Novels like The Rules of the Children's Home
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as The Rules of the Children's Home, best match first.
- 51 Fallen into the Mortal World 坠落红尘间 His father is critically ill, and she can’t scrape together the money to save him. A poor college girl grits her teeth and steps into the late-night world of KTV! She masks her youth with cigarettes and alcohol, trading her dignity for medical bills. Can she make it to the end of this road? Will she succumb to the temptations of the neon lights? 87Reads—Score614d adds
- 52 It's Only Fifty 不过是五十而已 An inspirational, unyielding story of midlife crisis, workplace struggles, bank managers and tellers, married life, and everyday urban life. This book tells the story of Huang Wenxue, a bank manager facing a midlife crisis. She is at that awkward age when she is considered too old to find a new job, yet still too young to retire. How will she answer the unavoidable questions surrounding her career, marriage, family, children, and caring for her aging parents? Even in middle age, even when confro 432Reads8.9Score—14d adds
- 53 A Working Girl’s Life Through Wind and Rain 打工女孩的风雨人生路 In the 1990s, a wave of migrant workers swept across the country, and countless young people left their hometowns for the big cities. The dazzling neon lights of the metropolis conjured one fantasy after another, while burying the youth of so many. Longing for a fresh start, the naive young Zhou Jie joined the great wave heading south. From getting a factory job to running away, from falling on hard times to fighting her way forward, she had to tread carefully at every step. She thought that a 259Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 54 The Insider 内部人士 In the early 21st century, China’s real estate economy was booming. Many ordinary people caught a favorable wave amid the great tides of history and amassed considerable wealth. The protagonist is an average person with no particular gifts, but as he grows, he continually learns from the wisdom of those around him, including some truly remarkable people. Through constant learning and reflection, he eventually develops a unique kind of wisdom and achieves success of his own. It seems as though fa 10Reads—Score—14d adds
- 55 Great-Aunt Xile's Happy Life 姑奶奶喜乐的幸福生活 Home is a sheltered harbor, and family is always there to support you. This is a story about three generations of the Song family living happily in an old building on Tianjin's Five Avenues. It features Tianjin's delicious food, as well as the family's joys and sorrows over the past thirty years. 730Reads9.1Score10414d adds
- 56 Simple-Minded Ni 憨妮 Hanni is a woman who seems a little dim-witted to outsiders. She marries three men: the first is an ordinary man, the second a tycoon, and the third a young hoodlum. This is the story of her and the people around her, and how Hanni changes her fate... 77Reads7.0Score—14d adds
- 57 My Flash-Marriage Husband's Love Has Me Spoiled and Proud 闪婚老公的爱让我恃宠而骄 She, Xu Mengyao, a cool, beautiful woman who was once the goddess of first love in everyone's eyes, planned to marry her boyfriend of four years, Chen Hao, after becoming pregnant. But his mother broke them up. He, Li Yuanjun, a warm-hearted man, met Xu Mengyao, a bridesmaid, at a friend's wedding, and fell for her at first sight. Handsome and sunny, Li Yuanjun eventually won Xu Mengyao over with his sincerity. A month later, they had a whirlwind wedding and registered their marriage. After the 24Reads—Score—14d adds
- 58 Half a Life Adrift 半生沉浮 This is an author’s autobiography. Born in the countryside, he worked tirelessly to improve himself and, through his own efforts, published novels and essays. After enduring hardship, he became a private-school teacher, but still gave up this hard-won job to find work in Guangdong and make his way in Shanghai. At last, he changed his life and established himself in the city. And yet… This is serious literature. Those who enjoy vulgar content should stay away! 742Reads8.0Score—14d adds
- 59 That Boy Was My First Love 那个男孩，是我初恋 ❗️❗️❗️Dating in your teens may be wrong, but first love is never a mistake. Pen pals, QQ, school arts festivals, basketball, little handheld phones, red date rice balls... This is a story about first love. Deng Yang and Zhang Yan: three years of first love, and never a reunion. The streets they walked side by side, the hands they held, and their first kiss tasting of cake became the gentlest echoes in their memories of days gone by. People say first love is a regret born of youthful chaos. But w 14Reads—Score—14d adds
