Novels like Back to 1997: Starting Out as a Small-Town Writer
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as Back to 1997: Starting Out as a Small-Town Writer, best match first.
- 51 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 55Reads—Score—14d adds
- 52 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. 8Reads—Score—14d adds
- 53 The Pinnacle of Power: Secretary Lin Is Desperate to Make a Name for Himself 权力巅峰：林书记他太想出名了 [(System + Officialdom + Culture and Tourism = Western Development) × (No Female Lead) × (Invincible Protagonist Misunderstood as a Great Figure + Beloved by His Male Colleagues = Lighthearted Fun) = Positive Energy] As ordinary people, all anyone asks for is food, clothing, housing, and transportation. These are the four great burdens of life, the foundation of people's livelihoods. Those in government bear their own responsibilities: healthcare, education, housing, and elder care. These, too, 286Reads6.5Score—14d adds
- 54 From Country Bumpkin to Community Party Secretary 从乡巴佬到社区书记 My new work is here! You’re welcome to check it out on Tomato Novel. I hope you enjoy it. Your support is what motivates me to write, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 55 You Told Me to Take the Fall, but I Created a Trillion-Yuan Market Cap 让你去背锅，你居然创造万亿市值 Nanzhou Investment Co., a company controlled by the Nanzhou State-Owned Assets Commission, is on the verge of bankruptcy. Huo Zheng, then deputy section chief in the Commission’s Investment Department, is ordered to take the fall and appointed chairman and general manager of Nanzhou Investment. Faced with a company saddled with staggering losses and hundreds of millions in debt, Huo Zheng despairs and is ready to lie flat. But there’s a way out. Huo Zheng unexpectedly discovers that his spare ph 39Reads8.9Score—14d adds
- 56 In the Name of the People: I’m in Handong, Call Me the Chinese Incubus 名义：人在汉东，请叫我中式魅魔 After transmigrating as Liang Qunfeng’s eldest son, Liang Wenyi, and weathering countless trials, he rides the tide of events to replace Liu Changsheng and return to Handong! He calls them out one by one! Sha Ruijin, just because you can’t get something done, does that mean nobody else can? Li Dakang, when things go well, you take the credit, but when trouble strikes, you blame someone else? Gao Yuliang, a courtesan raised by a businessman, and you marry her and treasure her like a jewel? You’ve 11.5kReads8.0Score40614d adds
- 57 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
- 58 The Art of Power in Officialdom 权术官途 Zhao Qianlong, a man from humble beginnings with a heart for serving the people, enters public service. Watch as he charges headlong through every obstacle and carves out a path to success. 2.4kReads8.9Score28114d adds
- 59 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 24.5kReads8.1Score2.3k14d adds
- 60 In the Name of the People: Rising from Han University 名义：从汉大崛起 They are both talented young men from poor families. After being reborn, Lu An becomes Qi Tongwei's roommate in the lower bunk, as well as the most prized student of Han University Law School director Gao Yuliang... With memories of his previous life, Lu An is determined to change his good friend Qi Tongwei's fate. Years later, Lu An arrives in Handong by parachute, ready to begin his legend! 762Reads—Score—14d adds
- 61 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
- 62 Reborn as Director Qi: My Wife Is Zhong Xia'ai, and I'm Racing to the Top 重生祁厅，老婆钟小艾，狂飙进部 [No System + multiple TV universes + political intrigue + ruthless decisiveness + winner takes all + retirement] 1988. Just as Hou Liangping, Zhong Xiaolan, Chen Hai, and the others are about to enter Handong University, Qi Tongwei is reborn. The first thing he does is win over Zhong Xiaolan, who seems utterly unremarkable to everyone around him at this point. Hou Liangping: “Senior, given your age, can Xiaolan really be happy with you? An old bull eating young grass doesn't sound too good!” Zho 110Reads9.4Score—14d adds
