Great novel! The premise isn't unique but it is well-written, producing a heartwarming and engaging story. At its core, this is a poor-to-rich story featuring a transmigrated heroine with a golden finger. She has a talent for making clothes and a keen sense of timing historical events (like the reopening of college exams and the implementation of certain economic policies). The plot mostly focuses on the protagonist's daily life, as she works toward a better future for herself and her family. But the real highlight is the characters, their relationships and the bonds they share. By the end, you're so invested in their lives, you'll want to read entire novels just about the side characters!

Plot summary:

The female lead (FL) wakes up in the body of a rural girl and is saved from a ditch by a quiet, poor boy. Soon, she begins to receive memories and realizes she's now a cannon fodder character in a romance novel. Her father had a successful military career, but when he adopted two orphaned children after his commander's death, they decided to leave their newborn daughter with her grandparents in the village. The plan was to bring her back when they had a bigger house in the city, but years went by, they had more children, and her parents never returned. In the original novel, they come back when she's 16, pick her up to avoid a scandal (because it wouldn't be appropriate to let marry someone from the village and they didn't want to be criticized by not keeping their promises), and take her to the city, where she's criticized for being inferior to her city-raised adopted sister. Naturally, she rebels, and things don't end well for her.

But FL isn't going to let that happen to her. She's unhappy with this kind of unreliable and selfish parents, deciding to rely on herself. Thankfully, she has a talent for fashion design, and after deciding to become the apprentice of the only tailor in the region, she begins to make a name for herself. Though her family in the countryside has its challenges, most of them are loving and supportive, and she has a strong network of close relationships to help her on her journey. The quiet boy who saved her turns out to be the son of exiled intellectuals, and through their struggles with poverty and difficult people, they form a deep connection. Along the way, FL starts preparing for exams, working to get into college, and planning her future.

Things take a turn when her biological parents come to take her to the city, offering better resources for her studies. Aware of the coming policy changes, FL is determined to turn this opportunity into a chance to bring prosperity to her rural family and give them a better life.

Pros:

• • FL is a grounded, relatable character. She has common sense, a likeable personality, and a temper to boot. She's independent, but also values sincerity, gratitude, and courage. One of the things I loved about her is that she balances modern views with respect for her family's traditions. She doesn't force her opinions on them but shares her thoughts and tries to offer practical advice, all while respecting their choices. FL is decisive, stubborn, and refuses to let herself be bullied or wronged.
    Spoiler

    The biological parents couldn't be counted on so she chooses to distance herself from them, making it clear that they hadn't been good parents, so why should she feel obligated to cater to them? We live our own lives peacefully but if you try to control me or scold me, I'll tear off your pretentious face. About modern opinions, the main events related were the family conflicts involving her cousin and her aunt. Her cousin was exploited by her parents and brothers, but it was hard to do anything because of the filial duty thing; eventually, FL offered to help her get away from her parent's reach and go to the city if she was brave enough. Her aunt was ab*sed by her husband, so FL told her grandparents and suggested a divorce, because someone used to vent their feelings on the weak wouldn't change easily and even if he stopped beating her, was that the only problem? Was she really satisfied with this humble life? Everyone initially rejected this outrageous idea (no woman in the village had ever divorced!) but they did pay attention to the husband's behavior and they realized that his abusive tendencies were so deeply rooted that he couldn't be expected to genuinely change or treat her with respect, so they supported her to stay with them and live with dignity instead of throwing her life away even if it meant they had to bear criticism and mockery from others in the village

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• • The family was wholesome and their interactions heartwarming. They had their own lives and stories but were connected by the bonds of affection and trust. At the end, they weren't a burden or part of the FL's baggage, they did their best to support her dreams and use their skills to be an asset. Even her city-born siblings are quite interesting, they aren't all thrown in the same mold and aren't pushed into the "enemy side". They have their own opinions and challenges in this dysfunctional family.

• • As mentioned, any of the side couples could easily have their own spin-off novels. I'd absolutely read about them.
    Spoiler

    Example 1: Independent career woman x warm devoted househusband. FL's aunt, a divorced tailor, nurses a handsome stranger back to health. Grateful, he helps her with errands and household tasks. They fall in love, marry, and have a daughter. Example 2: Business-minded couple. Ambitious and unladylike girl x strong and loyal troublemaker. FL's fifth uncle, a playful village troublemaker, teams up with a mysterious girl disguised as a peddler. Intrigued by her independent spirit, he pursues her and eventually marries her.

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Cons:

• • While the romance is cute, it's very much a subplot here. The focus is more on FL's journey and her relationships with her family.

• • The villains in the story are a bit one-dimensional. They're easily defeated and don't pose much of a threat, which makes the conflict feel more minor in comparison to FL's more personal struggles.

• • The pace picks up significantly toward the end. Most of the story spans FL's life from 13 to 20 years old, but her later life takes up only about 5-10% of the book. While I didn't mind it too much, I felt like the ending could've been given a bit more attention, especially given how rich the story had been up until that point.

• • Additionally, the male lead (ML) isn't as fleshed out as the other characters. While we get a glimpse of his introverted personality, his backstory, and his feelings for FL, we don't learn much about his career or inner thoughts.
    Spoiler

    There's a bit of a missed opportunity here, as we only know that he's a successful scientist, but not much else about his life or struggles.

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Overall, this novel is a heartwarming tale about family, growth, and self-reliance. The protagonist is easy to root for, and the relationships she builds are incredibly satisfying to watch unfold. While it has some pacing issues and the romance could be more developed, it's still a story I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend!

Ahhhhhh

such a wholesome novel! Took me just 2-3 days to finish, I really love this Ruan family, everything about this book was great! I loved our straightforward, intelligent and beautiful MC Ruan Xi, I love the familial bonds in this novel and friendships too! You need to pay to read but it was definitely worth it. I wish it never ended! The ending did feel a bit rushed but that's okay. The romance between Ruan Xi and the ML also wasn't that emphasized, but it was cute nonetheless!