional wasteland scarred by violence to a brie 1.8kReads7.9Score238Shelves
9. 59 举 Report Them! Clear Them Out! The Fake Heiress, Baby Bump and All, Remarries in a Fury 举报！搬空！假千金怒挺孕肚改嫁 July Rabbit七月兔Modern Romance472k WordsCompleted [Period setting + pregnancy before marriage + sent to the countryside + space stocked with supplies + raising a child] Ye Hui is the discarded fake heiress of a government compound. Proud and willful, beautiful and ruthless, she is obsessive to the core. In her previous life, her childhood sweetheart and fiancé, Fu Sinan, fell for the real heiress. Carrying another man’s child, she still went to break up their wedding. After the real heiress caused her miscarriage, Ye Hui retaliated by getting h 47.3kReads8.2Score1.2kShelves

   Reader note

   It has ample space and resources, a novel plot, a female lead who isn't overly idealistic, and the story is neither frustrating nor drawn out. It's already completed.

10. 60 魂 I Awoke in a Seven-Year-Old's Body in the 1970s, and Led a Poor Mountain Village to Prosperity 魂穿七零娃：携贫困山区干百强 Ruojin Ye若金夜Modern Romance351k WordsOngoing [Period Drama, Transmigration, Strong Female Lead, No System, No Spatial Dimension, No Romance] After transmigrating to the 1970s, Zhou Xiao became the apple of the shrewish Old Madam Zhou's eye. She also had two brothers who might not be much use, but were devoted to their little sister. But all she saw around her was a mud-brick house with bare walls and villagers gaunt from hunger. Zhou Xiao clenched her fists. She would start with the brigade, develop farming and industry, and shoulder great 22Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A period drama, focusing on everyday family life, the development of a production brigade, the female protagonist becoming a cadre, a strong female lead.

11. 61 铁 Tiezhu's Fate 铁柱的命 Ink-Wash Creek水墨小溪Urban291k WordsCompleted In the 1990s, the twenty-year-old Tiezhu, whose given name was Gao Fei, was handsome, dashing, and well educated. He studied hard, hoping to change his fate through knowledge and escape the countryside. But fate kept playing tricks on him, making him fail time and again. Disheartened, he found the courage to face life again with encouragement from Yanhua, the village beauty. His excellence always won him admirers. After meeting different women, he gradually realized who loved him most. Sadly, by 5.3kReads6.8Score207Shelves
12. 62 七 The Darling of the Seventies and Her Wild, Rugged Husband 七零娇娇，野性糙汉强宠妻 Nine-Nine Cat九玖猫Modern Romance225k WordsOngoing [Period setting + rugged hero + sweet romance + no rebirth, transmigration, or golden finger] [Height difference + off-the-charts tension] Just two days after Chen Xiang married into the Zhao family, her husband died, and the people of Zhao Village branded her a “jinx.” Her in-laws turned against her without a second thought and even tried to force her into marriage with an old widower from the neighboring village in exchange for money. In the depths of despair one night, a scorching, rough hand 6Reads—Score—Shelves
13. 63 穿 The 1980s: I Transmigrate into a Book and Become a Model of Morality 穿书八零，贪财女配成了道德模范 Iced Zhengmeng Noodles冰郑檬粉Modern Romance391k WordsOngoing The score is finally in and still rising! Thanks to everyone for your reviews. [1980s Setting + Transmigrate Into a Book + Sweet Romance + Building Wealth + Marriage First, Love Later] She transmigrates into a novel set in the 1980s as the wicked female supporting character: in debt, lazy, and hated by her whole family. The original owner has such a terrible reputation that she’s always trying to take advantage of others. The neighbors despise her, and even her new husband treats her coldly. Xia 21Reads8.1Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This looks great!

14. 64 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 4.2kReads7.5Score220Shelves

    Reader note

    You could check out some Beijing-style period novels that aren't overly exciting or wish-fulfillment stories but are quite engaging.

