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.
- 101 The Eighth Book by Xiang Shen 喜欢香神的的第8本书 The rain poured mercilessly, but people still had heart! Zhou Zhiyuan rescued his beautiful boss, Zheng Xiaoting, and from then on, his career rose step by step! See how Zhou Zhiyuan turns the tide, rewrites his fate, navigates the political chessboard, helps the strong and the weak alike, governs for the people, and wins at every turn! 45Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 102 A Fresh Start in Officialdom: From Provincial Government Bigwig to Grassroots Clerk 官道重来：从省府高官到基层科员 After thirty years of ups and downs in officialdom, one sudden fall was enough to show him that the ground beneath his feet was nothing but a cliff. Chen Li returns with the perspective and memories of a senior provincial official to the starting point of his career: a poor, isolated township at the grassroots level. Here, he faces deeply entrenched local powers, long-standing hardships that seem impossible to resolve, and the fateful trap that dragged him into the mire in his previous life. Eve 55Reads—Score—14d adds
- 103 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
- 104 Officialdom: The Road to Power Begins as a Police Officer in a Detention Center 官场：掌权之路从看守所民警开始 Yang Junbang, a police officer with the criminal investigation squad, was framed and demoted to work at a detention center. There, Yang Junbang met his benefactor and ultimately embarked on a path to defy fate and change his destiny. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 105 Officialdom: I Became a Powerful Figure’s Most Trusted Aide 官场：我成了大佬的铁杆心腹 Su Jin was reborn at the moment he started his career in government in 2013. From the start, he was at the civil service provincial exam interview. Sorry, interviewers, but to take first place, I’m going to quietly set a little trap and get you all to back me… 888Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 106 The Road to Office for the Poor, Book 2: The Art of Power 寒门官路2:权变 This is the second installment of the novel A Humble Beginning, Rising to the Top. Its audio edition is titled The Humble Official's Road. Secretly prepared by the military district and local government, an unprecedented program to transform elite soldiers into political officials is quietly underway. Tang Lin, a special forces king from a poor family, is No. 001 among the first batch of soldiers transferred to government posts. In just three years, he rises to a high-ranking position. Confro 725Reads6.9Score10414d adds
- 107 The God of War Returns, Only to Find His Household Registration Canceled 战神归来，发现户口被注销 Three years ago, his family treated him like a pawn and deliberately sent him to a foreign battlefield where death was all but certain. Everyone thought he had long since been reduced to bones. Three years later, he returned from the bloodshed as a supreme God of War, commanding an army of thousands and bearing the title of Yama. He had hoped to surprise his family. Full of anticipation, he returned to his hometown, only to discover in shock that his household registration had long since been 9kReads8.0Score97514d adds
- 108 Absolute Power: After the Breakup, I Reached the Pinnacle of Politics! 绝对权力，分手后走上仕途巅峰！ Born into a family of officials, he had no interest in a career in politics. Forced by his family to take the civil service exam, he had no choice but to hide away in a remote town and slack off. To avoid a political marriage, he married a college classmate who had pursued him relentlessly. But on the very day his wife was promoted, she handed him divorce papers. Her reason: the leader who had promoted her didn’t like women with husbands. His mother-in-law’s contempt, his colleagues’ exclusion, 129Reads9.1Score3014d adds
- 109 Reborn, I Rise to the Clouds as a Selected Cadre 重生后我以选调生身份平步青云 Liu Huaimin, a fifty-eight-year-old grassroots public servant, spent twenty-seven years in his post before reaching the end of his life with a heart full of regret. In his previous life, an unjust case tied to an engineering project brought tremendous hardship upon his family. His loved ones suffered one misfortune after another, leaving him with a lifelong burden he could never put aside. As he lay dying, he opened his eyes once more, only to find himself back in the dormitory at Beichen Univer 553Reads—Score10314d adds
