Novels like Back in the Game: Cleaning Up Officialdom
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as Back in the Game: Cleaning Up Officialdom, best match first.
- 51 A Political Mastermind's Song of Prosperity 长盛高歌之政治高手 This is the story of Li Changsheng, a senior county-level official, and his rise to the top. He is skilled in calligraphy, feng shui, and antiques. Decisive and full of schemes, he is also charming, carefree, and bold. He sees through both the ugliness and goodness of society, and puts forward many new ideas and principles for good governance, public welfare, and social development. 804Reads6.7Score10414d adds
- 52 The Road to Officialdom: Starting at the Grassroots 官道：从基层做起 [Officialdom + Power + Romance + Workplace] Once you figure out how the system works, it’s like activating a cheat code. It’s an exciting ride from the start. This realistic novel about officialdom follows Lin Yaodong’s step-by-step rise from the grassroots to the heights of power. 30Reads—Score—14d adds
- 53 The Traffic Bureau Chief 交通局长 Lin Zhongquan was an ordinary employee in a road maintenance section. Following his father’s wishes, he was determined to climb the ranks. On his father’s repeated advice, he married the former mayor’s daughter and managed to get in good with Huang Dingli, the head of the Pingchang Municipal Transportation Bureau. During a construction tender, Huang Dingli and Lin Zhongquan got to know contractor He Rubin and the stunningly beautiful public relations agent Miaomiao. They helped He Rubin win the 93Reads9.4Score—14d adds
- 54 Hmph! After the Divorce, I’m the One Keeping My Ex-Husband Alive 切！离婚后，前夫的命是我给的 Two Powerful Leads Spoil Each Other ✓ The Hero’s Long Road to Winning Her Back ✓ Medical World Intrigue ✓ Family Feuds Among the Elite ✓ Turning the Tables ✓ An Intense Push and Pull ✓ …Gu Heng, I gave you your life, but now I don’t want it anymore. Three years later. He kneels outside the consulting room, holding up a sign. “Wan Bei, please give me a chance.” Without even looking up, she says, “Mr. Gu, do you have an appointment?” He says, “There were no appointments left. I’ve been waitin 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 55 Reno’s Meteoric Rise 雷诺得平步青云 A story of an ordinary man's rise, five years beneath Five-Finger Mountain, rural romance, police-station investigations, development-zone officials, senior provincial officials, and provincial and ministerial leaders. This novel of officialdom portrays the complexity of human nature and the struggle for power. Following the growth of the protagonist, Lei Nuode, it shows how a young official, armed with intelligence, courage, and resolve, realizes his ideals and ambitions step by step in an offi 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 56 The Insider 内部人士 In the early 21st century, China’s real estate economy was booming. Many ordinary people caught a favorable wave amid the great tides of history and amassed considerable wealth. The protagonist is an average person with no particular gifts, but as he grows, he continually learns from the wisdom of those around him, including some truly remarkable people. Through constant learning and reflection, he eventually develops a unique kind of wisdom and achieves success of his own. It seems as though fa 10Reads—Score—14d adds
- 57 My Road to Department Head: A Country Kid’s Comeback 我的厅长之路：农村娃的逆袭 A country boy passes the civil service exam in another province and works his way up from a township to the county seat and then the provincial capital, rising from a junior clerk to department head. This is a story of turning his life around, with all the hardships and bitterness along the way. Perhaps it will offer something for many readers to learn from. 34Reads—Score—14d adds
- 58 Reborn: Notes from the New Officialdom 重生之新官场笔记 A friendly warning: readers who like mindless power fantasies can move along. You won't be able to get through this book! The officialdom has never been a place where you can charge in on sheer passion, and power is no game of settling scores on a whim. Authority and high office are never won through sheer courage alone. Only by knowing how to weigh your options can you hold fast to the limits of when to advance and when to retreat. 1kReads8.1Score10814d adds
- 59 White Mountains, Black Waters 白山黑水 In a small forestry town in Northeast China, an ordinary vocational high school graduate steps into society. He starts out as a forest ranger, seizes an opportunity to transfer to a government office, and enters public service. By a stroke of luck, he gets involved in the seedling trade and becomes a profit-driven plant dealer, earning his first fortune. Gradually, he realizes that getting further in life requires the backing of power. So he earns money while cultivating his political career. A 130Reads8.8Score11914d adds
