Republican Era C Dramas with Happy Endings (w/ ENG subs)

Director: Kong Sheng, Zhang Kai Zhou

Screenwriter: Wu Tong, Zeng Lu

Actors: Yang Zi, Huo Chien-hwa (Wallace), Ren Chengwei, Niu Junfeng, Zuo Xiaoqing

'Battle of Changsha' retells the turbulent events of the second Sino-Japanese War from the perspective of the Hu family, particularly through the eyes of a 16-year-old girl named Hu Xiang Xiang and her twin brother, Hu Xiao Man. Gu Qing Ming is a strict Intelligence Officer in the Nationalist Army and the only son of a prominent political family who, against his family's wishes, longs to join the war frontlines and serve his country. He crosses paths with the feisty Hu Xiang Xiang during a matchmaking event held against their wills, and so begins Gu Qing Ming's unwitting interactions and encounters with the rest of the Hu family. But as the war intensifies and Changsha is repeatedly under siege, Gu Qing Ming and Hu Xiang Xiang soon learn that there's more to each other than meets the eye, and can their budding relationship survive the flames of war and the threat of separation?

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNR91kMbPsOb6HpP5AzXTPhjMBS7jFv_g&si=A-molruHvMtybwP3 (ENG subs)

Native Title: 步步为陷 

Actors: Qu Mengru, Wei Tianhao (Vincent), Dai Gaozheng

Ye Qing Lan, the only daughter of the second branch of the Ye family, was framed by the former eldest young master of the Mu family. Then she becomes an unwilling bride to wash away bad luck, which ensues in revenge. From now on, Ye Qing Lan has to fight green tea bitches, scumbags and an evil mother-in-law.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIPiKkS-FpK-svKaUzZNtqQ_zq-5X2Y9Y&si=sUYHr7Rqkr96wx1Z (ENG subs; full version and individual episodes)

FYI: SA Warning (this is sort of central to the plot and gets replayed throughout the drama). 

Actors: Ma Chunwai (Steven), Zheng Meng, Eric Huang

This is a story about love and revenge of the two big families in town: Tang and Shen. There are two generations of characters, and the emotions and relationships of the first generation are reflected in the second. After Qi Jun finishes his education and returns home, he has an arranged marriage to Yong En but doesn't know who she really is. Yong En grew up unwanted in a home with her father and his concubine. Ting Xuan and Ting Liang are in a cut throat competition for head of the family business.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRN24eqWbeuskrrsxlJu2e-IWaQG6hAee&si=QdqEZEceMohymeAb (ENG Subs) 

Director: Jin Chen, Gan Lu 

Actors: Jing Tian, Xu Weizhou (Timmy), Jing Chao, Hai Ling

Set in the Shanghai Shores at the beginning of the 20th century, where warlords begin to seize their powers, many heroes emerge, and revolutionary movements begin to rise. Making use of their wealth, the influential Rong family often abused their powers to commit various heinous crimes. In order to uphold justice, Feng Shi Zhen decided to embark on the road of revenge. She successfully sneaked into the Rong family and became a tutor of the young master Rong Jia Shang. However, in the midst of testing and making use of each other, Feng Shi Zhen slowly finds herself falling for the enemy's son. When the truth of the injustice and grievances that happened twenty years ago begin to surface, the two lovers who were initially in two different camps work together to brave numerous hurdles and ultimately reveal the shocking truth.

FYI: SA Warning

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMX26aiIvX5piq7hPpwWYpzpIaDn35cv1&si=pEW1GAdqavVhpIZm (ENG subs)

Actors: Zhang Nan, Sun Yihan, Liu Zhiyang, He Fengtian

You Yi is a young, innocent, and kind-hearted socialite and a successful author, living with everyone's adoration and envy. Her perfect life is turned upside-down when she discovers a betrayal by the two most trusted people in her life. With no one left to turn to, she finds refuge in the friendship and support of Yan Wei, a young photographer with a cold personality. Unbeknownst to all, Yan Wei has a deadly secret identity.

