Novels like A Fresh Start in Officialdom: From Provincial Government Bigwig to Grassroots Clerk
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as A Fresh Start in Officialdom: From Provincial Government Bigwig to Grassroots Clerk, best match first.
- 101 The Power Game: A Scandalous Political Career 权路迷局:绯色官途 The arrival of a female leader from outside gave Hao Feng, a county government office secretary who had long been suppressed, a chance to turn things around. After falling into a shocking trap, Hao Feng emerged stronger and was entrusted with important responsibilities. From then on, his career in government took off. He unraveled one mystery after another, rose rapidly through the ranks, and ultimately reached the pinnacle of power. 851Reads9.0Score10314d adds
- 102 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
- 103 A Wrong Turn on the Road to Office 官路歧途 Through scheming, currying favor, maneuvering, opportunity, and luck, Tong Xilin rises step by step from a low-level office clerk to a leading official. As his position and power grow, his desires gradually corrupt him, sending him down the criminal path of graft and corruption, until the full force of the law finally catches up with him. Read A Crooked Road to Office and follow the downfall of a corrupt official. 19Reads—Score—14d adds
- 104 Reborn, I, Qi Tongwei, Finally Get Promoted to the Ministry 重生后,我祁同伟终于进部了 After Qi Tongwei shot himself, he was reborn in his university days at Handong University. Faced with another chance to choose his path in life, where should he go from here? As Qi Tongwei embarks on a new political career, familiar figures like Sha Ruijin, Gao Yuliang, Hou Liangping, Li Dakang, and Zhao Lichun will once again take the stage. Having lived two lives, Qi Tongwei carefully plans every move and finally defies fate, changing his destiny. Qi Tongwei in his past life: “Teacher, I want 11Reads6.4Score—14d adds
- 105 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
- 106 Rising and Falling in the Sea of Officialdom 宦海纵横 A poor country boy in his previous life, he makes a stunning comeback in this one and becomes a rising star in officialdom! A meek junior official in his previous life, he climbs the ranks step by step in this one, reaching heights most people can only dream of! A hopelessly nice guy who was dumped by his girlfriend in his previous life, he now finds himself surrounded by beautiful women, dazzling everyone! See how Zhou Yiming takes the worlds of politics, business, and romance by storm. With th 16Reads—Score—14d adds
- 107 The Endless Road of Officialdom 官场无涯 A vast land stretching ten thousand miles belongs to the one who rules! Keep a low profile as a person, but make a bold impression through your work! A son of a farming family? A grandson of an established clan? Who says the path to office has no great men or heroes? Watch as Zhang Zetao, armed with a special System, cuts through obstacles and overcomes dangers to forge a unique path of his own. 31Reads8.9Score—14d adds
- 108 Officialdom: Starting with a Crackdown on Organized Crime 官场:从扫黑除恶开始 In the late 2000s, Meng Xun was given an urgent assignment and sent to Hongshan County to oversee legal and political affairs. Watch as he cracks down on gangs and evil, serves the local community, and rises step by step through a treacherous and turbulent political arena, rocketing all the way to the pinnacle of power. 33.6kReads8.5Score2.6k14d adds
- 109 A Crime Within Reach: The Genius Profiler Is Both Alluring and Daring 咫尺之罪,天才侧写师又撩又飒 [Mystery + sweet romance | Genius profiler × tough-as-nails police captain] On the first day of her return to work, a torrential rain pours down. Now the old case has been reopened, and the real culprit is right before her eyes. The man who grabbed her around the waist in the rain is her former partner, Zhou Sheng, the man she’d been avoiding for a year. He gave her a teasing smile, his gaze burning. “Consultant Meng, are you still brave enough to sign this time?” She turned her face away. “What 60Reads—Score—14d adds
- 110 A Wild Ride Through the Countryside on the Road to Power 官途之乡野狂飙 A low-level employee is bullied and finds his career going nowhere, until he runs into an old classmate and finally begins to rise through the ranks... 53Reads7.5Score—14d adds
- 111 A Political Powerhouse’s Rise Begins with the Civil Service Exam and the Police Force 官场枭雄从公考警察开始 In the officialdom, there are the loyal and the corrupt; among people, there is good and evil. The official world is a game of power, and the road to advancement is treacherous. You must draw on others' strength and ride the tide upward. Build your boat with achievements, gather the people's support into a river, use strategy as your wind and connections as your sail. From angry youth to seasoned adult, from humble beginnings to the peak. With promotions, wealth, and beautiful women come temptat 20Reads8.5Score—14d adds
- 112 From the Start, I Was Placed Under Investigation! 开局我就被双规了! In his previous life, his boss was fired from both his Party and government positions. As the boss’s secretary, his own political career was already ruined. Then he suddenly got the chance to be reborn. With an insight into the workings of fate, he turns things around in the most desperate circumstances! 10Reads—Score—14d adds
- 113 The Officialdom Rankings: Rising and Falling in the Political Arena 官榜:宦海浮沉 [Officialdom] + [Political Intrigue] + [Period Novel] Returning to the 1990s, Chen Guohua, a civil servant, relies on the foresight that comes with being reborn to emerge from a desperate predicament and finally get a new lease on life. But before he can enjoy his fresh start, he's given a mission at a moment of crisis and sent to Qianlou Town. There, he must face entrenched local factions, an impoverished township, and investors with ulterior motives... Chen Guohua fears nothing. He meets each 4Reads7.0Score—14d adds