- 63 Reborn Gao Yuliang: Getting Younger With Every Year 重生高育良：越活越年青 [In the Name of the People]+ [The Knockout]+ [Gao Yuliang] After being reborn, Gao Yuliang finds himself getting younger by the day, while his political career begins to soar. He reclines in a beauty's lap and rules the world when he wakes. 20Reads8.7Score—14d adds
- 64 A Fortunate Rise in Officialdom 官运升通 A son of a farming family rises through sheer perseverance and an indomitable spirit, reaching heights that others can scarcely imagine. 892Reads8.9Score10814d adds
- 65 The All-Seeing Eye 天眼人生 Born into a prestigious family, he was accidentally separated from his loved ones as a child. A twist of fate led him to be adopted by a reclusive master, who taught him a miraculous third-eye technique! While at university, he started a business and amassed an enormous fortune. After reuniting with his family, he embarked on a career in politics! Starting at the grassroots level, he fought corruption and took down crime syndicates, eventually rising to the highest ranks. His legendary journey i 534Reads8.8Score10114d adds
- 66 Official Fortune: I Can See Other People's Life Scripts 官财：我能查看别人的人生剧本 My new story is here! You can read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you’ll enjoy it. Your support inspires me to write, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! 1.7kReads8.6Score13014d adds
- 67 Spring Mud Ballad: My Noble Son-in-Law Knows Nothing of Perfume 春泥词：贵婿不识调香娘 (Historical Romance + Strong Female Lead + The Hero Chases His Wife After Losing Her + Second Male Lead Wins + Feel-Good Story, a scent genius orphan × a marquis’s heir who has lost his sense of smell × the richest man in Jiangnan) After accidentally transmigrating into a book, I spent ten years as his shadow. On his wedding night, I left him a scent called “Spring Mud’s Ashes,” then became a master of imperial commerce, someone far beyond his reach. It took me ten years to make him the capital’ 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 68 In the Name of the People: Reborn as Gao Yuliang, the Lantern Bearer! 名义，重生之我是提灯人高育良！ Gao Yuliang is reborn, back in a time before Sha Ruijin arrives, when Handong's future is still uncertain. This time, Gao Yuliang puts aside his bookish idealism. Using the advantage of being reborn, he plans ahead: not only will he stand up to Sha Ruijin, he will also help Qi Tongwei rise to a ministerial post! Years later, Gao Yuliang stands holding a lantern, looking back on the past and reflecting: If Secretary Liang hadn't picked me, I'd still be teaching and educating students at Handong U 6kReads6.5Score26714d adds
- 69 Officialdom: Making Mistake After Mistake, Yet Rising at Lightning Speed 官场：处处失误，火速进步 My new work is out! You can read my stories on Tomato Novel. I hope you'll enjoy them. Your support inspires me to write, and I'll do my best to tell every story well! 743Reads7.0Score10314d adds
- 70 In the Name of the People: Back in Handong! Monkey, Prepare to Die! 名义：重回汉东！请猴子赴死！ With a single gunshot, Qi Tongwei is reborn with the ability to hear people's inner thoughts! In this life, he knows the plot inside out and can see what's coming! Determined not to repeat his past mistakes and take his own life at Lone Eagle Ridge, he resolutely leaves Handong to seek his fortune in a vast new world! Ten years pass in the blink of an eye, and he now stands proudly at the top. When a mission brings him back to Handong under the radar, the three special operations brigades under 5.2kReads6.5Score17914d adds
- 71 A Little Immortal in the Officialdom 小神仙混官场 My new work is out! You can read it on Tomato Novels. I hope you enjoy it. Your support is my motivation to write, and I will strive to tell every story well! 647Reads8.6Score16814d adds