FYI: GL drama

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhnjbkseqMET-exRbvVoA29AMTIHeELwj&si=eyvdzkKuZbB4DU5E (ENG subs)

Director: Lin He Long

Screenwriter: Yuan Shuai

Actors: Huang Xiaoming, Chen Chiau'En (Joe)

“Cruel Romance” tells the story of Rong Jin Xiu, a country girl who travels to Shanghai in order to discover why her entire family was killed. Along the way, she meets triad leader Zuo Zhen, and after a series of accidents and misunderstandings, the two fall in love. Also vying for Jin Xiu’s attention is Xiang Ying Dong, a businessman and close friend of Zuo Zhen. Ever protective of his woman, however, Zuo Zhen refuses to let other men even come close to Jin Xiu – which ultimately pays off when a villainous Japanese man tries to finish off Jin Xiu and her remaining family members.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvf4fZgfbz569vPaAgfrQV8C3Om8A4jKn&si=YPVL3-65GU_cu9fR (ENG subs)

FYI: SA Warning

Director: Jin Chen

Screenwriter: Mai Ling, Wu Xiao Mei

Actors: Zhang Ruonan, Hu Yitian, Wang Jinsong, Zhang He

During the difficult period from 1937 to 1945, two generations of three intellectual families in Peiping make choices and sacrifices in the face of great turmoil and changes of the times. Some people choose to protect Chinese culture and continue the cultural bloodline. There are both idealists and realistic activists. They try their best to save the nation and survive, actively search for a way out for the country, and finally head towards the light.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSIJismKOisEKAfyjDM1ld-YctmwUb0f_&si=WiyyDbsyxmYazyVz (ENG subs) 

Director: Huang Zhi Zhong 

Actors: Huang Zhizhang, Wu Gang, Li Qian, Liu Xiaohai

During the Republican era, a detective with expert interrogation skills uncovered a conspiracy connected by a series of criminal cases in Tianjing.

ENG subs on IQIYI

Director: Lin Jian Long, Chen Guo Hua 

Actors: Chen Xingxu, Zhang Jingyi, Lin Yanjun (Evan)

In the year of 1926, Mu Wan Qing brings her mom's ashes back to China for burial. Using the pretense of surrendering to her father, Mu Wan Qing's actual motive is finding the true reason why her parents separated, and her brother died. Meanwhile, a coup d'état occurs among the Shanghai army, and the once oppressed Tan Xuan Lin rose up to become the new commander of troops. However, despite his new authority, he still finds himself walking on thin ice. Xu Guang Yao, the son of the Commander of Yue Cheng, is a man revered and admired by many. However, he dislikes the power struggles within the political field. A chance encounter lets Mu Wan Qing, Tan Xuan Lin, and Xu Guang Yao meet and befriend each other. In order to secure her foothold within the Mu family, Mu Wan Qing intentionally gets close to Xu Guang Yao securing his backing. Meanwhile, Tan Xuan Lin works alongside Mu Wan Qing to investigate an old case that is related to the Mu family. The three of them go through life-and-death struggles together and eventually realize the importance of protecting the country in these tumultuous times.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIPiKkS-FpK8Pw_5ePaYUYO8wWkhwsgoo&si=YAkqMgP5VPhINPDh (ENG subs)

Actors: Han Donglin, Cui Yiliang

Ye Yi Fan, once an innocent youth, swears revenge after his family is slaughtered, transforming into the ruthless and enigmatic crime boss known as "Mr. Mo." In this guise, he encounters Xia Zhi Qiu, a dancer. Thus begins a love game between hunter and prey. Ye Yi Fan gradually falls in love with Xia Zhi Qiu due to her seduction, but he discovers that her true identity is Gu Qing Yan, the daughter of his enemy. Meanwhile, to avenge her father, Gu Qing Yan lays traps that Ye Yi Fan willingly falls into for the sake of love. 

