[AMBIENCE] Smooth & Relaxing Christmas Music at Winter Christmas Night

 

I feel like an ad loudspeaker when I share these, but honestly, they're good, I love slow-playing and relaxing music without any sharp noises.

[Chinese BG novel] 炮灰真千金带的球重生了[穿书] / The ball of a real wealthy daughter was reborn

This was.. something else, in every bad sense possible.

I really couldn't handle this one. The funny thing is, this novel is so much like a melodramatic TV series that is so full of routines, that it makes you cringe so hard. The Mary Su heroine, the Gary Stew hero.

I was a bit disgusted. Surprisingly, I really was.

The thing is, this type of TV series with these type of characters and situations might have graced itself on any TV station in any country by now.

The settings are as follows.

Yu Xiaomin crossed the book, she's now a cannon fodder girl, but she's a real daughter of a slightly wealthy family. She was dropped at birth, when she returned she didn't meet with loving parents, but people who thought she's not up to standard, but also could be used. Original Yu Xiaomin fell in love with a man named Chu Haotin, she was really dedicated, but never got a response, since she wasn't a big catch. In the original course of action she should have had a one-night stand with Chu, then became pregnant, but it wouldn't have moived Mr.Chu at all, instead she would fall into madness and would abuse her son. This son is the one who would be reborn in the story. Unlike original course of action, Yu Xiaomin who arrived stumbled into the wrong room, but the one inside was a man named Fu Yanchen with whom she had a wild night.

Waking up she realized that the night wasn't a dream, but reality. Especially, since she had unprotected sex. She realized where she was and who she was, bought pills and brought her things to leave this place. One thing she didn't want is to be entangled by the Yu family.

But despite the pills and the constitution that is hard to conceive she became pregnant and her ball is the one who was reborn. Knowing that it might be her only child, Yu Xiaomin decided to be responsible and keep the child. She left to another place where nobody knew her and spent her time. Returning to her old profession that would help her earn money and would not tire herself - writing. She became a small author and gained her small popularity little by little. After the child was born, the little Yu Qian realized that his mother acted way different from the previous insane mother. She, him and sister Zhang who took care of her were spending time together before she was invited to an award ceremony. You can guess that she met the man with whom she had a one-night stand, the fate was inevitable~ You can sprinkle this shit with all types of descriptions of beating hearts, cherry lips and clear eyes. Everything has a feeling like I'm reading a fucking melodrama script.

Her and the kid actually saw Mr. Chu again, little Yu Qian was afraid that his mother would go crazy for him, but she did not to his surprise and glee. Btw there was a situation where Chu thought Yu Qian was his son.. like why? There was no mentioning of their relationship, but whatever. Anyway, he went mad and took the boy to have a parenting test. You can imagine the melodramatic plot of - oh, where's my son?! what am I gonna do? etc.

Anyway, her relationship with Fu Yanchen and fateful encounters led to them getting closer together, but here we have this melodramatic point where this Xiaomin was actually from a very poor background, she was very prejudiced towards wealthy families, so she judged Mr.Fu along with others. Later, of course she changed her mind, since Fu family was more laid back.

You can guess that Mr.Fu realized the identity of Yu Qian. And it wasn't long before he recognized him. He also fell in love with Yu Xiaomin, of course. With his actions she also fell in love with him in return (at least it didn't happen right away, but the entire mutual affection you can imagine).

I cringed so hard at her reactions how she was described to be shy or having a heartbeat or feeling insecure, so shoujo that it's overbearing. But when he acted like a teen when she agreed to him, being all smiley and happy. I tell you, like a TV series. So much like a TV series. And I cringe at such things, I'm sorry. This novel has quite high ranking on Jinjiang, but to me it is nothing more than a very cliche Cinderella story.

Here and there they also met with other "villains"/cannon fodders. Like the adopted daughter of Yu family, who actually had dreams about future and she knew who will be the wealthiest and that's why she set her sister up. She also tried to act against her. It's funny how she got caught. It's also funny how her prosecution went really fast, usually such things take time before getting sentenced.

Also Mr.Chu came along as the biggest and maddest villain. In this timeline he fell for Yu Xiaomin, the only honest woman who loved him dearly. As a result he was a bit stalky, yet he also hated Fu Yanchen and acted against him here and there, so routine setting up, you can imagine it all. I laughed so hard when near the end Chu escaped and kidnapped Xiaomin, he also shot a hacker who helped him (like shooting was really sudden and very villain-esque), so they have the hero and antagonist face off too lol.

THE CRINGE. The biggest question of mine was about little Yu Qian, later recognized and renamed to Fu Yu. He learned hacking in his previous life, so he brought his skills into this life, he's super intelligent in this regard, though tbh he is still too small to comprehend other things he's hacking into tbh. Anyway, there are scenes even with small Yu Qian hacking, like he wasn't very old. Yes, inside lived an 8 year old kid, but his movement. he also helped his mom and dad when he was around 3 and a half. Like honestly, this was something else. He also liked that his new dad was actually the one who taught him skills in previous life.

