Period Novels for Female-Lead Fans 年代文（女主控）

1. 1 草 Grassland Veterinarian [1960s] 草原牧医[六零] Qing Hou轻侯Romance1.4M WordsCompleted “I hope I can go somewhere that respects veterinarians more!” With that one sigh, Lin Xuejun transmigrates to the grasslands of the 1960s, where she becomes a starving, freezing young woman sent to the countryside. Modern veterinary medicine is only just getting started in this era. A minor epidemic can kill hundreds or thousands of cattle and sheep, destroying a year’s hard work for the herders and wiping the smiles from the faces of the hospitable grassland people. As an ordinary graduate stud 165.8kFavorites290.9kClicks/ch1.3MGifts

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   Five stars! Five stars! Five stars! The theme is novel; the female protagonist helps herders and animals on the grassland.

2. 2 年 The Male Lead's Younger Sister in a Period Novel 年代文男主的亲妹妹 Innocent Blue天真蓝Romance1.3M WordsCompleted In 1988, Lin Xiao is eight years old, living in the cotton mill compound and attending second grade like any ordinary child. After a bout of high fever, her older brother Lin Yuefei suddenly starts acting strangely. He quits the good job he's lined up and goes to haul bricks at a construction site. He says the factory's elementary school isn't good enough and wants to transfer her. The first time he meets a young woman, he tells Lin Xiao that she's his future sister-in-law. The woman nearly 69kFavorites160.6kClicks/ch259.3kGifts

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   This is my favorite period drama and children's story. The female lead is incredibly cute and clever—a real child, and a true genius. The story is filled with everyday family matters, but the author describes them in a very heartwarming, adorable, and lighthearted way. Not only is the female lead a genius, but her best friend, played by Vivian Chow, is also a genius. The female lead also has many friends vying for her child's attention, which is all very endearing. This is truly my favorite children's story. Another one I've been enjoying recently is "Niu Niu Didn't Get a Beating Today" by Hong Shizi; that one also features real children and is very entertaining.

3. 3 七 The Women’s Director of the 1970s 七十年代妇女主任 Zhang Jiayin张佳音Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [Going VIP on the 25th, with a 10,000-character update. Thanks for your support.] Zhao Ke was a disgruntled workaholic who traveled back to the 1970s and became remarkably laid-back. After all, once the college entrance exams returned, her future would be bright. Then one day, out of the blue, Zhao Ke realized she was living in a novel set in the past. Everyone in the book was either the male or female lead, or one of the awful people who got humiliated by them. The latter included, but weren' 85kFavorites180.2kClicks/ch220.2kGifts

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   (Five stars) The female lead was originally vying for a primary school teacher position, while her mother was going to become the women's director. Due to a series of reasons, their positions were switched, leading to a chaotic story of the youngest women's director. The female lead goes from being a lazy bum to becoming responsible in her work, solving various family and work problems for the women. The stories mainly focus on everyday family matters. This story is very female-friendly; many supporting female characters, though not deeply developed, are memorable, such as the grandmother who fought in the Japanese invasion, Aunt Feng with her beautiful calligraphy, and many other independent and strong women.

4. 4 五 The Military Industrial Compound in the 1950s 五十年代军工大院 Deer Grass鹿子草Romance1.6M WordsCompleted Ye Manzhi’s view of herself: the prettiest flower in the military-industrial compound, and the glue that keeps her family harmonious. That is, until she sees a line of text above her third sister-in-law’s forehead: [When is this home-wrecker finally marrying into Director Zhou’s family? I’m ready to throw hands!] Ye Manzhi rubs her eyes. ??? When she discovers that she’s living inside a novel as the heroine’s co 229.4kFavorites378.7kClicks/ch1.1MGifts

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   It's a very good read. It tells the story of the female protagonist's journey from a low-level clerk in a neighborhood office to the director of a large factory, and then to a leader in the Commerce Bureau. It includes many stories about things like starting a factory, attending foreign trade fairs, and how to produce products. The plot is very rich and interesting. The female protagonist is also quite positive, cheerful, and capable. Especially noteworthy are the many political quotes included; it seems the author is very well-versed in political literature.