- 72 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 320Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 73 I Reported My Father-in-Law, the Department Chief, and He Turned Around and Gave Me a Sword of Justice 举报厅长岳父他反手给我尚方宝剑 [Ding! You have received an S-rank chain mission: The Rules of Survival in Officialdom!] Mission One: Win over your icy beauty of a fiancée, Qin Wanqing. Mission Two: Persuade your immediate superior and father-in-law, Qin Fang, to support you. Mission Three: Take down every corrupt official standing in your way. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 74 The Pinnacle of Power: Capital-Circle Bigwigs Help Me Rise to the Top 权力巅峰：京圈大佬助我青云直上 [Everyday Life + One Heroine + A veteran author with ten million words to his name who never leaves a story unfinished] Lin Xuemin had poured his heart into planning his wedding, only to catch his fiancée cheating on him. Heartbroken, he cut ties with her. Just then, his beloved school beauty, the one who had always been in his heart, appeared and offered him help. From then on, Lin Xuemin used his intelligence and perseverance to rise steadily through the business world. Those who had once look 9.1kReads8.6Score88114d adds
- 75 You’re Talking About Unwritten Rules? Sorry, I’m the Law! 你讲潜规则？抱歉，我就是天条！ The good news: I was reborn, and I got a golden finger called the [Public Order Scales] that can uphold the rules. The bad news: I can't turn the thing off, and it doesn't care who you are! Scenario one: My boss wants me to take the fall. Me: "Under Article 54 of the Civil Servant Law, I refuse to carry out a decision that is clearly illegal." Result: I was publicly criticized for "lacking a sense of the bigger picture and a spirit of dedication." Everyone in the office: "Is this new guy an idio 58Reads—Score—14d adds
- 76 My Boss Told Me to Be Flexible. Is That a Hint to Break the Law? 领导让我灵活点这是暗示我违法吗 In the End of the Dharma Age, the officialdom is a cultivation ground, and rules themselves are magical power! Newcomer Lin Zhengtian joins the subdistrict office and awakens the one-of-a-kind [Body of the Principle of Law]! He discovers that correcting violations can gather [Righteous Qi of the Principle of Law] and raise his own level of cultivation! Correct a coworker slacking off → Righteous Qi of the Principle of Law +1, [Aura of Intimidation] takes shape, and old hands tremble at the sight 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 77 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 51Reads—Score—14d adds
- 78 The Officialdom: Starting as the Top Provincial Exam Candidate 官道：从省考第一开始 If you don't know Ning Xinyuan when taking the civil service exam, then even calling yourself a hero is pointless! For people of the Eastern Continent, taking the civil service exam is an obsession! Better a government job paying 3,000 a month than a non-government job paying over 10,000! Ning Xinyuan lands a position at a major government agency in one shot, then rises rapidly through the ranks. As an official, he keeps the people close to his heart and never forgets his purpose, living out sto 96.2kReads8.0Score8.9k14d adds
- 79 You Asked Him to Fish for Information, So How Did You Make the Director Lose It? 让你探口风，你把局长问崩溃了？ Ding! You have entered the high-risk workplace instance, The City Hall Chronicles. Beginner missions triggered: [Polish the Report]: At the deputy division chief’s hint, show off your “people skills.” [Gather Intelligence]: “Ferret out” secrets from the ferocious Tax Bureau. [Take the Fall]: Shoulder the fury of the media and your superiors on behalf of the entire department. My name is Jiang Che, a genius who can only understand the world literally. Faced with these challenges, I choose to car —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 80 The Pinnacle of Power: Starting as the Secretary to a County Magistrate 权力巅峰：从女县长秘书开始 [Political Drama + No NTR + Lighthearted Style] It's hard for an honest person to thrive in politics. When the rules work in your favor, emphasize the rules. When morality works in your favor, emphasize morality. When neither helps, muddy the waters. This is the story of Ji Feng, carefully advancing step by step toward the pinnacle of power. 265Reads9.2Score10314d adds
- 81 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