- 114 Exiled to the Countryside, I Rose Rapidly Through the Ranks 发配乡下后,我的仕途一路狂飙 After the old Party secretary falls from power and his wife betrays him, Chen Yuan, once a top aide, never dreamed he'd be sent deep into the mountains to take a post at an abandoned resort that had been left undeveloped for years. In his memory, the place was a remote backwater where not even birds would shit. His career and marriage are both in ruins, and he thinks his life is completely over! However, during the new leader's first inspection after taking office, he specifically chooses the ab 53kReads8.5Score5k14d adds
- 115 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
- 116 Rising Through the Ranks: Starting as a Township Chief 平步青云:从乡长开始 Wu Zheng, a cadre reassigned to a new post, faced a hostile welcome on his very first day as township chief. Using his iron-fisted methods, he launched a determined counterattack, climbed one step at a time, and rose to the pinnacle of power. As he advanced, the daughter of a high-ranking official became his confidante, while a group CEO became his close friend. Together, they worked to give ordinary people a better life. 147Reads8.3Score—14d adds
- 117 The Bustle of a Small County: A Portrait of Ordinary People in the Bureaucratic World 小县喧嚣:普通人的体制浮世绘 This book tells the story of a young man from a rural village who earns a job in the county government through his own efforts. But with no connections, he is sent to a remote township to work in a village, and his girlfriend leaves him without hesitation. Even after putting down roots at the grassroots level and delivering results, he is repeatedly passed over for promotion. Then an anti-corruption storm sweeps through officialdom, tearing a crack in the murky order. With no family or political 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 118 A Junior Civil Servant in the County Government 县直单位的小公务员 My new work is out! You're welcome to 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! 77Reads—Score—14d adds
- 119 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
- 120 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
- 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 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
- 123 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
- 124 Comrade, Don't Make a Scene! I'm an Honest Official 女同志,别闹!我是清官 [Reform and Opening Up] [Political Intrigue] [Slow-Burn] [Rules of Officialdom] In the 1980s, officials were promoted based on their ability to boost the economy. As long as they knew how to get the economy moving, even minor flaws in their morals wouldn’t stop them from rising through the ranks. Reborn in 1985, Chen Ping uses his outstanding economic skills to make rapid progress in his political career! Do you understand the language of officialdom? Corruption and moral decay: having improper 1kReads7.2Score10114d adds
- 125 The Pinnacle of Power 权欲巅峰 Power at the Peak, also known as The Corrupt Official, is a sweeping novel about a cadre's growth and redemption. Born into a poor family, Song Ziwen rises step by step from a technician to a leadership position, but for a time loses his way amid power and temptation. After being transferred to the northwestern province, he comes to his senses. He visits remote mountain villages to learn about the hardships of the poor, leading the people in building roads, controlling floods, promoting educatio 45Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 126 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
- 127 My Wife Wants Me to Leave With Nothing, So She Set a Honey Trap 妻子要我净身出户设下美人计 My Wife Set Me Up with a Seduction Scheme So She Could Leave Me with Nothing —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 128 The Pinnacle of Power: A Rising Career in Government 权利巅峰:官场之青云仕途 One day, he was implicated in a scandal and demoted from the county committee to a remote border town. Former colleagues turned a cold shoulder, his girlfriend abandoned him, and his future was in ruins. No one knew that, at the lowest point of his life, he would meet a blue-robed old Taoist in the streets and receive guidance from a master. From then on, he would break deadlocks with strategy and navigate the political arena with intelligence, using his deep cunning and far-reaching vision to 13.3kReads7.6Score1.1k14d adds
- 129 My Addictive Days at the Urban Development Investment Company 我在城投的那些沉迷日子 My Days Lost in the City Investment Company is a series of novels that offers a profound look at the real-world challenges facing local government investment companies and the moral choices people must make. Through the intertwined lives of four protagonists, it exposes the institutional loopholes and glimmers of humanity behind the entanglement of power and profit, issuing a heartfelt call for integrity and moral awakening. Part One (Chapters 1–53) follows Lin Feng, an idealistic university gr 143Reads—Score—14d adds
- 130 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
- 131 The Wins and Losses of a Workplace Fox 职场狐狸的输赢人生 The workplace is a strange place. After years of clawing his way up the corporate ladder, Lin Qi had no idea how many rivals he had taken down, how much he had gained, or how many people he had offended. Those who knew Lin Qi had given him a nickname: the Workplace Fox. To Lin Qi, the workplace was a zero-sum game, where there could only be winners and losers, never a tie. In the end, only Lin Qi himself could know whether he had won or lost, in the lonely darkness of the night. 151Reads—Score—14d adds
