Introduction
Hello there pips! Exactly two days ago I stumbled upon this webnovel. While waiting for the latest updates of Keyboard Immortal I had some time to browse highly recommended novels from the site. Now on 42 chapters I can confidently say that I do not have any regret letting a female MC lead me to an ancient world of slow and bitter sweet reality. It's rare for me to like Chinese novels but this one is different from those made just for the sake of filling up the inventory, at least for now. The author is Tranquil Fine Rain (姽婳晴雨) which is also the co-author of The Resplendent farming Apothecary. The novel is already completed with 732 chapters done in it's native language while English translations are also nearing it's end with the 720th chapter released just yesterday (April 20th).
Plot
The story is about a good-natured elder sister from a modern day setting transmigrated over a body of a sickly second granddaughter of a reconstituted family. The current setting has an ancient Chinese vibe to it but unlike other transmigration novels which were mostly seen in the view of a royal blood or noble main character, the story of Fields of Gold is viewed with a commoners perspective. The pacing is relatively slow, I'm now at chapter 42 but it seems that there has been only few months of progress on the timeplot since the female lead crossed over in chapter 1. There's no hype at all but I also cannot say that it's dull. The genre is slice-of-life so don't expect too much hype that you can usually see in adventure and wuxia novels.
Pacing is slow but for now I can say that it's entertaining. As they say, it's the little things that make us happy. A slow life living in the countryside beside the sea, far from the festive lights of the capital, that's what it is countryside vibes. The interactions usually happened within the reconstituted family. The small things have so much more into like the daily tasks and simplicity of the food being served. The author did a great job on building the complex relationships between the 1st and 2nd family branches. I think that most readers would find the step-grandmother and the first aunt very infuriating. Some might say that it's very unlikely to happen but I do know of a few real people with these types of devious personalities.
The protagonist is a child of the son from the previous marriage of the patriarch. Well, they are viewed as the 2nd branch but they are actually the legit main branch. The story revolves on the hardships of this 2nd family branch, especially the children. With a foolishly filial father and a sickly mother it's in the hands of our protagonist to break the shackles that bind her immediate family for those torturous long years they have experienced.
From the novel synopsis, I know that I'm still tens of chapters away from the worst event but I'm looking forward on how the father's character will develop after such incident.
Characters
The descriptions below might not be as accurate as they were intended to be. Although I wanted to describe character relationships in paragraph form for more consistency I opted to make a list and just put short descriptions based on my understanding on each one of them. Some key characters may not be included but I made it sure that the whole Yu family (main branch, second branch) will be included to understand the genealogy.
Lin Xiaowan/ Yu Xiaocao
Protagonist. She transmigrated to another world after falling down the staircase during her younger brothers wedding. After crossing over she found herself as the second granddaughter of the reconstituted Yu family. Her diligent and gentle natured father playing a fool for the 1st family branch let her mother and her siblings suffer for long years. Chained by cultural tradition imposed by the evil step-grandmother Madam Zhang the 2nd branch worked like slaves for a very long time. Master of the rainbow stone.
Yu Xiaolian
Xiaocao's older twin sister. Before crossing over it is evident that this small kid of only eight years old fend for immediate family under the attacks of Madam Zhang and Aunt Li. Albeit, her voice and protests seem like candle flickering on harsh winter nights. She's responsible as an older sister and have empathy for her immediate family, especially for her mother and younger twin sister.
Yu Hang
Xiaocao's eldest brother. He is reserve compared to Xiaolian and Xiaocao on dealing with the main family. Even when forced to manual labor as an apprentice carpenter he does what he think will alleviate his family's well being. He's responsible and dotes his siblings. For now, I'm worried because it seems that he is gaining the same mentality as his father. Do we have a second pushover in the future? Hopefully, NOT.
Yu Shitou
Youngest brother of the 2nd family branch. This little guy is the buddy the protagonist often hangs out with. Although a little glutton, Shitou is depicted as a responsible little kid. He is still playful and goofy but unlike most children in his age he is depicted with tinge of maturity. Closest person to Xiaocao's secret for now.
Yu Hai
Father of Xiaocao and her siblings. Chapter 4 introduced Yu Hai as a "Decent Father". Diligent, most skillful fisherman and swimmer in town, strong and knows how to hunt - in short a good provider of the family. The problem is that he is foolishly filial. Compromising the sake of his immediate family for the peace of the whole Yu family is something very common within the scenes. It hurts me to say this but he is stupid for a father, a harsher word would be "having no-balls". Compromising for peace and filial piety is a great thing as long as it does not negatively affect the ones you cherish. In most cases for the second branch there are many times that the situation is life threatening. Why would he just let it go? Are you Elsa? Grow some balls Yu Hai. A father should not only be a good provider but a good defender as well. For Yu Hai, I think it would be too late for him to know if someone close is planning to stab his back.
