Novels like Hou Weidong's Notes on Being an Official
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as Hou Weidong's Notes on Being an Official, best match first.
- 101 No Authority to Audit? One Official Letter and I Make the Whole Province Weep! 审计没权？我一纸公函查哭全省！ Zhou Tiejun pushed himself up from the sofa, his right hand instinctively reaching for his chest. There was no wound, no pain. His palm touched a dark blue jacket, its fabric coarse and its zipper cold. He lowered his head and looked at his hand. It wasn't his. His hands should have been young, with prominent knuckles and carbon-ink stains perpetually caught under the fingernails. But the hands before him had loose, slightly swollen skin, age spots creeping across the backs, and a faint pale gro 117Reads7.0Score1414d adds
- 102 Political Rivalries: A Grassroots Rise to Power 官场争锋之草根逆袭 New to officialdom, Lu Zhaoyuan carries lofty ideals, only to be battered at every turn. After enduring hardship, he glimpses the logic behind power: “Only those who truly serve the people can go far!” Standing on the precipice between conscience and desire, what choice will he make? 6.4kReads7.9Score52414d adds
- 103 The Bitter and Sweet of Bureaucracy 机关的苦辣酸甜 This story follows Lu Zhenyu, a brilliant graduate of a prestigious university. After joining the government, he finds that he cannot shake his scholarly nature. As he struggles with the clash between ideals and reality, see how he experiences the bitter and sweet sides of life in the bureaucracy. 25Reads6.5Score—14d adds
- 104 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
- 105 The Political Ladder: My White Moonlight Chases Power, So I Turn Away and Shine 仕途：白月光攀权我转身万丈光芒 New book, and the rating has only just come in. It’s sure to rise! I write patriotic stories. My completed novel, Helping Mom Deal with Scumbags and the Third Party, is that kind of story, and so is this new one. [Positive energy + down-to-earth characters + realistic urban fiction + love of country and family] Jian Yifan was raised in the countryside by his grandfather and 1Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 106 The Road to Power, Starting as a Deputy Town Mayor 通天官路，从副镇长开始 64Reads6.5Score—14d adds
- 107 The Rise of Technology in Officialdom 官场之科技崛起风云 The Rise of Technology in the Political Arena Jiang Weiwen returns reborn as a grassroots official and faces a complex situation head-on. Drawing on the memories and wisdom of his previous life, he devotes himself to scientific research and economic development, directly resolving crises and overcoming numerous challenges in cutting-edge technology. In doing so, he contributes to the strength of his country and the prosperity of its people. 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 108 The Ranks of Officialdom: Step by Step to the Top 官阶之步步高升 Someone took my place in the civil service exam. By a twist of fate, I ended up as a temporary worker at the township government in my hometown. Someone set me up, and I accidentally stumbled upon a secret of one of the leaders. No need to panic. I'm just a temp. What have I got to worry about… My name is Liu Su. According to my great-grandfather, our branch descends from Liu Fei, the eldest son of Emperor Gaozu, Liu Bang. We have an ancestral copy of The Founder’s Boxing Manual. I soaked in med 26Reads—Score—14d adds
- 109 The Traffic Bureau Chief 交通局长 Lin Zhongquan was an ordinary employee in a road maintenance section. Following his father’s wishes, he was determined to climb the ranks. On his father’s repeated advice, he married the former mayor’s daughter and managed to get in good with Huang Dingli, the head of the Pingchang Municipal Transportation Bureau. During a construction tender, Huang Dingli and Lin Zhongquan got to know contractor He Rubin and the stunningly beautiful public relations agent Miaomiao. They helped He Rubin win the 93Reads9.4Score—14d adds
- 110 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. 1.1kReads6.8Score10814d adds
- 111 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
- 112 After My Divorce, an Owl Helped Me Rule the World 离婚后，猫头鹰带我权倾天下 He lost his job in middle age, and his seven-year marriage also came to an end. Lin Zhijie got a firsthand taste of what it meant to be “a middle-aged man who’s worth less than a dog.” His property and savings were all seized by his domineering, ruthless socialite wife. Just as Lin Zhijie was left homeless and sleeping beneath a bridge, he unexpectedly saved a talking owl. After that, Lin Zhijie entered politics, rising smoothly from an archival clerk at a neighborhood office to the very top. Be 4.9kReads7.6Score49314d adds
- 113 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
