Novels like A Man at Forty
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as A Man at Forty, best match first.
- 51 Officialdom: The Puppet Wife 官场：提线夫人 Power is the finest puppeteer, and marriage its sharpest strings. Every gift comes with a price quietly attached. When the elegant puppeteer slid the divorce papers in front of Li Mo, he realized he was already standing on the edge of a cliff. 14.1kReads8.8Score1.7k14d adds
- 52 A Rich Second Generation at the Grassroots 富二代在基层 A rich second-generation heir joins the ranks of grassroots civil servants. Moving beyond the pursuit of material inheritance to focus on self-fulfillment and creating social value, he brings professionalism and innovative energy to grassroots work, challenges the one-dimensional narrative of entrenched class divisions, and shows that talented people from different backgrounds can move in both directions. 18Reads—Score—14d adds
- 53 Spring Evil 春邪 Qin Tian worked diligently and kept his head down, but his female superior constantly made things difficult for him. With no connections to protect him, he was eventually made a scapegoat. At that moment, the resentment he had suppressed for years finally erupted. He swore he would climb to the top and become someone important. 230Reads7.6Score10314d adds
- 54 The Top Spy in Officialdom: Sent to an Asylum from the Start 官场第一秘：开局就被送进疯人院 [An underrated political drama with real-world relevance] Locked up in a psychiatric hospital from the start? How is he supposed to hold office now? Secretary Jiang Nan's act of standing up for what was right became a trap carefully laid by his rival, and he was illegally confined to an asylum. Was this merely a provocation by local power brokers, or a deadly strike aimed at the leader behind him? When word was secretly delivered to the top, the real power struggle had only just begun... Watch h 23.3kReads7.4Score1.6k14d adds
- 55 My Beautiful Boss Won’t Leave Me Alone 美女领导缠上我 A female leader's driver saved her during an unexpected crisis, earning her trust from then on. He helped her cut through obstacles in the political arena, advance her career, and thrive at every turn. 6.2kReads7.6Score44514d adds
- 56 The True Face of Officialdom 官场本色 A new political drama is here! Welcome, everyone. I hope you enjoy my work. Your support is what keeps me writing, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! 364Reads—Score—14d adds
- 57 Promotion 提拔 “Are kings, nobles, generals, and ministers born to their stations?” Chen Sheng's cry was also the spark in the heart of our protagonist, who came from a family of poor peasants three generations deep. He was once an obscure chauffeur, but his diligence and concern for ordinary people caught the eye of a perceptive female leader. He advanced carefully, making his way through an elite workplace and enduring trial after trial. He got along with people from every side, yet never lost sight of his p 35.3kReads8.3Score3k14d adds
- 58 Cashback Rewards: My Campus Belle Girlfriend Wants to Get Back Together! 消费返利：校花女友求复合！ [Over 200 Beauties + Feel-Good Fiction + Plot + Tycoon] The goddesses come from all over China, Europe, Russia, South America, the Middle East, Africa, and beyond. The protagonist accidentally awakens the [Spending Cashback + Multiple Women Bonding System]. He can only keep getting richer and stronger by spending money and winning women over! No time like the present! 18Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 59 After Leaving the Army, I Became an Anti-Corruption Vanguard 退伍后我成了反腐先锋 Is human nature inherently evil, or inherently good? One seemingly unsolvable trap after another keeps coming. See how Chen Ping'an turns the tables and breaks each trap with precision! Over four million characters in total, so feel free to dive in. 25.5kReads8.9Score2.8k14d adds
- 60 The Road to Medicine Leads to Heaven: From Doctor to Political Power Player 医路通天：从医生到官场纵横 This book is over a million words long, so you can read with confidence. It is guaranteed to keep you hooked and racing through the chapters without stopping! People say that being an official is all about connections. With enough connections, you can rocket your way up the ranks without even lifting a finger. But Ning Yuan, who has the best connections of all, dives headfirst into the country's poorest, most backward rural township. In everyone else's eyes, he's a fool who has connections but d 13.2kReads9.1Score1.4k14d adds
- 61 Temptation in the Political Arena 官场诱惑 From the grassroots to the top, from integrity to losing one's way: the ultimate struggle over desire, conscience, and career advancement. This is a realistic, documentary-style literary work. 35Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 62 A Political Prodigy 官场奇才 My new work is out! You can read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you enjoy it. Your support is what keeps me writing, and I'll do my best to tell every story well! 31kReads8.4Score2.3k14d adds
