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.
- 151 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. 17Reads—Score1414d adds
- 152 Reborn on the Road to Power 重生之官道 [Not Wish Fulfillment + No Mindless Protagonist + Everyday Life + Wits and Strategy] Enter at your own risk To most people, officialdom looks calm on the surface, yet beneath it currents run deep, full of deception and intrigue. Is it a web of power and influence, or a battle between black and white? The truth is, choosing the right path matters more than working hard! In his previous life, Wang Ze was conscientious and responsible, but lacked the heart of a strong man. Timid and afraid to make 810Reads6.8Score10414d adds
- 153 Reborn in 1992: The Red Road 重生92红色征途 He spent his previous life in poverty. Now that he has a chance to live again, he is determined to change his fate and rewrite the heavens. The story follows three generations of one family across a thousand years, from Earth to Mars and beyond, through the colonization of Mars and the rebuilding of Earth. A red journey spanning a thousand years! 1.3kReads—Score—14d adds
- 154 The Mind of an Official 官念 There are ten ranks in the official hierarchy. The higher the position, the greater the power. Wu Youliang starts his political career as a lowly village official without an official post, transforming from a passionate young college student into a shrewd veteran who has weathered the ups and downs of political life. After rising to a high position, he retires with honor. At last, he comes to understand the true nature of power. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 155 The Road to Power: A Nobody's Rise to the Top 官道：小人物的权势巅峰 You have to give it your all at least once to earn the right, someday in the future, to raise a glass of cheap wine to the self who refused to settle for an ordinary life! Li Tao, a subordinate, and his superior Bai Yulu support each other through the political arena, cutting through every obstacle as they climb together to the pinnacle of power!!! 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 156 The Ups and Downs of Officialdom: It All Began When a Leader Jumped from a Building 宦海沉浮：从领导跳楼开始 Zhu Tianyu has faced setbacks for half his life. Rumors about his girlfriend have set tongues wagging, and people keep eyeing the company under his management. With one obstacle after another in this difficult world, watch as he turns the tide and defeats his rivals! 11Reads—Score—14d adds
- 157 Reborn: In This Life, I Will Never Coexist with Evil 重生：这一世我与罪恶不共戴天 Twenty years ago, a hospital building under construction at the People’s Hospital in Guangming District, Nandu City, collapsed. Eleven people died and more than twenty were seriously injured. Lin Yue, the person in charge, was framed by his wife and wrongfully imprisoned. Twenty years later, Lin Yue was released after serving his sentence. The moment he stepped out of prison, a speeding Mercedes struck him, sending him back to 2003. Reborn, Lin Yue is determined to take revenge. Not only will he 31Reads7.3Score—14d adds
- 158 After My Divorce, I Rose Through the Ranks in Government 离婚后，我在官场一路开挂 The higher-ups send a special task force to investigate Luming County. After the deputy county magistrate mysteriously dies by suicide, Qin Chuan, a secretary in the Government Office’s secretarial section, loses his patron. Targeted by his superiors and hit by marital troubles, he finds himself surrounded by danger. Outnumbered and outmatched, how will he turn the tables? 11.8kReads6.6Score1.9k14d adds
- 159 The Art of Official Strategy 官策有术 This novel mainly chronicles the political maneuvering in Handong Province. Its protagonist is Hou Bing, and it focuses on his journey from a poor county all the way to the pinnacle of the political world. This is the painstaking masterpiece of a veteran political novel author! Guaranteed to be exciting, guaranteed to be top quality! 350Reads6.8Score3414d adds
- 160 A Book by Xingbao 星宝的一本书 My new work is out! You can read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you’ll enjoy it. Your support motivates me to write, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! 30Reads8.6Score—14d adds
- 161 Reborn: An Ordinary Career in Government 重生之平凡官路 Xu Wen was once a minor deputy section-level official, an ordinary grassroots worker with no connections. He was fixated on getting promoted, but never managed to achieve it. Then he suddenly returned to the day he first joined the workforce. Determined to live well and make up for his past regrets, he never expected that, little by little, he would rise to the heights he had once admired from afar. —Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 162 A Land of Splendor 繁华满地 What is the political arena? An Eden for those in power? Or a battlefield for those who ride the waves? Some say it’s a game of power, full of deceit and intrigue; Others say it’s a test of human nature, riddled with scheming at every turn! Han Jiang thinks it’s neither. The political arena is a battle between black and white, good and evil! In his previous life, Han Jiang was a special forces soldier who fell victim to a villain’s scheme. In this life, he will root out corruption and restore ju —Reads8.5Score—14d adds