As the two adversaries are entangled in a web of love and hate, genuine emotions surge beneath their masks. What fate awaits them, deeply in love yet torn apart by hostility?

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLogLib6e6DfSUKQ0JKp9OBsG_XRVXReSe&si=NJvpfqAB5kikgyuK (ENG subs; individual episodes)

MINI DRAMA

Actors: Zhang He, Chen Jinming

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftnupYwztr0 (ENG subs; full version)

MINI DRAMA

Actors: Gao Yiren, Fang Sichang

At the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China, the wealthy Lin family is destroyed overnight. The only surviving daughter, Lin Meng Chen, is sold to the wicked wealthy Huang family to marry their deceased son in a ghost wedding. Just as Meng Chen is about to be buried alive, Xiao Sheng, the Blood Sacrifice Hall’s top assassin who has been tasked to wipe out the Huang family, accidentally comes to her rescue. Witnessing the entire process of Xiao Sheng killing someone, not only does Meng Chen show no fear, but she also regards the man on the mission as her benefactor. Xiao Sheng then decides to keep Meng Chen by his side. They address each other as brother and sister, with Xiao Sheng vowing to protect Meng Chen for the rest of his life. Ten years have passed in the blink of an eye. In order to let his "sister" grow up in a good environment, Xiao Sheng has been living with a dual identity. In front of Meng Chen, he is Mr. Ye, a businessman engaging with foreign firms. In the hidden darkness unknown to Meng Chen, he remains the top assassin of the Blood Sacrifice Hall. Yet, little does Xiao Sheng know that Meng Chen, this innocent and naive sister of his whom he has protected for ten years, has, in fact, found out about his true identity and secretly joined the Blood Sacrifice Hall. She has become Xiao Sheng’s disciple. She is now an assassin in the making named Gu Yu.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLogLib6e6DfQP0GjoGul5ZLHNrtuOA0He&si=aRg5N3xOp-xlV1Vb (ENG subs; individual episodes and full version). 

MINI DRAMA

Actors: Yan Yikuan, Song Yi

A story about a socialite in Shanghai whose family falls to ruin and starts on a journey to become a spy. Lu Han Zhi's fate is intertwined between two men from opposing sides of a war. Gao Chen who appears to be a traitor to his country is actually a Communist spy. Han Shou Min who appears to be a patriot and used to be a top spy of the Kuomindang is treading on a path of no return after being betrayed by his own comrades. Caught in a dangerous and increasingly complication situation, Lu Han Zhi grows from a mere socialite to an impassioned revolutionary.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUg6CGAXr7pmy78ApHCKklkB-isU63IVB&si=H5Z0zQAo08_IHkgv (ENG subs; FYI: Episodes are out of order).

Actors: Pan Yue, Pan Yihong

Jin Shu accidentally travels back to the Chinese Republic and is forced to pretend to be a couple with the rich heir Shen Yu. Past grievances are revealed and new resentments form, but through it all they manage to solve family disputes, support and trust each other, and finally reunite.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHal96yJvQA-SxRETmEKvUbVhi6LR3hEh&si=jr_2po3wJCA8MLKK (ENG subs; playlist includes both full and by episode)

MINI DRAMA

Director: Jiao Yong Liang 

Actors: Guan Xiaotong, Han Dongjun

Set in the 1940s, former lovers Zuo Shuang Tao and Chen Jia Ping unexpectedly reunite and rekindle their love in a sea of spies as they pursue the same goals. 