- 60 The Bachelor and the Outsider 光棍汉与外来妹 A Bachelor and a Girl from Out of Town 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 61 The Neighbors on Either Side of Xingyao 星遥的左右隔壁 Shen Song Xingyao is a girl whose name carries the story of her parents' unusual relationship. She grew up in a unique family arrangement, with her parents living in apartments next door to each other. Her father, Shen Yizhou, is a carefree, laid-back editor, while her mother, Song Qingru, is a meticulous, rational accountant. They never had a marriage in the traditional sense, yet through an unspoken understanding few outsiders could comprehend, they raised their daughter together. From her inn 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 62 There's a Girl in the Village Named Xiaofang 村里有个姑娘，叫小芳 This is not a love story. It's the life of an ordinary woman from the countryside. Xiaofang's story may well be the story of someone close to us. She once longed for a life in a prosperous big city. Later... 65Reads—Score—14d adds
- 63 The Door to Vault Three 三号库的门 The Door to Storage Room Three 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 64 The Bittersweet Trials of Marrying Far from Home 远嫁的那些酸甜苦辣 Marrying far from home is a gamble. You may never feel at home with your in-laws, yet be unable to return to your own family. Amid the chaos of childbirth, raising a child, and life with a second baby, marriage becomes a mirror that reflects the most honest truths about human nature. Marital happiness has nothing to do with whether you marry far from home. It depends on whether the person you marry truly loves you and understands you. The joys and sorrows of marrying far away are part of the exp 2.2kReads8.2Score11814d adds
- 65 My Girlfriend Didn't Reply for Three Minutes, So I Broke Up with Her 女友三分钟不回我消息，我直接分手 My girlfriend didn’t reply to my message for three minutes, so I broke up with her on the spot. 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 66 My Wife Didn't Reply for Three Minutes, So I Divorced Her 女人三分钟不回我消息，我直接离婚 My wife didn’t reply to my message for three minutes, so I divorced her on the spot. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 67 The Sheep Are Here, the Sheep Are Here 羊来,羊来 The sheep are coming, the sheep are coming —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 68 Slightly Downcast: Deleting My Love-Brain 轻颓：删除恋爱脑 [Period Novel] [Realistic Fiction] [Women’s Growth] [Family Life] [Literary] Northeast China at the end of the last century. Su Qing (Qing), a 26-year-old cashier at a state-owned enterprise, is burned badly by her obsession with romance: blind dates bring one oddball after another, and her husband cheats on her. Her in-laws find fault with everything she does, the state-owned enterprise undergoes restructuring and offers buyouts of years of service, and she faces constant trouble at work. In th 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 69 A Post-90s Mountain Girl's Starry Sky 90后，山里姑娘的星空 [Diary] [First person] [No contrived twists] [Not a wish-fulfillment novel] [No overpowered protagonist] [Traditional] [Realistic] [Period] [Countryside] [Hardship] [Marriage] [Family bonds] The 1990s were full of life and energy, but they were also a Period when weeds grew unchecked. Many people born in the 1970s and 1980s went to the cities in pursuit of their dreams. Some worked hard for everything they had, while others lost themselves in the glittering world around them. This is a story a 193Reads8.3Score—14d adds
- 70 I Married a Veterinarian for My Second Marriage, and He Begs Me Not to Throw Him Away 二婚嫁了个兽医，求我别把他扔了 Lighthearted healing + funny and heartwarming + family life + slow-burn everyday romance + a touch of ensemble cast The male lead is a retired soldier who retrains as a veterinarian, switching seamlessly between fierce wolf and cuddly sweetheart. Amid rumors and life’s ups and downs, he remains entirely devoted to his muse. The female lead marries the wrong man on a whim and ends up divorced. Now she’s about to marry for the second time, so she’d better be careful. But why is someone calling her —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 71 Our Lost Love Rekindled 逝去的爱又复燃 Wang Xiaorong and Wang Guangming were childhood sweethearts, but their love was full of twists and hardships. After each married someone else, married life brought them not happiness, but endless pain. Once Wang Xiaorong and Wang Guangming had both emerged from the shadows of their tragic marriages, their love rekindled. 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 72 I Own a Resort 我有一个度假村 Life is about more than just getting by today. There are also poetry and faraway places. Youth and love never grow old. Don’t let your youth go to waste, and don’t lose the love in your life. When you’re feeling down, step outside and take a look at this beautiful world. 59Reads—Score—14d adds