15. 65 狠 A Cruel Mother, a Broken Home, and Me, Unbroken 狠心的妈，破碎的家，不屈的我 If You’re No Eagle, Don’t Be a Snail不是雄鹰做蜗牛Urban3.3M WordsOngoing [Male-Oriented, Rural, Family, Comeback, Power Fantasy, Inspirational] Abandoned by his own mother, abused by his stepmother, and struck by his father's sudden misfortune. Su Yang, a poor boy from the mountains, has been left battered by his family's cruelty. With no one to lean on and no support to count on, he can only fight his own way to survival. He studies hard, weathers turmoil on campus, and makes his way in the business world. His heartless relatives come crawling back to latch onto his 28.4kReads8.2Score2.3kShelves

    Reader note

    This inspirational and moving novel, set against all odds, is full of twists and turns and deeply touching.

16. 66 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

    Reader note

    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, harbors a dream of escaping the mountains. With unwavering will, he rises from a poor child to become an optics researcher at a military engineering academy. Ning Xiang, from eastern Nanjing, originally enjoyed a stable life in the city, but the tides of the times brought about a life-altering event: her household registration was altered. Two originally parallel life trajectories unexpectedly intersect at the foot of Zijin Mountain. Their union is not only about the companionship of two individuals, but also the fusion of two lifestyles. Yun Kun embodies the resilience and tenacity of the red soil plateau, while Ning Xiang possesses the gentleness and resilience of the Jiangnan water towns. In an era of scarcity, they support each other, using wild chickens, loofah vines, and homemade kaleidoscopes to transform their impoverished days into a poetic existence. Through the ups and downs of the fates of two families and two generations, the novel reflects the social changes in China from the War of Resistance against Japan to the early days of reform and opening up. The Sanbao Pagoda bears witness to the adherence to and breakthrough of tradition, while Zijin Mountain gazes upon the impact and adaptation to modernity. Against this historical backdrop, each character searches for their place—Ning Fa's selfishness and self-preservation, Ning Gui's shrewd calculations, Ning Zhonghua's unwavering paternal love, and Yu's steadfast family management. This is not merely a story about family and marriage, but a collective memory of a generation of Chinese people. It recounts memories of ration coupons, the hardships of household registration, and the perseverance to maintain dignity amidst adversity. Ultimately, the story answers the question: when individual fate clashes with the tides of history, how do we safeguard our inner convictions? How do we find eternity amidst change? "The Three Pagodas and Purple Mountain" offers a warm and powerful answer.

17. 67 一 1987, Before Spring Arrives 一九八七，春未至 Meatball with a Fried Egg煎蛋的肉肉Modern Romance827k WordsCompleted This is a novel you won’t forget, especially its heroine, Li Shan! [No System, no pocket space, no transmigration, no rebirth] Period-setting comeback story + single mother builds a career Li Shan joyfully brings her college acceptance letter home, only for her parents to tell her the family has no money and she can’t go. Through her brother-in-law’s connections, she gets a job as a textile factory worker and works her way into the office as a translator. Then the factory goes bankrupt. Her pare 362Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This one! It's an amazing period drama!

18. 68 七 The 1970s Matchmaker Who Talks the Young Master from the Capital into Becoming a Live-In Son-in-Law 七零小媒婆，忽悠京少当赘婿 Only Envy the Immortal Lord只羡仙君Modern Romance1.0M WordsOngoing Many years later, some friends sat together chatting. "Have you noticed that every village used to have a fool or a madman?" "Yeah, yeah! That madman would even go around hitting people!" Dou Xiaochan: Hehe, I'm the fool and madwoman you were talking about... Shen Moci: I'm the one who was tricked into going home as a live-in son-in-law by the fool and madwoman you were talking about... "What?!" Everyone's eyes nearly popped out of their heads. Shen Moci: To be honest, I was really scared at the 26.7kReads8.8Score3.2kShelves

    Reader note

    This is beautiful. It gets even better the more you look at it.

