Married Thrice to Salted Fish

Of all the web novels I’ve stumbled upon in my digital reading adventures, Married Thrice to Salted Fish by Feng Ge Xing Xing stands out as something truly special. I went into it expecting just another light, time-killing romance, but what I found was a hilarious, meta, and surprisingly clever deconstruction of the entire transmigration genre. If you’re tired of the same old tropes and crave a female lead who actually has a brain and a sassy mouth, this might just be your next favorite read.
Let me set the stage for you. The story follows our heroine, Jiang Wanyin, a modern woman like you or me, who suddenly finds herself transported into the world of a historical romance novel she was reading. Sounds familiar, right? But here’s the kicker: she’s not the female lead. Oh no, she’s a cannon-fodder side character, and she’s tethered to a system that gives her a single, seemingly simple mission.
Her task is to get married. Three times, to be precise. Her designated husbands are a classic trio of male archetypes:
first, a sickly and delicate young master;
second, a cold-faced, ruthless general;
and finally, a cunning and scheming prince.

According to the “script,” she’s supposed to passively go through the motions, fulfill her role in the plot, and after the third marriage concludes, she’ll get to go home. Her entire goal is to be the ultimate “salted fish”—a Chinese slang term for someone who just lies back and does nothing, content to be lazy.
And that’s exactly what she plans to do. Jiang Wanyin’s primary motivation is to complete these marital missions with the least amount of effort possible so she can return to her modern life. But of course, things never go according to plan.
What makes this story so incredibly fun is Jiang Wanyin’s voice. From the moment she arrives, her internal monologue is a constant stream of sarcastic commentary and modern-day吐槽 (tǔ cáo – “roasting”) directed at the absurdities of the ancient world and the ridiculousness of her system’s tasks. She’s not a graceful, poetry-reciting lady; she’s a pragmatic, sharp-witted woman from the 21st century who finds the strictures of ancient life utterly baffling. Her constant bickering with the system, which slowly reveals its own personality, is a consistent source of comedy.
I won’t spoil the specific hijinks, but her attempts to be a passive “salted fish” inevitably backfire, usually in the most spectacular ways. Her modern mindset and the occasional use of system-granted skills constantly throw the original plot into chaos. Imagine trying to calmly endure a tense, formal ancient ceremony while internally screaming about the inconvenience and outwardly causing accidental chaos. This is the essence of her existence.
Now, let’s talk about the romance, because it’s handled in a very fresh way. Since the premise is built on her marrying three different men, you might expect a straightforward harem story. It’s not. Without giving away the final pairing, the relationships feel organic. Her interactions with each of the male leads—the sickly世子 (shì zǐ – “heir”) who might be more than he seems, the cold将军 (jiāng jūn – “general”) with hidden depths, and the sly王爷 (wáng yé – “prince”)—are filled with witty banter, unexpected tenderness, and a slow-burn connection that develops naturally with one of them, rather than feeling forced. The “sweetness” feels earned.
Just when you think you’ve settled into a comfortable cycle of “marry, cause chaos, repeat,” the story begins to peel back its layers. It becomes clear that there’s a much larger mystery at play. Why does this system exist? What is the true nature of this world she’s been dropped into? Jiang Wanyin’s “salted fish” mission starts to look like a facade for something far more significant. This underlying plot thread adds a compelling dose of intrigue and suspense that will keep you tapping the “next chapter” button late into the night. The system itself transforms from a mere task-giver into almost a character in its own right.

So, why should you give Married Thrice to Salted Fish a try?

A Refreshingly Smart Protagonist: Jiang Wanyin is not passive. She’s clever, resourceful, and her modern perspective is used for more than just comic relief; it actively drives the plot.

Laugh-Out-Loud Humor: The novel’s strongest suit is its comedy. The tonal shift between the “proper” ancient setting and the lead’s utterly irreverent inner thoughts is brilliantly executed.

Genre-Savvy Deconstruction: It knowingly plays with tropes that fans of Chinese web novels will instantly recognize, poking fun at them while also delivering a satisfying story within that framework.

More Than Just Fluff: Beneath the hilarious surface is a genuinely intriguing plot with mysteries that unravel in a very satisfying way.

In short, this isn’t just another forgettable transmigration romance. It’s a self-aware, witty, and endlessly entertaining ride with a protagonist you can’t help but root for. It manages to be a parody, a compelling romance, and a mystery all at once. If you’re looking for a novel that will make you laugh, surprise you, and maybe even make you think a little, I can’t recommend Married Thrice to Salted Fish enough. It’s the kind of story that reminds you why you fell in love with reading web novels in the first place.