Novels like The Move That Breaks the Deadlock
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as The Move That Breaks the Deadlock, best match first.
- 1 I'm a Thief in the Government Offices 我在官府当小偷 [Wildly imaginative + hilarious + feel-good thrills + exactly what you want to read] Jia Xiaoyi was supposed to steal from the county magistrate’s residence, but fate had other plans, and he saw the magistrate’s wife bathing. In that moment, he knew exactly what he wanted to strive for in life! He uses his special skills to steal embroidered stomachers and save disaster victims, uses his authority to interview female guards and punish corrupt merchants, and keeps putting cuckolds’ hats on people 63Reads—Score314d adds
- 2 The Same Day, Again 重复的一天 The Same Day, Repeated 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 3 Officialdom: Draw Your Sword 官场：亮剑 During a mission, Li Xiangdong is accidentally injured. The army wants him to stay, but a man's pride leads him to leave the military and take up a civilian post. When he tries to choose a position after his transfer, people make things difficult for him, and he nearly ends up without a job. Fortunately, fate is on his side: he meets a benefactor who changes his life, and from then on his career in government takes off. 118.6kReads8.7Score9.5k14d adds
- 4 Counterattack Against All Odds 绝境反击 Su Wan, the only daughter and head of her family’s company, is jointly forced off the board by her father’s old friends, losing her power and status. But Su Wan refuses to accept defeat. She begins investigating in secret and uncovers the board members’ shady dealings. Relying on her intelligence and resilience, she gradually rebuilds her network of supporters, eventually exposing the conspiracy, turning the tables, and reclaiming control of the company. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 5 The Boundless Official Path: Rising to the Top 官道无疆之平步青云 After retiring from the military, Wu Zheng faced a hostile welcome on his very first day as township head. With a forceful hand, he launched a stunning counterattack, advancing one step at a time until he reached the pinnacle of power. As he climbed higher, the daughter of a senior official became his beloved, while a group CEO became his confidante. Together, they worked to give ordinary people a better life. 39Reads6.1Score—14d adds
- 6 Power and Desire in the Political Arena: My Ex-Wife Watches Me Rise to the Top 官场权欲：前妻仰望我青云直上 [Officialdom] + [Political Scheming] + [Revenge] + [Reborn] + [Satisfying Read] + [Play the Pig to Eat the Tiger] Life in Officialdom is like duckweed floating on water, with hidden currents churning beneath the surface. But to survive in Officialdom, you need to stand by your principles and hold fast to your convictions! In his previous life, one wrong step turned him into rootless duckweed, and he met a tragic end. In this life, he holds fast to his convictions, putting the Party first and the 16Reads8.6Score—14d adds
- 7 A Book by Tianxuan Zhizi 天选之子的一本书 My new work is out! You can 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! 49Reads7.4Score—14d adds
- 8 Officialdom: From Sitting on the Bench to Commanding the World 官场：从枯坐冷板凳到执掌乾坤 Xiao Ran’s life takes a sudden turn. Stripped of his power, he is banished to a backwater post, and his girlfriend betrays him for the sake of her own future. Just when all hope seems lost, he meets the hidden powerhouse Old Wang, who passes on everything he knows. Xiao Ran masters an elite set of skills for navigating power games, needing no outside help whatsoever. No need to build alliances or flatter anyone. With a public file and a few old calendars, he can decipher the secrets of power a 38Reads—Score—14d adds
- 9 You Asked Me to Sign Off on the Final Accounts, So Why Did I Arrest the Richest Man? 决算让你签字，你把首富抓了？ “Xiuran, the province is pushing hard on the Linjiang Bridge project. Take a look at the final accounts report, and sign it if everything checks out.” Wang Changlin, director of the investment office, handed him a Parker pen. The meeting room was toasty from the heating, the curtains were drawn tight, and the fluorescent lights buzzed overhead. Sitting beside him was Zhao Jinbiao, chairman of the Hongtai Road and Bridge Group. A jade bracelet peeked from his suit sleeve, and with a casual move —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 10 Power's Pinnacle: From the Start, I Crossed the Female Leader 权力巅峰：开局从得罪女领导开始 I'm just an ordinary nobody, but fate played a cruel joke on me, making me stumble across my boss's secrets twice in a row. To make sure I kept quiet, they actually dumped me alone in the mountains... But I refuse to give up. I'll fight back. I'll find a way out... 11Reads—Score—14d adds
- 11 Power at Every Step: Once in the Game, I Climbed All the Way Up 步步生权:入局后，我一路进步 [Conspiracy +] Her superior suddenly introduced him to a beautiful wife, the very senior from college he’d secretly loved, Shen Hanxi. Li Yuntao was over the moon. Out of nowhere, he and his senior were married and living together. As a young deputy director of the subdistrict office, Li Yuntao knew his superior and his wife, his college senior, came from powerful backgrounds and had something to hide. What he didn’t know was that this was an out-and-out conspiracy. Ever since Li Yuntao married 25.6kReads8.2Score2k14d adds
