Sharpening the Blade Against the Red Wall: From Hong Kong to Handong

In late autumn of 2014, the chill of autumn was deepening in Kyoto, and the ginkgo leaves along Chang'an Avenue formed a golden corridor. Zhou Jin's flight landed at Beijing Capital International Airport. Without lingering, he drove straight to the Organization Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China—according to organizational procedures, newly appointed ministerial-level officials must undergo a special interview before taking office.

In the meeting room of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, the vice minister in charge of cadre work was already waiting. "Comrade Zhou Jin, welcome back to work in Beijing." The vice minister stood up and shook hands, his tone calm but expectant. "The Ministry of Finance is the core department for national macroeconomic regulation. The current international economic situation is complex, and domestic reforms have entered a deep-water zone. The burden on your shoulders is not light."

Zhou Jin sat upright and listened attentively: "Please rest assured, I will keep my mission in mind, familiarize myself with the work as soon as possible, and respond to the organization's trust with practical actions."

"Very good." The Vice Minister nodded and emphasized, "Upon arriving at the Ministry of Finance, firstly, you must uphold your political stance and resolutely implement the central government's decisions and plans; secondly, you must leverage your professional advantages, combining local governance experience with macroeconomic and financial work to solve reform challenges; and thirdly, you must maintain a pragmatic style, conduct more research, listen to more opinions, and avoid superficiality. The Ministry of Finance has many veteran comrades and a high concentration of professional talents, so you must humbly learn from them, unite with your colleagues, and form a cohesive working force."

"I've got it. I'll definitely hold myself to high standards," Zhou Jin replied solemnly.

The half-hour pre-appointment interview was concise and pragmatic, clarifying the work requirements while conveying the organization's trust. After the interview, Zhou Jin drove to his home in the suburbs of Beijing—his first return to the capital as a permanent resident after nearly twenty years away.

Pushing open the door, the living room was already filled with the cheerful laughter of children. Eleven-year-old Zhou Shouzhen and Zhou Nianqi rushed forward upon hearing the door open, shouting, "Dad!"

Zhou Jin bent down and hugged his two children, the familiar scent of milk filling his nostrils, his heart overflowing with warmth. "Shouzheng, Nianqi, did you miss your dad?" He stroked the children's heads, his gaze tender.

"Yes!" Zhou Shouzhen looked up, his little face full of pride. "Grandpa said that Dad is now a big leader in the Ministry of Finance and will be in charge of the country's money!" Zhou Nianqi hugged his neck and said in a soft voice, "Dad, can you spend more time with us in the future? I want you to attend my parent-teacher conferences."

Zhou Jin felt a pang of sadness and looked at his wife, Chen Panpan, with guilt. Chen Panpan smiled and smoothed things over, saying, "The children just missed you. Go wash your hands and eat; I made your favorite home-cooked dishes."

During dinner, Zhou Jin listened to the children talk about their school life in Kyoto and share the local customs and culture of Yancheng. The living room was filled with a warm and harmonious atmosphere. After dinner, he took out two exquisite little gift boxes from his suitcase: "These are local specialties that Dad brought from Yancheng. The apples are a high-quality variety that we promote, and there are also dried apples and millet, all grown and made by the people in the old revolutionary base area."

The children curiously opened the gift box, picked up the dried apples, and tasted them: "Wow, they're so sweet! Dad, the apples from Yanshi are better than the ones we buy in Kyoto!"

Seeing the children's excited faces, Zhou Jin smiled with satisfaction. After a brief family time, he changed into formal attire and prepared to visit his senior brother, Lu Zetao, at his residence—a visit that served both as a matter of brotherhood and a necessary communication for work purposes.

Lu Zetao's residence was a private courtyard in the core area of ​​western Beijing. The vermilion gate was solemn and imposing, guarded by security personnel. The courtyard was surrounded by lush trees, quiet and dignified, a world apart from ordinary residences. Zhou Jin had called ahead to inform him, and his secretary was already waiting at the gate when the car entered the courtyard.

"Minister Zhou, the leader is handling official business in his study and specifically instructed you to go straight in when you arrive." The secretary warmly guided Zhou Jin through the courtyard. The bluestone path underfoot was clean and tidy, and the green plants on both sides were meticulously trimmed.