- 114 You Want Me to Take the Fall to Get Promoted? I'll Make You Turn Yourself In! 让你背锅转正？我反手送你自首！ Reborn, Lin Ke is forced to take the fall and sign off on fake accounts? [Photographic memory] activated! [Logical search] online! In the blink of an eye, thirty-six major flaws, seven logical holes, and three signs of tampering are laid bare! “Section Chief, is this 200,000-yuan ‘air-conditioning repair fee’ made of gold?” (sneers) He pulls out a voice recorder, and the corrupt section chief collapses in terror on the spot! They think the archives room is a dead-end posting? No, it’s my “arsena 64Reads—Score—14d adds
- 115 Reborn: From Junior Clerk to the Very Top 重生：从小科员直达巅峰 (Rebirth + urban life + officialdom) Zhang Zhengyu, middle-aged and stuck in a rut, is involved in a car accident while hosting an official reception. When he wakes up, he has returned to 1995 and become a clerk at Linshui County’s Investment Promotion Bureau. Having achieved little in his previous life, he decides to seize this chance to make a name for himself, rise steadily through the ranks, and reach the pinnacle of power! 1.2kReads7.1Score—14d adds
- 116 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
- 117 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
- 118 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 51.9kReads8.5Score4.8k14d adds
- 119 I Started Climbing the Official Ladder as a Grassroots Civil Servant 我从基层公务员开始混官场 The protagonist, Chen Gong, comes from a family of high-ranking officials. He is strong-willed and upright, with a bit of cleverness. His father thinks he isn't suited to the world of officialdom, so he arranges an ordinary job for him at a company, far from politics. But Chen Gong, born into privilege, has no interest in a nine-to-five life of going through the motions. He quietly quits and enters the world of officialdom, venturing alone into its treacherous depths. Bold and unrestrained, he w 230Reads6.1Score10014d adds
- 120 Aspiring to the Azure Clouds 欲上青云 My new story is here! Feel free to read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you enjoy it. Your support motivates me to write, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 121 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 316Reads7.7Score10414d adds
- 122 Reborn in the Political Arena: I Can See the Trajectory of Fate 重生官场：我能查看命运轨迹 Hou Longtao never believed in fate, until he gained the ability to see the paths of destiny. Can a golden-scaled carp be content to stay in a pond? Once it encounters wind and clouds, it becomes a dragon! From then on, Hou Longtao, able to see the paths of destiny, charges ahead, making his mark in the political world. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 123 The Road to Officialdom: From a Township Justice Office to the Provincial Compound 官道：从乡镇司法所到省委大院 Beginning in the early twenty-first century, this novel chronicles the rise of Wang Xiaofeng, a young man from a poor family. Along the way, he faces petty schemers and receives help from benefactors. His posts and responsibilities change, but his original ideals and aspirations never do. Wang Xiaofeng starts out as a clerk at a township judicial office, then rises steadily through the ranks… 6.6kReads7.8Score59614d adds
- 124 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 499Reads—Score10314d adds
- 125 A Political Mastermind's Song of Prosperity 长盛高歌之政治高手 This is the story of Li Changsheng, a senior county-level official, and his rise to the top. He is skilled in calligraphy, feng shui, and antiques. Decisive and full of schemes, he is also charming, carefree, and bold. He sees through both the ugliness and goodness of society, and puts forward many new ideas and principles for good governance, public welfare, and social development. 780Reads6.7Score10414d adds
- 126 My Road to Department Head: A Country Kid’s Comeback 我的厅长之路：农村娃的逆袭 A country boy passes the civil service exam in another province and works his way up from a township to the county seat and then the provincial capital, rising from a junior clerk to department head. This is a story of turning his life around, with all the hardships and bitterness along the way. Perhaps it will offer something for many readers to learn from. 34Reads—Score—14d adds
- 127 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 88Reads—Score—14d adds
- 128 The Move That Breaks the Deadlock 破局之举 Chen Zimo's rise from the grassroots to the inner circle takes an unusual path. While others chase undercurrents, he devotes himself to studying the most transparent and solid system of rules, and finds in it a “cloud staircase” of his own. It is both his methodology and his shield. See how a wise man uses rules as steps and wisdom as his guide, climbing ever higher through a world of shifting tides and hidden currents. 12Reads—Score—14d adds
