Novels like White Mountains, Black Waters
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as White Mountains, Black Waters, best match first.
- 51 Waves in the Sea of Officialdom 官海浪潮 Can you get promoted in politics without powerful connections? Can you make a comeback after being sidelined? Qin Weimin comes from a farming family. Not one of his ancestors for eighteen generations ever held office. No connections? Then make your own opportunities! No network? Then build one yourself! See how a young man from a humble background, armed with an earnest heart, opens the door to advancement and writes a grassroots success story in the treacherous world of politics! 3.4kReads6.8Score27214d adds
- 52 The Road to Power 官途 This novel portrays ten years in the official career of the high-ranking official Li Xiangdong. Spanning economically moderately developed regions, remote and impoverished areas, and prosperous developed regions, it follows the protagonist as he faces the varied crises and challenges brought on by different places and positions. A realistic web novel. 1.3kReads6.9Score11914d adds
- 53 Case Room: A Record of Investigations 案件室办案实录 Those in office follow the ways of deception. This may be the most realistic political novel you will ever read. No wild fabrications, just an authentic experience of the world of officialdom. A gripping story about a discipline inspection officer overcoming one obstacle after another to uncover the truth behind a heating scandal, declaring war on corruption, clashing with human nature, walking the line between black and white, and seeing through the many faces of the world. This story is entire 17Reads—Score—14d adds
- 54 The Tides of Politics 仕途如潮 Xiao Wei was born in the late 1960s. Those who came of age in that era and entered government had to withstand the immense centrifugal force of social change. You don't know how hard it is until you've been through it! Rising from humble beginnings to stand out among the crowd is a mark of true talent! 28Reads6.4Score—14d adds
- 55 The Official's Son-in-Law: Rising to the Top from Deputy Town Mayor 官婿：从副镇长开始青云直上 Serve as an official, and bring prosperity to your people! Wang Longsheng enters the family of officials as a live-in son-in-law, determined to serve the people, and endures contempt for three years as he bides his time. He thinks his moment to rise like a dragon has finally come, but instead he is plunged into a treacherous whirlpool of power struggles. Watch as the third-in-command of the lowest-ranked township in the city refuses to fear the powerful, dares to fight corruption, remains incorr 105Reads—Score—14d adds
- 56 Reborn in Officialdom: Starting at a County Police Station 重生官场：从县派出所开始 (Complete. Short but excellent, with no rushed ending.) (Reborn in the political arena + meticulous logic + solving cases and rising through the ranks + one heroine + no golden finger) “What makes an honest official?” Chen Luzhou: “Fighting for the people!” In his previous life, Chen Luzhou worked diligently, kept his head down, and played by the rules. More than twenty years passed, yet he achieved nothing. In this life, Chen Luzhou has returned to the most pivotal moment: his superior is under 542Reads—Score—14d adds
- 57 A Rising Star in Officialdom 官场新贵 After graduating from college, Yu Fan planned to start a business with his classmates. But his father used the promise of a “secure government job” to send him straight to the township government office. In his twenties, full of ambition and eager to make his mark, Yu Fan saw his entrepreneurial dreams abruptly cut short. Resentful, he entered the world of officialdom. How far can he go with the label of a “nepotism hire” hanging over him? 734Reads6.8Score—14d adds
- 58 Officialdom and Business 官，商 This is the story of Zheng Guodong, who falls from grace in politics, reflects deeply on his mistakes, turns to business, and, at the invitation of his old rival Zhou Hai, returns to Xingye County to help build his hometown and start his life over. It offers a penetrating look at the culture of cliques: either you fit in, or you get pushed out. 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 59 The Miracle Doctor's Rise to Power 仕途神医 Chen Xuan, an intern, was framed by a colleague and was about to be sent to prison. No one could have imagined that a few silver needles he used by the elevator would pull a powerful second-generation heiress back from the brink of death. He has inherited a lifetime of medical knowledge and possesses eyes that can see a person's political fortunes and hidden illnesses. Starting at the very bottom, he steps into the arena of power, advancing cautiously at every turn. Some try to crush him with th 243Reads—Score—14d adds
