Looking for Stories That Start with Farming and Preparing for the Imperial Exams, Then Move on to Court Politics 求前期种田科举，后期朝廷的文

1. 1 农 The Imperial Tutor's Road to the Civil Service Exams 农门帝师的科举之路 Ju He雎禾Historical1.0M WordsCompleted Imperial Examination, One-on-One Romance After an accident, a young man from the modern era transmigrated into the Great Qian Dynasty. Looking at his family’s dilapidated brick house, Qi Wenyu wondered how he would make a living from then on... 21.3kReads9.2Score2kShelves

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   1. Reincarnated as a seven-year-old child, focusing on the imperial examinations in the early stages and the court politics later. No cheat codes, no system, no cheat codes. 2. Reincarnated from birth. Although the male lead, he also studied diligently for over a decade, focusing on the imperial examinations in the early stages and the court politics later. No cheat codes, no system, no cheat codes. 3. Reincarnated as the son of a civil official, somewhat similar to Minglan in "The Story of Minglan," raised by his grandmother in the early stages. This story is different from other virtuous rulers and wise ministers; the protagonist, having saved the future emperor and empress dowager during a period of turmoil, has witnessed the most vulnerable state of those in power and is constantly targeted.

2. 2 首 The Chief Minister's Road to the Imperial Examinations 首辅的科举之路 Adoring You at Dawn and Dusk朝暮倾卿Historical1.0M WordsCompleted [No golden finger + No pocket dimension + Heartwarming family + No ridiculous characters] [The male lead works hard and climbs the ranks one step at a time through his own efforts] [The male lead is devoted; the female lead appears fairly late. The story begins with the imperial examinations and later moves into officialdom] [No forced stupidity, no self-righteous saint, and no fake innocent heroine] Xu Xingfeng, a county-level civil servant in a twenty-first-century town, suddenly finds himself 6.7kReads8.9Score616Shelves
3. 3 古 A Guide to Surviving as a Lowborn Son in Ancient Times 古代庶子生存指南 Ms. Cabbage包菜女士Ancient Romance412k WordsCompleted [The male lead transmigrates without a golden finger; domestic family life; studying for the imperial examinations; the female lead appears late; fictional historical setting] After transmigrating as the concubine-born son of a civil official in an unknown dynasty, Huaize planned to take life easy and be a contented freeloader in the ancient world. But Huaize had hoped to keep to himself, only to discover that in an age when collective punishment was common, everyone in a prominent family had 7.8kReads8.4Score594Shelves
4. 4 有 You Need Money to Take the Imperial Exams 有钱才能考科举 Pavilion by the Pond池上楼台Historical1.0M WordsOngoing Ancient times, farming, and making a fortune. After being knocked unconscious, Zhou Ningye awakened memories of his past life and unexpectedly gained a pocket dimension. With his parents missing, he had to struggle to make a living by farming while raising his younger brother and sister. When natural disasters and human calamities struck, he fled with his siblings and clan members in search of safety. But why do those two beggars look so much like their parents? After finding their parents, and 66kReads8.1Score5.8kShelves

   Reader note

   Farming in the early stages, taking the imperial examinations in the later stages

5. 5 穿 I Transmigrated to Ancient Times, but My Brother Seems Even More Like a Transmigrator Than I Do 穿越古代我哥比我还像穿越者 Pavilion by the Pond池上楼台Historical1.4M WordsCompleted Alternate World / Ancient Era / Farming / Imperial Exams After a plane crash, Chen Jingming transmigrates to ancient times and becomes a farmer's son. His family is split up because they need to pay for his medical treatment, and his older brother goes missing. Later, the eldest brother returns from a long journey and sends him to school. Eldest Brother: “Little brother, our family's honor rests entirely on you!” But later, as he watches the family estate grow, Chen Jingming realizes that the 15.2kReads9.0Score1.9kShelves
6. 6 名 A Name in the Unofficial Histories: The Young Prince's Unorthodox Path to Office 名留野史，小世子的另类为官路 Born on April Fools' Day四月一号生辰日Historical292k WordsOngoing An unconventional farming-and-imperial-exams story: transmigration and rebirth, with no pocket dimension, no System, and no golden finger. He's simply absurdly lucky. In his previous life, Jiang Ruyan was bedridden and paralyzed for fifteen years. He never imagined that after closing his eyes and opening them again, he would transmigrate. He spent twelve years wandering the world with his parents, who were always chasing poetry and distant horizons, before they finally sent him off to school. 893Reads—Score110Shelves
7. 7 农 An Ambitious Country Boy's Life in Ancient Times 农家小子的古代上进日常 The Hibernating Donkey冬眠中的驴Historical6.2M WordsOngoing After transmigrating into the body of a farmer's son in ancient times, a poor student had no choice but to embark on the long road of the imperial examinations to improve his family's life. He sought neither wealth and status nor a high salary or lofty office in this life. All he wanted was to protect his family and give them a peaceful life. 40.7kReads9.2Score3kShelves

   Reader note

   Both of these books are good; the first one is a bit longer.