- 73 Marriage Before Love: Mr. Fu’s Beloved 先婚后爱：付先生的掌心宠 Because of her family background, Xiang Zhaozhao had always been determined never to marry. That same family background left her with no choice but to compromise and go on a blind date with Fu Shiyu. Xiang Zhaozhao thought their marriage would be nothing more than two people sharing a life. She never imagined it would turn out so blissful and sweet! A love story about a first-generation entrepreneur and a woman marrying later in life! 983Reads8.7Score11914d adds
- 74 Demolition Debris Hits My Head! The Land Grab Ending Had Me Rolling 拆迁砸头！抢房结局笑疯 Demolition debris hits him on the head! The scramble for the house ends in hilarious chaos. 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 75 The Drama Queen Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law 戏精婆媳 A fresh-faced workplace newcomer and a seasoned career woman fight tooth and nail at work, then carry their feud home with them. Cheng Junyi watches the two of them coldly. They aren’t related by blood, but they’re both cut from the same cloth, so neither has any grounds to criticize the other. He decides to sit back and let them wear each other down. 124Reads8.2Score10314d adds
- 76 The Runaway Housewife 逃跑的家庭主妇 At forty, Su Meng was manipulated by her husband into having a second child. Her younger daughter’s birth was an impulsive decision, and the start of a nightmarish life. Standing on the balcony of her home on the eighteenth floor, she suddenly thought that jumping might be the only way to find true release… The loneliness, helplessness, pessimism, despair, and weariness with everything made her realize she was ill, seriously ill. And the only thing that might cure her was to run away… Escape, ge 1kReads—Score10214d adds
- 77 The Girl Next Door 女邻居 The Female Neighbor 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 78 The Husband Swap 换夫记 Xue Mingming married simply because she'd reached the right age, only to discover that her husband wasn't the right person for her. She settled into a life that felt like going through the motions. Then she crossed paths with Nie Qiyuan, a former high school classmate whose career was on the brink of bankruptcy and whose marriage was hanging by a thread, though neither recognized the other. How should these two married, middle-aged people handle their work, their lives, and their feelings??? A b 18.3kReads8.6Score1.6k14d adds
- 79 Stories from the Construction Site 工地上的那些事儿 [No System, entirely hand-written. Men and women on a construction site, struggling to survive in the workplace.] They say construction sites are chaotic, women are scarce, and beautiful women are even rarer. After graduating from college, I started working at a construction site. On my very first day, I met Sister Xiaoya, who was already married, and accidentally offended the site boss. It turned out that the construction site held more than just men and women. There were also stories few peopl 10.9kReads7.6Score81814d adds
- 80 Late at Night, I Fell Under His Spell 深夜，对他着了魔 Their late-night story… It’s thought-provoking, and leaves you filled with regret. Was she too devoted, or was he too heartless? What can you even say about love? 218Reads—Score—14d adds
- 81 Those Years in Dongguan 在东莞那些年 This book tells the story of an ordinary loser who finds love while working at a factory. After his future mother-in-law demands an outrageous bride price, he works hard, sets out to build a business, and pursues his dream. Giving up a high-paying job, he leads his friends back to their hometown to start a business, transforming a place so poor that no one could find a wife into a place young women are eager to marry into. 86Reads7.6Score—14d adds
