Frost_edelweiss

It is a good series. Number one in TV series last week in China, as reported by Marcus. Even Avenue X, who often has only scorn for idols and second generation showbiz people, admitted she liked it. She quibbled about it not being "true to era speak and behavior", more tailored to present day audience, which is rather a compliment since it does achieve to convey what the new generations think about that time, now that many scars healed and reconstruction is successful..

But her insistence on comparing the feelings to the ones she got from remembering talks with her parents who lived through these "troubled times" made me think she clear forgot who Chen Feiyu is : the son of a famous film director who was directly affected by the events of the period, and certainly heard about these times at dinner table at home in the family or with acquaintances, besides having had a proper film education at the Beijing Film Academy which certainly had some mentions about the "scars movement" in Chinese culture and cinema. Without having read all about the period and all the novels and memoirs from the times, CFY probably read his dad's memoirs which were published in Chinese in truncated form, as well as explaining in interview how he read the novel after the script to make the drama character come alive.

The moral view encouraged is : not to butt in when hurdles are not worth the fight, but to embrace the changes and find ways to carve paths really fitting the individual aspirations while not jettisoning the debts to and warmth of a supporting social community. Fei Ting will be valued in his dream job as cook. Ms Mu returns to her younger ideals, giving up title and rigid entitled attitude, and is grateful to the forgiving Fei Ni who actively shelters her from isolation at the lunch table. Good food is better for soul and body than mere following slogans, even though "revolution is not a dinner party".

Without turning the drama into a pseudo documentary, I think the characters are well acted to convey both fidelity to source material and to background period. They are engaging and the drama manages to show the appeased way to look back which the new generations prefer, in a forward looking vision of life to tackle present day struggles that do not really resemble those of the past eras, without being burdened by revenge seeking or rekindling grief.

Thanks for your detailed reply! Oh there is no fault with your English imho, and as you justly point out, Chinese is not always easy to translate, especially when it is poetry or cultural allusions, which often infuse the meaning of Chinese sentences.

You are right about the arrows provided by chart artist which were not always perfectly clear. Some mentions in this chart could benefit from being put in bold type while other, less important ones, might be put in smaller italics type, but since Chinese is very concise, it is difficult to find a better translation than the ones you offered, without a reference to time slot (like : "former", "finally"...) which takes much space in English vs Chinese. Anyway, kudos to you for your effort for this the chart, which is generally easy to read with your translations! Looking forward to the ones you plan to do next (which dramas?)

You mentioned in reply "White moonlight', clarifying the origin of the mention. To me this notion has become particularly familiar to the "new" vertical C-drama audiences, although it may still be puzzling to newcomers to standard C-drama. Like "green teas" or such monikers. The first has indeed become Chinese shorthand to describe the never forgotten crush on some loved one from way back when, who was separated from admirer before finally reappearing - Fei Ni was not aware that she was Fang Muyang's white moonlight (lol) ; the second is the "green eyed jealous monster" like Feng Lin in the drama, the spiteful woman everyone will hate. These character types have become staple tropes in c-dramas, and even in other Chinese conversations, but is takes some time for newcomers to get used to these mentions in drama comments., which really belong to the c-drama subculture universe.

Looking forward to the final episodes which I will watch by Thursday when the ordinary audience not purchasing into "express" plan will be able to enjoy them.

I concede that Ye Feng and Fang Muyang briefly competed for Fei Ni's attention in the cinema sequence and about who would leave with who on bicycles. So: very short lived trial sentimental triangle.

Following this definition, then, there is also the Ye Feng-Ling Yi-Fei Ni involvement during the misled matchmaking, : Ye Feng crushes on pretty Fei Ni unrequited and Ling Yi crushes on Ye Feng unrequited. Meanwhile, Fei Ni was aloof and uninvolved sentimentally with either guy until she chose, on a whim, that matching with Fang Muyang would better serve her unsentimental interests.

Perhaps also briefly Ling Yi- Fang Muyang- Ye Feng. Although Ling Yi only covets Fang Muyang before the events and in the beginning of the drama : she was indebted to him and claimed to be his GF but swiftly let him go when she realized the hero was amnesiac and would be more a liability than useful, and next, she witched to covet Ye Feng for his physique and in order to gain power. No real sentimental feelings involved either, although Ling Yi ends up as Ye Feng's fiancée.

And the exes of Fang Mujing and Qu Hua: one alive triggering Qu Hua's jealousy because despite having dumped Fang Mujing and being loathed and written away by her, the "colleague" still curried up to her when she unexpectedly appeared as a successful member of the university. The other ex was a ghost that shadowed vaguely the early marriage of Fang Mujing and Qu Hua'. (Qu Hua still thought of the ghost while proposing to Fang Mujing who justly felt repelled rather than pushed to fight for his love , besides which she had married for other interests first.)