8. 8 穿 Transmigrated to the Countryside: A Young Farmer's Road to the Imperial Exams 穿越之农家独苗苗的科举之路 Zhang Rubai张如白Ancient Romance2.5M WordsCompleted [Born into the Past + Farming + Imperial Exams + Fleeing Famine + Warfare] The slow-paced everyday life of a boy from a rural family in ancient times! Zhang Ping'an gets a new lease on life when he transmigrates to an ancient farming family. Fortunately, they are fairly well-off, so no one has to go hungry. He has six older sisters, and he is the only boy his parents had long hoped for. His parents favor sons over daughters, and all six sisters are fierce. He thought he was in for a story about 29kReads8.7Score2.8kShelves
9. 9 科 The Imperial Examinations: Rising to the First Rank of Officialdom 科举之官居一品 Nine Jin of Fat九斤肥肉Historical826k WordsCompleted Synopsis: A scholar in the morning, admitted to the imperial court by night. The protagonist begins as a young scholar from a farming family and rises step by step through the imperial examination system. In the end, he earns a place on the honors list, becomes a jinshi, and enters the ranks of officials. After becoming an official, he works his way up through the bureaucracy until he reaches the highest rank and governs the realm as chief minister, guiding Chinese civilization to become the mos 2kReads7.6Score101Shelves
10. 10 花 When the Flowers Bloom 花若盛开 In an Old Friend's Heart故人心上Ancient Romance1.7M WordsCompleted [Transmigration + No Pocket Dimension + No Golden Finger + Farming + Business + Food + Growth-Oriented Career-Driven Female Lead + Growth-Oriented Male Lead + Not a Goody-Two-Shoes + One-on-One Romance] She transmigrates into the twelve-year-old granddaughter of a rural scholar. Her grandmother is long dead, her parents have vanished without a trace, and her grandfather has just died. To escape the unreasonable harassment of unscrupulous clan members, she leaves her hometown with her seven-year- 14.1kReads8.7Score1.7kShelves

    Reader note

    Farming, taking the imperial examinations, becoming an official in the court—developing slowly. No special abilities or cheat codes; this is a true transmigration novel where the protagonist becomes wealthy through their own intelligence and hard work. It's very down-to-earth, without any gimmicky space systems. The female lead is also very cute—low-key, steady, and a little mischievous.

11. 11 第 The Number One Son-in-Law: From Child Bridegroom to Powerful Minister 第一赘婿：从童养夫到权臣 Sweetheart Wine糖心酒Historical362k WordsCompleted [Farming and imperial examinations + warm and relaxing + alternate ancient setting] [The male lead seems sweet and simple but is actually cunning and doting toward his wife; a story of growth × the female lead seems frail but is actually domineering and cold-hearted] Villagers: “That little fool from the Fang family carries Pear Girl around everywhere all day. What a bargain that child bride turned out to be!” Song Zhun: “Do you think I want to carry her? If I don’t humor that lazy girl, she say 737Reads8.4Score103Shelves

    Reader note

    This book, with its gentle, flowing narrative, is very heartwarming.

12. 12 魔 The Demon Venerable Is Reborn as a Baby and Helps His Father Pass the Imperial Exams 魔尊胎穿崽，陪爹考科举 Show-Off with the Hazard Lights On显眼包开双闪Ancient Romance663k WordsOngoing [Reborn and reincarnated from infancy; farming in the early stages; imperial exams in the middle; officialdom later on; warm family bonds; no romance; adored by everyone] The Demon Lord Shen Yan got a fresh start one day, only to be reborn by mistake as a child born to a cuckold. His cheap father had been cuckolded so badly that his head was practically green-black. So what? At least he had a father now! His father was in poor health? No problem. Three-year-old Shen Yan dragged over a big stool, 1.3kReads9.0Score104Shelves

    Reader note

    The male protagonist's past life was that of a demon lord. When he was born, a god passed by and insisted on recognizing him as his father. Later, when the god underwent tribulation, the protagonist also wanted to be his father, but he was struck by lightning and fell into the demon lord's arms. He awoke as an embryo. After his birth, his current father resembled the god nine times. The protagonist looked like the god, and naturally also resembled his current father (who wasn't his biological father and died around the beginning of the story, struck by lightning). Only the protagonist had memories of his current father. He was well cared for by his current father, and the protagonist also took good care of his father. And around 90% of the time, it was clear that everyone knew the truth.

