I don't even make reviews on here, but I felt this drama deserved it. I've seen reviews on here get super long, so I'll try to keep it short. ?

Firstly, the story is AMAZING. If you're someone who loves twists and turns, hardship and happiness galore, this drama is the one for you. I'm not even a fan of delving into Republican era C-dramas, but this one got me HOOKED from ep 1 and there was truly no going back.

Our main characters Wei Ruolai, Shen Tunan and Shen Jinzhen are amazing in their roles. You'll find yourself attached to not only the drama itself, but to majority of the characters instantly. The acting is very raw and the show addresses some very real things. From corrupt officials in finance and politics, to reflection through warfare and poverty; it showcases very upsetting circumstances that can be applied to current real-world occurrences, making you resonate further with the show. I often caught myself tearing up to which at some point turned into bawling my eyes out. ?

The third best take-away besides the story and characters is the MUSIC!! The soundtrack is amazing, and the arrangement couldn't be more fitting to this show. The bgm heavily influences the happiness or bone-chilling influence a scene can have. Without a doubt, I'm adding to spotify the second it officially releases. ? Lastly, my lowest rating above is a 9 for rewatch value, purely for the reason that I don't want to suffer the emotional turmoil I went though again. ? But overall, it's a 10/10 experience for me (despite my mental health being quite literally compromised by these scriptwriters). ☺️