A Commoner Protagonist Who Takes the Imperial Exams and Becomes an Official 主角布衣，科举做官

1. 1 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 186.1kReads9.0Score23.8kShelves

   Reader note

   It's really good! This is the only imperial examination novel I've followed. The early stages of the examinations and the later stages of officialdom are depicted, and honestly, I feel some of the strategies and policy arguments could be used in essays or interviews. Some strategies might seem too broad and abstract, but sometimes those are exactly what's needed in essays or interviews, and they feel very logical. Sometimes, just reading a sentence or two or getting a general idea can be beneficial. The logic is very clear. Of course, I must say that sometimes the solutions or solutions are a bit idealistic, or perhaps a bit simplistic, but the overall tone remains consistent. A great book! Author, it's almost Chinese New Year, please give me a surprise with a big update! [Please update more!][Please update more!][Please update more!][Please update more!][Please update more!] Please!

2. 2 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... 21.8kReads9.2Score2kShelves

   Reader note

   A captivating and immersive novel. Through delicate prose, the author depicts the life of protagonist Qi Wenyu from youth to old age, showcasing the rise and fall of a family and the personal growth of the individual. Qi Wenyu's character is vividly portrayed, with meticulous attention to detail, especially the transformation of the Qi family from poverty to widespread influence, conveying a profound sense of societal change and intertwined destinies. The emotional descriptions are subtle yet profound, particularly the portrayal of General Meng, which leaves a lasting impression. The author doesn't overemphasize her emotions, but rather uses concise strokes to vividly depict her resilience and achievements. This restrained writing style makes the character more three-dimensional and unforgettable. Don't be fooled by the synopsis; it's truly a captivating read.

3. 3 家 A Family with Kids in Ancient Times 家有儿女在古代 Early Spring in March晓春三月Ancient Romance860k WordsCompleted After years of marriage without children, a couple runs into trouble aboard a plane headed to a major hospital in another city for IVF. When they wake up, they find themselves with a family of four, a son and a daughter. The two are both shocked and overjoyed. But having transmigrated from modern civilization to an ancient world without electricity or internet, how are they supposed to get by? They still have to sit the imperial exams, since they have no desire to be drafted for labor or militar 10.2kReads9.2Score1.1kShelves

   Reader note

   I won't go into details; you readers can check it out yourselves, you won't be disappointed.

4. 4 他 He Actually Transmigrated Along With Me 他竟然跟着我穿越了 Early Spring in March晓春三月Ancient Romance689k WordsCompleted The two of them weathered over thirty years of life together. One liked staying home and enjoying a quiet life, while the other loved lingering in restaurants and teahouses. Finally, one day, it all boiled over. One died of a cerebral hemorrhage, and the other was so frightened that he took medicine. They had both sworn before they died that they never wanted to see each other again, yet in another world they became husband and wife once more, and even had two sons. Since they were already there 5.2kReads9.2Score575Shelves

   Reader note

   Taking the imperial examinations, making money, raising children—the couple went from being penniless to living a prosperous life. Every step they took was incredibly difficult. Book lovers can check it out.

5. 5 全 My Whole Family Supports My Imperial Exams, and I Rise to Great Heights 全家供我科举，而后青云直上 Flying Cow 98会飞的牛98Historical337k WordsCompleted One heroine + no System + lighthearted pacing A bird must flap its wings before it can soar; a person must study before they can get ahead. Huang Zhiwen unexpectedly gets another chance at life, bringing the memories of his previous life with him as he slowly adapts to this new world. Here, he finds new people to care about and a new family. The Huang family is warm and close-knit, and they will do everything they can to support Huang Zhiwen in the imperial examinations. That leaves all the pres 783Reads8.4Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   A child from a poor family changed his fate through the imperial examination and gradually rose to the pinnacle of life; this story is worth recommending.