- 60 The Righteous Path of Officialdom 官道正途 Li Wei has just entered officialdom. Though he faces countless twists and hardships along the way, he never shows fear or the slightest inclination to back down. Confronted with tangled relationships and all manner of thorny problems, he patiently untangles each one, relying on his exceptional intelligence and courage to respond with composure. The wetland in Xiaohe Village, rich in rare mineral resources, attracts covetous attention from local factions and outside forces alike, drawing people f 62Reads—Score—14d adds
- 61 Tales of Mingdu 明都往事 Spring in Mingdu is always marked by rising winds and falling sand, leaving everything hazy and frustrating. But this year was strange: the wind never came, and summer arrived all at once. The heat was unbearable, and the weather was getting stranger by the day. In the end, I decided to ignore it. I slumped into my office chair, narrowed my eyes at the screen, and mechanically tapped away at the keyboard. Life still had to be lived from nine to five, in a dull, orderly routine. What was there to 318Reads8.0Score—14d adds
- 62 Xiaohefeng’s First Book 小荷风的第1本书 My new work is out! 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! 1kReads6.8Score—14d adds
- 63 Township Officials 乡镇干部 A humorous, witty story about Zhu Zhenggang, a grassroots township official, and the strange incidents he encounters on the job. Through his experiences, it offers a glimpse into the lives and governance of officials at the township level. 288Reads9.0Score—14d adds
- 64 Secretary Chen's Notebook 陈秘书笔记 The extraordinary life of a secretary. Chen, a highly capable secretary, watches his bright future vanish in an instant. Cautious and deferential around the powerful, he keeps a low profile among his colleagues, and through his own distinctive way of handling people, gradually achieves his goals in life. His notebook is a lament for a life. 1.1kReads—Score12214d adds
- 65 Plans Amid the Plane Tree Fluff 梧桐絮里的规划图 [A principled struggle within the system, unexpected turns, power, sex, and an anti-corruption campaign, love that brings a powerful man to his knees, sacrifice for love, realism] Yu Wanqing stood before the mirror in the restroom of the Yuecheng Grand Hotel’s conference center and took a deep breath, straightening the collar of her dark blue blazer. The woman in the mirror was twenty-eight, her shoulder-length black hair neatly tucked behind her ears. As a rising talent at the Municipal Plannin 430Reads—Score—14d adds
- 66 The Wind Rises: The Deer Call 大风起兮：呦呦鹿鸣 The Scales Tip Left, the People Turn Right Also known as "The Political Arena: Don't Mess with the Village Secretary" Ordered to take up a village post at his engagement banquet, he plans to build roads and help the villagers escape poverty, only to get caught up in the undercurrents of the political arena. He dares to talk back to leaders, take on the well-connected, and tackle the toughest challenges. Decisive and ruthless, he rises from a lowly village secretary to the very heart of power. 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 67 A Wild Ride on the Official Road: The Rise and Fall of Qianling 官路狂飙，黔岭浮沉录 The central storyline unfolds against a sweeping anti-corruption campaign in Canglan Province. It follows the rise and fall of two “enormously corrupt officials,” Fu Mingyuan and Zheng Ziqiang, contrasting Luo Hao’s descent through opportunism with Shen Weimin’s steadfast service at the grassroots. Foreshadowing that echoes from beginning to end sharpens the heartbreak and makes each triumph explode with impact, exposing the deep-rooted causes of systemic, widespread corruption while showcasing 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 68 Those Who Left the Village 从村里走出去的人们 Meng Ziqiang started out on the village construction crew and became the richest man in Linqu County. After six divorces and seven marriages, he was killed in an explosion on New Year's Eve. Qiao Yu'er entered a business school and escaped her peasant upbringing. Through diligent writing, she began to make a name for herself, then threw herself into politics and set out on a career in government. Wu Yuexia built up a fish farm and fought her way forward, eventually becoming the deputy county mag 55Reads—Score—14d adds
- 69 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 320Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 70 Part One 局部一 The protagonist, Hu Weimin, navigates the ups and downs of officialdom while staying clearheaded, resisting all kinds of temptation, and holding fast to his principles. The everyday settings make the characters feel as if they’re right there beside you, perhaps even people just like yourself. 1.1kReads6.8Score10314d adds
- 71 A Rising Star in Politics: From Secretary to the Pinnacle of Power 官场黑马：从秘书到权力巅峰 A pen for a blade, strategy for a game of chess. A poor-born young man advances one careful step at a time, breaking through every obstacle and turning the tables against those who keep him down; a perceptive female Party secretary recognizes his talent and stands by him with all her heart amid schemes and deceit. One game of political chess, a lifetime of ups and downs. Watch as a grassroots secretary and a female Party secretary join forces to root out evil and clear away deep-seated ills, pl 63kReads8.1Score4.6k14d adds