But these feel more like shifting interests alliances in "business" than real significant sentimental love triangles in my view.
In the drama, love starts after marriage, after long and level headed thinking for Fei Ni, Fang Mujing, Qu Hua. Still, love is sweet later :)

Thanks for subtitling and translating the chart !

My only quibble : the "Unrequited Love" stands out a little bit too prominently and may be misleading when in fact this is a very temporary feeling and the real info should better be "Marriage first, then love". The "Childhood nemesis" mention was based on misunderstandings but is important for first episodes to explain the relatively late blooming of love from Fei Ni who nevertheless agrees to trust Fang Muyang quickly, enough to do almost a shotgun marriage!

I am puzzled by the "old age confidant" mention but we still have not seen the Fang parents (Qingyuan and Mu Shanhe) who should appear in episodes after 23, upcoming as of March 4, 2026, so I suppose the confidences will start then.

Love? Neither guys loved each other : the male suitor enabled by misled matchmaking for family benefit was looking down on the girl who reluctantly envisioned in despair a loveless marriage of convenience, but quickly, in a few scenes , thought up herself of a better choice ;) Fei Ni could not get past the contempt her supposed suitor's mom heaped on her at first meeting. She dumped Ms Xu's son firmly.
So,, for me, no real "love triangle".

Some corrections there, Jiang Qing, the widow of Mao who had been leading the extremist "Gang of Four" was not executed but sentenced to life in prison. More exactly : she first was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve in 1981 following her trial as a member of the Gang of Four, but the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 1983. She lived until 1991 when she died outside prison from illness, in hospital.

Mao had died in September1976, the "year of upheavals" which started in January with the death of revered premier Zhou Enlai (who had been instrumental in preventing the Cultural Revolution and many other excessive political movements to last too long : the Red Guards of the Cultural Revolution were disbanded in 1968). Millions showed up to mourn Zhou Enlai, especially in Tiananmen Square, where citizens expressed grief through flowers and poems—leading to the 1976 Tiananmen Incident, a pivotal moment in Chinese political history. (No, that was not 1989 but it explains in part the later incident).
Third major upheaval was the Tangshan earthquake in Hebei Province, approximately 149 km (93 mi) southeast of Beijing, close to Bohai seafront. , on July 28, 1976, It is portrayed with a short newsreel from the actual earthquake, in the drama.

There were some more changes between 1976 and 1978 when Deng Xiaoping finally took over leadership. The reforms started even before, with the reinstating of the Gaokao national entrance examination to universities in 1977. (Primary schools had reopened after 3 years closed from 1965 to 1968. universities had reopened in 1970, but entry was restricted to individuals recommended by their work units (danwei), with emphasis on political loyalty, proletarian background, and manual labor experience—not academic performance.)

The 1977 Gaokao was a pivotal moment, allowing millions of students—including those affected by the Cultural Revolution—to compete for university places based on exam results, signaling the end of ideological selection and the beginning of educational restoration.

Even before, "banned books" (mostly classic novels from non socialist states) were slowly being read again, smuggled out from the shelves on which they were languishing but not burned (another action of preservation of domestic and foreign cultural artifacts thanks to Zhou Enlai's mitigating actions). Where Jiang Qing ordered Red Guards to go burn, Zhou Enlai helped save some works and buildings, notably libraries (after all, Mao who had started his career as librarian, and was a keen poet, was not really wanting all culture to disappear, and Song Qingling, the widow of Sun Yatsen who was at the head of the main foreign oriented magazine was also appalled by the excesses, so Zhou managed to override the shrillest extremists of Jiang Qing and her "clique").

The state owned factories and companies likewise saw an overhaul in the ideologically led "cadre" system, portrayed in the drama by Ms Xu's demotion from leader to ordinary employee. The broken teacup is a hint to the shattering of the excesses of " Tian an men" extremism, perhaps also to the soon to break "iron pot of rice" of guaranteed employment in the state-owned companies danwei. The slogan "Serve The People" on the broken cup which Ms Xu tries in vain to repair is a symbol of how the motto was not enough to hold together the ideals she lived by: she was already becoming part of the past that needed reform... (Another currently airing drama, "Our Dazzling Days", portrays that sea-change within the state-owned factory in Tiexi/Tiecheng near Shenyang, in the heart of the north-eastern Dongbei region).

Episode 23 is on the backdrop of 1976-77. The earlier episodes were set in 1974-1975. Time flew fast although it looked like an eons-change.

1 from the start (first as a caregiver commissioned by the factory, lol, but do not expect it like a Florence Nightingale nurse type)
2 no
3 no
4 I believe so, although it has not finished airing
5 oh yes - and there's a funny moment when the FL reminds her husband of the "qiqiguaiguai" (bizarre) beds the two shared over time
6 a few, but not in the beginning.

