Novels like A Portrait of Small-Town Life
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as A Portrait of Small-Town Life, best match first.
- 1 The Cunning Bureau Chief Pursues His Prosecutor Wife 腹黑厅长猛追检察官老婆 [Criminal Investigation Mystery + Marriage First, Love Later + Age Gap + Intrigue at Every Turn] [Cool, High-Ranking Father Figure + Cool, Beautiful Prosecutor] The Shangguan family was schemed against and driven into bankruptcy. Shangguan Qin was taken in by the Bai family for ten years, where she and Bai Yanliang grew up together. On the eve of their engagement banquet, Bai Yanliang was caught in a scandal. At a gathering with friends, Bai Yanliang let the truth slip after drinking: "Shangguan —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 2 A County Town Official 县城干部 Gu Hongxiu, a top graduate of Zhejiang University, joins the Organization Department. After enduring betrayal by a close friend and the departure of the woman he loves, he starts over at the grassroots level. This is the legendary story of how he rises from a township publicity committee member to county Party secretary in just ten short years. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 3 Reborn: A Young Man's Rise Through the Ranks of Government 重生之官路青云 Xue Ming was once an ordinary young man from a small town. Through education and work, he made his way to the big city to pursue his ambitions. First, he went into business. He failed time and again, but kept trying. After years of effort, he finally hit a ceiling, unable to advance any further or even continue his career. Then he entered politics. With his sharp mind, he passed the civil service exam, but a slow start left him behind at every turn. He could only remain a permanent outsider at h —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 4 Autumn Winds Through the Rain 风雨点秋风 A cool, domineering CEO + a quirky, spirited heroine + devoted love + sweet indulgence At 29, long-time single Ye Fengyu got into the wrong car while drunk. It belonged to Zhao Qiufeng, Party Secretary of a centrally administered state-owned enterprise. Usually aloof, Zhao couldn’t stop thinking about Ye Fengyu after she flirted with him. Then, at a company walking event, he happened to spot her. Determined to have the woman he couldn’t get out of his mind, Zhao pulled strings to transfer Ye Fen 64Reads6.4Score—14d adds
- 5 Step by Step: My Career as a Secretary 步步为营：我的秘书生涯 An unavoidable reception brings Liang Xiaosu, a secretary, into the orbit of a powerful Jiangnan tycoon and draws her into the most dangerous romance of her career. From then on, her fate is bound tightly to his. Every step is fraught with danger, yet she moves carefully, always staying one step ahead... 51Reads8.6Score—14d adds
- 6 I Hold the Dirt on So Many Officials, and I’m a Little Panicked 手握众多官员把柄的我有点慌 After returning to ancient times, Lin Zhengyang awakened the most powerful Authority System and gained leverage over numerous officials. It was both an opportunity and a burden. Watch as Lin Zhengyang navigates the many forces at play and rises to the top. Bro, your dirty laundry's been aired. Pay up fast if you want to make it go away. 78Reads—Score—14d adds
- 7 Reborn: A Smooth Ride to the Top 重生之一路青云直上 Zhu Bingkun arrives in the 1990s. By anticipating trends and policies, and continually making use of various resources, as well as information and skills he acquired ahead of time, he keeps getting promoted and entrusted with important responsibilities. Along the way, he helps many people and receives help from many others. He makes plenty of enemies, and gets back at plenty of them, too. 1.6kReads8.2Score13514d adds
- 8 A Book by Little Octopus, the Great Artist 小章鱼大触手的一本书 [Government career drama + Not reborn + Powerful connections + Political power struggles + Phoenix man + Mild wish fulfillment] After years in the military, Lin Yuan was on the verge of a promotion when his good friend Xu Jianshan died unexpectedly in a car accident. Xu Jianshan had once led Linjiang County and earned the people's trust, yet his funeral was eerily quiet. After looking into it, Lin Yuan learned that before his death, Xu Jianshan had been under investigation by higher-ups over the 139Reads7.8Score10014d adds