- 63 You Sent Me on a Blind Date, and I Married the World's Richest Woman? 让你去相亲，你娶了全球女首富？ [Sweet romance + The male lead has incredibly good luck!] Jiang Rang, the useless young master of the Jiang Group, graduated straight into unemployment. After living off his parents for three years, they finally kicked him out and told him to fend for himself. He could come home after six months. Jiang Rang had been pampered since childhood. What did he know about making a living? So he took his best friend’s advice and found a rich older woman to support him! Wen Li: “Be my husband for a year. 4.9kReads6.8Score48914d adds
- 64 Tales of Officialdom in Jinlin 晋林官宦风云录 Amid the political turmoil of Jinlin County, a small fifth-tier city, County Party Secretary Peng Shusheng was once a pioneer of reform, but died on the eve of his promotion. His secretary, Lu Suiyuan, had been his right-hand man. He resolutely gave up the chance to transfer to the provincial capital and remained in this challenging city. As he carries forward Secretary Peng’s unfinished work, Lu Suiyuan must not only face the countless traps laid by local interest groups, but also resist the co 88Reads—Score—14d adds
- 65 The Road to Officialdom: Starting at the Grassroots 官道：从基层做起 [Officialdom + Power + Romance + Workplace] Once you figure out how the system works, it’s like activating a cheat code. It’s an exciting ride from the start. This realistic novel about officialdom follows Lin Yaodong’s step-by-step rise from the grassroots to the heights of power. 28Reads—Score—14d adds
- 66 So Freaking Good: I’m Surrounded by Aunties and Little Sisters 巨爽：我周围都是阿姨和妹妹 [Beautiful Younger Girls] [A Sister with a Surprising Side] [Gentle Aunties] [Lighthearted Everyday Life] After his family suffered a sudden setback, Yao Zhiting started delivering takeout over summer vacation to help make ends meet. One night, a stunning beauty ran him over with her car. Just when he thought he was done for, strange messages suddenly appeared in his mind. [Complete one driving task: Reward, 100 yuan in cash.] [Escort a beauty back to her hotel: Reward, 800 yuan.] From that nigh 607Reads7.1Score—14d adds
- 67 After My Divorce, an Owl Helped Me Rule the World 离婚后，猫头鹰带我权倾天下 He lost his job in middle age, and his seven-year marriage also came to an end. Lin Zhijie got a firsthand taste of what it meant to be “a middle-aged man who’s worth less than a dog.” His property and savings were all seized by his domineering, ruthless socialite wife. Just as Lin Zhijie was left homeless and sleeping beneath a bridge, he unexpectedly saved a talking owl. After that, Lin Zhijie entered politics, rising smoothly from an archival clerk at a neighborhood office to the very top. Be 4.9kReads7.6Score49314d adds
- 68 On the Road to the Azure Clouds: Turmoil in the Officialdom 青云在路上之官路风云 Though no one has yet bestowed the Book of Huangshi upon him, he remains steadfast and strives to rise among the clouds. Life is a series of encounters along the road to growth, and every meeting must be treated with care. Ling Chen graduated with a degree in journalism from the Chinese Department. When he took the civil service interview, a close friend from university sabotaged him, causing him to fail. To pay for his cancer-stricken father's treatment, he gave up on graduate school and findin 69Reads—Score—14d adds
- 69 A Romantic Career in Officialdom 浪漫仕途 After graduating with a master’s degree, Leng Yu took the civil service exam and landed a post in a poor mountain region, determined to do more good for the people and deliver real results. But while his ideals were lofty, reality dealt him a face-slapping blow. Facing pressure from all sides, he stubbornly fought his way forward and gradually came to understand that to accomplish great things, he would first have to become a high-ranking official. 100Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 70 The Mature Beauty Falls in Love with Me 大龄美妻爱上我 Young Qin Fang falls in love with his older neighbor and launches a passionate pursuit of the mature older woman. Concerned about the age gap between them, Liu Xuan cruelly rejects the young man’s feelings. But through Qin Fang’s careful scheming, Liu Xuan’s heart gradually begins to stir… 990Reads8.9Score10414d adds
