Novels like The First Sword After Passing the Exam: Strike Down the Heartless Man
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as The First Sword After Passing the Exam: Strike Down the Heartless Man, best match first.
- 51 Where the Lights Shine Bright 灯火通明处 Born a girl into a family that favors boys, she grows up bearing the burden of that original sin, suffering day after day. With no resources or connections, she makes her way into the county's civil service system empty-handed, struggling at every step. She has always longed for someone to descend into her world like a god, kindle a lamp for her, and illuminate every corner of darkness. After gritting her teeth and enduring one dark moment after another all alone, she finally reaches a place fi 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 52 Hang In There! A Civil Servant at the Monster Bureau 苟住！妖局公务员 Even after becoming a spirit, you still have to pass the civil service exam! Gou Xiaoxiao, a Chinese rural dog spirit, dreams of landing a secure government job. She successfully passes the exam to join the mysterious Demon Administration Bureau and makes her mark working on the front lines. 45Reads—Score314d adds
- 53 From the Yellow and Huai Rivers to the Clouds 黄淮布衣入青云 A major work of realistic political fiction about personal growth. In the early 1980s, in the impoverished floodplain where Anhui, Shandong, and Henan meet, Lin Yanqiu is born into a poor farming family whose generations have worked the land. He breaks free from the fate of the countryside through diligent study. In high school, an inspiring teacher awakens his ideals; at university, a mentor broadens his horizons. After graduation, he puts down roots at the grassroots level and enters public se —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 54 The Road to Power 天路官场 After Luo Guan dies, he comes to his senses and regrets his ways. His greed is gone, but his ambition burns bright. How will he start over and rise again? 226Reads8.1Score10514d adds
- 55 Tides of Officialdom 宦海沉浮 The most powerful relative in his family is his second aunt’s husband, a village deputy director, and their most valuable possession is a radio salvaged from a junkyard. Yet he not only made it to the city, but also became an official. Let the wind howl and waves crash, and I’ll stroll through the courtyard at my own pace. No matter how fierce the winds or rough the seas, I’ll cut through the waves! Spring breeze at my back, I’ll ride my horse at a gallop and see all of Chang’an’s flowers in a s 210Reads6.3Score—14d adds
- 56 I Don’t Need You: My Stubborn Self and His Persistence 我不要你管—别扭的我和执着的他 I Don't Need You to Worry About Me: The Stubborn Me and the Persistent Him 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 57 The Pinnacle of Power: Reborn and Rising After Returning to Junior College 权力巅峰：从重生回大专开始崛起 [No System + Reborn + Pinnacle of Power + One Female Lead] In his previous life, Wang Yuanzheng was held back by his associate degree and spent his entire career as a low-ranking police officer. Then, by chance, Wang Yuanzheng got hold of a USB drive. That very drive led to the tragedy that befell him. In this life, Wang Yuanzheng draws on his foreknowledge to find the first rung on his career ladder: Zhang Tiejun. Using articles informed by the experience and insight he will gain over the next —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 58 The Pinnacle of Power: Rising to the Top from a Township Cadet 权力巅峰：从乡镇选拔生开始逆袭 Zhong Zhenfei comes from a poor family. He has no connections or background, doesn’t smoke or drink, and hasn’t been reborn. Yet after passing the civil service exam, he surges ahead in the political arena and ultimately rises to the top. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 59 Political Power at Its Peak: The Real Game of Power 官场巅峰：真实的权力游戏 When his superiors sent someone down to inspect the place, Ye Xingsheng accidentally offended the female leader while swimming in the pool. He thought his chances of promotion were gone, but instead he rose rapidly through the ranks... 5.1kReads7.8Score40014d adds
- 60 The Road to Power: A Chance Encounter with a Heiress 官路争锋，从邂逅豪门千金开始 [No cheating, no transmigration, no rebirth. Political advancement and tangled romance, ordinary man and rich beauty, realistic and engaging.] When Li Zhi graduates, he turns down a high-paying job in the provincial capital and a chance to pursue graduate studies, leaving his hometown for his girlfriend’s city and passing the civil service exam for a small township. He thinks they’ll live happily ever after, but her parents tear them apart. Starting alone in a remote township far from home, he b 10Reads—Score—14d adds
- 61 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
- 62 Don't Get the Wrong Idea, Boss! I Just Want to Earn Merit 大佬别误会！我只想攒功德 [System] [Average heroine] [Three male leads, 1v3] [Everyday life] [Love triangle drama] [Face-slapping and scum takedowns] Bi Xuying was raised by her parents to believe she had to win. In the end, she still became an unemployed LOSER. One day, penniless and desperate, she was finally chosen by fate and successfully bound to the God of Wealth's Acolyte System. She thought earning merit points would be easy, but on day one she ended up with a negative score, making her so furious she wanted to u 90Reads—Score—14d adds
