Scheming for Advancement

Chen HengqingNanhai Publication Company · ChinaSep 2023

3.6

Word count: 334 words
Chapters: 2

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Summary

This is "Zuan Ying" (Careerism), by Chen Hengqing.

Editor's review

The very title of Careerism carries a sharp contemporary edge. Chen Hengqing cuts into the world of social connections with a solid, disciplined touch, laying bare the clinging, calculation, and exchange of favors that go on in human society, and pulling the act of "careerism" down from the plane of moral condemnation to be observed within concrete situations of daily life. The book does not rush to pass judgment; instead it lets readers feel for themselves the absurdity and helplessness in the characters' advances and retreats. The language is restrained and the pacing steady, with craft showing in the details. It suits slow reading in quiet hours, with one eye on the people and events around you. For young people just starting out in the workplace, it is like a mirror that reflects rules rarely spoken aloud; for readers with some experience of life, it is more like a review, prompting a fresh look at choices once made. Note that the book leans toward presenting the ways of the world rather than offering answers; read it with a certain distance—enter into it, yet stand outside it.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Adult readers who like realist fiction and care about human affairs and social mores
Young people new to the workplace who want to understand the unspoken rules of society
Readers interested in contemporary novels of manners who are willing to read closely
Writers who need material and observe the myriad facets of human nature

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer light entertainment and fast-moving plots
Young students with little social experience
Readers hoping for a direct, how-to guide to getting along in the world

Reading tips

Read through once to grasp the overall arc, then go back to the turning points in key characters' choices.
Jot down details that make you uncomfortable or seem familiar, and after finishing, reflect on them against your own experience.
Read alongside other works of social observation on similar themes, comparing how different authors approach similar issues.
Leave a few days to digest after reading, then write a short review to sort out your own judgment.

About the publisher

Nanhai Publication Company China · Founded in 1988

Nanhai Publication Company is a comprehensive publisher known for its literature and arts titles, covering fields such as classical poetry, martial arts fiction, and folk literature. Judging from the more than 1,600 books in the database, the company has released classical poetic works including the Nineteen Old Poems and the Nine Songs, as well as multiple volumes of Huanzhulouzhu's series The Swordsmen of Mount Shu, along with related writings by authors such as Guan Hanqing, Qu Yuan, Zuo Si, and Wang Zhihuan. Its publishing character lies in balancing the organization of classic texts with the dissemination of popular literature, placing poetry anthologies alongside long martial arts novels and presenting a relatively diverse literary profile. Public information is limited, and further details about its editorial practices and series planning remain to be supplemented.

版权信息
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FAQ

Is this book suitable for newcomers to the workplace?

Yes, but read it with a critical eye. The careerist tactics shown are material for observation and reflection, not models to imitate. Newcomers can use it to get to know a complex interpersonal environment in advance while holding their own bottom line of judgment.

Is Careerism nonfiction or fiction?

From the available information it is a literary work, presenting the ways of the world through narrative. Readers should treat it as a text for observing human nature rather than a collection of real cases, and need not match specific episodes to real people.

Will it feel depressing to read?

The book does depict the darker sides of human nature, but the author's tone is restrained rather than relentlessly bleak. If it affects your mood after reading, intersperse something light, or discuss it with friends to create some distance.

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About the author

Chen Hengqing Author · Chinese · 1844–1920

Chen Hengqing (1844–1920), courtesy name Zijiu, was a native of Weixian in Shandong (present-day Weicheng District, Weifang). A late Qing official and scholar, he passed the provincial examination in 1873 and the metropolitan examination in 1886. He served successively as a secretary in the Ministry of Works, rising through the Waterways, Construction, and Colonization Departments, and later held posts as Supervising Censor of the Ministry of War, Investigating Censor of the Henan Circuit, and Chief Supervising Censor. In 1908 he was appointed prefect of Jinzhou. He retired at sixty and wrote works including Jianshu Xian Notes (also known as Jili Qingtan) and Unofficial Gleanings of the Late Qing. His extant writings are considerable, with 154 titles held in our collection, many drawing on folk literature and Eastern philosophy. They touch on modern upheavals such as the militia conflicts, the Boxer movement, and the Nian rebels, as well as rural tales and social types like foxes and swindlers, and social issues such as Manchu-Han differences, bearing the documentary flavor of note-style historiography. Public information is limited, and his literary standing and influence await further study.