Novels like The Red-Topped Merchant: Life at Its Peak
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as The Red-Topped Merchant: Life at Its Peak, best match first.
- 51 The Red Power of the Official Path 官道之红色权力 In officialdom, what matters more: ability or political connections? Zhou Yuanzhi had always firmly believed it was the former, until reality slapped him awake. The position he’d been promised was suddenly handed to someone else, all because he’d helped a leader and made an enemy of that leader’s nemesis. Fine, you want to play it that way? Then let’s lay our cards on the table. I’m done pretending. I’m Young Master Zhou, and who am I supposed to be afraid of? 3.8kReads8.6Score37014d adds
- 52 From the Start, I Expose the Political Arena’s Dark Secrets and Shock the Corridors of Power 开局掀翻官场黑幕，震撼权力圈 [Power at the peak + feel-good political drama + fast-paced + reborn] His boss is targeted in a staged car accident, his girlfriend cheats on him, and a petty rival pushes him aside to climb the ladder. Wang Chen faces the darkest moment of his career in government, but he isn't worried at all. He's been through all of this before. In his previous life, his timid compliance earned him nothing more than a certificate honoring him as a martyr. In this life, he already sees it all coming, and he's 3.1kReads7.6Score39314d adds
- 53 Little Bro, You're a Discipline Inspection Officer, Not a Machine 老弟，你是纪委干部，不是机器啊 [Officialdom + power struggles + the pinnacle of power + crime-solving + anti-corruption + reincarnation + revenge + one heroine + no saintly protagonist + fast-paced] When you’re reborn, don’t panic. Check your social media feed first. Wang Xiaoyong, a discipline inspection official, devoted nearly every day of the year to investigating cases, only to be unfairly dismissed from both his post and the Party over fabricated charges. After being reborn, he has just one wish: as long as his paren 29Reads—Score—14d adds
- 54 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
- 55 A Play’s Performance: A Hilarious Tale of Officialdom 一个剧本的演出，啼笑皆非的官场 A play being performed, and an absurd, laughable officialdom —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 56 The Strongest Official Career 最强官路 His career had been smooth sailing, but an unexpected turn landed him in prison. Two years later, the dragon was released, and he returned to the world of officialdom. Watch as he plans every move and climbs ever higher. 2kReads9.0Score27314d adds
- 57 The God of War Is Out of Prison: Emperor Ye Chen 战神出狱，帝尊叶辰 The God of War Ye Chen was brought to trial on charges of treason. The public cursed him. His wife divorced him on the spot. None of it shook Ye Chen’s resolve. He was framed. Now that he’s out of prison, the dragon will return, and he’ll personally capture the traitor who truly betrayed his country. 6.8kReads7.4Score40014d adds
- 58 The Cold and Warmth of the Halls of Power 官场冷暖 Zhang Ming is an ordinary grassroots civil servant. Navigating the gap between personal relationships and the rules, he climbs step by step to the pinnacle of power. This is a story of political maneuvering, difficult choices, and personal redemption. The protagonist, Zhang Ming, starts out as a low-ranking township clerk. After demonstrating extraordinary courage and ability during an unexpected incident, he catches the attention of his superiors. In the treacherous world of officialdom, he 25Reads6.8Score10014d adds
- 59 The Ultimate Benefactor 最强贵人 Bai Tao found a high-end Samsung W24 phone and couldn't put it down. Then it rang. The owner was a beautiful woman. He returned the phone to her, only to discover that she was the mine owner's daughter. She helped him rise to success... 723Reads—Score—14d adds
- 60 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
- 61 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
- 62 The Storm in Officialdom: A Start at the Provincial Government 官场风云，从省政府开局 Tan Wen transmigrates back to 1992. Thinking of all the opportunities he missed in his previous life because he didn’t understand the rules of officialdom, he vows that this time, reborn, he’ll make his way through the political world and rise swiftly through the ranks. He’ll also seize the opportunities brought by reform and opening up to make his fortune the right way. 25Reads6.1Score—14d adds
- 63 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
- 64 Disciple, Go Down the Mountain and Wreak Havoc on Your Fiancée 徒儿，下山去祸害你未婚妻吧 Nine peerlessly beautiful women were willing to remain unmarried for the rest of their lives for the sake of one child. They kept him deep in the mountains, where he endured bitter cold and scorching heat, learned to hunt like a fierce tiger, and built up the strength of an eagle soaring through the sky. All so that one day they could see him become a man of iron will and fulfill the mission that was his alone! Eighteen years passed in a flash, and the young man descended the mountain... 916Reads8.9Score12714d adds
- 65 Reborn, I Rise to the Pinnacle of Power 重生后，我封顶权力巅峰 In his previous life, betrayed by his girlfriend, Zhao Yulong, a scion of a prominent family, acted on a whim and let his impulsiveness ruin his career in government. Reborn, Zhao Yulong sees through the ways of the political arena and rises rapidly through the ranks, leading his family to look down on all under heaven... 215Reads5.2Score—14d adds
