Novels like Climbing the Ladder to Success
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as Climbing the Ladder to Success, best match first.
- 101 The Pinnacle of the Official Road: Starting at the Grassroots 官道巅峰：从下基层开始 Qin Yang had no connections or powerful backing. But after making a crucial choice, he caught his superior’s attention, and from then on, his life began to turn around, changing beyond recognition. He rose step by step, climbing all the way to the pinnacle of power. But with that came trials from every direction... 27kReads8.9Score1.4k14d adds
- 102 To the Peak of the Azure Clouds, Starting with My Ex-Girlfriend 青云之巅，从前女友开始 Now that you’ve been reborn, do you still have to be timid and submissive? Gu Yang will tell you: life is precious, so why not live it a little more freely... Good and evil in human nature are all here. See the story for a look at the twists and turns of officialdom. 1.4kReads7.4Score15014d adds
- 103 The Pinnacle of Power, Starting from the Grassroots 权力巅峰，从基层开始 Li Zhenhua has been reborn! Though he treads carefully, as if walking on thin ice, he still fails to escape the schemes of his old nemesis. Demoted from the county Party committee to the poorest, most remote township, he faces a hellish start. Just as he's at a loss, an unexpected car accident completely changes the course of his life. Watch as I rise from the grassroots level of the civil service, climbing step by step and enjoying life! 784Reads7.2Score—14d adds
- 104 I'm Just a Bystander Here, and You Want Me to Catch Corrupt Officials? 我一个吃瓜群众，你让我抓贪官？ [Transmigration + System + Officialdom + Urban Fantasy + Anti-Corruption Epic + Revenge on Every Grudge + Lighthearted Comedy] (The author has completed two novels of over a million words each, so you can read with confidence.) Zheng Haoran is a high school student and a typical onlooker who loves watching the drama unfold. By chance, he transmigrates ten years into the future and becomes the son of a high-ranking official, awakening a System along the way. He thinks it’s a godsend, but never ex 31Reads7.4Score514d adds
- 105 Struck by Lightning, I Became a Merchant Between Two Worlds 雷劈后我成了两界倒爷 Dual Transmigration + Urban + Fantasy + Multiple Heroines + Satisfying Power Fantasy + Lighthearted and Fun + No Angst for the Lead + Thrillingly Satisfying. After getting struck by lightning, the protagonist obtains a portal and travels between two worlds to make a fortune as a middleman, quickly building a thriving business. 1.1kReads6.9Score10114d adds
- 106 Chaos Supreme Reborn 混沌至尊转世重生 When chaos first emerged, the accumulated history of countless ages led the mighty Primordial Ancestors to cast a barrier over the Three Realms, preventing powerful beings from the Upper Realm from descending at will to enslave the people of the Lower Realm. In the Mortal Realm, martial artists progress through the third-rate, second-rate, and first-rate levels, followed by the Innate, Grandmaster, and Great Grandmaster realms. Each realm is divided into low, middle, and high grades. In the Immo 41Reads—Score—14d adds
- 107 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 61Reads—Score—14d adds
- 108 Power's Pinnacle: From the Start, I Crossed the Female Leader 权力巅峰：开局从得罪女领导开始 I'm just an ordinary nobody, but fate played a cruel joke on me, making me stumble across my boss's secrets twice in a row. To make sure I kept quiet, they actually dumped me alone in the mountains... But I refuse to give up. I'll fight back. I'll find a way out... 11Reads—Score—14d adds
- 109 Half a Life as a Boy 男孩子的半生 It's strange, they say that those with no close relatives are destined for a hard life. Zihan never knew who his father was, and when he was six, his mother secretly hopped on a train and ran off to Shandong. From then on, Zihan was raised by his grandmother. She was running a steamed-bun shop with his eldest aunt, so neither of them really had time to look after him. When he reached school age, his uncle by marriage rode an old bicycle, taking Zihan and his older sister to preschool. From then —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 110 Officialdom: The Road to Triumph Against All Odds 官场：披荆斩棘之路 [Political intrigue + no System + no rebirth] A career in officialdom is a thorny road, and countless people strive to get ahead on it. As the saying goes, doing a good job matters less than being born into the right family. For an ordinary person with no connections to make their way through the thorns, the only option is to seize every opportunity. Chen Feng is one of those who knows how to seize an opportunity. He cuts his way through the obstacles and keeps moving forward… 376Reads6.8Score10214d adds