19. 69 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 45kReads9.5Score5kShelves

    Reader note

    These two books are incredibly good! Excellent writing, positive values, no melodrama, no obsessive romance, and a strong sense of immersion—definitely the kind of book your favorites will love!! I especially recommend the second one; the female lead is clever and resourceful, and the plot is fast-paced and engaging! It breaks away from the usual formulaic feel-good novels! It's fresh, trendy, and unique! High-energy and exhilarating from beginning to end, lighthearted, funny, and heartwarming! You won't regret reading them! [OK][Rose][Firecracker]🎆

20. 70 中 Starting Out as a Vocational School Student, I Worked My Factory to the Bone 中专生开局，我把工厂卷疯了 Peach Heart Rainbow桃心彩虹Modern Romance631k WordsOngoing A modern quality-control worker transmigrates to the famine years of the 1960s. The moment she opens her eyes, she faces a desperate situation: the high school entrance exam has been suspended, and she's being forced to go to the countryside. To avoid being sent down, she promptly skips grades, studies hard, gets into a technical secondary school, and secures a stable job at a state-owned enterprise, successfully escaping that fate. She doesn't have any miraculous talent that will make her famou 34.4kReads8.2Score3.5kShelves

    Reader note

    😘 Instead of going to the countryside, the female protagonist passed the entrance exam for a vocational school and was assigned to a state-owned factory. With her modern mechanical knowledge, she worked hard to build her career.

21. 71 七 After the Seventies-Era Officer Returned, He Had a Son and a Daughter 七零军官回来后，儿女双全了 Little Master Xueling雪凌小主Modern Romance1.2M WordsOngoing [1970s + military marriage + space] Hua Jiuling transmigrated to the 1970s overnight. Her husband, Gu Beiming, was called away on an urgent mission right after their wedding. Months passed with no word from him. Her parents-in-law gave her a hard time, her sister-in-law cursed her, and her sisters-in-law schemed against her. With her pregnant belly, Hua Jiuling picked up a kitchen knife, fought back, split the family, and moved into the hunter’s little house by the village committee. Fortunately 18.3kReads8.3Score2.4kShelves

    Reader note

    New book, welcome to read.

22. 72 七 In the 1970s, I Took Down the Cold-Faced Commander of the Family Compound, and He Became Mine 七零，干翻家属院冷面首长归我了 Loves Colorful Peanut Candy爱吃多彩花生豆Modern Romance536k WordsCompleted [Soul transmigration + power fantasy + period setting + pocket dimension + laugh-out-loud comedy + scheming + 1v1 + little tricks + making money] A parallel-world period story. It's all fictional, so don't take it too seriously. The heroine is a goofy, hilarious girl. After joining the military, she's forced into a battle to “win the battalion commander.” She defeats thirteen rivals single-handedly and catches the special attention of the young, handsome, promising Battalion Commander Lu. What t 14.9kReads8.4Score1.9kShelves

    Reader note

    A historical fiction story is here, with strong moral values and hilarious, satisfying read.

23. 73 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 33Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This book is good, worth following!

24. 74 重 Reborn in the 1970s: The Prosperous Family's Young Daughter-in-Law 重生七零：旺家小儿媳 Brown Sugar Tomato and Sweet Potato Jam冰糖番茄红薯酱Modern Romance327k WordsCompleted A brick house? A warm, cozy bed? A kerosene lamp? I’ve gone back to when my parents were alive! The heavens still have a conscience and have given me a chance to be reborn and get revenge! In my previous life, my scumbag husband and a widow bullied me until I died. They schemed to make me miscarry my five-month-old baby, and I foolishly thought it was my own carelessness. I humbled myself and coaxed Chen Zhiqiang, earning work points to support the whole family. I never had a child of my own, an 35Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Of course!

25. 75 七 The 1970s: Skipping Every Heartbreak, I Cheat My Way to the Top 七零：跳过所有虐点，我一路开挂 Lucky Little Ladle福气小汤勺Modern Romance112k WordsCompleted One second, Tang Liqing was fighting zombies in a brutal battle. The next, someone smacked her hard across the face. She was not the sort to let a grudge go unanswered, so she hit back on the spot. When she came to, she received the original host's memories and learned that the woman before her was her adoptive younger aunt, who planned to marry her off to a bachelor in the village named Da Niu. She also planned to take all of Tang Liqing's property. Enough was enough. She would not only fight b 879Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    I transmigrated from a post-apocalyptic world into a historical novel, taking over the life of the original owner who was about to be framed. I'll swallow her money, then spit it out. I'll wrong her, and she'll pay double. No more suffering, no more resentment, no more internal strife. 🤔