- 82 Reborn in Politics: From Townships to the Pinnacle of Power 重生官场：从乡镇基层到权力巅峰 [Reborn in the Political Arena + Grassroots Township Civil Servant + A Chance Encounter Saves a Beauty + Secretary + Standing Up for the People + Rapid Rise to Success + Pinnacle of Power + Claiming the Throne] The road to office is hard, harder than climbing to heaven... On a path tangled with money, power, and sex, Wu Tianze, reborn into a second life, cuts through every obstacle. He takes on the powerful and battles capital, never abandoning his principles or putting anything before the peopl 89Reads9.0Score—14d adds
- 83 In the Political World, I Can Hear Other People's Thoughts 官场，我能听见别人的心声 The Officialdom Trilogy. Following The Officialdom: Reborn in 2002 and The Officialdom: My Biological Father Is a Big Shot, this is "Jiu Zong's" third novel about life in government. Read with confidence, and to avoid losing your place, readers are encouraged to add it to their favorites. Qin Yu's soul transmigrates into a parallel world, taking over the body of a young man who is also named Qin Yu. He also awakens a supernatural ability that lets him hear other people's inner thoughts. 25.1kReads8.3Score2.7k14d adds
- 84 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 553Reads—Score10314d adds
- 85 Why Go to All That Trouble? Wouldn’t It Be Better to Transmigrate as a Leader? 费那劲干啥，直接穿成领导不香吗 A note: The protagonist is a spineless, inexperienced shut-in, not a hero who sleeps among beauties and wakes with the world in his hands. A groveling nobody scraping by on dirt must gradually transform into a soaring roc, rising through the heavens and stirring up the winds and clouds. That kind of change takes time. After being heartlessly abandoned, the groveling nobody transmigrates into a leader in the central district of a provincial capital and enters the heart of power. He is nervous, ye 5.6kReads8.5Score27614d adds
- 86 The Hidden Official 官藏 A hundred thousand wildflowers, like a dream; one heart as pure as ice in a jade flask. How will Ye Sansheng soar through the clouds, ride the wind and waves, and become the brother who cuts through every obstacle? 2.3kReads9.0Score26614d adds
- 87 True Love in the Halls of Power 官场有真情 Smack! A loud slap. I covered my cheek and stared, stunned, at the impossibly handsome man in front of me. Sharp brows, bright eyes, abs faintly visible, broad shoulders and a narrow waist. At that moment, he was covering his lower half with a quilt and glaring at me furiously. Fuzzy images flashed through my mind: a bar, heartbreak, drinking to drown my sorrows. And then... Holy crap, what a score! “Miss, let me explain!” he said nervously. I tried to suppress the grin tugging at my lips and p 226Reads—Score—14d adds
- 88 I'm as Upright as They Come. Liangping and Jinzi, Neither of You Can Match Me 我根正苗红，亮平金子你们都不行 Liang Sheng transmigrates into his counterpart in a parallel world, becoming the son of Liang Sanxi, a decorated hero. His uncle is Zhao Mengsheng, and somehow he has a whole bunch of uncles besides? But things aren't that simple. This world has Yimeng and Jingzhou, as well as the Gao family of Jinghai and Uncle Tai. Next door is the Gao family of Luteng City, and there's even Uncle Dong of Tazhai… This world is going to be a lot of fun! From the start, he meets Gao Qilan and brings her into 832Reads5.7Score11114d adds
- 89 In the Name of the People: Little Secretary, Master of Social Intrigue 名义：小秘书，玩转人情世故 [Secretary to the Organization Department Head] When the mother is weak, her children become merchants; when the father is powerful, his children become ministers. A prestigious clan stays rooted in its ancestral home; the poor leave for distant lands. The workplace isn’t about fighting and killing. It’s about human relationships and navigating the ways of the world! 802Reads—Score—14d adds
- 90 You Want Me to Take the Fall to Get Promoted? I'll Make You Turn Yourself In! 让你背锅转正？我反手送你自首！ Reborn, Lin Ke is forced to take the fall and sign off on fake accounts? [Photographic memory] activated! [Logical search] online! In the blink of an eye, thirty-six major flaws, seven logical holes, and three signs of tampering are laid bare! “Section Chief, is this 200,000-yuan ‘air-conditioning repair fee’ made of gold?” (sneers) He pulls out a voice recorder, and the corrupt section chief collapses in terror on the spot! They think the archives room is a dead-end posting? No, it’s my “arsena 61Reads—Score—14d adds
