Novels like A Top Scholar Rises from a Humble Family
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as A Top Scholar Rises from a Humble Family, best match first.
- 1 The Imperial Examinations: Rising from a Humble Background 科举：从寒门开始崛起 Watch as Yang Yi rises from an ordinary commoner, step by step, to the pinnacle of power. The first part focuses mainly on his journey through the imperial examinations, while the later part follows his career in government. The more he suffers early on, the more wildly he strikes back later. 66Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 2 Xu Erlang's Road to the Imperial Exams 徐家二郎的科举之路 After an accident, Xu Xu, a modern university student majoring in traditional Chinese medicine, transmigrated to an ancient farming family. To give himself and his family a better life and keep them safe, he embarked on the long road of the imperial examinations. He passed and became a county magistrate in a remote region, eventually rising to the highest ranks of government. 39Reads—Score—14d adds
- 3 The Poor Scholar's Imperial Exams: Six Top Scores in a Row 寒门科举，连中六元 [Imperial exams + transmigration + System + not a power fantasy + everyday life] One moment, Wang Yuanqing transmigrates, and the next he's the only son in a farming family in Wangjia Village, Great Yuan, with seven beautiful older sisters. His family has next to nothing, and in an era when everything else is considered inferior to scholarship, Wang Yuanqing must climb the ranks step by step to protect his family. 62Reads—Score—14d adds
- 4 The Imperial Exams: A Poor Scholar's Journey 科举，寒门读书郎 [Imperial examinations + lighthearted + everyday life + one heroine] Li Chengping transmigrated to Daqian, a strange dynasty. He had planned to live off his family in a scenic spot by the mountains and water, but the backbreaking labor service of ancient times terrified him. If he didn't want to work, he'd have to find another way to live. This is the story of a farmer's son who studies for the imperial examinations. Zhang Erniang: “If you could put in the effort to memorize your books while eat 6Reads6.9Score—14d adds
- 5 Civil Service Exams in a Troubled Age: A Farmer's Son's Road to Glory 乱世科举：农家子的光耀门楣路 The Li family had a young rogue who stole chickens, picked pockets, loafed around, and never learned a thing. After stealing a bellyband and making advances on a young woman, he was beaten to death. With no food at home and his father paralyzed, he faced a hopeless start. His weathered, stooped grandfather stood by as the young man picked up a book and entered the imperial examinations. Everyone in the village waited to laugh. The notorious Li Rogue passing the exams would be the biggest joke of 58Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 6 Who Can Out-Grind Me in the Imperial Exams? 科举卷王谁怕谁 Six-year-old Chen Yong'an lies sprawled across the trunk of a large willow tree by the river, his head and limbs dangling limply as he drifts in and out of consciousness. His whole body feels cold and soaked, and something is digging into his chest and stomach. He tries desperately to turn over, but can't summon any strength. His stomach churns, and he chokes up another mouthful of murky river water... Chen Yong'an has just graduated from his master's program when he transmigrates to a farming 11Reads—Score—14d adds
- 7 A Farm Boy's Road to Turning His Life Around Through the Imperial Exams 农家少年科举翻身路 In his previous life, Hang Yan had always been a top student, but he never managed to make anything of himself. He went from being a beloved prodigy to a wage slave everyone pitied. People said good grades were useless, but then he was reborn in the womb and returned to an era when studying could change your fate. A dilapidated home, a doting family, I, a genius boy, will pass all six imperial examinations and rise to power over the whole court. Go ahead and tell me studying is useless again. I 122Reads8.6Score—14d adds
- 8 A Poor Scholar's Road to the Top Scholar Title 寒门子弟的状元之路 He was an ordinary university student, but a chance encounter transmigrates him to ancient times. Follow his journey as he rises from humble beginnings, studies hard for the imperial examinations, earns the title of top scholar, and sets out on the path to becoming chief minister. 45Reads5.8Score—14d adds
