Novels like A Man at Forty
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as A Man at Forty, best match first.
- 1 My Wife Is the Chairman's Secretary 我老婆是董事长秘书 To stop my beautiful wife from becoming the chairman's secretary, I even threatened to divorce her. I never expected her to agree! And now, on the road to revenge, there's no stopping me! 1.9kReads6.3Score10214d adds
- 2 I Am the Great Tyrant 我是大暴君 He wakes up to find himself the new ruler of the Great Xiao Kingdom, but only a puppet. The young empress is still green, the empress dowager rules from behind the scenes, the court officials each have their own schemes, and the borderlands are beset by crises on all sides. I want to recline among beauties and hold the power of the world in my hands! 82Reads8.5Score3214d adds
- 3 Officialdom: There's a Beauty Named Xiaofang in the Office 官场：办公室有位美女叫小芳 He works hard, strives to improve, and longs for pure love. Career and romance, what’s hidden and what’s out in the open... His colleague Liu Xiaohua, his classmate Huanhuan. How should he choose...? And then there’s Tang Wan’er, whom he secretly loves... —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 4 The Wind Rises: The Deer Call 大风起兮：呦呦鹿鸣 The Scales Tip Left, the People Turn Right Also known as "The Political Arena: Don't Mess with the Village Secretary" Ordered to take up a village post at his engagement banquet, he plans to build roads and help the villagers escape poverty, only to get caught up in the undercurrents of the political arena. He dares to talk back to leaders, take on the well-connected, and tackle the toughest challenges. Decisive and ruthless, he rises from a lowly village secretary to the very heart of power. 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 5 Xiaohefeng’s First Book 小荷风的第1本书 My new work is out! You can read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you’ll enjoy it. Your support inspires me to write, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! 1kReads6.8Score—14d adds
- 6 Rising and Falling in the Sea of Officialdom 宦海纵横 A poor country boy in his previous life, he makes a stunning comeback in this one and becomes a rising star in officialdom! A meek junior official in his previous life, he climbs the ranks step by step in this one, reaching heights most people can only dream of! A hopelessly nice guy who was dumped by his girlfriend in his previous life, he now finds himself surrounded by beautiful women, dazzling everyone! See how Zhou Yiming takes the worlds of politics, business, and romance by storm. With th 15Reads—Score—14d adds
- 7 Restarting My Innocent Youth, I Make My Family Billions 重启纯真年代，我还家人亿万金 [No System + Multiple Women + Ruthless Protagonist + Revenge + Business Empire + Plenty of Underlings + Machiavellian] After being reborn, Jiang Kun discovered that he had dirt on countless people. One arrogant wife after another mocked him, only to turn pale with shock when he revealed what he knew. “Please, don't tell anyone. We'll do whatever you say!” With their secrets in hand, he made waves among the circles of wealthy wives and gradually rose to prominence. Watching the number of wives a 107Reads8.7Score3914d adds
- 8 Officialdom’s Disciple: After Coming Clean, I Rose Straight to the Top! 官徒，摊牌后我青云直上！ He came top in the exams, only to have someone take his place. With no connections or backing, Lin Bei is left heartbroken when his wife betrays him. He marries into the Su family and endures three years of humiliation. Then an accident sends him soaring to success! The Su family regrets everything when they see what he’s achieved! Through the twists and turns of officialdom, he finally rises to the top! 12.3kReads8.1Score1.4k14d adds
- 9 Reborn: Notes from the New Officialdom 重生之新官场笔记 A friendly warning: readers who like mindless power fantasies can move along. You won't be able to get through this book! The officialdom has never been a place where you can charge in on sheer passion, and power is no game of settling scores on a whim. Authority and high office are never won through sheer courage alone. Only by knowing how to weigh your options can you hold fast to the limits of when to advance and when to retreat. 961Reads8.1Score10814d adds
- 10 White Mountains, Black Waters 白山黑水 In a small forestry town in Northeast China, an ordinary vocational high school graduate steps into society. He starts out as a forest ranger, seizes an opportunity to transfer to a government office, and enters public service. By a stroke of luck, he gets involved in the seedling trade and becomes a profit-driven plant dealer, earning his first fortune. Gradually, he realizes that getting further in life requires the backing of power. So he earns money while cultivating his political career. A 109Reads8.8Score914d adds
