Novels like Secretary Chen's Notebook
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as Secretary Chen's Notebook, best match first.
- 1 Courting Beauties and Commanding Power: Qin Fei’s Desperate Comeback 揽美驭权：秦飞绝地逆袭 Qin Fei is targeted by his stepmother and her son, bullied by his mother-in-law's family, and frustrated at every turn. When a massive crisis strikes, he takes the initiative and plans his moves carefully. From then on, he commands the world and holds the reins of power! 253Reads—Score—14d adds
- 2 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
- 3 The City Builder 造城者 City Builder —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 4 After the Inspection Team Forced Me Out, I Went on a Rampage 被巡视组清退后，我杀疯了 After the Inspection Team Forced Me Out, I Went on a Rampage —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 5 I Was Sent to Guard a Reservoir, but I Caught a Very Important Person 我被发配看水库，却钓来大贵人 I Was Sent to Watch the Reservoir, but Reeled in a VIP 14Reads—Score—14d adds
- 6 A Universe Between the Lines 字里乾坤 The Universe Between the Lines 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 7 Reborn in 1992: I Hold All the Power 重生92之我权势滔天 Chen Yuquan, chairman of the Vast Group in Jingjiang Province, is ambushed by his enemies and reborn in 1992. At home are his loving wife, young daughter, and sick mother. They gaze at one another through tearful eyes, waiting for him, the head of the family, to change everything and bring them a happy new life. Once a business prodigy and top tycoon, he now thinks that making money is beside the point. What matters is living freely and enjoying life without restraint. Only the money you spend t 440Reads6.2Score10214d adds
- 8 The Yama of Officialdom 官场阎王 In 2002, Wang Tianzhu became a discipline inspection official in Sunan Province. From that day on, a saying spread through the provincial government: “Better to meet the King of Hell than Old Wang.” That was because no one ever escaped a case Wang Tianzhu took on! Others relied on political connections to get promoted. Old Wang earned every promotion by solving cases! 57Reads6.1Score—14d adds
- 9 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
- 10 Hoen's Fourth Book 荷恩的第4本书 A new work is here! You can read my story on Fanqie Novel. I hope you enjoy it. Your support motivates me to write, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 11 The Road to Power: From Section Chief to Provincial Governor 权路：从股级到封疆大吏 The importance of making the right choices over simply working hard was proven by Qin Yongzhi, who pursued a career in government. He married an unattractive woman with powerful connections and leaped from obscurity to success, with a beautiful companion by his side as he rose rapidly from a low-level position. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 12 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
- 13 The Grand Chess Game of Politics: I Am the Player 官场大棋局：我是执棋人 In his previous life, he had planned every move with care. Yet just one step from the pinnacle of power, an unseen hand shoved him into the abyss. His career came to a bitter end, and he died with regrets. Now, returned in a dream, he found himself back at the crossroads where he had graduated from college and faced a life-changing choice! Zhao Weimin, carrying decades of precise memories from the future and a lifetime's worth of political wisdom, calmly placed the first piece that would rewrite —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 14 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
- 15 Reborn: Reaching the Peak of Officialdom 重生之宦海巅峰 [Reborn in the Political Arena + Grassroots Civil Servant + Thrilling Power Fantasy + Pinnacle of Power] Back in 1990, Wang Guofei, a graduate of Jing City University, resolves to change his fate. Armed with knowledge of what lies ahead, he blazes a path to the top through the treacherous world of politics. Become a senior official? That’s not enough. He wants to make money, too. So Wang Guofei starts walking the path others have taken, leaving them nowhere to go. 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 16 Reborn as an Exiled Son: A State-Owned Enterprise Secretary’s Road to Power 弃子重生：央企秘书的权力征途 My background? The memories of my past life and the wisdom I’ve gained in this one. Power and status? I’m unstoppable on my climb to the top. Revenge? I no longer live for revenge. In my eyes, you two mid-level officials are already as insignificant as ants. The wind I stir up just by walking could sweep you both into a vast ocean, never to escape... —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 17 The Road to Power: I Was Exiled to the Wolves' Den 官路我被下放到狼窝 I saved someone from the provincial discipline inspection commission, and thought I'd found myself a powerful ally. Turns out she was in an even worse predicament than me, hunted down with nowhere to hide. The waters in this small town run too deep. All we can do is lean on each other and turn the whole place upside down. 44Reads—Score10414d adds
- 18 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
- 19 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
- 20 Ride the Wind and Break the Waves 乘风破浪 At the lowest point in his life, Xue Jialiang has lost all hope. Then a mysterious figure appears, and his fate takes a turn for the better. He rapidly bounces back, becoming a hot commodity… 1.2kReads8.5Score16014d adds
- 21 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
- 22 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
- 23 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
- 24 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
- 25 Huang Zhichen's Tenth Book 黄智宸第10本书 My new work is here! You can read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you’ll enjoy it. Your support inspires me to write, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 26 In the World of Officialdom, One Wrong Move Can Get You Promoted 官场，不小心就升官了 Qin Mo, a 50-year-old, low-ranking employee at the Archives Bureau, wakes up one morning having traveled from 2025 back to the night before the 1995 civil service exam. After a miserable, bullied life in his previous life, all he wants this time is to make money and chase women, staying well clear of the troubles of government service. 36Reads—Score—14d adds
- 27 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
- 28 Rising Up from the Grassroots as a Civil Servant 从基层公务员开始奋起 In his previous life, Liu Feng was cheated out of first place in the civil service selection exam and spent thirty years as a grassroots contract worker, never getting a permanent position. Now that he's been given another chance at life, he vows to trample fate beneath his feet! 435Reads8.0Score—14d adds
