Novels like The Cunning Woman at Work
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as The Cunning Woman at Work, best match first.
- 1 The Road to Officialdom: Starting from Scratch 官途之从零起步 Lu Feng, an avid reader of political novels, dies unexpectedly and is reborn. Starting out at a township industrial and commercial office, he faces workplace struggles, political suppression, and a forced breakup with his girlfriend, but uses his wits to overcome every setback and rise rapidly through the ranks. Yet a hidden secret about his background, tied to his rebirth, leaves him cornered with no way out. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 2 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 302Reads—Score—14d adds
- 3 The Road to Office and Commerce: My Wife and Child Are in a Parallel World 官路商途：妻儿却在平行时空 A lone wolf in the political arena, unstoppable on the official path: Zhang Ping, a minor county government clerk reborn, rises steadily through the ranks with his fragmentary memories of the future. He maneuvers across the political landscape and amasses tremendous power, yet remains utterly alone. When the timelines converge, he would rather give up his empire than seize back the life that belongs to him! 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 4 The Future of Officialdom: Revitalizing Northeast China with AI 未来官场：我靠人工智能振兴东北 Beginning in 2026, over the course of a forty-year career in public service, Li Shu, an ordinary man, sparks a technological revolution and reshapes the Northeast with intelligence and innovation. This is the story of an ordinary young man who goes from choosing to lie flat to standing tall, and an enduring hymn to the times, responsibility, and ideals. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 5 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
- 6 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
- 7 A Chronicle of Officialdom 官场纪实录 The author works within the system and draws on real experience in officialdom. This is not a wish-fulfillment story; there aren't that many gratifying moments in the system. To make the story more entertaining, some things will be exaggerated and others invented. As for what is real and what is made up, readers can decide for themselves. The place names and personal names are deliberately mismatched, not what you might think. 553Reads—Score10614d adds
- 8 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
- 9 How to Live with Mental Illness 精神病的活法 In 2021, my mental health started to deteriorate. After taking medication for five years, I developed bipolar disorder, and I feel like I’m falling apart more and more. I’m writing this book just to give myself something to do, something to keep me going. 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 10 The Marriage Hunter: The Hunting Ground 金牌婚姻猎手：猎场 My name is Gu Shengnan. In the industry, they call me the “Marriage-Breaking Hunter”; my enemies call me the “Courtroom She-Devil.” My rules have always been simple and ruthless: I don’t care about justice. I care about winning. I’ve spent ten years specializing in divorce cases, and I’ve never lost. A housewife has been manipulated by her husband for eight years and left with nothing? I turn the tables for her and make the faithless man kneel as he signs away every last asset. A naive woman bel 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 11 After Divorcing, I Ride on My Ex-Wife's Family's Coattails to the Top 离婚后，踩着前妻全家青云直上 Song Qiushi runs a gym. For ten years, he has worked hard to support his family, loved his wife, and spoiled his daughter. It hasn’t been easy, but he has never resented it. He believes that as long as he keeps his head down, takes good care of his wife, raises his child well, and looks after the family, he will have a perfect marriage. But every one of his dreams shatters when his wife brings a strange man home. He can put up with anything else, but not this. Divorce... His father-in-law uses h 132Reads—Score—14d adds
- 12 The Righteous Path to Power 官途正道 This is a silent battle between good and evil, and a silent struggle between the polished public image of a county Party secretary and the darkness behind it. This is a journey through life that lays bare human nature, and a compelling story of a career in politics... This story is entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual people or events is purely coincidental! 90Reads6.9Score10114d adds
- 13 The Brash Official 官道莽夫 By a twist of fate, Li Nanxing was swept into the heart of a fierce struggle and made a pawn in someone else’s game. He thought he was doomed to be crushed, but somehow he carved out a bright future for himself! From then on, he rose rapidly, with a lovely wife by his side and both fame and fortune in hand! 166Reads6.1Score—14d adds
- 14 The Pinnacle of Power in Officialdom 官场之权利巅峰 Officialdom is an invisible battlefield, rife with deceit, intrigue, and ever-shifting power struggles. Amid the chaos, Lu Weiming is like a breath of fresh air. Lu Weiming never forgets this: A good official serves the people and benefits the community. To be an official is to be a good one, with two burning convictions in your heart: kindness toward others and a sense of responsibility heavier than a mountain. With a heart full of passion and clean hands, Lu Weiming faces pressure from the p 68Reads—Score—14d adds
- 15 Making It in the World of Officialdom 混出个官样 Man, pain turns to hate, and hate turns to ruthlessness. When you fear nothing, the world will clear a path for you! Ten years as a hidden dragon, trapped in the abyss. Then, in a single day, he rides the wind straight to the heavens. Dawn has come, and the world is in his grasp. His might sweeps across mountains and rivers. No one can stop him. If not now, then when? 27.5kReads9.0Score2.1k14d adds