26. 76 炮 Transmigrated into a Book as a Cannon-Fodder in the 1970s, the Cold-Faced Regiment Commander Can't Get Enough of Her 炮灰穿书七零，冷面团长日日馋 Mo Ba Zi墨八子Modern Romance410k WordsOngoing [Period] [Marriage Before Love] [No Space System] [Never Go Hungry] [Alluring, flirtatious heroine VS wolf-like, rugged hero] Lin Zhi never imagined that after spending her previous life single and treating men as beneath her notice, she’d transmigrate into a book and find herself in a scene straight out of “That’s one huge bed!” Now she has to scheme to steal a man, and not just any man, but the man of the “beautiful, rich, and powerful” heroine? This is insane! “Comrade, do you want a wife 233Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    You could say it's the story of a cannon fodder short-term rental husband's comeback. I can't say whether the writing is good or not, but it's definitely humorous 😄. Many of the details are very evocative of the era, depicting everyday family life in a warm and cozy courtyard!

27. 77 重 Back to 1982: Casting Nets to Save the Village Belle and Make the Whole Village Rich 重回82：撒网救村花带全村致富 Seeing a Dragon on Mount Nan南山见龙Urban1.5M WordsCompleted Back at the age of twenty, he's known throughout the village as a no-good loafer. But no one knows he's returned carrying the regrets and memories of his previous life. He catches and sells fish, hunts in the mountains, and earns his first fortune through hard work. Before the flood hits, he even issues an early warning and organizes an evacuation, saving countless lives. From the village to the county, from small-time trading to grand strategies... In this life, he won't just clear his name. He 26.6kReads8.3Score2kShelves

    Reader note

    For those who value good writing, this is for you. It has no system, no plot holes, no cheat codes, and its logic is sound.

28. 78 七 The 1970s: The Commander’s Daughter Is Betrothed to Me 七零：首长家千金跟我是娃娃亲 Bells on the Horizon天边风铃Modern Romance309k WordsCompleted Period setting + transmigration + grounded, everyday life Shi Yue never imagined that she would find love and family in another timeline, and enjoy a happy, fulfilling life. After testing positive for COVID, Shi Yue transmigrates to the parallel timeline of the 1970s, bringing along a hereditary pocket dimension. She plans to make a little money by taking advantage of the college entrance exams and the wave of reform, then settle down to a peaceful life. But it turns out she is the long-lost dau 266Reads8.4Score—Shelves
29. 79 穿 A 1970s Wedding, Then Love 穿到七零，先婚后爱真香了 Bells on the Horizon天边风铃Modern Romance630k WordsCompleted A period-life experience package somehow sent An Hao to the legendary 1970s, where she became a pitiful girl relying on a favor to seek shelter with her future in-laws. To save herself, An Hao signed an agreement with a man: they would divorce in two years, and then she could spread her wings and fly. Lin Feng was the military district’s most popular young officer. After one trip home, he became a married man. Supposedly, it was an arranged childhood betrothal. But was the little potato in front 71Reads—Score—Shelves
30. 80 守 A Comeback After Twenty Years of Widowhood 守寡二十年逆袭 Little Pear Blossom O小梨花OModern Romance466k WordsCompleted [Period Drama + Strong Female Lead + Farming + Family Life + Widow's Comeback + Single Mother] On her wedding night, her husband is crushed to death by a roof beam, and Liu Chunhong becomes the "husband-killing jinx." Her mother-in-law forces her to give birth to her posthumous child, then turns on her and throws mother and daughter out while she's still recovering from childbirth. Her sister-in-law blocks the door and yells, "A married daughter is like water poured out!" With nowhere else to tu 7.3kReads6.9Score375Shelves

    Reader note

    A purely period drama, the protagonist becomes a widow on her wedding night but ultimately triumphs. The multi-character story is enjoyable. Short episodes can also be watched simultaneously.

31. 81 重 Reborn in the Nineties: A Country Girl's Rise to Riches 重生九零，农女逆袭当富婆 Lucky Cat 000403招财猫000403Modern Romance741k WordsCompleted Reborn + a rural woman's rise + making a fortune + taking down scumbags At the entrance to a garment factory, reborn Wu Xiaolan's grape juice stand becomes a hit. Her rivals cut prices? She launches a new product: cold skin noodles. Management makes things difficult? She leads the way in securing the first license for a mobile food stall. Short on workers? She brings together a feisty girl who sells eggs on the black market, a quick-witted young woman who works at a snack shop, and the village c 105Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    It's a story about the age of rebirth, about a small person setting up a stall and starting a business. It's very interesting! Highly recommended!

