Period Stories Without Going to the Countryside, With a Clear-Headed, Independent Female Lead Focused on Her Career and Climbing the Ranks 年代文，不下乡，女主清醒独立，拼事业升职，利己

1. 151 重 Reborn in the 1970s: I Use Medicine to Connect with Opportunities Across the Country 重生七零：我靠医术对接八方机缘 Three-Day Drunk三日醉Modern Romance125k WordsCompleted Reborn in 1977, Wan Fuling breaks free from her tragic fate! In her previous life, her family exploited and schemed against her, leaving her to grow old alone and miserable. Reborn with miraculous healing abilities, she coldly strikes back at her awful relatives. She builds a reputation by treating the sick and saving lives, then seizes an opportunity to open up channels for moving goods. Riding the wave of the times, she escapes poverty and writes her own legendary comeback through sheer determ 2Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   This is a selection of high-quality period dramas featuring a reborn protagonist, medical skills and supernatural abilities, and a strong female lead building her career. It rejects romance-obsessed stories, focuses on hardcore medical practice and saving lives, and tells the story of a woman who steadily builds her career, slaps her way out of trouble, and achieves a comeback!

2. 152 弃 Leaving Love Behind in the 1970s: The Doctor Goddess Orphan Is Doted on by the God of War 弃爱七零，医神孤女被战神独宠了 Gave It a Shake, and Got Yao摇了个瑶Modern Romance1.4M WordsOngoing Others transmigrated to the 1970s, and Wen Sui'an did too! While others who transmigrated either latched onto powerful patrons or brought along a pocket dimension, Wen Sui'an was lucky enough to get the Qihuang System! She can only earn points by treating and saving people. No patients, no perks. The original owner was a timid pushover, arranged to share a household with Shen Yubai and look after two little ones. Her future stretched out before her, filled with grievances and thankless chores. S 8.7kReads8.1Score97914d adds

   Reader note

   The chapters about military families are rich in stories, depicting the diverse human relationships within military households, including acts of kindness and warmth, as well as gossip. Wen Sui'an makes new friends and faces new challenges here. The interplay of human warmth and coldness, combined with a strong sense of the era, makes for a very engaging read.

3. 153 六 A Scheming Couple's Daily Bickering in the Sixties 六零腹黑夫妻互怼日常 Xuanhan Bao'er萱涵宝儿Modern Romance502k WordsCompleted [1960s Era + Light Ensemble Cast + Crime Solving + Whirlwind Marriage + Guiding Romance] In the 1960s, unsolved cases shrouded the land in mystery. He Xinghua, a policewoman from the countryside, and Lu Yanping, a criminal investigation chief, were not only husband and wife, but also partners in the line of duty. From a rural courtyard to city housing for government cadres, and from sorting through case files to confronting the most baffling criminal minds, they embarked together on a new caree 1.7kReads8.0Score14314d adds

   Reader note

   1960S literature

4. 154 七 Military Marriage in the 1970s: The Female Special Forces Soldier Can Take on Ten at Once 七零军婚：女特种兵她能一打十 Millionaire Lady千万富婆Modern Romance3.1M WordsOngoing Special Forces + Everyone’s Favorite + Pocket Dimension + System + Face-Slapping + Powerful Family Background Modern-day special forces soldier Xiao Niannian is caught in an explosion during a mission and becomes Xiao Niannian in 1970. Her parents are unknown, and her adoptive father died in service. Her adoptive father’s second brother wants to trade her away, drain her blood, and grind her bones. Does he really think she’s still the helpless girl anyone could bully? She wakes up just as she’s 15.4kReads9.0Score1.6k14d adds
5. 155 七 The 1970s: A Big Shot Protects China with Billions of Supplies 七零：大佬携亿万物资守护华夏 Mu Yao'er木幺儿Modern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Reborn with a spatial realm + satisfying and sweet + two powerful leads protecting the nation] A lonely old ghost who had drifted through the Spirit Realm for thousands of years suddenly finds herself reborn as a miserable girl in the 1970s. Her father is dead, her mother has run away, and she has a whole family of vicious wolves and tigers to deal with. She takes a terrible hand and turns it into a winning one: catching ghosts, telling fortunes, reading feng shui, making a fortune, and bringin 2.3kReads9.3Score26614d adds
6. 156 穿 After Transmigrating into a Book, Watch Me Take Down the Wicked Female Lead 穿书后，看我如何干翻恶毒女主 Yu Mizhou于米粥Modern Romance711k WordsOngoing The rating just came out; it’ll go up later. [Everyday family life, a laid-back heroine who sometimes has a soft heart and learns from her mistakes. There’s a System, a pocket dimension, and a job. She doesn’t go to the countryside.] Su Jiahui fell asleep and transmigrated. She never expected that, as an only child, she would end up in a large family with many children, and be the least favored one of all. After awakening her System, she discovered that she had transmigrated into a book. And of 1.5kReads6.0Score10114d adds

   Reader note

   It's pretty good, you can check it out.