6. 6 宋 A Great Gentleman of the Song Dynasty 宋朝大官人 No Clouds in the Starry Sky星空没有云Historical2.5M WordsCompleted Bronze Prize winner of the Fourth Migu Cup! “What? I woke up and ended up farming in the Northern Song dynasty!” Chen Chuliu was so furious he almost rammed his head into the wall, but quickly stopped himself. These four earthen walls were all his family had left. If he damaged one, they would really be finished. Faced with a bare-bones home, the clan chief's attempts to force him into hard labor, and the contempt of the county's rich young masters, Chen Chuliu used his clever modern mind to tur 1.9kReads8.4Score167Shelves
7. 7 科 The Road to Success Through the Imperial Examinations 科举之青云路 A Little Green Ear一只绿耳Historical1.2M WordsCompleted In his previous life, Lu Sheng was a spoiled rich kid. After being born into a farming family, he regains his memories at the age of three when his cousin pushes him to the ground over two pieces of pork crackling. Among the four paths of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, working for someone else is out of the question. With his poor knowledge of farming, he couldn't even support himself, so it looks like the imperial examinations are his only way to change his fate. From then on, Lu S 1.8kReads7.7Score124Shelves
8. 8 悟 Heaven-Defying Comprehension: A Young Great Tang Scholar Shocks Li Shimin 悟性逆天：大唐小状元震惊李世民 Drunk on the Maple Forest at Dusk醉爱枫林晚Historical314k WordsCompleted Li Qian'an transmigrates to the first year of the Zhenguan era in the Tang dynasty and awakens a heaven-defying comprehension System. At just fifteen, he places first in the imperial exams, stunning Emperor Li Shimin! [You study the Hundred Schools of Thought and become a Sage of Letters, writing as though divinely inspired.] [You study the Thirty-Six Stratagems and become a Sage of War, masterminding campaigns and winning battles from a thousand miles away.] [You study the heroes of the Three K 1.2kReads8.4Score136Shelves
9. 9 寒 A Rise from Humble Beginnings: From Village Keeper to Ruler of the Realm 寒门崛起：从守村人到执宰天下 Liu Yang刘杨Historical338k WordsCompleted [Alternate history + farming + war + political scheming] College student Li Lin was reborn in an alternate dynasty. Before he could even figure out what was going on, he came across a down-and-out young lady from a wealthy family, and his life became colorful once more. No money for food? I'll make some money for you to spend. Someone's bullying you? I'll become an official and put them in their place. Xu Wanwan: Husband, I want to know what it feels like to be empress. Li Lin: Then I'll take th 9Reads—Score—Shelves
10. 10 寒 A Famous Scholar from a Humble Family 寒门名士 Feng Lin风林Historical922k WordsCompleted When other people transmigrate, don't they always start out as officials, well versed in books, ready to comment on state affairs from the very beginning? But Tang Chen is different. He transmigrates into the body of a fool. Not only is he stupid, he's poor, too. Fortunately, he has six wives, each gifted in her own way. To feed the whole family, Tang Chen has no choice but to rack his brains for ways to make money. He refuses the prize money he wins and asks for the leftovers instead! Thus, he 14Reads—Score—Shelves
11. 11 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
12. 12 寒 The Poor Scholar's Rise 寒门贵子 Beyond the Mountain山的那边Historical2.1M WordsCompleted After transmigrating into the body of a penniless scholar, Jiang Feng thought about how his computer science degree from his previous life was utterly useless here… Then it occurred to him: “Of all pursuits, studying is the noblest. I’ll just have to grit my teeth and take the imperial exams!” He kept going, and when he suddenly looked back, he had risen to the highest offices, expanded the empire’s borders, and built an unprecedented legacy! P.S. The new book, A Poor Scholar of the First Rank, 34.6kReads9.1Score3.4kShelves
13. 13 农 The Noble Son of a Farming Family 农门贵子 Orchid Seed兰花子Historical1.5M WordsCompleted He never imagined that one day he would transmigrate into the body of a fifteen-year-old peasant boy who had died in an examination hall. To take control of his own fate in this dynasty, all he can do is study hard. Studying changes one's fate, and can pave the way to success… 52Reads7.4Score103Shelves
14. 14 苏 Eunuch Su's Road to the Imperial Exams 苏公公的科举之路 Singing Alone for Joy笙歌独欢Historical1.3M WordsCompleted Chief eunuch Su Weisheng had finally endured his way to retirement, only to die unexpectedly. When he opened his eyes again, he had become a five-year-old child a century later, and all his enemies were dead! His relatives were unkind, and his parents were weak. Su Weisheng consoled himself: At least in this life, I won't have to be a eunuch. I can live with that! He takes on the worst of the family, manages the household, and studies for the imperial examinations. Only after achieving fame and 9kReads9.0Score1.1kShelves