Another very cringe moment. The crumbling of Fu Yanchen's perfect image in the story, at least for me. Although Xiaomin wasn't the best in that situation too. It involves Xiaomin's second pregnancy almost at the end of the story. She felt sick during the wedding and remembered that her menstruation is late and her reaction was like morning sickness, she asked for the test stick and yes, she indeed was pregnant, but the perfect Gary Stu Fu Yanchen was ecstatic at first, but then said - pregnant wife isn't good at all. Because boohoo him, his honemoon and "eating meat" is now delayed. His wife is pregnant and he thinks how he won't get sex for months, how perfect is that image folks? He was a bit rehabilitated when he witnessed how sick Xiaomin became and how she withered a bit because of pregnancy. But still this episode left me with a bad taste. Most of it also was spoiled since Xiaomin had similar thoughts.

Oh yeah, last cringe moment is when sex is described as a boat at sea. Like all those waves that hit the boat and such. I'd rather they don't write anything at all, it's also cringe.

This is it folks. Nothing stimulating, very TV drama scripty. The girl escapes, gives birth, starts writing, returns, meets ML, they fall in love, the son is recognized, the grandma is happy and loves her children, the defeat some villains, end of story.

RATE: 1/5. It has pretty hight ranking and rates, but to me this was like a old-fashioned, outdated, romantic TV show, which I'd rather skip.

[Movie] I see you (2019)

Don't watch trailers, don't read spoilers

For a movie like "I see you" the worst part would have been spoilers of any sort for me. Trailers usually tend to do that, because they might either show too much, or show best parts, which may backfire. I was lucky to find this movie from a review video that just mentioned it as a good movie, but had not spoiled a single thing. As a result I had a really bom time watching and enjoying it. It may not be the biggest production or thriller movie ever, but I loved how it was treated and shot. 

As someone who doesn't like to follow the guesswork while watching I was truly enjoying myself before things started to be explained in the middle of the movie. Because before that due to the operator's work, due to some elements that could not get a definite explanation, if it was real or not, the feeling of suspense and supernatural still lingered. The movie at times almost f with you, as if asking - was it really the son, or was it? It was. Or was it? So several things were having this obvious-not obvious multiple answer question. The thing is for smart people I think the movie was a piece of cake, some shots after rewatching were same to me - wow, they really put that right into the viewer's face, this is so blatant. But you can't see it and only watching later proves if you're right or wrong.

The "supernatural" element of it all is thanks to several shots in the movie. For example, in the opening scene the camera moves towards the crowd and few teens talking, a boy on a bike turns and leaves, and the viewer follows him on the road, on a remote road and later into the woods. Suddenly the boy is pulled back, off his bike's seat as if something invisible caught him, but because the shot and pull were done in a bit exaggerated way, it feels supernatural. Until we see a shot where police officers who search the woods found a strong snapped and wrapped around the tree, so you could then guess that it was real. The feeling of supernatural is also shown by the moving lighting and shadow as if crawling the house. It was actually nteresting. because it felt like something was happening in the house, but you couldn't see who did it, in the end it felt like things were done by a ghost.

This alternate between reality and suspense really brought me good feels. The second half of the movie really brought me into unexpected realm. If I were living in the US in one of those model houses that looked like a holiday card I'd be so paranoid that I'd join the housewives on Xanax. The unexpected turn of events, the unexpected truths behind the house, everything was good.

Oh yes, I'd really love to praise the operator's work and how they managed to find perfect atmosphere for the movie, I also would like to note the soundtrack that kept the tense atmosphere. I especially love the sound of the closing scene.

Now onto my thoughts, because to share them I need to spoiler the entire thing, but I's like to praise actors and for that I need to share for what I want to praise them.

!~/SPOILERS AHEAD/~!

[Time Princess] Selfie #7

 

Amazing new story with amazing fantasy sets. But honestly, unlike stories, there's so much that is not fit for f2p's. The whole jewel balloon upgrading to the stage where you only choose one set and can't choose the second one and mostly you can't spend jewels like with jewel balloon, it really comes to "you want to get - you need to spend for real". What is this tactic. I don't mention how many ads a person can watch a day during this game. Freebies are all gotten after watching an ad. You want to get additional point = watch an ad. Need additional game chance = watch an ad. Want free diamonds, even if not much, but better than nothing = watch an ad. Do you realize how many ads are watched on average in this game, don't tell me they can't handle more free stuff, this is all bs. Instead it has so many parts where it's not obviously said - well, to get the entire set you'll have to spend money, we don't insist, it's all in your hands, but don't mind us when we build an entire event around spending.

That's why I'm more or less cold to mobile phone games, I prefer ones that you can play without all this bs. But playig this one almost became a habit. Funnily I don't usually play the stories in this game. Ahahaha. 