- 163 Forged in Adversity: Starting from Zero 逆境铸金：从零开始 Poxiao Village was where Zhang Xiaoqiang's dreams took flight. This novel tells the story of how an ordinary college-graduate village official gradually grew into a pioneer of reform, using his wisdom and courage to write an extraordinary chapter in his life. Zhang Xiaoqiang is an idealistic young man, brimming with passion and deeply devoted to his hometown. From his start as a college-graduate village official, he becomes a township head, rises to deputy head of the county Party committee's O —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 164 A Wild Ride Through Officialdom: Starting with a Summons for Investigation 官道狂飙：从被带走调查开始 Liu Sheyu, deputy director of the Pinghu County Party Committee Office and secretary to the county Party secretary, is taken away for investigation. His girlfriend’s entire family abandons him, and his best friend betrays him. But against all odds, he turns the tables, and from then on, there’s no stopping him! 679Reads7.3Score12414d adds
- 165 Reborn: A New Path to Power 重生之官路新途 After a night of drinking, the head of the city’s Development and Reform Bureau suffers a sudden heart attack, is reborn, and transmigrates to 1999. His new identity, Lei Yu, is an ordinary secretary in a county government. When his superior is placed under investigation, Lei Yu is implicated and banished to a dead-end job in the archives bureau. He is also framed through a conspiracy, leading the police and disciplinary commission to open a case against him. His opportunistic girlfriend leaves, 2.4kReads7.1Score13714d adds
- 166 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
- 167 A Wrong Turn on the Road to Office 官路歧途 Through scheming, currying favor, maneuvering, opportunity, and luck, Tong Xilin rises step by step from a low-level office clerk to a leading official. As his position and power grow, his desires gradually corrupt him, sending him down the criminal path of graft and corruption, until the full force of the law finally catches up with him. Read A Crooked Road to Office and follow the downfall of a corrupt official. 19Reads—Score—14d adds
- 168 Tales of Officialdom in Jinlin 晋林官宦风云录 Amid the political turmoil of Jinlin County, a small fifth-tier city, County Party Secretary Peng Shusheng was once a pioneer of reform, but died on the eve of his promotion. His secretary, Lu Suiyuan, had been his right-hand man. He resolutely gave up the chance to transfer to the provincial capital and remained in this challenging city. As he carries forward Secretary Peng’s unfinished work, Lu Suiyuan must not only face the countless traps laid by local interest groups, but also resist the co 88Reads—Score—14d adds
- 169 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
- 170 Loving You With All I've Got 拼尽全力爱着你 After graduating from graduate school, Hao Qiang found himself unable to get a job because his field of study was so obscure. He went to work at a construction site instead, but the foreman ran off with the money. Determined to get his wages back, Hao Qiang stood his ground at the unfinished building. There, he came upon a gang of thugs kidnapping a woman. He risked his life to save her, only to be beaten to the ground by the criminals... A moving, heartbreaking story... 17Reads—Score—14d adds
- 171 Mission Accomplished 不辱使命 After a failed romance, he went in a fit of pique to a town no one wanted to live in. An unexpected disaster propelled him to the top through a twist of fate, and an unforeseen reunion changed his destiny forever. 103Reads9.0Score—14d adds
- 172 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
- 173 Upright and Righteous, I Stand Between Heaven and Earth 一身正气立天地 On the chessboard of power, the word “official” is like a subtle game piece, its two mouths concealing endless wisdom and mystery. One mouth represents the art of speech: an official must be eloquent, choosing every word with care and using wisdom to guide public opinion. The other represents the art of socializing, building connections over food and drink. But remember, never cross the line or take a single cent of the people's hard-earned money. These meals are not merely a matter of culture, —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 174 Reborn, I Choose to Get a Stable Job and Strive 重生后我选择上岸拼搏 Reborn, make money, get into government. Change the things you can’t stand, like introducing policies to protect consumers in the new-energy vehicle industry and abolishing the presale system for real estate. With powerful figures backing him, he is reborn in 2002 and starts making money, laying out the perfect plan. He earns his doctorate in 2007 at the age of 21, then passes the civil service selection exam and enters politics. In 2008, he becomes a deputy department-level official. In 2009, a 940Reads6.2Score—14d adds