15. 15 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 6.6kReads8.9Score602Shelves
16. 16 一 A Poor Scholar of Noble Character 一品寒士 Beyond the Mountain山的那边Historical1.6M WordsCompleted [Single heroine, semi-fictionalized Tang Dynasty] In an era when the great aristocratic clans looked down on the imperial family, Zhao Quan was born to a farming family and entered school carrying the hopes of his parents and six older brothers. Farming was out of the question: even the village head’s family had no food to spare… So he had no choice but to take the imperial exams and become an official. 10.4kReads9.3Score917Shelves
17. 17 为 To Avoid Planting Rice, I Work Hard to Pass the Imperial Exams 为了不插秧，努力考科举 Three Layers of Belly Fat三层肚腩Historical1.0M WordsCompleted [The short drama adaptation is now streaming] A modern SSS-rank researcher dies suddenly and transmigrates to the Great Xing Dynasty. His health is so poor that he's not allowed to pick rice in the fields until he's six. Sunstruck and light-headed, Li Jing decides that farming with this body is a risky business, so he immediately resolves to study for the imperial examinations. That's what he's good at; the transplanting can be left to the professionals! The following year, now named Li Yiqing, 22.8kReads9.3Score2.2kShelves
18. 18 穿 Transmigrate to a Farming Family, Aim for the Imperial Exams 穿越农家，科举为上 Tang Qinghan唐轻寒Ancient Romance305k WordsCompleted Wang Xi had a heart condition as a child and was abandoned at an orphanage. He worked odd jobs to put himself through college and finally landed a pretty good job. After three years of working diligently, just as he was finally able to give something back to the orphanage where he grew up, he suddenly died while working overtime one night. Reborn into a farming family, Wang Xi is now a little boy named Li Shuanzi. He knows all too well that if he wants a better life, passing the imperial exams i 3.5kReads8.9Score220Shelves
19. 19 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. 2.9kReads8.8Score219Shelves
20. 20 寒 The Emperor's Tutor from a Humble Family 寒门帝师 I Am a Crow我是乌鸦Historical4.2M WordsOngoing Zhao Han accidentally transmigrates to ancient times, only to discover that he is a wastrel, hopelessly addicted to gambling. His family has already run out of rice, yet all he thinks about is drinking and beating his wife. Looking at his tiny wife, with barely any meat on her bones, he secretly vows to give her a good life. Fishing, setting up factories, inventing new things... Using the resources from his previous life, he makes a roaring success of their little life and leads the people of 5.6kReads7.9Score438Shelves
21. 21 寒 The Scholar from a Poor Family 寒门状元 Gentleman of the Green Mountain青山君子Historical2.1M WordsOngoing After transmigrating into the family of a common farmer, Ye Xuanmo arrives just as his paternal cousin passes the imperial examination. To revitalize the clan, his cousin invites a teacher to the family to educate the children. In an age when “all trades are base, and only studying is noble,” Ye Xuanmo wants nothing more than to pass the exams and change his family’s circumstances… 3.4kReads8.9Score314Shelves
22. 22 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
23. 23 寒 A Poor Scholar’s Rise Begins with Meeting the Miserable Crown Prince 寒门崛起，从遇上苦逼太子开始 Zuo Lan佐蓝Historical2.0M WordsCompleted [Transmigration + Imperial Exams for the Poor + No System + Lighthearted + Wits and Strategy] After transmigrating to ancient times, Tang Yin was completely dumbfounded. He'd gone to sleep and woken up as a seven-year-old kid? He lived in Peach Blossom Village, Qingzhou Prefecture, in the Great Ming, and came from a poor family? It was a disastrous start. He had to fight heaven and earth, and even deal with his awful relatives. Determined to escape the mountains, Tang Yin secretly studied at the 6.2kReads7.9Score543Shelves
24. 24 迎 After Marrying a Sweet Young Wife, I Worked Hard and Took the Imperial Exam 迎娶小娇妻后，我奋发图强考科举 Flying Cow 98会飞的牛98Historical1.1M WordsCompleted One heroine + no System + lighthearted pacing A thorough understanding of the world is knowledge, and social savvy is good writing. Ren Junjie, a history graduate, suddenly finds himself in an unfamiliar world as the eldest legitimate son of the richest family in Xinchang County. A former wastrel, he turns over a new leaf and marries a lovely young wife. He rests every other day and works on the days in between, studying harder and striving to improve. With his deep knowledge of history, he purs 8.9kReads8.8Score703Shelves