[SHORT REVIEWS] #4 - new on-going novels

玄学大佬是罪仙

(mtl: The boss of metaphysics is a sinner)

BG story. This novel has just started to be published and even the author is either very new but decent or it's a vest (yet who cares), but I actually liked the writing style and content of this novel so far. The basic setting is that Huayin wakes up with no memories of her past (her overall timeline should be something like: she lived for the longest time when cultivation world was still full of wonders, then she was punished and her memories sealed, for unsealing she has to collect merits, but she decided to unseal forcefully, which failed), she knows vaguely only few things that can be based on her temperament or her reactions, thoughts and emotions. Said to be a sinner, but she has no idea what is her sin and how great it is, not to mention in this modern age she is now, she witnesses many injustices, but completely hates that others also sin, but her punishment is so devastating compared to them. Just 50 years before Huayin return she was sent to one of the hells, she barely survived and returned, also had vague impressions about a man named Ah Zhao with whom she seemed to be in love with previously, but she was met with something that she did not expect, while her soul was away someone managed to steal her fairy bones, thus 80% of her cultivation is now gone, her merits were also gone, her body was almost erroded and now to return at least some of the previous condition she has to re-open the Chaoxi Pavillion, which solved human and ghost problems for centuries, which gets her the merit she needs to collect to lift the seal. So it's basically a modern-settings story with metaphysics and ghosts. The main character to me really comes out with a temperament, she doesn't feel flat like many MCs at all. The story is interesting, many things start happening right off the bat, so it feels quite upbeat. I know I'll be happy reading more of it.

国师带着皇帝的小金库一起穿了

(mtl: National teacher wears a script and brings an emperor's treasury with him)

BL story. Another on-going story that basically just started, so far so good though. National Teacher Xie Qingfeng to protect the dynasty blows himself up with traitors in the emperor's treasury. He expected to be dead, but he opened his eyes in modern times, sitting on the floor and foreign memories pooring in his mind. This is a tragic story of a boy named Xie Qingfeng who was wrongly held at birth, because both children were Xie. He just returned to his biological parents house, but did not live together even for few months, but was framed by the fake son. This moment wasn't only on the personal level, but because the fake son brought a friend who liked broadcasting this event and harming others spread online and ruined the boy's reputation. He was only 18 and just passed college examination, yet with his personality it was hard for him, the bigest blow to him was returning and finding that his adoptive parents died one after the other, which led to another wave of unnecessary rumors. The boy was devastated and died not long after, he was reborn, but he gave up this rebirth chance to someone else, he didn't want to live again. This chance fell upon Xie Qingfeng with same name. Unlike original XQF he knew that this set up and framing isn't a simple thing, what people saw wasn't real, but the distorted version because of a spell. Since he was a national teacher he knew his metaphysics well. He came back and decided to completely tear the connection between him and his biological parents who were so against him, he proved his innocence and walked away, not giving a damn that the fake son got a backlash because of his spell, this is what he deserved. He went back to save his adoptive parents and found out that it was the fake son who set everything up, so in original storyline all these people fell victims to a harmful spell. XQF starts his journey meeting different people and helping them solve their problems and if they encounter ghosts. At the same time XQF finds out that the treasury full of jade travelled to this time with him, he can spiritually enter and use jade, but he didn't want to, even if he knew that original treasury must be gone. It's indeed gone, we witness the emperor who galloped back to the palace to find the news of XQF passing, in grief he spends a lot of time in treasury where he finds a clue, first he saw one of the jades that were still intact lose its' luster, but then there was another ring that was added, emperor unlike others believed that national teacher is in others place. The summary promises that both of them will meet in the modern times. Will continue reading.

替嫁后我笑得想死

(mtl: After getting married I can die laughing)

BL story. Ning Sui was asked to marry instead of his fake brother. The two were mixed at birth and it was only not long after Ning Sui returned to the family, but his feelings were completely wasted on this family. In their eyes he wasn't good enough and wasn't presentful enough, no one cared about his well-being or feelings. So he stopped bothering all-together. Three years prior to his marriage to Ji Yucheng Ning Sui contracted a system, through which he can get money by keeping contact with certain people, so while others thought he was close to Ji Zhilin, only Ning Sui knew that it was all for money, even if he invested, even if he earned and spent a lot, but he loved money. So when Ji Zhilin offered to be sent to Ji Yucheng instead of his fake brother Ning Sui never bothered to say no, because unlike Ji Zhilin with whom he spent three years (without crossing the border), he jumped the offer, after all Ji Yucheng is on top of the list. Yucheng is in vegetative state? Doesn't matter.

Ji Yucheng actually wasn't completely vegetative. He also got a system, but it was almost a pointless system, it couldn't give him anything, only explain what is happening outside. Yucheng spent all years on the bed, but he was actually sober, before he had a little wife who unknowingly helped him out of this maddening state.

This is the setting of this novel, it's pretty funny. But some may not like one point, since for getting the money Ning Sui has to keep physical contact. It doesn't mean he ravished unconscious Yucheng, but he indeed kept touching his hand or abs. The most daring was to touch Yucheng's member. Some of it he had to play in front of others to show his infatuation, since he needed others to believe that he liked Yucheng before anyone else. He accepted it was wrong, after all it's system requirement to hold hands and such and he was waiting to be kicked out when Yucheng would wake up and Yucheng himself came from phase of being repulsed to accepting, since this is how the plot worked out. But yeah, here you have it. Will continue for a bit more.

