How to Thrive in the ’60s

Description

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Su Yu had been an only child. Her paternal grandfather raised her as if she was a boy that would succeed the family. However, when she was ten years old, her mother gave birth to a pair of fraternal twins. Now that the Su’s had a son to inherit, she had had to step aside. For Su Yu, this was a wonderful thing. She was happy to be able to live a good life without working.

Who knew that her father would learn from others and want to marry off his daughter into an alliance marriage? If her chosen fiance was good in all aspects, she could have tolerated her father’s arrangement. However, her chosen fiance was a person with IQ problems.

At that moment, Su Yu suddenly understood the old saying. It was every person for themselves, and the devil took the hindmost. After seizing control of the family assets from her weak and incompetent father, she made up her mind to be the head of the household for the rest of her life. However, it seemed that the heavens wouldn’t let her live a free and easy life. After a good night’s sleep, she woke up and was back in 1959. She had become another person with the same name.

The original owner was someone that worked like a dog for her family, but Su Yu wouldn’t do such a s*upid thing even if someone threatened her with death. Even if she were to work extremely hard for her family, she would require her family to work extremely hard for her too.

Associated Names
One entry per line
Su Yu’s Promotion Record in the ‘60s
重生六零好时光
Related Series
Rebirth to 80’s to Have a Good Life (Same Franchise)
Recommendations
Transmigrated into a Parvenu’s Ex-wife in the ‘90s (2)
Back to the Sixties: Farm, Get Wealthy & Raise the Cubs (2)
The Green Tea’s Crushing Victories in the ’70s (2)
A Fake Holy Mother in the Zombie Apocalypse (2)
Rebirth to the Eighties to Get Rich (2)
Strict Wife of the ’70s Manages the Household (2)
Recommendation Lists
  1. 60s/70s/80s/90s BG Rebirth/Transmigration Chinese ...
  2. 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s
  3. Old china romance
  4. 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s and more
  5. 60s -90s Economic Reform

Latest Release

Date Group Release
08/23/23 AZS Works c28
08/23/23 AZS Works c27
08/20/23 AZS Works c26
08/18/23 AZS Works c25
08/18/23 AZS Works c24
07/20/22 Fuyu Neko extra 4
07/20/22 Fuyu Neko extra 3
07/20/22 Fuyu Neko extra 2
07/20/22 Fuyu Neko extra 1
07/15/22 Fuyu Neko c77
07/14/22 Fuyu Neko c76
07/12/22 Fuyu Neko c75
07/10/22 Fuyu Neko c74
07/09/22 Fuyu Neko c73
07/05/22 Fuyu Neko c72
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Review
28 Reviews


Fuyuneko
Fuyuneko
Jul 31, 2020
Status: Completed
This isn't a story where the main character goes through multiple faceslapping rounds with irredeemable and ungrateful relatives. She believes that it's bad for both sides if someone one-sidedly self-sacrifices and spoils their loved ones. She guides the original owner's relatives to building a better life through their own hard work instead of mooching off her. I like that the author shows that people have different strengths and motivations and that higher education is not a guaranteed ticket to success.

Su Yu is an independent modern career woman, who takes pride... more>> in her work and achievements. She's amazing at bullsh*tting and can talk circles around other people. Tiny spoiler, when Su Yu and the male lead start dating, he tries to help her career, and she tells him to stop because she wants to be promoted on her own merits. Once she's proven herself in her career, she and the ML do take turns helping each other and giving each other advice.

In a lot of other novels, the main character starts off awesome, but the male lead always has to be in a stronger position than her. In this story, Su Yu continues to be amazing on her own even after the male lead is introduced. They're equals instead of having the usual webnovel relationship dynamic where a capable main character suddenly becomes a helpless damsel in distress and needs the male lead to swoop in to save her.

In response to other reviewers' criticism.

@Skill

Although our main character fakes loyalty to the authoritarian regime to get promoted, she doesn't believe in it and is aware how damaging it is. She exploits people's cult-like belief for her benefits. There's one time when she points out to ML that people quote Chairman Mao all the time, but they a) don't understand it and/or b) don't actually believe what they're spouting on a gut level. They're just parroting it because that's what they have to do to get ahead. It's very bad when society determines competency and how good a person is by how many quotes he or she knows. While this novel is not overt about pointing out the negative consequences of government policy at the time period, you can still see that it exists. For example, its revealed that one of MC's boss is so scared of being reported for nepotism, he sabotaged all of his children's careers. Until that point, we think he's just a very moral person that's against nepotism. The readers will also see examples of people starving to death for no other reason than poorly implemented government policies. So, I'm not sure what Skill meant about propaganda.