- 9 Damp 湿漉 [This novel is entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real people is coincidental.] The heroine, Li Weiyang, is a low-level employee at a state-owned enterprise. She is twenty-six and has been out of college for four years. The hero, Cheng Xiangyang, is a successful forty-year-old general manager at a state-owned enterprise. An unexpected online encounter brings together two people from vastly different worlds. See how Cheng Xiangyang gradually wins Weiyang over, and how she struggles with her 590Reads8.4Score11014d adds
- 10 A Smooth Rise: Starting as a Grassroots Police Officer 平步青云：从基层民警开始 Wang Meng is a grassroots police officer, born with a cold, stern face but kind at heart and with a deep hatred of evil. After offending the criminal underworld, he was framed and fired, and spent his life in poverty and hardship. On the verge of death, he finally understood one thing: only by holding power could you control your own fate. When he opened his eyes again, he discovered that he had been reborn in 2001, three days before he was framed. Drawing on his knowledge of how events woul 372Reads6.2Score—14d adds
- 11 Director Qiu’s Cherished One: No Escape, Even with Wings 邱局长的掌心宠，插翅难逃 Five years ago, she gave up their love with her own hands to pay for her mother’s medical treatment. For five years, he drifted through life, becoming a heartless work machine. Five years later, they meet again at a dinner party. He swears he’ll make her suffer every hardship he endured over those five years. Revenge follows revenge, and only when the truth comes to light does he realize he misunderstood her. Everything has changed, and there is nothing left to say. Before she can speak, tears f 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 12 I'm a Civil Servant in a Special Department 我在特殊部门当公务员 Jiang Yi, a young genius of the mystic arts, has one great mission in life: protect the feng shui formation her master left behind. So, right after graduating, she returned to her hometown and opened a homestay to while away the days. She thought she'd spend her life hiking the mountains, petting cats, and basking in the sun. Then an important guest showed up and opened with, "Would you consider joining our Ninth Bureau as a civil servant?" Jiang Yi: "? A desk job? No way." Huo Cheng is a spec —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 13 County Magistrate Lu, Please Turn Off the Lights 陆县长，请关灯 [Female Doctor & County Magistrate] [Both Leads Are Each Other's First Love + Reunion After Years Apart + Second-Chance Romance] Liang Chuying never imagined she would see her ex-boyfriend again after six years. Not only had he become the county magistrate, he was also her neighbor. She knew better than to fall into the same trap twice, so she avoided him and kept her distance. But in the end, she fell for him all over again. Because he said, “Let me pursue you, okay?” He also said, “From now on 4.2kReads8.8Score45514d adds
- 14 Officialdom: Five Years in Office, Leading the County Out of Poverty 官场：上任五年，带全县脱贫致富 In 2018, just after Wu Shixie takes office, he is faced with a severe crisis: the local government is strapped for cash and can't even pay its employees. Watch how he puts resources to work, manages the budget, promotes capable people, and uses a range of governing methods to transform the county! Once you take office as a local official, you must devote yourself to the people and plan for generations to come. Watch how Wu Shixie leads the whole county out of poverty and toward prosperity, givin 653Reads—Score—14d adds
- 15 When the Mountain Mist Rose, I Met You 恰逢山雾起，与君识 Song Lin followed the path laid out for her by fate: blind dates, marriage, and getting her health in order. But after meeting the wrong man, fate led her down another path, where she met him, someone a person like her, an ordinary woman, could never hope for… 142Reads8.4Score—14d adds
- 16 Reborn in Politics: Defying the Odds 重生仕途：胜天半子 Greed is like fire: if left unchecked, it will spread across the land. Desire is like water: if not restrained, it will flood the heavens. His father is thrown into prison, and his mother jumps to her death. Who is the mastermind behind it all? Qi Mingdong is reborn ten years in the past. Following clues and patiently piecing them together, he uncovers the truth, brings down the person who orchestrated everything in his previous life, turns the tide, and builds a great legacy. His political care 19Reads5.5Score—14d adds