- 111 Rising and Falling in the Sea of Officialdom 宦海纵横 A poor country boy in his previous life, he makes a stunning comeback in this one and becomes a rising star in officialdom! A meek junior official in his previous life, he climbs the ranks step by step in this one, reaching heights most people can only dream of! A hopelessly nice guy who was dumped by his girlfriend in his previous life, he now finds himself surrounded by beautiful women, dazzling everyone! See how Zhou Yiming takes the worlds of politics, business, and romance by storm. With th 16Reads—Score—14d adds
- 112 Officialdom: There's a Beauty Named Xiaofang in the Office 官场：办公室有位美女叫小芳 He works hard, strives to improve, and longs for pure love. Career and romance, what’s hidden and what’s out in the open... His colleague Liu Xiaohua, his classmate Huanhuan. How should he choose...? And then there’s Tang Wan’er, whom he secretly loves... —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 113 Maneuvering for Power in Officialdom 纵横官场之谋位 Li Wujiang woke up reborn in the 1990s, a time of sweeping national reform and rapid development. Making the most of his knowledge from another life, Li Wujiang made his way through the officialdom, climbing steadily toward the top and rising to a position of power. With his career flourishing and close friends like Xia Ruohan and Mu Nianwan by his side, Li Wujiang lived life to the fullest. 52Reads8.9Score—14d adds
- 114 Rising Step by Step in Middle Age 人到中年：步步高升 Cheng Dawei has offended his beautiful boss and is constantly being targeted by her. He never expected that one good deed would turn his luck around and send him climbing the career ladder. From a nobody in the company whom everyone bullied, he rises to become the darling everyone fawns over and curries favor with... 823Reads8.7Score10514d adds
- 115 Officialdom: I Saved a Mysterious Big Shot and Rose to the Top 官场：救了神秘大佬，乘风破浪 A deeply realistic story about the political arena. No golden finger, and no brainless characters. Born into an ordinary family, he hacks his way through obstacles and rides the winds and waves. Can he reach the pinnacle of power? Just how cruel is reality? This novel will show you that power follows rules! 5.7kReads8.5Score64214d adds
- 116 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
- 117 You Broke My Heart, and You Still Won't Let Me Leave 你伤我的心，还不让我离开 What is love? Does it make you stop and think? Is it a pig-headed fool chasing a girl for eight years, only to be rejected? Is it driving a Cadillac after a high-speed train and getting banned from driving for life? Is it nearly wrecking a Kawasaki H2? If it could be replaced so easily, what would our meeting have meant? 16Reads—Score—14d adds
- 118 Body Swap: She Made the First Move 身体交换：是她先主动地 [Body swap]+ [Lighthearted everyday life]+ [No System]+ [Not reborn] Lu Yuan is due to marry his childhood sweetheart next week when he unexpectedly swaps bodies with a heiress worth billions. She's rich, powerful, fair-skinned, and beautiful. He's thoroughly ordinary and a little overconfident. Should they stick to their original lives and go through with the wedding, or let things unfold however they may? Challenges and questions come one after another. And so begins a love story that isn't qu 103Reads6.0Score914d adds
- 119 No Regrets in Serving the People 为民无悔 Love brought upheaval; I left the faith behind for a new path. A strange past emerged, and my journey through love was tangled with complications. The waves are fierce. How can I ride them and break through the currents? Love is tangled. Where can I find my way home? My strange past only brings more uncertainty. After years of hardship, I finally found the dignity I once sought, but by then, the satisfaction I had hoped for was gone. What remained in my heart was countless ordinary people, yet I 53Reads8.5Score—14d adds
- 120 Mission Accomplished 不辱使命 After a failed romance, he went in a fit of pique to a town no one wanted to live in. An unexpected disaster propelled him to the top through a twist of fate, and an unforeseen reunion changed his destiny forever. 103Reads9.0Score—14d adds