- 16 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
- 17 Straight to the Top: From Reporter to the Pinnacle of Power 青云直上：从记者登顶权力巅峰 A former journalist, he sees things coming before anyone else. With a pen in hand, he can also wield power. From the ivory tower to the political arena of Changzhou, what others call “not fitting in” is, to him, a false premise. A fresh perspective can break with convention, and swimming against the current reveals a man’s true mettle. Watch Chen Xin enter the game with a journalist’s eye and break through with hard work. With the help of benefactors, he seizes every opportunity and advances ste 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 18 The Official's All-Seeing Eye: Rising From the Bottom 透视官眼：从最基层开始崛起 Banished to a judicial office at the very lowest level, Wu Haoran watched the aging director, who had spent his entire career in this post and was nearing retirement, face a situation even worse than Qi Tongwei's. Now that his official's eye had been activated, Wu Haoran secretly vowed to rise from here and surpass Qi Tongwei. From that day on, he reveled in the company of beautiful women and wielded power over the realm, making his way through the officialdom. 19Reads6.5Score—14d adds
- 19 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 9.7kReads7.8Score84814d adds
- 20 Officialdom: Burning 官场：燃烧 Under the sky screen, everyone fights to get into the game, risking life and death and willingly becoming a pawn. A nobody takes on a giant, with no connections to rely on and nothing but his own shadow behind him. I’m the youngest section-level official in the country, and I’m still an intern. I throw my chest open and laugh at the sky, my blood burning in the flames. Even if I’m left with only half my life, I’ll still challenge Heaven for supremacy! The mountains stand evergreen, the great riv 11Reads—Score—14d adds
- 21 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
- 22 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 109Reads8.8Score914d adds
- 23 Climbing the Ladder to Success 拾级而上青云 Blow after blow in his previous life left Ye Zifeng trapped in years of self-doubt. He drifted through decades of mediocrity in a grassroots post. Just as he was about to retire, he fell gravely ill and had little time left to live. On the brink of death, Ye Zifeng was unexpectedly reborn, returning to the eve of his college graduation. In this life, watch him break free from his predicament, seize his chance, enter government with confidence, and climb step by step toward the top. 530Reads8.1Score—14d adds
- 24 Staying True to Your Mission: The Way of an Official 不忘初心之为官之道 Reporter Zhuang Ziyou and prosecutor Lin Ruoxi fell in love at first sight while catching a Peeping Tom, and soon began a sweet and thrilling life together. Other couples go shopping to flirt. These two go shopping to catch thieves! Corrupt officials? They expose every one they find! The underworld? You’re not getting away either! As they take on corruption and organized crime, Zhuang Ziyou rises step by step from a humble reporter to a career in government. But the road through officialdom is f 122Reads—Score—14d adds
- 25 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
- 26 Officialdom: There's a Beauty Named Xiaofang in the Office 官场：办公室有位美女叫小芳 He works hard, strives to improve, and longs for pure love. Career and romance, what’s hidden and what’s out in the open... His colleague Liu Xiaohua, his classmate Huanhuan. How should he choose...? And then there’s Tang Wan’er, whom he secretly loves... —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 27 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
- 28 The Pinnacle of Political Power 权路巅峰 Also known as Power at Its Peak and Tao's Official Career. [Power at Its Peak]+ [Multiple Heroines]+ [Feel-Good Political Drama] While investigating someone, Luo Zekai discovered a video of them that was not meant to be made public. Not only did he accidentally uncover a shocking secret, but most devastating of all, his wife and mother-in-law were part of it too... He carried ideals in his heart, yet was swept along by the tide of reality; he longed for power, yet knew the abyss that lay beneath 621Reads7.8Score10114d adds
- 29 The King of Soldiers Enters Politics and Breaks the Deadlock with Force 兵王转业之官场以力破局 This novel has been adapted into an audiobook. Once he enters the political arena, he thrives. With brothers at his side, resources brought together, and strength to break through any impasse! Lin Zhenyu, a Dragon Fang special forces soldier codenamed Ghost King, is reborn. To save his critically ill grandfather, he has no choice but to leave the military and enter politics! A man of unwavering integrity, Lin Zhenyu vows to work for the welfare of 5.4kReads8.2Score43814d adds
- 30 A New Take on Political Fiction: A College Graduate's Road into Government 新版官场文：大学毕业生从政路 By a twist of fate, Liu Bai becomes a township civil servant after graduating from college. For a poor nobody like him, landing a civil-service job is already something to celebrate. He had hoped to keep his head down and do an ordinary job without competing with anyone, but he encounters one unfair situation after another. And the more he faces, the further he climbs, until he reaches the very pinnacle of power! 230Reads—Score—14d adds