7. 157 重 Reborn in the 1970s: I Kick My Scumbag Ex to the Curb and Become an Educated Youth 重生七零：渣男前夫踹去当知青 Good for You好来喔Modern Romance213k WordsCompleted Lin Wanxing is reborn. In her previous life, she drained her family’s savings, followed her scumbag boyfriend to the countryside, and scrimped and saved to put him through college. In the end, he abandoned her without a second thought, and she died of a serious illness in a rented room. When she opens her eyes, she’s back on her wedding day. Faced with his fake sweet talk and his greedy, wicked mother, she tears up the marriage certificate and flips the wedding banquet table. In front of everyon 5Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   After a month-long reading slump, I finally struck gold! 😭 Title: *Reborn in the 70s: My Scumbag Ex-Husband Gets Sent Off to Be an Educated Youth* First, some warnings: The female lead is completely clear-headed throughout, not a saint, doesn't remarry, and doesn't forgive. If you like melodramatic romances, this isn't for you. But if you're like me and fed up with love-struck female leads, this is a gem! Packed with satisfying moments: · Rebirth and awakening in Chapter 1 · Tearing up the marriage certificate and overturning the wedding table in Chapter 5 · Sending the scumbag ex-husband and wicked mother-in-law to the Great Northern Wilderness in Chapter 10 · A wildly successful street stall in Chapter 15 + the male lead's rescue · A constant stream of revenge against scumbags, making money, and slapping the faces of the worst. The male lead is amazing: Soldier Lu Tingxiao, the epitome of security. From the day the female lead tore up the marriage certificate, he was determined to be with her, silently protecting her, never pressuring, forcing, or controlling her. When he confessed, he said, "I'll wait for you, from the day you tore up the marriage certificate." Ahhhhh! 🥹 The most satisfying part is the scumbag's fate: starving in the Great Northern Wilderness, ostracized, his mother dies with no one to care for her, caught running away, imprisoned, homeless... And in the end, "not alive, just not dead." I really slapped my thigh at that line!

8. 158 财 The Tycoon’s Sweetheart: Darling, Be Good and Spoil Me 财阀小甜妻：老公，乖乖宠我 Flower-Surprised Magpie花惊鹊Modern Romance7.2M WordsOngoing Jiang Chenyu, the business world's emperor, swore he would never marry. Then one day, he was saddled with a sweet little wife, and Young Master Jiang began a whole new chapter of his life! “CEO, your wife smashed up the Wei family’s place.” “Has she calmed down?” “Not yet...” “Get a few more people over there to help her.” “CEO, your wife got into a fight and sent someone to the hospital.” “Is she satisfied?” “No.” The man kept working. “Carry on.” One day, when he heard that she’d gotten into a 87.4kReads9.4Score3.2k14d adds
9. 159 我 My Six Super Dads 我的6个超级奶爸 Little Taro Ball10小芋圆10Modern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Period Setting + Elite Family Background + Beloved by All + Adorably Violent Child + High-Octane Revenge] Tuantuan is only four, born with superhuman strength, but her life has been full of misfortune. Her heroic father died in the line of duty, her mother remarried, and her wicked stepmother and lame great-uncle wanted to seize her compensation money. They made her live in a moldy cowshed and even tried to sell her to a vicious trafficker for gambling money in the middle of a blizzard! At her 5.7kReads8.0Score2.1k14d adds
10. 160 被 Bound to a System in the 1970s, I Became a Tycoon 被系统绑到七十年代后我成了首富 Fen Luxia粉鹿夏Modern Romance330k WordsOngoing [Period Setting + Transmigrate into a Book + System + Building Wealth + Face-Slapping + No Sent-Down Youth] After Ye He dies, the System forcibly binds itself to her, and she transmigrates into a period novel as the villainous supporting female character of the Ye family. The Ye family is a blended family with seven children. The original Ye He is the youngest daughter, with both parents alive but neither of them caring for her. Before she has even graduated from junior high, they force her to g 913Reads—Score15914d adds

    Reader note

    This is a super good historical romance novel that I'm currently following. The female protagonist is, in a way, a transmigrator. She has terrible family members, but she doesn't go to the countryside. After cutting ties with her family, she continues her studies in the city, builds her own career, and makes a good life for herself.