- 121 The Clever Cat 智猫 (A slow-burn futuristic sci-fi urban story, not a power fantasy) (Alternate title of Volume One: The Dour One and the Airhead’s Quiet Everyday Life) The Eternal Era: a crisis of AI brains, darkness lurking, danger at every turn; As great upheaval looms, talents emerge and stars shine, joining forces to save a world on the brink. Who will ultimately shake the world with their name? Come forth, Xiao Zhi, and shatter the darkness with thunder! This is an imagining of the future, though it may also 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 122 Special Reconnaissance Soldier, Ruler of the Urban Underworld 特种侦察兵，纵横都市江湖 Han Dong, a special reconnaissance soldier forced to retire due to injury, was on his way home when he unexpectedly rescued Yang Mei, a beautiful CEO. Winning her affection, he charged ahead without looking back, tearing through the treacherous urban underworld... 81.7kReads7.7Score5.4k14d adds
- 123 An Old Salty Fish 一条老咸鱼 Lin Xiaohui is an older single woman. At first, she works as a PE teacher at a private school in a small county town in her hometown, earning a modest salary. After passing the civil service exam, she switches into clapback mode: We were all people for the first time, so why should I have to put up with you? The story starts at a leisurely pace and focuses on everyday life. Later, it centers on leveling up as she tackles challenges in the workplace! 159Reads6.8Score—14d adds
- 124 The Long River of Power and Yi 权羿长河 My new story is out! You’re welcome to 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! 8Reads—Score114d adds
- 125 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. 115Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 126 Storms on the Official Path: Breaking Through 官道风云之突出重围 (All characters, place names, events, settings, and plot elements in this novel are purely fictional.) A young county magistrate with no connections is forced out of office by people pushing him aside, then assigned to a forgotten unit to wait out his days. But his resolve doesn’t falter... Opportunity often favors those who are prepared. Young official Mu Jianlin travels to a remote, impoverished county to serve as county Party secretary. He remains true to his original aspirations and steadfas 15.4kReads8.7Score1.6k14d adds
- 127 The Art of Not Competing 不争之争 This book says that, in the end, it doesn’t matter whether you fight for something or not. Just be yourself! The ancients said, “Because he contends with no one, no one in the world can contend with him.” Chinese people place greater value on not contending... Not contending brings peace of mind, the source of all strength, like the sea... In modern society, even not contending can be seen as a kind of struggle, born of helplessness... 20Reads7.3Score—14d adds
- 128 A Bright Political Future 官运亨通 At 28, Lin Yun Feng had a limitless future ahead of him. After the Jin Hai Bridge, which fell under his jurisdiction, suddenly collapsed, Lin Yun Feng went from a rising political star to being cast aside. His beautiful wife cheated on him. Disheartened, he drowned his sorrows in alcohol, only to stumble upon a secret... 2kReads8.8Score22814d adds
- 129 The Road to Officialdom: From Bureau Chief to Party Secretary, I Just Want to Get Ahead 官途：从局长到书记，太想进步了 After transmigrating into a world of crossover TV dramas, Jiang Yuan was assigned from the start to serve as head of the Pingkang County Public Security Bureau in Lin City, Handong Province! There, he met characters like Qi Tongwei, Gao Yuliang, and Gao Xiaoqin, and discovered that his cousin was named Jiang Yang. There were also dramas such as The Knockout, Icebreaking Action, Flowers at the Foot of the Mountain twenty years later, Love Apartment, and more! As he rose through the ranks, Jiang Y —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 130 The Road Through Officialdom 宦路 The character for “official” has two mouths: if they say you're capable, then you're capable; if they say you're not, then you're not! The political arena is full of deceit and scheming, and one wrong step can leave you shattered. Zhou Yang knows this all too well. With no powerful backers, no connections, and no money, how can he survive? He has no choice but to keep going. He works hard and fights on, rising step by step to a position of power... 8.3kReads9.0Score84814d adds
- 131 Officialdom: From a Small Town to the Pinnacle of Power 官场：从小镇走上权力巅峰 Overnight, everything changed. Like a dragon trapped in a shallow stream, Tang Peng saw his bleak world brighten after a mysterious stranger called him. Watch how he rises from a low-level civil servant to the pinnacle of power! 118Reads9.1Score11814d adds
- 132 Reborn: Rising to the Top 重生：扶摇直上 Reborn twenty years in the past, he turns a life of hardship around in a single night. With twenty extra years of worldly experience, he’ll use his talents to win people over and rise to the top! 500Reads8.4Score13914d adds