- 66 The Official's All-Seeing Eye: Rising From the Bottom 透视官眼：从最基层开始崛起 Banished to a judicial office at the very lowest level, Wu Haoran watched the aging director, who had spent his entire career in this post and was nearing retirement, face a situation even worse than Qi Tongwei's. Now that his official's eye had been activated, Wu Haoran secretly vowed to rise from here and surpass Qi Tongwei. From that day on, he reveled in the company of beautiful women and wielded power over the realm, making his way through the officialdom. 22Reads6.5Score—14d adds
- 67 Officialdom: My Father's Banner 官场：父亲的旗帜 Under the bright, boundless sky, the people come first. This is a trap. Somewhere in the shifting tides of power, someone has spread a vast, all-encompassing web... After his father is brought down, the protagonist takes up his father's banner. Through hardship, he advances cautiously, one step at a time. Only when he reaches the pinnacle of power does he realize that, though he has always been lonely and alone, a pair of invisible wings has been by his side all along. Passionate political power 309Reads7.7Score10414d adds
- 68 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
- 69 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
- 70 The Truth Behind the Gao Family Village Election 高家庄选举背后的真相 [True to Life]+ [Two Male Leads]+ [Face-slapping]+ [Customs]+ [Urban]+ [Legend] [The Han people’s greatest taboo]: body odor The Gao family, who migrated from the Great Pagoda Tree, has a large population and came from Shanxi. The local natives, with assorted surnames like Song, Du, and Xi, occupy the village’s best land, and most of their families are wealthy. Their population should be even larger, so why are there so few of them? These circumstances defy the natural order. Just like the rumor —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 71 The Road to Power: Who Holds the Reins? 官路之谁主沉浮 Who will rule this vast land? His superior is murdered, his girlfriend betrays him, and Lin Feng reaches the darkest moment of his life. Demoted to the Bureau of Religious Affairs, he has nothing to do all day. Unwilling to waste away, Lin Feng finds a new way forward: he works with the Tourism Bureau, makes full use of his department’s role, and promotes temple construction and tourism. At the same time, he secretly assists Liu Qingqing, captain of the city criminal investigation brigade, in in 316Reads—Score—14d adds
- 72 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. 1.5kReads8.7Score16514d adds
- 73 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
- 74 From the Start, My College Girlfriend Set Me Up, So I Smashed Her Face 开局被大学女友陷害，我打烂她脸 (Power struggles in government + political scheming) Meng Xun, who died in despair after being framed by his enemies, is reborn in 1998. That year, his parents are still alive, and his family business has yet to be maliciously acquired by its competitors. But in just ten days, both his parents will die in a car accident, and he will be framed and sent to prison, missing out on the best years of his life. Surrounded by wolves and facing a crisis on the brink of disaster, can he use his knowledge 9kReads8.9Score70914d adds
- 75 Reborn: From Junior Clerk to the Very Top 重生：从小科员直达巅峰 (Rebirth + urban life + officialdom) Zhang Zhengyu, middle-aged and stuck in a rut, is involved in a car accident while hosting an official reception. When he wakes up, he has returned to 1995 and become a clerk at Linshui County’s Investment Promotion Bureau. Having achieved little in his previous life, he decides to seize this chance to make a name for himself, rise steadily through the ranks, and reach the pinnacle of power! 1.1kReads7.1Score—14d adds
- 76 Enlightenment in Officialdom 官场悟道 After Lin Jian fails to secure the position of director of the bureau's general office, he soon discovers his wife's secret, and his life plunges to rock bottom. Little does he know that fate is about to turn his life upside down once again... 83.4kReads8.6Score7.5k14d adds
- 77 God of War: The Supreme Returns 天策战神：归来即巅峰 He was once a legend in the military, codenamed “Tiance,” but at the height of his career, he was framed and sent to prison. Three years later, he joined the Jiang family as a live-in son-in-law, an ordinary man and the laughingstock of the entire city. When his wife is humiliated and her family faces danger, Tiance returns to the city, and the whole world will tremble. The schemes and betrayals of the past will also quietly unfold with his return. 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 78 The Young Heir’s Rise Against the Rich Families of the City 都市之豪门逆少 Although Chen Xuan was born into a wealthy family, he had always been a well-behaved son in front of his parents. Until one day, on Chen Xuan's birthday, countless bigwigs showed up all at once. “Li Heixin, the richest man in Hong Kong City, presents a pair of jade ruyi scepters.” “Wang Dalin, chairman of the Daw Wan Group, wishes Young Master Chen a happy birthday.” “Superstar Yang Mi has brought thirteen artists from her agency to perform a dance for Young Master Chen and get the party started 26Reads6.2Score—14d adds