- 72 Ripples in the Sea of Officialdom: Reborn on the Road to Power 宦海微澜：重生仕途路 Lin Yanzhou died. He died on the front line of flood control, swept away by the breach in the Huai River embankment, on the levee he had guarded for twenty years. His forty-eight years of life had been painfully meek. No connections, no backers, no resources. He was afraid to accept invitations, in case he couldn't afford to return the favor. He was afraid to accept gifts, in case he got in trouble and dragged his wife and children down with him. After twenty years, he was still only a deputy 61Reads—Score—14d adds
- 73 Gamalang Terrace 噶玛兰台 A realistic look at the limits of what an ordinary person can achieve! The protagonist, Li Li, goes from being a demobilized soldier to a schoolteacher, then, by a twist of fate, leaves the public education system to enter the administrative ranks. Driven forward by the tide of the times, and through events that seem accidental but are in fact inevitable, he grows step by step into a towering tree. Spring snow, the moon in a well, wine at the mountain pass, flowers in a mirror: the secret lies w 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 74 The Wind Blows Through Xizhou City: Part Two 风过西周城第二部 The second volume of the long anti-corruption novel Wind Over Xizhou City continues the story begun in the first. Planned to span thirty-three chapters and 390,000 characters, it once again unfolds among the offices of Xizhou County, in the western plains. Career and love, human relationships and social customs, the rules of survival, and advancement at work: a series of collisions between people and events, emotion and rules, conscience and human nature. It paints a vivid, tangled portrait of e 139Reads—Score—14d adds
- 75 A Wild Ride Through Officialdom: Starting with a Summons for Investigation 官道狂飙：从被带走调查开始 Liu Sheyu, deputy director of the Pinghu County Party Committee Office and secretary to the county Party secretary, is taken away for investigation. His girlfriend’s entire family abandons him, and his best friend betrays him. But against all odds, he turns the tables, and from then on, there’s no stopping him! 657Reads7.3Score12414d adds
- 76 Power Over All: Shaking Up the Court with Logic 权倾天下：靠逻辑搅动朝堂 Ling Mo wakes up as the foolish eldest legitimate son of the Chancellor’s household, and the moment he opens his eyes, he’s caught red-handed spying. With a few words, he turns the scene of a caught-in-the-act affair into a masterclass in logical reasoning. Before he can even enjoy the good life, he’s forced to take over the family’s mess. His sister is being married off for an alliance, his younger brother stabs him in the back, and his father is a sly old fox with plenty of secrets. The family 6Reads—Score114d adds
- 77 Setting Sail for Yunzhou 启航云州 Driven by the ideal of “making Yunzhou a better place,” dedicated official Chen Wangshu leads his team into a new chapter. They conduct in-depth research and develop plans to upgrade local industries, connect businesses with resources to help them overcome difficulties, and organize activities to enrich residents’ cultural and spiritual lives. With each new effort, they move steadily toward their goal and help Yunzhou set sail for a brighter future. 11Reads—Score—14d adds
- 78 Reborn: The Summit of the Azure Clouds 重生：青云之巅 Shen Nan is reborn before being falsely accused of stealing the secretary's speech draft. A lifetime of hard work, all for nothing. Shen Nan spent half his life striving, only to be framed by his colleagues, separated from friends and family, and have his ideals crushed by reality. When he opened his eyes again, he had returned to the year he first entered public service as a young man. The rivals who once ruined him were still lying in wait, and he still had the opportunities he'd missed before 9.1kReads7.8Score76314d adds
- 79 The Provincial Party Compound: In the Name of the Queen of Spades 省委大院，黑桃皇的名义 Political schemes and power plays, civil war erupting on all sides, and clashes between powerful figures leaving countless dead and wounded. A spectacular anti-corruption campaign unfolds in Longxi Province. The protagonist, Weng Qingyun, starts out in a high-ranking position and enters a life-and-death struggle with Professor Meng Dehu, who just can't help snapping, “Look at you, getting worked up again.” This is more than a brilliant battle between two individuals. It's also a fierce clash bet —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 80 Ink-Boned Beauty: From Seedling Thinning to Selection, Every Step Is a Nerve-Racking Trial 墨骨天娇：从蹲苗到遴选步步惊心 [Ink-Boned, Edge Concealed | Clearheaded, Career-Driven Heroine | Rise Through the Ranks | Grassroots Cadre Selection | Workplace Mind Games] People say that boneless painting depicts a spirit and conceals a sharp edge. Xia Qing, a young female official sent to gain grassroots experience in a township, has made the principles of boneless painting the way she survives in the ruthless arena of officialdom. She has two brushes in hand: One brings flowers to life with every stroke, creating boneless 74Reads7.6Score1014d adds