32. 82 9 90: Reborn, I Let My Husband Go and Pursued My Career, Then Married an Army Doctor 90：重生让出老公搞事业嫁军医 Dai Mengduole代蒙多乐Modern Romance502k WordsCompleted [Rebirth] [Period Setting] [Child of a High-Ranking Cadre] [Both Leads Have No Past Relationships] [Military Marriage] [Everyday Family Life] [No Space-Based Golden Finger] After ten years of living apart, Bai Yulan was still divorced, and her child was taken away by her ex-husband, who had gone into business and made a fortune. At last, her son graduated with a PhD and found a good job, only to call her over to look after his child. She worked herself to death. When she opened her eyes, Bai Yul 967Reads6.5Score109Shelves

    Reader note

    No cheat codes, realistic prices, and a story set in a bygone era with sound values.

33. 83 一 A Woman Named Chunxiu 一个叫春秀的女人 I'm Yanzi我是艳子Modern Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Period drama + everyday family life + marriage + building a career + personal growth] I married a state-owned enterprise worker, and after years of trying, I finally had a son. Then, just as my husband was sent to prison, my mother-in-law branded me a bringer of bad luck and threw me out of the house. Qiu Yue, widowed and bullied, and Wang Feng, tormented by domestic abuse, shared my fate. The three of us hard-done-by women joined forces, working, doing business, and opening a factory. We neede 9kReads8.0Score768Shelves

    Reader note

    This is a genuine, authentic rural novel set in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. There's no reincarnation or system; it depicts rural life during that era. The story and characters are closely tied to that time, without any simplistic elements. The female protagonist has strong moral values and is both intelligent and eloquent. From the countryside to the city, they change their careers, marriages, and families, ultimately supporting their children. It's definitely worth staying up all night to read.

34. 84 照 Taking Care of My Widowed Sister-in-Law While Staying Chaste? I Was Reborn and Married a Commander Instead 照顾寡嫂还守身？我重生改嫁首长 A Little Lucky Carp一只小锦鲤Modern Romance1.3M WordsCompleted Original novel of the short drama Reborn in 1980: My New Bride Wants a Divorce In her previous life, Han Xinrui failed her college entrance exams, lost her job to someone else, and was separated from her parents. She even married a man who only knew how to raise his sister-in-law’s children! After fifty years of marriage, the stress and resentment gave her breast cancer. As she lay dying, her husband proudly showed off his sister-in-law, his arm around her. “I gave Qingqing your university admis 7.8kReads7.9Score852Shelves

    Reader note

    It's a good read, a rebirth story, the male lead dotes on his wife, the female lead is smart and clear-headed, the plot is unpredictable, there are many awful characters, and it's a crazy story.

35. 85 足 Football: I Lifted the World Cup in 1982 足球：1982年我举起了世界杯 Ji Yuning季宇宁Sports1.0M WordsCompleted You Xi transmigrated from 2025 back to 1981. His transmigration was caused by encountering “that ball,” which was really a fixation on Chinese football. Thanks to it, he got a cheat and won the 1982 and 1986 World Cups, becoming a legendary king of football. That ball also turned out to be a weapon for killing, looting, and laying waste to cities and nations. With it, he could take revenge to his heart’s content and vent all his pent-up frustration. And, of course, there were plenty of gorgeous 48Reads—Score—Shelves
36. 86 回 Back in 1977, I Married the Queen of the Daughters' Kingdom 回到1977年，娶了女儿国国王 Ji Yuning季宇宁Urban2.2M WordsCompleted Ji Yuning transmigrated back to 1977. He went from being a 21-year-old educated youth returning to the city to a literary young man, a great poet, and a famous novelist. It was all thanks to his memories of his previous life and the books he copied. But his greatest reward was marrying a wife as beautiful as a fairy. 11.7kReads8.0Score759Shelves
37. 87 四 Siheyuan: Jia Zhangshi With a One-Hit-Kill System 四合院之带着秒杀系统的贾张氏 Different Kinds of Daydreams不同脑洞Female-Channel Fanfiction643k WordsOngoing {Era setting + slice of life + ensemble cast + everyday family matters} A modern office worker transmigrates into the TV drama Love in the Courtyard and suddenly finds herself more than ten years older. She never had a moment to rest amid the hectic pace of modern life, but after transmigrating to this extraordinary era with a one-hit-kill space, she becomes Jia Zhangshi. She declares that she has no intention of working hard for the rest of her life. To enjoy a comfortable retirement and change 21.2kReads8.1Score1.7kShelves