5. 5 重 Back To The 90s 重回九零 Huai Su怀愫Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Everyday life in a bygone era] Lin Wenjun lay on the operating table, looking back on a life that had, by all accounts, been pretty good. Her husband had made his fortune in the 1990s. He never kept a mistress or cheated on her. Her three children were reasonably filial. She had never endured great hardship or suffered terribly. So why had she never been satisfied? Was it because she and her husband had grown further and further apart? Because her three children resented her for not treating th 219.3kFavorites575.6kClicks/ch1.2MGifts

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   The story follows an ordinary woman who, after transmigrating back in time, no longer resigns herself to mediocrity and weakness. Instead, she decides to make her life more fulfilling, and in doing so, gains friendship, a happy family, and professional success. The male protagonist is the original wife, a very ordinary businessman. (Here, "ordinary" and "ordinary" are not derogatory terms, but rather refer to men and women who are not particularly special in this world.)

6. 6 闻 A Lifetime Upon Hearing This 闻此一生 Ning Long凝陇Romance785k WordsCompleted [Typos and updates: please ignore.] Wen Tingli said nonchalantly, “My goals have never changed, not for a single day: fame, mountains of money, and a handsome, obedient man...” “Has Lu Shicheng heard you say that?” Meng Qiguang asked with a sneer. “Would the young master of the Lu family, the Hongye family of Nanyang, be happy knowing that in your eyes he’s just a ‘handsome, obedient man’?” Wen Tingli raised an eyebrow. “He doesn’t care about that. He’s not like you.” “Is that so? If he unde 96.1kFavorites103.4kClicks/ch134.6kGifts

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   (Five stars) Highly recommended! This isn't actually a period drama, but rather a Republican-era story. The female protagonist starts as a rather pampered young lady, then, due to family misfortunes, gradually enters the entertainment industry, becomes a big star, and eventually retires behind the scenes. It's a coming-of-age story for women. The later part of the story also involves the war-torn period of modern China, which is quite heavy, but the patriotism is unwavering, and the future is bright. Five stars!

7. 7 年 The Overseas Relatives of a Period-Novel Sacrificial Character Are Back 年代文炮灰的海外亲戚回来了 Hu Tu湖涂Romance2.1M WordsCompleted Blurb: Su Xun transmigrates into an 1980s novel as a wealthy returnee from overseas. But aside from inheriting a bunch of troublesome relatives who are destined for tragic ends as cannon fodder, she doesn’t have a single cent to her name. Luckily, she gets a weird “universally loathed” System. Whenever someone hates her enough to want to beat her up, she earns one loathing point, worth 100 US dollars. To maintain her wealthy persona, Su Xun has no choice but to claim these cannon-fodder relative 87.8kFavorites185kClicks/ch294.4kGifts

   Curator note

   This story is mainly comedic. The female protagonist earns money by accumulating other people's dislike points, so she finds some awful relatives. However, these relatives aren't so bad after all; she even helps them achieve a better life. But I started to get a bit tired of it in the middle, so I only read the first half, which was pretty good.

8. 8 女 Female Machinist [1960s] 女钳工[六零] Yu Yue Yuan Fei渝跃鸢飞Romance740k WordsCompleted They were revered and held in high esteem. They were synonymous with master artisans, the workers of their era who enjoyed star-like fame, and the backbone of the nation’s industrial rise. “Eighth-Grade Craftsmen” “So why can’t I be one of them?” “She’s just a wild girl, fierce as can be!” Lin Qiaozhi never dreamed that her speed, strength, and sturdy build would lead to her dying young, writhing in pain on a dirt bed while giving birth. “Ha!” Lin Qiaozhi jolted awake, drenched in cold 85kFavorites107.3kClicks/ch485.6kGifts

   Curator note

   As you can tell from the synopsis, the female protagonist is the kind of woman who is diligent, studious, stubborn, resilient, and somewhat talented.