- 11 The Road Through Officialdom Begins with Being Reborn 官场征途，从重生开始 For love, Chu Haoran chose to become a live-in son-in-law, only to end up behind bars. The day before his release, he was attacked. Given a second chance at life, Chu Haoran chooses to enter politics... 5.5kReads6.5Score40814d adds
- 12 Justice of Heaven’s Way 天道正义 The Way of Heaven and Justice trilogy is a political-philosophical epic that probes the nature of power. Through the trials of grassroots official Chu Feng, it embarks on a profound search for the “Way of Heaven” and reflects the sweeping changes in China's officialdom. Is there a higher justice beyond the rules? In A Gentle Breeze, characters find a way through the mire of a society governed by personal connections, exploring the balance of the Way of Heaven between “law” and “human feeling.” I 49Reads8.7Score—14d adds
- 13 Reborn on the Road to Power: 1995 官道重生：1995 (There may be negative reviews! Disclaimer: Everything in this novel is fictional.) When Lin Weidong, a seasoned political operator, returns to 1995 with memories of the next thirty years, he discovers that the whole world has become a card table where only he can see everyone else’s cards! While others are still bewildered by the restructuring of state-owned enterprises, he is already quietly laying the groundwork for the future of the internet! While others are still fretting over attracting i 233Reads8.1Score—14d adds
- 14 Reborn: The Summit of the Azure Clouds 重生：青云之巅 Shen Nan is reborn before being falsely accused of stealing the secretary's speech draft. A lifetime of hard work, all for nothing. Shen Nan spent half his life striving, only to be framed by his colleagues, separated from friends and family, and have his ideals crushed by reality. When he opened his eyes again, he had returned to the year he first entered public service as a young man. The rivals who once ruined him were still lying in wait, and he still had the opportunities he'd missed before 9.7kReads7.8Score84814d adds
- 15 Officialdom: The Road to Triumph Against All Odds 官场：披荆斩棘之路 [Political intrigue + no System + no rebirth] A career in officialdom is a thorny road, and countless people strive to get ahead on it. As the saying goes, doing a good job matters less than being born into the right family. For an ordinary person with no connections to make their way through the thorns, the only option is to seize every opportunity. Chen Feng is one of those who knows how to seize an opportunity. He cuts his way through the obstacles and keeps moving forward… 383Reads6.8Score10214d adds
- 16 The Fourth Book by Yilu Qianxing 驿路潜行的第4本书 My new work is out! You can read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you enjoy it. Your support motivates me to write, and I'll do my best to tell every story well! 133Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 17 A New Path in Politics for a Poor Boy 官场之寒门新途 Wang Xingyu was born on a state-owned farm in Northeast China. Though his family was ordinary, he excelled in school from a young age. At eighteen, he earned a place at a prestigious 985 university through his own hard work, where he studied public administration. Over the next four years, Wang Xingyu applied himself not only to his studies but also to student clubs, including the student union’s external relations department. Arranging sponsorships and taking on other practical tasks helped him —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 18 Fake Eunuch, True Emperor 假太监真皇帝 A general practitioner from a family of traditional Chinese medicine doctors transmigrates, only to be dragged into the imperial harem as a eunuch on his very first day. He has no choice but to negotiate with the eunuch in charge of castration: could you let me off this once? I still have a blood feud to avenge! The eunuch says, “Sure!” 961Reads6.9Score—14d adds
- 19 After Divorcing, I Ride on My Ex-Wife's Family's Coattails to the Top 离婚后，踩着前妻全家青云直上 Song Qiushi runs a gym. For ten years, he has worked hard to support his family, loved his wife, and spoiled his daughter. It hasn’t been easy, but he has never resented it. He believes that as long as he keeps his head down, takes good care of his wife, raises his child well, and looks after the family, he will have a perfect marriage. But every one of his dreams shatters when his wife brings a strange man home. He can put up with anything else, but not this. Divorce... His father-in-law uses h 132Reads—Score—14d adds
- 20 A Bright Political Future 官运亨通 At 28, Lin Yun Feng had a limitless future ahead of him. After the Jin Hai Bridge, which fell under his jurisdiction, suddenly collapsed, Lin Yun Feng went from a rising political star to being cast aside. His beautiful wife cheated on him. Disheartened, he drowned his sorrows in alcohol, only to stumble upon a secret... 1.9kReads8.8Score21814d adds