    Reader note

    The protagonist is from a poor family and then becomes an official through the imperial examination. These are all novels I've finished reading, and I remember them as pretty good. You might want to check them out.

25. 25 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 6.7kReads8.3Score528Shelves

    Reader note

    While others transmigrate to fight monsters and level up, I transmigrate to bury myself in studying for 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!

26. 26 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. 40.2kReads9.2Score3kShelves

    Reader note

    Beautiful, beautiful, it's already quite long.

27. 27 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 2.6kReads7.3Score142Shelves
28. 28 大 Ming Dynasty: My Years as Zhu Yuanzhang's Heckler 大明，我给老朱当喷子的那些年 Qing Suisui卿岁岁Historical1.4M WordsCompleted If there’s anything you think could be improved, please point it out gently. I’ll make changes. Thank you. The protagonist’s official career: Investigating Censor, Supervising Censor, County Magistrate, Inspecting Censor and Deputy Censor-in-Chief, Censor-in-Chief, Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, Grand Secretary of the Hall of Cautious Diligence and Minister of Personnel. Gu Chen opens his eyes and finds himself in the Hongwu era of the Ming dynasty, as a low-ranking remonstrance official. He ha 49.1kReads9.1Score3.4kShelves

    Reader note

    A very interesting time-travel story

29. 29 努 I Strive for the Imperial Exams, But My Slacker Dreams Never Change 努力考科举，咸鱼梦想从未改变 A Little Green Ear一只绿耳Historical1.8M WordsCompleted [Imperial exams + everyday life + lighthearted] Lu Yang, a rich second-generation heir, wakes up one day as the youngest and most cherished son of the Lu family. This youngest son is a scholar, yet selfish and self-centered, turning a blind eye to his family's sacrifices and caring only about his own future. Lu Yang may be a slacker with little conscience, but he knows who's good to him. He keeps his dream of being a slacker tucked away and works hard to pass the imperial exams, hoping to become 17.6kReads9.1Score1.8kShelves
30. 30 科 The Imperial Exams: From a Duke’s Bastard Son to a Powerful Official 科举！从公府庶子到权臣的青云路 Zhou Shusen周树森Historical4.3M WordsOngoing [Not a BL novel! Not a male-male romance! One male lead, little to no romance, and a plot-focused story.] [Transmigration + Illegitimate Son of a Duke’s Estate + No System + Imperial Exams + Political Intrigue] He transmigrates, and the good news is that he’s now an illegitimate son of the Duke of Wei’s household, with food and clothes taken care of and no need to worry about making a living. The bad news is that he’s not only unloved, but also mocked and looked down upon. Heh. Never look down o 46.6kReads8.9Score4.1kShelves

    Reader note

    Recommended novels for the imperial examinations 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

31. 31 穿 I Was Reborn in a Farming Novel, but I Don't Want to Pass the Imperial Exams on Talent 穿进种田文里，我不想靠才华科举 Autumn Has Always Been Here丛来是秋Historical1.6M WordsCompleted Su Congli transmigrated. To stay alive, he studied day and night and threw himself into the imperial examinations. Who could have guessed? At the provincial exam: “What are you staring at, chief examiner?” At the metropolitan exam: “Why do these examiners all seem so strange?” At the palace exam: “Oh! Isn’t that guy sitting in the throne hall the one who stares at me every night?” Emperor Qiyuan prided himself on being a wise ruler of his age, blessed with extraordinary fortune. Who knew he’d ru 11.3kReads8.9Score949Shelves
32. 32 科 The Imperial Exam Path to Success 科举助吾上青云 Glory Returned荣归Historical1.0M WordsCompleted After transmigrating into a family of farmers who also valued education, Bai Zimu had grandparents, parents, uncles, and aunts to support, as well as seven older sisters whose dowries had to be prepared. To escape the fighting on the border, the entire family moved back to their hometown. Along the way, they lost two of his sisters, and he himself nearly died. He wasn't strong enough to carry heavy loads or even lift much. In this underdeveloped world, Bai Zimu thought it over and realized that 3kReads9.0Score236Shelves
33. 33 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 28.6kReads8.7Score2.7kShelves
34. 34 卖 Selling Vegetables and Studying, Then Becoming the Top Scholar 卖菜读书，结果高中状元 Three Layers of Belly Fat三层肚腩Historical1.1M WordsCompleted After Shen Qingfeng dies alongside the Zombie Emperor in the apocalypse, he transmigrates to an alternate dynasty called Great Chu and becomes a child in Ning'an Village. The boy, nicknamed Dog Egg, is frail from birth, suffers from heart disease, and has a lowly name. Luckily, his proper name is Shen Yu'an. After studying for a few months with the elders, Shen Yu'an decides to take the imperial examinations, only to discover that his ancestors were exiles, and the descendants of exiles for thre 5.4kReads8.9Score579Shelves
35. 35 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 50.9kReads8.9Score6.3kShelves
36. 36 天 A County Magistrate Fell from the Sky 天上掉县令 Shi Zhimei石之嵋Historical1.1M WordsCompleted “Your Majesty! The last six magistrates appointed to Nantang County have all been murdered. Now no one dares accept the post. Please decide what to do!” “How were they killed?” “It's said to be connected to a poisoning case at a tavern.” “Who owns the tavern?” “A young scholar.” “If no one else will take the post, then make the scholar the magistrate!” “But...” And so the young man, a doctoral student from Huaxia who had transmigrated here, found himself a county magistrate... A year later, Nant 66.8kReads9.2Score4.1kShelves