- 17 Reborn in the Political Arena: My Patron Falls from Power at the Start 重生官场：开局靠山倒台 [Not a power fantasy + Not a reskinned story + No System + No female lead + Political power struggles] People say the character for “official” has two mouths, but that's not really true. A true official is the subtle link between those two mouths. He must be able to pass on orders from above and guide those below. In his previous life, he spent thirty years struggling in officialdom without making any progress. Reborn, he found his powerful patron had fallen. This time, Ren Wu would take his fat 1Reads8.4Score—14d adds
- 18 Aspiring to the Azure Clouds 欲上青云 My new story is here! Feel free to read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you enjoy it. Your support motivates me to write, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 19 In the Name of the People: Revitalizing the Nation Through Science and Education 人民名义之科教兴国 If Qi Tongwei from In the Name of the People had a genius son who cured AIDS and kidney disease, built drones, founded a major company, and won a Nobel Prize, what kind of changes would he bring to Handong and the entire country? 75Reads—Score—14d adds
- 20 I'm the Law of Handong. Liangping, You'll Regret It If You Come After Me 我是汉东的天，亮平抓我你别后悔 Wang Yang transmigrates to a world based on a political drama. After years of hard work, he successfully becomes the top leader of Handong! As Wang Yang struggles to balance the competing forces, Hou Liangping suddenly arrives with an imperial warrant to arrest him! “Wang Yang, you kept a mistress and took bribes! What do you have to say for yourself?” Faced with the accusations, Wang Yang tries to explain, but there's no way to clear his name. Soon, Wang Yang is arrested, and Sha Ruijin and Hou 15Reads6.0Score—14d adds
- 21 A Township's Female Civil Servant 乡镇女公务员 After graduating from university, Zhang Xiaowei passed the civil service exam and became an ordinary government worker in a town in a neighboring city. At work, she met Yang Zhixing. After several years together, their bond grew deep, and Zhang Xiaowei married him. They went on to live happily ever after... 1.4kReads—Score13814d adds
- 22 Reborn: I've Long Since Mastered the Ways of Officialdom 重生：在官场，我早已人情练达 Chen Qingdong had been crushed in the political arena for his youthful idealism, and had grown so despairing that he had given up on life. Then, by chance, he returned to the past and got the chance to rewrite his life! This time, Chen Qingdong knew how to navigate the ways of the world, and swore to reclaim the dignity he had lost in his previous life. From then on, he advanced one step at a time, seizing every opportunity and forging a legendary rise through the treacherous ups and downs of th 1.7kReads6.3Score13014d adds
- 23 Glad to Have You on a Spring Night 春夜喜你 [The rating has just been posted and will rise!] [Both work in government + both are each other's firsts + love grows over time + sweet romance + happy ending] Qu Zhan, 32, is the newly appointed deputy district head of Huacheng. Jiang Yining, 28, is an ordinary civil servant in Liangxiang, Huacheng. A temporary assignment is where their connection begins. A blind date further binds their hearts together. Qu Zhan has long since committed himself to this love, but Jiang Yining hesitates befor 4.1kReads8.2Score41514d adds
- 24 I Have to Join This Game 这局我非入不可 [Slow-burn romance after nine years in the civil service] [14-year age gap] The male lead wields great power [A gentleman on the surface, domineering and scheming underneath] The female lead has a secret identity and seeks revenge [A sweet, soft girl on the surface, a fiercely ambitious career woman underneath] From the moment Zhou Quan passed the civil service exam, she stayed by Qi Chen's side. She never imagined anything would happen between them, but nine years is neither a long time nor a s 16Reads—Score—14d adds