- 21 A Clash of Power and Ambition 权欲交锋 The author says: [Urban] + [Career in politics] + [Male-centric] + [Rags to riches] + [Feel-good] This is the story of an ordinary foot soldier who climbs step by step to the pinnacle of power. It all begins when Chen Mingyuan is investigating the county Party secretary and unexpectedly comes across a video of him. From that moment on, Chen embarks on an extraordinary journey... 8.3kReads8.2Score52614d adds
- 22 A Promising Career: The Village Doctor's Meteoric Rise in Politics 官运：小村医的妖孽仕途 [Political career + No rebirth + Medical skills] A single needle and prescription can save lives, and also help you navigate the political world and rise to prominence. After making a house call in the middle of the night, village doctor Yang Xiaochuan stumbled into an opportunity to enter public service. With his outstanding medical skills and his commitment to serving the people, he writes a brilliant chapter in the worlds of medicine and politics! 9.9kReads8.1Score97514d adds
- 23 Power Plays and Political Intrigue 权谋权术 After the newspaper director passed away, his assistant at the Yun Province Daily was plunged into the darkest period of his life: dismissed by the paper, betrayed by his cheating girlfriend, and targeted by malicious colleagues... It all began when he risked his life to save someone. From there, he left journalism for government service, and his life took off. 1.3kReads7.6Score19014d adds
- 24 The Pinnacle of Power: After Breaking Up with My Girlfriend, I Soared to Success 权势巅峰：和女朋友分手后扶摇直上 Betrayed by his girlfriend, with his patron's career hanging by a thread, Lu Xiaoyang, a secretary in the municipal government, suffered a double blow to his love life and political career. Disillusioned, he planned to leave politics for good. But the arrival of one woman completely changed his fate, helping him soar up the political ladder and reach the top of the provincial government compound. 618Reads—Score11014d adds
- 25 Reborn, I Rise to the Clouds as a Selected Cadre 重生后我以选调生身份平步青云 Liu Huaimin, a fifty-eight-year-old grassroots public servant, spent twenty-seven years in his post before reaching the end of his life with a heart full of regret. In his previous life, an unjust case tied to an engineering project brought tremendous hardship upon his family. His loved ones suffered one misfortune after another, leaving him with a lifelong burden he could never put aside. As he lay dying, he opened his eyes once more, only to find himself back in the dormitory at Beichen Univer 499Reads—Score10314d adds
- 26 After the Divorce, My Official Wife Regretted It! 离婚后，官妻后悔莫及！ Some say the official world is all scheming and deceit, about choosing sides and making choices, a life-or-death struggle. For Liu Qing, the official world can make his ex-wife regret everything, help his family prosper, and bring benefits to the wider public... 2.8kReads6.4Score22014d adds
- 27 Secretary Chen's Notebook 陈秘书笔记 The extraordinary life of a secretary. Chen, a highly capable secretary, watches his bright future vanish in an instant. Cautious and deferential around the powerful, he keeps a low profile among his colleagues, and through his own distinctive way of handling people, gradually achieves his goals in life. His notebook is a lament for a life. 996Reads—Score11314d adds
- 28 Tides of Officialdom (Officialdom's Ups and Downs) 宦海之浮沉（宦海官途） After dating for two years, his girlfriend eventually married someone else. His honest, unassuming father was suddenly taken away by the procuratorate. Just as Xu Guohua was at his wit’s end, another blow awaited him: a notice of suspension… 9.5kReads8.8Score1.1k14d adds
- 29 Upright and Righteous, I Stand Between Heaven and Earth 一身正气立天地 On the chessboard of power, the word “official” is like a subtle game piece, its two mouths concealing endless wisdom and mystery. One mouth represents the art of speech: an official must be eloquent, choosing every word with care and using wisdom to guide public opinion. The other represents the art of socializing, building connections over food and drink. But remember, never cross the line or take a single cent of the people's hard-earned money. These meals are not merely a matter of culture, —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 30 Romance in the Ancient Village 古寨情缘 The new book, The Number One Secret in Officialdom: Sent Straight to the Asylum from the Start, is now available. Your support is welcome! When someone bullies his sister-in-law, Wang Ye steps in without hesitation, kills a man, and ends up in prison. There, he unexpectedly acquires peerless mystical arts and learns that in his previous life he was the True Dragon Emperor of another world, his sister-in-law was a tiger spirit, and his childhood friend and sidekick was a little white rabbit spiri 21kReads9.0Score1.9k14d adds