    Reader note

    A lighthearted read. Don't overthink it!

37. 37 遗 Life in Ancient Times as a Posthumous Child 遗腹子的古代生活 Cheng Shu Ju程书橘Historical2.2M WordsCompleted [No golden finger + farming + imperial examinations + alternate history + court politics in the later stages + everyday family life] He wakes up as the posthumous son of a county deputy in the Great Zhou dynasty. He may not be born into an official family, but surely the assets his father left behind are enough to make this only child rich. So he happily decides that in this life, he’ll coast to success. Things don’t go as he expected. His father died young after only a few years in office, leav 11.3kReads7.7Score1.2kShelves
38. 38 我 I Sold Grain in a Border County and Became a Powerful Minister 我在边县卖粮，卖成了权臣 Beans to Stay Alive崩豆续命Historical278k WordsCompleted In a famine-stricken border county, Liu Ren arrives in this world only to find himself saddled with the debt for a boatload of spoiled rice. If he can’t make up the shortfall within two days, his employer will make him pay with his life. Everyone thinks the rice can only be sold at a loss. Only Liu Ren knows it can still turn a profit. He survives by selling spoiled rice, makes his fortune by seizing control of grain routes, and enters the game through a military provisions scandal. Starting out 5Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Look at my book, "Transmigrating from a Commoner to a Feudal Lord".

39. 39 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

    Reader note

    Become an official through the imperial examination!