- 79 The Cheat-Code Crown Prince of the City 都市之开挂太子爷 Just when Chu He hits the lowest point in his life after his startup fails, everything suddenly takes a wild turn? What? My dad is the emperor of the Southern Realm?! Not only am I a crown prince now, I have more money than I could ever spend? I used to scrape by, barely earning a few coins. Now money is just a number. Ah! This is such a failure. How am I supposed to fill the emptiness in my heart? I bought every livestreaming platform just to find something fun to do. The studio making the anim 98Reads—Score—14d adds
- 80 I'm Guaranteed to Be Invincible 我包无敌的 [Modern urban setting only, no cultivation, one female lead, no dragging things out or angst] My name is Han Bufan, known as the number one playboy in the capital. Why Bufan? Because I'm destined for greatness, of course. Oh, comparing family backgrounds? Is your family more powerful than mine, the Han family? Hmm? Comparing strength? I'm no slouch there either. What else is there to compare? Want to cling to my coattails and follow me? That I can do. 1.3kReads7.2Score10214d adds
- 81 Climbing the Ladder to Success 拾级而上青云 Blow after blow in his previous life left Ye Zifeng trapped in years of self-doubt. He drifted through decades of mediocrity in a grassroots post. Just as he was about to retire, he fell gravely ill and had little time left to live. On the brink of death, Ye Zifeng was unexpectedly reborn, returning to the eve of his college graduation. In this life, watch him break free from his predicament, seize his chance, enter government with confidence, and climb step by step toward the top. 517Reads8.1Score—14d adds
- 82 From the Start, I Took the Blame, Then Climbed to the Top 开局背黑锅，我步步登青云 Crisis is opportunity. Seize it, and you can rise to the top. Facing the desperate predicament of being made a scapegoat, Zhao Guodong throws himself into the game, takes aim at entrenched corruption, and pushes his way toward the center of power, plunging into the eye of the storm of political infighting. 65Reads6.6Score—14d adds
- 83 Staying True to Your Mission: The Way of an Official 不忘初心之为官之道 Reporter Zhuang Ziyou and prosecutor Lin Ruoxi fell in love at first sight while catching a Peeping Tom, and soon began a sweet and thrilling life together. Other couples go shopping to flirt. These two go shopping to catch thieves! Corrupt officials? They expose every one they find! The underworld? You’re not getting away either! As they take on corruption and organized crime, Zhuang Ziyou rises step by step from a humble reporter to a career in government. But the road through officialdom is f 124Reads—Score—14d adds
- 84 Power and Influence: A Career in Politics 权势：官路纵横 One female lead, no rebirth, no System, entirely fictional. Not based on real life. The Li family was a powerful clan that arranged marriages. Li Zhongfei had no objections at first, but an accident led him to pick up a country girl and even register their marriage. His family promptly disowned him and cast him out with nothing. All his resources were taken away, and it seemed his career in government was about to hit a dead end. But he had planned ahead. He turned around and handed the country 314Reads8.3Score11114d adds
- 85 Turbulent Waves 迷涛 This is a chronicle of a grassroots official's rise and fall, a portrait of county-level officialdom in the 1990s, and, above all, a bittersweet song of an era defined by the struggle between human weakness and steadfastness. When the turbulent waters recede, the embankment still bears the upright figures of those who never bent. 14Reads—Score—14d adds
- 86 A Comeback in Public Service 仕路逆袭 On the eve of his wedding, his lover breaks up with him and his boss starts targeting him. His life hits rock bottom... New to politics, He Qiang is struck by the coldness of the world. Just as he gives up and decides to lie flat, one act of heroism turns his fortunes around: he wins a huge prize and his political career takes off... Follow the extraordinary rise of a political prodigy, from township clerk to the top. 16.2kReads9.0Score1.1k14d adds
- 87 The Brash Official 官道莽夫 By a twist of fate, Li Nanxing was swept into the heart of a fierce struggle and made a pawn in someone else’s game. He thought he was doomed to be crushed, but somehow he carved out a bright future for himself! From then on, he rose rapidly, with a lovely wife by his side and both fame and fortune in hand! 172Reads6.1Score—14d adds
- 88 After Accidentally Saving a Leader's Secretary, I Race to the Top 意外救下领导秘书后，我一路狂飙 Ye Dongcheng, an ordinary young man who entered government service after graduating from Southeast University, had been quietly working in officialdom while holding on to his ambitions. But the gears of fate suddenly shifted because of a good deed his father did. One day, his father accidentally rescued a mysterious middle-aged man and received an inconspicuous USB drive in return. Who could have imagined that this drive would be like a key opening Pandora's box, drawing the Ye family into a sho 134Reads7.7Score—14d adds