- 9 Regretting My College Entrance Exam in My Past Life, I Fulfill My Wish in the Imperial Exams This Life 前世高考之憾，今世科举得愿 No System, no golden finger, and no womanizing. A soul disillusioned with modern life is reborn in a body in the Great Xia Dynasty. In his previous life, he made a living delivering food; in this one, he intends to give this decaying dynasty a chance at rebirth. The dynasty's institutions closely resemble those of the late Ming. Its deep-rooted ills are compounded by corrupt officials wreaking havoc within and powerful enemies circling beyond its borders. Chaos reigns, and the people suffer. Wit —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 10 The First Noble Son-in-Law of the Apocalypse 天启第一贵婿 What should you do after transmigrating to the Tianqi Dynasty and being granted a marriage by the emperor? Zhao Yu looked at the emperor's resolute face and sighed helplessly. But I really don't like princesses. I like gentle, adorable palace maids. With no other choice, Zhao Yu racked his brains for a way to call off the engagement. He was even willing to ruin his own reputation to do it, but things seemed to be going rather differently from what he'd expected. The plot was taking an increasing 46Reads6.9Score—14d adds
- 11 A Farmer’s Son and His Daily Life in the Imperial Exam World 农家子的科举日常 Lin Nianjun, a modern woman with an unyielding spirit, transmigrates to an unfamiliar ancient farming household. Even more bizarrely, she has transmigrated into a man’s body. The farming family she finds herself in lives in poverty and hardship. But Lin Nianjun knows that only knowledge can change one’s fate, so she resolutely sets her sights on the imperial examinations. Along the way, she finds familial affection, friendship, and the bond between teacher and student. For the first time in th 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 12 A Farmboy's Guide to the Imperial Exams: I'm One Lucky Layabout! 农家科举子我是躺赢狗！ Li Xuan opens his eyes and finds himself inexplicably transported to a dynasty called Great Qi. The country is in desperate need of rebuilding, and he is a farmer's son, the hope his whole family is counting on… 44Reads—Score—14d adds
- 13 Transmigrated as a Farmer's Son, I Top the Exams and Become Emperor 穿越成农家子六元及第当皇帝 The protagonist, Yang Xuanche, transmigrates to a parallel world and an ancient dynasty that never existed in history. Born into a poor farming family, he relies on his modern knowledge to rise step by step. He sweeps all six imperial examinations, earns a noble title, and becomes a chancellor. He then uses his modern knowledge to improve people’s lives and vigorously develop the country’s industry and military, making it ever more prosperous. Eventually, he discovers that he is the emperor’s le 15Reads—Score—14d adds
- 14 Reborn to Turn the Tide, Restore the Ming and Expand Its Borders 重生之力挽狂澜，扶明拓土 During the Yongli era of the Southern Ming, on the banks of the Shuidu River, the King of Burma closes in step by step, leaving the last ruler of the Great Ming facing utter despair. The protagonist transmigrates into the body of a common soldier. From then on, the winds of change blow for thirty years: the Qing are overthrown, the Westerners driven out, and the borders expanded, as the sun never sets on the rising Great Ming... —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 15 The Unlucky Fool Becomes a Judge in Ancient Times 倒霉蛋回到古代当法官 [Ensemble cast + System + alternate world] If you don't like it, click the X in the top left and move on. No need to complain. A bolt of heavenly lightning sends Li Xiaosi to an unknown ancient world, where he's tasked with making a name for himself in the history books. Why should he do what he's told? Just as he's about to say something nasty, another bolt of lightning booms overhead. Fine, he's the most obedient, well-behaved little darling there is. But after all the bad luck he had in the m —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 16 The Imperial Examination 科举 The examination hall was packed, with everyone seated. I clutched the wooden strip hidden in my sleeve, covered in answers. My palm was already soaked with sweat. After today, if I pass the imperial examinations and come out on top, I will no longer be the lowly stable hand everyone looks down on in the Ji household. But this is my first time smuggling in answers, after all. It's only natural that I feel a little uneasy. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 17 From Kitchen Worker to Imperial Exam Candidate 穿成灶户考科举 After transmigrating into the past as a “stove worker,” she lives at a saltworks in poverty. She had thought that working hard might let her become a salt merchant, but the ancient world has a rigid class system, and the only way to change her family's fate is through the imperial examinations. See how Ling Xiao, having transmigrated from the modern era, takes the imperial examinations while leading her family to prosperity, making her way from the saltworks to officialdom and gradually changing 640Reads7.2Score10614d adds