- 12 The Story of Pi Tonglin 皮童林的故事 Pi Tonglin was born into an ordinary family and entered public service. Through many ups and downs, he gradually grew from an inexperienced novice into a principled, capable leader who could stand on his own. 92Reads—Score—14d adds
- 13 The Officialdom Wordsmith: A Pen in Hand, I Forge My Career 官场文人：手握笔杆闯仕途 [Contemporary Political Novel] Li Chuang, a rural schoolteacher, changes his fate against all odds when an unusual article of his is published in a provincial newspaper, opening the door to a career in government. Making good use of his strengths, he earns the leaders' esteem and finds smooth sailing in his career. He learns the rules of survival and the philosophy of getting along in officialdom, reads people and situations, and knows when to go with the flow and draw on others' support. Naviga 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 14 The Pinnacle of Public Service: Starting at a Township Government Office 仕途巅峰：从乡镇事业单位开始 Chen Bo was a college graduate from the countryside who couldn't find a job after graduation. At last, he managed to get a position at a township government institution. Since he had majored in Chinese and had a decent writing ability, the office needed someone to draft documents, and his superiors began to rely on him. But one night, he witnessed something he shouldn't have seen, and was sidelined from then on. He spent decades working quietly at the township office, reaching his forties still 5Reads6.1Score—14d adds
- 15 My First Move After Making It: Cut Down the Gold-Digging Witch’s Backer 上岸第一剑，先斩绿茶靠山 Three years of sincere love, wasted on an ungrateful woman. One rescue, and his career takes off. The first thing he does after making it is take down the woman who betrayed him. He battles corrupt officials, tears apart their protection networks, and clears every obstacle in his path! A poor young man turns the tables when all seems lost. He fights his way to the very summit of political power! 9.4kReads8.3Score71314d adds
- 16 Officialdom: Absolute Power 官场：绝对的权力 A good official needs two things: a sense of responsibility and a conscience. Follow Li Lin as he starts out as a grassroots civil servant in a poor county and see how, armed with these two qualities, he climbs to the pinnacle of power through a treacherous game of political intrigue. 41Reads—Score—14d adds
- 17 Officialdom and Business 官，商 This is the story of Zheng Guodong, who falls from grace in politics, reflects deeply on his mistakes, turns to business, and, at the invitation of his old rival Zhou Hai, returns to Xingye County to help build his hometown and start his life over. It offers a penetrating look at the culture of cliques: either you fit in, or you get pushed out. 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 18 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
- 19 Adrift in the Political Arena 官海沉浮 After thirty years of ups and downs in the political arena, Xia Tian has faced one formidable opponent after another. He has no idea whether tomorrow will bring failure or success. A different kind of political world, a different life, different emotional stories, and a different kind of protagonist. (This book is entirely fictional. Do not imitate it or assume it refers to you.) 92Reads—Score—14d adds
- 20 The Road to Power: Ling Qingchen's Climb Through the Ranks 官途：凌青辰的升官之路 Born into poverty, Ling Qingchen passes the civil service selection exam and embarks on a political career. As he gradually matures amid the infighting at the grassroots level, he rises all the way to become the county’s top official. Now that he holds power, can Ling Qingchen stay true to his original ideals? How will he navigate the political landscape and secure an even higher position? 307Reads—Score—14d adds
- 21 Career in Government: Starting with Unwavering Loyalty 仕途：从忠心耿耿开始 430Reads6.2Score—14d adds
- 22 The Pinnacle of Power: Saving a City Leader in the Night 权力巅峰：从夜救市领导开始 (This book has multiple female leads, no cheating or NTR, and plenty of feel-good moments.) First sword after being reborn: cut down the one you love! In his previous life, Gao Ran was a low-ranking official who was meek, obedient, and above reproach. And yet he was dumped, bullied, and exiled. In the end, worn down by hardship and sorrow, his hair frosted white, he climbed the stage alone, sick and old. He died depressed and far from home. In this life, he will live differently and take another 5.3kReads7.3Score42414d adds
- 23 The Sun and Moon Reveal the Heart: A Bloody Case in the Village 日月照人心之村中血案 The Sun and Moon Shine on the Human Heart: A Bloody Case in the Village —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 24 Reborn on the Road to Officialdom: Rising Through the Ranks After Divorce 官道重生：离婚后平步青云 [Political Career] + [Clean Break After Divorce] + [Smart Protagonist] + [Tourism Development] Qin Miaomiao: “Setting the facts aside, don’t you think you’re at fault too?” Gu Ning: “The kid isn’t mine, so whoever wants to raise him can do it! Get out of here and stop getting in the way of my work for the people!” Gu Ning returns to six years earlier, to the day he stood at a crossroads in life. Two paths lie before him. Should he stick to his original path, raising a 266Reads5.8Score—14d adds
