Novels like White Mountains, Black Waters
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as White Mountains, Black Waters, best match first.
- 1 Officialdom: Power in Interwoven Hands 官场：权利交织 Shang Quancai never expected that simply bragging would let two women turn the tables on him. He didn't want to lose face in front of them, so if he bragged to the point where nobody could prove him wrong, then it wouldn't count as bragging, right? Wasn't there a saying in official circles that nothing is impossible, only people who can't get things done? Besides, once you've taken a dump, can you really sit back down in it? 188Reads6.1Score10814d adds
- 2 In the Name of the People: Joining the Party at 25 名义：从95开始进部 In 2024, Chen Ping'an died suddenly while studying for an exam. When he opened his eyes, he had returned to 1995, the year he was born, as an unemployed young man with the same name. Drawing on hazy memories and a keen instinct for risk, he made a daring leap in the early stock market and earned his first fortune. Though a fast track to wealth lay within easy reach, he turned around and signed up for the township civil service exam. Carrying the memories of two lifetimes, he plunged headfirst in 14Reads—Score—14d adds
- 3 Battle of the Heart 心争 Just before graduating, university student Cui Dongshan gets dumped by his girlfriend. His parents have already arranged a better career path for him, but he no longer has any desire to compete for one. Going against his family’s wishes, he becomes a village official in Yaxi Village. As he learns from life in the countryside, he also meets Li Xi. He wants to do practical work with both feet on the ground and climb the ranks one step at a time. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 4 The Road to Power Begins with Taking the Fall 权利巅峰从背锅侠开始 In 2025, Lu Chenzhou closed his eyes in despair. His career was in ruins, and his family had been destroyed. When he opened them again, time had turned back. He was in the conference room in 2003, at the meeting that would decide his fate. “Lu Chenzhou, you have to take full responsibility for this mess!” Zhao Tiankuo's sharp accusation was exactly the same as in his previous life. In his past life, he had bowed his head and admitted his guilt, and from then on had plunged into the abyss. This t 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 5 The Righteous Path Is Never Easy, but It's Worth Taking 正道从来不是坦途，但值得走 The protagonist of this book is no chosen one, and he has no golden finger. He is simply a young man sent from the provincial government to work at the grassroots level. He has abilities, but also flaws; he has ideals, but is afraid of getting into trouble. He has acted foolishly, taken detours, and chosen silence at certain moments, but in the end, he still stepped forward when it mattered. This is not a wish-fulfillment story. It is a book about one question: “What can someone who wants to get —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 6 Reborn at the Summit of the Officialdom 重生之官路巅峰 Born into a rural family and a graduate of an ordinary teachers’ college, he suffers betrayal by his girlfriend before entering politics and earning the appreciation of his superiors. In the end, he rises to the pinnacle of political power. Vividly portraying the shifting tides and power struggles of officialdom, this story takes you into a political world full of challenges and opportunities, revealing the complexity and subtlety of its ecosystem. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 7 Reaching for the Clouds: When My Patron Fell, I Rose from the Bottom 问鼎青云：靠山倒了我从基层逆袭 Ding Changlin has been having terrible luck lately, though it has nothing to do with his abilities. A cold, beautiful woman has mistaken him for a murder suspect and won't stop hounding him... 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 8 I Won't Hide It Anymore: You Can't Handle the Wrath of a War King 不装了，兵王的怒火你接不住 I’m done holding back. You can’t handle a soldier king’s fury. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 9 The Storms of Jiangcheng 江城风云 The heroic martial artists Xiao Yifeng and Lin Xue arrive in Jiangcheng, driven by a sense of justice. They step forward and, through their extraordinary martial skills and decisive actions, repeatedly save the people from the brink of disaster. They then turn their attention to the martial world, joining forces with the major sects to fight fearlessly against evil forces such as the Dark Sect. Through one thrilling clash after another, their skills grow ever more formidable with each battle, an 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 10 The Road to Power: The Blade Is Drawn in the Anti-Crime Storm 官途：扫黑风暴之利刃出鞘 19.5kReads6.8Score1.5k14d adds
- 11 A Weathered Political Career 沧桑官途 Without attaching himself to power, and without using it to bully others, Gong Zheng unexpectedly embarked on a career in public service. Starting by taking the fall for the county Party secretary, he skillfully leveraged every opportunity and rose steadily through the ranks, while also experiencing the ups and downs of officialdom... 121Reads—Score—14d adds