- 18 Striving Forward 奋进 This is not an accident, nor is it the end. It is a brand-new beginning. Only by continuing forward can we find hope. Not everyone enjoys hardship and toil. You need a goal in your heart to keep moving forward. 20Reads—Score—14d adds
- 19 The Poor Scholar: From the Start, I Was Matched with Twin Brides 寒门状元：开局分配双胞胎娘子 This is a dynasty where men rule and women are inferior, and men are extremely scarce. As soon as Yang Jing transmigrates here, the authorities force him to take two wives. They’re twins, both fair-skinned beauties with long legs. Yang Jing admits they’re a treat for the eyes, but there isn’t even enough food in the house to last the night. He simply can’t afford to feed them! There’s no other choice! To improve his family’s life, he has to take the path of studying, learning martial arts, passi 79Reads7.8Score—14d adds
- 20 Wherever I Go, I’m Taking the Civil Service Exam 穿到哪里都要考编 A low-ranking clerk worked overtime until he dropped dead, only to transmigrate into the body of a young master from a prestigious family. Back when I was in government, I had to grovel and scrape. Now, I'm frighteningly powerful. I can thrive without any cheats. 58Reads5.1Score—14d adds
- 21 The He Clan's Palace Graduate 何氏传胪 [Imperial examinations + business + farming + native protagonist + romance] Born into a family of scholars and farmers, he comes from a long line of officials. His direct relatives now include a third-rank court official, but his own branch is so distant that they have been excluded from the clan for five generations. To restore the family’s former glory and stop his grandmother and grandparents from being mocked, he has only one path: the imperial examinations. He takes exam after exam, builds 723Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 22 The Imperial Examinations of a Farming Family 农门科举 [Turbulent Court, Speaking Up for the People] After an accident, Zhang Ping transmigrates to an impoverished farming family in ancient times. Scene One “To establish a path for the people, preserve the lost teachings of the sages, and bring peace to all generations: this is our mission. Even if we die nine times, we shall have no regrets.” Zhang Ping asked, “Teacher, isn't this the original aspiration of us scholars?” Scene Two He never forgot his original aspiration. After great hardship, Zhang 98Reads6.5Score—14d adds
- 23 Going Back to Ancient Times to Take the Imperial Exams 回到古代考科举 [Imperial exams] + [officialdom] + [getting rich] + [sweet romance] Jin Yu had always been the kind of student other parents pointed to as an example. He studied straight through to a postdoctoral degree, finishing at the age of twenty-five. Books had always been his companions. Fortunately, he didn't dislike studying. In fact, he loved it. One day, he transmigrated into the body of an ordinary farm boy. He was too weak to carry a shoulder pole or lift a load. In the end, he still had to rely on 16Reads6.8Score—14d adds
- 24 A Journey Through the Officialdom 宦海征途 [Alternate History + Transmigration + Single Male Lead + Strategy] Zhao Liyang, a student in the Chinese department at Yanjing University, is struck and killed. He transmigrates to the Kingdom of Cheng. As someone who has transmigrated, Zhao Liyang swears he won't let this life go to waste before he leaves this world again. He takes the imperial examinations, becomes an official, and enters the court. He earns military merit, speaks out against his sovereign, and battles treacherous ministers. A 195Reads7.0Score—14d adds