- 132 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
- 133 A Transfer Order to Cangshan 一纸调令入苍山 With a single transfer order, Zhen Shihua was “sent” to Cangshan Forest Farm. Everyone thought this young man’s life was over before it had even begun. But they had no idea that what lay hidden in the mountains was far more complicated than they could imagine. There were black bears, old scores, and tangled webs of obligation; schemes, shifting fortunes, and human hearts more treacherous than wild beasts. All he wanted was to patrol the mountains, but Cangshan’s mist insisted on pressing down ov 18.2kReads8.2Score1.5k14d adds
- 134 The Throne of Power: Reborn as a County Official from the Start 权力王座:开局重生县城公务员 [Satisfying Political Drama] [Solid Logic] Senior Leader: Chen Donglai is a good kid. Make him a bureau chief! Organization Department: Chen Donglai, the senior leadership has decided to appoint you as bureau chief. Would you accept a position as head of a police station? Chen Donglai: My combat ability is too low. I’m afraid I can’t handle criminals. I refuse. Organization Department: How about becoming head of a research institute? You could work on lithography machines and nanoscale chips 481Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 135 The Fast Lane to Power 快意官路 To make your way in officialdom, first, you need talent, because sooner or later you'll get a chance to stand out. Second, you need connections, someone who'll speak up for you when it matters. A child raised in an orphanage has no grand ambitions, but gets swept along by the times onto an unconventional path through government. 1.4kReads7.8Score13714d adds
- 136 The Second Novel by a Ten-Year Civil Servant 十年科员的第2本书 A new story is out! You can read my work 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! 280Reads6.4Score—14d adds
- 137 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
- 138 The Road to Prosperity 青云得路 [Traditional Political Intrigue, No System, No Rebirth, No Harem, Adapted from Real Events, Logic-Driven] Li Feibing leaves the special forces and enters politics. After two years of patiently biding his time, he finally gets the chance to take charge of Jinzhou. But his vision and ideals face secret obstruction from Lao Tang. The clash between two generations' values becomes entangled in the power games of tycoons such as Dongxing Company, forming an apparently intractable deadlock. With help f 28Reads—Score—14d adds
- 139 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
- 140 The Young People at the Judicial Office 司法所里的年轻人 Fresh graduate Xu Daqi starts working at a judicial office. He goes from inexperienced and clueless to mature and steady, navigating the minutiae of grassroots work and the bizarre realities of life on the ground. After learning that good deeds are not always rewarded, he comes to understand that kindness must be accompanied by diligence. From suspicious-death investigations and land-flooding disputes to group petitions over contract breaches, he holds fast to the belief that public service is a 10Reads—Score—14d adds
- 141 The Exceptional Principal 极品校长 Lin Tiannan enters the political arena as a school principal, ready to ride the waves and stride forward with confidence. His life takes off from there. Watch Principal Lin smile as he observes the winds of change... 34Reads—Score—14d adds
- 142 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
- 143 The Road Through Officialdom 宦路 The character for “official” has two mouths: if they say you're capable, then you're capable; if they say you're not, then you're not! The political arena is full of deceit and scheming, and one wrong step can leave you shattered. Zhou Yang knows this all too well. With no powerful backers, no connections, and no money, how can he survive? He has no choice but to keep going. He works hard and fights on, rising step by step to a position of power... 8.3kReads9.0Score84814d 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 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
- 146 Cheng Wuxu's Fifth Book 程无序的第5本书 [An Incomplete Guide to Officialdom] Political elites aren't made in a day. Zhao Zhiliu carves out a path to promotion through betrayal, scheming, and stepping on others, joining forces with newcomer Ning Xiaofei to keep working miracles and reach the pinnacle of life. 32Reads8.8Score—14d adds
- 147 The Power of Officialdom 官势 Lin Qingyan, a son of a farming family, tackles poverty alleviation and cracks down on organized crime, taking one steady step at a time. He builds momentum, harnesses it, and seizes every opportunity, racing ahead and rising through the ranks. In the face of temptation, he never forgets his original purpose; faced with threats, he never backs down. "I will never coexist with evil" is his motto, and serving the people is his way of governing... 547Reads6.2Score—14d adds
- 148 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
- 149 At the Crossroads of Love 爱情的路口 Where Love Begins 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 150 A Stunning Rise Through the Ranks 升迁:一鸣惊人 Facing obstacles at every turn in the workplace, he rises to the top and becomes unstoppable. Wei Yiming had been living a smooth and easy life, until his arrogant, short-tempered new boss ruined everything on her very first day. From then on, she picked on him at every turn and ordered him around constantly. One chance act of courage brought him face-to-face with the woman of his dreams, lighting up a life in which every step had been a struggle. After years of keeping his head down, he finally 1.9kReads8.4Score22314d adds

















