- 133 A Life in Officialdom: The Stories of Women in Politics 人在仕途：官场女人那些事儿 (Realistic political workplace + case-based stories + no harem) It’s hard to be a person, harder to be a woman, and harder still to be a woman in politics. But women in politics have their own rules for survival. Drawing on my 17 years navigating the political world, with firsthand experience across township, county, municipal, and provincial offices, I’ll show you what a woman in politics is really like! 16Reads8.9Score—14d adds
- 134 Still Waters Run Deep 静水流深 Can money really fall from the sky? Almost everyone says no. Li Wentao, a deputy director at the municipal government office with no connections or powerful backers, had given up hope of getting anywhere in his career. Then, unexpectedly, a windfall really did fall into his lap: he was appointed director of the municipal government office. By Li Wentao's own reckoning, it was a pretty minor post. But as soon as he took office, he was sidelined. His appointment was merely a compromise in a power 14.4kReads9.3Score1.8k14d adds
- 135 Waiting for the Wind in Guangzhou 羊城等风来 (This is not a cuckold story.) (This is not a wish-fulfillment story.) My childhood sweetheart, whom I’d been married to for a year, divorced me and made me take the blame for the breakup! I let you fly free, and I’ll bear the pain! Then a mysterious young girl barged into my life. From that moment on, the wheels of fate began to turn, and I gradually fell into one trap and conspiracy after another. Can ordinary people really never defeat the authorities? 79Reads5.0Score—14d adds
- 136 In the Name of the People: The Depths in Turmoil 人民的名义之深水浮沉 Six years later, Li Dakang is promoted after demonstrating exceptional ability in the follow-up management of the Guangming Peak project. The restart of the project in Handong is now getting underway. As Liang Qiming, Liang Qihong (son of Liang Qunfeng and brother of Liang Lu), and others cross the line, Sha and Li develop an unspoken understanding, keeping each other at arm’s length while remaining close. Meanwhile, Li Dakang’s current wife, Shen Jinglan, is not only his partner in life but als 314Reads—Score—14d adds
- 137 Reborn: I Make Waves in Officialdom 重生：我在官场呼风唤雨 [Politics + powerful connections + no doormat hero + clever + turns the tide] [The appeal: turbulent political winds, deceit and intrigue between people, and life-or-death struggles for power] The road to power is treacherous, with a new storm at every step. There are ten ranks in the official hierarchy, each separated by a vast gulf. The victor becomes king, the loser is forgotten. Who will command the world? Song Hualun, a scion of a fallen noble family, is reborn into the family's finest hour 343Reads8.0Score10814d adds
- 138 The Political Arena: Starting as the Youngest County Magistrate 官场风云：从最年轻县长开始 From a senior leader’s chief secretary to the province’s youngest county magistrate, Zhang Yi had barely taken office when he was hit by a once-in-a-century downpour. A reservoir holding nearly a hundred million cubic meters of water was on the verge of bursting its dam, threatening the lives and property of thousands downstream, and he had not a single soldier at his disposal! Then a highly daring plan suddenly came to mind... 515Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 139 Love Apartment: Passing Myself Off as Zi Qiao’s Classmate from the Start 爱情公寓：开局装成子乔同学 This isn't a wish-fulfillment story, and there's no System. It's simply a story about what the author imagines would happen if he joined Love Apartment. Readers can imagine Jiang An as themselves. Enjoy reading! 126Reads7.5Score—14d adds
- 140 The Pinnacle of Political Power 权路巅峰 Also known as Power at Its Peak and Tao's Official Career. [Power at Its Peak]+ [Multiple Heroines]+ [Feel-Good Political Drama] While investigating someone, Luo Zekai discovered a video of them that was not meant to be made public. Not only did he accidentally uncover a shocking secret, but most devastating of all, his wife and mother-in-law were part of it too... He carried ideals in his heart, yet was swept along by the tide of reality; he longed for power, yet knew the abyss that lay beneath 621Reads7.8Score10114d adds
