To be honest, this one is just your typical ger/farming story (I say farming, but most readers of this sub-genre know that there's no literal farming or farming is not the focus of the story. It just became a known term for having a story in an alternate ancient China set in rural/village where most residence's source of living is farming). I've read this formula of story before and there's nothing really new in the overall plot but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I actually read this in one sitting and ended up awake at 5am just to finish this.
Maybe because it's been more than a month since I last read a danmei, I'm just glad to be back. I just found this novel really enjoyable without caring if this is not the most unique plot. I'm just here for the chill atmosphere.
I also appreciate that there's also a considerable amount of focus on a lot of supporting characters around MC and ML. I enjoyed these little side plots because it added a little flavor to the otherwise laidback, relax story. It's more mundane conflicts, nothing too dramatic, but it's effective without losing the calmness of the story.
Wholesome. Slice of life. Ancient countryside. Transmigration. Magical Space. Reading about the mundane farming life in ancient times is good for my anxiety..
This is a slice of life novel, so there is no high drama, no face slapping, very little conflict as far as the main characters were concerned. It was a very relaxing read and I finished it right away. The MC is likeable, the ML is cunning and crazy for the MC, the side characters are developed enough to add interest. There is lots of spicy scenes, which sometimes added to the story, and sometimes were totally skippable.
The not so good parts: This is a male/ger world, so it could read as a regular male/female since a ger is the female version. So idk if this is actually a truly Yaoi book. I don't really care so much about it, just realized that for 90% of the book I was reading it as a he/she, so be warned if this bothers you. Also, the introduction of a female at the end was totally WTF? Even more since it literally did nothing for the story. This is not a spoiler, it had zero bearing on the story.
The one thing that actually bothered me is that the ML is characterized as extremely obedient and filial at first. Then towards the end he completely hates his parents and his third brother, even though they never changed, they were horrible from beginning to end. It wasn't a slow progression or anything for the ML, it was sudden. It just made him seem very inconsistent. I also feel like lots of opportunities for some interesting drama were missed. As the reader we would have felt good if some of the characters got the face slapping they deserved, but this was fully skipped.
Read this one if you are into a no drama, feel-good, relaxing novel.