- 110 I Went Undercover for a Stunning Policewoman 我为绝色女警做卧底 This story is entirely fictional and has nothing to do with real life. After Zhong Zheng’s girlfriend cheated on him and his friend betrayed him, he was forced to give up his government job. Heartbroken, he wanted to leave the place that held so many painful memories... But his parents had died when he was young, and he and his older brother had depended on each other ever since. His brother had dropped out of school early, not only raising him but putting him through college. Feeling he owed 47Reads—Score—14d adds
- 111 The Killer Returns: A Secret Mission 杀手归来：秘密使命 He was once a top assassin in the underworld, known as the Soul Reaper. He had never lost a job since his debut. But he failed his final mission and vanished without a trace. The underworld's assassins' guild consequently issued a worldwide kill order for him. As for him, he simply returned to Jiuzhou under an assumed name. He became a bartender, a beautiful woman's contract husband, and a gang boss's wife's confidant... From then on, romance came his way nonstop, and he crushed one powerful fam 490Reads6.6Score10314d adds
- 112 The Overwhelming Power of Officialdom 官场之滔天权力 [Peak of Power + Traditional Political Fiction + Absolute Authority + No System] His unit's leaders entrusted Mi Weitao with the major task of cracking down on prostitution. Little did they know, Mi Weitao led his subordinates out of town to eat, drink, and have fun. Just as everyone was waiting to see Mi Weitao make a fool of himself, he rounded up every criminal involved in prostitution. His powerful protectors swore to have Mi Weitao killed, but he sent them tumbling into hell with a single k 11.5kReads8.7Score88214d adds
- 113 Climbing the Official Ladder: Starting as My Ex-Girlfriend's Boss 仕途升迁：从成为前女友上司开始 After graduating from graduate school, Wang Cheng passed the provincial government’s selected graduate recruitment exam and reported to his new post in a township, only to discover that he had become his ex-girlfriend’s direct supervisor… 754Reads—Score—14d adds
- 114 A New Take on Political Fiction: A College Graduate's Road into Government 新版官场文：大学毕业生从政路 By a twist of fate, Liu Bai becomes a township civil servant after graduating from college. For a poor nobody like him, landing a civil-service job is already something to celebrate. He had hoped to keep his head down and do an ordinary job without competing with anyone, but he encounters one unfair situation after another. And the more he faces, the further he climbs, until he reaches the very pinnacle of power! 223Reads—Score—14d adds
- 115 From Fresh Graduate to Power Broker 从毕业新生到官道大佬 Chen Yang, a graduate of a prestigious university, should have been on the path to success, but his boss undermined and framed him. A twist of fate set him on the road to an extraordinary life. Colorful characters make their entrances, and one thrilling battle of wits follows another. With exceptional courage and intelligence, he navigates the turbulent political world, overcoming every obstacle until he finally reaches the pinnacle of power! 514Reads9.0Score—14d adds
- 116 A Secretary's Notes: Shadows of Power Behind the Red Walls 秘书手记：红墙内的权力暗影 Just how powerful is a secretary to an important figure? This book takes you into the real world of secretaries. After a college student is rejected while job hunting, an unexpected offer letter changes his fate. He sets out on a career in government... 118kReads8.7Score9.9k14d adds
- 117 The Road Through Officialdom Begins with Being Reborn 官场征途，从重生开始 For love, Chu Haoran chose to become a live-in son-in-law, only to end up behind bars. The day before his release, he was attacked. Given a second chance at life, Chu Haoran chooses to enter politics... 5.9kReads6.5Score44914d adds
- 118 The Official's Path: Turmoil at the Grassroots 官途之基层风云 With graduation just around the corner, he becomes a university-graduate village official. He stays true to his original aspirations, starts at the grassroots level, and steadily rises through the ranks at the county and city levels. Taking charge of a region, he works for the people’s well-being. 4.4kReads6.0Score43414d adds
- 119 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
- 120 Power Plays and Political Intrigue 权谋权术 After the newspaper director passed away, his assistant at the Yun Province Daily was plunged into the darkest period of his life: dismissed by the paper, betrayed by his cheating girlfriend, and targeted by malicious colleagues... It all began when he risked his life to save someone. From there, he left journalism for government service, and his life took off. 1.3kReads7.6Score16314d adds