11. 161 穿EN The Bystander's Self-Cultivation in a 1970s Transmigration Novel 穿书七十年代吃瓜群众的自我修养 Jiong Jiong You Pi囧囧有皮Modern Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Have you ever transmigrated to a different scene just by blinking? Lin Yuzhu has. She transmigrated in a daze to the 1970s. No, she transmigrated into a book. She has a System, and the female lead is there too. There are also supporting female characters, but she isn't one of them. She's just an onlooker who wandered into the story by mistake. As an onlooker, she gets to watch the drama unfold every day. She doesn't want other people's dogs, and she doesn't get involved in other people's busines 94.5kReads9.6Score8.6k14d adds
12. 162 八 Sent Down to the Countryside in the 1980s, I Use My System to Empty My In-Laws' Home 八零下放我带系统搬空婆家 Yue Zhiqing99月知卿99Modern Romance159k WordsCompleted Reborn and sent down to the countryside, Meng Wan binds herself to the Everything Storage System. In her previous life, her in-laws drained her dry until she died a miserable death, while her husband watched in silence. Reborn from the ashes, she’ll empty the family coffers if anyone tries to leech off her, and make anyone who schemes against her pay to the bitter end! Everyone fears her ruthless streak, but Lu Heng is the only one who steps in front of her: “Just be your fabulous self, honey. 1Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    This is a good story from that era! Worth reading.

13. 163 穿 I Transmigrated Into a Book and Refused to Slack Off: My Best Friend and I Flirt with Men and Make Money in the Compound!!! 穿书不摆烂，我和闺蜜在大院撩汉搞钱！！！ A Candy in Life生活里的一颗糖Modern Romance53k WordsCompleted I transmigrated into a book and refuse to slack off. My best friend and I flirt with men and make money in the compound!!! 8Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Two main couples, hilarious moments, characters pursuing their partners, and a cool, aloof male lead – the plot is engaging and there are characters you'll like. You should check it out!

14. 164 闯 Heading to the Northeast: Lin Erni's Bumpy Road to Happiness 闯关东：林二妮的颠簸幸福路 Liu Piao留飘Modern Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [No contrived twists] [No cheat powers] [Traditional] [Realistic] [Period] [Rural] [Hardship] [Inspirational] Lin Erni was born in Heze, Shandong, and married into Harbin in the Northeast. She struggled to get by amid the freezing snow in the mountains, then later had no one to rely on and went alone beyond the mountains to make a living. The first time, she was tossed from one place to another like a bag of steamed buns, made a child bride, and beaten and cursed. The second time, her father sol 21.8kReads9.4Score2.1k14d adds

    Reader note

    It lives up to the title. A highly-rated period drama, a very different kind of novel, suitable for all ages, with a strong sense of immersion. See how Erni is different as a child, as a teenager, as a new wife, and as a mother and mother-in-law—there are so many things to see.

15. 165 六 Sixies: Flowers in the Sun 六零之向阳花开 Hakka from Yunya云崖客家人Modern Romance547k WordsCompleted The genres are: Zhou Xiangyang never expected that one act of bravery during her senior-year internship would restart her life in 1960. She became a baby with the same name in the family compound of a machinery factory. Her family was simple but loving: an engineer father, a mother who worked at the supply and marketing cooperative, and two siblings, each with a personality of their own. Her English degree from her previous life was still with her, along with a temperamental “mystery box” sign- 7Reads—Score—14d adds
16. 166 八 The 1980s Plus-Size Wife Becomes a Factory Boss 八零肥妻翻身小厂长 Xinxin Loves to Eat What鑫鑫爱吃什么Modern Romance218k WordsOngoing On the first day of her rebirth, she tore up her engagement contract in front of everyone, shocking the whole village. The scumbag who had ruined her in her previous life knelt and begged for mercy. She sneered. "This is only the beginning." She thought she'd spend this life making money and nothing else. Who knew the cold-faced military officer would come to her door and say, "The organization has approved it. I'll marry you." She raised an eyebrow. "I only want to be an entrepreneur." He offer —Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    This book is about clothing designers and their own work.

17. 167 我 I'm the Fake Heiress, but the Commander Still Marries Me 我是假千金，首长未婚夫依旧娶我 Bring Me a Vat of Luosifen来一缸螺蛳粉Modern Romance6k WordsCompleted I'm the Fake Heiress, but My Commanding Officer Fiancé Still Marries Me 81Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Looks good, looks good 8

18. 168 屋 A Stranger Beneath the Eaves 屋檐下的陌生 Han Jiang, Who Loves Grilled Egg Whites爱吃烤蛋白的寒江Modern Romance310k WordsCompleted Life isn't about dramatic twists, but countless moments when things are “more or less” the same. Being “absent” in a marriage doesn't necessarily mean betrayal; it may simply be a callus worn smooth by the years. Aging doesn't bring despair, but rather a deeper appreciation for what we have “in this moment.” In the small details of everyday life, we see ourselves: we all struggle against inertia, then slowly make peace with life through that struggle. I hope readers can enjoy a book over tea in 9Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Give yourself an account of your life.