9. 9 七 The Pretty Little Tailor of the Seventies 七零之漂亮小裁缝 Shu Shushu舒书书Romance615k WordsCompleted [The plot has undergone major revisions and differs considerably from pirated versions. Please read the official edition.] Ruan Xi was an accomplished fashion designer. She never expected to wake up as a supporting character with the same name in a novel set in a bygone era. The original Ruan Xi had been left in the countryside by her parents when she was little and raised by her grandparents. The heroine, meanwhile, was the orphan of one of her father's comrades, whom her parents had raised the 82kFavorites204.1kClicks/ch57.6kGifts

   Curator note

   What makes this story so appealing is that the female protagonist was a design major in her past life, and in this life, with the guidance of her mentor, she steadily progresses step by step, from making clothes for others to starting her own business.

10. 10 六 A 1960s Beat Cop Who Loves Gossip and Her Job 六零小片警爱吃瓜爱工作 Fragrant Crisp Chestnut香酥栗Romance2.9M WordsCompleted Starts August 27 at noon. Du Juan, a second-generation transmigrator, graduates from high school, takes over her father’s job, and becomes a proud little community police officer. On her first day at work, she gets accidentally hit on the head and acquires a “system.” Big or small matters, family squabbles, chaos and commotion: there’s never a dull moment. To the east, a widower abandons his children and elopes with a widow, only to get swindled out of his money. Du Juan rushes to the scene. To 70kFavorites134.6kClicks/ch411.5kGifts

    Curator note

    (4.5 Stars) This story is truly chaotic and melodramatic, very entertaining. Since the female lead is a local police officer, she encounters all sorts of dramatic family dramas. The complex relationships between the characters feel comparable to those in *Dream of the Red Chamber*, with all the incestuous relationships. The female lead's mother is so strong she can kill a wild boar—truly a fierce woman! The father handles the household chores. However, I always felt the main character was the "father," as he had too much screen time, especially towards the end when the female lead seemed to have less screen time. Therefore, I didn't continue reading.

11. 11 别 Don’t Ask Me Who’s the Disco King [The 1980s] 别问我谁是迪斯科[八零] Deer Grass鹿子草Romance1.6M WordsCompleted [Please add my upcoming novel, "The Military Industry Compound in the 1950s", to your reading list!] As a handsome university student with bright prospects in the 1980s, Di Sike had nothing to worry about except being broke. Then he discovered that he was living inside a book called "The Pink Tycoon: Love Can’t Escape Me". The heroine was destined to become a tycoon in the entertainment industry, while he was the short-lived unrequited love she remembered fondly! According to the plot, Di Sike 57.4kFavorites104.3kClicks/ch347.5kGifts

    Curator note

    It's by the same author as the one from the 1950s, but it's from the male protagonist's perspective, so I didn't finish reading it. However, I heard that this story has a very good writing style and that many people like it.

12. 12 七 A True Married Couple in the Seventies 七十年代真夫妻 The Eastern Moon Is Full东边月亮圆Romance910k WordsCompleted After eight years of marriage, Zhao Xiuyun felt she still didn't know her husband, Fang Hai, all that well. So when she took their two daughters to join him at his post, she had only one thought: let things stay as they were, with each of them minding their own business. Later, what difference did it make whether it was well water or river water? Either way, it all belonged to Zhao Xiuyun. The story of a couple, each with their own little secrets, and plenty of misunderstandings between them. A 53.4kFavorites136.3kClicks/ch61kGifts

    Curator note

    (4.5 Stars) I read this a long time ago. It's a fairly ordinary story about the daily life of a married couple. It's about a woman who had children and was married for several years before she joined her husband's family while he was with her. It's a case of marriage of convenience that blossomed into love. What attracted me most when I read this story was that they had no sons, only daughters, and the daughters were all very well raised. Then it mainly consists of everyday family stories.