I remember Sun Qian from 2024 "Love Song In Winter", the thriller romance in which she was co-starring as FL medical worker with ML Johnny Huang Jingyu as police officer, faced with a hidden serial killer :) I made a gif for their characters in the Discussions section of the drama page then.

And yes, also as He Yuanzi, the lively girl promoted as GF by Daoming Si's mom, back in 2018 Meteor Garden,
and Tian Qi in 2020 Dr Cutie,
Yang Shanshan the fake "Friday" robot in 2022 A Robot in the Orange garden.

I am surprised to find out that I had watched all these, and noticed her along the way without getting curious about her biographical details and "Qiānjīn" 千斤 fandom. Just found out that her Weibo has 7.753 million followers.
She was born in Harbin in 1997 (28 years old going on 29 in April) but educated in Beijing as a ballet dancer (7 years at the Affiliated Secondary School of Beijing Dance Academy) before entering the Central Academy of Drama,,majoring in acting.
She can also sing, and was chosen to interpret the theme song When the Wind Blows for Remembrance of Things Past (2021).

Her career in c-ent started in 2016 ; since then she has appeared or starred in over 20 dramas and 6 movies, and taken part in many TV shows. Among her dramas, she mostly played in modern ones, although she also starred in two costume ones : Dr Cutie and Legend of the Magnate which is one she commented on a lot, and in one version of the Legend of the Condor Heroes epic which has been gathering dust on a shelf since 2017 (so many actors and actresses have spent time on such "cursed" dramas, sigh; a comment from 7 months ago states it has finally been approved for release... Now let's see if and when that will happen, but anyway, Sun Qian is not in the lead cast: she plays an unnamed character in "support" there, and since 2017-2018 is close to her debuts, we can safely assume it would not be as interesting as her role in Meteor Garden).

Better to anticipate the other upcoming dramas including :
* "The Early Spring" which could air in March, where she plays FL alongside Jing Boran in a conventional looking workplace romance.
* "Extreme Punishment Suit", a legal thriller in which she stars alongside Wang Yang and Chloe Xie Keyi, Dai Luwa and Tu Songyan.
* Still without an English title: "xíngjǐng shíkè 1 fēnghuá zhèng mào" (Detective moment1: the Prime of Life) which just wrapped filming, in which she stars alongside Bai Jingting and four other in main cast. This one is based on a biography of Cui Daozhi (崔道植), a legendary Chinese forensic trace evidence expert and one of the founding figures of modern criminal investigation technology in the People's Republic of China.

Miscellaneous details include her "ideal type" boyfriend as she confided to press would be ... Daoming Si!! (lol) + she was so bold to say that if she liked someone she would be the one to pursue him (!)
But the fandom profile I saw for her is not very informative about what she likes to eat or other likes except for drawing, enjoying to watch cartoons and movies, and a wish to travel to visit Iceland. Nothing about pets either, although her Weibo features the part profile of one brown dog, perhaps a dachshund (https://weibo.com/u/5983451319).

Her MDL actress page has over 130 mentions since 2018, many happy birthday wishes for April 18, but a meager 352 flowers gifts (whoever wants to add some?)

Yes, just looked at this short announcing it for March 7th : https://www.youtube.com/shorts/bsLWL3n42lE
Confirmation enough for me, at least. 😍

Viki is a nice platform to enjoy better subtitling, so you are right in being persistent despite some small temporary troubles :)

Just tested : no problem for me, except they want upgrade to Viki pass from episode 6 ("which will be available to all in 2 days time").
Anyway, I can watch it till Ep.11 without splurging into Express yet, on WeTV original platform (where first 5 episodes are free to watch for all).
If all fails there... you could still "kiss it" until "11 pm", lol

Yes about the heat : "Chán Nǚ" (蝉女) title formerly translated as "Cicada Girls" : an "urban love drama" from a manhua, "Cicada Girl: Love Appraiser". 蝉女 was filmed in August 2023.

OST :
Secret of Love by Si Qi Man Cu (斯丹曼簇)
Love is not True (爱不是真) by Zhang Lei
Unicorn (独角兽) by Nicholas Teo
Whale's Moan (离群的鲸) by Geng Si Han (耿斯汉)
Waiting by Lauren Woo
I Lie Awake by Ray Hou
I Feel You by Lauren Woo

Baidu also mentions 7 other titles including the famous "Those Flowers" Pu Shu song.