- 82 The No-Drama Casebook 不抓马风云事件簿 A healing little ray of sunshine and a devoted, faithful boyfriend: twenty years of ups and downs, the secretly affectionate couple! The woman isn’t called Keyun or Xiyun. Her name is Tan Yun. The man isn’t called Lifeng or Mufeng. His name is Lu Feng. There’s no earth-shattering first meeting, no all-powerful golden finger, and no melodramatic, messy entanglements, just twenty years of enduring devotion and favor. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 83 That Year, Because of the Campus Belle, I Ran Off to Guangdong to Become a Handsome Lad 那年因为校花，我跑路广东当靓仔 [Jianghu]+ [Workplace]+ [Romance]+ [No System]+ [Not reborn] [Based on the author’s real experiences working in Guangdong, this is a story about migrant workers in cities like Dongguan and Shenzhen. This is not a wish-fulfillment novel, so don’t read it if that’s not your thing!] In 1997, Zhang Zaiye, Li Yaocong, Jiang Xinyue, and others met while working summer jobs in Guangdong, and formed a deep friendship. At the time, Dongguan’s economy was growing at a breakneck pace. Workers poured in fr 7Reads—Score114d adds
- 84 Dustbound Love, Nan Nan 尘缘楠楠 The marriage between Chen Yuan and Nannan, the everyday business of rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea, and all the twists and turns of life, its sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty moments, a jumble of emotions... [Urban Life] [Married Life] [Ordinary Lives] 9Reads8.4Score—14d adds
- 85 A Windfall Makes a Life 横财成就人生 One lucky blow brings him a windfall. The real problem is how to launder it into legitimate personal income. It's like telling one lie and needing a hundred more to cover it: the problems just keep snowballing. Watch how the protagonist gets himself out of this mess. 445Reads6.1Score—14d adds
- 86 On the Brink of Divorce 走在离婚的边缘 A friendly reminder: This is a work of realist fiction, and many readers may recognize people they know in it. Please enjoy the story, but don’t assume it’s about you! People say marriage is the grave of love, yet so many still rush toward it. The paths love can take are painfully few: either you part ways and become strangers, or you enter the marital home and stay together for life. When passion fades and love turns into familial affection, marriage becomes the daily routine of meals and chore 101Reads—Score—14d adds
- 87 The Boy from a Remote Mountain Village I Helped Twenty Years Ago Wants to Marry Me 二十年前救助的偏远山区小男孩，要和我结婚 The little boy I helped in a remote mountain village twenty years ago wants to marry me 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 88 The Way of Heaven Turns: Who Are You? 天道轮回，你是谁？ A woman's privileged life is shattered, and what follows is a life in pieces. That word “shattered” holds so many bitter stories. After experiencing everything she should and should not have had to endure, she comes to understand the true meaning of life. She breaks out of her cocoon, transforms into a butterfly, and reaps what she has sown. Those who have never been through it won't understand, and neither will those who lack insight. Life isn't about right or wrong; it's all part of the journe 17Reads—Score—14d adds
- 89 The One Who Blows Away the Ashes 吹灰的人 “I slept with twenty-one men before I had enough money to spend without worrying.” At two in the morning, Lin Xiao, a girl who had just lost her job, came across this post. The poster’s profile picture was exactly the same as that of the person she was dating online. She thought it was a coincidence. Then she discovered that a woman named Yu Fei seemed to know all her secrets, including ones she didn’t even know herself. Yu Fei said, “You’ll walk the same road I did. But I came back so you wo 73Reads—Score13514d adds
- 90 Dawn in a Dream 入梦之晓 Dreaming at Dawn tells the story of Jiang Xiao, a woman from southern China who gradually awakens within a traditional marriage. Once a housewife dependent on her husband and silently enduring her circumstances, she transforms into an inspiring woman who is financially independent and in control of her own life. Blending the realism of urban life with the fantasy of entering dreams, the story is told from Jiang Xiao's perspective and explores women's struggles and breakthroughs as they navigate 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 91 Everyday Life as a Woman Living Alone 独居女性日常 A first-person daily-life story about a group of women who live alone. My name is Li Yu. I was different from other children from the start. I was terribly unlucky: I was abandoned as a baby, and I only have one eye! But I was incredibly lucky to have adoptive parents who love me more than anything. They love me, and they still urge me to get married. They love me, and once they're done urging me, they accept that I live alone. Living alone doesn't mean being lonely. It's a romantic date wit 458Reads8.1Score10914d adds