- 141 The Road to Office: If You Think You Can Do Better, Take My Place 官路之你有本事你上 What right and wrong can there be in this world? Everyone simply has a different point of view. What fairness can there be in this world? You have to be capable before anyone will treat you fairly. Are you any good or not? I’m no good? If you’re so good, you do it. --The male lead is a scumbag. Read with caution if that’s not your thing! —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 142 The Road to Prosperity 青云得路 [Traditional Political Intrigue, No System, No Rebirth, No Harem, Adapted from Real Events, Logic-Driven] Li Feibing leaves the special forces and enters politics. After two years of patiently biding his time, he finally gets the chance to take charge of Jinzhou. But his vision and ideals face secret obstruction from Lao Tang. The clash between two generations' values becomes entangled in the power games of tycoons such as Dongxing Company, forming an apparently intractable deadlock. With help f 28Reads—Score—14d adds
- 143 A Look Back at Life in the Political Arena 官场之回溯人生 [Officialdom] + [Face-Slapping] + [Feel-Good Story] + [Smart Protagonist] + [Multiple Heroines] After an unexpected accident, Li Huan comprehended the “Lie” character from the Nine-Character Mantra, gaining control over space and time. It all begins with mastering the character “Lie.” 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 144 Officialdom: I Became a Powerful Figure’s Most Trusted Aide 官场：我成了大佬的铁杆心腹 Su Jin was reborn at the moment he started his career in government in 2013. From the start, he was at the civil service provincial exam interview. Sorry, interviewers, but to take first place, I’m going to quietly set a little trap and get you all to back me… 888Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 145 By the Shores of Jinji Lake 金鸡湖畔 This is the land of Mars. This is the land of Mars in the year 2224. In Martian politics, there is no love or tender romance, only bloodshed and steely passion. Yangyang was born in 2194 in a small village in the countryside. Many momentous things happened that year. But for this poor family, only Yangyang’s birth was a big deal. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 146 The Road to Officialdom 官路 Who says a country bumpkin can’t become a phoenix? A class reunion and a chance encounter: watch Chen Xing turn his life into a legendary rags-to-riches tale! As he makes his way toward success, who will have the last laugh? Chen Xing vows to see his underdog comeback through to the end and become a tycoon of the city! 2kReads7.6Score19514d adds
- 147 The Peak of Politics: Winning with a Rebellious Streak 2 巅峰官场：胜在反骨2 [Rebirth + officialdom + revenge + one heroine + satisfying read + no saintly protagonist] Reborn in 2001, Zheng Gongcheng uses his foresight to earn three exceptional promotions. In 2003, he takes charge of Fengyang County’s Party Committee, sees through the ways of officialdom, governs with dedication, improves people’s lives, and rises to the top. This book is dedicated to readers who enjoyed The Pinnacle of Officialdom: Winning Through Defiance and to fans of officialdom novels. May the “unr 39Reads7.7Score—14d adds
- 148 From the Countryside to the Seat of Power 从乡野到中枢 A college graduate serving as a village official steadily rises through the ranks... a true incorruptible official. He takes on corrupt officials in a battle of wits, moving from the countryside to the township, then from the township to the county seat. Each time, his outstanding record earns him another promotion. 124Reads—Score—14d adds
- 149 My Older, Alluring Ex-Wife 我的御姐前妻 [Mature women in their forties + Men in their forties + Marriage and relationships + Striving and business rivalries + Showing off and face-slapping + Heartbreaking romance] Recommended for readers over twenty-five. The story follows a male protagonist who has had two wives: one divorced him, and the other died. A senior company executive returning to single life, he never expected to become a hot commodity among women. In this society, forbidden relationships and extravagant lifestyles are pain 151Reads—Score—14d adds
- 150 Gather 76 Eggs to Help Brother Qiang Build a Great Business 凑集76个鸡蛋，助强哥成大事业 (Transmigration + Business Warfare + Cultivation + Supernatural + Aliens + High IQ) Lin Huan, a graduate of a world-renowned university and one of Longguo’s top tycoons, was framed by chairman Guo Taiming and driven into bankruptcy. In a fit of despair, he jumped into a river and took his own life. After being reborn, he happened to meet Daoist Master Zhang. Under his tutelage, Lin Huan became a top Daoist disciple, mastering spells, feng shui, divination, mind reading, telepathy, and other extr 2Reads—Score—14d adds