- 25 A Road to Power 权途有路 [No Rebirth] [No NTR] [No Deification] [No Heroes] [No System] An inspiring tale of an ordinary township civil servant who overcomes countless hardships and carefully climbs the ladder, step by step, until he takes the top seat on the district committee. There is romance, but also true friendship. 224Reads6.8Score10114d adds
- 26 From the Start, One Whistleblower's Letter Reforms the Entire Officialdom 开局一封举报信，整顿整个官场 After filing a real-name report against his superior, Chen Ming was kicked into the county archives with a transfer order. Everyone thought his career was over. But they had no idea that the old files nobody ever looked through contained the very things they were most afraid of bringing to light. You use a transfer order to push me around, and I use evidence to investigate you. From a section chief to the powerful backers protecting him at every level, this whistleblower letter is only the begin 11Reads—Score—14d adds
- 27 The Truth Behind the Gao Family Village Election 高家庄选举背后的真相 [True to Life]+ [Two Male Leads]+ [Face-slapping]+ [Customs]+ [Urban]+ [Legend] [The Han people’s greatest taboo]: body odor The Gao family, who migrated from the Great Pagoda Tree, has a large population and came from Shanxi. The local natives, with assorted surnames like Song, Du, and Xi, occupy the village’s best land, and most of their families are wealthy. Their population should be even larger, so why are there so few of them? These circumstances defy the natural order. Just like the rumor —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 28 The Official’s Path: Taking Charge of the World 官途：执掌天下 With county elections approaching, an unexpected incident throws the beautiful county magistrate Song Yan’s plans into disarray. To calm the storm, she arranges for her driver, Chen Qingshan, to become her son-in-law. From there, Chen Qingshan embarks on an official career and rises to command the world. 26Reads—Score—14d adds
- 29 The Sun and Moon Reveal the Heart: A Daughter's Image 日月照人心之思女成像 The Sun and Moon Shine on the Human Heart: A Daughter's Likeness —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 30 Turbulent Waves 迷涛 This is a chronicle of a grassroots official's rise and fall, a portrait of county-level officialdom in the 1990s, and, above all, a bittersweet song of an era defined by the struggle between human weakness and steadfastness. When the turbulent waters recede, the embankment still bears the upright figures of those who never bent. 14Reads—Score—14d adds
- 31 The Road to Light: Reputation 光明之路：名义 At the age of twenty-six, Lin Feng chose the hardest road. He concealed his illustrious family background and started out in Luquan Township, the most remote part of Beiyue Province. Everyone thought this PhD had come to “pad his résumé” before moving on. He made his way through the muddy countryside, the tangled intrigues of the county seat, and the turbulent undercurrents of the city. For nine years, he kept his head down and worked hard, advancing from the countryside to the provincial govern —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 32 The Debtor 欠债人 Bian Xiangyang was drowning in debt. Overwhelmed after his divorce, he jumped into a river to end his life, but Jiang Zihao happened to be there and stopped him. Jiang hatched a sinister scheme and hired him for two million yuan to murder his mistress, Wang Lili. But Bian was completely won over by Wang Lili's beauty and courage. He learned that everything she did was for revenge, came to understand her, and fell in love with her. He went on to climb the career ladder and begin a new life... The 11Reads—Score—14d adds
- 33 Demoted, I Found My Career in Officialdom Had a Cheat Code 被降职后，我的仕途开了挂 In the world of politics, you either move forward or fall behind. So what if I was framed and demoted! One act of courage brings a beautiful, wealthy woman into my life and sets me on a new path. When I rise again, I'll cut through every obstacle, ride the current against the tide, and reach the pinnacle of power... 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 34 Officialdom: After Putting Myself on the Line, I Rose to Success 官场，以身入局后我从此平步青云 She wields wisdom like a blade, cutting through the tangled interests beneath the surface and finding the best path through a game of shifting undercurrents. No opportunities fall from the sky; every step is carefully considered. No one reaches the top by chance; he keeps moving forward through every storm. In the end, he carves out a solid, dazzling path to success that belongs to him alone. 41Reads—Score—14d adds