- 71 The Transferred Soldier King Marries in a Flash During College 转业兵王大学期间闪电结婚 Bai Yitu never expected that after returning to campus, he would be drawn by some mysterious force into one maelstrom after another. To pay for his father's medical treatment, he gave up his first chance at marriage. Then he unexpectedly uncovered the truth behind a college classmate's car accident. The shocking collusion between officials and businesspeople for illicit profits pushed him, against his will, to change everything. From passing the civil service exam for a provincial department to 49Reads—Score—14d adds
- 72 From Fresh Graduate to Power Broker 从毕业新生到官道大佬 Chen Yang, a graduate of a prestigious university, should have been on the path to success, but his boss undermined and framed him. A twist of fate set him on the road to an extraordinary life. Colorful characters make their entrances, and one thrilling battle of wits follows another. With exceptional courage and intelligence, he navigates the turbulent political world, overcoming every obstacle until he finally reaches the pinnacle of power! 514Reads9.0Score—14d adds
- 73 A Book by Jiuxiaohonghu jiuxiaohonghu的一本书 Just before his promotion, his boss gets into trouble and his wife cheats on him. Ouyang Zhiyuan’s life takes a devastating turn, leaving his future shrouded in darkness. Just as he despairs, the arrival of his ex-girlfriend unexpectedly brings a ray of hope, and his fortunes begin to rebound… 916Reads7.9Score16014d adds
- 74 Tianyan's 48th Book 憇誩第48本书 My latest 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! 85Reads6.2Score—14d adds
- 75 A Grassroots Female Official 基层女干部 This story is entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual people or events is purely coincidental. It took me three years to write this book. Over those three years, I interviewed more than a dozen women working in grassroots government positions. Some of their stories made me laugh, some made me cry, and some left me silent for a long time. I wanted to write about a real person. Most of all, she keeps moving forward. No matter what lies ahead. As a preface. Spring 2026 · Chongqing 1.2kReads6.2Score—14d adds
- 76 Reborn: A New Path to Power 重生之官路新途 After a night of drinking, the head of the city’s Development and Reform Bureau suffers a sudden heart attack, is reborn, and transmigrates to 1999. His new identity, Lei Yu, is an ordinary secretary in a county government. When his superior is placed under investigation, Lei Yu is implicated and banished to a dead-end job in the archives bureau. He is also framed through a conspiracy, leading the police and disciplinary commission to open a case against him. His opportunistic girlfriend leaves, 2.4kReads7.1Score13714d adds
- 77 Rise to the Top: A Record of a Shocking Case 巅峰青云：惊天大案录 Cao Yang jumped from the roof of the Education Bureau and left a final message on his social feed: If anything happens to me, it was no accident. Three days later, Director Meng Qinghuan was taken away, sentenced to twelve years, and died in prison. I was reborn. This time, I’m going to make sure she gets out alive. I’ll make money trading stocks, lay the groundwork to fight corruption, and protect everyone who believes in me. Wang Guoqing, Liu Hongyuan, and that big fish in the provincial gover 126Reads—Score—14d adds
- 78 Investigated from the Start! Reborn, I'm Turning the Tables in Politics! 开局被查！重生我要逆袭官场！ The little girl who used to follow her around, calling her “Sis” again and again, is now a powerful figure in her own right! How quickly time flies. Officialdom is like a chess game: one careless move can cost you everything. Officialdom is like a battlefield: there may be no clash of blades, but danger lurks around every corner. Cheng Mo is caught between power and emotion! He moves carefully, step by step, straight toward the top. That is officialdom: a war without smoke, and a journey of self 311Reads—Score11214d adds
- 79 Tides of Officialdom: Straight Up to the Azure Clouds 宦海浮沉之直上青云 Wang Jianfei’s story of rising through the ranks! A genuine work about the world of officialdom, written in a documentary style by a seasoned author of political fiction with tens of millions of words to his name. A quality read guaranteed! 8.1kReads8.8Score86914d adds
- 80 Turbulent Waves 迷涛 This is a chronicle of a grassroots official's rise and fall, a portrait of county-level officialdom in the 1990s, and, above all, a bittersweet song of an era defined by the struggle between human weakness and steadfastness. When the turbulent waters recede, the embankment still bears the upright figures of those who never bent. 14Reads—Score—14d adds
- 81 Officialdom: From Town Mayor to a Bright Future 官场：从镇长开始平步青云 Tang Xiangyu graduated just in time to catch the last wave of job assignments. Unwilling to settle for the status quo, he wants to follow in his father’s footsteps and build a legacy for his own era! But the road through officialdom is hard. Every step forward is another rung on the ladder, and only he knows the hardships and heartache along the way. See how Tang Xiangyu turns the tide and writes a glorious life of his own! 16.7kReads8.8Score2.1k14d adds
