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

In the last week of December 2005, Kyoto was already covered in a blanket of snow. The discussions at the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee were still raging within the Shaanxi Provincial Party Committee compound, while at that very moment, at Kyoto International Airport, a flight from Hong Kong landed smoothly. Zhou Jin, carrying a simple suitcase, stepped out of the terminal. The biting north wind, carrying snowflakes, stung his face, instantly jolting him from the warmth of Hong Kong.

Without a moment's delay, he drove straight to the State Council.

The reception room was warm and cozy. An elderly officer with graying temples was sitting on the sofa reading documents. Hearing footsteps, the officer looked up, a kind smile spreading across his face: "Xiao Jin is here, please have a seat."

Zhou Jin greeted the leader, sat respectfully in the chair opposite him, and held the prepared report in both hands: "Leader, I am here to report to you."

For the next hour, Zhou Jin gave a clear and organized report on her eight years of work in Hong Kong—from the strategic planning for the defense of Hong Kong's financial sector to the strategic layout of Huayao Capital; from promoting trade facilitation and sharing of medical resources between the two places to organizing the Hong Kong Youth Entrepreneurship Program in the Mainland; from her consideration of voluntarily relinquishing Huayao Capital to her initial motivation to volunteer to work at the grassroots level in Yancheng. Every achievement was well-documented, and every decision was made with deep thought.

The old commander listened attentively, nodding occasionally and interjecting to ask for details. After Zhou Jin finished speaking, he put down his pen, stood up, walked to the window, gazed at the snow-covered landscape outside, and said in a calm but firm tone: "I have read your report. You did a great job during your eight years stationed in Hong Kong, and you did not let the organization down. In the battle to protect Hong Kong's financial resources, you safeguarded the nation's purse strings; in the public welfare projects, you warmed the hearts of the people of Hong Kong; and you transformed Huayao Capital into a strategic asset for the country. The organization will not forget these achievements, nor will the people."

He turned around, his gaze falling on Zhou Jin with expectation: "Yan City is a sacred revolutionary site, the place where our original aspirations began. Conditions there are harsh, economic development is lagging, the industrial structure is singular, and the people are not yet well-off. The organization sent you there not to let you enjoy a life of luxury, but to let you tackle the tough challenges and use your wisdom and experience to inject new vitality into the development of the old revolutionary base area."

The old leader paused, then emphasized, "You're a financial expert, but when you get to Yancheng, you can't just focus on finance. You need to get down to earth, go into the fields, and listen to the people's voices. You need to bring Hong Kong's market-oriented thinking and international perspective with you. You need to revitalize the old revolutionary base's resources and leverage industrial transformation. Remember, cadres, cadres, action is key. Do real work, not empty rhetoric."

Zhou Jin stood up and solemnly stated, "Please rest assured, sir, I will definitely keep your instructions in mind, take root in Yan'an City, and live up to the expectations of the organization and the people of the old revolutionary base area."

The old leader nodded in satisfaction and patted him on the shoulder: "Good, that's good. Go to the Organization Department later and discuss the specifics of your appointment with the relevant leaders. They will explain the basic situation of Yancheng City and the precautions for your work. After that, go home and rest for a few days and spend time with your family. Shaanxi Province has already received the notification, and they need time to prepare. You also need to adjust your mindset. For cadres of your level taking up their posts, the Organization Department will send a special person to escort you to ensure a smooth arrival at your post."

After bidding farewell to his former superior, Zhou Jin went straight to the Organization Department of the Central Committee.

In the conference room of the Organization Department, the director of the Second Bureau of Cadre Management had been waiting for a long time. On the table was a thick stack of documents, all of which contained data on the economic and social development of Yancheng City, the composition of the cadre team, and key work plans.

"Comrade Zhou Jin, welcome." The bureau chief stood up and shook hands with him, his smile sincere. "The organization attaches great importance to your appointment in Yan City. We sent you there this time because we hope you can use your expertise to open up a new chapter in the development of Yan City."

The ensuing conversation was pragmatic and efficient. The director provided a detailed overview of Yancheng's basic situation: as a revolutionary holy site, Yancheng boasts abundant red tourism resources, but its development level is low; the energy industry is a pillar industry, but its industrial chain is short and its added value is low; the agricultural foundation is weak, and the sales channels for specialty agricultural products are not smooth; the cadre team is hardworking and dedicated, but their innovative awareness and market-oriented thinking need to be improved.

"Former Mayor Zhang Weiguo has worked in Yancheng for many years. He is experienced and has a good foundation among the masses. The Provincial Party Committee has already made preliminary research on his future and will arrange a suitable position for him. Secretary Li Xiangming of the Yancheng Municipal Party Committee is a cadre who has grown up locally and has a deep affection for the old revolutionary base area. The two of you should cooperate well, one focusing on the direction and the other on implementation, to form a joint force."

The bureau chief handed Zhou Jin a document: "This is your appointment notice and work handover checklist. The comrade who is seeing you off will contact you tomorrow, and you will travel together to Shaanxi Province. After you arrive, the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department will organize a meeting, and then send you to Yancheng City to take up your post."

Zhou Jin took the documents, wrote them down one by one, and stood up to express her gratitude: "Thank you for the organization's thoughtful arrangements. I will get into the role as soon as possible."

As Zhou Jin stepped out of the Organization Department building, it was already dusk. Kyoto, bathed in the glow of streetlights, was a picture of breathtaking beauty, with neon lights shimmering and snowflakes dancing in the air. Driving home, Zhou Jin felt a warm sense of belonging.

The moment she pushed open the door, a warm light greeted her. Chen Panpan, wearing an apron, was carrying dishes out of the kitchen. Her two children, Zhou Shouzhen and Zhou Nianqi, heard the noise and rushed over excitedly, "Daddy! Daddy's home!"

Zhou Jin squatted down, picked up the two children, and the fatigue on her face instantly disappeared. Shouzheng and Nianqi were over three years old, with chubby faces, chattering incessantly around him, sometimes talking about the fun things that happened at kindergarten, sometimes about how their mother made their favorite braised pork.

Chen Panpan looked at him, her eyes slightly red, and stepped forward to brush the snowflakes off his clothes: "It's good to be back. You must be tired from the journey. The food is just ready, go wash your hands and eat."

On the dining table, steaming dishes were laid out. Zhou Jin put a piece of braised pork on his wife's plate, peeled shrimp for his two children, and smiled as he recounted his last few days in Hong Kong, Lin Xiaoman's farewell, and the news of his upcoming appointment to Yancheng.

Chen Panpan listened quietly, her eyes full of support: "Conditions in Yan City are tough, so you need to take good care of yourself. Don't worry about me at home. Once things are settled, I'll bring the children to visit you."

Zhou Jin held his wife's hand, a warm feeling welling up inside him. The snow outside the window fell heavier and heavier, but the lights inside the house shone brightly. These past few days of rest had been his most comforting recharge before embarking on a new journey. He knew that after this brief reunion lay the Loess Plateau of Yancheng, the hopes of the people in the old revolutionary base area, and a brand new battle.