13. 13 重 Reborn: From Stripped Scholar to High-Ranking Court Official 重生：从除名秀才到位列公卿 Busy Doing Something Worthwhile碌碌有为Ancient Romance806k WordsCompleted [Reborn + imperial examinations + solving cases + farming + daily life + rekindled romance] [An imaginary dynasty] In his previous life, Qin Yunhe angrily divorced his childhood sweetheart and wife. After that, his life took a sharp turn for the worse: his wife and children were gone, his mother died, and his brother passed away. He never recovered. Years later, he finally began to pull himself together with encouragement from an old friend, only to hear that his childhood sweetheart and former 1.6kReads8.8Score174Shelves

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    [Completed] A slow-paced, agricultural novel about the imperial examination system, without any melodramatic plot twists or overpowered abilities. The protagonist steadily progresses through the examinations to become an official, rising step by step from a seventh-rank judicial officer to a position in the Three Judicial Offices. Many cases in the story are based on historical examples, demonstrating the author's meticulous research.

14. 14 寒 The Imperial Exam Routine of a Poor Butcher's Son 寒门屠户之子的科举日常 Diki DaddyDiki粑粑Historical3.3M WordsOngoing The Wang butcher family is full of burly men, all tall, broad, and muscular, like a whole den of reincarnated black bears! But their youngest son, Wang Sanniu, is the odd one out: frail, delicate, and liable to fall over in a breeze. Standing beside his family, he looks like a little fox that wandered into a bear’s den. Butchering pigs? The moment pig’s blood splashes over him, he faints! Farming? The hoe is taller than he is! With the family fearing he’ll become a good-for-nothing, his mother m 188.1kReads9.0Score24.1kShelves

    Reader note

    These three books are all excellent reads; both the writing style and the plot are great, highly recommended!! They all depict the imperial examination process, from the first-year student to the second-year student, then to the third-year student, and finally to the fourth-year student. [Shy]

15. 15 我 I, Sun Shan, and the Imperial Examinations 我，孙山，科举 Ximen Qizi西门七仔Ancient Romance4.7M WordsOngoing “Imperial exams + transmigration + farming + exams + no space System” “Romance included, devoted male lead. The female lead is his childhood sweetheart, but she appears infrequently. Romance is not the main plot.” “The male lead rises step by step through hard work and good luck.” “The male lead is no good at scheming, but he gets things done and has technical skills.” “The imperial examination system is based on the Ming and Qing dynasties.” After an accident, he is transmigrated into the womb 47.9kReads8.8Score3.2kShelves
16. 16 全 My Clan Raised Me to Greatness, So I Gifted Them Purple Robes 全族扶我青云志，我赠族人朱紫袍 Uncle Jianghe江河大爷Historical2.2M WordsOngoing After dying suddenly from overwork, workaholic Chen Yan is reborn as the only son of a newly born provincial graduate in the Great Liang Dynasty. His father is successful, so Chen Yan promptly decides to lie flat and enjoy the good life, with food brought to him and clothes laid out for him. But when he learns at the age of six that he was switched at birth with a farmer's child, his life takes a turn. The day the fake young master returns to the Chen family, he goes out to work in the fields an 214.1kReads9.3Score21.3kShelves
17. 17 侯 The Marquis's Widow Raised a Household of Geniuses 侯夫人守寡，却养出满门天骄 Yu Fu余弗Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Tang Shuyi transmigrated into the Great Qian dynasty, becoming the wife of the Marquis of Yongning. She was rich, powerful, and high-status, with no parents-in-law and a dead husband: she had it better than almost anyone else who had transmigrated. Just as she was about to enjoy a comfortable life as a wealthy noblewoman, she discovered that she had transmigrated into a book, and was its biggest villain. She wasn’t just rich, powerful, and high-status. She also had three unruly children. The eld 70.6kReads9.4Score10.4kShelves
18. 18 一 Three Widows in One Family: After Cutting Ties, I Build a Fortune and Marry into a Prestigious Household 一门三寡，断亲后发家致富嫁高门 Qi Jiu S柒玖SAncient Romance730k WordsCompleted [Animal Speech + Ancient-Modern Trade System + Farming + Feel-Good Power Fantasy] Tian Tian opens her eyes and finds herself a newly widowed fifteen-year-old in ancient Qingliu Village. In just one year, her mother lost her husband and became a widow. Her eldest sister lost her husband and became a widow. And she! She had just crossed the threshold of her husband’s family in her wedding dress when he died, leaving her a widow. She also has a mute little brother who is only five years old. Everyo 477Reads8.8Score114Shelves
19. 19 穿 After Transmigrating to a Year of Famine, I Became the Worst Mother-in-Law 穿到荒年后，我成了极品恶婆婆 Morning Clouds Purple朝云紫Ancient Romance1.9M WordsCompleted [Farming + feel-good wish fulfillment + System + adorable kids + no male lead] Cheng Wanqun woke up in the body of a 33-year-old farmer's wife in ancient Dahuang Village. Her four sons were kneeling by the bed, calling her Mother, and her daughter-in-law had another grandchild on the way. After being single her entire life for 33 years, she'd suddenly become a mother-in-law and grandmother. Raising four sons was already hard enough, but then disaster struck: locust plagues, droughts, snowstorms. 67.7kReads9.4Score7.6kShelves
20. 20 科 The Imperial Exams: I Conquered the World with Poetry 科举，我靠诗文名动天下 Whose Great Sage Is This?谁家大圣Historical674k WordsOngoing [Imperial examinations + no romance + alternate world + poetry and prose + fortune-telling by characters + sixfold honors in the imperial examinations + infrastructure + political intrigue] An imperial-examination story. Sheng Yu transmigrates to ancient times as a three-and-a-half-year-old child. He begins his studies right away, enters the finest academy in Jiangnan, then advances through the prefectural school and a tribute recommendation to the Imperial Academy. Step by step, he grows up and 1.2kReads8.4Score106Shelves