- 121 After Three Years as a Live-In Son-in-Law, My Sister-in-Law Exposes My Identity 入赘三年，被小姨子拆穿身份 [Divine doctor + antiques appraisal + goddesses + live-in son-in-law + business] The hottest feel-good power fantasy on the entire internet, bar none! After three years as a live-in son-in-law, Ye Huan is done hiding. He’s laying all his cards on the table and building his own business empire! He also has countless incredible skills at his disposal! Difficult illnesses? One acupuncture needle cures them! Real or fake antiques? One glance is all it takes! An invincible big shot? One punch an 2.3kReads8.9Score28514d adds
- 122 Officialdom: After Learning English, I, Chen Qingquan, Rose to the Top 官场：我陈清泉学外语后平步青云 Chen Qingquan was arrested for studying foreign languages, but after being reborn, he became even more determined to keep studying them. He understood that only through constant learning could he continue to improve. Qi Tongwei: “Chief Chen, how do you keep getting ahead so quickly?” Chen Qingquan: “Tongwei, you need to study hard, especially foreign languages. Stick with me, and I’ll teach you.” Hou Liangping: “Senior Chen, could you teach me foreign languages?” Chen Qingquan kicked him flying. 382Reads6.1Score—14d adds
- 123 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
- 124 The Pinnacle of Power, Starting from the Grassroots 权力巅峰，从基层开始 Li Zhenhua has been reborn! Though he treads carefully, as if walking on thin ice, he still fails to escape the schemes of his old nemesis. Demoted from the county Party committee to the poorest, most remote township, he faces a hellish start. Just as he's at a loss, an unexpected car accident completely changes the course of his life. Watch as I rise from the grassroots level of the civil service, climbing step by step and enjoying life! 784Reads7.2Score—14d adds
- 125 The Mission of Justice 正义的使命 Life is a play, and fate takes its course. He cares for the people and serves the public selflessly. Amid a tangled web of circumstances, Li Yuanlang cuts through obstacles and faces every challenge head-on, composing a magnificent chapter for a new era!! 16.5kReads9.3Score10014d adds
- 126 I'm Just a Bystander Here, and You Want Me to Catch Corrupt Officials? 我一个吃瓜群众，你让我抓贪官？ [Transmigration + System + Officialdom + Urban Fantasy + Anti-Corruption Epic + Revenge on Every Grudge + Lighthearted Comedy] (The author has completed two novels of over a million words each, so you can read with confidence.) Zheng Haoran is a high school student and a typical onlooker who loves watching the drama unfold. By chance, he transmigrates ten years into the future and becomes the son of a high-ranking official, awakening a System along the way. He thinks it’s a godsend, but never ex 31Reads7.4Score514d adds
- 127 Back on the Road to Office: Making Waves in Legal and Political Circles 重走官途之在政法圈风生水起 First, there are no melodramatic plots built around a reborn protagonist’s foreknowledge. The story closely reflects the realities of officialdom, with strong logic and a clear central plot. Second, it fills a gap in rebirth novels by exploring legal and political subject matter, offering an in-depth look at political maneuvering and rhetorical tactics from within the legal and political system. Third, it avoids the multiple-heroines trope. Most rebirth stories feature several heroines, which fe 397Reads5.5Score—14d adds
- 128 Back on the Road to Officialdom 重回仕途 In today's political arena, who will rise and who will fall? The protagonist, Hao Tianming, was just an ordinary laid-off worker. By a stroke of luck, he met a fortune-teller who told him he would become an official and marry a beautiful woman from his own city. Hao Tianming told a friend, who said there was no way he'd become an official, though marrying a beautiful woman from their city seemed entirely possible. So Hao Tianming posted a marriage ad online, and the search brought him together w 72Reads—Score—14d adds
- 129 Notes on Rising Through the Official Ranks (10 Books) 官场一路升迁笔记（全10册） This collection brings together Wang Wanyu’s disciplinary inspection and investigation stories, revealing one behind-the-scenes tale after another. The author once worked for the Zhejiang Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection. A veteran disciplinary official, he took part in national anti-corruption task forces and knows the inside story behind numerous cases. His first-hand experience on the front lines of the anti-corruption campaign makes his fiction more compelling and realistic. S 3.1kReads9.5Score38814d adds