- 82 The Righteous Path of Officialdom 官道正途 Li Wei has just entered officialdom. Though he faces countless twists and hardships along the way, he never shows fear or the slightest inclination to back down. Confronted with tangled relationships and all manner of thorny problems, he patiently untangles each one, relying on his exceptional intelligence and courage to respond with composure. The wetland in Xiaohe Village, rich in rare mineral resources, attracts covetous attention from local factions and outside forces alike, drawing people f 64Reads—Score—14d adds
- 83 The Little Doctor in the Political Arena 官场小医仙 [Urban Daily Life] [Urban Cultivation] [Miracle Doctor] [Officialdom] [Urban Farming] The jianghu is not about fighting and killing. It is about human relationships and social conventions, and the same is even truer of officialdom. At the lowest point of his life, Shi Kejun acted on a reckless impulse and offended station director Wang Xin, but unexpectedly found himself entering the world of officialdom. He then used his bizarre medical skills to cure the “strange illness” of Liu Lin, the newly 2.3kReads9.3Score64114d adds
- 84 A Xiong in the Workplace 职场阿雄 The notorious “car scandal” made headlines everywhere, and the woman at its center turned out to be Xiong Jun's girlfriend, Shi Tiantian. Furious, Xiong Jun broke up with her. Then Xiong Jun hit the darkest point of his life. See how an ordinary man turns his fortunes around...! No golden finger, just a story grounded in reality! 135Reads—Score—14d adds
- 85 A Romantic City Slicker: The Nice Guy’s Comeback System 都市风流之暖男翻身系统 "Ding! Host detected as a super considerate guy, struck by emotional devastation. The Nice Guy Comeback System is activating!" After three years together, Yan Hehuan gave Jiang Xiaoqing his whole heart, scrimping and saving while treating her like a princess. In the end, all he got was: "You're just a backup." On the day they broke up, he was mocked in public as a poor loser, but unexpectedly activated the Nice Guy Comeback System. Beginner's mission: Get your ex-girlfriend to willingly sleep wi 4.2kReads8.7Score65814d adds
- 86 A Book by Jiangling Buyi 江陵布衣的一本书 My new work is out! You can read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you’ll enjoy it. Your support motivates me to write, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! 448Reads8.4Score10114d adds
- 87 Betrayed by the System From the Start, I Catch the Eye of a CEO's Heiress 开局被系统坑，竟被总裁千金盯上 My new work is out! You can read it on Tomato Novels. I hope you enjoy it. Your support is my motivation to write, and I will strive to tell every story well! 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 88 Back on the Road to Office: Making Waves in Legal and Political Circles 重走官途之在政法圈风生水起 First, there are no melodramatic plots built around a reborn protagonist’s foreknowledge. The story closely reflects the realities of officialdom, with strong logic and a clear central plot. Second, it fills a gap in rebirth novels by exploring legal and political subject matter, offering an in-depth look at political maneuvering and rhetorical tactics from within the legal and political system. Third, it avoids the multiple-heroines trope. Most rebirth stories feature several heroines, which fe 382Reads5.5Score—14d adds
- 89 Stop Pretending, You’re Mine 别装了，你是我的 “Had your fill of looking? Believe me, I’ll gouge your eyes out!” Meng Nan raised an eyebrow and replied coolly, “You chose to dress like this to meet me. Did you expect me to come in with my eyes closed? And keeping them shut the whole time would be disrespectful to you.” Ding Zhirou’s anger flared. “As the head of security, is this how you treat your superior?” “I have very high standards. There aren’t many women who can hold my gaze for more than ten seconds. Today, you’ve become one of them! 75Reads6.0Score—14d adds
- 90 An Ordinary Man’s Official Career: A Police Chief at Twenty-Four 凡人官途，二十四岁的公安局长 [A genuine political-intrigue novel] Cheng Bo was just starting his career and was thrilled to become an assistant to the town mayor. But after taking up the post, he discovered that he had also been saddled with a daunting mission! 44.7kReads8.0Score3.8k14d adds
- 91 Township Officials 乡镇干部 A humorous, witty story about Zhu Zhenggang, a grassroots township official, and the strange incidents he encounters on the job. Through his experiences, it offers a glimpse into the lives and governance of officials at the township level. 288Reads9.0Score—14d adds