- 63 A Bad Female Coworker 一个坏女同事 A Bad Female Coworker —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 64 Destined to Be a Secretary 命中注定是秘书 This is a realistic political drama set in the world of government, told from the perspective of a leader’s secretary. It offers a look at the changing currents of officialdom and the many sides of life. Hu Tianyou starts out as the secretary to a county Party committee secretary, rising from a junior secretary to a senior one as he faces countless twists and turns in his career. The story offers both eye-opening political wisdom and a rich emotional journey for its hero and heroine, making it w 320Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 65 A Political Prodigy: From Parachuted-In Boss to a Meteoric Rise 官场怪才：从空降上司一路狂飙 Officialdom is merciless. The rules of the political game are made by none other than the strong! An anonymous tip-off case is tangled and complicated, with human relationships and worldly affairs woven through it... Shrouded in layers of mystery. After suffering a double blow to his career and marriage, Xu Zijie is drawn, without even realizing it, into a shocking conspiracy... But when it comes to love and family, who can remain unmoved? This blurb doesn't do the story justice. Read the novel 21kReads8.6Score1.5k14d adds
- 66 Officialese 官腔 Behind power lie worldly savvy, strategy, and human relationships. Only the truly shrewd can play this game well. Xia Dong starts out stuck on the sidelines in the county committee office, then rises to become director of the county education bureau. Just when he thinks his troubles are finally over, he finds himself caught between danger on both sides. Let’s see how he breaks through the impasse. 98Reads7.1Score—14d adds
- 67 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
- 68 I Want to Love! 想爱！ Society can be complicated, but it can also be simple. In the end, it all comes down to stories between men and women. The three things men think about when they get up in the morning are: Where can I get some money to spend today? Who can I have a drink with? And wow, whose woman is that? The three things women think about are: looking beautiful, looking beautiful, and looking beautiful. A gentleman will die for someone who understands him, and a woman will beautify herself for someone who appr 14Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 69 Youth's Mistake: To Our Gloomy Yet Radiant Selves 青春错：致阴郁又明媚的我们 Have you ever met a woman who can make all her own decisions and handle everything by herself? You might think she was born a tomboy, the kind of person nothing could stump. But in truth, most of them have no one at their side, so they have no choice but to force themselves to put on a hard shell of “strength.” If you really think of them as superheroes and just watch for fun, you've got it wrong. Who doesn't feel pain? Realistic coming-of-age + left-behind children + small-town underachiever 11Reads—Score114d adds
- 70 The No-Drama Casebook 不抓马风云事件簿 A healing little ray of sunshine and a devoted, faithful boyfriend: twenty years of ups and downs, the secretly affectionate couple! The woman isn’t called Keyun or Xiyun. Her name is Tan Yun. The man isn’t called Lifeng or Mufeng. His name is Lu Feng. There’s no earth-shattering first meeting, no all-powerful golden finger, and no melodramatic, messy entanglements, just twenty years of enduring devotion and favor. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 71 From Down-and-Out Secretary to Powerhouse at the Peak 从落魄秘书到巅峰大佬 After his superior suddenly ran into trouble, Zhang Dongfeng, who had been riding high with a bright future ahead of him, found himself backed into a corner. More terrifying still, he discovered he had fallen into a trap controlled by an unseen hand... 16.5kReads7.4Score1.4k14d adds
- 72 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
- 73 The Branch in Director Lu’s Palm 陆主任的掌心枝 Age gap × long-planned romance × both leads are inexperienced × marriage before love × a crush becomes mutual × slow-burn romance × dignified, no-nonsense official × gentle yet resilient sweetheart Lu Chengzhou, director of Yuncheng's Housing and Urban-Rural Development Commission, is known in their circles as a stern, no-nonsense official. Upright in his conduct and steady in his methods, he holds a high position and has kept his feelings hidden for years, unbeknownst to anyone. Su Nian'an neve 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 74 The Road to Power 官路之权倾天下 Hong Liang is reborn with the memories and foresight of his previous life. Starting as the director of the Education Bureau's Supervision Office, he fights his way up through officialdom. His achievements in combating corruption and criminal gangs bring him to the attention of senior leaders. With a heart devoted to serving the people and a vision of benefiting the world, he endures the hardships and obstacles of grassroots work, gradually becoming an official beloved by the people. The organiza 40Reads—Score—14d adds