    Reader note

    This has a positive outlook on life.

38. 88 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 3.1kReads8.5Score258Shelves

    Reader note

    Not bad, worth a look.

39. 89 穿 After Becoming a Doomed Little Darling, She Turned the Tables 穿成早死小可怜后，大佬她掀桌了 Dyeing the Years染流年Modern Romance257k WordsOngoing [Transmigration + Satisfying Revenge + Sweet Romance + Love Grows Over Time + Transmigrate Into a Book vs. Reborn] After transmigrating to 1975, Lin Wan finds herself with a script that goes like this: her stepsister steals her job, her stepmother forces her to go to the countryside, and her biological father turns a blind eye. She doesn't cry or make a scene. Instead, she sells the job she has lined up as a backup, grabs a hoe, and digs one hole after another. In the end, she dusts off her hand 5Reads—Score—Shelves
40. 90 六 The Good Life in the Sixties: Farming with Adorable Pets 六零好生活，跟着萌宠忙种田 Snow Melts, Moonlight Shimmers雪融月溶溶Modern Romance850k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + a child’s growth + strengthening the nation through technology] Lying flat in the 1960s with an interstellar System? Just as Daya and her star-beast companion Hongge had settled into a comfortable life, the System…crashed! Her star-beast companion was forced to transmigrate into a sickly boy from the capital, and even became her nominal “little uncle”? Her golden finger worked only sometimes, her body was frail, and the circumstances were pressing. They had no choice but to re 57Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    610,000 words, a certain style, plot-driven, non-clichéd, not melodramatic, not idiotic, not childish, featuring cute pets and children growing up.

41. 91 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

    Reader note

    A novel written in Shanghainese about Shanghai stories. Dubbed by the media as an online version of "Blossoms in Shanghainese." Currently being published by Hunan Literature and Art Publishing House.

42. 92 七 Wang Family Village in the Famine Years of the Seventies 七零荒年王家村 Lone Shepherd独牧人Urban203k WordsCompleted [Period Fiction + Rural Life + No System or Pocket Dimension] This book tells the story of Wang Fugui and his family, villagers in Wangjia Village in the 1970s. Wang Fugui is timid by nature. When the family runs out of food, he forces his wife, Jiang Xiurong, to ask the production team captain, Wang Xiaoyang, for grain. Wang Xiaoyang has been lusting after her for ages. When Wang Xiaoyang tries to assault her, their eldest son, Wang Peng, steps in. Again and again, he exposes Wang Xiaoyang's sc 5.4kReads6.9Score280Shelves
43. 93 商 The Ups and Downs of Business: A Life Well Lived 商业浮沉：不负韶华 Guan Zhong Zimo关中子墨Urban100k WordsOngoing "No Cliches, No Idiocy, No Melodrama, No System, No Power Fantasy, No Golden Finger. Read at Your Own Risk" "Jiang Xiaobei’s Comeback" Only later did Jiang Xiaobei understand: Not every effort gets the chance to bloom, not every affection gets an answer, and not everyone who says “next time” really gets a next time. No one could have predicted what came later. That poor kid who couldn’t afford a single shirt, the failed exam candidate whose father pointed at him and said, “This is all you’ll 7Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Good books are worth reading, and good food is worth the wait. Classic business war novels.

44. 94 山 Chronicles of Mountains and Rivers 山河志 A Dao阿刀Urban1.9M WordsCompleted His beautiful mother was nearly assaulted by a village lout, but she tearfully begged the man who rescued her not to call the police. Young Gao Yuan couldn’t understand why at the time. Only when he reached his thirties and looked back on the past, with those scenes flashing through his mind, did he realize that the lives of countless rural people together form a chronicle of the mountains and rivers of China! 84.2kReads9.6Score9.2kShelves

    Reader note

    Tomato's three best period novels, no arguments.