炮灰的佛系日常（穿书）

(mtl: Cannong fodder's daily Buddhist lifestyle)

BL story. This one has just started, literally. I know this author, but I don't think I brought their novels before to review. Anyway, the beginning actually feels pretty rushed, since in just few chapters it feels like a lot happened. But the premise is that Wen Bai travels from ancient times to present, which is also part of the book script. He is a son of Ye's father first wife, he lived away for 15 years and after his mother's death he was brought in the Ye family (for some reason, who knows). Anyway, of course not many welcome him and not many even have a fracture of respect or expectations for him. In the book he was framed and sent to do Chongxi instead of his brother who regretted agreeing, because of this frame-up he was again hated and in the end his husband never woke up and he died from depression at young age. While Ye family with the use of his dowry and relationship with the Lin family entered a new prosperity. Wen Bai who traveled would not give them a chance, he survived at troubled times and managed to be loved by old and new emperors. Funnily his husband woke up like in the first or second chapter, which is really fast even in these type of stories. But the style of storytelling is really like a galloping horse. Will continue to read.

他们后悔了但我不要了

(mtl: When they regreted it, I don't want them anymore)

BL story. Tbh I did not like it, it did not hook me up, I spent several chapters just being sad for the MC - Yue Yu (honestly have no idea how his name should be pronounced except his last name, since it is mtl'd into hundred versions). ML calls him Xingxing so let's go with the stars.

Xingxing is the child of a divorced couple, so you can imagine that it's an oil bottle that nobody wants, I can assume that his childhood unhappiness was solely because of the unhappiness between his parents, no matter how he did, good or bad, no one cared about him much. His mother re-married into a wealthier family, as she wished, so she spent time fawning and taking care of her stepsons, though those boys were hostile to Xingxing at first and even now when they grew up the eldest had other thoughts about his step-brother. But of course no one cared. As for his father, he was a painter, he never regarded Xingxing's art good, though later this very art helped XingXing pay his tuition. yet when this father got a daughter, it was regarded as a treasure, which made me completely sad. What did the child do wrong, the child should not bear the blame of your failed marriage and it should not bear your hypocricy. But what made me sadder was ML. Although author makes thousands of comments how loving ML is, but honestly, can you not write a possessive person? Just for once? Lin Shifei it feels fell in love with YY long time ago, he made friends and they were really close together, but he continued to make moves, yet wrapped it up as "good bros". Tbh I felt sorry for YY. His entire life he looks for some bit of love and the one who gives it, still has his own possessiveness, yet it's also a bit morbid and concealed. You can say that he doesn't want to frighten YY. But honestly I think pure feelings coud have worked as well. Maybe someone likes such two types together, but I think with such backstory YY doesn't deserve to be treated like this, he deserves honesty and love. Will not contnue to read.

[Chinese BL novel] 霸总穿成弃夫之后[穿书] / Big boss transmigrating into abandoned husband

The first reading of this novel should be dated more than a year ago, who knows maybe a year and a half. But it normal circumstances having a big gap between finishing and now looking at it was never a problem before for me to remember at least something about the novel that I read. I usually have some point that helps me to unravel some elements or plot points that help me have an impression. Funnily, it didn't happen here. My mind was totally black. Even more weird that I kept in notes that it was an okay novel, but I CAN'T remember a thing! So I decided to look at it again and started re-reading and again the weird feeling, while I'm reading I see events and characters and I understand that - huh, I remember I've read about this. BUT! If you ask me to think what will happen next, I can't do it, as if there's not only a veil, but a whole iron door blocking my mind. What a weird feeling. Thus I'm reading and decided to keep the review down to let me nto forget what happened here.

Ji Tingsen travels to a book and becomes a cannon fodder, in previous life he was a helm of a Ji Group, but he was defeated by incurable desease. He never thought that he'd get a second chance and with a healthy body can start a new life. But he was in a predicament, he traveled at a pretty risky timing, when the original Ji Tingsen was about to dye his husband's head top green. Ji Tingsen ruled out from the situation acting a bit like a flower that spent so much time and love on his husband, but never got a response and finally he claimed to give up on this love. With so many ghosts that original JT created his husband Qin Zhen was simply disgusted, but still he didn't touch JT or punish him. The original owner and his marriage should have set off the protagonist of this book and his healthy and loving relationship, on the contrary original JT was married by contract to Qin Zhen but loved him crazily, yet never got a response, he was more like a joke and never got love. Original JT was also really jealous of his brother, in a weird way, but he had a reason, as an adult he found out that he was not a biological child of his parents and everything he thought was close never belonged to him, with this trauma original JT should have obstructed protagonist brother Ji Mingrui in everything and in the end ended up badly, thrown out of marriage, blocked in entertainment circle and having a sad ending. JT was too different from this image and aspirations. JT wo traveled had two brothers, one brother had an accident and was sent to prison by their cheating father, JT wanted to come back but it was too late to do anything, although he took the helm of the Ji family, he still fell ill and the only person left was his younger brother, thus he could never hurt anyone who would remind him of his younger siblings. There is a thing after he travels where he has seizures when he goes against original settings, but they at first appear to make JT realize that his plastic husband can ease his pain, so he took few things from him, which he later wrote off as needing small things to slowly part with love, which basically served as a link to develop Qin Zhen's feelings for his spouse.

Unlike previous life Ji Tingsen found fun in acting, so he seriously took on this job and he followed his own path, without obstructing the path of his younger brother to the stardom.