13. 13 不 Don't Let Your Parents Lose at the Starting Line [The 1970s] 不要让父母输在起跑线上[七零] Krypton Gold嗑金Romance731k WordsCompleted Overachiever Daughter × Slacker Parents Song Tang, an overachiever, was dealt a bad hand in life: she didn't get to be the child of government officials, rich people, or academics. Parents are a child's starting line. She clenched her little fists and set her sights on Song Cheng and Li Nan. But these two were both hopeless slackers, constantly sneaking in chances to slack off, lying flat without ambition, and just going through the motions. They were so out of step with the core socialist va 32.8kFavorites81.2kClicks/ch29.1kGifts

    Curator note

    The female protagonist is incredibly resilient, stubborn, determined, and never gives up. She's also remarkably eloquent for her young age and constantly encourages her parents to study. Under her guidance, both her parents' careers flourish. However, later on, after they moved to the city, many of the discriminatory descriptions of her appearance made me a little uncomfortable, so I didn't continue reading.

14. 14 七 Free Love in the 1970s 七零自由恋爱 The Eastern Moon Is Full东边月亮圆Romance378k WordsCompleted Shen Qiao gets married in her seventh year in the countryside. In her eighth year, she gets into university, and everyone in the brigade says, “The city phoenix is flying back home!” But a phoenix only nests in a parasol tree, and Shen Qiao's tree is her husband, Zheng Zhong. This “tree” is also working hard to put down roots in the city so his “phoenix” can stand firm. Note: Everyday life, romance-heavy, career-light. [80% anti-piracy ratio] Theme: Choose the life you want. 24.9kFavorites62.2kClicks/ch13.8kGifts

    Curator note

    I didn't finish reading it; it's just a story about free love.

15. 15 七 Military Life Diary of the 1970s 七十年代随军日记 Big Goose Treading Snow大鹅踏雪泥Romance614k WordsCompleted Recommended upcoming novels: Another Day of Killing the Child-Rearing System, Top-Tier Beauty, and Becoming a Female Duke After Fleeing Famine Synopsis: Wen Jiajia transmigrated to The 1970s and woke up to find herself an aunt. The original owner was the youngest daughter in her family. Because they were poor, they gave her to a family in the city to raise as their own. But after a while, her adoptive parents had a son, and their cherished daughter became an overworked nanny. When her adoptiv 18.5kFavorites37.9kClicks/ch13kGifts

    Curator note

    I didn't finish it either. It starts with two young girls, then they fall in love and go to join the army. It's a simple and lighthearted slice-of-life story.

16. 16 重 Back to 1998 重回1998 Innocent Blue天真蓝Romance576k WordsCompleted [Complete] As Lin Qing slipped down the mountain, she thought back over her life. At eighteen, she received her university acceptance letter, but never went to college. She was determined to make a fortune and quickly make something of herself, just to show her deadbeat father, who had abandoned her mother and her, what he had missed. By the time she finally achieved financial freedom, she looked back and found that her mother had grown old and her younger sister had changed. Lin Qing bought 15.7kFavorites47.5kClicks/ch11.1kGifts

    Curator note

    I read it quite a while ago; it's a novel about a woman who is reborn in the past and makes her career flourish.

17. 17 禾 Seedlings and Their Friends 禾苗和她们的朋友 The Eastern Moon Is Full东边月亮圆Romance396k WordsCompleted [This is a bonus story to the completed novel "A Real Couple in the Seventies." It can be read on its own, but if you're interested, feel free to visit my author page and check it out!] [Note: The name Hemiao refers to two people, Fang Qinghe and Fang Qingmiao.] [First Half] Fang Qinghe had loved playing big sister since she was little. She took Gao Ming, whose stepmother bullied him and whose father ignored him, under her wing like a little chick following behind her. Who would have thought tha 15kFavorites24.8kClicks/ch13.5kGifts

    Curator note

    This is the story of the children of that real couple from the 1970s.

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