- 75 The Discarded Wife Is Reborn, Dumps Her Jerk Husband, and Reaches the Pinnacle of Life 废妻重生，踹渣男走上巅峰人生 After her husband cheated on her and brought his mistress around to taunt and humiliate her, Huo Yanyan was literally angered to death by that scumbag Duan Duan. She unexpectedly transmigrated ten years into the past and resolved to stay away from scumbags and never again be the resentful woman everyone could bully. She would be the heroine of her own life and make sure that scumbag got what he deserved... 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 76 The Officialdom Judge: I Will Never Tolerate Evil 官场判官：我与罪恶不共戴天 He returns to twenty years ago, to that turbulent era when everything was in flux. He must start over, and everything will change because of him. With his knowledge of the future, Lin Yi enters the police force and then government service, rewriting his fate step by step until he reaches the pinnacle... If his opponent is a tiger, he’ll play the pig and eat it. But if his opponent is already a pig, then he’ll raise the thing in his hand... 36Reads9.0Score—14d adds
- 77 Jian Yu’s Absurd Daily Life 简玉的离谱日常 Jian Yu is a wild country girl with "funny" written right into her DNA. These are true stories from Jian Yu's life and work... Open this book and get ready to laugh until you crow. After all, no one can stop this wild girl from turning everyday life into one never-ending comedy. Her thought process is always outlandish, and her hands and feet are always half a beat ahead of her brain. She can turn the most ordinary days into a commotion that makes the neighbors and her friends laugh like flowers 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 78 The Municipal Compound 市委大院 Qingshan City is surrounded by mountains and blessed with beautiful scenery. After his predecessor was dismissed over a major safety accident, Ding Junru became the “firefighter.” Can Ding Junru break through the encirclement and help Qingshan City rise from the ashes? 29Reads8.8Score11014d adds
- 79 Unemployed and Sharing a Flat 失业合租记 The male and female leads are both overworked IT employees. After losing their jobs, they lie flat and start their lives over. The male lead meets his soulmate, while the female lead helps him save himself from the numbness and anxiety he used to feel. This novel explores how people can live a good life and how they can reach the end of it without regrets. Perhaps you’ll have a different answer after reading it, and that’s a good thing, because the answers to good questions are always open-ended 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 80 Don’t Mess With Him in Politics: When Trouble Comes, He Shows Up for Real 官场之中别惹他，他有事，是真上 The official career ladder has ten rungs. Liu Yuxian returns to 2006 and, with the advantage of knowing what lies ahead, decisively seizes the right moment and opportunities, starting out as a grassroots discipline inspector. In this life, Liu Yuxian must make full use of his abilities and do good things for ordinary people. In this life, Liu Yuxian must make up for some of the regrets he had in his previous life. 450Reads7.4Score—14d adds
- 81 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
- 82 The Heavy Responsibilities of a Political Career 仕途重任 A sudden mass incident in Huxi County, caused by delays in housing deliveries, exposed how the economic development model of the past decade, built on excessive reliance on land-based financing, had reached its end... Wang Cheng was sent to Huxi County on a temporary assignment and given a mission in a time of crisis. Can he successfully fulfill it? 2.5kReads8.8Score22514d adds
- 83 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
- 84 Swaying Boughs in the Capital: I’ll Walk the Road to Greatness with Him 京枝摇：与他共赴青云路 A cool, dignified, powerful Crown Prince + a sweet yet resilient government trainee + Rekindled Romance + Mutual Devotion Lu Shiyan, the capital's most powerful young heir, was cool, dignified, and immensely influential, yet he couldn't forget Su Wanqing for eight years. Su Wanqing, a government trainee from an ordinary family, was sweet yet resilient, blooming with every step she took, but she could never forget the boy she had loved in her youth. They reunited in a grassroots post in Jiangnan. 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 85 Everyday Life as a Woman Living Alone 独居女性日常 A first-person daily-life story about a group of women who live alone. My name is Li Yu. I was different from other children from the start. I was terribly unlucky: I was abandoned as a baby, and I only have one eye! But I was incredibly lucky to have adoptive parents who love me more than anything. They love me, and they still urge me to get married. They love me, and once they're done urging me, they accept that I live alone. Living alone doesn't mean being lonely. It's a romantic date wit 458Reads8.1Score10914d adds
- 86 Loving You With All I've Got 拼尽全力爱着你 After graduating from graduate school, Hao Qiang found himself unable to get a job because his field of study was so obscure. He went to work at a construction site instead, but the foreman ran off with the money. Determined to get his wages back, Hao Qiang stood his ground at the unfinished building. There, he came upon a gang of thugs kidnapping a woman. He risked his life to save her, only to be beaten to the ground by the criminals... A moving, heartbreaking story... 17Reads—Score—14d adds
- 87 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
- 88 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