- 89 The Pinnacle of Public Service: Rising from the Grassroots 官途巅峰，从基层乡镇崛起！ Lu Tianming, top scorer in the provincial civil service exam, is betrayed by his girlfriend. By a twist of fate, he encounters a benefactor who comes to his aid. With his official career going nowhere, Lu Tianming makes a stunning move, and from then on, he rockets to the top… 3.5kReads7.9Score31414d adds
- 90 A New Path in Politics for a Poor Boy 官场之寒门新途 Wang Xingyu was born on a state-owned farm in Northeast China. Though his family was ordinary, he excelled in school from a young age. At eighteen, he earned a place at a prestigious 985 university through his own hard work, where he studied public administration. Over the next four years, Wang Xingyu applied himself not only to his studies but also to student clubs, including the student union’s external relations department. Arranging sponsorships and taking on other practical tasks helped him —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 91 The All-Seeing Eye 天眼人生 Born into a prestigious family, he was accidentally separated from his loved ones as a child. A twist of fate led him to be adopted by a reclusive master, who taught him a miraculous third-eye technique! While at university, he started a business and amassed an enormous fortune. After reuniting with his family, he embarked on a career in politics! Starting at the grassroots level, he fought corruption and took down crime syndicates, eventually rising to the highest ranks. His legendary journey i 534Reads8.8Score10114d adds
- 92 The Noble Son-in-Law 权门贵婿 As an official, one should strive for greatness, act with a clear conscience, and keep one's mind at ease. The tides of officialdom surge and shift, fraught with danger and intrigue. Watch as Chen Mo writes his own dazzling chapter at the crest of the waves. 37.8kReads8.5Score4.5k14d adds
- 93 The Struggle for Power in Officialdom 官场争锋 Behind the bustling city lies a complicated world of officialdom. There, power, interests, human nature, and conscience intertwine to form a tangled portrait of society. This novel of political intrigue will take you behind the scenes, reveal the truths hidden behind power, and immerse you in the shifting currents of the political world. In this novel, you’ll meet a young official who grows through experience in the political arena, going from a green newcomer to a seasoned hand who understands 199Reads7.4Score10014d adds
- 94 Blood and Iron at the Border: Code Name Shadow Hunter 铁血边关：代号猎影 [Secret Agent] + [Special Forces] Lin Feng, the Northwest's top sniper, could take down an enemy with a single shot. But after his comrades framed him, he was saddled with the charge of treason and became a wanted fugitive along the border. His comrades were killed, the evidence was stolen, and layer upon layer of deadly threats drove him to flee into the Gobi Desert. A USB drive held a shocking secret: senior officers at the brigade headquarters had colluded with a smuggling syndicate. An ambus 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 95 The Pinnacle of Power: My Formidable Backing Is Revealed 权力巅峰：我的强大背景曝光了 [Traditional political drama + no System] Breaking news! After a leader dies under mysterious circumstances, secretary Qin Yang is dragged into the scandal because every clue points to his girlfriend! He goes from a rising star at work to a public enemy. His political career hangs by a thread, and his life sinks into darkness. At the crucial moment, an order transfers him to a village post. He thinks he's been exiled, but it turns out to be the starting point of his comeback. During his time in 12.3kReads8.4Score1.4k14d adds
- 96 The Live-In Dragon Son-in-Law 上门龙婿 Also known as My Haughty Little Wife He was once the young master of the Dragon Sect, with a fortune worth trillions. For four years, he hid his identity as a live-in son-in-law, enduring contempt and humiliation while everyone walked all over him. For his daughter and his wife, he had no choice but to return to the Dragon Sect and inherit it all! He once promised her a lifetime of splendor. Now, he will give her the whole world! 170Reads8.5Score10714d adds
- 97 The Special Forces Playboy 特种纨绔 Though we're close enough to touch, we're worlds apart. When will I achieve success and return home? I'll laugh and drink with you thirty thousand times, with no need to speak of parting sorrow. Special Forces King Ye Qingling fell from grace and became a notorious playboy, but it wasn't because he turned evil on a whim. There was more to the story. On the day of his engagement, a beauty hid a scheme beneath her skirts. He fled a thousand miles, only to run into disaster. Losing his memory overn 2.3kReads7.3Score18614d adds
- 98 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
- 99 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
- 100 The Crown Prince of a Military-Political Dynasty: I Take Everything by Force 军政世家太子爷，无敌狂揽一切 He is the heir to a family with deep roots in both the military and politics, born into one of the most powerful families in the country. His grandfather commands the army, and his maternal grandfather is the richest man alive. Born with extraordinary gifts, he formed a connection with Daoism at the age of three and embarked on a path of cultivation that defies heaven itself. With overwhelming dominance, Ye Qianchen will conquer the cultivation world, the demon realm, and the immortal realm! He 98Reads6.7Score—14d adds