The development of feelings started from Ji Tingsen sticking to what he said and never bothered Qin Zhen like the original, but the change in temperament and actions instead made Qin Zhen take a note of this husband. With few things happening here and there he started to develop feelings. Of course at first he found it impossible and strange, since the original JT left his own shadow, but somehow he could distinguish between the two, the previous (things like photos) always made him feel disgust even after so much time, but looking at the new JT (again photos included) he felt the surge.

But developing relationship from here isn't that simple. From Qin Zhen's side he had a shadow hovering, but he later had to come to terms with himself and think of ways to build the relationship, yet sometimes he delayed himself, since he acted a bit like a brat and JT also treated him like one, since he always remembered that he was a bit older than Qin Zhen.

From another point love and physical relationships were a hurdle for JT for a reason, his disgust originated in seeing his father cheat when he was still a young child, since then he couldn't get rid off it and it left him a psychological shadow. I think I partially remember why I said it was okay, because this relationship is like love and cure. But love and cure basically come slowly. At first JT considered their relationship more like friends and brothers, when he finally realized that QZ wasn't like that he was stiff and tried to avoid contact as much as possible, which led to QZ slowly invading the privacy of JT. Learning of JT's physical reaction he consulted with a specialist that consulted JT (more like insisted on everything, because how can he not be worried about his Brother Sen) and found out how to deal with it, so basically they made the progress really slow to make JT adapt. And it wasn't like therapy, JT is a pretty prideful person and he never wanted others to figure out his weaknesses, so both kind of silently agreed that QZ makes a move, but stops at the critical moment and makes excuses for him stopping, while JT slowly replaces bad emotions about intimacy with QZ. JT basically did not completely figured things out before he found out the truth. he just felt that QZ has a sense of measure, but later found out that QZ knew. Well, isn't it touching that the other person cares about your mental state so much.

Oh yeah, the last part is a bit of like family drama and story of the book. Getting back to JT finding out he's not biological, he's actuallu a part of the Lie family, which also appears in the book. He was "lost" ong ago, but basically it was a malicious plan by the second aunt in the family, so her son will inherit the family. When JT recognized the relatives he confessed liking acting and not changing his name, everyone was happy, the only one unhappy was this very aunt of course. Also there is a link person between past of JT and present, it's two brothers from the Gu family. JT's friend from the past is called Gu Xing, he also helped to look after his brother who was sent to prison and later was released, but didn't want to go back to Ji house, he also was accompanying JT a lot in the hospital and Gu Xing often mentioned his brother, as it turned out to be that in this book he met Gu Xing's brother, who became for JT a person and a link between past and present. Oh yeah, since this story has elements of entertainment circle we also get a bit this and that between himself and Ji Mingrui, because they filmed together, so he had to announce their relationship later on after a scandal broke out. As for his relationship with Qin Zhen it was revealed quite early and QZ wasn't against it, since he never wanted to separate from JT after he realized his feelings.

When I look back at it, it has a mix of things actually, bits and pieces. But in general, what I think got the first passing for me is that when they realized their feelings and had to deal with aftermath of what JT had to go through in the past, Qin Zhen was actually quite patient and measured.

RATE: 3,75/5. Okay one :3 But the ending is rushed and underwhelming and it felt a bit too much tbh.

[Chinese BG novel] 穿成女儿奴大佬的前妻 / Transmigrated as the Ex-Wife of the Villain Who Dotes on His Daughter

So. What this story is about?

In short the heroine - Jiang Rou - is a fresh person at the police station. The first case she came across as intern was a revenge murder case in which ML - Li Xiao - avenged his daughter that was bullied and killed at the age of ten. Unexpectedly, Jiang Rou travels back in time to the late 90's and sees herself living in a delapitated house with her stomach bulging. And seeing the man who should be her husband she realized that she's now that "Jiang Rou", who eloped with a rich man, leaving Li Xiao and her daughter. Before he appeared she already accepted that now it's her new life and she should take responsibility to live the best as she can. This started their road to getting to know each other, having feelings for each other and correct the past.

The novel overall was okay, it tried some elements of slice of life, was filled with a lot of different family situations, basically no theatrical drama, just things that are different depending on which family and the relationships. I don't assume I'm right that this was the author's idea, but I interpret the characters as collective image of what they represent, social circles they belong to and upbringing that developed those characters/personality traits. To get my point across as I interpret it I'll mention a lot of names and their relations.

• MC, Jiang Rou. She's mostly the representative of kindness and correct three views. She grew up in a good family with good relationship. Thus she could influence Li Xiao to correct and let grow from his past to his future self. She's a modern person with modern thinking that doesn't accept any feudal ideas that are harmful within society.
• ML, Li Xiao. He had the biggest transformation out of all characters. Since Jiang Rou is teh correct version of conduct and thinking she is here to influence Li Xiao to change and become better, love himself and be happy. He's the victim of bad upbringing as a result of neglect and lack of attention when he grew up and also with no person around to show him something more than scorn and disgust. Although after finishing the novel I realized that author should not be too old and they handled their most important character not in the best way in the end, because at the end when Li Xiao changed and could care less about previous disagreements they wrote it off as "getting older". Hun, I lived enough to tell you, it's not about getting old it's about changing your views. When we're young we are convinced that we will never change our opinion on things, but it's stupid to think like that. Some may not changed, but generally your life experience will make you see things from above, another perspective and their earlier significance will lose its' power, thus it will become something you will be able to overcome or change.
• RELATIONSHIPS. A big deal of the novel are interpersonal relationships, from blood relations, to those that are better than blood-related. More than anything we see different types of mothers, their situations and personal way of thinking, good or bad.
• Women as marginalized group. As a result of patriarchy. This theme is often mentioned in many of romance novels and not only, which I think is often brought up for criticism of backward thinking and how harmful it is to the victims.