45. 95 我 My Elders 我的长辈 Lion Mound狮子墩Modern Romance335k WordsCompleted In the 1980s, as people flock to the cities, all kinds of stories unfold! Mu Fang suffers from asthma, so many people keep their distance. After several unsuccessful matchmaking attempts, she meets someone on a day when sleet begins to fall. It feels like fate has brought them together, and they fall in love at first sight. Defying her family’s objections, Mu Fang marries her second uncle, who is more than ten years her senior. She never looks down on him for being poor and from the countryside, 316Reads—Score—Shelves
46. 96 重 Back to the 1970s: A Village Girl's Path Beyond the World 重回七零年代，村女的破界之路 Green Grain Shining on the Fields青禾照野Modern Romance270k WordsOngoing [Elderly woman + reborn + 1970s + dumping a scumbag + no romance + family life + spatial storage] After being angered to death at the age of seventy, Zhou Qiuying is reborn in 1975. In 1975 in her previous life, Zhou Qiuying was an eighteen-year-old country girl. She gave up her secure job as an elementary school teacher to marry an educated youth sent down to the countryside. In return, her husband cruelly abandoned her after passing the college entrance exam, and her loved ones died tragical 168Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A high-quality historical novel, highly recommended!

47. 97 东 Tales of the Northeast: Women Who Climbed Over the High Walls of Grand Estates 东北往事之翻过深宅高墙的女人们 Midnight Woodpecker午夜啄木鸟Modern Romance865k WordsOngoing In 1946, on the black soil of Northeast China, Chunxiang, daughter of tenant farmer Wang Mazi, marries Liu Laogen, the landlord's son. Her father receives several acres of good farmland and dozens of silver dollars as a handsome betrothal gift. She thinks she has married into wealth and will live a secure life as a young madam, but Liu Laogen has a hidden ailment, and their marriage proves to be one in name only. Chunxiang is determined to escape the prison that has trapped her, but her greedy f 53.7kReads8.7Score3.1kShelves

    Reader note

    Look at this, the response has been great.

48. 98 穿 Transmigrating to the 1970s: The One-Shot System Takes Me to New Heights 穿越七零：秒杀系统带我飞 Mu Ran9牧然9Modern Romance1.4M WordsOngoing The rating just came out, so it’ll go up later! 1970: I Have a Golden Finger and a Maxed-Out Family Ding! Your limited-time flash-sale System has been bound! Wen Jingshu, an English major in graduate school in 2024, was halfway through studying for the civil service exam when she transmigrated. When she woke up, she’d become a graduate student in trade and economics in 1970. Her father was a police bureau chief, her mother a section chief at the agricultural bureau, her eldest brother a battalio 62.7kReads8.5Score7.8kShelves

    Reader note

    [Add one to your bookshelf] The female protagonist travels back to 1970 with a system that allows her to instantly kill enemies. She rises from a purchasing agent at a supply and marketing cooperative to become an exporter. Her career is fulfilling, her family dotes on her, and the novel is full of nostalgia. It's definitely worth reading!

49. 99 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 93Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    You could check out this book; it's a novel I wrote myself, and it should suit your taste.

50. 100 八 The 1980s: A Fisherman's Little Life in Southern Guangdong 八零：南粤渔家小日子 Yuri Xiuchangguan玉日袖长观Modern Romance332k WordsOngoing [Period Piece] [Shore Foraging Golden Finger] [Fishing and Hunting] [Everyday Child-Rearing] [Family Life] [Cozy] [A Complete Guide to Seafood, Food, and Livelihood] [Later Development in the Pearl River Delta and Hong Kong] Chen Lizhen had spent half her life working at a fish stall. At last, she got to stay with her daughter for a few days, but after falling asleep, she woke up in a small fishing village in Nanyue in 1985. She was only twenty-five again, and her daughter was a four-year-old li 563Reads—Score103Shelves

    Reader note

    I recommend this book! Anyone passing by should check it out!!!

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