- 130 By the Shores of Jinji Lake 金鸡湖畔 This is the land of Mars. This is the land of Mars in the year 2224. In Martian politics, there is no love or tender romance, only bloodshed and steely passion. Yangyang was born in 2194 in a small village in the countryside. Many momentous things happened that year. But for this poor family, only Yangyang’s birth was a big deal. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 131 Xie Tunan’s Notes on Rising Through the Ranks 谢图南升官笔记 The author is a seasoned writer with experience working in multiple Party and government departments. Most of the novel is adapted from real cases, and some of it may strike a chord with you. The story begins at the municipal level, without getting bogged down in grassroots affairs... 79.4kReads8.5Score6.3k14d adds
- 132 The Pinnacle of Power: Starting as a University Counselor 权力巅峰：从大学辅导员开始 Reborn before graduating from university, he sets out on a path he has never taken before. Starting as a university counselor, he steadily rises, all for the chance to see the scenery from higher up. He begins in academia, spending the early part of his career at the university before moving into local government midway through. 36.4kReads7.6Score2k14d adds
- 133 The Road to Officialdom 官路 Who says a country bumpkin can’t become a phoenix? A class reunion and a chance encounter: watch Chen Xing turn his life into a legendary rags-to-riches tale! As he makes his way toward success, who will have the last laugh? Chen Xing vows to see his underdog comeback through to the end and become a tycoon of the city! 2kReads7.6Score19514d adds
- 134 Reborn: Battling for the Road to Power 重生之官路争锋 A career in public service is a long and arduous road! Reborn in the year 2000, Qi Fei enters government service to fulfill his father’s dying wish, only to be assigned by the personnel bureau chief, who is currying favor with the county Party secretary, to the poorest township. Drawing on the advantages of being reborn, he leads the people toward prosperity, outwits his political rivals, and fights his way up from the grassroots through a world of deceit and intrigue. He braves every obstacle a 46Reads—Score—14d adds
- 135 You Asked Me to Sign Off on the Final Accounts, So Why Did I Arrest the Richest Man? 决算让你签字，你把首富抓了？ “Xiuran, the province is pushing hard on the Linjiang Bridge project. Take a look at the final accounts report, and sign it if everything checks out.” Wang Changlin, director of the investment office, handed him a Parker pen. The meeting room was toasty from the heating, the curtains were drawn tight, and the fluorescent lights buzzed overhead. Sitting beside him was Zhao Jinbiao, chairman of the Hongtai Road and Bridge Group. A jade bracelet peeked from his suit sleeve, and with a casual move —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 136 Reborn in the Political Arena: A Nobody Like Me Has an Unshakable Backing 重生官场：草根的我背景滔天 Cheng Yuan refuses to be a simp. He resolutely breaks up with his ex-girlfriend, then turns around and impulsively marries a woman he has just met. Before long, Cheng Yuan discovers that his new wife is actually his direct supervisor! If nothing unexpected happens, Cheng Yuan will happily live off his wife while keeping his pride, shamelessly enjoying the rest of his life. But after donating blood, Cheng Yuan's fate takes a dramatic turn: he turns out to be the wealthy family's long-lost younges 22.2kReads8.4Score1.7k14d adds
- 137 Chronicles of the Realm: From the Grassroots to the Central Government 山河志：从基层到中枢 A sweeping narrative spanning forty years, from a county archive room to the heart of government. Through the prism of individual lives, it reflects the profound changes in society since the launch of reform and opening up. This is not only “one person’s record of growth,” but also “a close-up study of grassroots governance in contemporary China and an idealist’s journey of struggle.” If you want to read an epic that maps a whole life’s journey from county town to the center of power, measured s 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 138 The Top Young Master 顶级小少爷 “Am I the richest man in the capital or the richest man in the magic city?” “Neither. You’re the richest man in the world.” Lu Feng goes from an ordinary guy earning three thousand a month to the sole heir of two top-tier families. Does he go on to reach the peak of life? He has to slack off, or he’d be doing a disservice to his status as the world’s richest man. 4kReads6.2Score28414d adds
- 139 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