- 60 Tomb of Beauties: The Beauty's Curse 美人冢：红颜劫 [Mad beauty vs. hidden big shot] Princess Royal Xiao Qiuhe is a mad beauty. If anyone so much as displeases her, at best she’ll take their life; at worst, she’ll make them wish they were dead. Before she’s even married, she already has more lovers than the beauties in the imperial harem. Seeing this, the Empress Dowager decides to choose a prince consort for the Princess Royal… 19Reads—Score—14d adds
- 61 Beauty’s Ordeal: Your Highness, Whom Will You Choose? 红颜劫：殿下你选谁 One day, the city gates ran red with blood; for ten years, nightmares haunted her. A beauty capable of captivating a kingdom, hidden beneath a secret medicine, and a proud, unyielding soul. She lay low in the Prime Minister's residence for six years, enduring humiliation and torment, until at last the phoenix was reborn. The Northern Chen Kingdom's most handsome man, Young Master Mu, clears the path ahead for her and faces every challenge by her side. The reclusive miracle physician Yan Zimo is 21Reads6.4Score—14d adds
- 62 Above the Azure Steps 青阶之上 “A prime minister must rise from the provinces, and a fierce general must emerge from the ranks.”, Han Feizi, “Prominent Learning” From the start, he was a temporary hire in a small town. A year later, he ranked first in the county's exam and became a civil servant in a different town. Starting at the grassroots, he takes one steady step at a time. See how an ordinary man with no connections uses his abilities and a little luck to navigate the rules of reality and carve out a path of promotion 22Reads—Score—14d adds
- 63 A Political Career: A Far-Reaching Vision for the Nation 仕途：江山志远 Yang Zhiyuan returns from Beijing to his hometown and starts out in poverty alleviation. Step by step, he rises from the grassroots ranks, earning the appreciation of his superiors and a boundless future. But the times are harsh, and every step is a struggle. Someone has to shoulder the burden and press onward. If it benefits the country, I will give my life for it: how could I avoid it for the sake of my own fortune or misfortune? See how Yang Zhiyuan carves out a whole new world. 7Reads6.9Score—14d adds
- 64 Mr. Pi's Three Beauties 皮总的三红颜 Several young women head south to Guangzhou to pursue their dreams. In a remote little workshop, during those passionate years of youth, they gradually become strangers to one another. Are they building a better life, or is life wearing them down? Only in middle age do they begin to understand that cause and effect always come full circle. There are no shortcuts or secrets to getting through life; they only mean borrowing against your future happiness. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 65 Contending for the Realm of Mountains and Rivers 山河问鼎 What should you do if your marriage, career, and family all betray you at once? Lie flat? Zhao Shanhe isn't that kind of person. If fate won't favor someone from an ordinary background, then it's time to take a gamble. Follow the story of an underling in a powerful family who fights his way to the top... 45Reads8.7Score—14d adds
- 66 The Love Letter from the Nineties I Hid for Thirty Years 九十年代那封情书，我藏了三十年 That Love Letter from the 1990s, Hidden Away for Thirty Years 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 67 The Ninefold Journey 九方征途 [Political Intrigue + Tense, Nail-Biting Drama] Across the land of the Nine Provinces, peace reigns beneath the four seas. The tides of officialdom rise and fall through the changing years. Those who serve in government must put the people first. Once you enter public service, a journey of ten thousand miles lies ahead. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 68 The Beauty's Ordeal 红颜劫 After the Nine Sects Empire, once the unifier of the martial world, fell, its sect master, the Six Ren Divine Lord, Celestial Master Tianyi, sought to restore its former glory by seizing control of the Central Plains. At that time, Pan Yue, who in his previous life had been the Supreme Yang Celestial Venerable, senior disciple of the Taiji Patriarch, reincarnated into the family of an ordinary farmer in Luoshu City to escape the “Five Calamities and Tribulations.” Seeking to eliminate a potentia 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 69 A Modern-Era People’s Official 当代民吏 This is a modern novel about an ordinary person navigating a career in government. It does feature a “System,” but it isn’t a wish-fulfillment fantasy. It’s more like a guidebook to working within the system, with the “System” serving only as a voice-over that explains things. For ordinary readers, it offers a look at how people work and live within the system. For those already working within it, it offers a deeper understanding of how to conduct yourself and get things done. WTF? He gets hit b 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 70 The Road to Power: From Secretary to the Top 权力之路：从秘书走向巅峰 Song Siming, a master's graduate of Dongda, was recruited by Donghai Television through its talent program. He worked hard but had no knack for sucking up, so his immediate superior kept him down. His wife was unfaithful, and his in-laws looked down on him. The only thing keeping him going was his beloved son, until a paternity test report shattered him. Just when all seemed lost, a glimmer of hope appeared: an older alumnus from Dongda had become a prominent figure in Donghai City, and Song Sim 65Reads8.9Score—14d adds