- 25 The Jade Fox 玉狐狸 The third book in the trilogy Chai Zhenchuan is parachuted into Yancheng. Liang Jin is a township-level section chief, striving to overcome the trauma of her family of origin. By the time Chai Zhenchuan discovers that Liang Jin is Lin Xing'er, Liang Jin already has a boyfriend. Liang Jin: Don't become dependent on anyone. Stand firm and rely on yourself. Chai Zhenchuan: Love means acceptance and helping someone rise. 209Reads6.5Score—14d adds
- 26 With the System in Hand, I Become a Top Government Official 手握系统后，我成为超级公务员 [Wish fulfillment + male lead focus + play the pig to eat the tiger + growth] Just as graduation approached and Lin Chuandong was looking for a job, he unexpectedly got a Super Civil Servant System! Lin Chuandong was a graduate student at the nation’s top-ranked university of political science and law, with a brilliant future ahead of him. Yet he took a grassroots civil service job in the obscure Linjiang District. It left his classmates and teachers utterly bewildered. They thought his talents 203Reads7.2Score—14d adds
- 27 I, Gao Yuliang, Don't Read Ming History 我，高育良，不读明史 [This novel will not follow the TV series’ timeline exactly. We hope readers will bear with us.] After reading In the Name of the People for the third time, Gao Yuliang discovers that he has transmigrated into the role of Professor Gao Yuliang at Handong University, the man in the series who likes The Fifteenth Year of Wanli. He decides that this time, he will rewrite history, or rather, the plot! After all, things ended pretty badly in the series... 866Reads—Score—14d adds
- 28 Reborn: Conquering the Political Arena 重生之纵横官场 Zhuang Jiang, a young man from Earth, transmigrates to another world and discovers that it is remarkably similar to Earth. With the backing of his family and the knowledge he has brought from Earth, Zhuang Jiang enters the world of politics, climbing step by step until he reaches the top. 1kReads7.5Score—14d adds
- 29 The Municipal Compound 市委大院 Qingshan City is surrounded by mountains and blessed with beautiful scenery. After his predecessor was dismissed over a major safety accident, Ding Junru became the “firefighter.” Can Ding Junru break through the encirclement and help Qingshan City rise from the ashes? 29Reads8.8Score11014d adds
- 30 Promotion 提拔 The road to a brilliant career in government begins beneath your feet! On his first day as deputy township head in a poor rural township, Zhou Xiangbei was framed. With exceptional intelligence and political skill, he launched a stunning counterattack, advancing one step at a time until he reached the pinnacle of a brilliant government career! Guided by the simple belief that a good official should serve the people and improve their lives, he created one economic miracle after another. As he cli 121Reads9.1Score—14d adds
- 31 The Good Girl's Secret Crush: Sweetness Overload 乖乖女的暗恋：甜翻了 (Age gap + both are each other’s first + the powerful one bows his head) Zhixia was born into the prestigious Huo family of Beijing’s high society. She had always been a well-behaved girl with excellent grades. At sixteen, she fell in love with someone she couldn’t tell anyone about. At twenty, she was suddenly exposed as a fake heiress. She was promptly thrown out of the Huo family, and with her new surname, became Song Zhixia. Outsiders laughed at her, but only Song Zhixia knew how happy she w 2.8kReads8.3Score34714d adds
- 32 County Chief Huo Cleans Up After the Troublemaker Every Day 霍县长每天给惹祸精善后 [Government worker + aloof senior official + sweet girl from a family of doctors + runaway bride + mutual healing + both leads are each other’s first and only + love at first sight] To escape an arranged marriage, good girl Gu Sheng finally rebelled when she graduated from university! She passed the civil service exam and landed a post in Qi County, far from home. The first time she met County Chief Huo, she turned his office upside down! “Stop apologizing all the time. Why not do something abou 436Reads7.2Score10514d adds
- 33 Reborn: Qi Tongwei’s Economic Development 重生之祁同伟经济发展 In his previous life, he was an ordinary stock investor. Now he transmigrates into Qi Tongwei’s body. Faced with a difficult start, he chooses to rise to the challenge, using his knowledge of the future and an all-seeing perspective to develop the economy. What do Liang Lu, Chen Yang, and Zhong Xia’ai amount to? They’re all minor characters compared with Lu Yike. He sets traps for Hou Liangping, makes peace with Liang Lu, and takes on Zhao Ruilong head-on. With sheer economic strength, he resolv 1.3kReads5.7Score—14d adds