- 12 The Unorthodox Sword on the Road to Officialdom 仕途之剑走偏锋 While others are scrambling to transfer into city government offices, he chooses to head down to the grassroots level, moving from the top to the bottom. In truth, he is taking this unconventional path to make himself stronger. This is a comeback story set in the world of politics. A man from humble beginnings relies on his own intelligence and courage to overcome obstacle after obstacle on his career path, ultimately becoming a talented young leader in charge of an entire region... 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 13 The Debtor 欠债人 Bian Xiangyang was drowning in debt. Overwhelmed after his divorce, he jumped into a river to end his life, but Jiang Zihao happened to be there and stopped him. Jiang hatched a sinister scheme and hired him for two million yuan to murder his mistress, Wang Lili. But Bian was completely won over by Wang Lili's beauty and courage. He learned that everything she did was for revenge, came to understand her, and fell in love with her. He went on to climb the career ladder and begin a new life... The 9Reads—Score—14d adds
- 14 Rising Through the Ranks of Officialdom 官场之青云直上 He was promoted and appointed, only to be sent to a remote mountain township in the middle of nowhere. Was it a demotion, or was there another assignment? Ouyang Ming upheld his sense of justice and fought for the people. He cleared away the fog, broke through the deadlock, stood out, navigated political intrigue, and punished lawbreakers. Righteous and fearless, Ouyang Ming climbed step by step toward the peak of his life. 193Reads—Score—14d adds
- 15 A Career in Politics: The Ambitious Man’s Rise 官场人生之鸿鹄逆袭 Lin Tian is down on his luck at work, and when he gets home, he receives a “surprise” from his wife! When life hits rock bottom, what is there left to fear? Just as he loses all hope, he unexpectedly uses his remarkable medical skills to save a mysterious powerful figure… 104Reads—Score—14d adds
- 16 Li Xiaoguang’s Road to Politics 李晓光从政之路 Li Xiaoguang started out at the grassroots level in a small town, quietly working hard in difficult conditions. He faced countless hardships and pain along the way, yet never gave up. His perseverance brought him the joy of success, and through tireless effort he steadily rose through the ranks, eventually reaching the top and writing an inspiring story. 12Reads—Score—14d adds
- 17 A Shadow War for Power: I Rise to the Top 权力暗战：我一飞冲天 Wang Mancang, a township civil servant, accidentally saves He Chaomei, director of the county Discipline Inspection Commission's Supervision Office. From then on, his career takes off and fortune smiles on him... 124Reads6.3Score—14d adds
- 18 A Catastrophic Start: Washed Ashore in Laoba Village on a Deserted Island 天崩开局：上岸流放海岛老坝村 During Yunxi City’s selection exams, Ke Nan stands out with the highest written-test score and a perfect interview. As student council president of Guangnan University, he thinks he has finally secured the golden key to a career in government. But on his first day at work, an official order sends him to Laoba Village, the city’s most remote fishing village on an island, to serve as an assistant in village affairs. Over three years in the village, he is beaten with a cudgel, made a scapegoat, and 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 19 A Book from Nanyue Under Heaven 天下南岳的一本书 343Reads8.6Score10214d adds
- 20 The Road to Officialdom: From Investigation Team to the Pinnacle of Power 官途：从调查组到权力巅峰 (Political intrigue + urban life + no harem) After witnessing a highway overpass accident, Fei Jianguo unexpectedly becomes the first witness. He is named to the accident investigation team and takes part in the inquiry, only to find that an apparently ordinary accident hides secrets that must not come to light… Fei Jianguo decides to move carefully, one step at a time, and forge his own path to the top. 27Reads6.8Score—14d adds
- 21 Reborn: No Regrets in My Career in Politics 重生之我的官场生涯无憾 Yang Rui had spent his entire life going nowhere in officialdom. At 60, he was reborn, traveling from 2032 back to 1989, the year he had just graduated. He also had an invisible phone that could search for important information. With it, Yang Rui proceeded cautiously, rising step by step through the ranks. He found success in both his career and love, and forged a very different life for himself. 214Reads5.9Score—14d adds
- 22 She Married Someone Else, So I Rose to the Top of Officialdom 她嫁他人我走上仕途巅峰 On the day they broke up, his girlfriend married someone else. Lin Haoyu stood outside a wedding in the county seat, watching the woman who had once promised him forever walk toward another man in her wedding dress. He didn’t make a scene or cry. He turned and walked through the doors of the township government. He would stay and work his way up from the bottom. In this unfamiliar small town, he met Jiang Lan, who loved fiercely and hated fiercely, and the warmhearted Sister Zhao Min. He also 971Reads—Score10214d adds