- 92 The Pinnacle of Power: The Crackdown on Organized Crime 权力巅峰之破局者：扫黑风暴 Wang Xiaolin is greeted with a carefully orchestrated welcome gift! She is forced to investigate the Old Town Redevelopment Project herself. As the investigation deepens, the clues point to her secret boyfriend, his mother, and the best friend she has had for twenty years. A game of intrigue that began with a conspiracy. 583Reads—Score—14d adds
- 93 Reborn: Rising Step by Step 重生之步步高升 A gunshot rang out, and Zhao Changtian, awaiting execution, was reborn ten years in the past! Back then, he was drowning in gambling debts, his third marriage had fallen apart, and his job was hanging by a thread! But all of that was merely the starting point of his extraordinary life! Watch him rise with force from the bottom of a state-owned enterprise, climb steadily through the ranks, and reach the summit! This is the iron-fisted journey of a reborn man! This isn’t a work of documentary fict 13.4kReads8.3Score1.6k14d adds
- 94 The Rise and Fall of Officialdom: Starting with the Crackdown on Organized Crime 宦海浮沉：从扫除黑恶开始 Everyday urban life + Career in government + Poverty alleviation + Anti-gang operations + Anti-corruption Night falls in Bingcheng, and the city lights flicker to life. Three poverty-alleviation secretaries have died in the line of duty in quick succession, pushing the meeting's atmosphere to a breaking point. All the burden now rests on Yan Qing, a demobilized military officer. As the newly appointed secretary stationed in the village, can he uncover the truth? Or, more precisely, will he live 7.4kReads8.8Score71414d adds
- 95 The Scumbag Patriarch of the Cultivation World 修仙界，渣男祖师爷 (Multiple heroines, laid-back, feel-good cultivation fantasy. If you don't like it, don't read.) Buy an adult woman? Ha! They eat too much! If you think giving another man a woman for free will make him smile, think again. No one’s going to smile at you! That’s right. In a year of great calamity, human life is worth the least. This story begins in a year of great calamity, when Lin Fan buys a long-term laborer and his petite, charming wife… 270Reads—Score3014d adds
- 96 The Storm of Power 权力风暴 After leaving the military, protagonist Jiang Yunhao embarks on his political career. In his struggles against his rivals, Jiang Yunhao sticks to his principles and never shies away from a challenge. He also frequently surprises people with his strategic skill. In the end, through his own hard work and the recognition of influential leaders, Jiang Yunhao carves out a path of his own to the top. 5.2kReads8.9Score43514d adds
- 97 From the Start, I Got Dumped on a Blind Date, and Rose to the Top from Then On 开局相亲被分手我从此青云之上 [No Golden Finger] [No Transmigration] [Single Heroine] [A Rise from the Grassroots] Wang Li fails his college entrance exams, and his father arranges for him to attend a police vocational program. Three years after graduating, he still hasn’t been promoted. Then he gets an opportunity. From then on, he rises rapidly through the ranks. His blind date gets dumped, and Wang Li turns around to become her boss. This is a fictional work set in an imagined world. All people, place names, and events in 46kReads8.3Score3.2k14d adds
- 98 She's Gone Mad! The Female Streamer Publicly Admits She's Obsessed with Me 疯了！女主播当众自曝她是我舔狗 (No harems, no goody-two-shoes, decisive tycoon) His beautiful girlfriend, dressed in sheer stockings and high heels, looked at him coldly. “This is over.” … Chen Jiang had once been a carefree rich playboy, but his family fell on hard times, and reality treated him brutally. Then he unexpectedly awakened a System and began surging ahead, going on to live a life of luxury. The campus belle, a wealthy heiress, a popular streamer… More and more people wanted to be friends with him. Chen Jiang: Bu 533Reads7.1Score—14d adds
- 99 A Book by Xiao Yu 小鱼的一本书 A low-ranking civil servant content to coast through life catches the eye of a female superior, who forces him to marry her. His career in government stretches on, but he never expected what would be waiting for him... 12.6kReads9.0Score1.2k14d adds
- 100 Reaching the Summit: From Entry-Level Clerk to the Pinnacle of Power 问鼎：从基层科员到权力巅峰 Liang Zhiyuan, a low-ranking government clerk, happens to rescue a mysterious person from drowning, unaware that she is Chen Hailing, the new leader parachuted in from above. Together, they uncover the tangled web of underground dealings in Shiyi County. When the illicit trade comes to light, armed with the favor of the county Party secretary, he navigates the factions around him and fights his way from a sleepy government office into the vortex of power. 854Reads7.8Score21814d adds
