My Hometown

聊斋庄主Nov 2021

2.9

Word count: 154K words
Chapters: 32

Summary

This is a story about a girl who grew up starved of love and comes into her own through her own efforts. Written in spare prose and centered on Ye Xiaotang's love story, it portrays the emotional and everyday lives of young people today. Growing up amid her parents' quarrels, Ye Xiaotang is insecure and sensitive, yearning above all for warmth and confidence. After her parents divorce, she leaves home to work and befriends Xia Ying, a wealthy heiress.

With Xia Ying's help, Ye Xiaotang draws on her talent and hard work to make a name for herself in the design industry and gradually comes to know herself and build confidence. Her outstanding abilities win her the favor of Gu Weijun, a leader in the same field, and they fall in love—only to be caught in a love triangle with Xia Ying and Gu Weijun. Out of guilt, Ye Xiaotang leaves the city. When Gu Weijun finds her, she learns that what she had worried about was all a misunderstanding.

Old friends reunite, lovers stay by each other's side, and dreams are within reach. With hope in her heart, Ye Xiaotang presses on toward tomorrow.

Editor's review

With Ye Xiaotang's growth as its axis, My Hometown weaves the trauma of her family of origin, her career advancement, and her emotional choices into an urban story close to the circumstances of today's young people. The author, Liaozhai Zhuangzhu, uses concise prose to show how a self-doubting, sensitive girl gradually affirms her self-worth while working away from home, befriending Xia Ying, and entering the design industry; the narrative's center is not merely love but the main thread of "finding confidence again." The triangle among Ye Xiaotang, Gu Weijun, and Xia Ying creates narrative tension, but what always drives the protagonist forward is her longing for warmth and self-recognition, which gives the emotional line a solid psychological foundation. The depiction of working conditions in the design industry and the portrayal of a child's psychology after her parents' divorce both carry a realistic texture, making the book suitable for reading in segments on the commute or before bed, slowly taking in the rhythm of the protagonist's growth. Readers who prefer works centered on women's growth, where the emotional line serves self-awakening, will find this a gentle and resonant reading experience.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Young readers interested in the impact of family of origin and seeking emotional resonance in stories
Readers who enjoy urban women's coming-of-age fiction and value the protagonist's journey of self-awakening
Readers interested in design-industry settings and workplace advancement
People who want light reading with emotional healing and self-rebuilding

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer strong plot twists and fast-paced suspense
Readers expecting grand social themes or serious literary depth
Readers who dislike plots driven by love triangles

Reading tips

Read straight through following Ye Xiaotang's growth arc; note the key moments when her confidence takes root, then revisit how the romance line serves the theme.
Watch for echoes between childhood scenes—parents arguing, divorce—and her adult choices; this deepens understanding of her motives.
Read in segments on the commute or before bed; pause after each stage to feel the gradual shift in the protagonist's mindset.

版权信息
楔子
第一章相识是离别的前奏
第二章遮风避雨落脚地
第三章天涯何处不孤寂
第四章如是年节庆祥和
第五章竟有海棠不自知
第六章初始不安才心安
第七章那些时光都知道的事
第八章不是有人选择遗忘
第九章又是新年不寻常
第十章请把情事深埋葬
第十一章彼时青春彼时狂
第十二章谁将明月照沟渠
第十三章晓棠已露尖尖角
第十四章一点一滴地盛开
第十五章愿每年都能在一起
第十六章我们都带着伤疤长大
第十七章那是一种不好的预感
第十八章彼时若把彼此珍重
第十九章当谎言遇到真相
第二十章人是世上最脆弱的
第二十一章夜雨重楼说欢喜
第二十二章某人的不速之客
第二十三章隔壁来了新邻居
第二十四章明显目的不纯
第二十五章愿我们此生无悔
第二十六章嘿亲爱的，我来了
第二十七章我们重新认识下好吗
第二十八章我愿与君两心同
第二十九章就算晚点儿没关系
尾声

FAQ

Is this book mainly about love or about growth?

Love is one of the main threads, but the core is Ye Xiaotang's growth from self-doubt and sensitivity to self-recognition and confidence. Through her entanglements with Gu Weijun and Xia Ying, the author portrays young people seeking warmth and self-identity in intimate relationships; the romance ultimately serves the growth theme.

Can I get into it without similar growing-up experiences?

Yes. The portrayal of self-doubt, sensitivity, and the longing for affirmation is nuanced; even without a background of parental divorce, readers can resonate with the workplace struggles and emotional misunderstandings and follow the protagonist as she builds confidence step by step.

Does the story end happily?

According to the materials, after Ye Xiaotang leaves the city the misunderstandings are resolved, old friends reunite, lovers stay together, and dreams come within reach—the overall arc is warm and positive. It emphasizes the protagonist moving forward with hope rather than dwelling on romantic entanglements.

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About the author

聊斋庄主 Author

Liaozhai Zhuangzhu is an author in Chinese online writing about whom little public information is available. Only one work by this author is currently included in the library: the social novel Wuxiang (My Hometown). Judging from the pen name and the work itself, the author does not enter readers' view through a personal résumé or identity labels; rather, the work itself carries the weight of expression. Wuxiang is classified as a social novel, and the title, meaning “my hometown,” carries a clear local and rural orientation, suggesting that the narrative may center on the people, customs, and real circumstances of a hometown, presenting the relationship between local life and changing times in a relatively plain style. Because reliable biographical material is lacking, this introduction makes no speculation about the author's experience, profession, or literary lineage. What can be confirmed is that the author has so far appeared before readers with this single work, and that the writing style and social concern remain to be further evidenced by more texts. For readers interested in social themes and rural narratives, Wuxiang offers an entry point for understanding this author, whose future work also deserves attention.