Novels like A Humble Family’s Path to Officialdom, Part One
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as A Humble Family’s Path to Officialdom, Part One, best match first.
- 1 The Second Secretary 二号秘书 Chen Mo is an ordinary man who studies hard and earns a civil-service post. Starting with routine work at the municipal government, he stands out thanks to his excellent writing skills and tact, eventually becoming the mayor’s secretary. The book is practically a survival manual for government secretaries, offering a detailed look at everything from drafting documents and coordinating meetings to managing relationships with superiors and subordinates and liaising on projects. As the protagonist 9.8kReads7.6Score57714d adds
- 2 The Pinnacle of Power 权欲巅峰 Power at the Peak, also known as The Corrupt Official, is a sweeping novel about a cadre's growth and redemption. Born into a poor family, Song Ziwen rises step by step from a technician to a leadership position, but for a time loses his way amid power and temptation. After being transferred to the northwestern province, he comes to his senses. He visits remote mountain villages to learn about the hardships of the poor, leading the people in building roads, controlling floods, promoting educatio 45Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 3 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
- 4 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
- 5 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
- 6 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
- 7 The Political Arena 宦海 [Political intrigue + satisfying revenge] “Hold office and bring blessings to the people!” Song Yang, who grew up in a small mountain village, stumbled into officialdom by chance. Since he was there, he decided to make the best of it. He overcame one obstacle after another, braving every challenge as he contended with forces from all sides, while one tale of love and hatred after another unfolded around him. His highest principle, from beginning to end, was to serve the people’s interests, and i 131Reads6.4Score—14d adds
- 8 Reborn: Notes from the New Officialdom 重生之新官场笔记 A friendly warning: readers who like mindless power fantasies can move along. You won't be able to get through this book! The officialdom has never been a place where you can charge in on sheer passion, and power is no game of settling scores on a whim. Authority and high office are never won through sheer courage alone. Only by knowing how to weigh your options can you hold fast to the limits of when to advance and when to retreat. 961Reads8.1Score10814d adds
- 9 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 10Reads—Score—14d adds
- 10 A Splendid Rise: Starting as a Seconded Secretary 锦绣青云：从借调秘书开始 A junior secretary is swept into a grand game of power. With his pen as his ladder and his heart as his compass, he navigates the whirlpool of power and emotion, step by careful step, until he rises from a temporary posting onto the path to success that is his alone. 14Reads—Score—14d adds
- 11 The Road Through Officialdom Begins with Being Reborn 官场征途，从重生开始 For love, Chu Haoran chose to become a live-in son-in-law, only to end up behind bars. The day before his release, he was attacked. Given a second chance at life, Chu Haoran chooses to enter politics... 5.5kReads6.5Score40814d adds
- 12 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
- 13 Reborn: You Dump Me for a Government Job? I'm No Saint 重生：考公就分手？我不是好人 Fourth place on the written exam, but failed to get a civil service job? Sorry, I’m done being a good guy. This year, I’m getting in! A breakup? Fine. If I can’t have your heart, I’ll have your body! Trying to put me down? Sorry, I have connections up above! When Lin Fan, reborn with the experience of two lifetimes, chose a different way to live, everything turned out differently. In the world of powerful officials, it has always been every man for himself, full of schemes and intrigue. With the 54.8kReads7.2Score5.5k14d adds
- 14 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
- 15 Officialdom: The Road to Power Begins as a Police Officer in a Detention Center 官场：掌权之路从看守所民警开始 Yang Junbang, a police officer with the criminal investigation squad, was framed and demoted to work at a detention center. There, Yang Junbang met his benefactor and ultimately embarked on a path to defy fate and change his destiny. 1Reads—Score314d adds
- 16 Officialdom: Special Inspector 官场：巡视特使 Is the standard male lead in an officialdom novel a wealthy family's lost heir who gets cheated on from the start? With an official transfer order, Xu Juyi, a decorated national hero returning from abroad, is recommended by his mentor Zhong Baoguo, known as Elder Zhong, whose daughter is Zhong Xia'ai and son-in-law is Hou Liangping. He officially takes personal authority over inspections and disciplinary investigations, stepping into the turbulent chess game of officialdom. Even a commoner can w 24.4kReads8.1Score2.3k14d adds