19. 169 八 Eighties Elopement: The Blacklisted Sisters Went on a Rampage 八零逃婚：黑户姐妹花杀疯了 An Ran荌嘫Modern Romance252k WordsOngoing [Period setting, punishing scumbags, women's growth, two heroines] Li Zhaodi was born into a family that favored boys over girls and was sold to a butcher in his fifties. Zhaodi refused to accept her fate and risked her life to escape that hellhole. But just as she escaped the wolf's den, she fell into the tiger's jaws. While being trafficked, she met Zhao Xiaocao, who shared her plight, and the two relied on each other to survive. They refused to be doddering vines at the mercy of others. In th 13Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    It has two female protagonists and is really good; it's not one of those typical books.

20. 170 到 In Another World, I Use Taoist Arts to Empty My Enemy's Warehouse 到了异世，我用道术搬空仇人仓库 Ling Ling Qi Xuan泠泠七炫Modern Romance913k WordsCompleted An alternate history setting. Please do not compare this story with real history! Gou Yunshu, a modern Daoist exorcist, was betrayed by her best friend during an exorcism. She was struck down by heavenly retribution, killed by a bolt of lightning. She transmigrated into the body of a young girl in the Great Xia Kingdom of the Republican era and discovered that her grandfather had been captured by the Japanese army. To rescue him, she took her younger siblings, bought a house, and left Laolongtan 1.3kReads—Score10714d adds

    Reader note

    Travel back to the 1940s, catch ghosts and fight zombies.

21. 171 史 The Poorest County Magistrate's Wife in History Leads the Whole County to Prosperity 史上最穷县令夫人带全县百姓赚钱 Ling Ling Qi Xuan泠泠七炫Ancient Romance993k WordsCompleted Hang Ying, head of a reclusive modern-day clan, dies during an expedition and transmigrates into Yingzi, the wife of Xu Mengran, a penniless county magistrate in the Great Chu Empire. Who ever heard of a county magistrate being poor? Well, this one wears a patched robe, and his wife earns money washing and mending clothes to help him pursue a career in the imperial examinations. They have no maids or guards, the yamen runners look down on them, and a rich young lady even comes to their door to b 611Reads7.0Score—14d adds
22. 172 渡 I Became a God After Surviving the Trial of Love 渡情劫后成功封神 Ling Ling Qi Xuan泠泠七炫Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Bai Yan, the legitimate daughter of a family of military commanders, came down from the mountains after mastering her art so she could return to her home in the capital and overcome her romantic tribulation. At the city gate, the emperor stopped her and ordered her burned as a sacrifice to Heaven and Earth. She also learned that her birth parents had abandoned her because of rumors calling her an ill-fated poison maiden. To clear her name, Bai Yan took responsibility for treating the plague and 155Reads—Score—14d adds
23. 173 穿 Transmigrated to the 1970s, the Capitalist Heiress Can't Take the Slightest Hardship 穿越七零资本家小姐吃不了一点苦 Raised A Cat养了只猫Modern Romance3.0M WordsOngoing [Military marriage + Period + space + revenge on scum + fictional setting + stern, devoted soldier king × all-around heiress who refuses to suffer] Wen Zhixia transmigrates from the apocalypse into the body of a capitalist heiress in another time and place, someone who shares her name. The pampered heiress doesn’t know how to fight back and is cruelly killed by her own family! Now that Wen Zhixia has taken over her body, she won’t put up with any of it. Compared with the kind and timid heiress, 15.5kReads8.5Score1.3k14d adds
24. 174 穿 I Transmigrated to the 1970s to Live the Good Life 穿越七零姐是来享福的 Drawing Circles Round and Round圆圈画圆Modern Romance759k WordsCompleted Period setting + space + toxic heroine + no children + no supporting the poor + 1v6 + all male leads are untouched The heroine has a strong sense of entitlement. She’s a toxic woman: self-serving, polished, skilled at acting and lying, shameless, and morally questionable. Xu Chang’an is about to have her kidneys harvested when an explosion sends her into a parallel world. Good news: Her kidneys are still there. Bad news: The explosion killed her. Good news: She’s alive again. Bad news: It’ 6.7kReads8.9Score73914d adds

    Reader note

    The female protagonist is extremely selfish and self-serving; she chooses not to have children and undergoes sterilization to achieve a better life, using marriage to transcend social classes! The process is incredibly captivating and not to be missed.

Other lists with Reborn in the 1970s: I Use Medicine to Connect with Opportunities Across the Country