- 35 Envoy of Stardust 星尘遗使 Star-Dust Envoy 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 36 Officialdom: After Putting Myself on the Line, I Rose Straight to the Top 官场：以身入局后，我青云直上 [Authentic Political Intrigue] [Highly Anticipated] [No System] [No Mindless Plot] Serving in government is both a technical skill and an art. It calls for political tactics, but even more so for political wisdom. Gu Mingchuan has barely become a secretary to a Party committee secretary when he falls victim to one underhanded scheme after another. Watch as he navigates both sides of the political arena, turns the tables, and climbs step by step to the pinnacle of power! 8.6kReads7.9Score89514d adds
- 37 Officialdom: From the Grassroots to the Top 官场：从基层走上巅峰 After graduating from college, Yang Chenguang passed the civil service selection exam with flying colors. He thought he would finally get a chance to make his mark, but instead he was sent to a remote backwater, where he stayed for three years... 571Reads7.1Score—14d adds
- 38 Reborn and Still Playing Nice? I’m Winning Over Every Goddess from My Past Life! 重生了还老实？前世女神全拿下！ “That's right, my story began with this banana peel.” Reborn in 2018. Short the unscrupulous companies and make a fortune by copying future classics. And while I'm at it, win back the one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, and eight goddesses I missed in my past life. Every single one of them. 34Reads—Score414d adds
- 39 The Road to Shared Prosperity 共富之路 Jianzhou City in Hannan Province actively answered the national call to revitalize rural areas and established the Jianzhou Rural Revitalization Group. After three years in business, however, poor investment decisions left it deeply in the red and on the verge of bankruptcy. Wu Mingdao, the protagonist, is pushed aside by his colleagues and reluctantly takes over the failing state-owned enterprise. Through strategic repositioning, a cultural overhaul, and business-model innovation, he perseveres 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 40 The Ups and Downs of the System 体制风云 Wang Yibo had passed the provincial civil service selection exam and expected to serve in a prosperous township. By a twist of fate, however, he was sent to impoverished Shanling Township as a full-time deputy Party secretary. When his career ambitions clash with his belief in serving the people, what will he choose? 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 41 A Lonely Boat on a Cold River: Twenty Years Adrift in the Sea of Officialdom 孤舟寒江：官海沉浮二十年 In the height of summer in 2005, three young people who had earned government trainee placements after graduating from a provincial capital university in eastern China embarked on their own political careers in different corners of Hongjiang County, Yangchuan City. Gu Lisheng, born into a poor family, plunged straight into Qingshiling Township, the poorest in the county. In a leaky storeroom and along muddy mountain roads, he held fast to his burning desire to serve the people, becoming a hands- —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 42 Toyotomi Hideyoshi: Six-Book Set 丰臣秀吉（套装共6册） The Toyotomi Hideyoshi series is a collection for history and literature enthusiasts. Toyotomi Hideyoshi recounts the legendary life of the most famous daimyo of Japan's Sengoku period, the first commoner in Japanese history to unite the country. Born into poverty with no one to rely on, Toyotomi Hideyoshi rose from an ordinary commoner to become a powerful statesman through his own efforts. Policies enacted during his rule, such as the sword hunt and the Taiko land survey, were groundbreaking a 328Reads9.5Score12414d adds
- 43 The Discipline Commission Takes Action: The Collapse of a Network of Power 纪委在行动：权网崩塌记 The Discipline Commission in Action: Chronicle of a Corrupt Power Network’s Collapse 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 44 Old Cases of the Republic Era: After Ten Years on the Run, He Still Gets Promoted 民国旧案：在逃十年，他依然升官 A Republic-Era Cold Case: On the Run for Ten Years, He Still Climbs the Ranks 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 45 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 125Reads7.0Score14914d adds
- 46 Ink-Boned Beauty: From Seedling Thinning to Selection, Every Step Is a Nerve-Racking Trial 墨骨天娇：从蹲苗到遴选步步惊心 [Ink-Boned, Edge Concealed | Clearheaded, Career-Driven Heroine | Rise Through the Ranks | Grassroots Cadre Selection | Workplace Mind Games] People say that boneless painting depicts a spirit and conceals a sharp edge. Xia Qing, a young female official sent to gain grassroots experience in a township, has made the principles of boneless painting the way she survives in the ruthless arena of officialdom. She has two brushes in hand: One brings flowers to life with every stroke, creating boneless 74Reads7.6Score1014d adds
- 47 Lost in the Political Arena: Love Versus Career 官场迷途：爱情与前程的较量 When Ling Mohan, a government official, opened the diary left behind by his colleague Su Qing, these words were written in bold on the title page: “You think you’re holding a gorgeous rose, but it’s really a thorn drenched in poison.” 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 48 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
- 49 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
- 50 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