- 175 The Pinnacle of Political Power 官途巅峰 Three years ago, he was a low-ranking county government clerk, but he got caught up in a corruption case and saw his future destroyed. Now he’s determined to take control of his own fate and stir up storms across the land! 254Reads—Score—14d adds
- 176 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
- 177 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
- 178 Political Rivalries: A Grassroots Rise to Power 官场争锋之草根逆袭 New to officialdom, Lu Zhaoyuan carries lofty ideals, only to be battered at every turn. After enduring hardship, he glimpses the logic behind power: “Only those who truly serve the people can go far!” Standing on the precipice between conscience and desire, what choice will he make? 6.4kReads7.9Score52414d adds
- 179 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
- 180 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
- 181 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
- 182 The Road to Office for the Poor, Book 2: The Art of Power 寒门官路2:权变 This is the second installment of the novel A Humble Beginning, Rising to the Top. Its audio edition is titled The Humble Official's Road. Secretly prepared by the military district and local government, an unprecedented program to transform elite soldiers into political officials is quietly underway. Tang Lin, a special forces king from a poor family, is No. 001 among the first batch of soldiers transferred to government posts. In just three years, he rises to a high-ranking position. Confro 733Reads6.9Score10414d adds
- 183 Reborn to a Career in Officialdom 重生之官运 Wu Zhuoran, a university graduate selected for a government post with no connections to rely on, stumbles into politics by chance. With his intelligence and courage, and through tireless effort, he makes like-minded friends, resists temptation, and challenges and defeats every obstacle in his way, step by step reaching the pinnacle of his political career and his life... 91Reads6.3Score—14d adds
- 184 A Most Extraordinary Path to Power 非常权途 Behind closed doors, one gripping power struggle after another is quietly unfolding in the world of politics. Sun Zhewen, a low-ranking civil servant whose talents had gone unrecognized, saw everything change after meeting his beautiful superior. He had thought he was destined to be a nobody, but his outstanding abilities, keen political instincts, and knack for leveraging others' influence helped him steadily climb the career ladder. Yet as his position rose, the temptations of power followed c 3.9kReads8.4Score33514d adds
- 185 Ride the Wind and Break the Waves 乘风破浪 At the lowest point in his life, Xue Jialiang has lost all hope. Then a mysterious figure appears, and his fate takes a turn for the better. He rapidly bounces back, becoming a hot commodity… 1.2kReads8.5Score16014d adds
- 186 The Quest for the Throne 问鼎 Lin Hongbing never dreamed that one day he would be reborn in Xining County, the place that had ruined half his life and cost him twenty whole years. There, he meets once more the first love who had left him, and once again faces off against the enemy who had humiliated him in his previous life. In this turbulent golden age, Lin Hongbing uses his twenty-year advantage in foresight to plan every move and build alliances on all sides. Watch as he rises from humble beginnings, cultivates himself, p 678Reads6.2Score10114d adds
- 187 A Book by Little Octopus, the Great Artist 小章鱼大触手的一本书 [Government career drama + Not reborn + Powerful connections + Political power struggles + Phoenix man + Mild wish fulfillment] After years in the military, Lin Yuan was on the verge of a promotion when his good friend Xu Jianshan died unexpectedly in a car accident. Xu Jianshan had once led Linjiang County and earned the people's trust, yet his funeral was eerily quiet. After looking into it, Lin Yuan learned that before his death, Xu Jianshan had been under investigation by higher-ups over the 144Reads7.8Score10014d adds
- 188 A Comeback in Politics: I'm a Living Legend 官场的逆袭，我就是传奇 With no connections, he creates a miracle of promotion in officialdom. With no power, he tramples the arrogant young masters underfoot. With no financial backing, he can still spend money like water... Step by step, he rises to the top and becomes a legend in officialdom. 213Reads5.5Score—14d adds
