There are some novels that stay with you no matter how many times you’ve read them. For me, Back to the 60s: Farm, Get Wealthy, and Raise the Cubs is exactly that kind of story. I’ve read it so many, many, many times (truly, I’ve lost count). Every reread feels like coming back home to a familiar family—and watching them grow all over again.
This was one of the very first transmigration “1960s–1980s with space” novels I ever picked up. Back then, only a handful of these kinds of stories were translated, and I instantly liked this one. Over time, I grew to love it deeply. It’s why, if you peek at my YouTube channel, you’ll even find that I had started audio-translating and explaining the first few chapters before life (and the chaos of corona times) pulled me away.
But recently, after finishing Chronicles of Primordial Wars, I couldn’t resist picking it up again. And like always, I binge-read the entire 780 chapters in three days flat.
What’s the story about?
Lin Qing He transmigrates into a novel, and not just anywhere—she becomes cannon fodder in a poor 1960s setting, an era where there’s nothing to eat, nothing to wear, and survival is a daily struggle. But she’s lucky: she’s got a small personal interspatial space stuffed with supplies.
Her bigger problem? If the story plays out like the original novel, her three young sons will grow up to be villains, and their cold but upright father will meet a tragic end.
When she looks at the boys—five, three, and one years old—she decides to start changing their fate, beginning with something simple: giving them each half a big white bun.
From there begins a long, heartwarming, and often light-hearted journey of farming, doting, building a better life, and raising children with love.
Why I love this novel
The biggest strength of this novel is the time flow. The story spans decades—not just a few months—and as you read, you feel yourself aging alongside the characters.
When I binge-read this novel, I felt like I lived those 31 years with the family. I watched the little cubs grow up: from being mischievous kids, to teenagers, to college students, to adults running businesses and starting families of their own. Along the way, I saw them go through conflicts between different family branches, personal struggles, and milestones big and small.
It was like I wasn’t just a reader but an observer—maybe even a silent member of the family. Few novels can give you that kind of immersive, long-term emotional attachment.
Final Thoughts
Back to the 60s: Farm, Get Wealthy, and Raise the Cubs is a slice-of-life gem. It’s light-hearted, farming-centered, sweet, and very much about family bonds. Every reread brings me the same comfort: a sense of growth, warmth, and time well spent with characters who feel almost real.
For anyone who enjoys slow-burn stories, multigenerational family sagas, and the quiet satisfaction of “living” through the ups and downs of decades, this novel is a must-read.
Have you read this novel? Did you also feel like you “grew up” with the cubs?
💌 Enjoy my reviews & translations?
If you’d like to support me and help keep these going, you can:
✨ Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi
📸 Follow me on Instagram for updates and snippets
📺 Watch video reviews & chapter talks on YouTube
📢 Join the reader community on Telegram for instant updates