- 23 The Official’s Road: From Grassroots to the Summit 官路风云从基层到巅峰 Lin Yuan picked up the old suitcase that had been with him for four years. Its wheels clattered over the gravel road, the sound especially grating in the quiet mountain dusk. “Hey, young man, where are you headed?” The man squatting at the end stood up, showing a mouthful of yellow teeth. He was in his forties, with a scar running from the corner of his left eye down to his chin. “To report to the town government.” Lin Yuan tried to keep his voice steady. The men exchanged glances, then burst 424Reads—Score—14d adds
- 24 Thirty Years of Fame, Scattered Like Dust and Earth 三十功名尘与土 This autobiographical work of nonfiction uses a plain yet distinctive, fluid style to vividly recount the winding, dramatic journey of “me,” from an idealistic and inexperienced college graduate to a grassroots leading official. It traces my inner journey and feelings as I strive for my ideals and press ahead in my career, sketching the growth and development of a grassroots official like the soft outlines of a landscape painting. From youthful ambition to a quiet departure, the story and its ci 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 25 The Road to Power in Officialdom 官路权梦 The winds and sands of the northwestern Gobi cannot wear down a young man’s spirit. Clinging to the conviction, “How could I bow and scrape before the powerful, and let that rob me of my joy?”, Sun Zhengping leaves the countryside and enters officialdom. With no connections to rely on and no shortcuts to take, he fights his way through mountains of paperwork and endless meetings, treading carefully through the maelstrom of power. The tides of the times surge. Some people lose their way as their 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 26 City, City 城市，城市 A city, one person, five years. It took more than a decade for a thriving city to become a rundown one. How many years would it take to turn a rundown city back into a thriving one? The city, the city: all of us should cherish and care for it. 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 27 Tales of the National Treasures 国宝奇遇记 National treasures are culture made tangible, with immense cultural and economic value. Countless ancient tombs of kings and nobles lie across the Huaihai Plain, tempting scores of grave robbers, while a group of brave cultural heritage workers devote themselves to protecting these treasures. Zong Yang, head of the Cultural Relics Protection Office at the municipal Cultural Affairs Bureau, spends every day working right under the grave robbers’ guns. 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 28 The Road to the Clouds 青云登梯路 After being bullied by his female supervisor and cheated on by his wife, the woeful Li Rui finally sees his luck turn around. He rescues a VIP trapped by a flash flood and is fortunate enough to be chosen as the top leader's personal secretary. From then on, he transforms into a dragon, struts through the city, and lives out the legendary life of an ordinary man. Author: Qingmutang Wei 37Reads6.1Score—14d adds
- 29 Career System: A Life You Can't Log Out Of 职场系统：无法注销的人生 When overworked office drone Su Xiao is forced to take on her tenth outsourced task, a holographic panel suddenly appears before her eyes: [Workplace Survival System successfully bound!] From then on, every choice she makes triggers a System mission: ● Choosing "refuse overtime" costs her ten years of life; ● Completing "save the project" earns virtual currency that can be exchanged for organ regeneration; ● Making the wrong call in "pick a side" sends her into a parallel-world instance... When —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 30 The Power Struggle's Maze: I Can See the Nexus of Fate 权路迷局：我能看见命运枢纽 In his previous life, he was framed, silenced in a car crash, and met an abrupt end. In this life, he is reborn, and awakens the "Fate Nexus" System. Who will be a valuable connection, who is a hidden enemy, and who harbors secret feelings for him: he can see it all at a glance. A chronicle of power struggles in officialdom, with a "Relationships' Eye" as its blade and rebirth as its sheath. Beneath the clash of power and intrigue lie the subtle shadows of human nature and authority. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 31 I'll Wait for You to Love Me on Day Eight 星期八等你爱我 An inspirational novel, also known as Chasing Light in the Dark and Tied to the Warm Sun In 1990s Guangzhou, a vanguard of China's reform and opening-up, the economy is growing rapidly and material life is becoming increasingly affluent, yet the city is also caught in a whirlpool of rampant materialism. Amid the city's interwoven splendor and clamor, Su Haotian comes from an ordinary background but carries hopes for the future and a desire to change his fate. However, the cruelty of reality repe —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 32 The Pinnacle of Power in Officialdom 官场之权利巅峰 Officialdom is an invisible battlefield, rife with deceit, intrigue, and ever-shifting power struggles. Amid the chaos, Lu Weiming is like a breath of fresh air. Lu Weiming never forgets this: A good official serves the people and benefits the community. To be an official is to be a good one, with two burning convictions in your heart: kindness toward others and a sense of responsibility heavier than a mountain. With a heart full of passion and clean hands, Lu Weiming faces pressure from the p 68Reads—Score—14d adds
