Novels like Officialdom: Swimming Against the Tide
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as Officialdom: Swimming Against the Tide, best match first.
- 1 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
- 2 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
- 3 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
- 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 Deputy Secretary on Temporary Assignment 挂职副书记 Zhuang Xiaobo, vice chairman of the Writers' Association, arrives in Jiangcheng on a transfer order and takes up a deputy secretary post overseeing cultural projects. With nothing but his pen, he pries open a web of corruption. His scholar's cunning cuts to the bone. With no powerful backer, he relies on ink and paper to fight his way through... 144Reads—Score—14d adds
- 6 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
- 7 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
- 8 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
- 9 Officialdom: Rising Through the Ranks, a Female Leader Trains Me to Become a Party Secretary 官场：进部：女领导培养我当书记 There's a saying in political circles that people express in subtle terms. First, you have to be capable! Then, someone has to say you're capable! Finally, the person who says you're capable has to be capable too! The political arena is full of ups and downs and endless power struggles. Junhao has already risen to a fairly high rank. In the eyes of others, he's simply enjoying the shade beneath a powerful patron, having received an exceptional promotion after meeting a good boss. But after takin —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 10 A Book by Zhanfu 栈斧的一本书 Chen Yuanmin hit rock bottom, but he never gave up. Confident that life would span two hundred years, he vowed to ride the waves for three thousand miles. In the end, he reached the pinnacle of power. 49Reads6.4Score1214d adds
- 11 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
- 12 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
- 13 A Weathered Political Career 沧桑官途 Without attaching himself to power, and without using it to bully others, Gong Zheng unexpectedly embarked on a career in public service. Starting by taking the fall for the county Party secretary, he skillfully leveraged every opportunity and rose steadily through the ranks, while also experiencing the ups and downs of officialdom... 121Reads—Score—14d adds
- 14 Dropped into the Grassroots: From the Start, I'm Stuck with Ten Billion in Bad Debts? 空降基层，开局就背百亿烂账？ Chen Yuan, a "Beijing official," has just parachuted in as the top leader of Tushui District, only to find the government compound gates blocked by petitioners. A fiscal black hole worth tens of billions, unfinished projects scattered across the city, deeply entrenched local factions, and a calculating superior. Every move is deadly, and danger lurks at every turn! How will Chen Yuan, a newcomer, maneuver through the traps and temper himself into a blade aimed straight at the unwritten rules? Th 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 15 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
- 16 A Prodigy's Path to Power 天骄仕途 The world of officialdom is full of unseen clashes and schemes, ruthless enough to kill without spilling a drop of blood! It may look like flowers embroidered on brocade, but beneath the surface, it’s a pot boiling over a raging fire! Lu Mingyuan, a small-town exam grinder, rose from humble beginnings, enjoyed a meteoric career, took command of power, and improved people’s lives, composing a magnificent chapter for a new era! 8Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 17 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 9Reads—Score—14d adds
- 18 The Past of Power 权峰往事 This is a special kind of workplace, one filled with all the ambitions and aspirations, triumphs and dreams that men pursue... 3kReads8.2Score30014d adds
- 19 Reborn in 1988: A Small-Town Cadre's Defiance of Fate 重生1988小镇干部的逆天改命 In his previous life, Lin Chen’s life plunged into darkness after he was framed. Reborn, he faces the impoverished countryside and undercurrents of officialdom once more. Watch him use his past-life experience to navigate policy and people’s hearts; See how he rises from a suppressed newcomer at the grassroots level to a ruthless force stirring the tide of reform, forging a path to wealth and success in officialdom in the 1980s! —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 20 The Office Flower in the Sea of Power 权力官海厅里厅花 “If Wei Yan won't lower the Qin army's flag, then I, Laozi, won't let Diao Qingyun go either!” The sea of officialdom is full of ups and downs and endless rivalries. A minor official makes a big splash from the start, and a marriage alliance carries him straight to the pinnacle of power. The year is 2030, and the setting is Qinzhou Province. Wei Yan puts down roots in a prosperous region, while Diao Qingyun advances through the ranks. Together they form a pincer, facing an “utterly vicious” and —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 21 Book Three by the Sunless King 日不落大王的第3本书 —Reads—Score614d adds