- 31 Hao Yunlai in the Political Arena 官场郝运来 [Powerful political fantasy, mind games, political intrigue, multiple heroines] Some characters and settings draw on the author's own experiences, recreated in an appropriate way for readers. Stick with it and every chapter will deliver. See how the protagonist, Hao Yunlai, lucks his way through officialdom... 13.1kReads8.1Score1.5k14d adds
- 32 A New Take on Political Fiction: A College Graduate's Road into Government 新版官场文：大学毕业生从政路 By a twist of fate, Liu Bai becomes a township civil servant after graduating from college. For a poor nobody like him, landing a civil-service job is already something to celebrate. He had hoped to keep his head down and do an ordinary job without competing with anyone, but he encounters one unfair situation after another. And the more he faces, the further he climbs, until he reaches the very pinnacle of power! 230Reads—Score—14d adds
- 33 A Fierce Life: Moving in with Auntie 彪悍人生：从入住阿姨家开始 After graduating from college, Chen Shi’an returns home, and the wheels of fate begin to turn. The road through the underworld stretches on, while love and loyalty are lost in the haze. After being tested by love and career, he eventually finds his happy ending and raises the banner of justice! 312Reads6.1Score—14d adds
- 34 The Road to Office: If You Think You Can Do Better, Take My Place 官路之你有本事你上 What right and wrong can there be in this world? Everyone simply has a different point of view. What fairness can there be in this world? You have to be capable before anyone will treat you fairly. Are you any good or not? I’m no good? If you’re so good, you do it. --The male lead is a scumbag. Read with caution if that’s not your thing! —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 35 Debts of the Lustful Sea 欲海孽债 Desire is half angel, half devil. Jian Ting is a police officer not yet thirty. Loyal and righteous, he dares to take responsibility for his actions. He has repeatedly distinguished himself in major cases involving stolen cultural relics and corruption in Hedong. In just three years, he has made a remarkable leap forward in his career. In a world awash with materialism and rampant selfishness, cause and effect always catch up with you. Debts must be repaid! The truth behind the cases is shrouded 2kReads7.5Score19114d adds
- 36 Unparalleled Excellence 出色无边 Modern urban life... Multiple heroines... Workplace... A rise through the ranks... A feel-good story. Shen Qinglin, a low-ranking clerk in the Health Bureau's office, climbs step by step to the pinnacle of life with beautiful women at his side... and builds a bright future... 2.4kReads8.6Score21814d adds
- 37 After Our Divorce, My Boss Turned Around and Promoted Me 离婚后，领导转身就提拔了我 His new book, The Number One Secret in Officialdom: From the Start, I Was Sent to an Asylum, is now available. Your support is welcome! Two paternity tests shattered Zhao Shu’s world: neither child was his! His wife had betrayed him, and he angrily divorced her! At the lowest point in his life, his ability and resolve happened to catch a superior’s eye, and he entered the world of officialdom. Fueled by the anger of betrayal, Zhao Shu cuts through every obstacle, rising from head of security to 12.1kReads8.9Score1.3k14d adds
- 38 A Career Blessed by Fortune: A County Magistrate's Rise to Power 官运滔天：知县逆袭，权倾朝野 [Not a power fantasy! A complex tale of court intrigue and political struggle, grounded in historical research!] Li Shu, a modern-day civil service exam candidate who failed to pass, unexpectedly transmigrates to the first year of the Qianlong reign and becomes a newly appointed jinshi. Starting out as a poor county magistrate in Hengyang, he investigates the shortfall in the ever-normal granaries, exposes the dark secrets of the grain transport trade, and takes on salt smugglers in league with 39Reads—Score—14d adds
- 39 The Road Through Officialdom 宦路 The character for “official” has two mouths: if they say you're capable, then you're capable; if they say you're not, then you're not! The political arena is full of deceit and scheming, and one wrong step can leave you shattered. Zhou Yang knows this all too well. With no powerful backers, no connections, and no money, how can he survive? He has no choice but to keep going. He works hard and fights on, rising step by step to a position of power... 8.4kReads9.0Score85614d adds