- 34 A Hound on the Official Road 官路犬踪 A dog follows its master through many hardships and twists of fate. It also witnesses the master's despicable abuse of power and schemes. But justice prevails in the end, and there is nowhere beyond the reach of the law. Ultimately, the master receives the punishment he deserves. 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 35 Near Yun Huai 近云淮 [Bright, righteous, hardworking, ambitious, and rich female judge] x [Handsome, refined, sharp-tongued, capable, and broke male county magistrate] [Affection since youth | Reunited after many years | Secret love finally fulfilled | Childhood sweethearts] [Both devoted to each other, sweet romance | Healing | Grounded in reality] “Matchmaker Jia” from the court said, “The person I'm introducing you to today is someone you know. His name is Shang Xun.” Yun Huai: “Who? County Magistrate Shang?” Th 3kReads8.9Score32414d adds
- 36 Married First, Loved Deeply: Director Song’s Dearest Sweetheart 先婚厚爱：宋局的心尖小可人儿 My new work is out! You can read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you’ll enjoy it. Your support motivates me to write, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! 602Reads7.8Score10014d adds
- 37 Mr. Gu's Adorable Little Wife 顾先生的小娇妻 “Mom, what do you like about that old man?” Five-year-old Gu Jiang asked, his little brows furrowed and his eyes brimming with tears. “That’s your dad. How did he bully you this time?” Jiang Niannian picked Gu Jiang up, wiped away the tears at the corners of his eyes, and asked gently. “He, he won’t let me sleep with you. He’s so embarrassing!” “He, he even stole the flowers I picked for you. He said, he said…” Gu Jiang’s tears fell again as he pouted in grievance. “All right, all right, don’t c 646Reads8.1Score10214d adds
- 38 Reborn in 1992: From the Start, I Became a Leader in My Hometown 重生1992：开局当家乡领导 The tycoon Chen Ping returns to 1992, a pivotal year in history. Carrying regrets from his past life, he must see how he can rise steadily amid this sweeping tide of change and give back to his hometown. 454Reads7.3Score—14d adds
- 39 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
- 40 Reborn: Ruling the Officialdom 重生：纵横官途 In his previous life, his family fell into ruin. He watched every member of his family die while he was in prison, then died in despair. In this life, he pays tribute to himself before entering prison, determined to return and avenge his family. Amid the favors and treachery of officialdom, how will he find the hidden hand pulling the strings? 6Reads8.3Score—14d adds
- 41 Yang Gonggong's 2nd Book 羊拱拱的第2本书 [Both leads are each other’s only love + mutual devotion] A nine-year age gap. His name contains “river,” and evokes mountains. Her name contains “water.” Mountains and rivers form a picture, yet they cannot coexist. Tong Yang is an ambitious and idealistic couch potato. Her ideal is to retire as soon as possible. Her ambition is to earn and save money, become a wealthy couch potato, and enjoy a more comfortable life of lying flat. But ever since she met Lei Lichuan, she’s gone from being a swee 82Reads8.8Score—14d adds
- 42 A Mismatched Blind Date, and the Powerful Leader Is Happy to Be Her Rock 相错亲，大领导甘愿做靠山 [Love after marriage + both work in government + ten-year age gap + neither has had a past relationship + a sweet, happy ending] [Clear-headed, resilient heroine VS senior official who's a lovestruck older man] * On the day Wen Ruan went on a matchmaking date, her superior was right next door. The senior official fell for her at first sight, but she had no idea. At her sixth matchmaking date, he pretended to be her match and coaxed her into registering their marriage. * After a mix-up, Wen Ruan 6.7kReads8.2Score88814d adds