Entering the study, Lu Zetao was sitting behind a large mahogany desk reviewing documents. Hearing footsteps, he looked up, a gentle smile immediately appearing on his face. He put down his pen and stood up, saying, "You're back. You must be tired from your journey."

"Senior Brother, I'm sorry to disturb you while you're on official business." Zhou Jin handed over a small bag. "I didn't bring anything valuable, just some local specialties from Yancheng: a few apples, a bag of dried apples, and a jar of millet. They're all gifts from the people of the old revolutionary base area. Please try them; it's a small token of my affection for that land."

Lu Zetao gestured for his secretary to take the bag, waving his hand with a smile: "You're still so practical, remembering to bring these things from all this way. Sit down, Xiao Li, pour Minister Zhou a cup of hot tea."

The secretary withdrew, leaving only the master and apprentice in the study. Lu Zetao sat on the sofa opposite Zhou Jin and cut to the chase: "Is the meeting with the Organization Department over? What were the key points?"

"The main emphasis was on political awareness, professional competence, and teamwork, which helped me to quickly familiarize myself with the Ministry of Finance's operations and learn more from veteran colleagues," Zhou Jin responded truthfully.

Lu Zetao nodded, his tone gradually becoming more serious: "The Ministry of Finance is different from local governments. It involves a wide range of issues and complex levels. It is responsible for formulating macroeconomic and financial policies as well as supervising the specific use of funds. Every decision is related to the lifeline of the national economy and cannot be taken lightly. You are used to 'taking the lead and getting things done' in local governments. When you come to the central government, you must not only maintain this hard-working spirit, but also learn to 'think about the overall situation and consider the long term'."

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and continued, "You've been away from Kyoto for almost twenty years. The city may look the same, but many people and things have changed. However, the core principles have never changed—we must still be pragmatic and serve the people. In today's officialdom, there are many 'players,' but you must remember that we are still among the core: the Zhou, Chen, and Su families have their foundations, your old comrades-in-arms who fought alongside you in Hong Kong and your old leaders who struggled together in the Northwest all remember your kindness, and your senior brothers and sisters and I will support you. You don't need to have any worries."

Zhou Jin felt a warmth in her heart and straightened her back to listen attentively.

"In our work, we must adhere to the principles that should be upheld, and we must speak the truth when necessary." Lu Zetao's gaze was sharp and firm. "The Ministry of Finance needs cadres who dare to speak the truth and point out problems, not 'yes-men' who only know how to agree. Just as you tackled tough challenges in Yancheng, you should solve reform problems in the Ministry of Finance. Maintain your pragmatic spirit. As long as your starting point is for the country and the people, be bold and go for it."

He paused, then added, "Of course, the working methods of central government departments are different from those of local departments. There are more levels and stricter rules, so you need to consult and report more often. You must adhere to principles, but also be strategic. If you encounter any insurmountable obstacles or unsolvable problems, call me anytime. Don't try to handle it all on your own. Our school has always been about sticking together and supporting each other, and we must share the responsibility for our country and the people."

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother. I have taken it all to heart." Zhou Jin stood up, her tone firm. "I will certainly live up to your and the organization's expectations, uphold my original aspirations, be pragmatic and responsible in my position at the Ministry of Finance, and fulfill my mission."

Lu Zetao stood up with a smile and patted him on the shoulder: "No need to thank me. You've gotten to where you are today because of your own abilities and solid achievements. The stage in Kyoto is big enough, and the road ahead is long. I hope you can stay true to yourself here, achieve even greater success, and live up to the vow you made in Hong Kong back then."

It was late at night when they left Lu Zetao's courtyard. The neon lights of Kyoto were dazzling, possessing a more prosperous and profound atmosphere than the night view of Yancheng. Zhou Jin sat in the car, gazing at the bustling traffic outside the window, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

From Hong Kong to the Northwest, and then to Beijing; from the financial front to local governance, and then to macroeconomics. For nearly two decades, his footsteps have consistently followed the needs of national development. Now, returning to this city he has left so long ago, standing at a new starting point, he knows that a new and tough battle is about to begin.

But he was fearless. With the trust of the organization, the support of his family, the backing of his mentors and old friends, and the pragmatic spirit he had honed over eight years in Yancheng, he was confident that he could safeguard the country's economic development and continue to write a chapter of "putting the country first" in his position at the Ministry of Finance.