- 40 Officialdom: From a Small Town to the Pinnacle of Power 官场：从小镇走上权力巅峰 Overnight, everything changed. Like a dragon trapped in a shallow stream, Tang Peng saw his bleak world brighten after a mysterious stranger called him. Watch how he rises from a low-level civil servant to the pinnacle of power! 118Reads9.1Score11814d adds
- 41 Why Choose the Heroine When the Perfect Supporting Actress Is So Much Better? 选什么女主，完美女配不香吗 Ling Yu transmigrates into the world of a female-oriented cultivation novel and becomes its male lead! And this male lead turns out to be the heroine’s biggest simp! The heroine has terrible talent, a terrible background, and a terrible personality. She holds everyone to a double standard and thinks the whole world should revolve around her! She causes trouble everywhere, making people sick, yet thinks she’s being adorably mischievous! She treats everyone as a tool, making Ling Yu sacrifice ever 3.7kReads6.5Score39414d adds
- 42 Part One 局部一 The protagonist, Hu Weimin, navigates the ups and downs of officialdom while staying clearheaded, resisting all kinds of temptation, and holding fast to his principles. The everyday settings make the characters feel as if they’re right there beside you, perhaps even people just like yourself. 1.1kReads6.8Score10814d adds
- 43 The Traffic Bureau Chief 交通局长 Lin Zhongquan was an ordinary employee in a road maintenance section. Following his father’s wishes, he was determined to climb the ranks. On his father’s repeated advice, he married the former mayor’s daughter and managed to get in good with Huang Dingli, the head of the Pingchang Municipal Transportation Bureau. During a construction tender, Huang Dingli and Lin Zhongquan got to know contractor He Rubin and the stunningly beautiful public relations agent Miaomiao. They helped He Rubin win the 93Reads9.4Score—14d adds
- 44 No Authority to Audit? One Official Letter and I Make the Whole Province Weep! 审计没权？我一纸公函查哭全省！ Zhou Tiejun pushed himself up from the sofa, his right hand instinctively reaching for his chest. There was no wound, no pain. His palm touched a dark blue jacket, its fabric coarse and its zipper cold. He lowered his head and looked at his hand. It wasn't his. His hands should have been young, with prominent knuckles and carbon-ink stains perpetually caught under the fingernails. But the hands before him had loose, slightly swollen skin, age spots creeping across the backs, and a faint pale gro 117Reads7.0Score1414d adds
- 45 A Grand Vision for Officialdom 官场宏图 A lesser physician treats people; a great physician treats the nation. Xia Feng, a talented traditional Chinese medicine student, resolutely enters politics to avenge his father's death. But when it rains, it pours. On the very day of his wedding, his father-in-law dies unexpectedly. From then on, Xia Feng is met with cold indifference at home. His mother-in-law resents him, and his wife lives apart from him for long stretches. With his father-in-law gone, Xia Feng loses his shelter. Then, after 13.1kReads8.9Score1.1k14d adds
- 46 I’m a Scumbag in the Cultivation World 我在修真界当渣男 Transmigration and rebirth, an unconventional path to immortality. Witty and humorous, with everything you could ever fantasize about in a female lead. Fast-paced plot, with one female lead following seamlessly after another. You've read this far in the synopsis, so go read the story already! 1.7kReads7.2Score13214d adds
- 47 The Ridgeline 山脊线 [How cruel is society? Look at how battered I am! How strong am I? Watch me rise smoothly through the ranks!] The grassroots front line is a crucible that refines the strong, a gilded stage for the average, and a sinkhole that eats away at the weak. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 48 I Am a God: Book 10 朕是神一般第10本书 123Reads—Score—14d adds
- 49 Officialdom: The Road to the Summit 官场：问鼎之路 Zhao Chengliang and his girlfriend Lin Xueru had been in love for four years, but her father broke them up because their families were not of equal standing. In a fit of anger, Zhao Chengliang joined the government, starting out as an ordinary man at the bottom and rising step by step! 6.8kReads8.9Score82114d adds
- 50 Ink-Boned Beauty: From Seedling Thinning to Selection, Every Step Is a Nerve-Racking Trial 墨骨天娇：从蹲苗到遴选步步惊心 [Ink-Boned, Edge Concealed | Clearheaded, Career-Driven Heroine | Rise Through the Ranks | Grassroots Cadre Selection | Workplace Mind Games] People say that boneless painting depicts a spirit and conceals a sharp edge. Xia Qing, a young female official sent to gain grassroots experience in a township, has made the principles of boneless painting the way she survives in the ruthless arena of officialdom. She has two brushes in hand: One brings flowers to life with every stroke, creating boneless 74Reads7.6Score1014d adds