- 71 One Step to the Clouds 一步青云 A mountain can crumble, and a river can run dry. Lu Zhengliang is suppressed by his superior and betrayed by his beloved wife, sending his life into a downward spiral. At his lowest point, he relies on sheer courage to win the favor of a benefactor and the support of a beautiful woman. In the end, he builds a grand empire and becomes a winner in life. 1.4kReads8.7Score15414d adds
- 72 Officialdom: Brother, I Thank Your Ancestors for Eight Generations! 官场：兄弟，我谢你八辈祖宗！ Let's set out again with Gao Weijun! The end of your past life was merely someone else's beginning. You were played for a fool without even realizing it. Not this time! Watch as these brothers stand shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand, and walk the road together! Stop falling out with people at the drop of a hat. That's childish! 31Reads6.9Score—14d adds
- 73 The Past of Power 权峰往事 This is a special kind of workplace, one filled with all the ambitions and aspirations, triumphs and dreams that men pursue... 3kReads8.2Score30014d adds
- 74 Reborn in the Political Arena: My Road to High Office 重生官场：我的青云路 This story may take a little while to get going, but trust me: the more you read, the more hooked you’ll get, and the more satisfying it becomes. This is an ensemble power fantasy centered on officialdom. Please bear with the author if you encounter any illogical or awkward parts. I’ll keep doing my best (ง ˙o˙)ว. He was reborn, returning to 2004. Cancer hadn’t ended him; instead, it had given him eyes that could see through people and a backbone strong enough to crush every thorn in his path. 20Reads—Score—14d adds
- 75 Staying True to Your Mission: The Way of an Official 不忘初心之为官之道 Reporter Zhuang Ziyou and prosecutor Lin Ruoxi fell in love at first sight while catching a Peeping Tom, and soon began a sweet and thrilling life together. Other couples go shopping to flirt. These two go shopping to catch thieves! Corrupt officials? They expose every one they find! The underworld? You’re not getting away either! As they take on corruption and organized crime, Zhuang Ziyou rises step by step from a humble reporter to a career in government. But the road through officialdom is f 122Reads—Score—14d adds
- 76 A Comeback in Politics: I'm a Living Legend 官场的逆袭，我就是传奇 With no connections, he creates a miracle of promotion in officialdom. With no power, he tramples the arrogant young masters underfoot. With no financial backing, he can still spend money like water... Step by step, he rises to the top and becomes a legend in officialdom. 213Reads5.5Score—14d adds
- 77 I Turned Officialdom Upside Down, Starting with a Disciplinary Inspection Inquiry 从被纪委问询开始掀翻官场 Suspended, betrayed, and abandoned by his entire circle. Then, in the cold interrogation room of the Discipline Inspection Commission, he says, “If you want to live, prove it to me.” From then on, he holds the secrets and plays every move carefully, turning her from the woman interrogating him into someone who cannot live without him. 3.5kReads7.6Score22114d adds
- 78 The Uncrowned King 无冕之王 Jing Tao is reported during the public notice of his appointment as director. After his promotion falls through, his former leader makes a decision on his own and sends him to gain experience at the grassroots level. Under Jing Tao’s leadership, the community is reborn. Using his strengths, he actively takes part in the process of democratization and helps address a wide range of social issues, including housing, education, healthcare, elder care, and people’s livelihoods. He truly fulfills the 23Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 79 Reborn: I Quit the Civil Service and Found Freedom as a Boss's Driver 重生不当公务员，领导司机很逍遥 A new story is out! You can read my work 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! 14Reads7.3Score—14d adds