- 22 The Grand Chess Game of Politics: I Am the Player 官场大棋局：我是执棋人 In his previous life, he had planned every move with care. Yet just one step from the pinnacle of power, an unseen hand shoved him into the abyss. His career came to a bitter end, and he died with regrets. Now, returned in a dream, he found himself back at the crossroads where he had graduated from college and faced a life-changing choice! Zhao Weimin, carrying decades of precise memories from the future and a lifetime's worth of political wisdom, calmly placed the first piece that would rewrite —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 23 The Ladder to the Azure Clouds 青云之梯 Liu Hongzhi had just arrived in Hongtu Township for work when a major upheaval struck: the township's entire leadership was implicated in a scandal. Amid this turbulent shift, Liu Zhicheng was also dragged into one fierce struggle after another, facing danger at every turn. One careless move could leave him dead and buried... A good official should serve the people and bring prosperity to the region. Staying true to one's principles is the only righteous path! 371Reads6.2Score—14d adds
- 24 I Turned Officialdom Upside Down, Starting with a Disciplinary Inspection Inquiry 从被纪委问询开始掀翻官场 Suspended, betrayed, and abandoned by his entire circle. Then, in the cold interrogation room of the Discipline Inspection Commission, he says, “If you want to live, prove it to me.” From then on, he holds the secrets and plays every move carefully, turning her from the woman interrogating him into someone who cannot live without him. 3.5kReads7.6Score22114d adds
- 25 The Uncrowned King 无冕之王 Jing Tao is reported during the public notice of his appointment as director. After his promotion falls through, his former leader makes a decision on his own and sends him to gain experience at the grassroots level. Under Jing Tao’s leadership, the community is reborn. Using his strengths, he actively takes part in the process of democratization and helps address a wide range of social issues, including housing, education, healthcare, elder care, and people’s livelihoods. He truly fulfills the 23Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 26 The Winds of Power: Rising from Obscurity 权路风云之微末起青云 Tian Feng starts out as a young man from humble beginnings, working his way up from the grassroots. He puts down roots in his job, tackles the public’s problems with care, works diligently, and treats people with sincerity. Through his ability and sense of responsibility, he grows step by step, achieving remarkable results in an ordinary position. He builds his life through hard work and rises from humble beginnings. Follow this ordinary young man as he stays grounded, honors his original purpos 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 27 The Pinnacle of Power in Officialdom 官场之权力巅峰 Ye Xingsheng is widely regarded by his colleagues as a model worker. He's diligent and hardworking, with an outstanding record, yet the leaders don't appreciate him. 22Reads5.5Score—14d adds
- 28 From Grassroots to the Summit: A Path to Success in Government 官途青云从基层到嵿峰 I, Wen Zhendong, was humiliated into becoming someone else's fall guy. From then on, my career soared, and with the support of the women in my life, I finally became the director of the Eighth Inspection and Supervision Office of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. Only then did I discover that being made the fall guy all those years ago had been a move in the game laid out for my life... 13Reads—Score—14d adds
- 29 Back to the 1990s: I Hold the Fate of the Political World in My Hands 重回90年代：我掌官场命脉 Su Xinghui is reborn more than twenty years in the past. Watch as he uses his talent, the knowledge he’s gained over those extra decades, and his emotional intelligence to reach the pinnacle of life and win the beauty of his dreams. 2.2kReads7.3Score19914d adds
- 30 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! 9.3kReads7.9Score95514d adds
- 31 Yu Nianfeng's Fourth Book 屿念风的第4本书 In his previous life, he was a wronged soul on a hospital bed at forty-eight: betrayed by his wife, framed by his enemies, and forced to take the fall for another man’s bastard child, he died full of bitterness. In this life, he was reborn twenty years earlier. Starting as an ordinary clerk at the county Discipline Inspection Commission, he advanced with careful planning and ruthless decisiveness. 1.1kReads6.9Score9714d adds
- 32 Reborn into the Political World 官途重生 In the intensive care unit, the indicator lights on the various machines blinked in the darkness. Lu Beichen lay in bed, barely breathing. His stomach cancer was terminal and had spread throughout his body. There was no hope of a cure. “She waited for you for ten years,” the old man said at last. “From that rainy night in Qingping to this hospital room. Ten years.” The monitor let out a continuous beep. Lu Beichen’s consciousness slowly faded, and one final thought crossed his mind: If he coul 315Reads6.5Score11414d adds
- 33 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 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 34 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
- 35 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
- 36 The Road to Office: Rising to the Top 官途：扶摇直上 Zhao Hengyu, a political prodigy who graduated from Jingda University, enters the whirlpool of officialdom after lying low for years. He maneuvers among superiors who smile while concealing daggers and subordinates harboring hidden ambitions, walking the line between loyalty and political intrigue. Every celebratory toast conceals a scheme, and every heart-to-heart conversation is riddled with traps. In this perilous maze of officialdom, he abandons conventional methods and breaks through with a 1.3kReads6.9Score10114d adds