- 81 Top Broker 顶尖掮客 This book starts with the protagonist, Feng Tianchen, a simple private-car driver, and follows his brutal struggle through the world of politics. It is a battlefield without gunfire, a terrifying vortex that ordinary people cannot escape once they enter. But to a seasoned political operator, it is the perfect stage for a masterful performance. See how Feng Tianchen rises from a humble driver to the pinnacle of life through his own efforts. 4.7kReads8.9Score45214d adds
- 82 The Rise and Fall of Officialdom: Starting with the Crackdown on Organized Crime 宦海浮沉：从扫除黑恶开始 Everyday urban life + Career in government + Poverty alleviation + Anti-gang operations + Anti-corruption Night falls in Bingcheng, and the city lights flicker to life. Three poverty-alleviation secretaries have died in the line of duty in quick succession, pushing the meeting's atmosphere to a breaking point. All the burden now rests on Yan Qing, a demobilized military officer. As the newly appointed secretary stationed in the village, can he uncover the truth? Or, more precisely, will he live 7.3kReads8.8Score71314d adds
- 83 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
- 84 Breaking Free: The Road to Rising Through the Ranks 破茧：官阶成长之路 No being reborn, no wish fulfillment, no NTR, no golden finger. Through hard work, ordinary man Rao Cheng writes his way through the journey of a grassroots official breaking free of his cocoon, revealing the warmth and wisdom of grassroots governance. This is not only a story of an official’s growth, but also a realistic guide to grassroots governance. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 85 Yang Yiming’s Village Official Diary 杨一鸣村官记 This book tells the story of young people full of energy and promise, striving and working hard to make their mark. After graduating from Longhai University, Yang Yiming resolutely chose to work at the grassroots level in the countryside, becoming a village official with lofty ambitions who was ready to roll up his sleeves and get things done. He cherished love, valued friendship, and treasured family, bringing his passion to a remote village far from the bustle of the city. There, he devoted hi 14Reads—Score—14d adds
- 86 My Ex-Girlfriend Is Making Me Become a Government Official 前女友逼我去当官 “I never wanted to take the civil service exam or enter politics. My ex-girlfriend, Zhang Yating, pushed me into it. Without her, I would never have made it to where I am today. Truthfully, I've thanked her in my heart more than once. Without her persistence and the blows she dealt me, I would never have reached this position.” Those are the words the protagonist, Fang Chen, most wants to say. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 87 Officialdom: I’m the Strategist Behind the Scenes 官场：我在背后当军师 Li Na was a deputy section chief in the municipal government office. Caught in the treacherous currents of city hall, she held fast to her own principles while others focused on ingratiating themselves with everyone, only to be suppressed by her leaders and colleagues. Her husband, Liu Dehua, could no longer stand by and watch. He began helping Li Na, clearing the way for her rapid rise. She connects the city’s grand plans above with the everyday lives of people at the grassroots below, navigati —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 88 Upright and Righteous, I Stand Between Heaven and Earth 一身正气立天地 On the chessboard of power, the word “official” is like a subtle game piece, its two mouths concealing endless wisdom and mystery. One mouth represents the art of speech: an official must be eloquent, choosing every word with care and using wisdom to guide public opinion. The other represents the art of socializing, building connections over food and drink. But remember, never cross the line or take a single cent of the people's hard-earned money. These meals are not merely a matter of culture, —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 89 The Shadow of Jingzhe: The Male Secretary’s Deadly Identity 惊蛰谍影：男秘书的致命身份 On March 5, 2026, Jingzhe, Zhou Daimei died in an "accidental" car crash. Just before she died, she received a WeChat message: "Don't go. It's an ambush." When she opened her eyes again, time had turned back three days, to 5:24 a.m. on March 2. She had 72 hours left to live. This time, she had returned with her memories intact. 93Reads—Score—14d adds
- 90 A Splendid Rise: Starting as a Seconded Secretary 锦绣青云：从借调秘书开始 A junior secretary is swept into a grand game of power. With his pen as his ladder and his heart as his compass, he navigates the whirlpool of power and emotion, step by careful step, until he rises from a temporary posting onto the path to success that is his alone. 8Reads—Score—14d adds
- 91 The Righteous Path to Power 官途正道 This is a silent battle between good and evil, and a silent struggle between the polished public image of a county Party secretary and the darkness behind it. This is a journey through life that lays bare human nature, and a compelling story of a career in politics... This story is entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual people or events is purely coincidental! 88Reads6.9Score10114d adds