- 25 I Led the Crown Prince Astray 我把太子带歪了 [Transmigration + Eunuch + Lighthearted + National Destiny] Wang Daqun transmigrates to the end of the Ming dynasty and becomes Crown Prince Zhu Cilang's personal eunuch and study companion. But that's not even the worst of it: the court officials neither suppress the bandits nor destroy the Qing, and instead line up to file complaints with him. Just you wait. If I don't lead the crown prince astray and take him to your homes to dig, dig, dig until we've hauled away every last bit of silver, the —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 26 The Long Road to the Imperial Exams as a Farmer's Son 穿成农家子的漫漫科举路 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 2.6kReads7.3Score15514d adds
- 27 Turning the Tables in the Imperial Exams: A Cat Swapped for the Crown Prince from the Start 科举逆袭：开局狸猫换太子 [One-on-one romance + System + imperial examinations + historical fiction + transmigration to an alternate world] Chen Xiao was once the head of a modern family of martial arts practitioners. Who could have imagined that his fiancée and younger brother would betray him? After dying, he was born into the Great Wei dynasty and became the crown prince who had been switched at birth! On the road to success in the imperial examinations, Chen Xiao pushed forward with his indomitable spirit, repeatedly 11Reads7.1Score—14d adds
- 28 The Eight-Gui Clan 八桂世家 In the early years of the Xianfeng Emperor's reign, the fires of war spread across Guangxi as the Mo clan beneath Mount Zijin was swept into the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom movement. To preserve the ancestral shrine and keep the family rites alive, clan leader Mo Wenhua maneuvers between Qing forces demanding provisions and Taiping troops recruiting soldiers. Some young men in the clan join the Taiping army in search of a way forward, while others stay behind to guard the ancestral home and protect —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 29 At Hoeing Time Beneath the Midday Sun, I Fell for the Imperial Exams 锄禾日当午我和科举处 [Imperial examinations + daily life + romance, with a male-female pairing; the protagonist is still a child at this stage] Su Yan transmigrates into a new life as an infant in swaddling clothes, born premature and frail into a family with nothing but four bare walls. He’d already lived freely enough in his previous life, and now, everything goes black before his eyes. He just wants to give up and be reborn as soon as possible. But each time he’s on the brink of death, he narrowly survives. He ch 2Reads8.0Score—14d adds
- 30 The Mo Clan Rises Amid the Tumult of the Late Qing 烽起清末莫氏崛起 In the twenty-ninth year of the Daoguang reign, a severe drought struck Guangxi. The land was strewn with the dead, and the flames of rebellion were already spreading in secret at Jintian. Mo Zhenbang, a modern graduate student of Qing history, opens his eyes to find himself a scholar of the Mo clan in Beiliu County, Wuzhou Prefecture. He inherits a complete mess: “eight hundred mu of poor fields with falling yields, a thousand clansmen waiting to be fed, and a fifty-tael loan shark pounding on 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 31 My Precious Grandson's Journey to the Imperial Exams 宝贝孙子的科举之路 My grandma is what everyone calls a nightmare, but she absolutely dotes on me and gives me anything I want. In that case, I'll make sure she gets to live a life free of worries, with fine clothes and plenty to eat. (No romance between people of the same sex. None. Any mentions of it early on are just a misunderstanding.) 4Reads8.1Score—14d adds
- 32 The Imperial Exams: I'm the Top Scholar from a Humble Family 科举，我是寒门状元 By a stroke of luck, Chen Zi’ang transmigrated to the Great Qing Dynasty. See how this son of a farming family relies on his own efforts to pass the imperial exams and become the top scholar… 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 33 Taking the Imperial Exams in Great Qian 我在大乾考科举 Kong Jin, a farmer's son, spends ten years studying and finally earns top honors in the imperial examinations. But after making too many enemies, he is framed by villains and his entire family is executed. Reborn, he is determined to turn the whole world upside down! 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 34 The Lazy Little Sister’s Daily Routine of Clinging to Her Powerful Big Brother 2 摆烂妹妹抱大佬哥哥大腿日常2 What should you do when you transmigrate into a story about the imperial exams as the male lead’s younger sister? Eat, drink, and have fun while waiting for your powerful older brother to look after you. Life isn’t peaceful because of fate. It’s because I have a brother who clears the way for me. Come see Li Yizhu’s days of winning without lifting a finger. 24Reads—Score—14d adds