- 91 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 16Reads—Score—14d adds
- 92 Reborn in 2006: Taking on the World with the Law 重生06，我靠法律硬刚全世界 Before he was reborn, he was a legal elite who died suddenly. Afterward, he became Su Zheng, the bookworm mocked by everyone at a township judicial office in 2006. His mind contains a [Rule of Law Code] that lets him instantly look up every legal provision. However... In a grassroots workplace where personal favors matter more than the law, this golden finger has become a source of “trouble”! —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 93 Hao Yunlai in the Political Arena 官场郝运来 [Powerful political fantasy, mind games, political intrigue, multiple heroines] Some characters and settings draw on the author's own experiences, recreated in an appropriate way for readers. Stick with it and every chapter will deliver. See how the protagonist, Hao Yunlai, lucks his way through officialdom... 13.1kReads8.0Score1.5k14d adds
- 94 The Path to Officialdom: A Swift Rise to the Top 官途之青云直上 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! 2.8kReads7.0Score10114d adds
- 95 In the Name of the People: My Rules Are the Rules! 名义：我的规矩才是规矩！ As someone who had transmigrated, Zhao Nianlai had planned to coast through life, enjoying the privileges of his illustrious family background. But his family wouldn't allow it. Fine, then. If that's how it is, he'll go out and make his way in this world. 8.1kReads7.0Score23414d adds
- 96 I'm Reborn, So I Might as Well Take the Civil Service Exam 都重生了，去考公吧 The thirty-year-old protagonist wakes up one day to find himself back on the eve of his college graduation. In his previous life, he struggled along for eight years and barely made enough to get by. Now that he has a chance to change his fate, he decides to take the civil service exam, seeking a stable career serving the people. This story is mainly about an ordinary person's career in public service. 2.7kReads8.6Score10714d adds
- 97 The Star Employee 首席红人 Ye Xingsheng was the education bureau’s undisputed “model worker.” He was diligent and had an impressive track record, yet his superiors never took a liking to him. When the bureau built apartments for its employees, Ye went to offer a gift to Zhang Zimei, the beautiful deputy director, hoping to secure a unit. But he hadn’t expected her to be drunk, or to be home alone. He never imagined that after this visit, his life would change completely… 3.7kReads8.2Score41714d adds
- 98 The Pinnacle of Power: Starting as a Central Government Selection Cadre 权力之巅：从中央选调生开始 A political novel about an authentic Central Government selection-program official steadily climbing to the pinnacle of power. No System, no mindless wish fulfillment, no stupid decisions, and only one female lead. (If you want to reach the top, you can't fool around with women.) This book is about cautious political maneuvering and officialdom culture. Readers who are genuinely interested are welcome to join the discussion. Good suggestions may be incorporated into the story. Mindless haters, s 732Reads9.3Score10014d adds
- 99 In the Name of Justice: Zhao Dehan Wants to Be a Good Official 名义赵德汉：我要做好官 After failing the graduate school and civil service exams, Zhao Han transmigrates into the TV drama In the Name of the People, becoming Zhao Dehan, a minor official who has amassed a vast fortune through corruption. In just a few days, Hou Liangping will come to search his home. “Oh my God! The original owner was the one who did wrong. What’s an innocent transmigrator like me supposed to do? I swear: if I can get through this, I’ll become a good official and truly live up to the name of the peop 3.4kReads7.1Score16914d adds
- 100 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! 111Reads—Score11714d adds