- 33 A Selected Graduate's Career in the Sea of Bureaucracy 选调生的宦海生涯 At the turn of the century, Lin Tao, a young man from a farming family, graduates from university at the top of the civil service selection exam and heads to remote Heqing County in Guinan Province. Full of idealism, he soon encounters the many challenges of working in the real world. With keen powers of observation and a remarkable ability to learn, Lin Tao finds his way through the mud and grows stronger through every struggle. A true-to-life political novel that recreates the work and struggl 150Reads6.9Score—14d adds
- 34 I Rise in Officialdom, and My Ex-Fiancée Starts Chasing Me 我官场崛起，退婚的女友开始倒追 [A novel let down by its title. A different kind of political drama, blending career and romance, with multiple heroines, a plot-driven story, and a realistic touch.] Chen Hai’s fiancée is the cherished first love of a powerful official’s son. To force Chen Hai to let her go, she has him demoted to a small rural town. His career hits rock bottom, and his fiancée breaks off their engagement. Chen Hai can only start over and find someone to help him rise again. He thinks the eldest daughter of the 11Reads—Score—14d adds
- 35 From the Fields to the Clouds, Rising from the Bottom 阡陌青云，自基层而上 [Pure Realism + No Golden Finger + Human Nature in Conflict + Deep Character Growth] Once a young reporter with a sincere heart and firm principles, he falls victim to workplace politics and is relegated to the grassroots town of Dahe. Despite adversity, he stays true to his original ideals, works diligently, and takes root in the countryside to get things done. Through sheer grit, he takes a crucial step forward in his career. Transferred to Funan County, he gets caught up in the complex mane 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 36 A Book by Zhanfu 栈斧的一本书 Chen Yuanmin hit rock bottom, but he never gave up. Confident that life would span two hundred years, he vowed to ride the waves for three thousand miles. In the end, he reached the pinnacle of power. 49Reads6.4Score1214d adds
- 37 A Chronicle of Officialdom 官场纪实录 The author works within the system and draws on real experience in officialdom. This is not a wish-fulfillment story; there aren't that many gratifying moments in the system. To make the story more entertaining, some things will be exaggerated and others invented. As for what is real and what is made up, readers can decide for themselves. The place names and personal names are deliberately mismatched, not what you might think. 553Reads—Score10614d adds
- 38 The Self-Cultivation of a Minor Bureaucrat 小官僚的自我修养 What exactly is the system in China? It seeps into every aspect of society and people's hearts, reaching every corner. It is ever-present, like a shadow. This book is a guide to surviving within the system, and can also serve as a case study to learn from. With penetrating thought, firsthand insight, and delicate prose, the author recreates the true story of an ordinary man growing into a minor bureaucrat. The petty rivalries, wine, women, wealth, and power of local officialdom; the humiliation 451Reads8.7Score11814d adds
- 39 Reborn in 1988: A Small-Town Cadre's Defiance of Fate 重生1988小镇干部的逆天改命 In his previous life, Lin Chen’s life plunged into darkness after he was framed. Reborn, he faces the impoverished countryside and undercurrents of officialdom once more. Watch him use his past-life experience to navigate policy and people’s hearts; See how he rises from a suppressed newcomer at the grassroots level to a ruthless force stirring the tide of reform, forging a path to wealth and success in officialdom in the 1980s! —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 40 The Road to Power: Who Holds the Reins? 官路之谁主沉浮 Who will rule this vast land? His superior is murdered, his girlfriend betrays him, and Lin Feng reaches the darkest moment of his life. Demoted to the Bureau of Religious Affairs, he has nothing to do all day. Unwilling to waste away, Lin Feng finds a new way forward: he works with the Tourism Bureau, makes full use of his department’s role, and promotes temple construction and tourism. At the same time, he secretly assists Liu Qingqing, captain of the city criminal investigation brigade, in in 302Reads—Score—14d adds