- 35 Changing My Family's Status, I Aim to Top the Imperial Exams 改换门庭，我要科举高中 A programmer from the 21st century had a happy family and a fulfilling life, but then he transmigrated into the family of a feudal-era small landowner. Seeing the tenants’ lives, his simple-minded cousin, and his family desperately guarding their farmland, he declared, “I’ll take the imperial examinations! I’m going to climb into the clouds and see what’s up there!” 68Reads—Score—14d adds
- 36 The Way of Power 权道 In the Great Qian Empire, barbarian forces attack from the south, while the Qiang press in from the west. Yet even with the nation on the verge of collapse, the court remains consumed by intrigue and betrayal. In this time of chaos, a high-ranking court official is murdered in Lin'an County, and his entire household in the capital is wiped out. Was it an accident, or was it planned? The players, too, are pieces on the board! Could a supposedly brilliant move itself be just another piece in someo —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 37 He Was Only Interested in Her Looks 他不过是见色起意罢了 After transmigrating into another body, Shen Nanan, a talented young scholar from Jiangnan, meets Yu Hongyao, a beauty from the capital. One glance is all it takes for him to fall head over heels. He swears he’ll win her heart! But how easy is it to win over a beautiful woman as cold as ice? Everyone thinks the wealthy and powerful young master of the Shen family is merely lusting after another pretty face! Shen Nanan just smiles at the worldly gossip and judgment. But he never expected that the 1Reads8.0Score—14d adds
- 38 Born the Only Son of a Farming Family, I Support the Clan Through the Imperial Exams 穿成农门独子，科举支家 [One Female Lead] + [Heartwarming Farming] + [Business] + [Everyday Life in the Marketplace] + [Imperial Examinations] + [One Wonderful Family, Kind Relatives] Modern college student Mei Chang'an wakes up to find himself in a shabby room in ancient times, with a beautiful young woman lying beside him... The original owner of his body was a scholar who had failed the imperial examinations. His parents are tenant farmers on a landlord's estate, where the ruthless landlord exploits them and taxes a —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 39 The Road to the Imperial Examinations Begins as a Student 科举之路从童生开始 Lin Ying transmigrates. He had been researching the history of the imperial examination system at a research institute, but one careless moment sends him to ancient times, where he becomes the son of a farming family on his way to sit the exams. What else can he do? For the sake of a better life, he can only give it everything he’s got! On the long road to success in the imperial examinations, Lin Ying sets himself a small goal: first, pass the entry-level exam and become a student! 465Reads9.0Score—14d adds
- 40 The Imperial Exam: Top of the Six Tests, Reshaping the Workplace 科举，六元及第整顿职场 (No System, no golden finger, one female lead) (A slow-burn story) In the 21st century, the only person in Tianhai University’s history to earn master’s degrees in both the arts and sciences suddenly transmigrates into the body of a poor farmer’s son in ancient times. Looking at the bare walls of his home and the family who place all their hopes in him, Wang Ping can only gaze at the heavens in speechless resignation. Since all other pursuits are inferior and only scholarship is esteemed, he wi 941Reads7.5Score10714d adds
- 41 A Farm Boy’s Journey to the Imperial Exams 农家娃的科举生涯 Li Shan is born into ancient times with memories from before, but he has amnesia. Even so, the belief that he must study, despite growing up poor, is etched into his bones. In the end, this impoverished family, mocked by everyone, really does produce an official. He brings prosperity to the community and grows into a great figure renowned throughout the history books... A heads-up: The author came up with many of the settings, systems, and so on on the spur of the moment. Readers who care about 221Reads6.5Score—14d adds
- 42 Build a Fortune and Pass the Imperial Exams 发家致富考科举 [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 1kReads8.6Score10314d adds