I don't remember if there's any mention of racism, but I think it falls under the same umbrella of how people once didn't question s*avery (with the caveat that my opinion would be different if MC was the one that thought the racist words). Sure, we know its wrong now. But, if you were born a hundred years ago, would you come to that conclusion yourself? I don't think the author is trying to get readers to think any race is inferior. In another one of the author's books, the MC, who comes from a post-apocalyptic world and transmigrates into the 60's, has no concept of nationality, but within a few weeks of going to school, she gets brainwashed into thinking China is the greatest. As a comparison point, the ML in that same novel, who is an adult that transmigrated with her, is aware that it's propaganda and remains indifferent.

Edited to add after reading LadyF's review: Her review jogged my memory that when I was a kid, I found my grandmother's hostility towards all things Japanese inexplicable and seemingly unwarranted. It was one of the few things where my mom told me to not ask my grandmother about. In contrast, my parents and aunts and uncles, who grew up in Taiwan, don't share that hostility. @ loveless7531
Arrogance is the quality of having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities. What the MC has is confidence. She's self-assured of her own abilities from past experience.

In the second half of the novel, MC gives advice to her roommate that to get someone to like you, you must treat them as your enemy. It's only after they like you, that you can treat them nicely. That's a policy that MC follows herself. When MC knows that someone sees her as a friend, she will treat them differently. Being unconditionally nice to strangers and acquaintances isn't an essential quality in humans. MC does more in teaching her relatives, coworkers, and classmates on how to continue to develop professionally than any MC I've read about. She's good at being a manager and a leader. Instead of solving other characters' problems for them, she guides them on how to solve their problems so that the next time, they can solve it on their own without any help from her.

On the scale of selfless and selfish, Su Yu isn't near either one. She seeks to establish mutually beneficial relationships and believes that type of relationship is the best. <<less
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sassyzoe
sassyzoe
Apr 02, 2021
Status: Completed
I started with Fuyu Neko's translation and went on to 'listen' to the original using a chrome plugin. Thanks for the recommendation Fuyu Neko! This is an intelligent slice-of-life novel which I really enjoyed.

Su Yu is the most streetwise MC I have ever read. It's not just the plot but also the way she speaks and how she builds relationships. Even though this is fiction, I think it is very helpful for anyone who works in an office or who have complicated (family) relationships. Where there's a group of people,... more>> there'll be politics. The story is quite realistic in this sense. Su Yu is quite the political animal without being b*tchy at all. Sometimes, I think what she says seems over the top, but she did mention the necessity of being noticed and being thick-skinned. She is not pushy in promoting herself and is only indirect in her approach. She plays politics at a very high level - but we are not surprised because we are told right from the start, the background of her past life.

I think many young people on the cusp of graduation and early working years, including myself in the past, are idealistic, quite naive and brash. This story would provide quite a bit of food for thought and probably avert a few painful lessons!

What is exaggerated is the overt adoration that her family and the ML have for her - which I think is more for comic effect. Things do go her way but that's because Su Yu positions and prepares herself so that when opportunities appear, she is able to make the best of them.

I wished I had read a story like this when I was a student before I entered the working world. There's quite a bit on how to network here. She handles relationships very deftly and her tongue is as sweet as honeycomb. But of course, Su Yu works very hard for her goals and she's very strategic about it. She is one lady who has her feet on her ground and is pragmatic to the point of being harsh. She looks at life as it is, without any rose-tinted glasses at all.

It was an interesting insight into communist China as well. There was the propaganda element that was prevalent during those days and also the perceptions of the common man. I really like that Su Yu is one of the most 'woke' characters (other than her husband) in this novel - and that's partly because she transmigrated and had an outsider's view of the times - yet, although she is by default detached, she is not unfeeling. Towards the end, there is a sense that she becomes somewhat caught up in the patriotism expounded by the propaganda of those days. And why not? I think her shift from money and ambition to ambition and service shows her character's growth as she becomes invested in the people around her. Her real feelings, especially towards her work and family, are often alluded to. It is quite a contrast to the patriotic propaganda that Su Yu knowingly sprouts as currency for goodwill and promotion. I love her characterisation, pragmatism and drive in this novel. This lady is very streetwise and I like that the story shows it, rather than tells it. <<less
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LadyF
LadyF
Jan 05, 2021
Status: --
this is so good. I don’t understand why this novel was low rated. Propaganda? Racist? Author just describing people belief at that era. They hated other country who attacked them at that time so much that they will swore at them like j*pan as white devil and i*dia as black monkey. You would not expect that someone will say something nice about people who hurt them, especially attacked your family your country. It’s different now, if you still have racist thinking then it’s right to hate it.

