A beginner’s guide to starting a career in the civil service, and a portrait of the modern-day officialdom. After graduating from college and passing the national civil service exam, the protagonist is not only replaced by someone else for his appointment, but also sent off to a remote mountain village to help alleviate poverty. The novel follows Li Xiaoyang as he leads the villagers out of poverty, builds prosperity, and revitalizes the countryside, steadily rising through the ranks along the way. It portrays some of the ugly realities of today’s officialdom, while also praising the noble qualities of public servants who work for the people’s benefit.