So, let's start from Li Xiao first. Jiang Rou is skipped, since she's already good in many aspects, she's more mentioned as the one who influences others, the one she influenced the most is Li Xiao. After reading I found that his father's situation should have been skipped and left as it was, that he gambled and was not the best to his wife, his wife, Lin Meiru, has more space in the novel and more influence on Li Xiao's upbringing. Lin Meiru is a basic woman who can't live without a man, but her choice in men is the worst, more importantly, she can't see the problem, unlike Li Xiao's father, but she also hates him for bringing so much hurt during birth. Which is completely selfish and stupid way of thinking, putting the blame on others, while Li Xiao definitely could not influence it in any way. Her hate for her son continued, thus she often belittled him and put all the blame on him, despite the fact that young Li Xiao saved her from another abusive husband she chose for herself. After she remarried again, she was easily lured away by rhethoric of filial piety and absolutely lame way of handling her and directing her way of thinking. So she could care less to protect her own son when her stepson framed him and made him drop out of school. Li Xiao lived in secret envy of others who had parents, but after living with Jiang Rou and their daughter he realized that not all things were perfect for everyone, but now he actually has a perfect family and there is no need to envy others. Since childhood he had to use his fists to protect himself and his mother never really protected him, instead making him the one in the wrong everywhere. He grew up with young conviction that many things could be done with two fists, before Jiang Rou criticized him for being impulsive and not considering the safety of himself, and what would they two of them do without him (the first such situation was when he and his close brother/friend went to the city to sell food but were smashed by competitors, of course he went to beat ppl up, for which Jiang Rou criticized him later). As a result Li Xiao began to change from his previous impulsiveness of rushing and beating ppl at the first call to be more tolerant and waiting, if he can serve the revenge later, he'd do it. He was also quite balanced in these things. Even if there were situations that were quite ugly, not always he acted out of his way, he could see that things might be done without him and sometimes he would not join the crowd that humiliate the fallen person, but even help them a little instead (best example is Chang Yong, he was the boss under which Li Xiao worked to earn his first money in the south, he was also CY's benefactor where he saved the other person, but when it came to business CY was the one who smiled and played stupid on the surface, but did a bit of backstabbing. His downfall came from his wife, since CY, who was dependent on his brother-in-law in business and was blinded by riches openly started relationship with a mistress and even had a son outside. As a result his wife, who knew inside information of their company leaked it to competitors. CY's brother-in-law was bankrupt and CY's mistress ran away with money and her son, later again finding another rich boss she complimented for his talent. CY was left in a dump with nothing. Li Xiao in this case still chose to be better, rent him a small apartment and give some money, getting him food from time to time). What made me a bit questionable was Jiang Rou though, I don't mind that she knew the backstory of these relationships, but she also warned Li Xiao, once was enough, but she did it several times and I was like - girl, I know lack of trust but come on, you've known each other and he never gave you a reason for doubting him what is wrong with you. In short what Li Xiao did was he matured, but under the correcting of Jiang Rou here and there, he still has his cleverness and shrewdness, but he's more conscious of things. He's still clever and shrewd, but changed for better. In his life there are things that cannot be forgiven and things that may have a pass. For example, till the very end he dismissed the relationship with his mother, since his mother is a selfish type of person, she came only when she needed something, especially when she suddenly remembered that she could use Li Xiao as her backing, but he knew her better, she can't be allowed into his life, since she has zero sincerity and in the end she will only mooch off of him to again be and feel needed and superior in her current marriage that turned out horrible. There is also another type of relationship with his brothers, they are friends he grew up with, their way of thinking changed for some time and tehre were conflicts, since only one person came to him from beginning to end, while two others wanted to join later when they heard how stable and profitable the business became. It distanced the four people, but in the end due to the change of one of his friends and the death of another, these things were let go (more emotionally, no one expects them to open arms and welcome to mooch off). Thus Li Xiao's character development was the greatest. Some people also changed, like way of thinking, some played a role for the better, some not.

Women and patriarchy. Or bitch human rights where. As I said earlier this theme almost always appears in such novels and with a word of criticism. But sometimes I wish these parts would be handled more delicately and profoundly.