~~ Remake of the American movie "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" [2005] w/ Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDuzvnRIfxZoMcECyCZvAi_AFRHx1Wufx&si=qW1gdQlUdii9nF3k (ENG subs)

Director: Yi Jun

Screenwriter & Director: Xu Ji Zhou

Actors: Lu Yi, Zhao Liying, Yuan Wenkang (Mickey), Tao Xinran

Lan Yan Zhi is a privileged banker's daughter. She is a genius and has excellent observation and analytical skills along with a very sharp memory. She is not an average person and possesses qualities to become an excellent spy. She mistakenly comes into possession of a letter from the Japanese Army in 1937 and this is how her journey as a spy begins.  

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4eaUFJ0Abdc51QzgtH_3o6a3sRDmNjLq&si=mThypzaSP2R-fu_l (ENG subs)

Actors: Qiu Dingjie, Cao Mingyue

Gu Man Qing has been dependent on her sister, who was a dancer since she was a child, but she never thought that on her big wedding day, she would be witnessing Lu Yi Chuan, her future husband, murdering her only family. After trying to take revenge on the spot and failing, Man Qing decide to run. But even after starting her new, happy life, Man Qing still can't forget the faithful night, and she's plotting a revenge plan. Her first step to do so is taking a new identity and becoming a stepmother to her past lover. But the woman discovers a seemingly simple plan, and her sister's death has more mysteries than she thought.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyLbHF3-UFDDTyG110zDRXfNWde980vtL&si=LZ2R6VFkar8OlF1i (ENG subs) 

MINI DRAMA

Director: Jin Sha, Han Dong 

Actors: Huo Chien-hwa (Wallace), Yang Mi

At the beginning of the 1920s, military conflicts in the Warlord era has resulted in unbearable conditions. Amidst the chaos, Shen Qi Nan's family experiences a terrible misfortune. His father is killed after unwittingly becoming entangled in a smuggling case. His mother falls to grave danger in her escape. The four brothers and sisters overcome many hurdles to flee to Shanghai but they are forced to separate. Many years later, they will reunite again. Shen Qi Nan manages to climb from the depths of despair to make a name for himself as a gifted construction supervisor and later on a famous real estate developer in the Shanghai Bund. He meets Fu Han Jun, a gifted architect who puts the people's needs and traditional Chinese architecture at the heart of her designs. During Shanghai's development, Shen Qi Nan works hard to build affordable homes for the people. When the Second Sino-Japanese War erupted, Shen Qi Nan uncovers a conspiracy and plays his part to prevents many deaths.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqi_HIn6wIRF1Y2-dDsfFrl9G287GzsR5&si=EnFHOCUESUeH-zuR (ENG Subs; missing ENG subs for episodes 24-30)

Actors: Zhang Xincheng, Cai Wenjing (Elvira)

From humble beginnings, Cheng Yi Zhi has always struggled to find his place among the hustle and bustle of 1930s Shanghai. With very little to his name, he has managed to eke out a meager living by working in the industrial and commercial shops at the heart of the city. But after a chance encounter with Wu Ru Fu, a well-established banker, and his daughter, Li Zi, Yi Zhi finds a dream and the will to pursue it, something he’s never had before. Giving up his life in the shops, Yi Zhi enters the world of finance. With his quick wit and natural skill, he soon catches the eye of Boss Huang, one of the banking industry’s biggest players. Quickly earning Boss Huang’s trust, Yi Zhi soon finds himself the boss’s closest confidante. Privy to Huang’s darkest secrets, Yi Zhi uncovers a truth so shocking, it drives him from Huang’s side. With Li Zi’s support and encouragement, Yi Zhi is determined to make his own way in the world of finance, leaving Boss Huang to his own nefarious dealings. But Huang isn’t one to be turned away so lightly. Seeking to destroy the man who once stood by his side, Huang will stop at nothing to bring Yi Zhi down. But the righteous young banker won’t go down without a fight. With the underground party of industrialists backing him, Yi Zhi faces off against Boss Huang; but will the combined strength of the people be enough to overthrow this mighty foe?

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpghCOjR4QqpBGTLfzGkLYrvZFgag2IRN&si=SlyWpV9ogcbrUmmk (ENG subs) FYI: Episodes 39-41 are out of order.