- 140 Officialdom: Special Inspector 官场：巡视特使 Is the standard male lead in an officialdom novel a wealthy family's lost heir who gets cheated on from the start? With an official transfer order, Xu Juyi, a decorated national hero returning from abroad, is recommended by his mentor Zhong Baoguo, known as Elder Zhong, whose daughter is Zhong Xia'ai and son-in-law is Hou Liangping. He officially takes personal authority over inspections and disciplinary investigations, stepping into the turbulent chess game of officialdom. Even a commoner can w 24.5kReads8.1Score2.3k14d adds
- 141 The Official's Path: Drawing the Blade 官途之利刃出鞘 The county magistrate vanishes mysteriously at a disaster relief site. Was it suicide, or murder? A secretary who graduated from the police academy is suppressed and banished. While sorting through the magistrate’s belongings, he discovers clues and follows his burning sense of justice to expose the dirty dealings behind the scenes. Using his wits alone, he captures criminal gangs and pursues corrupt officials across a thousand miles... Wise, sharp, decisive, and incorruptible, he wins the favor 36.2kReads8.9Score2.4k14d adds
- 142 The Transferred Soldier King Marries in a Flash During College 转业兵王大学期间闪电结婚 Bai Yitu never expected that after returning to campus, he would be drawn by some mysterious force into one maelstrom after another. To pay for his father's medical treatment, he gave up his first chance at marriage. Then he unexpectedly uncovered the truth behind a college classmate's car accident. The shocking collusion between officials and businesspeople for illicit profits pushed him, against his will, to change everything. From passing the civil service exam for a provincial department to 51Reads—Score—14d adds
- 143 My Live-In Son-in-Law Comes from a Wealthy Family 上门女婿是豪门 Those who once trampled me, do you know that one day I’ll trample you in turn? The person I love, I’ll give you the greatest glory in the world! 1.7kReads9.0Score22414d adds
- 144 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
- 145 Tales of Officialdom in Jinlin 晋林官宦风云录 Amid the political turmoil of Jinlin County, a small fifth-tier city, County Party Secretary Peng Shusheng was once a pioneer of reform, but died on the eve of his promotion. His secretary, Lu Suiyuan, had been his right-hand man. He resolutely gave up the chance to transfer to the provincial capital and remained in this challenging city. As he carries forward Secretary Peng’s unfinished work, Lu Suiyuan must not only face the countless traps laid by local interest groups, but also resist the co 85Reads—Score—14d adds
- 146 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
- 147 Officialdom: Playing with Life! 官场：游戏人生！ Wang Yang, a graduate of a prestigious 985 university, made a decision that would change his life on the night his girlfriend of four years, Su Xuan, broke up with him over their “real-world differences.” After drinking himself into a stupor alone, he turned down a job offer from a major company in a first-tier city and applied to become a civil servant in a township back in his hometown. He was assigned to the Party and Government Office in remote Yunwu Town. Wang Yang set out on his life’s jou 662Reads—Score—14d adds
- 148 I Rely on Qi Reading to Dominate the Worlds of Politics and Business 我靠望气官路商途开无双 On his first day reporting for duty, reserve cadre Yang Hao is assigned to the poorest township in the city, Liao Cao Mountain. While handling an armed clash between two villages over water rights, he's struck on the back of the head. When he opens his eyes again, the world has been turned upside down. Everyone has qi floating above their heads: the town chief has black threads hidden in his purple aura, the beautiful village doctor has peach-blossom luck woven into her golden glow, and the hone 664Reads—Score—14d adds
- 149 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
- 150 From the Start, I'm the Young Master of the Capital, and I Refuse to Lie Flat 开局京城太子爷，我拒绝躺平 As being reborn becomes a trend, Qin Yuchen joins the reborn masses. He returns to the year he graduated from university. His father's a low-ranking official turned capital magistrate, and his mother, who ran a convenience store, has become a business queen. Reborn at the peak of life! What will Young Master Qin choose? Will he be a dutiful son who hopes his father will become a dragon and his mother a phoenix? Or will he refuse to lie flat and start living life on his own terms? In this life, Y 1.4kReads6.8Score10014d adds