- 129 The Pinnacle of Power: After Breaking Up with My Girlfriend, I Soared to Success 权势巅峰：和女朋友分手后扶摇直上 Betrayed by his girlfriend, with his patron's career hanging by a thread, Lu Xiaoyang, a secretary in the municipal government, suffered a double blow to his love life and political career. Disillusioned, he planned to leave politics for good. But the arrival of one woman completely changed his fate, helping him soar up the political ladder and reach the top of the provincial government compound. 618Reads—Score11014d adds
- 130 You’re Talking About Unwritten Rules? Sorry, I’m the Law! 你讲潜规则？抱歉，我就是天条！ The good news: I was reborn, and I got a golden finger called the [Public Order Scales] that can uphold the rules. The bad news: I can't turn the thing off, and it doesn't care who you are! Scenario one: My boss wants me to take the fall. Me: "Under Article 54 of the Civil Servant Law, I refuse to carry out a decision that is clearly illegal." Result: I was publicly criticized for "lacking a sense of the bigger picture and a spirit of dedication." Everyone in the office: "Is this new guy an idio 59Reads—Score—14d adds
- 131 My Boss Told Me to Be Flexible. Is That a Hint to Break the Law? 领导让我灵活点这是暗示我违法吗 In the End of the Dharma Age, the officialdom is a cultivation ground, and rules themselves are magical power! Newcomer Lin Zhengtian joins the subdistrict office and awakens the one-of-a-kind [Body of the Principle of Law]! He discovers that correcting violations can gather [Righteous Qi of the Principle of Law] and raise his own level of cultivation! Correct a coworker slacking off → Righteous Qi of the Principle of Law +1, [Aura of Intimidation] takes shape, and old hands tremble at the sight 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 132 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 45Reads—Score—14d adds
- 133 The Peak of Politics: Winning with a Rebellious Streak 2 巅峰官场：胜在反骨2 [Rebirth + officialdom + revenge + one heroine + satisfying read + no saintly protagonist] Reborn in 2001, Zheng Gongcheng uses his foresight to earn three exceptional promotions. In 2003, he takes charge of Fengyang County’s Party Committee, sees through the ways of officialdom, governs with dedication, improves people’s lives, and rises to the top. This book is dedicated to readers who enjoyed The Pinnacle of Officialdom: Winning Through Defiance and to fans of officialdom novels. May the “unr 36Reads7.7Score—14d adds
- 134 Gather 76 Eggs to Help Brother Qiang Build a Great Business 凑集76个鸡蛋，助强哥成大事业 (Transmigration + Business Warfare + Cultivation + Supernatural + Aliens + High IQ) Lin Huan, a graduate of a world-renowned university and one of Longguo’s top tycoons, was framed by chairman Guo Taiming and driven into bankruptcy. In a fit of despair, he jumped into a river and took his own life. After being reborn, he happened to meet Daoist Master Zhang. Under his tutelage, Lin Huan became a top Daoist disciple, mastering spells, feng shui, divination, mind reading, telepathy, and other extr 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 135 The Wind Blows Through Xizhou City: Part Two 风过西周城第二部 The second volume of the long anti-corruption novel Wind Over Xizhou City continues the story begun in the first. Planned to span thirty-three chapters and 390,000 characters, it once again unfolds among the offices of Xizhou County, in the western plains. Career and love, human relationships and social customs, the rules of survival, and advancement at work: a series of collisions between people and events, emotion and rules, conscience and human nature. It paints a vivid, tangled portrait of e 142Reads—Score—14d adds
- 136 The Shadow of Jingzhe: The Male Secretary’s Deadly Identity 惊蛰谍影：男秘书的致命身份 On March 5, 2026, Jingzhe, Zhou Daimei died in an "accidental" car crash. Just before she died, she received a WeChat message: "Don't go. It's an ambush." When she opened her eyes again, time had turned back three days, to 5:24 a.m. on March 2. She had 72 hours left to live. This time, she had returned with her memories intact. 115Reads—Score—14d adds
- 137 Reborn in the Political Arena: My Road to High Office 重生官场：我的青云路 This story may take a little while to get going, but trust me: the more you read, the more hooked you’ll get, and the more satisfying it becomes. This is an ensemble power fantasy centered on officialdom. Please bear with the author if you encounter any illogical or awkward parts. I’ll keep doing my best (ง ˙o˙)ว. He was reborn, returning to 2004. Cancer hadn’t ended him; instead, it had given him eyes that could see through people and a backbone strong enough to crush every thorn in his path. 20Reads—Score—14d adds