    Reader note

    Developing the academy on Yunlan Mountain, growing vegetables and raising ducks in greenhouses, and studying for the imperial examinations – a truly enjoyable experience.

21. 21 歹 Even Bad Bamboo Can Grow Good Shoots, An Ge Got into High School! 歹竹出好笋，安哥高中了！ Forgetting Alt忘却阿尔特Historical568k WordsCompleted [Imperial examinations + family life + bringing glory to the family + single heroine, appearing later] In the modern world, Li Xing'an was just a struggling comic artist who had never achieved much. He worked himself to death from exhaustion. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself reborn as a poor boy in a remote backwater. The ramshackle mud-brick house leaked whenever it rained. His unreliable father was a useless layabout, and his mother was so furious she stood with her hands on her 2.1kReads7.3Score133Shelves

    Reader note

    They're already taking the imperial examinations! Looking forward to what's to come.

22. 22 为 Working Hard to Save the Great Ming 为拯救大明而努力 Rebel逆贼Historical631k WordsCompleted [Imperial examinations] + [slow burn] + [no System] + [harem] + [factional strife] The Jian slaves rebel, bringing disaster to Liaodong. Factional strife grips the court, and the situation grows increasingly chaotic. The end times are drawing near, and the nation teeters on the brink of collapse. We form a faction not to serve our own interests, but to save the Great Ming. 988Reads6.4Score105Shelves

    Reader note

    Come on, let's get started. The setting is the late Ming Dynasty, during the Wanli era. The protagonist initially focuses on passing the imperial examinations, building connections, and befriending a large number of officials, merchants, and scholars. In the middle of his life, he enters officialdom, establishes a new political party, and crushes the Donglin Party, Zhejiang Party, Qi Party, and Chu Party with overwhelming power. Later, upon assuming power, he implements reforms to address various economic and military shortcomings and relentlessly suppresses the Later Jin. The author is a stickler for detail; all historical events, place names, official titles, personal names, and customs mentioned in this book have undergone rigorous research.