- 80 Officialdom: Just Fired, Already Pursued by a Beauty 官场：刚被免职就被佳人缠上 The tides of officialdom bring endless temptations: money, beautiful women, and power. When all of these were placed before Zhao Chen, a man who had always taken life in stride, he somehow stumbled into a world of sensual pleasures. Watch as he turns the tables at will, deftly escapes the traps of passion, and rises steadily through the ranks. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 81 The Official’s Path 宦途 Pei Wenhui has three degrees and comes from an ordinary family. Lost in the bewilderment of graduating straight into unemployment, he unexpectedly finds his life's main path: passing the civil service exam. The doors of government offices swing open. Behind the impressive titles lies an invisible abyss, and the first heartbeat of a commoner stepping into the arena of power and wealth is heavy and fever-hot. From an outsider pouring tea and running errands to a participant touching core interes 35Reads6.0Score—14d adds
- 82 A Clash of Power 权力对决 After someone else takes the position he earned at the Bureau of Construction, Ma Changtian follows his female superior to the countryside, where he begins a struggle against fate. Money, beauty, and the undercurrents of corruption test Ma Changtian as he fights his way upstream. Should he advance or retreat? A battle for life and death is drawing near... 36Reads8.8Score—14d adds
- 83 The Pinnacle of Power in Officialdom 官场之权力巅峰 Ye Xingsheng is widely regarded by his colleagues as a model worker. He's diligent and hardworking, with an outstanding record, yet the leaders don't appreciate him. 22Reads5.5Score—14d adds
- 84 A Desperate Counterattack 绝地反击 Li Tianyi offends his immediate superior on his very first day at work and is promptly given the cold shoulder. Watch as he survives against the odds, strikes back from the brink, and trounces every last schemer and demon along the way! 4.6kReads8.9Score61614d adds
- 85 The Official's All-Seeing Eye: Rising From the Bottom 透视官眼：从最基层开始崛起 Banished to a judicial office at the very lowest level, Wu Haoran watched the aging director, who had spent his entire career in this post and was nearing retirement, face a situation even worse than Qi Tongwei's. Now that his official's eye had been activated, Wu Haoran secretly vowed to rise from here and surpass Qi Tongwei. From that day on, he reveled in the company of beautiful women and wielded power over the realm, making his way through the officialdom. 19Reads6.5Score—14d adds
- 86 Officialdom: My Father's Banner 官场：父亲的旗帜 Under the bright, boundless sky, the people come first. This is a trap. Somewhere in the shifting tides of power, someone has spread a vast, all-encompassing web... After his father is brought down, the protagonist takes up his father's banner. Through hardship, he advances cautiously, one step at a time. Only when he reaches the pinnacle of power does he realize that, though he has always been lonely and alone, a pair of invisible wings has been by his side all along. Passionate political power 316Reads7.7Score10414d adds
- 87 The Bustle of a Small County: A Portrait of Ordinary People in the Bureaucratic World 小县喧嚣：普通人的体制浮世绘 This book tells the story of a young man from a rural village who earns a job in the county government through his own efforts. But with no connections, he is sent to a remote township to work in a village, and his girlfriend leaves him without hesitation. Even after putting down roots at the grassroots level and delivering results, he is repeatedly passed over for promotion. Then an anti-corruption storm sweeps through officialdom, tearing a crack in the murky order. With no family or political 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 88 The Political Arena 宦海 [Political intrigue + satisfying revenge] “Hold office and bring blessings to the people!” Song Yang, who grew up in a small mountain village, stumbled into officialdom by chance. Since he was there, he decided to make the best of it. He overcame one obstacle after another, braving every challenge as he contended with forces from all sides, while one tale of love and hatred after another unfolded around him. His highest principle, from beginning to end, was to serve the people’s interests, and i 131Reads6.4Score—14d adds
- 89 Destined to Be a Secretary 命中注定是秘书 This is a realistic political drama set in the world of government, told from the perspective of a leader’s secretary. It offers a look at the changing currents of officialdom and the many sides of life. Hu Tianyou starts out as the secretary to a county Party committee secretary, rising from a junior secretary to a senior one as he faces countless twists and turns in his career. The story offers both eye-opening political wisdom and a rich emotional journey for its hero and heroine, making it w 319Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 90 The Great Way Is for the People 大道为民 Are generals and ministers born to their stations? Even commoners can change the world. He was extraordinarily talented, yet willingly started from scratch in one of the country’s officially designated poverty-stricken townships. He had a fortune, yet chose to seize the moment and venture boldly into the changing times. And he had the power to foresee his beloved’s future, so he swore to protect the woman he loved. In that noisy, restless era, an era brimming with hope, everything was just begin 5.1kReads8.9Score63414d adds