Director: Yuen Tak 

Actors: Wang Herun (Rain), Zhang He

Set in the early years of the Republic of China, this story centers on Jin Yu Rong, a fallen noblewoman with aspirations of becoming a doctor, and Zhao Zheng Nan, the son of a prominent family who becomes a soldier. Against the backdrop of a declining society in 20th-century China, they share a passion for aiding the common good, evolving from acquaintances to lovers. However, the tumultuous times force them apart. Yet, inspired by Yu Rong, Zhao Zheng Nan joins the battle against Japanese occupation, ultimately reuniting to embrace the new China together. 

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIPiKkS-FpK_8pIUoP7B2TFiQLGYXgGaO&si=g573hY8gCcClV_G8 (ENG subs)

Actors: Xiao Yan, Ryan Kou

A story set in the 1930s, the drama spans across several generations of a wealthy Straits-born Chinese family in Malacca, and revolves around the feuds surrounding it. Yue Niang, a strong-willed Nyonya refuses to be consigned to her lowborn status in life and sets out to change her destiny, eventually succeeding as a businesswoman.

ENG subs on IQIYI VIP

Director: Tsang Lai Chun

Screenwriter: Zhou Yong

Actors: Huang Xiaoming, Li Xiaoran

Yin Jing Wan, a young woman from a wealthy merchant family, saved a young man on a train who was escaping from a rivaling warlord manhunt. When she returned home, her parents betrothed her to a childhood friend, but her fiancee was put into prison in Chengzhou for smuggling firearms and illegal Western drugs. Jing Wan decided to go to Chengzhou to rescue her fiancee. But she did not know this trip would completely change her life.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQqbdnAgoRma7k3Gg1sd6yzXi7jMLu3Sl&si=uFX1tvrSSt3Jmk41 (ENG subs; FYI last episode doesn't have ENG subs)

Screenwriter & Director: Mai Tian 

Actors: Feng Lijun, Rain Lu, Nikki Chen, Leo Li, Bayalag Bai

A beautiful yet heart-wrenching tale follows the romance between the son of the number one tea merchant in Jiangnan and a tea harvest girl. Cheng Jing Mo is the only son and successor of an established tea business. He is a carefree child who has a passion for the arts. Ruan Qiu Shui is incredibly skilled with numbers. She is a tenacious girl who takes on the burdens of her father's debt and cares for their family. As the two meet, Shui and Mo's lives become so intertwined, just like water that has been mixed with ink.

IQIYI (VIP) (ENG subs) Season 2 

Screenwriter: Joyce Liu

Director: Aozaru Shiao

Actors: Jerry Yu, Tonny Liu, Li Xing, Zhang Weihang

Four hot-blooded youths form an investigative agency in a quest for the truth. Young Blood Agency is an investigative agency during the Republican era that is dedicated to solving mysterious cases. Their reputation has risen with every mystery they solve, but the cases are not as simple as they seem as it relates to unsettled animosity from the previous generation. The four members of the team suddenly realize that they have complicated ties to each other.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwqoE2alZt5SayP8Mo81jhG_Grd9LIxaz&si=e6QLo4Brs4--cT1k (ENG subs)

Director: Go Yik Chun

Screenwriter: Zhang Chan Juan

Actors: Wang Hedi (Dylan), Zhou Ye, Ye Zuxin, Hu Lianxin, 

A group of brave youth who are not afraid of bullets, guns, and hardships. The students stay firm in their beliefs to save their country. From the years 1937 to 1946, Tsinghua University, Peking University, and Nankai University temporarily merged during a historic moment in Kunming to form the National Southwestern Associated University (Lianda). As the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out in 1937, young scholars and intellectuals rose up to fight a battle through literacy.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQqbdnAgoRmbSdZOBZmj6DSgNj6qJZwMm&si=8UKR9j_r-aXeBIC9 (ENG subs)