- 92 A Woman's Perspective 女性视角 Three women make quite a show. Two of them were once best friends, then became rivals in love. To see the world of men clearly, they even join forces once more. Together, the three women see through not only the men’s business dealings, but also the hypocrisy, cunning, and schemes behind them... Once they see the truth, they’ll take back what belongs to them and make those who hurt them pay… When the dust settles, whether they acted out of helplessness or took matters into their own hands, th 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 93 Making It in the World of Officialdom 混出个官样 Man, pain turns to hate, and hate turns to ruthlessness. When you fear nothing, the world will clear a path for you! Ten years as a hidden dragon, trapped in the abyss. Then, in a single day, he rides the wind straight to the heavens. Dawn has come, and the world is in his grasp. His might sweeps across mountains and rivers. No one can stop him. If not now, then when? 27.6kReads9.0Score2.1k14d adds
- 94 After My Divorce, an Owl Helped Me Rule the World 离婚后，猫头鹰带我权倾天下 He lost his job in middle age, and his seven-year marriage also came to an end. Lin Zhijie got a firsthand taste of what it meant to be “a middle-aged man who’s worth less than a dog.” His property and savings were all seized by his domineering, ruthless socialite wife. Just as Lin Zhijie was left homeless and sleeping beneath a bridge, he unexpectedly saved a talking owl. After that, Lin Zhijie entered politics, rising smoothly from an archival clerk at a neighborhood office to the very top. Be 4.9kReads7.6Score48514d adds
- 95 The Ladder of Office? I Survey the Summit of Power and Ascend to the Throne! 官梯？我一览权力巅峰，朝天阙！ Eastern fantasy + from the start, the protagonist reports everything to the state. Main characters: Feng Wuji and Su Nianzhen. Strong characterizations and a compelling pairing: a steady, protective male lead × a resilient heroine who grows stronger, joined by lively supporting characters like a gluttonous divine beast and a hard-drinking senior. Fast-paced plot: the story opens with an awakening and an immediate report. A state agency is established within three chapters, and the narrative neve 11Reads—Score—14d adds
- 96 The Pinnacle of the Official Road: Three Parts Jiangning, Step by Step on Thin Ice 官路巅峰之三分江宁：步步惊心 Jiangning is divided three ways: the Zhang family holds power, the Bao family controls the money, and the Chen family runs the show. Everyone has met someone who came from the bureaucracy. A pit every three steps, a trap every five. No one has ever made it out of this game of Jiangning alive. Lin Bai tells Liu Xin: If the whole world betrays you, I'll betray the whole world for you. This book is for everyone in the system who lies awake, restless and turning over in bed. For those forced to ben 124Reads—Score—14d adds
- 97 A Clash of Power and Ambition 权欲交锋 The author says: [Urban] + [Career in politics] + [Male-centric] + [Rags to riches] + [Feel-good] This is the story of an ordinary foot soldier who climbs step by step to the pinnacle of power. It all begins when Chen Mingyuan is investigating the county Party secretary and unexpectedly comes across a video of him. From that moment on, Chen embarks on an extraordinary journey... 8.3kReads8.2Score52614d adds
- 98 Rising Through the Ranks to New Heights 官升扶摇直上九万里 After being reborn, Weng Qingyun is no longer lost. He takes Wu Yunxia's hand once more and sets out on his official career. To reach the top, Weng Qingyun is willing to put himself at risk, taking on one seemingly impossible task after another. To realize his lofty ambitions, Weng Qingyun not only rids the people of their troubles along the path to advancement, but also brings more policies that benefit the local population. The sea of officialdom is treacherous. See how Weng Qingyun rises abov 61Reads—Score—14d adds
- 99 Reborn on the Road to Power: 1995 官道重生：1995 (There may be negative reviews! Disclaimer: Everything in this novel is fictional.) When Lin Weidong, a seasoned political operator, returns to 1995 with memories of the next thirty years, he discovers that the whole world has become a card table where only he can see everyone else’s cards! While others are still bewildered by the restructuring of state-owned enterprises, he is already quietly laying the groundwork for the future of the internet! While others are still fretting over attracting i 232Reads8.1Score—14d adds
- 100 The Climb of a Bank Executive 银行高管爬升记 The rules of politics, the cutthroat workplace, the ups and downs of love... Finance, real estate, technology... From human weakness to rising desire, from career growth to family conflict, from glory to ruin, from caution to madness, from the summit to the abyss... He started out as a low-level employee, determined to climb the ladder. At last, he seized an opportunity and received help from a powerful patron, gradually entering the inner circle, only to become a pawn at the same time... Was it 175Reads—Score—14d adds