- 91 Dropped into the Grassroots: From the Start, I'm Stuck with Ten Billion in Bad Debts? 空降基层，开局就背百亿烂账？ Chen Yuan, a "Beijing official," has just parachuted in as the top leader of Tushui District, only to find the government compound gates blocked by petitioners. A fiscal black hole worth tens of billions, unfinished projects scattered across the city, deeply entrenched local factions, and a calculating superior. Every move is deadly, and danger lurks at every turn! How will Chen Yuan, a newcomer, maneuver through the traps and temper himself into a blade aimed straight at the unwritten rules? Th 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 92 The Road to Office and Commerce: My Wife and Child Are in a Parallel World 官路商途：妻儿却在平行时空 A lone wolf in the political arena, unstoppable on the official path: Zhang Ping, a minor county government clerk reborn, rises steadily through the ranks with his fragmentary memories of the future. He maneuvers across the political landscape and amasses tremendous power, yet remains utterly alone. When the timelines converge, he would rather give up his empire than seize back the life that belongs to him! 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 93 Zheng Qi's Chaotic Life 郑琦的混沌人生 A novel set in a turbulent era: Many people are lost and uncertain. Their values, ideas about love, and moral standards are crushed beneath the wheels of the times, then redefined and rebuilt... 9.2kReads8.8Score91214d adds
- 94 The Star at the Summit 巅峰红人 Also known as Aiming High, this hit novel is taking new media by storm! First betrayed by his girlfriend, then he offends his beautiful boss. Just as his luck begins to turn, a low-level office worker fights his way to the top and becomes a celebrated star before he knows it! 955Reads7.4Score10014d adds
- 95 The Secretarial Official's Rise 小秘官途 After being pushed aside, a junior secretary sets out on the path to rising to power... 229Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 96 A Book That Puts the Earth First 厚土为上的一本书 My new work is out! You can read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you enjoy it. Your support keeps me writing, and I'll do my best to tell every story well! 203Reads7.3Score—14d adds
- 97 I Take Being an Official Seriously: Achievements 当官我是认真的之政绩 Rebirth + political intrigue + power struggles + urban life He came from 2017. After being reborn, he returned to 1997. After two years of honing his skills, he was promoted to Party secretary of a township. To rise smoothly through the political ranks, seniority, connections, ambition, and an impressive résumé are not enough. You also need achievements! What can someone with more than twenty years of foresight accomplish in politics? What dazzling achievements can a shrewd young official create 30Reads—Score—14d adds
- 98 Reborn in Officialdom: I Really Have No Powerful Connections 重生官场：我真的没背景啊 [Rebirth / One Heroine / Slow Burn / Interlocking Schemes / No Over-the-Top Drama] Wherever people gather, there are rivalries. In the world of power, everything comes down to one's “connections,” and officialdom is the ultimate battleground. Some people muddle through life yet rise smoothly through the ranks, while others are brilliant but their talents go unrecognized. The well-educated faction, the legal and political faction, the secretaries' circle, the criminal faction... countless faction 16Reads—Score—14d adds
- 99 From Odd Jobs to the Top of a Small Town 从打工开始走向小城巅峰 As long as you are kind and hardworking, Heaven will surely look favorably upon you. This book tells the inspiring story of Lin Feng, a laborer who endures a life full of twists and hardships, from being laid off by a state-owned enterprise and going out to find work to making a stunning comeback as a county Party secretary. It vividly portrays the many facets of life. 10Reads—Score—14d adds
- 100 Fast-Track Promotion 2: The Suspended Fish 火线提拔2悬鱼 (A pure political drama, with no System and no transmigration.) Ten years of ice water cannot extinguish a heart burning with passion! Born into poverty, Xia Xiang cares deeply for the people. Not long after taking office in Shazhou, he is confronted with a demolition crisis in Xihua District. As he investigates, Xia Xiang discovers that a vast abyss lies hidden behind the incident... Years later, people would say, "The skies stretch blue, the wilds stretch wide; Shazhou has its own red sun!" 7.5kReads8.9Score31214d adds
