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

Zhou Jin returned to the office of the deputy secretary of the provincial party committee, closed the door behind him, and was left alone in the large space. The setting sun shone through the blinds, casting dappled light and shadow on the floor. He sat blankly in the leather chair, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the texture of the table corner. The composure he had shown in Secretary Wang Jianjun's office was now completely overwhelmed by his turbulent emotions.

At the ministerial level.

These three words echoed repeatedly in his mind, carrying a heavy weight. He was only 42 years old this year, and nationwide, cadres of this age who had reached the ministerial level were extremely rare. But Zhou Jin knew in his heart that this promotion was by no means a fluke, but rather the result of hard-earned achievements step by step—from the front-line commander-in-chief of the Hong Kong financial defense battle, to the eight years of in-depth development of Yancheng into a trillion-yuan city, and then to the overall promotion of Party building work in the province, every stage of his career could withstand the most rigorous scrutiny.

He leaned back in his chair, his thoughts drifting back twenty years. In 1994, at the age of 22, he graduated with a doctorate and was directly promoted to the rank of chief clerk, still one of the most inconspicuous "juniors" in the system at the time. In July 1997, he went to Hong Kong to serve as a deputy division-level official, just in time for the financial turmoil following Hong Kong's return to China. In 1998, during that thrilling financial defense battle, he was tasked with developing a response plan and was promoted for his outstanding achievements—a promotion of great significance in his career, which not only met the needs of the times for young cadres but also reflected the principle that "those who are capable should be given positions."

Later, in 2006 he was transferred to serve as mayor of Yancheng City, in 2009 he joined the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and served as secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, and in 2013 he became deputy secretary of the Provincial Party Committee. Each step he took was solid and steady, with a complete career path, outstanding performance evaluations, and all aspects of his evaluation met the requirements. His new appointment can be said to be a natural progression.

However, the intricate network of relationships he possessed was far too complex, so complex that even he found it somewhat unsettling when he reflected on it. His senior brother, Lu Zetao, held a high-ranking position in the central government; his father was also in an important leadership role; his maternal uncle worked in the military; and his former superiors, Li Xiangming and Qin Zhenbang, were respectively a member of the central leadership and the head of an important municipality. Not to mention, he had many former colleagues in the financial system, and eight years of dedicated work in the Northwest—many considered him an outstanding cadre who had honed his skills there. This deep network of connections and ties served as both a solid backing and a responsibility and expectation that outsiders could hardly comprehend.

Just as Zhou Jin's thoughts were racing, and her heart was filled with both excitement and confusion, the red secure phone on her desk suddenly rang urgently.

Upon seeing that the caller ID showed it was the internal line to Senior Brother Lu Zetao's office, Zhou Jin instantly composed himself, straightened his back, picked up the receiver, and spoke with impeccable respect: "Hello, Chief, this is Zhou Jin."

A hearty laugh and a scolding voice came from the other end of the phone: "You brat, still trying to pull that act with me? Why are you calling me 'Chief'? Call me 'Senior Brother'!"

The familiar tone made Zhou Jin's tense shoulders relax slightly. He smiled and replied softly, "Senior Brother."

"Hmm," Lu Zetao's voice deepened, getting straight to the point, "You should already know about what was discussed at today's meeting, right? There was already a consensus on the relevant issues, but it was the main leaders who mentioned you at the meeting that finalized the subsequent inspection arrangements."

Zhou Jin straightened her expression and gave a standard reply: "I have already received Secretary Wang's notification. I will obey all organizational arrangements."

"Obey organizational arrangements?" Lu Zetao snorted, his tone tinged with dissatisfaction. "I'm not asking you this as a leader, but as your senior brother! I want to hear your personal thoughts, not these bureaucratic platitudes! Why are you spouting official jargon at me?"

Zhou Jin was silent for a moment, the wind outside the window rustling the sycamore leaves. He held the receiver, his voice low and honest: "Senior Brother, to be honest, after eight years in the Northwest, I can't bear to leave a single blade of grass or tree in Yan'an. The apple orchards, the solar panels, the red cave dwellings, and the cadres and masses who worked overtime with me... But I also know that wherever the organization needs me, that's where I should go. My new job is related to the overall national economy, and with the current complex international situation, it's precisely the time when manpower is needed, and I have an inescapable responsibility."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by Lu Zetao's relieved voice: "That's more like the Zhou Jin I know. There's reluctance, but even more so, a sense of responsibility. Don't worry, the investigation will proceed according to procedure, the provincial party committee will fully cooperate, you don't need to worry about the reputation among cadres and the masses, and the veteran comrades in the financial system also know your capabilities."

He paused, then his tone became serious: "The central leadership has high hopes for you, valuing your combined expertise in both finance and local governance. In your new position, do your best, bring the experience from Hong Kong and the ideas from Yancheng to contribute to safeguarding national financial security and promoting reforms in related fields. Don't let this trust down, and don't forget the original aspirations we shared when we fought together in Hong Kong."

Zhou Jin felt a surge of warmth in her heart, her eyes reddening slightly, and her fingers tightened slightly around the receiver: "I understand, Senior Brother. I will definitely not let the organization down."

"Alright, I know you understand." Lu Zetao's tone returned to ease. "The inspection team will arrive in the next few days. Just do what you need to do and carry out your work normally. Don't feel pressured. We can discuss the rest in detail when you arrive in Beijing."

"it is good."

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Jin lingered on the receiver for a long time. The afterglow of the setting sun bathed him in a warm golden light, gilding his profile. He stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the distant, rolling Qinling Mountains. The turmoil and excitement in his heart gradually subsided, replaced by a heavy sense of responsibility.

From Hong Kong to the Northwest, from local to provincial levels, his life trajectory has always resonated with the development of the country.

This time, he is about to embark on a new journey and head to a broader stage.