- 189 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
- 190 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? 315Reads—Score—14d adds
- 191 A Clash of Power 权力对决 After someone else takes the position he earned at the Bureau of Construction, Ma Changtian follows his female superior to the countryside, where he begins a struggle against fate. Money, beauty, and the undercurrents of corruption test Ma Changtian as he fights his way upstream. Should he advance or retreat? A battle for life and death is drawing near... 36Reads8.8Score—14d adds
- 192 Officialdom: At the Provincial Party Compound, Advancing to the Final Round! 官场：省委大院，挺进决赛圈！ By the Mandate of Heaven, may he live long and prosper! Weng Qingyun is the male lead of this story. These eight Chinese characters carry the profound meaning of “divine right to rule.” Qinzhou Province is the capital of Greater Yue. Here, Weng Qingyun rises above countless life-and-death struggles, and becoming a generation-defining overlord is only a matter of time! Weng Qingyun has the pride and wildness of nobility in his blood. He has held important posts in towns, counties, and cities, usi —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 193 Catbait's 27th Book 猫饵第27本书 His patron is arrested, his sister-in-law is humiliated, his girlfriend betrays him, and petty people push him around. Lin Xiangdong faces his darkest hour from the start. Determined to change the lonely, frustrated life he led in his previous life, he decides to stop being timid and take the initiative, beginning by saving Fang Jie, his sister-in-law, from her tragic fate. This is the story of an ordinary man who rises step by step from the depths of power to reach the pinnacle of a political c 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 194 Reborn: Seeking Justice in the Political Arena 重生之宦海寻凶 He had once enjoyed a brilliant political career, with a smooth path to advancement, but was persecuted and framed as a corrupt official. He was thrown in prison and even lost his life. Reborn, he will personally kill his enemies and protect his family. Amid the shifting currents of officialdom, he will follow roughly the same path as in his previous life, expose the real culprit, and clear his name. In the political arena, he will use the advantages of being reborn to foresee the future, choose —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 195 Tides of the Political Arena 宦海沉浮 After more than twenty years as an official, Zhang Yanyu suddenly returned to the 1990s after an accident, carrying twenty years of historical memories. Would he be able to change the course of events? Watch as the family’s once-neglected, useless son gradually becomes its leading figure. Stay tuned! His sudden rise, however, made him a stumbling block to those whose official careers had once been smooth sailing. See how he cuts through every obstacle along the way. The tides of officialdom rise —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 196 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
- 197 A Long Prosperous Reign 长盛高歌 2kReads7.4Score20814d adds
- 198 The Road to Power Begins with a Disaster 权途，从一场灾难开始 A dam burst, and Yang Yi turned the tide against disaster. From that moment on, he began climbing step by step. Serving the people is the foundation of everything. See how he reaches the pinnacle in the name of the people. 12.1kReads8.0Score46314d adds
- 199 Reborn: Rising Through the Ranks 重生之官道逆袭 In 1998, Zhou Nian began his career as a township official. He was 22 that year, fresh out of school and assigned to Qingquan Town. The town’s deputy mayor, Zhao Zhigang, was very friendly toward him and often said, “Xiao Zhou, work with me. You’ve got a bright future.” Zhou Nian just smiled. He went to the villages when needed and got on with his work. He didn’t know why, but he always had a hunch that a heavy rainstorm would hit in a few months, so the levees needed to be reinforced in adva —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 200 Back on the Road to Office: Making Waves in Legal and Political Circles 重走官途之在政法圈风生水起 First, there are no melodramatic plots built around a reborn protagonist’s foreknowledge. The story closely reflects the realities of officialdom, with strong logic and a clear central plot. Second, it fills a gap in rebirth novels by exploring legal and political subject matter, offering an in-depth look at political maneuvering and rhetorical tactics from within the legal and political system. Third, it avoids the multiple-heroines trope. Most rebirth stories feature several heroines, which fe 382Reads5.5Score—14d adds