- 92 After the Divorce, My First Love and Ex-Boyfriend Won't Leave Me Alone 离婚后，初恋前男友上蹿又下跳 Xu Yuanchun's first marriage lasted only a year and a half. Because she was infertile. It's no big deal. Infertility isn't life-threatening, and even after her divorce, she can still live freely. But as soon as the divorce was final, Feng Jianqiu, her ex-boyfriend and first love, came shamelessly crawling back, making a scene at every turn. She really had no idea what game he was trying to play. Whatever. She might as well slap him first. · Two ordinary people in their thirties stumble through a 254Reads—Score—14d adds
- 93 A Spring Flower Blooms 一朵春花开 A spring blossom blooms, and sorrow and pain fade away. How did the romance between Chen Jiayi, a photographer who has never been in a relationship, and Xie Ning, a restrained lawyer, begin? Perhaps when she looked at him. Perhaps when he warmed her heart. Perhaps when they became each other's light. They heal each other and learn how to love. “I don't know how to make someone happy.” “As long as you're by my side, that's happiness.” 12Reads—Score—14d adds
- 94 Zhao Jiji’s Love Story After Divorce 赵吉吉离婚后的爱情故事 To be loved is an extension of self-love! I thought I'd shut myself off from love for good, but I never expected to meet him in my forties... After her son takes the college entrance exam, Zhao Jiji divorces her ex-husband. She delivers food, works as a real estate agent and caregiver, and writes novels, doing her best to make a life for herself. While working as a caregiver, she meets a man she once went on a blind date with, and the two begin a beautiful relationship. 71Reads—Score—14d adds
- 95 A Wounded Woman Doesn't Talk About Love 受伤女人不谈爱 She raises her husband’s mistress’s child! This is a story about a woman’s growth, inspired by many real-life stories. Wang Shengnan was born into a rural family that favored sons over daughters, and her mother named her Shengnan, meaning “to surpass men.” She started working as soon as she graduated from middle school. At a beauty salon, her boss sexually assaulted her, but timid and meek, she did not dare speak out. Later, she married an ordinary man, only for him to die in an accident. After 137Reads—Score—14d adds
- 96 The Criminal’s Revelation 犯罪启示录 The story follows a detective's day-to-day casework, recounting how a number of representative cases are solved. The plot is full of twists and turns, and every case offers plenty to think about. I hope readers will take something away from the story. 399Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 97 Peeping: The Butterfly Effect 偷窥之蝴蝶效应 The male lead is a complete loser. By chance, he discovers a female colleague's secret, turning his work and personal life upside down. Two mature adults with sharp minds and social skills engage in an intense game of push and pull. Love begins for reasons unknown and grows deeper with every passing day: they love and are loved, hurt and are hurt, grow through their pain, then fade from one another's memories. This is also the story of an ordinary worker's growth. 578Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 98 Wangcai the Golden Retriever Says: Don't Be Afraid, I'll Stay by Your Side 金毛狗旺财说：别怕，我守着你 The Golden Retriever Wangcai Says: Don't Be Afraid, I'll Stay by Your Side —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 99 His Puppy-Dog Eyes 他的狗狗眼 [Younger man’s secret crush + grown-up flirtation and entanglement + an affectionate puppy who loves to cuddle] [Sincere, green-tea-flavored veterinarian × beautiful top student and lead singer of a band] “Big Sis, you’re the only one with the key to this collar. If I could, I’d hope you never opened it for the rest of your life, because I only want to be your good little dog, and yours alone.” 10Reads—Score—14d adds
- 100 After Tearing the Scumbag to Shreds, the Heroine's Life Goes into Overdrive 手撕渣男后，女主的人生开挂了 They once loved each other so deeply, from their school days to their wedding. But even the strongest love can apparently be no match for temptation. The male lead betrays the female lead, who, lost and confused, searches for a new direction in life. This is a slow-burning story. I hope you enjoy it. The story is entirely fictional, and any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental. Please don’t assume it’s about you. 5Reads—Score—14d adds
