This batch of chapters is a masterclass in pacing. Let me break it down because the rhythm here is *chef's kiss*. We open with an intimate, almost domestic scene—breakfast in bed, awkward flirting, the golden finger reveal. It's slow, quiet, character-driven. Then BAM—Liu Yan appears and suddenly we're in full-on social warfare mode. The transition is seamless. One moment Zhu Nuannuan is figuring out her skincare routine in a magical space, the next she's defending her reputation in the compound courtyard. The author doesn't waste time with unnecessary exposition; we just drop into the conflict and start swimming. The Niu Guihua introduction is another great pacing choice. After the tension with Liu Yan, we get a lighter, warmer scene—walking to the city, chatting, getting haircuts. It gives the reader a breather before the next explosion. And then the child falling into the water tank? Perfect timing. Just when you think things are settling, the stakes go through the roof. The rescue scene itself is where the pacing really shines. Short, punchy sentences. "Let me through, I'm a doctor." The mother swinging a broom. The crowd accusing her. And then—"cough." The child spits water. Silence, then chaos of a different kind. The author controls the tempo like a conductor. You can feel the heartbeat of the scene. And that ending! Cui Yunhan appearing in the crowd, watching everything, realizing she's not who the files say she is. The chapter cuts right at the moment of revelation. No resolution, no comfort—just the cliffhanger hanging in the air. I immediately opened the next chapter. If I had to nitpick, the transition from the barber shop to the emergency felt slightly abrupt, but honestly, that's how real life works too. One minute you're getting your hair trimmed, the next someone's child is drowning. The author captures that unpredictability well. Overall, the pacing keeps you hooked without feeling rushed or dragged out. Solid work.
The scene where Lei Jun walks two hours to town and then immediately gets in line at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative is one of those moments that makes the entire world feel so vividly real. "By that time, quite a few people were already lined up outside the cooperative. After all, the goods were in short supply every day, and if one didn't line up early, there'd be nothing left." You don't need a history textbook to understand this era when the author shows us people queuing at dawn for basic goods. The details are so specific and grounded. The ox cart that only goes to town every other day. The communal "28" bicycle that wouldn't be appropriate for him to borrow. The exact prices—brown sugar at 0.55 yuan plus a sugar ticket, hard candy at 0.12 yuan, rice at 0.36 yuan plus two grain coupons. These aren't decorative details; they're the fabric of daily survival. Every transaction requires not just money but ration tickets, and the characters navigate this system with practiced ease. I also loved the post office scene. The postal worker recognizes Lei Jun immediately because of his dead brother Lei Zhen, who used to send packages and remittances. "There haven't been any parcels for your family lately"—that line carries so much unspoken grief. The worker's warmth when Lei Jun asks for publication office addresses, the casual bribery of stuffing a few candies into the worker's hand, the whole interaction feels like a slice of life that could only exist in this specific time and place. And then there's the Lei family home itself—the heated brick bed (kang), the children waking from naps, the women rocking babies, the kitchen warehouse where Si Yueyue discovers her supernatural space. The domestic scenes are just as carefully rendered as the public ones, and together they create a world that feels completely lived-in.
The dialogue in this chapter is absolutely fire. Let me just start with He Zheng's line to the trolls: "Who else in your family's still alive? I'm running out of ideas." That's not just a comeback, that's art. He Zheng's voice is so distinct - he can go from deadpan indifference to razor-sharp wit in a single sentence. And the Top Supporter's dialogue is equally memorable. "What kind of dumbass is Huang Chen." Simple, direct, and coming from someone who's usually so composed. The way he types in brackets in the chat versus speaking in his normal voice on the call - it creates this interesting duality. His WeChat messages are efficient and commanding, but his actual voice on the phone is softer, more vulnerable. "I was waiting for you. Can't finish it alone." That line about the birthday cake hit me so hard because it's the Top Supporter's way of saying I wanted you to be part of this. And the back-and-forth about cursing - "Dickhead, Dickhead, Dickhead?" with He Zheng laughing until his chest trembles - it's playful, intimate, and completely natural. The author never lets the dialogue feel staged or forced. Even the director's voice on the phone has a distinct personality - the forced politeness, the simmering anger, the quick retreat when money is mentioned. Every character sounds like themselves.
I'm not okay. I'm genuinely not okay after reading about the Third Madam. This woman never even appears in the story — she's dead — but she's the most alive character in these chapters. The author does this incredible thing where she only shows us the aunt through memories and a single promise, and yet that promise carries more emotional weight than any scene could. "Mian-er, don't be afraid. Your aunt is here for everything! I will protect you!" And then the dowry list. Oh god, the dowry list. This woman spent her last moments thinking about making sure her niece got what was hers. She knew her brother-in-law was dangerous. She knew the system was rigged. And she still made a plan. Song Zhimian breaking down over this memory — I felt that in my chest. The way the author writes it, it's not just grief for the aunt who died. It's grief for every woman who tried to protect someone in a world that didn't care. "If one item is missing, I'll make sure your father and that woman lose face." This woman was fighting from beyond the grave. And now Song Zhimian has to carry that same fire. The transformation from "I want to die" to "I will destroy them" happens so quietly but it hits like a truck. I kept re-reading that whole section about the aunt's family being murdered — father and son killed, entire household wiped out, and the brother who benefited from it all just... smiled and took the rewards. It made me so angry I had to put the book down for a minute.
It has a great start. Good job. You did well in making this novel.
I love this and I love those moments when he is scared
Whoa! Death. I love this story- just my type. Thank you Yama-2. Will Farci kill Death someday?
it's going to be one of the greatest novels
please how did you find the first 2 chapter?
Hey great author Have read your book and it's really amazing but I would like to share you some tips on how to grow your book performance
You know what, this is kind of good. I like the fluid writing, and world building. It feels slow and deliberate. I would recommend this novel to fantasy readers.
~30~ Chapters review. Why should you start reading this book? Because it's great of course! More seriously, I've read the other books of our dear author, but this one is the best.