Actually it was good, I quit like it, it wasn't something magical, any golden finger, just some normal people with some skill that rich everything by their own hard work, story was good and not boring, not too much twist and complications, I like it. Good for a leisure read.

I ended up finishing it so it wasn't horrible, but it definitely wasn't very good either. I couldn't decide whether to rate it a 2 or a 3. It's somewhat poorly written, the plot is a bit unbelievable, and a lot of things annoyed me. The translation is also not great, but it's readable. I wasn't originally going to write a review so I didn't end up noting a ton of specific stuff, but here's a few things that stood out to me.

It's crazy to me that the author chose... more>> to write BL, but also made a homophobic comment? At one point in the novel when a man shows fatherly platonic interest in their adoptive son, the MC makes a comment like "if I didn't know better I'd think he's gay and has his eyes on our son" and the ML says "what's a gay?" and then the MC says "a pe*vert!". Idk maybe I'm misinterpreting it or it's a weird translation, but my immediate reaction was like wtf?

And another thing that was frustrating was the sexist undertones. Women and gers (who in this story are essentially counted as women) are put down multiple times. Most of the antagonists are manipulative women or women who want to seduce and steal away the MC. The ML (a ger) is emphasized to be "different" than all those other s*upid gers and wives because he's smart and special. He's sooo special because he can actually do stuff besides just cry and be a b*tch.

To be fair, the author does say at one point that most gers and women are incapable of handling crises or doing business because of their low status in the empire, and the last chapter does slightly indicate that the status of women/gers is improving due the the ML. I also understand that these stories are based around ancient China and that the authors who write these stories are from China and live in a different culture. However, I have read stories that are inspired by ancient China and reflect the oppression of women (and gers) of the era, that do it in a tactful way without insinuating that women are weak and manipulative. So for me, it's still disappointing.

I guess the redeeming part of this story was mainly the business aspect, although some of it didn't really make sense. How does the MC know how to do all this stuff? He knows how to make cosmetics, dye, food, and more. Wasn't he just a regular businessman in his previous life? But I personally really enjoy the whole poor to rich in ancient times trope so I overlooked the inconsistencies. It was fun to watch the main characters and their friends/family prosper by the end of the novel. I also enjoyed the main couple's relationship, they were very cute and sweet.

Anyways if you really like this type of story and can ignore the inconsistencies and issues then it's a fine read but I wouldn't say I particularly recommend it. <<less

3 stars

It was alright, nothing new or particularly amazing here. I've read plenty of other ger/farming/business novels with mc's who were pretty similar, but were characterized much better. Same with the ML shou. Maybe at the end we get to see how much the ML shou has grown from how they were in the beginning, but the bulk of the story writing in the middle was just mainly focused on business and face slapping. It felt like the story lacked depth in not only the character conflicts and growth, but... more>> emotional substance. I guess that's why it took me so long to finish this one, as I read it casually here and there because I wasn't totally invested.

As for MC.... there was just some things about him that was questionable. Not so much his personality, but his BRAIN. Some of the solutions he comes up with to counterattack others who harmed him was so unnecessary and overboard. It's like, I get it, but at the same time, I don't.

Me personally I don't know why, but I was always annoyed about the ml's younger brother Shen li and his in-laws. He's not horrible or bad, but he felt like a lightbulb majority of the time he was present and very immature. His in-laws weren't TERRIBLE, but they were pretty insufferable about hating gers so I couldn't get myself to like them at all for some reason. But they're pretty much are out of the picture in the middle to the end at least.

I do have to say, the way they treat their adopted son as well as how MC and ML both understand the importance of a child's mental health was so refreshing. Surprisingly it's the MC who explains that children needs a stable environment, and family in order for them to grow up not only independently but also mentally stable. I was also surprised how loving MC was towards his adoptive son. He's strict, and loves to mess with his son, but also very affectionate and attentive. I'm just happy this didn't turn into the annoying trope of a father being jealous of his kids of which I find extremely distasteful even as a joke. Especially in this circumstance where they adopt their son when he's already around 7-8 years old and has a brooding and dark personality from being ab*sed.

Good for a casual read if you're looking for nothing too serious and angsty. <<less

It's another Poor To Rich Business Management story, but it's not a Boring one.

Nothing instant nor there's Golden Fingers. No necessarily having Big Awesome Skill, just some Knowledge and Business Skill that MC has. And ML being great Support too.

It's also story full of Flawed People. Even our Protagonist CP also Flawed. But that's what make this novel Refreshing. Of course with some frustrating element in some drama. But nothing heavy. Just Flawed Annoying people can be quite Annoying. And the real Bad Bad people absolutely Frustrating and made me... more>> Rage in the beginning.

But after those Evil Bad people from the 'Family' side, the rest of the people was just Flawed Greedy or Flawed Narcissistic or well... Just Flawed.

The example of the Flawed just Flawed but not that bad was the In-laws of ML's little brother. Absolutely Flawed but not Evil so I can't hate nor dislike them. While the other kind of Flawed just made me want to Faceslapp and throw those people away for good.

Beside characteristic of the people, I also love the Business Management this novel has. At the beginning it was the common type of selling food. And then the more they grow and selling object like the Clothes.... the CLOTHES!! I absolutely Amazed and love how the MC introduce the clothes he sell. I don't think I have ever see an MC that Bold and Genius. He introduce such things and I Love it!

Another was I love how we can see the people MC and ML saved can be both Flawed Bad and Good. I love how they get rid the bad.

And my new Favorite is their Adopted Son!

Honestly I can't wait for them to even more thriving. And pray there's no more big trouble. Would be happy to see Faceslapping, but most importantly I just hope everyone is Well Safe and Sound and Successful till the end! 🙏🙏🙏 <<less