- 89 The Road to Officialdom: Reborn to Make a Comeback in 1998 官路青云：重生之逆袭1998 Reborn in 1998, Lu Qingyun starts out as a township official. Armed with memories of his past life and remarkable resolve, he saves a hundred lives amid catastrophic floods, takes on bureaucrats, and stakes his career on a bold promise. He rises by breaking through obstacles and attracting investment, joining forces with a talented provincial newspaper reporter and a wealthy businesswoman to overhaul resources and revitalize state-owned enterprises. Amid the whirlpool of power and profit, he sta —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 90 Sun Guohua Reborn in the Political Arena 孙国华重生官场 Also known as Provincial and Ministerial Leaders. This is a rare, contemporary work of political realism, spanning thirty years. Its authenticity, sense of its era, and tightly woven logic make every detail ring true. There are no melodramatic, wildly fabricated plot twists! Don’t try to uncover the author’s true identity. Perhaps he is simply a chronicler of history. The story follows a man who rises step by step from the grassroots to provincial and ministerial leadership, then seeks to climb —Reads—Score1.9k14d adds
- 91 The Road to Power: From Secretary to the Top 权力之路：从秘书走向巅峰 Song Siming, a master's graduate of Dongda, was recruited by Donghai Television through its talent program. He worked hard but had no knack for sucking up, so his immediate superior kept him down. His wife was unfaithful, and his in-laws looked down on him. The only thing keeping him going was his beloved son, until a paternity test report shattered him. Just when all seemed lost, a glimmer of hope appeared: an older alumnus from Dongda had become a prominent figure in Donghai City, and Song Sim 65Reads8.9Score—14d adds
- 92 A Physician’s Road to Power 医者官途 No rebirth, no System, no harem: pure, hard-nosed political maneuvering. After his superior is transferred, he is pushed aside by petty rivals and suppressed by others. He abandons medicine for politics and embarks on an official career. A doctor carefully navigates the political world, breaking through traps amid open and covert attacks to forge a smooth career path all his own. 25Reads—Score114d adds
- 93 The Grassroots Promotion Path: From Contract Social Worker to Politics 基层晋升路：从编外社工到政坛 Volumes 1-7 follow Chen Shiyi's growth in a rural community. Volume 8 onward shifts to stories set in urban communities, touching on some issues that are closer to current realities. Feel free to skip ahead if you're interested. Volumes 1-7 mainly follow Chen Shiyi, a contract social worker who becomes a community secretary thanks to his strong work performance. After receiving excellent evaluations in two consecutive terms under municipal policy, he is promoted to a member of the township and s —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 94 Mission Accomplished 不辱使命 After a failed romance, he went in a fit of pique to a town no one wanted to live in. An unexpected disaster propelled him to the top through a twist of fate, and an unforeseen reunion changed his destiny forever. 103Reads9.0Score—14d adds
- 95 Her and Mr. Zhang 她和张总 Her and Mr. Zhang 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 96 After Falling for an Officer Online, He Transfers Away for Three Years and Comes After Me Again 网恋军官后，他调岗三年又追我 They fell in love at first sight while chatting online. The gentle look in Yin Ruowan’s eyes captured officer Xu Yi’s heart, and the feelings they shared through a screen spoke louder than a thousand words. They thought meeting in person would mean spending their lives together, but an urgent reassignment in his unit forced them into a sudden long-distance relationship, tearing their budding romance apart. They endured longing across mountains and seas and the twists and turns of life. In the en 707Reads—Score12814d adds
- 97 Storms on the Official Path: Breaking Through 官道风云之突出重围 (All characters, place names, events, settings, and plot elements in this novel are purely fictional.) A young county magistrate with no connections is forced out of office by people pushing him aside, then assigned to a forgotten unit to wait out his days. But his resolve doesn’t falter... Opportunity often favors those who are prepared. Young official Mu Jianlin travels to a remote, impoverished county to serve as county Party secretary. He remains true to his original aspirations and steadfas 15.4kReads8.7Score1.6k14d adds
- 98 It All Begins with a Suspension 一切从停职开始 If you hold office without standing up for the people, you might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes. A diligent young man is suspended for meddling in other people's business, and at that very moment, his life changes forever. 9.9kReads8.7Score89714d adds
- 99 I Know You Like Fine Jade, and Treasure You as a Lady of Renown 知君如珩玉，惜尔是名媛 [Government service setting | Age gap | A misunderstanding along the way | Lovers find their way to each other] This is a love story that unfolds within the framework of government service. There is no over-the-top melodrama, only a slow, steady process of testing the waters and drawing closer. When rules meet a racing heart and reason collides with deep affection, can they make room for tenderness in such a tightly ordered world? As the title “Secretary Chen” gradually takes on a personal signi 426Reads6.6Score—14d adds
- 100 Just Dumped, I Turn Around and Pass the Civil Service Exam to Work in Her Hometown 刚被分手，转身选调上岸去她老家 A new work is out! You can read my stories on Tomato Novel. I hope you enjoy them. Your support is what keeps me writing, and I'll do my best to tell every story well! 17.5kReads7.7Score1.5k14d adds