I like su yu... more>> so much, sure she’s not a benevolent person, she’s selfish, but her selfishness didn’t bring harm to other, instead she brought many benefits to her family and other people in her college, city, province.

the story is so fresh, very different with other novel with setting in the same era. There was no face slapping drama, no revenge, no cooking, no business, but the MC took political path to make her life better.

I wish it is longer, I still want to know more about their life in beijing.

But, overall this is very good. Me likey. <<less
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loveless753
loveless753
Sep 05, 2020
Status: --
Not one of the worst novels out there but it beware. However, if you like "selfish and arrogant" female lead then this is it for you. Just don't take it seriously. This novel was translated by a publishing company in my country (Thailand) and I have finished the first book. However, I never consider buying a second or third book. Not a very popular book in my country.

Its one of the plots where characters are pretty much two-dimensional and the FL is so selfish and insincere that no doubt if... more>> I met her in real life I would recommend everyone I care about to stay away. What I mentioned earlier when I say the character is two-dimensional is that there is literally no "kindness" in her. Nada. She great at business, shameful, selfish, and very thick skin (which makes a lot of interactions funny and contains lots of face slapping) but aside from that no other redeeming "nice" quality at all. I mean I understand that in business is benefiting oneself but the FL is like this in everything!! There was this girl she works with and she has never considered that other person a friend until that person help her out twice that she did even consider being a bit more sincere. My point is she the type of person that if someone does not benefit her than she would not associate with them and god forbid she did something, however, small out of the goodness of her heart. I find it very hard to root for this type of character.

If anyone that has read the novel feels free to disagree but seriously I would at least want to ask someone who has read the story to point out where she did anything that is just "nice" without thinking of what she would get in return. <<less
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Lissie Furen
Lissie Furen
Feb 13, 2021
Status: Completed
Su Yu is the definite QUEEN of BUREAUCRACY! This story boasts one of the most pragmatic and real female bosses in existence, not a sweet FL but an adult capable woman with the hability of being flexible in pretty dangerous political times. I also liked the light shed on real historical events that happened before this story takes place and that helped me understand a lot more about the reasons behind China´s deep dive into comunism. We can all despise the misery, death and genocide caused and made worse by... more>> comunists politics but those happened and it is important to understand why they did. It is totally worth the read if you are looking for real female power and not for sweet, delicate princess like protagonists. <<less
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yesiambroke
yesiambroke
Jan 27, 2021
Status: Completed
I have never seen a FL that's so mature and levelheaded as this one, okey maybe I'm being little bit dramatic, but she really handled her family better than I could. If I was in her situation I would have left them and gone my own way, so that's why I appreciate her ability to not create enemies but allies.

The leads in this novel have such a nice dynamic that really reflects the society they live in. It's set on 1960's China, when socialist party is prevalent and with new... more>> ideologies like "women hold up half the sky". So you have a strong and ambitious FL paired up with a ML that's not OP but caring and reliable. My favorite character has to be the male lead lol I just love it when he realizes his feelings and becomes clumsy. The MTL was still enjoyable for me so just check it out!! But I must warn you that the MC is a capitalist that repeats a lot of communist ideologies to get ahead in her work life, so be aware when you get into it because it happens a lot in this story. <<less
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Tattaro
Tattaro
Jul 16, 2021
Status: Completed
This is NOT a romance novel. ❌ Although not all would enjoy the story, readers would be blown away by how this author unapologetically wrote Su Yu. Her character is too real and her thoughts so raw it could sometimes make one uncomfortable.

I give 5 stars to this author for her bravery in writing Su Yu's character and a big THANK YOU to Fuyuneko for introducing this story to non-Chinese readers. 😎
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mustachemerlin
mustachemerl
Jul 17, 2022
Status: c77
This is so good! I'm really sad that the translator is dropping it due to lack of views, it's one of the novels I check for updates daily on this site.
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Applejambubble
Applejambubb
Mar 09, 2021
Status: Completed
Su yu is someone I look up to, someone who u can really learn from. She's a very well written character. Also I really appreciate the love philisophy of the author; look for a person who understands and supports ur ambitions and u should do the same for them!