- 41 Reborn: Battling for the Road to Power 重生之官路争锋 A career in public service is a long and arduous road! Reborn in the year 2000, Qi Fei enters government service to fulfill his father’s dying wish, only to be assigned by the personnel bureau chief, who is currying favor with the county Party secretary, to the poorest township. Drawing on the advantages of being reborn, he leads the people toward prosperity, outwits his political rivals, and fights his way up from the grassroots through a world of deceit and intrigue. He braves every obstacle a 45Reads—Score—14d adds
- 42 The Cold and Warmth of the Halls of Power 官场冷暖 Zhang Ming is an ordinary grassroots civil servant. Navigating the gap between personal relationships and the rules, he climbs step by step to the pinnacle of power. This is a story of political maneuvering, difficult choices, and personal redemption. The protagonist, Zhang Ming, starts out as a low-ranking township clerk. After demonstrating extraordinary courage and ability during an unexpected incident, he catches the attention of his superiors. In the treacherous world of officialdom, he 23Reads6.8Score10014d adds
- 43 The Power of Officialdom 官势 Lin Qingyan, a son of a farming family, tackles poverty alleviation and cracks down on organized crime, taking one steady step at a time. He builds momentum, harnesses it, and seizes every opportunity, racing ahead and rising through the ranks. In the face of temptation, he never forgets his original purpose; faced with threats, he never backs down. "I will never coexist with evil" is his motto, and serving the people is his way of governing... 550Reads6.2Score—14d adds
- 44 Official Career: The Tides of Turmoil 官途：暗潮狂飙 Humanity advances through desire, and it is desire that builds its cages: cages of power, wealth, institutions, freedom... All are cages of human nature. In Jinghai City, an undercurrent is stirring, growing ever more turbulent as the storm begins to rage... 655Reads8.8Score22614d adds
- 45 A Stunning Rise Through the Ranks 升迁：一鸣惊人 Facing obstacles at every turn in the workplace, he rises to the top and becomes unstoppable. Wei Yiming had been living a smooth and easy life, until his arrogant, short-tempered new boss ruined everything on her very first day. From then on, she picked on him at every turn and ordered him around constantly. One chance act of courage brought him face-to-face with the woman of his dreams, lighting up a life in which every step had been a struggle. After years of keeping his head down, he finally 2kReads8.4Score22214d adds
- 46 A Young Police Officer's Reversal of Fortune 小民警的逆袭人生 The woman before him left Li Jia with a jumble of conflicting feelings. He could look down on anyone else. Back in the village, he was his family's pride, and his classmates practically put him on a pedestal. But to her, he was nothing. It's true that a change of environment can change a person. As soon as her career started taking off, she seemed to become a completely different person. He couldn't make sense of it. He looked at his girlfriend, dressed to the nines in a work uniform, and felt 53Reads—Score—14d adds
- 47 Reborn to a Career in Officialdom 重生之官运 Wu Zhuoran, a university graduate selected for a government post with no connections to rely on, stumbles into politics by chance. With his intelligence and courage, and through tireless effort, he makes like-minded friends, resists temptation, and challenges and defeats every obstacle in his way, step by step reaching the pinnacle of his political career and his life... 91Reads6.3Score—14d adds
- 48 Rising Through the Ranks: Starting as a Township Chief 平步青云：从乡长开始 Wu Zheng, a cadre reassigned to a new post, faced a hostile welcome on his very first day as township chief. Using his iron-fisted methods, he launched a determined counterattack, climbed one step at a time, and rose to the pinnacle of power. As he advanced, the daughter of a high-ranking official became his confidante, while a group CEO became his close friend. Together, they worked to give ordinary people a better life. 147Reads8.3Score—14d adds
- 49 The Pinnacle of Power 仕途巅峰 The world is cruel, and people are heartless. Rain falls at dusk, when flowers are quick to fade. The morning breeze dries, but tear stains remain. I long to write down what’s in my heart, yet can only speak to myself by the railing. It is so hard, so hard, so hard. We are parted now, and nothing is as it was. My ailing soul swings like a rope in autumn wind. The horn sounds cold, and night grows late. Afraid someone will ask, I swallow my tears and pretend to be happy. I hide it, hide it, hide 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 50 A Prodigy's Path to Power 天骄仕途 The world of officialdom is full of unseen clashes and schemes, ruthless enough to kill without spilling a drop of blood! It may look like flowers embroidered on brocade, but beneath the surface, it’s a pot boiling over a raging fire! Lu Mingyuan, a small-town exam grinder, rose from humble beginnings, enjoyed a meteoric career, took command of power, and improved people’s lives, composing a magnificent chapter for a new era! 8Reads8.2Score—14d adds