- 43 Transmigrated into the Foil Character in an Imperial Exam Novel 穿成科举文里的对照组 Yu Wenyan, a Shandong native who had worked hard to become a civil servant, transmigrates into a book. In the story, he’s a wasteful, gambling, wine-loving underachiever who resents his younger brother for being good at school and spends every day trying to sabotage his studies and civil service exam prospects. The transmigrated Yu Wenyan makes one thing clear: not studying is out of the question, and not taking the civil service exam is out of the question too. Playing dirty is out of the quest 26Reads6.5Score—14d adds
- 44 Top Scorer in All Six Exams, the Emperor Begs Me to Become Chief Grand Secretary 六元及第，皇帝追着当首辅 Chen An was born into another world, where he became the son of a farming family that couldn't even afford a proper meal. His life plan was simple: study hard, earn an official degree, make sure his family could eat white rice, marry a hardworking wife, have two children, and live out his days in peace. To avoid taking unnecessary detours, he casually apprenticed himself to an old scholar who sometimes acted crazy at the village entrance. To earn some good karma, he casually rescued a down-on-hi 3.9kReads8.0Score23814d adds
- 45 The Top Scholar from a Poor Family: The Whole Village Helps Me Rise to Greatness 寒门状元：全村扶我青云志 The soul of a modern PhD in Chinese Language and Literature is trapped in the frail body of a seven-year-old orphan in the Great Xia Dynasty. What he possesses is a way of thinking powerful enough to overturn an entire era. What he faces is utter poverty, with only his frail older sister to rely on. No heaven-defying System, no fantastical martial arts, only knowledge and wisdom from a thousand years in the future. He will make the imperial examinations his sole battlefield and begin an unpre 1.4kReads7.6Score10314d adds
- 46 The Poor Aren’t Meant to Become Top Scholars? I’ll Defy You, So Why Are You Crying? 寒门不配出状元？我反了你哭什么 Lu Feng transmigrates to a parallel world and becomes the top-ranked scholar in the highest tier of the Great Qian Empire's imperial examinations. He thought he would become a general or minister and help the emperor accomplish great things, but instead, aristocratic clans framed him and threw him into the imperial prison, claiming that a man from a humble family had no right to become the top scholar. In prison, he awakens the Lord System, but its activation condition is that Lu Feng must leave 126Reads—Score—14d adds
- 47 Building a Home 筑家 After losing his job, graduate Zhang An buys three books touted as must-haves for anyone who transmigrates: the Militia Military Training Manual, the Barefoot Doctors’ Manual, and the Guide to Civilian and Military Careers. Little does he expect that disaster will strike, and he’ll be crushed beneath a truck. He arrives in a dynasty that seems familiar, yet isn’t: the Zhao, Jin, and Meng kingdoms. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 48 Transmigrated to Ancient Times to Take the Imperial Exams in a Farming Novel 穿越古代在种田文里考科举 [Rags-to-Riches Reversal + Political Intrigue + No System] He wakes up to find himself the son of a dirt-poor farming family. His parents are counting on him to change their fate through study, while the whole village waits to see him make a fool of himself! Wen You'an says, “What’s there to panic about? A top student is a top student anywhere! A scientific approach to exam prep? Coming right up! Targeted poverty alleviation to improve the family’s lot? Absolutely!” From the county exam to the p 414Reads6.1Score—14d adds
- 49 The Imperial Exams: A Farmer’s Son Brings Glory to His Family in a Farming Novel 科举：农家子在种田文里光宗耀祖 Gu Yanshan was an ordinary modern web novelist who could write at lightning speed. He never imagined that he would wake up one day having transmigrated through time into the body of a farm boy in ancient times. In this world, his hands were only good for holding a brush. When it came to catching chickens, he was utterly helpless. Aside from writing a few essays, he knew nothing about anything else. Want to make a fortune in a world where people lived off farming? It seemed the only hope Gu Yansh 24Reads—Score—14d adds
- 50 The Imperial Examination Path of a Lazybones in Ancient Times 咸鱼古代的科举路 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—14d adds