23. 23 重 Reborn as a Young Scholar in a Farming Family 重生之农家小书生 Smiling Dove笑白鸽Historical1.5M WordsCompleted Xiao Han transmigrated to ancient times as a little boy. He had planned to coast through life, eating his fill and waiting to die, but the System, desperate to meet its performance targets, tried every trick to tempt him, from sweet-talking him to feeding him poisonous motivational slogans. Xiao Han gradually veered onto a path no one had planned for. He had only wanted to help his family achieve a comfortable life, but he aimed too high and accidentally reached the pinnacle of success. Xiao San 2kReads8.7Score138Shelves
24. 24 科 The Imperial Exams: A Country Boy Becomes a Pillar of the Nation 科举：农村娃成了国家顶梁柱 Ji Gu Ha叽咕哈Historical1.0M WordsCompleted (Imperial examinations + farming + cuisine + infrastructure) Wang Xue'an wakes up in an ancient farming village, forced to chew wild greens day after day. He finally flips the table in a rage: this is no way to live! So he puts the knowledge he learned in another world to use, taking the imperial exams, building infrastructure, and creating delicious food... He cultivates superior seeds, boosts productivity, and builds an agricultural powerhouse. He develops new military technologies, expands th 2kReads7.4Score173Shelves
25. 25 寒 The Road to the Imperial Examinations for a Poor Scholar 寒门科举之路 Moon Glutinous White月糯白Historical821k WordsCompleted After surviving alone in the apocalypse for three years, Yang Han is betrayed by his teammates and scratched by a zombie. Unwilling to turn into one and get his head blown off, he takes his own life. To his surprise, he transmigrates into the body of a farm boy, the only son of a family with a thousand acres of fertile land. He can't handle the backbreaking work in the fields, and since all professions are inferior to studying, he has no choice but to set out on the path to the imperial examinat 193Reads8.6Score114Shelves
26. 26 不 If I Don’t Take the Imperial Exams, Should I Just Farm? 不科举，难道种地？ You Suo有所Historical1.5M WordsCompleted The new novel Sequence: Creator is currently being serialized. Give it a read! It's a story about surviving the apocalypse. Thank you 🙏. [Alternate History] [Imperial Examinations] [Plagiarist] [Political Scheming] [Farming] [No System] The barbarians on all four frontiers: anyone who dares invade will see their nation destroyed, their people wiped out, and their descendants cut off. I want this golden age to be exactly as I envision it. History is long, but I need only make the slightest effort 5.5kReads8.6Score398Shelves
27. 27 咸 The Imperial Examination Path of a Lazybones in Ancient Times 咸鱼古代的科举路 Bright Moon over the Nine Provinces九州明月Historical539k WordsOngoing In the modern world, Gu Qin spent every day exhausting himself over work, slaving away for his company until one day he suddenly died at his desk. But what he never expected was that he would be reincarnated. In his new life, his grandparents doted on him, his parents cherished him, and his older sister looked after him. Gu Qin only wanted to lie flat. Luckily, his family was well-off, so he figured he could just take it easy this time. Unfortunately, misfortune can strike at any moment. To avoi 127Reads6.4Score—Shelves
28. 28 我 I Turn My Life Around Through the Imperial Exams 我靠科举逆袭人生 Corn Breakdance玉米扒舞Historical808k WordsCompleted When Li Jingxing wakes up, he finds himself in an unfamiliar place. Around him are crude huts and shabby furniture, and the air carries a faint smell of straw. Looking down, he sees that he is wearing ragged clothes and a pair of straw sandals. All of it leaves him utterly confused. “How did I end up here?” Li Jingxing wonders. Just then, a burst of noise breaks through his thoughts. 3kReads8.8Score230Shelves
29. 29 这 This Top Scholar Plays by His Own Rules 这个状元路子有点野 The Foundation of One's Life立身之本Historical2.3M WordsCompleted [Farming + imperial examinations + alternate history + lighthearted] My Parents Flipped the Table and Quit, So I Want to Take the Imperial Exams Too Just as Wang Xuezhou was about to reach the peak of his life, he transmigrated. The good news: in this life, his parents were loving, and his siblings got along. The bad news: the whole family was pinching pennies to fund his eldest uncle's studies. They had next to nothing and were living on coarse grain and wild greens. But before he could flip t 51.6kReads8.9Score6.4kShelves
30. 30 农 A Farmer's Son, the Imperial Exams, and Officialdom 农家子，科举，做官 Jiang He姜禾Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Born into the womb + imperial examinations + farming + daily life + public works and infrastructure, with a couple, little romance] [No pocket dimension, no System, no golden finger] [He starts looking for a teacher in Chapter 38. If you’re short on patience, you can start reading there.] Shen Huai is born into an ancient world and becomes the only boy in his family. The good news: he can take the imperial examinations. The bad news: they’re poor, very poor, desperately poor. Born into a 5.1kReads8.5Score390Shelves
31. 31 我 I, San Mao, Will Take the Imperial Exams 我，三毛，要科举 Muscle Boss肌肉头子Historical563k WordsCompleted [Alternate world + farming + imperial examinations + everyday family life] One brick was all it took to turn Chen Ping'an into a poor farmer’s son. Farm the land? The taxes are too high. He shakes his head and gives up. Go into business? He’d still be stuck with corvee labor. No, that won’t work either. That leaves only one path. Fortunately, as he pursues his studies, he has the support of a teacher and several like-minded friends by his side. Along the way, Chen Sanmao overcomes one challenge 1.1kReads7.4Score100Shelves
32. 32 苏 Su Chen'an's Journey Through the Imperial Exams 苏辰安的科举之路 Dream of Nine Hundred Million Girls九亿少女的梦梦Historical1.1M WordsCompleted Su Chen'an, a master of Chinese painting, had finally wrapped up an exhibition. Just as he walked out of the building, a flowerpot full of sunflowers came flying at him. He died on the spot. When he woke up again, he was almost starved to death inside his mother's womb. Every day, he teetered on the brink of starvation. He felt that if he absorbed even a little more nourishment from the amniotic fluid, his mother might die. But if he absorbed even a little less, the embryo that was him would pro 10.2kReads8.3Score877Shelves
33. 33 北 A Northern Song Dynasty Guide to Climbing the Official Ladder 北宋升官手册 Retired Artist 04退役艺术家04Historical514k WordsOngoing The ratings just opened. They'll go up later. [Historical Transmigration] [Imperial Examinations] [Officialdom] [Political Intrigue] [Farming] [No System] What were the regrets of the Northern Song Dynasty? Was it that Liu Yong's lyrics were sung throughout the land, while he himself spent half his life in disappointment? Was it that Fan Zhongyan cared deeply for the realm, yet his Qingli Reforms were abandoned halfway through? Or was it the unfulfilled ambition to pacify the Rong, amid the nort 1.3kReads7.2Score137Shelves