40. 40 农 The Lazy Little One from a Farming Family Takes the Imperial Exams 农门懒娃娃考科举 Black Tofu豆腐黑Historical352k WordsOngoing Dogwa had terrible luck in his previous life. He worked hard all his life and had nothing to show for it. It was all for nothing. In this life, he just wants enough to eat and drink, and to lie flat until the end. Who knew the Lai family already had a layabout: Dogwa's own father. There was no room for a second one. So Dogwa can only be pushed into improving himself and working hard. (Original title: The Lazy Farm Boy Takes the Imperial Examinations) 659Reads8.5Score—Shelves
41. 41 穿 Transmigrate, Turn the Imperial Exams Around, and Raise a Wife 穿越，科举逆袭养媳妇 Passerby A Z路人甲ZHistorical340k WordsCompleted [One heroine + imperial examinations + transmigration + alternate history + devoted husband] Zhang Yue feels a sudden wave of dizziness. When he wakes up, he has become the illegitimate son of the Zhang family's second branch. Just thinking about being an illegitimate son gives him a headache, but then he sees his gentle, tender concubine mother and the First Madam, who has always looked after him, and feels like things might just work out after all... Life is hard. Yue sighs!!! 335Reads7.4Score—Shelves
42. 42 白 White-Robed Minister, Songs of the Dashun Dynasty 白衣卿相，大顺朝歌 Truth-Seeking Adept寻道真人Historical521k WordsCompleted After saving someone in the most clichéd way, Su Junqing somehow gets dragged into the mess himself. He transmigrates into ancient times and becomes a newborn baby! The midwife sees that he isn’t crying and starts slapping his tiny feet with her hand! After eavesdropping on the adults, he learns that he has transmigrated into the Great Shun dynasty founded by Li Zicheng! It is already the sixth year of the Yongchang era. Unbelievable! The Great Shun dynasty is dividing up the land, suppressin 44Reads6.7Score—Shelves
43. 43 胥 Low-Ranking Clerk: Just to Eat Half a Bowl More of Noodles 胥吏：只为多吃半碗面 The Fat Guy Loves to Dream胖子爱做梦Historical1.1M WordsCompleted As the frail, useless third son of a small landowner, he isn't even allowed an extra half-bowl of noodles, so he has to find his own way in life. No System, no golden finger. All he can do is make a living as a peddler. But people have their eyes on his business, and he's powerless to fight back. If you can't beat them, join them. From a hanger-on named Bai Shu to a clerk in charge of official records, he only wants to climb step by step to the highest position... among the clerks. Good or evil 2.5kReads8.3Score244Shelves
44. 44 发 Build a Fortune and Pass the Imperial Exams 发家致富考科举 Eat It in One Bite一口吃完Ancient Romance310k WordsCompleted [No System or golden finger, one heroine, not a wish-fulfillment story, realistic] Xie Fan is a hopelessly single exam nerd, a useless graduate of a top university, and a slacker at a major organization. He enjoys a carefree life of choosing to lie flat. After an unexpected death, he returns to a parallel world in the Ming Dynasty, reborn as the son of a landlord. But life in a landlord’s household turns out to be no easier. To make ends meet, he sets out on the path of the imperial examinations 1.1kReads8.6Score103Shelves
45. 45 夫 My Husband Rises in Rank, I Make a Fortune 夫君升官我发财 Cheng Hewei程禾微Ancient Romance181k WordsCompleted [Alternate history + imperial examinations + business + cozy married life + one-on-one romance] Cheng Xiuyuan was born and raised in Danshui. When she came of age, she married Xiang Yangping, a young man from the Xiang family whom her parents approved of and whom she liked herself. Just as the chaos of war came to an end, the two began a married life of mutual support. He pursued a career in the examinations while she went into business. It’s a gentle, unassuming story of growing together. 33Reads—Score—Shelves
46. 46 穿 I Transmigrated into a Noble Family, and All I Want Is Power 穿越世家子弟，一心只为谋权夺位 Mu Dianshui木点水Historical717k WordsOngoing In his previous life, he was an overworked office drone. After a car accident, he transmigrates to a parallel world and is born into a powerful family, becoming the legitimate grandson of the Xiao clan of Li'an. Heaven has given me the chance to be reborn. In this life, I will make it extraordinary, give everything I have, and keep striving toward the sacred ideal in my heart. In the eyes of the world, he is a treacherous minister who spends his life pursuing power over all beneath heaven by day 178Reads6.8Score—Shelves
47. 47 农 The Old Country Scholar: Reborn as the Father of Four 农门老童生:穿成了四个娃的爹 Flying Cow 98会飞的牛98Historical833k WordsCompleted One heroine, no System An old book never tires the reader, even after a hundred readings. Read it closely and ponder it, and its meaning will reveal itself. Lin Mingyuan transmigrates to Great Chu, just over a decade after its founding, and becomes an old licentiate in a small mountain village. At the ripe old age of thirty-five, he is the father of four, with a beloved wife he thinks of constantly. The imperial examinations, suspended amid the wars at the end of the previous dynasty, are now be 3.8kReads9.0Score270Shelves
48. 48 女 A Woman Transmigrates as a Man: A Farmer’s Road to the Imperial Exams 女穿男：农家子的科举青云路 Shang Xinghe裳星河Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [Female-to-male transmigration + imperial examinations + romance later on + remembered in history + founding the family tree] In her previous life, Qin Huan grew up in an orphanage and worked her way into a university degree. She landed a job at a major company and was on the verge of reaching the pinnacle of success. Her only regret was never having much family to speak of. When she opened her eyes again, she had traveled from modern times to the past, and from a woman to a man. She had become 9.4kReads9.0Score1kShelves
49. 49 开 From the Start as a Caveman: Survive Evil Spirits by Reading 开局山顶洞人，遇邪祟要读书保命 Xu Da虚大Eastern Fantasy1.0M WordsCompleted [Genius protagonist + invincible protagonist + imperial examinations + dragon-like fortune + super genius + no System + talismans that suppress evil + lawless aristocratic clans] After transmigrating to a world overrun by evil spirits, Liu Ci discovers that studying is his only way to survive. Other people take the imperial exams to earn fame and rank. He takes them to stay alive. Others rely on their families and connections. He relies on the study techniques he remembers from his past life as 1.8kReads8.5Score158Shelves
50. 50 跛 The Lame Farmer's Rise to Power 跛脚农家子的权臣之路 Wan Shu绾淑Historical274k WordsOngoing Reborn as a lame peasant boy in ancient times, in an era when no one believed in him, Gu Cichuan overcomes one obstacle after another to claim the position of The Outcast. He seeks no great power, only to stay true to himself and do right by the world. 2Reads—Score—Shelves

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