- 43 The Sixth Year of Secretly Loving a Pretty Boy 暗恋漂亮宝贝的第六年 Bright, sunny nurse × refined senior official, pretty and rebellious × powerful and influential × obsessive male second lead [marriage before love + sweet romance in high society + female growth + whirlwind marriage + secret crush] A moving, heartwarming story of redemption centered on human trafficking prevention. In a nutshell: The moment I saw her, I wanted her. I’m not getting divorced. On her flight home, Nan Xi met a man. They almost slept together. When they met again, he was her brother- 3.6kReads8.6Score47314d adds
- 44 Face-Slapping Hou Liangping from the Start, Qi Tongwei Switches Sides 开局打脸侯亮平，祁同伟倒戈 Hou Liangping receives an anonymous tip claiming that Zhang Zhongyu, the mayor of Anshui Town, is a petty official with enormous ill-gotten wealth. But when he arrives, he discovers that the town, once notorious throughout Handong for its poverty, has been completely transformed. Not only are the roads clean, but shops line the streets and cars are everywhere. The townspeople tell him that County Chief Zhang Zhongyu helped them grow cash crops long ago, making them all rich. But what kind of cas 349Reads6.1Score—14d adds
- 45 Boss, How About We Keep Our Marriage Secret? 领导，要不隐个婚？ My new work is here! You can read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you’ll enjoy it. Your support is what motivates me to write, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! 739Reads7.6Score10314d adds
- 46 You Refused to Marry Her, So Why Panic Now That She's Called Off the Engagement? 让你娶你不娶，人家退婚你慌什么 A refined, devoted aristocrat and powerful tycoon vs. a peerless Kunqu Opera heir [Both leads are devoted to each other · Marriage first, love later + fatherly male lead · 10-year age gap + sweet romance] Qin Zhuoxiao is the president of the Huashang Chamber of Commerce, a man everyone fears. With an iron fist, he can stir up the business world or quell unrest across the region. He is powerful, mysterious, and low-key. No one knows he is a hopeless romantic, with a beloved white moonlight in his 399Reads8.4Score10014d adds
- 47 Jin Nian Smiles 瑾年笑笑 [Government workplace, age gap, scheming, devoted to each other, powerful man lowers his head for love] Male lead: Fu Jinnian, 35, powerful and influential, refined and noble. Female lead: Tian Xiaoxiao, 23, newly passed the civil service exam, and a great beauty. They are both civil servants, and she is a fresh new face in government service. The cool, refined male lead falls in love with her at first sight, then creates all kinds of chances for them to spend time together. His passionate “camp 2.3kReads8.3Score19814d adds
- 48 Mrs. Zhou Has Powerful Backing in the Government 体制内，周太太她自有靠山 [Clear-headed, timid kitten × gentle hunter of a powerful man | devoted couple + eight-year age gap] The day Song Tang ran out of options, her boss handed her a hotel key card. Then Song Tang did two daring things: she knocked on Zhou Yushen’s door and tugged open his tie. In the car on a stormy night, he kissed her rain-damp lashes. “Tangtang, will you marry me?” She clutched his soaked shirt with her fingertips, her lashes fluttering as she turned her face away. “Boss… you’re the one who sa 3.8kReads8.2Score66414d adds
- 49 In the Name of the People: I'm the Deputy Provincial Chief, Li Tongwei's Younger Brother 名义：官至省服，我是同伟弟弟 Transmigrated as Qi Tongwei’s younger brother, can he save his older brother before he turns evil right from the start? Qi Xiangdang: No problem. After all, I’m a demobilized soldier with the script in hand! He wakes up in the world of In the Name of the People, having just taken off his military uniform and transferred to a civilian post. Meanwhile, his older brother Qi Tongwei is racing headlong down the wrong path. With advance knowledge of every danger and the iron-fisted methods he learned 2.7kReads—Score—14d adds
- 50 I Turned In Controllable Nuclear Fusion. Hou Liangping, Why Are You Panicking? 我上交可控核聚变，侯亮平你慌啥 He transmigrates into a parallel world and becomes Sun Liancheng, the district chief of Guangming. Carrying the memories of his previous life, he unexpectedly awakens a [God-Tier Scientific Research System] and decides to change his fate. He develops carbon capture technology to reduce emissions, then joins a project to develop ultra-micro carbon nanotubes. Two years later, he is transferred to a department in charge of science and technology. Not long after, Ding Yizhen flees abroad, and Hou Li 1Reads5.1Score—14d adds