- 37 A Fortuitous Journey in Politics: Rising Through the Ranks with My Powers of Perception 官路奇缘：我靠感知力步步高升 Liu Xuan, a township official, bravely rescues Wen Sijia, a wealthy heiress being harassed. He is left unconscious with serious injuries, and when he wakes, he accidentally overhears his longtime girlfriend and her best friend discussing how they plan to leave him, since he may be paralyzed and comes from a poor family. At his most desperate moment, Lan Xiaoya, an extraterrestrial life-form stranded on Earth, forms a symbiotic pact with him. She not only heals his body, but also grants him super 3Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 38 Officialdom: Refusing to Lie Flat 官场：拒绝躺平 Feeling ill at ease is simply part of life. The choices we make and the effort we put in are challenges we all have to face. A thirty-eight-year-old section chief in a government office is on the verge of taking the next step in his career when all sorts of unexpected troubles strike, changing everything around him… Will he give up and let everything fall apart, or refuse to lie flat? Join us as we follow He Zhe and see how he transforms himself, turns the tide, and becomes a cadre in the mold o 11.6kReads8.4Score97214d adds
- 39 The Secretarial Official's Rise 小秘官途 After being pushed aside, a junior secretary sets out on the path to rising to power... 229Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 40 A Book That Puts the Earth First 厚土为上的一本书 My new work is out! You can read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you enjoy it. Your support keeps me writing, and I'll do my best to tell every story well! 203Reads7.3Score—14d adds
- 41 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 258Reads5.8Score—14d adds
- 42 I Take Being an Official Seriously: Achievements 当官我是认真的之政绩 Rebirth + political intrigue + power struggles + urban life He came from 2017. After being reborn, he returned to 1997. After two years of honing his skills, he was promoted to Party secretary of a township. To rise smoothly through the political ranks, seniority, connections, ambition, and an impressive résumé are not enough. You also need achievements! What can someone with more than twenty years of foresight accomplish in politics? What dazzling achievements can a shrewd young official create 30Reads—Score—14d adds
- 43 The Unorthodox Sword on the Road to Officialdom 仕途之剑走偏锋 While others are scrambling to transfer into city government offices, he chooses to head down to the grassroots level, moving from the top to the bottom. In truth, he is taking this unconventional path to make himself stronger. This is a comeback story set in the world of politics. A man from humble beginnings relies on his own intelligence and courage to overcome obstacle after obstacle on his career path, ultimately becoming a talented young leader in charge of an entire region... 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 44 Transmigration: The Rise and Fall of Officialdom 穿越：宦海沉浮 There are many ways to change one’s fate. Su Zhe is a grassroots employee whose only dream is to own an apartment in the county seat, then marry and start a family. But the sea of officialdom is turbulent. From the day he set foot on this path, his life was destined to be anything but peaceful. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 45 Fast-Track Promotion 2: The Suspended Fish 火线提拔2悬鱼 (A pure political drama, with no System and no transmigration.) Ten years of ice water cannot extinguish a heart burning with passion! Born into poverty, Xia Xiang cares deeply for the people. Not long after taking office in Shazhou, he is confronted with a demolition crisis in Xihua District. As he investigates, Xia Xiang discovers that a vast abyss lies hidden behind the incident... Years later, people would say, "The skies stretch blue, the wilds stretch wide; Shazhou has its own red sun!" 7.5kReads8.9Score31214d adds
- 46 The Years of '92: Pressing On with My Father 九二岁月：伴父砥砺前行 Back in his childhood in 1992, Lin Chen watches helplessly as his honest, hardworking father is about to fall into a trap in the world of politics. In his previous life, his father was sabotaged by a schemer and missed out on a promotion, spending half his life at the grassroots level while the whole family endured poverty. Armed with memories of the future, Lin Chen becomes the strategist behind the scenes. He avoids traps, builds a record of achievements, and exposes conspiracies, paving his f 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 47 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
- 48 The Wind Rises: The Deer Call 大风起兮：呦呦鹿鸣 The Scales Tip Left, the People Turn Right Also known as "The Political Arena: Don't Mess with the Village Secretary" Ordered to take up a village post at his engagement banquet, he plans to build roads and help the villagers escape poverty, only to get caught up in the undercurrents of the political arena. He dares to talk back to leaders, take on the well-connected, and tackle the toughest challenges. Decisive and ruthless, he rises from a lowly village secretary to the very heart of power. 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 49 My Ex-Girlfriend Is Making Me Become a Government Official 前女友逼我去当官 “I never wanted to take the civil service exam or enter politics. My ex-girlfriend, Zhang Yating, pushed me into it. Without her, I would never have made it to where I am today. Truthfully, I've thanked her in my heart more than once. Without her persistence and the blows she dealt me, I would never have reached this position.” Those are the words the protagonist, Fang Chen, most wants to say. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 50 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