- 17 Setting Sail for Yunzhou 启航云州 Driven by the ideal of “making Yunzhou a better place,” dedicated official Chen Wangshu leads his team into a new chapter. They conduct in-depth research and develop plans to upgrade local industries, connect businesses with resources to help them overcome difficulties, and organize activities to enrich residents’ cultural and spiritual lives. With each new effort, they move steadily toward their goal and help Yunzhou set sail for a brighter future. 11Reads—Score—14d adds
- 18 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
- 19 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
- 20 A Life in Officialdom: The Stories of Women in Politics 人在仕途：官场女人那些事儿 (Realistic political workplace + case-based stories + no harem) It’s hard to be a person, harder to be a woman, and harder still to be a woman in politics. But women in politics have their own rules for survival. Drawing on my 17 years navigating the political world, with firsthand experience across township, county, municipal, and provincial offices, I’ll show you what a woman in politics is really like! 16Reads8.9Score—14d adds
- 21 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
- 22 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
- 23 A Bloody Road to Power 血色宦途 No System, and no wish-fulfillment fantasy. A bloodstained scrap of paper, the “ticket of admission” his father Qiu Guozheng passed to him with his dying breath, plunges Qiu Xingbang into the treacherous political arena, a veritable hell on earth. Driven by a thirst for vengeance, he sets out on a glittering yet perilous ladder to power. To the world, he is a modest, diligent rising star in politics. In secret, he is a hunter of revenge, advancing one careful step at a time. He navigates the for 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 24 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
- 25 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
- 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 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
- 28 Still Waters Run Deep 静水流深 Can money really fall from the sky? Almost everyone says no. Li Wentao, a deputy director at the municipal government office with no connections or powerful backers, had given up hope of getting anywhere in his career. Then, unexpectedly, a windfall really did fall into his lap: he was appointed director of the municipal government office. By Li Wentao's own reckoning, it was a pretty minor post. But as soon as he took office, he was sidelined. His appointment was merely a compromise in a power 14.4kReads9.3Score1.8k14d adds
- 29 The County Party Committee 县委班子 County Leadership tells the story of Linchuan County's officials staying true to their original mission and fulfilling their duties as the county develops. By uniting their efforts to improve governance and drive local development, they show the positive spirit of grassroots officials devoted to serving the people and taking initiative. 5Reads6.2Score—14d adds
- 30 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
- 31 Officialdom: A Reborn Playboy’s Ascent to the Top 官场：纨绔重生跨越巅峰 [Reborn + officialdom + political struggles + economic development + patriotism] A spoiled young heir weathered a lifetime of setbacks. Reborn, he used his foresight to lead his family out of hardship. In finance, he guided his brothers to sweep all before them. In politics, he dodged one open and covert attack after another. In the economy, he selflessly served his country and its people. Follow Li Linxuan through the heart-pounding world of officialdom as he devotes his passion to millions of 692Reads7.3Score—14d adds
- 32 The Road to Officialdom: Starting at the Grassroots 官道：从基层做起 [Officialdom + Power + Romance + Workplace] Once you figure out how the system works, it’s like activating a cheat code. It’s an exciting ride from the start. This realistic novel about officialdom follows Lin Yaodong’s step-by-step rise from the grassroots to the heights of power. 28Reads—Score—14d adds
- 33 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
- 34 Climbing the Official Ladder: From Assistant to the Finance Bureau Director 官梯：从财政局局长助理开始 A new novel from the author of Officially, an old hand. Everyone is welcome to come read it. Thank you for your support! Your support motivates me to write, and I’ll do my best to make every story a good one! 119Reads—Score11714d adds
- 35 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
- 36 The Road Through Officialdom 宦路 The character for “official” has two mouths: if they say you're capable, then you're capable; if they say you're not, then you're not! The political arena is full of deceit and scheming, and one wrong step can leave you shattered. Zhou Yang knows this all too well. With no powerful backers, no connections, and no money, how can he survive? He has no choice but to keep going. He works hard and fights on, rising step by step to a position of power... 8.4kReads9.0Score85614d adds
- 37 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