    Reader note

    I'm recommending a new book; it's about the imperial examination system in the early stages and political intrigue later on.

34. 34 科 I Passed the Imperial Exam and Gave the Dynasty Three Hundred More Years 科举高中，我给王朝续命三百年 Kill That Young Lord刀了那个郎君Historical258k WordsCompleted [Imperial Exams + Daily Life + Business + Officialdom + Political Intrigue + No Romance + No System] Xue Zhao, a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine, transmigrated one day into an abandoned infant who had been taken in and raised by a scholar and his wife. Before his adoptive father died, he urged Xue Zhao to take the imperial examinations, enter officialdom, and bring honor to the family. To fulfill his adoptive father’s dying wish, Xue Zhao embarked on the path of scholarship. From the coun 218Reads6.7Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This is exactly what you're looking for.

35. 35 大 Ming Dynasty Imperial Exams: From the Start, I Became the Father of Five Children 大明科举，开局成了五个孩子的爹 Little Zhang Under the Night Lamp夜灯下的小张Historical393k WordsCompleted (Farming + daily life in ancient times + imperial examinations) A reassuring read. Shen Lin'an inexplicably finds himself reborn in ancient times in the body of a widower, with four sons and a daughter to care for, as well as a mother in her fifties. The original owner was a scholar, but he had never even earned the title of licentiate. He was too weak to shoulder a load or lift a hand, knew nothing of farming, and spent every day in drunken stupors, letting the years slip by. Let's see how Shen 2.1kReads7.0Score160Shelves

    Reader note

    This book is great; it depicts the warm and cozy daily life of the imperial examination system.

36. 36 大 The Great Qi Marquis of One Step 大齐一步侯 A Single Thought of Nothingness一念无Historical846k WordsCompleted [Alternate history, airtight logic, a treat to listen to, multiple heroines, lighthearted daily life, the jianghu and court politics, love and hate, national and family vendettas...] A modern-day criminal investigator transmigrates into the body of a minor official in the State of Qi. At first, his only dream is to stay alive. But when foreign barbarians invade the Central Plains, slaughtering and pillaging until the kingdom falls and families are torn apart, he has no choice but to enter the fr 16.3kReads8.2Score984Shelves

    Reader note

    This is an alternate history novel with no system, multiple female leads, clear logic, well-developed characters, and a rich plot involving national and personal conflicts. It's a blend of humor and pathos. Welcome to read! [Please follow][Admire][Please follow]

37. 37 正 A Proper Exam Candidate, and You Want Me to Have More Children, More Blessings? 正经科举人，你让我多子多福？ Little Cabbage Treasure小白菜宝Historical126k WordsOngoing Imperial exams + System + Brother Cao + Comedy + Court politics + Struggle for supremacy Gu Zhengchuan had it rough. He was a delivery driver who got hit while rushing to finish his orders, and transmigrated to ancient times. He soon discovered that this was a society that valued civil officials far more than military ones, and the imperial exams were the only way for an ordinary person to rise in the world. But how was a vocational-school graduate like him supposed to pass the imperial exams? T 60Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This book is good, it's very good!

38. 38 重 Reborn, I Study for the Imperial Exams in Another World 重生后，我在异世界读书科举 Lan Xiaoyi蓝小一Historical2.8M WordsCompleted (Transmigration) + (farming) + (daily life) + (imperial examinations) (no System) + (court politics) Chen Chuyi was reborn into a poor family in Beishui Village, carrying the memories of his past life. At first, he only wanted to earn a little money to improve his family's life. But in this unfamiliar ancient world, he was always afraid someone would take his family's money and eat their food. In the end, he embarked on the path of study and the imperial examinations. He knew that only by changi 6.9kReads8.3Score538Shelves

    Reader note

    While others transmigrate to fight monsters and level up, I transmigrate to bury myself in studying and take the imperial examinations—an unconventional transmigration novel. The protagonist has no cheat codes, no superpowers, only a heart that refuses to be ordinary. Watch as he gains a foothold in the complex officialdom and becomes a wise and virtuous minister.