Liu Muyun
Sickly mother of Xiaocao and her siblings. There's nothing to say much about Madam Liu, I think husband and wife are meant to be. If Yu Hai is foolishly filial as a son then Madam Liu is just as devoted as a wife who supports her husband. Unlike her husband she is aware what they are experiencing but she still let it be. There was a time when the twins brought the idea of their branch separating from the main main branch but she contradicted it. Telling the girls that it's not filial and it violated cultural standards. I mean hey, there were times you're children are close to dying why are you so hard headed about face?
Old Yu
Patriarch of the Yu Family. Old Yu marrying his sister in law seems like a plot from family strokes, ooopsy... but hey these customs are acceptable during ancient times. My first impression of old Yu is a patient and wise old man. But as the story goes his judgment became frequently clouded because of his wife's influence. I just then realize that his scale is bias. He would choose the life of a son for the dream of another's. Respect for this old man started at 70 down to flat zero.
Madam Zhang
Step Grandmother. Madam Zhang's antagonistic traits is one of the worst kind I've witnessed so far. Imagine you are child and watching Disney's Cinderella being abused by her stepmother. In Cinderella that's not even 30 minutes of screen time. In the case of Madam Zhang is not torturing a single person but the whole 2nd branch. Sometimes it's just painful and infuriating to read. The slow torture of the 2nd family branch almost made me drop this series a few times now, pair it with some characters stupidity it just made a few parts of the reading experience quite distasteful. If not for the quirkiness of the children that gives me hope once in a while I might have really drop this series. JK.
Yu Dashan
Yu Dashan is the eldest son of the family. He is the first child of Madam Zhang (outside her marriage with Old Yu) and only a few months older than Yu Hai. Yu Dashan change his surname to Yu after joining the family. His characterization is on the plain side. There are no unique traits about him other than having an obese wife and son. Although not as pathetic as her mother and wife we might see his true colors real soon.
Aunt Li
First daughter-in-law of the family and wife of Yu Dashan. She is obese and lazy, the type of person who would murder an eight year old child for a dirty steam bun. I couldn't notice any bit of compassion or even just basic humanity in her character. Actually, I think she is worse that the grandmother Madam Zhang.
Yu Heizi
Son of Aunt Li and Yu Dashan. Like mother like son, Yu Heizi is a trash of a character. He is someone who would bully the weak and fear the strong. Although he is the most well fed among the third generation he is very gross as described in novel. Also, he often snuck into the 2nd branch west courtyard when no one is around to steal provisions and money. It's annoying that you can see the bias of the grandmother when compared to the grandchildren in the 2nd branch of the family.
Yu Bo
Third son and favorite of both Madam Zhang and Old Yu. With all the hopes of the family(a.k.a. Madam Zhang's dream of having a title of a noble lady) majority of the resources were poured to him and his family. Yu Hai is the best at earning money but all money was pocketed by Madam Zhang and given to him. The old couple wanted him to pass the court examinations and work for the government as a scholar of some sort. He's been studying for ten years now and living in a great home near the capital. Personality wise he's quite cool headed.
Zhao Meilan
Wife of Yu Bo and third daughter-in-law of the Yu Family. She didn't like her in-laws especially her mother-in-law Madam Zhang. Being a daughter of a high official in the capital she felt contempt on every member of the house, even the sickly Madam Liu. Madam Zhang seems to feel it and always try hard gaining recognition from her but her efforts were unfruitful.
Little Doudou
2 year old son of Yu Bo and Zhao Meilan. Depicted as very cute and chubby kid in the series. Doted by everyone but doesn't like being held by Madam Li (she sells pungent for him). He is attracted to Xiaocao unknowingly because of the effect of the rainbow stone. Like stewed soup made from the bath water of the stone.
Yu Caidie
Younger aunt, daughter of Old Yu and Madam Zhang. Different from her mother she has compassion for others. She snuck an egg for Xiaocao when she was badly injured. Nothing special happening related to her for now.
Community
Unlike the grandmother, the villagers treated the 2nd branch as fellow human beings. Actually, Doctor You, Hunter Zhao, Wagon Driver and many others are very good to the family. There are many interactions with them that are relevant to the siblings. The knowledge they learnt from everyone and how they give it back in times of need those are pretty good arcs in the story.
Writing
The author's writing is very direct and concise. Although, I've been reading the translated version I can see that he gets to the point, no segways, no BS. The problem is that I'm still in the early chapters. It might be look clean for now but let's not cast away the possibility that it can be repetitive and events can be redundant. Personally, I like how he/she describes the daily chores, especially the cooking. it is immersive enough to make my mouth water.
For a slice of life, slow life setting I'm surprised that it lacks those Chinese proverbs I often read on other works. Don't get me wrong I think Chinese literature is really cool and I would love it if the author put more elements like those in this novel.
The Verdict
I think this piece is for the patient and of those with high emotional tolerance. People who can appreciate small things and slow unfolding events will surely love this novel too. It's like a breath of fresh air based on my personal experience. There are so many interesting things happening. I love the emphasis on family and the humor of a modern lady trap in a young village girls body. How they depicted the cooking part is so damn mouth watering as well. Hopefully, it only gets better. For now I'll give it an 8.5/10. Crossed fingers for the next 680+ chapters.