- 138 Temptation in the Political Arena 官场诱惑 From the grassroots to the top, from integrity to losing one's way: the ultimate struggle over desire, conscience, and career advancement. This is a realistic, documentary-style literary work. 35Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 139 In the Political Arena, Fighting Corruption Is for the People 官场之反腐是为了人民 From the officials’ roster corruption case in Xiling Province to the corn and vegetable project in Qiangui Province, a series of corruption cases harmed the interests of the people. As a discipline inspection official, Zhong Xiaohua handles each case meticulously and calmly, steadily increasing his authority while always protecting the people’s interests from harm. He makes serving the people his foremost duty. 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 140 The Corrupt Official's Unchecked Power (Absolute Power) 官场之权势滔天（绝对权力） After losing power, Lin Feng was exiled to a remote township. He thought he would spend the rest of his life there, forgotten until the day he died. But he seized an opportunity in the policies handed down from above, and step by step made his way back to center stage, becoming the youngest person ever to hold power. 9.9kReads8.6Score29514d adds
- 141 I Reported My Father-in-Law, the Department Chief, and He Turned Around and Gave Me a Sword of Justice 举报厅长岳父他反手给我尚方宝剑 [Ding! You have received an S-rank chain mission: The Rules of Survival in Officialdom!] Mission One: Win over your icy beauty of a fiancée, Qin Wanqing. Mission Two: Persuade your immediate superior and father-in-law, Qin Fang, to support you. Mission Three: Take down every corrupt official standing in your way. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 142 The Pinnacle of Political Power 官途巅峰 Three years ago, he was a low-ranking county government clerk, but he got caught up in a corruption case and saw his future destroyed. Now he’s determined to take control of his own fate and stir up storms across the land! 254Reads—Score—14d adds
- 143 A True Han-Dynasty Succubus: From the Start, I Steal Zhuge Liang and Zhao Yun 真大汉魅魔，开局截胡诸葛亮赵云 Liu Yu, a librarian, transmigrates to the end of the Eastern Han dynasty and begins his journey into the art of political intrigue. In a chaotic age, it is not enough to know how to fight. You also need to understand human nature and social customs. “Zilong, do you want a wife?” “Kongming, how about your brother-in-law teaches you some science?” “Dian Wei, come with me. I’ll make sure you have plenty of good food and drink.” “Ziyi, you can come along, but why are you bringing a divine general?” 184Reads—Score—14d adds
- 144 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 215Reads6.3Score—14d adds
- 145 Back to 1997: Starting Out as a Small-Town Writer 重回97：从乡镇笔杆子开始 Deputy Director Han is fifty! Overworked and ill, he opens his eyes again and finds himself back on his first day reporting to a township in 1997. In his previous life, he had a way with words but no understanding of people, and spent his whole life trapped in an office cubicle. This time, he has thirty years of experience and knows the ins and outs of surviving at the grassroots level. Faced with a wealth of opportunities and troubles, watch him start with a three-thousand-word report and stead 9Reads—Score—14d adds
- 146 A Book About Eating Six Meals a Day 一天六顿饭的一本书 Wang Hongwei graduated from a prestigious university and seemed destined for a bright future, but an accident happened while he was drunk... Fortunately, he was reborn and cleverly managed to defuse the crisis, setting out on a career path in public service all his own! 56Reads6.9Score—14d adds
- 147 Power and Intrigue in Officialdom 官场之权谋 A master strategist in the art of officialdom. Born in the countryside, Peng Dingtian was looked down on by his relatives and neighbors from a young age, and his classmates never stopped making fun of him. But after three years of hard work, he went from the bottom of his class to its top student, then got into the economics department of Huaxia University, one of the world’s most prestigious schools. After graduating, Peng Dingtian was assigned to work for the Longcheng Municipal Government. Bu 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 148 You Were Told to Take the Fall, So Why Did You Take Down the Entire Leadership Team? 让你顶罪，你把领导班子一锅端？ From the start, my superiors conspired to frame me, leaving me to take the fall for a billion-yuan scandal. The good news: I have a work habit of documenting everything, and my USB drive holds eight terabytes of evidence. The bad news: My superiors don’t seem to like my USB drive very much. 815Reads5.6Score—14d adds
- 149 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… 778Reads—Score—14d adds
- 150 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