- 31 My Survival Game in the Civil Service 我的体制内生存游戏 Zhou Zhengyi is a struggling student from a third-rate college, with a girlfriend who looks down on him and no prospects for the future. Hoping to pass the civil service exam and land a secure government job, he signs a loan-shark-like contract and enters the legendary “Guaranteed Pass” boot camp. Here, everything has its price, and the rules are dark. From the moment he is forced to swallow his first answer against his conscience, power begins to quietly reshape him. Money, women, opportunities 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 32 The Power Pinnacle of a Humble Official 寒官之权力巅峰 The story of a poor young man with no connections who, through exceptional intelligence, unyielding resolve, and a pragmatic approach, finds opportunities in adversity, stirs up the world from humble beginnings, and ultimately fulfills both his personal ambitions and his ideal of serving the people. 34Reads—Score—14d adds
- 33 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
- 34 Officialdom: I’m the Strategist Behind the Scenes 官场：我在背后当军师 Li Na was a deputy section chief in the municipal government office. Caught in the treacherous currents of city hall, she held fast to her own principles while others focused on ingratiating themselves with everyone, only to be suppressed by her leaders and colleagues. Her husband, Liu Dehua, could no longer stand by and watch. He began helping Li Na, clearing the way for her rapid rise. She connects the city’s grand plans above with the everyday lives of people at the grassroots below, navigati —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 35 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 145Reads—Score—14d adds
- 36 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. 95Reads7.1Score—14d adds
- 37 The Political Titan: Rising from a Small Town 官途枭雄：从小镇开始逆袭 As a young civil servant, Wang Guilin served under a senior military leader, so there is no doubt he is highly capable. After leaving the army and returning to civilian life, he is suppressed by his superiors. In a fit of anger, he decides to make a comeback, setting off a storm in county politics. He takes the reins of power, serves the people, and stays true to his original purpose. 396Reads—Score—14d adds
- 38 2013: We Lived His Life Three Times 2013，我们替他活过三次 [Dual heroines · time loop · start-up boom · prophetic golden finger] In 2013, on the most chaotic street in Nancheng, two women from the future appeared in his life at the same time. Shen Zhi remembered only one rule: she mustn't let him sign that contract. Every time Gu Ming tried to leave Nancheng, time reset. She was trapped here, trapped by his side. They both knew his name was Lin Ye. A brash young man from Beichuan, a junior college graduate who got his start selling counterfeits before h —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 39 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
- 40 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
- 41 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… 383Reads6.8Score10214d adds
- 42 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
- 43 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 319Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 44 A Career Blessed by Fortune: A County Magistrate's Rise to Power 官运滔天：知县逆袭，权倾朝野 [Not a power fantasy! A complex tale of court intrigue and political struggle, grounded in historical research!] Li Shu, a modern-day civil service exam candidate who failed to pass, unexpectedly transmigrates to the first year of the Qianlong reign and becomes a newly appointed jinshi. Starting out as a poor county magistrate in Hengyang, he investigates the shortfall in the ever-normal granaries, exposes the dark secrets of the grain transport trade, and takes on salt smugglers in league with 39Reads—Score—14d adds
- 45 From the Countryside to the Seat of Power 从乡野到中枢 A college graduate serving as a village official steadily rises through the ranks... a true incorruptible official. He takes on corrupt officials in a battle of wits, moving from the countryside to the township, then from the township to the county seat. Each time, his outstanding record earns him another promotion. 100Reads—Score—14d adds
- 46 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 15Reads—Score—14d adds
- 47 A History of the Death of Idealism 理想主义消亡史 [No transmigration], [No cheats or System], [Realistic], [No feel-good wish fulfillment], [Deep-dive into the inside story], [Scheming] Medical investment is an obscure industry with a lot of hidden complexities. Yan Hui is a professional in the field, as well as an idealist. But as time goes by and circumstances change, his life and work gradually slip beyond his control. (A song will be included in the author’s notes for each chapter. It will relate to the chapter, directly or indirectly, obje 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 48 The Edge of Power: The First Sword in the Anticorruption Fight Strikes Our Own 官锋：反腐第一剑，先斩自己人 [Political Career]+ [Criminal Investigation]+ [Underdog Comeback] Officer Ding Kai goes undercover at a nightclub and unexpectedly discovers “Red Scorpion,” a major fugitive who has been on the run for years. A thrilling battle of investigation and counter-investigation begins. The forces behind the fugitive “Red Scorpion” gradually emerge... 94Reads7.6Score—14d adds
- 49 The Political Chess Game 仕途棋局 [Realistic political drama] + [Anti-corruption and crime crackdown] + [Veteran comradeship] + [Rural prosperity] + [Family] After leaving the army, Qin Tianci returned to his hometown. On his very first day at work, his boss gave him a hard time and sent him to serve in a poor, remote village. After starting the job, he learned some shocking news: he actually had thirteen fathers? The mountain villager who had raised him with so much care wasn't his biological father! After uncovering the truth 8.5kReads8.2Score1.1k14d adds
- 50 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... 550Reads6.2Score—14d adds