It paints a clear picture that u don't have to be what society wants u to be instead u should strive to make a place for who u want to be in the society. With enough drive n motivation everyone can find... more>> their place. <<less
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Crayon
Crayon
Jan 02, 2021
Status: --
this is one of the best novel I've read so far! And my top 3 female lead! Not a weakling, mentalist, clever! I really love of how she turn black into white with her statement 🤣 From the moment she transmigrated she never lose in any kind of argument! This is my female lead! Won't ever get pressed by anyone! I was only at the first half of the novel but her character really intrigued!

ONE OF THE BEST! ❤️💯

... more>>
Spoiler
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The ML is Secretary Song! Hehehe... He appeared around chapters 50+ and it's a bit confusing because the translation haven't reach to that point. It's very hard to know through MTL.

I have to add this; MC is not a good person, YES (obviously). She's selfish, we can see that as she use the familial cards to manipulate her siblings but just in case you guys forgot... Before MC transmigrated the siblings are 💯 USELESS. They only see her as a maid, a cook, a cleaner, and the laborer in the family. Basically see her as a s*ave. Before she came, she's the boss in her family in her past life. She raised her own company. You see, this is why she's the gold FMC.... see that right there, she's not a weakling and won't ever just swallow bitterness just to maintain her own image! The siblings doesn't see the problem because the have guilty conscience. The other characters such as Secretary Tian (mtl) see through her facade because she didn't do her wrong. ML also see through her facade. There's nothing wrong with her character. Just y'all's being so righteous and hate her hypocrisy... 🙄 Mind you, if I know how to manipulate my annoying relatives I would do the same thing she did. So..... to my comrades future readers, don't listen to the bad reviews.

Oh and the bad reviewers say how she only do something 'nice' to get something in returned..... are you that s*upid to let people take advantage of you and not get something in returned? Not thanks.

But if you're a masochist and love to see MC tortured then this is not for you ;) adiosssss

4/1/21: I have to add this again! Ohhh ML is so sweet!! Kyaaaa (*≧∀≦*) so he was courting our MC right now and what he do was writing all the habit he saw in the small book for MC! Arghhh (*≧∀≦*) So sweet!!! ❤️❤️ I just hope MC won't make him wait longer 😂 <<less
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skill
skill
Sep 02, 2020
Status: Completed
The thing that lets this story down is the propaganda and the authors racism.
Spoiler

Damn, these black monkeys are so arrogant.

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Zefelina
Zefelina
Aug 08, 2020
Status: Completed
This is a very heart-warming and motivating novel. It starts with FL Su Yu being reborn in the sixties China, when working was celebrated, people were simple and lived simple lives. It may not sound very attractive at first glance, but this novel expresses how little humans actually need to be happy.

The FL isn't someone to be happy with the simplest working life in a factory, though. From the very start, she takes control of her destiny, leading herself, her family and colleagues to a better future. It's very inspiring... more>> to read about how she develops human relationships and uses them to her advantage both privately and at work. It doesn't mean that she is someone who unreasonably takes advantage of people. In fact, she strives to have no enemies by rewarding everyone who helps her. As such, a lot of her life phylosophy could be applied in modern life, and it really makes one look back to their own life.

I enjoyed this novel very much, and recommend it to all who like slice of life novels. <<less
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Book Lover Slytherine
Book Lover S
Feb 09, 2023
Status: c77
A very amazing MC who doesn't compromise. Those who are saying that MC is manipulative, b*tchy, guys It's completely fine with what she's doing. You guys keep forgetting that og body worked herself to death to raise her ungrateful siblings. She gave up her education, marriage, life for them but they were never grateful to her. What MC is doing, it's what og body deserve.

... more>>
Spoiler

MC is feeding herself best foods, clothes with her family's money. What's wrong with it. Og body never ate something good in her life. MC is doing that for her. Technically it's her body. So, what she's doing is fine.

Second, it's about how MC manipulates everyone. It's not wrong. Did you all forget, how they treated og MC. She did everything for them, but they never even said thank you. But our MC manipulates and them and make them realize with her half-truth words that she did a lot for them (though it was done by og mc) but it's completely fine as those siblings are ingrates. And actually, they're the one who's benefitting from it.