- 29 The Hua Family’s Eldest Legitimate Grandson on the Official Path 官道之华家嫡长孙 [Satisfying political drama] My father was framed, causing me to fail the civil-service selection program and plunging my life into its darkest hour. When my enemies came to humiliate me, one phone call from me sent shockwaves through every corner of the region. The sky has fallen over Handong! 130.1kReads8.7Score11.1k14d adds
- 30 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
- 31 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
- 32 A Book from Nanyue Under Heaven 天下南岳的一本书 343Reads8.6Score10214d adds
- 33 Reborn in the Political Arena: Starting by Refusing to Be a Powerful Family’s Live-In Son-in-Law 重生官场：从拒绝当权门赘婿开始 In his previous life, Liu Jiangtao was a powerless nobody who married into a powerful family. Everyone had just finished saying that the Liu family's ancestors must have had extraordinary luck when, the very next moment, they saw him led away in handcuffs. Reborn by chance, he has already seen through human nature. He decisively turns down the daughter of the powerful family, and a path to the top now lies before him. From then on, his official career soars. 457Reads6.2Score—14d adds
- 34 The Road to Power: Starting as Executive Deputy 官途：从常务开始的青云之路！ He has been reborn for 23 years, and Liu Fan has spent those 23 years preparing. He will seize every opportunity! He builds up his strength, steadily accumulating it until the time is right. Starting as a deputy assigned to a small county in a remote mountain region, he serves the public interest and governs for the people. As Liu Fan transforms their lives, he also climbs step by step along the path of officialdom! [A fictional story, not realistic and not a reflection of anything else. Just a 115Reads6.1Score—14d adds
- 35 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
- 36 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
- 37 Reborn: The Political Arena Is Just a Plaything in My Palm 重生：官场只是我的掌中玩物 People say there is no absolute black or white in the world, only different points of view. The same goes for politics: there is scheming and rivalry, but also law, reason, and loyalty. In his previous life, Gao Shuxing was just a low-ranking police officer. He was accidentally caught up in a political conspiracy, and in the end, his family was destroyed. Reborn, he has already seen through people and learned the ways of officialdom. Watch him hold fast to what he believes is right, clear away t 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 38 Counterattack Against All Odds 绝境反击 Su Wan, the only daughter and head of her family’s company, is jointly forced off the board by her father’s old friends, losing her power and status. But Su Wan refuses to accept defeat. She begins investigating in secret and uncovers the board members’ shady dealings. Relying on her intelligence and resilience, she gradually rebuilds her network of supporters, eventually exposing the conspiracy, turning the tables, and reclaiming control of the company. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 39 County Officials and Businesspeople 县域官与商 A young man whose life has been ravaged by fate takes on the mission of restoring his family after his father is murdered. He matches wits with all kinds of people in the worlds of politics and business, while the woman he loves is taken from him by a rival. After enduring a cruel marriage, she is heartlessly abandoned. Once he rises to power and success, how will he face the past? —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 40 The Road to Power: After Divorce, I Rise to the Top 官途：离婚后我一路高升 The Game of Thrones is like a web. Those who can spin silk cling tightly to it, while those who can't fall away. Gu Qingyun is not only framed, but told that his child isn't his, either. Reality forces him to grow from a lowly creature that can't spin silk into a spider, one step at a time. 89Reads8.8Score—14d adds
- 41 The Pinnacle of Power: Starting with a Whirlwind Marriage 权力巅峰：从闪婚开始 Nan Jiangtao married Guo Tiantian, who didn’t love him at all, in a whirlwind wedding. From then on, he embarked on a career in government, as if blessed by the heavens. He overcame every obstacle on his way to the very top of the political ladder. 2Reads—Score114d adds
- 42 Winning Every Step of the Way 步步为赢 A commoner enters the world of government with no connections or backing. Yet no matter how often he is struck down, he refuses to fall, always turning danger into safety. His background is unfathomable, and time after time he stands out from the crowd. Young and unafraid of failure, he climbs the ranks one step at a time. 116Reads9.1Score—14d adds
- 43 A Most Unusual Path to Power 非常权途 As the driver for a beautiful female executive, Zhou Tianyu was under enormous pressure. After helping his boss with a small favor, he earned her appreciation and quickly went from being a mere chauffeur to holding a leadership position. But this was only the beginning… 2.2kReads8.8Score23114d adds
- 44 The Road to Power: A Nobody's Rise to the Top 官道：小人物的权势巅峰 You have to give it your all at least once to earn the right, someday in the future, to raise a glass of cheap wine to the self who refused to settle for an ordinary life! Li Tao, a subordinate, and his superior Bai Yulu support each other through the political arena, cutting through every obstacle as they climb together to the pinnacle of power!!! 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 45 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
- 46 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
- 47 Officialdom: Refusing to Lie Flat 官场：拒绝躺平 Feeling ill at ease is simply part of life. The choices we make and the effort we put in are challenges we all have to face. A thirty-eight-year-old section chief in a government office is on the verge of taking the next step in his career when all sorts of unexpected troubles strike, changing everything around him… Will he give up and let everything fall apart, or refuse to lie flat? Join us as we follow He Zhe and see how he transforms himself, turns the tide, and becomes a cadre in the mold o 11.6kReads8.4Score97214d adds
- 48 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
- 49 A Road to Power 权途有路 [No Rebirth] [No NTR] [No Deification] [No Heroes] [No System] An inspiring tale of an ordinary township civil servant who overcomes countless hardships and carefully climbs the ladder, step by step, until he takes the top seat on the district committee. There is romance, but also true friendship. 196Reads6.8Score10114d adds
- 50 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