39. 39 穿 The Long Road to the Imperial Exams as a Farmer's Son 穿成农家子的漫漫科举路 Yuedi月棣Ancient Romance3.7M WordsOngoing He dies unexpectedly, but by Heaven's grace, Zhang Ze is given a new life and born into the womb of a peasant woman. At just five years old, Zhang Ze solemnly tells his parents, “Father, Mother, your little Ze wants to go to school...” Living a decent life in ancient times is incredibly difficult. A simple chill can take your life, not to mention the crushing taxes and forced labor. Zhang Ze understands better than anyone that only earning an official degree can improve his family's life. Even t 2.6kReads7.3Score143Shelves

    Reader note

    This was the basic process for the imperial examinations in rural areas.

40. 40 科 The Imperial Exam System: The First Female Chancellor 科举系统之第一女相 Yun Yao云夭Ancient Romance624k WordsCompleted At long last, she had finished her postgraduate entrance exams. Who knew she’d suddenly die and wake up bound to the imperial examination System? Her father was dead, her mother was weak, and she was sickly. From the very start, her clan bullied her. At least she was a man, so getting things done would be convenient. Wait, why was she a woman? Never mind. Dressing as a man wasn’t a problem. Just watch her outwork all her classmates! 142Reads5.9Score—Shelves
41. 41 穷 From Pauper to Grand Secretary 穷小子到阁老 Zhu Family Jasmine茱家茉莉Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted Zhu Yuanyuan was a highly educated young woman of the new era, ready to make her mark and serve her country. But before she could, she was shot on the school sports field... After becoming him, she threw herself into the imperial examination system, striving forward for herself and her family. From a village student to a presented scholar, from a farming household to the imperial court, she carved out her own path in life, one step at a time... 442Reads6.8Score—Shelves
42. 42 为 To Avoid Getting Beaten, I Started Studying for the Imperial Exams 为了不挨打，开始考科举 Yu Su鱼素Historical1.4M WordsOngoing One day, Shen Qingyun becomes the youngest son of a farming family and thinks he can spend his whole life as a freeloader. But then disaster strikes, and he faces a dire predicament: His eldest brother went off to take a temporary job, but came back dead, wrapped in a straw mat; Other families in the village have several sons, but the Shen family has only him, their sole heir; His shrewish, favoritism-prone mother, his mistreated nieces, and his stooped, adopted father all depend on him; Bearing 1.4kReads8.6Score149Shelves
43. 43 开 My Ancestors’ Graves Started Smoking from the Start: Disguised as a Man, I Take the Imperial Exams 开局祖坟冒青烟，女扮男装科举忙 Jiang Suiwan江岁晚Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted Xie Yuheng transmigrates from the Apocalypse to a farming household, where a tyrant rules the land. With no other choice, she disguises herself as a boy. As she grows older, everyone in the surrounding villages comes to know that the Xie family's prodigy has an exceptionally clever mind. Too bad he's a sickly weakling who can't lift a finger or carry a load. Bystander: “You're so noble, so impressive! Your sickly family member just kicked someone through a wall!” The Xie family: “Does the head o 12.1kReads9.2Score1.7kShelves
44. 44 手 With the Notable Ministers System in Hand, I Disguise Myself as a Man in Ancient Times 手拿名臣系统，我在古代女扮男装 Tianyang Peak, Who Loves Handmade Wheat Dumplings爱吃手工麦饺的天阳峰Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Xu Yue transmigrates into a book. She becomes the delicate, vulnerable cousin of the male lead in an examination-themed novel: her mother died young, she has no brothers and no one to rely on, and her family won't take her in, so she is awkwardly forced to live in the male lead's home. In her previous life, Xu Yue rose from being an orphan to earning a doctorate. She never believed in fate, and even though it was hard for women to get by in ancient times, she never stopped thinking about how to 118.2kReads9.6Score11.4kShelves
45. 45 科 Imperial Exams: The Qilin Son of the Liu Family Shines 科举，柳家的麒麟子发光啦 Hua Lianyu華涟雨Eastern Fantasy294k WordsCompleted Liu Yu was a modern man from the 22nd century. After an accident, he found himself in the Fengliang Dynasty, a kingdom that had never existed in recorded history. Hu Jiu: This great king is in the middle of a heavenly tribulation! Don't come any closer, or I'll blast you to bits!!! Liu Yu: If I don't come, how am I supposed to save you? When are you going to repay my kindness? Hu Jiu: Meow~ What are you talking about? This king doesn't understand. The imperial examination road that followed 41Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Here it is, this is the imperial examination text I've been waiting for! Highly recommended! [Smirk]