The original Jiang Rou was a victim to such family where sons are preferred to daughters and daughters are brainwashed to bring up the son, almost always sons are younger in these situations. Sometimes it's open patriarchial thinking, sometimes people don't show it, but move things behind the backs of others. Jiang Rou's family has 4 sisters. The eldest was brought up mainly brainwashed to think that wrking for her family is the right thing, in the end she worked herself looking older than her own mother. Jiang Rou saw that her brother-in-law was of different opinion, but he didn't want to push the balance, yet the way Jiang Rou tried to express to her older sister made him realize how mistaken they were. Their family had a better ending, since the moved to work in the city, which allowed their children get better education and opened up their views. The second daughter of Jiang family was almost sold to a wealthy local man, but the thing is he always looked for women outside, which did not result in a happy family, yet the Jiang mother and father as biased as they were always said to bear it all, since they found her such a wealthy man. In the end the second sister escaped, later Li Xiao says that he saw her and knew her story in which second sister found a baby in a dumpster and spent most money she took away to operate on the child, now she lived a small life with this daughter. Jiang Rou is the third, she was taught more and was sent to study to make a combo of beautiful and smart, but original JR wanted to find a way out on her own terms, yet she miscalculated, instead of sleeping with a wealthy local person she had a relationship with Li Xiao and got pregnant, as cheeky she was living with him. In original timeline she would leave with a wealthy man, but don't remember if her end was good. She had some of her horizons open that this hole won't have any prospects, yet she was selfish and narrow-minded due to her family situation. The fourth sister that was born along with the brother was given away, she grew up with adopted parents and was about to be sent as a bride at 14, Jiang Rou was the one who saved her and let her take Li Xiao's last name and become Li Xin, this sister lived with JR and LX as a family of four. You can imagine that in such a spoiling atmosphere the youngest Jiang son was nothing more than a raised and pampered pig, with no redeeming views and values, thinking that everyone owes him. This situation described as such is often mentioned in novels and ends up mostly the same, but I think it shows it quite correct ending. There were other women who were victims to patriarchy with obvious preference to boys. But as often mentioned (not here though) that it's as if the family has a throne to inherit. It actually doesn't really matter who inherits. And actually I think it's weird, since here where I live boys are supposed to start their own family and often men find it very manly prideful thing to do on their own. Yes, family often helps, but not to the point of draining/milking others. I think people in cities are far ahead in their conduct. Anyway, here and there in the story you can meet women who are either made to bend under this system of being filial to your mother-in-law or they really believe in this notion themselves. There are several example. One of those are two women in the hospital after Jiang Rou gave birth. Everyone said that a daughter is a loser, again human rights okay, upbringing, it's the old thinking, the kid just been born, how do you know who they become and if it's a loss. Another woman gave birth to a son and even felt complacent, but compared to her, Li Xiao treats Jiang Rou and his daughter as treasures, yet she was lying withered and lost a lot of blood and left early, which could lead to complications. The other woman on the contrary gave birth to a girl, but she wasn't visited, only by her husband who came late and never put himself in the shoes of a woman for whom such a thing as birth is really harmful. But she was inspired by Jiang Rou, who told her that girls are nto worse, it depends on how you bring them up. The biggest support of this idea and advocate was actually their neighbor, Aunt Wang. When Jiang Rou only arrived she slowly got closer to Aunt Wang and realized that even sometimes she's a bit gossipy, like any woman, she is very generous and progressive unlike others. She and her husband only have one daughter who went to college. The only downside to this positive story is not that her daughter turned bad, nope, but that she was talked into a marriage with a man who was thinking a bit highly of himself and their daughter who was brought up well, but because of it was more innocent in her thinking and observations would listen to her husband, which of course saddened Aunt Wang, both she and her husband put a lot of effort into buying their daughter a house, yet both her and husband's names were written on the certificate, when they came to visit, they lived not in the new house. On the other hand, because of close relationship between her and Jiang Rou, Jiang Rou often called Aunt Wang when they moved to south, they often sent them thoughtful presents and never came empty-handed when they came back. Also Li Xiao was their family's benefactor who helped to find Uncle Wang when that had an accident, so in the end Aunt Wang wasn't that sad but decided to treat and always treated Jiang Rou like her daughter and Li Xiao as her son. Both families really had closer connections, which I think sometimes is inevitable, but also good. It's good to have someone answer your sincerity like that. 