- 38 The Pinnacle of Power: Breaking the Deadlock in Yuanshan Town 权力巅峰：从远山镇破局开始 What backing could a nobody possibly have? When he's driven into a corner, that's the strongest backing of all! His bright future is stolen from him, his former lover turns her back on him, and just as his political career begins in Yuanshan Town, he falls into one trap after another laid by petty schemers. Everyone thinks he'll sink without a trace, never realizing that desperation is his greatest trump card. Caught in the turmoil of local politics, Wang Hao keeps his strength hidden and plays 382Reads6.1Score14714d adds
- 39 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
- 40 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? 2.5kReads8.8Score22214d adds
- 41 Turning Gold into Dust 点金成土 Lin Weimin, a Peking University graduate, arrives in Qingshi County, the poorest county in the province, as a selected government trainee. On his first day, nobody thinks much of this idealistic young scholar. He is assigned to manage archives and energy conservation. In a county tangled up in webs of personal connections, anyone who doesn't know the rules won't last three episodes. In a year, he goes from a marginal department to the core decision-making circle. Using rules set down in black an 46Reads7.2Score—14d adds
- 42 Reborn: From Live-in Son-in-Law to Ruler of the World 重生从赘婿到权倾天下 Cheng Li, a poor-born young man, is reborn on the day his life takes a decisive turn. Faced with an offer of a contractual marriage from the cool and beautiful senior student Liu Xu, he signs without hesitation. In this life, he casts aside pointless pride, relying on the Liu family’s influence while staying true to himself. He starts out in one of the poorest townships in western Hunan. Building roads, developing cities, alleviating poverty, and breaking through deadlocks, he stands firm agains 30.8kReads7.6Score3k14d adds
- 43 A Fresh Start in Officialdom: From Provincial Government Bigwig to Grassroots Clerk 官道重来：从省府高官到基层科员 After thirty years of ups and downs in officialdom, one sudden fall was enough to show him that the ground beneath his feet was nothing but a cliff. Chen Li returns with the perspective and memories of a senior provincial official to the starting point of his career: a poor, isolated township at the grassroots level. Here, he faces deeply entrenched local powers, long-standing hardships that seem impossible to resolve, and the fateful trap that dragged him into the mire in his previous life. Eve 62Reads—Score—14d adds
- 44 The Transferred Soldier King Marries in a Flash During College 转业兵王大学期间闪电结婚 Bai Yitu never expected that after returning to campus, he would be drawn by some mysterious force into one maelstrom after another. To pay for his father's medical treatment, he gave up his first chance at marriage. Then he unexpectedly uncovered the truth behind a college classmate's car accident. The shocking collusion between officials and businesspeople for illicit profits pushed him, against his will, to change everything. From passing the civil service exam for a provincial department to 49Reads—Score—14d adds
- 45 A Path to Office from Humble Beginnings 寒门仕途 A passionate young man from a humble family, bold and fearless. Reform means reshaping the existing distribution of interests, and is often accompanied by conflict and sacrifice. After graduating from university, Lin Fangzheng starts with a tourism development project in Shantang Village. Navigating a harsh and complicated web of competing interests, he treads carefully along a righteous path fraught with danger… 172Reads9.1Score—14d adds
- 46 Don’t Let Gains and Losses Divide Us in the Middle 莫以升沉中路分 Lu You traveled a thousand miles to Yongning City just to reunite with his girlfriend, only to be betrayed in the cruelest way. He turned his grief and anger into strength, vowing to prove himself. As he fought his way through Yongning’s officialdom, he repeatedly gained the support of influential benefactors and became a highly sought-after secretary to a city leader. On this new stage, he helped his leader seize four “golden keys” to development: developing the new city, upgrading industries, 8Reads—Score—14d adds
- 47 A Rich Second Generation at the Grassroots 富二代在基层 A rich second-generation heir joins the ranks of grassroots civil servants. Moving beyond the pursuit of material inheritance to focus on self-fulfillment and creating social value, he brings professionalism and innovative energy to grassroots work, challenges the one-dimensional narrative of entrenched class divisions, and shows that talented people from different backgrounds can move in both directions. 18Reads—Score—14d adds
- 48 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
- 49 The Ridgeline 山脊线 [How cruel is society? Look at how battered I am! How strong am I? Watch me rise smoothly through the ranks!] The grassroots front line is a crucible that refines the strong, a gilded stage for the average, and a sinkhole that eats away at the weak. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 50 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