Interesting perhaps is that the Chinese title of the drama on its Baidu page translates to "Roses are growing" or "Rose bushes" - so no wonder it's all a messy and thorny business ;)

"Chán Nǚ" (蝉女) title formerly translated as "Cicada Girls" : an "urban love drama" from a manhua, "Cicada Girl: Love Appraiser". 蝉女 was filmed in August 2023.
I was curious about it since "A Journey To Love", when I did a short Profile of LYN in the Companion piece that I added at the time https://mydramalist.com/discussions/a-journey-to-love/121473-a-journey-to-love-notes-on-production-location-dates-cast-characters-and-more?pid=2910411&page=2#p2910411
Watching it now, it is different from what I had anticipated from the title, but the beginning has some funny moments (the cleaning lady...) and the mix of adult comics inspired animation and acting is interesting. I seem to remember some Jiang Yifan lead character from vertical dramas, wondering if there was a connection to those medias too, which "exploded" in popularity since 2023? I should perhaps have read the manhua, but did not get around to look for it, and up till now, nobody has pinned it in the Discussions section.

"Chán Nǚ" (蝉女) title formerly translated as "Cicada Girls" : an "urban love drama" from a manhua, "Cicada Girl: Love Appraiser". 蝉女 was filmed in August 2023.
I was curious about it since "A Journey To Love", when I did a short Profile of LYN in the Companion piece that I added at the time https://mydramalist.com/discussions/a-journey-to-love/121473-a-journey-to-love-notes-on-production-location-dates-cast-characters-and-more?pid=2910411&page=2#p2910411
Watching it now, it is different from what I had anticipated from the title, but the beginning has some funny moments (the cleaning lady...) and the mix of adult comics inspired animation and acting is interesting. I seem to remember some Jiang Yifan lead character from vertical dramas, wondering if there was a connection to those medias too, which "exploded" in popularity since 2023? I should perhaps have read the manhua, but did not get around to look for it, and up till now, nobody has pinned it in the Discussions section.

Fang Muyang may look unbelievably patient with his crush, but his family and experience background make that life commitment perhaps believable. He does not doubt himself though, and finds ways to express his art, even in a room or on a blackboard or as unacknowledged paid artist in his future job for the Liánhuán huà company.

These Liánhuán huà illustrated storybooks were very popular in the 1960-70s, and could still be found at flea markets in the 1990s: they embodied the youth imagination of many young Chinese who learned the classic tales from literature, but also discovered foreign heroes such as Tintin through reading the small booklets printed on rectangular 12,5x10 cm pulp paper) As an article about an exhibition in Brussels, Belgium stated : "The first Chinese comic strip hero to make a regular appearance, was born in 1929, the same year as Tintin. And China’s most famous comic strip character, San Mao, was created in 1935, the year of first publication of The Blue Lotus, which recounts Tintin’s adventures in China." Btw San Mao the Shanghai orphan during the war of aggression by Japan was also featured in popular Chinese movies. There is a wall along Lane 288, Wuyuan Road in Shanghai where n°3 was the residence of Zhang Leping, the comic strip artist who created San Mao (the house can be visited).
Here is a feature about Zhang Leping and his work : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWLe46HqdOY

Why didn't they just quietly destroy that incriminating paper and get a quiet explanation in a more secure environment than an apartment where neighbors could listen in, without dragging in the stupid son and half illiterate daughter in law? They are not very bright, ok, but supposed to love and dote on their daughter and support her dreams from the start. So why the over-the-top drama by the mom? Presence of Fei Ting was totally irrelevant.

I get it that the author believed it was fitting so the couple would admit publicly their feelings, months later. But I feel that was very clumsy.

Since I also follow Johnny Huang Jingyu's movies and dramas, I remember Sun Qian from "Love Story In Winter". Johnny's drama "Our Dazzling Days" is also airing simultaneously to "Love Story in the 1970s", btw.

As for CFY, well.... I think I only am missing to complete a couple older dramas aside from the present one now, and also watched a half dozen of his movies. The one drama I liked least was "Eat Run Love" (did not like the script and the FL of that business drama), which is totally disappointing after "Lighter and Princess" (tech and revenge drama with a fabulous OST) and before "When Destiny Brings the Demon" (xianxia). He was great in those two, although his lines delivery was perhaps a tad too slow in the latter, if I need to quibble. But great presence and chemistry with co-star.

So many dramas landing on screen. Peachey Blossom is so busy with translating for the MV lyrics videos that she has not put an alert yet in Discussions, but here are the total OST four songs already posted by her (support her work!)

* My You sung by Mao Buyi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdM_VNzyd-0
* Fireflies in the Night Sky sung by Liu Yu : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgPzW8jGtVI&list=RDkgPzW8jGtVI&start_radio=1
* In Time, sung by Hong Yinuo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvZeJfLiOGs&list=RDxvZeJfLiOGs&start_radio=1
* Reality sung by Duan Aojuan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAT0Zim3xQk&list=RDDAT0Zim3xQk&start_radio=1

Same song, original MV with clips from the drama https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEiyeYpKdXU