Novels like The Clockwork Woman
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as The Clockwork Woman, best match first.
- 101 Foundation 根基 All the wandering, struggling, and searching in a person’s life ultimately point to the same answer: roots. They may be the homeland in one’s blood, family values etched into one’s very bones, an unwavering faith that holds firm in hardship, or the confidence that lets a person make a life for themselves in this world. Through the lives of ordinary people, this novel explores the confusion of growing up, the pain of difficult choices, and the clarity that comes with time. Some lose themselves 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 102 Reaching the Summit: From Entry-Level Clerk to the Pinnacle of Power 问鼎：从基层科员到权力巅峰 Liang Zhiyuan, a low-ranking government clerk, happens to rescue a mysterious person from drowning, unaware that she is Chen Hailing, the new leader parachuted in from above. Together, they uncover the tangled web of underground dealings in Shiyi County. When the illicit trade comes to light, armed with the favor of the county Party secretary, he navigates the factions around him and fights his way from a sleepy government office into the vortex of power. 854Reads7.8Score21814d adds
- 103 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 22.8kReads8.4Score1.8k14d adds
- 104 The Road to Officialdom: Rising from Humble Beginnings 官途之寒门崛起 Born into poverty, he stumbles into officialdom and faces one hair-raising challenge after another, taking on foes far above his station and vanquishing demons until he finally finds his place. Officialdom does not believe in utilitarianism, yet it cannot do without idealism. What is the ultimate ideal of an official? Read this book, and Hu Buyun will tell you the answer... 12.5kReads8.8Score75614d adds
- 105 The Pinnacle of Power: Secretary Lin Is Desperate to Make a Name for Himself 权力巅峰：林书记他太想出名了 [(System + Officialdom + Culture and Tourism = Western Development) × (No Female Lead) × (Invincible Protagonist Misunderstood as a Great Figure + Beloved by His Male Colleagues = Lighthearted Fun) = Positive Energy] As ordinary people, all anyone asks for is food, clothing, housing, and transportation. These are the four great burdens of life, the foundation of people's livelihoods. Those in government bear their own responsibilities: healthcare, education, housing, and elder care. These, too, 286Reads6.5Score—14d adds
- 106 My Sister-in-Law from Chongqing 我的重庆嫂子 Love in the City of Fog. A taste of spice. The story of me and my sister-in-law. It begins with the first spicy hot pot that brings tears to our eyes. And from then on, we're bound to swallow each other's redemption amid the prickling pain of Sichuan pepper numbing our tongues. 117Reads—Score—14d adds
- 107 The Dominating Workplace Big Shot and the Newly Widowed Woman 霸道的职场大佬，新寡的她 Her husband died unexpectedly, leaving her a new widow whom everyone avoided. She had planned to spend the rest of her life in peace, but accidentally fell into the arms of the most powerful man in the city. He was a ruthless, cold-hearted business tycoon who could make or break anyone, and had no interest in women. Yet with her, he pursued her at every turn and kept her firmly by his side: “From now on, your body and your heart belong to me alone.” Everyone urged her to remain faithful to her l 19.4kReads8.7Score2.4k14d adds
- 108 Drawn into Her Web of Desire 诱她情陷 [Age Gap + Sweet Romance + Both Inexperienced] Powerful Tycoon vs. Little Rookie Wen Qingyuan had no grand ambitions in life and no desire to get ahead. As long as her salary covered her expenses, she would be happy. In the future, she would find someone from a similar background and have a child. So, having just started her job, all she wanted was to be an invisible nobody. She had no desire to attract the attention of her superiors. But somehow, the very thing she feared came to pass. She caug 9.3kReads8.5Score1.1k14d adds
- 109 Robbing Tombs with One Hand and Taking Pulses with the Other: The Unhinged Empress Can Do It All 一手摸金一手诊脉疯批皇后她全能 [Transmigration + political intrigue + archaeology + wild imagination] Feng Wan, an archaeology expert and medical doctor, touches a mysterious bracelet. When she opens her eyes, she finds herself lying in a coffin, attending her own funeral! After transmigrating into the body of a crown princess poisoned by an assassin, all she wants is to lie flat, keep her head down, and stay out of palace intrigues so she can survive. An unexpected run-in with enemies at a casino, along with her rescue of 941Reads9.4Score11214d adds
- 110 Hao Yunlai in the Political Arena 官场郝运来 [Powerful political fantasy, mind games, political intrigue, multiple heroines] Some characters and settings draw on the author's own experiences, recreated in an appropriate way for readers. Stick with it and every chapter will deliver. See how the protagonist, Hao Yunlai, lucks his way through officialdom... 13.1kReads8.0Score1.5k14d adds
- 111 The Path to Officialdom: A Swift Rise to the Top 官途之青云直上 My new work is out! You can read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you’ll enjoy it. Your support motivates me to write, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! 2.6kReads7.0Score10114d adds
- 112 County Magistrate, Your Sweet Wife Doesn’t Want You Anymore 县长大人，亲亲的老婆不要你了 Li Hao achieved success at a young age and rose to a high position. His heart is full of passion, and he wants to dedicate himself to serving others. As for a wife, all he needs is someone sweet and obedient. Lin Xiao is a red plum blossom blooming on a sheer cliff. She has ideals in her heart and strength beneath her feet. A man? Her career matters far more. But love arrives unexpectedly, as naturally as flowing water. Love grows over time. Both leads are each other’s first and only love, with 2kReads9.2Score19814d adds
- 113 The True Face of Officialdom 官场本色 A new political drama is here! Welcome, everyone. I hope you enjoy my work. Your support is what keeps me writing, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! 350Reads—Score—14d adds
- 114 1996: From Secretary to Power Player in Officialdom 1996：从秘书开始纵横官场 [Everyday life + Decisive protagonist + No angst + Veteran author of tens of millions of words who never leaves a story unfinished] In mid-October 1996, an exceptionally brutal robbery took place in Donghai City, shocking the entire country… Liu Zhigao gets a second life. Armed with foreknowledge of the future, he saves a leader’s father in the aftermath of the robbery, and from then on, the course of his fate begins to change! 14.7kReads8.0Score1.4k14d adds
- 115 Men and Women in Officialdom 官场雌雄 (I've switched to a new account: Yeye Fei. My single-heroine novel, One Night: From Village Teacher to City Hall's Top Aide, is now available. Please search for it and follow!) At 17, he entered a combined bachelor's and master's program. He graduated from graduate school at 23, became a deputy section chief at 25, and was promoted to full section chief ahead of schedule at 26! Lin Juzheng's political career has been one smooth ride. After 29 years of hard work, he reached the peak of his career 4.1kReads7.9Score48714d adds
- 116 Climbing the Official Ladder: From Assistant to the Finance Bureau Director 官梯：从财政局局长助理开始 A new novel from the author of Officially, an old hand. Everyone is welcome to come read it. Thank you for your support! Your support motivates me to write, and I’ll do my best to make every story a good one! 111Reads—Score11714d adds
- 117 The Commoner Chief Councillor 布衣首辅 Liu Zhengyu, a graduate of Pingxi University's economics department, steps out into the world and begins an eventful journey through life. 13.2kReads8.8Score1.7k14d adds
- 118 Four Beauties of the Bureau 机关四美图 In the cafeteria of a government office in a small county town, amid the idle gossip over tea and meals, they were labeled as failures: divorced, raising children alone, and stumbling through the mire of life. They rebuilt order amid the wreckage and became their own shelter through every storm. Beneath the lamplight late at night, they soothed their children to sleep while planning the next day's schedule. Before the morning alarm rang, breakfast was already prepared. They were no longer anyon 106Reads8.9Score—14d adds
- 119 Indulged After Marriage 婚后宠溺主义 Years of careful planning / Age gap / Both leads are each other’s first and only love / Powerful government-family background *Gentle, well-behaved sweetheart vs. doting, husband-material older man *Tourism bureau guide & impeccably well-connected scion of Beijing’s elite At twenty-one, Shi Ye graduated from university. She had no grand ambitions. A simple, stable life was enough for her. But the marriage agreement with Zhou Junheng, and the position he held, meant her wish to be an ordinary, un 5.2kReads8.3Score54314d adds
- 120 A Career Blessed by Fortune: A County Magistrate's Rise to Power 官运滔天：知县逆袭，权倾朝野 [Not a power fantasy! A complex tale of court intrigue and political struggle, grounded in historical research!] Li Shu, a modern-day civil service exam candidate who failed to pass, unexpectedly transmigrates to the first year of the Qianlong reign and becomes a newly appointed jinshi. Starting out as a poor county magistrate in Hengyang, he investigates the shortfall in the ever-normal granaries, exposes the dark secrets of the grain transport trade, and takes on salt smugglers in league with 28Reads—Score—14d adds
- 121 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
- 122 The Second Secretary 二号秘书 Chen Mo is an ordinary man who studies hard and earns a civil-service post. Starting with routine work at the municipal government, he stands out thanks to his excellent writing skills and tact, eventually becoming the mayor’s secretary. The book is practically a survival manual for government secretaries, offering a detailed look at everything from drafting documents and coordinating meetings to managing relationships with superiors and subordinates and liaising on projects. As the protagonist 7.7kReads7.6Score48514d adds
- 123 Spring Evil 春邪 Qin Tian worked diligently and kept his head down, but his female superior constantly made things difficult for him. With no connections to protect him, he was eventually made a scapegoat. At that moment, the resentment he had suppressed for years finally erupted. He swore he would climb to the top and become someone important. 230Reads7.6Score10314d adds
- 124 Tides of Officialdom: Straight Up to the Azure Clouds 宦海浮沉之直上青云 Wang Jianfei’s story of rising through the ranks! A genuine work about the world of officialdom, written in a documentary style by a seasoned author of political fiction with tens of millions of words to his name. A quality read guaranteed! 8.2kReads8.8Score88314d adds
- 125 Officialdom: A Smooth Rise to Success 官场：平步青云 After his superior suddenly dies and his wife betrays him, Ji Ping'an angrily divorces her and drinks himself silly at a bar, only to be dragged off by a big shot's daughter to put out a fire. Should he help or not? That is the question. When life hits rock bottom, the only way is up... 4.3kReads8.8Score44714d adds
- 126 Police Career: Northeast China, 1997 警事官途，东北1997 [A tribute to the Northeast we can never return to.] [Tales of the Northeast, Northeast Police Stories] Reborn on the day Li Hongwei, the son of a high-ranking official, caused a hit-and-run and violently assaulted a police officer, trainee traffic cop Xing Xiaodong grinned. "Looks like my chance to get promoted has arrived!" In my previous life, I was wrongfully imprisoned. In this one, I start out as a traffic cop and climb the ranks step by step. In a chaotic era, I use unconventional methods 10.8kReads7.0Score1.9k14d adds
- 127 Spring Dwells on the High Terrace 春栖高台 [Powerful Families | Female Growth | Bittersweet Romance | Older Man] (Clear-headed, beautiful college student vs. composed, powerful heir) People often say that those in power care only about their family’s interests. Even what passes for love is just another tool for profit. If you fall for someone like that, the best you can hope for is this: you remain on your high terrace, I retreat to my spring mountains, and from then on our paths never cross again. Everyone in Beijing’s inner circle know 606Reads—Score16014d adds
- 128 The Official’s Journey 官场之征途 Three months ago, Ye Qingze graduated from the Chinese department at Kyoto University and was assigned to Xicheng County. The county magistrate immediately took a liking to him and made him his personal secretary at the county government. A rising star in politics seemed poised to shine. But three months later, the county magistrate was arrested, and Ye Qingze, the new favorite at the Xicheng County government, fell into the dust! When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. When the wall falls, ev 30kReads9.0Score2.8k14d adds
- 129 Officialdom: The Puppet Wife 官场：提线夫人 Power is the finest puppeteer, and marriage its sharpest strings. Every gift comes with a price quietly attached. When the elegant puppeteer slid the divorce papers in front of Li Mo, he realized he was already standing on the edge of a cliff. 14.1kReads8.8Score1.6k14d adds
- 130 The Official Road Under the Sun 阳光下的官道 [No System + no rebirth + traditional political intrigue + slow burn. The author is a veteran writer of political novels, with over ten million words published. His works are realistic and highly readable, not mindless power fantasies. Read at your own discretion!] In the world of officialdom, everyone schemes against everyone else. How can Cao Rui, a commoner, stand out and make waves? This is a true political novel by Xiaohua. It boasts strong logic and an even stronger story. Quality guarante 4.1kReads9.3Score50514d adds
- 131 When the Coin Is Tossed 当硬币抛起 [Dual careers, a reunion after years apart, old flames rekindled, powerful families, a seventeen-year age gap, the powerful man lowering his head for love, the underdog bravely pursuing love, a guiding male leader x a growing female subordinate] Twelve years ago, they first met. She thought: Men really are at their best at forty. He smiled softly: A young girl who's never been through much, a blank sheet of paper. Twelve years later, they met again. She blushed, her heart racing: A Ferrari is st 825Reads—Score—14d adds
- 132 Why Go to All That Trouble? Wouldn’t It Be Better to Transmigrate as a Leader? 费那劲干啥，直接穿成领导不香吗 A note: The protagonist is a spineless, inexperienced shut-in, not a hero who sleeps among beauties and wakes with the world in his hands. A groveling nobody scraping by on dirt must gradually transform into a soaring roc, rising through the heavens and stirring up the winds and clouds. That kind of change takes time. After being heartlessly abandoned, the groveling nobody transmigrates into a leader in the central district of a provincial capital and enters the heart of power. He is nervous, ye 5.6kReads8.5Score27814d adds
- 133 Officialdom’s Disciple: After Coming Clean, I Rose Straight to the Top! 官徒，摊牌后我青云直上！ He came top in the exams, only to have someone take his place. With no connections or backing, Lin Bei is left heartbroken when his wife betrays him. He marries into the Su family and endures three years of humiliation. Then an accident sends him soaring to success! The Su family regrets everything when they see what he’s achieved! Through the twists and turns of officialdom, he finally rises to the top! 12.3kReads8.1Score1.4k14d adds
- 134 Promotion 提拔 “Are kings, nobles, generals, and ministers born to their stations?” Chen Sheng's cry was also the spark in the heart of our protagonist, who came from a family of poor peasants three generations deep. He was once an obscure chauffeur, but his diligence and concern for ordinary people caught the eye of a perceptive female leader. He advanced carefully, making his way through an elite workplace and enduring trial after trial. He got along with people from every side, yet never lost sight of his p 36.1kReads8.3Score3.1k14d adds
- 135 A Grassroots Female Official 基层女干部 This story is entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual people or events is purely coincidental. It took me three years to write this book. Over those three years, I interviewed more than a dozen women working in grassroots government positions. Some of their stories made me laugh, some made me cry, and some left me silent for a long time. I wanted to write about a real person. Most of all, she keeps moving forward. No matter what lies ahead. As a preface. Spring 2026 · Chongqing 1.3kReads6.2Score—14d adds
- 136 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
- 137 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
- 138 The Little Girl from the Big Leader’s Family 大领导家的小姑娘 Daddy-type senior official x gentle, clear-headed guzheng teacher [The second male lead fights for her too + the male lead's desperate pursuit is doomed + twelve-year age gap + everyday-life romance + sweet little love story] At first, Tang Shining thought Lu Yanliang was just a friend of her father's, so she was always careful around him. It wasn't until Lu Yanliang moved into her home that she realized something was wrong... 1.9kReads7.1Score15414d adds
- 139 An Qingyun, Son of Officialdom 官场之子安青云 [Satisfying Officialdom Fiction] [No Rebirth, No System, No Transmigration] What an entrance! He’s still alive, yet they’re holding a memorial service for him... The bigwigs present are turning black in the face... This young man is outrageously young... The legend of Lin Zi’an: Nicknames: “Yama Among Men”: “The King of Hell walking alive among the human realm.” “Mr. Liaozhai”: He kills gods when he meets them, kills Buddhas when he meets them, and even little ghosts steer clear of him... From t 39.1kReads8.1Score2.5k14d adds
- 140 My Ex-Wife Betrayed Me? Now I’m Marrying a Tycoon’s Daughter, So Why Are You Crying? 前妻背叛？我娶大佬的女儿你哭啥 Zhao Yi, a man from humble beginnings, is unexpectedly betrayed by both his wife and his sworn brother. With no connections and no footing in the lower ranks, he suffers his wife's contempt, his mother-in-law's abuse, and his sister-in-law's humiliation. His prospects are bleak, and his family is poor. At his lowest point, a woman who vanished seven years ago gets back in touch. From then on, his fate changes, and he rises to the top... Wealth, dignity, fame, everything I once lost: I’ll take it 1kReads9.2Score16814d adds
- 141 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
- 142 The Urban Hunt 都市围猎 This story follows the tangled struggles over power, profit, and desire within modern corporations. Everyone is a hunter, and everyone is prey. In the end, justice catches up with them: each person is destroyed by the consequences of their own actions. Then a new hunt begins somewhere else. The novel features a large cast of characters, and the author has done their best to pack a miniature society into its pages. 8Reads—Score—14d adds
- 143 The Bloom of Public Office: A Grassroots Female Cadre 官场芳华：基层女干部 Officialdom / women's personal growth / realism An abandoned, demoted grassroots female official rises from a poor village to become a powerful regional leader through hard work. A story of female officials growing, struggling, and breaking through in grassroots politics. 190Reads—Score—14d adds
- 144 His Galaxy Came Crashing Down 他的星河倾落 A laid-back little reporter accidentally crosses paths with a cold, powerful bureau chief, but he treats her like a queen. Together, they take the political and business worlds by storm. Lin Xingluo’s life motto: live the most carefree life possible! That is, until she’s ordered to interview rising political star Shen Yanzhou. The man is impeccably dressed, as cold as snow. With the face of an earth-sign heartthrob, he sees right through her secret identity at their very first meeting, then dang 716Reads6.7Score10114d adds
- 145 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
- 146 After the Divorce, My Official Wife Regretted It! 离婚后，官妻后悔莫及！ Some say the official world is all scheming and deceit, about choosing sides and making choices, a life-or-death struggle. For Liu Qing, the official world can make his ex-wife regret everything, help his family prosper, and bring benefits to the wider public... 2.9kReads6.4Score23914d adds
- 147 Justice of Heaven’s Way 天道正义 The Way of Heaven and Justice trilogy is a political-philosophical epic that probes the nature of power. Through the trials of grassroots official Chu Feng, it embarks on a profound search for the “Way of Heaven” and reflects the sweeping changes in China's officialdom. Is there a higher justice beyond the rules? In A Gentle Breeze, characters find a way through the mire of a society governed by personal connections, exploring the balance of the Way of Heaven between “law” and “human feeling.” I 49Reads8.7Score—14d adds
- 148 The Dragon Soars Across the Four Seas 龙腾四海 Love, reality, and morality intertwine across a variety of themes, with each story portraying a different facet of life. 21Reads9.0Score—14d adds
- 149 The Pinnacle of Power: Capital-Circle Bigwigs Help Me Rise to the Top 权力巅峰：京圈大佬助我青云直上 [Everyday Life + One Heroine + A veteran author with ten million words to his name who never leaves a story unfinished] Lin Xuemin had poured his heart into planning his wedding, only to catch his fiancée cheating on him. Heartbroken, he cut ties with her. Just then, his beloved school beauty, the one who had always been in his heart, appeared and offered him help. From then on, Lin Xuemin used his intelligence and perseverance to rise steadily through the business world. Those who had once look 9.1kReads8.6Score88114d adds
- 150 The Reserved Boss Is Pampering His Good Girl Again Today 禁欲领导今天又在哄乖乖 Uptight, supposedly celibate boss VS genuinely sweet, coquettish girl. Age gap. Sweet everyday romance. Her first love, whom she'd been dating for a year, took advantage of her and brought another woman home. At last, the timid woman who always avoided trouble stood her ground and kicked him out that very night. She'd been decisive when she broke up with him, but after the breakup she was a wreck. One night, she drank to drown her sorrows and unexpectedly dragged her new downstairs neighbor home 7.8kReads8.7Score66014d adds