That's what actually was quite alive about the story, that things changed and merged, relationships changed according to the life situations. Most prominent you could say it was represented in relationship between Li Xiao and his friends. His most valued friend through thick and thin happened to be Zhou Jian. He is a kid from a single-parent family, he has a widowed mother and lived poorly. When Li Xiao and others married he was left the only bachelor and was envious a bit, but was able to find a second marriage girl, she was two years older than him and had a little son. She was more or less supported by her family, mostly by her brother with whom she had best relationship. They came together and lived well. Zhou Jian really followed Li Xiao in worst times. They started from food business, inspired by first pot of gold that was earned by Jiang Rou, they later decided to leave to south to earn real money, their snack factory was built from scratch before they moved their families to the south as well. But he's also a good person. There was a moment of crisis in the married life of Zhou Jian, but it was averted to the help of Li Xiao who showed him why beautiful women may approach them and what happens to complacent men who believe them. Two families have best relationship between adults and kids. The other friend that appeared less was Jin Dayou, he was a med student, but more he went into research later. He was almost self-taught and a smart kid, yet he had a pretty tragic background. His older brother was abducted at the age of 7, from that moment their life was ruined, the only one who excluded himself from the situation was their father, he dropped the search and married outside. His mother on the other hand was searching for her son and went missing, she was found not in the right state of mind (though here I had a question, how she survived all these years, is she immortal). Luckily she was found and the missing brother was found by accident too, though all this sounded novel-y. Now less positive friend examples. Zhu Qiang. He was a bit complacent about his family situation because he was most well off from the bunch, but due to his relationship he started to change. The girl he found was from poor family, but asked for a huge bride price, yet she always acted as an ancestor, felt that she was higher than the others. It's because of her practices that his way of thinking also changed and also managed to offend Li Xiao. It was during the wedding when Li Xiao and Zhou Jian were helping, but were left outside and were prohibited to follow through the wedding, this chilled their hearts and they couldn't understand this friend anymore. He never thought of following Li Xiao through thin, but had ideas to join when the factory started to make progress and money. He was given a chance to work, but more physical, yet he gave up and went home. Li Xiao gave him money and asked to do small business. With time his thinking changed, especially when many problems started to arise. As it happened the bride price was given to her younger brother, which was given to other person and this sum of money was swindled. Another thing is that this wife escaped with a rich man leaving everyone behind. Zhu Qiang remarried once again, this time it was another second marriage woman and they lived a simple life. Another friend was Wang Tao. I wish his situation was described earlier than later, because it felt like nothing. His presence was the least and he appeared few time, he gave a feeling of a shameless person, but he just wanted to jump the coattails of others and also earn, alsways treated badly by his wife and deemed useless. Unfortunately, because of their insistence he went to coal mines but died in an accident. This happened in later parts of the novel and only then we find out that actually he was a simple-minded person, not as strong, because of partiality of his mother the one sent away to live better life was her youngest and she also supplied her youngest robbing their already poor family, the wife was alwys full of complaints and was selfish, but she did nothing herself, in the end she took the compensation and left, leaving without paying for the funeral and leaving her son. Through their stories it's apparent how your personal conduct and finding a better partner, not just someone recommended by your mother or someone who pretends to be a different person from their true temperament is part of a family success, only such a family that doesn't allow herself to be blinded can go higher and higher. Despite the tragic past Li Xiao and Jiang Rou became most loving family, doing the right thing when it's right and not beating someone when they're down, being able to forgive if it's possible. Li Xiao's edge was as sharp, but not as indiscriminate. That's the main part of comparison between the fates of these friends and their families.

It's all good in general, no overly dramatic situation, pretty good development, lovely relationship that did not come out of nothing. Pretty fine description of their kid, although sometimes she came across as too smart for her age, but actually she acted like a kid almost always, which was a good change. Sometimes I think that authors describe more an idea of a child than a behavior of a real child. Anyway, I'd say it's good, but in all the entire honey pot there were few spoons of bitterness.

THINGS I COULD DO WITHOUT:

1. First and foremost I really couldn't understand the choice of profession that Jiang Rou made when she studied for college entrance exam. It was described as if she was influenced by words that were said by Jin Dayou, the med student. He is self-taught in Chinese medicine and he said that many laugh at it and diminish its' significance, yet she as a person who came from future knows that thanks to the Chinese medicine they created the vaccine with the virus outbreak (almost calling covid directly). She's right that their cultural heritage should not be written off as a joke. And it's actually in their hands to preserve. I've seen a video on accupuncture where dog paralisi was treated and they started walking again, okay? I do believe if it's a practice that can be put to work then why not, it's not less serious than the other. But even in the novel their professor says that this field depends on talent and by that he meant feeling the pulse. I have no idea about the rest because it's mainly NOT DESCRIBED AT ALL! This is my problem with this author here. Okay, you said it's not bad, I agree. But you haven't shown its' significance anywhere at all! Even when her daughter had fever and she took her pulse I was like - girl, you haven't studied enough, are you ready to brew concoction? I'm sure you'll take her to the hospital. So my thing is - let's not diminish each other, each have their own perks, but if you don't utilize the theme I'll consider it as personal angry opinion. I agree with your anger, because if we look at discrimination that came because of covid omg it was heavy. So I fully understand the frustration, but if you're just throwing it out there with nothing else, then excuse me saying it's just an angry outburst, nothing else. So Jiang Rou was almost always described as "studying". The only time she came in handy was during the epidemic of '08. Again she did the morally right thing being a volunteer, but aside from that she was only mentioned to be a big person in the field of Chinese medicine in the extras where future was mentioned, nothing else.
2. EXTRAS. I think they were.. extra XD SOrry for the pun. But I could do without. Unlike just short extras of Li Xin and older AnAn (daughter). The alternative short version of what if really came across as something I could do without.
3. Descriptive choices. In the first part of the novel there was a lot of cooking. I was surprised Jing Rou never stayed in cooking, but anyway when she cooked the novel turned into a recipe reciting. I don't understand the need to do it like this. One thing is to mentioned food as means to express something, like giving a bowl of hot noodles in winter, but in general I don't appreciate these unnecessary food descriptions. I'm aware of cult of food in China, but just describing it.. is it fun? I don't get it.

All in all these are the main points that I would like to mention. It was okay, wasn't perfect. I liked the beginning more, the second part was sinking more, piling up different situations here and there. Adding character here and there. Many of the characters I haven't mentioned even, because there were so many, some stayed longer, some background ones and some are passing. As someone said it well, this story had quite true things written, but mixed with something a bit out of proportion and unreal, thus creating a weirder mix. So I give it - RATE: 3,5/5.