I know everyone would like this if this was done by the og MC, the story would turn out better. But og MC is someone who's very pure and think about others. This is how her beliefs are. She can't suddenly become like MC. I hope og MC transmigrate into mc's real body and live a good life there,

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My Thoughts:

The MC is bossy, manipulative but for people like og mc's siblings she's perfect for it. This story has great potential but the mtl is killing me. So, I'll wait until someone picks it up again and continue to read it from there. Fo now I'm dropping it in chapter 77. Hope someone picks it up. <<less
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ate_gurl
ate_gurl
Aug 23, 2021
Status: Completed
I love this novel so muuuuuch. The story is very realistic and there are references to the historical timeline that the novel is set upon. I really love how capable the FL is. I also really like the fact that the ML was seen as somewhat equal in terms of career compared to the generic trope of MLs always having better and 'respectable' career prospects than FLs. Super worth the read.

Spoiler

I would love to read more about their life in Beijing. Also, more story about Song Yitong.

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MisheruBookish
MisheruBooki
Aug 19, 2020
Status: Completed
This novel is really a rare gem.
The MC is a powerful woman with a quite radical approach in everything while being good to others.
It's rather interesting that the setting is during the '60s in china where in my perception it's a little bit backward and challenging to live as a woman.

All in all, I enjoyed reading this till the end even though it ended abruptly for my taste.
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Kimari07
Kimari07
Sep 27, 2022
Status: Completed
This book has the best female lead ever. I realized this after picking it up the second time. I dropped it earlier coz I was not yet ready for a master manipulator bit*h as FL.

I appreciate Suyu making friends everywhere as opposed to fls offending cannonfodders around them. I read one where all who offended FL in one way or another ended up in tragedy, no one ever spared. Tsk.

  • Suyu, although selfish grows to really care about the people around her and made efforts to make life better for them. She never made unnecessary enemies. She made friends and contacts everywhere with motives in mind but at least she knows how to reciprocate. She's a bully deep inside but only the readers and ML know coz her mouth is dripped in honey when facing others. Only those who have access to her thoughts will be chilled. Still, what a very admirable woman Suyu is.
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sansukini0923
sansukini092
Aug 26, 2022
Status: Completed
I wanna leave my comment first before reading the other reviews. Only when you finish the story would you realize how all things she did fell into place. When the story began, you would be really annoyed at how selfishly controlling the MC is. She kinda reminds me of those religious leader who tries to brainwash everyone to go with her way and the followers still abide happily and are willing to be controlled. The end always justifies the means, everyone got a better life anyways, but you don't realize... more>> that what she did were all borne from her need to have a comfortable life. I don't think she's bad. She actually does things that benefits a whole lot of people, just that her thoughts sometimes can be a little demeaning especially her treatment of her eldest brother. She was able to cultivate her siblings into better human beings, after all. I was thinking why Fuyu had to leave postcripts after every chapter, it's because she can be annoying.

Spoiler

The story all boils down to how the country became chaotic in a certain because of how the so-called bad elements were arrested and taken for reform. This will be told later in the extras, but this is when you realized how she tried to make all those connections from the start, just so that she can help her family and friends avoid getting into the bad elements mix because they were successful, and how to protect their province from getting more chaos due to these changes. She is a very manipulative and controlling person and she has accomplished what she needs to do by making all those connections, using those connections to make changes and standing out from all other people.

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I like the story of the side character, Li Ping. She was able to cultivate this little girl really well. And her backstory is also very interesting, to how she was able to become a strong, confident woman because of Su Yu. <<less
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Peniparton
Peniparton
Aug 23, 2020
Status: --
Very deserving to be a female lead.. she was not a Mary sue character but she helped those people around her..I quite liked that whatever she did was in line with the year.. she stood out but not in earthshaking way.. her journey, family relationship.. everything was beautifully done and I also loved that she used cleverness and effort to maintain the balance in her personal and work life..a very example of career driving woman.. no cheats (except time travel) all she got was due to her hard work, preservation... more>> and mind.. overall a very good read... strong recommend to those who like reading about this time period and a very cool mc <<less
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Eeria
Eeria
Dec 12, 2022
Status: Completed
Its not a novel theme but what is though is the FL attitude. I admire her way of getting people to do what she wants them to do without them even realizing it. It’s all to her benefit but the other party also benefit from it, most of the time. The story is entertaining. The romance is really not the focus. It’s a slice of life type of novel more. The male lead is present but fades into the background of the story. A lot of the secondary characters are... more>> quite interesting. Finally love the family warmth and siblings love the novel has though a lot of it is designed by the FL. <<less
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ChaiTeaLatte
ChaiTeaLatte
Aug 05, 2022
Status: Completed
Great story. The heroine has trust issues from her previous life so she's very business minded to friends and family but it fits in with how the whole country is recovering still recovering from civil strife and food shortages.
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