46. 46 女 A Woman in a Man's Body: The Concubine-Born Heir's Rise to Power 女穿男，庶房嫡子的逆袭 Liu Jilian刘忌廉Ancient Romance1.3M WordsOngoing Now available as an audiobook with a full cast. [Alternate history] + [Woman transmigrates as a man] + [Born into this world] + [Imperial exams and business in the early story] + [Court politics later on] + [One female lead, with a relatively small role] + [A touch of ensemble cast] + [No golden finger] Xie Chengxi was born into another world as the sixth son of the Xie family, a minor family in Bianjing's Grain Transport Guild. His father was the clan's rejected son, kept under pressure for yea 33.9kReads8.3Score3.7kShelves

    Reader note

    I recommend this book.

47. 47 农 The Farm Girl Bone Spirit Is Richer Than a Kingdom 农门白骨精她富可敌国 Misty Rain and Flowing Haze烟雨流岚Ancient Romance817k WordsOngoing Meng Ruyue transmigrates into a complete mess: rotten grandparents, vicious uncles, deceased parents, and a pair of younger siblings she's stuck raising... Then she's thrown out of the house, too. Since Heaven has given her another chance at life, she can't let this blessing go to waste. She'll help the good, punish the wicked, and uphold the reputation of a modern workplace ace. She'll start businesses and build a chain, quietly making a fortune. But... how is it that buying someone, no, rescui 72Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Meng Ruyue transmigrated, facing a terrible mess—abusive grandparents, wicked uncles and aunts, deceased parents, and a pair of adopted younger siblings who were just a burden… and she was even kicked out of the house. Since fate had given her a second chance, she couldn't let this opportunity slip by: helping the good, punishing the evil, and maintaining her reputation as a modern career woman; starting a business, building a chain, and quietly making a fortune; but… how could buying someone—no, saving someone—lead to encounter someone incredibly handsome and ridiculously expensive? And he even wanted to repay her with his body? Was this truly incredible luck, or was fate playing a cruel joke on her? But all she wanted was a peaceful life, and the man who offered himself to her softly replied, "Don't worry, Ruyue, I'll take care of everything!"

48. 48 汉 No Three Kingdoms After the Han 汉后无三国 Crazy Fun疯玩Historical2.2M WordsOngoing Liu Xia transmigrates to the end of the Han dynasty, but refuses to become emperor or king. With fifty cavalrymen, he slaughters five thousand Xiongnu. Beneath Xiapi, one strike of his halberd leaves Lu Bu crippled. He casually tosses aside the Imperial Jade Seal: "Just a broken stone. Can it put food on the people's tables?" His motto is: "Whoever dares threaten our mighty Han, no matter how far away, must be destroyed!" "The people are the true masters of the Han. The Son of Heaven is just the 10.7kReads9.4Score887Shelves

    Reader note

    This book is good.

49. 49 赤 A Pure Heart Climbs the Ranks 赤子登阶 A Youngster Riding the Wind稚子乘风Historical551k WordsOngoing [Alternate World + Reincarnated as a Baby + Imperial Exams + Martial Arts + Everyday Life + No Golden Finger] Yang Yuan never imagined he’d wake up one day as a swaddled baby in ancient times. He never imagined that in this strange world, with no System, no pocket dimension, and no golden finger of any kind, he’d have to rely on himself, one step at a time: rolling over, crawling, standing, then memorizing the Thousand Character Classic. He began his studies at three, learned martial arts at fou 14Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The protagonist is reborn as a male character, without any cheat codes or system. He relies entirely on his tireless efforts day and night to eventually pass the imperial examination and enter officialdom. (The protagonist possesses martial arts skills, and are highly skilled in them.)

50. 50 农 Reviving the Farming Village 农门复兴 Icebound Gentleman冰封君子Historical158k WordsOngoing A high-ranking official from a farming family, wielding power over the court, with a cherished wife at home who grows crops and raises chickens. Lin Jingchuan, eldest legitimate son of the Grand Commandant’s household and young lord of the Tiger Warriors of Western Qi’s frontier. After being ambushed and falling off a cliff, he transmigrated into the body of Li Jinye, eldest son of the third branch of the Li family. Little did he know that Li Jinye had been in a vegetative state, completely para —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The eldest son of the Grand Commandant's family is being hunted down. A male protagonist from a peasant family transmigrates into the body of a woman who revives her family through the imperial examinations. The story is humorous and witty.

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