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

The atmosphere inside the meeting room was solemn and respectful. The Central Residents' Committee plenary meeting listed Zhou Jin's appointment as the first item on the agenda. The Minister of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, holding a thick investigation report, first gave a detailed introduction to the participating committee members.

"Comrades, Comrade Zhou Jin's resume is clear and complete, and strictly follows organizational procedures. During her time in Hong Kong, she served successively as Deputy Director, Director, Deputy Director-General, and Director-General of the Financial Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong. She participated in the entire process of financial supervision and risk prevention and control in Hong Kong. In the 1998 financial crisis, she took the lead in formulating response plans and spearheaded frontline handling, successfully safeguarding the security of national financial assets. After being transferred to Yancheng City, Shaanxi Province as Mayor in 2006, she gradually rose to the positions of Standing Committee Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, and Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee. Eight years of dedicated work transformed Yancheng City from a resource-dependent city into a trillion-yuan 'Pearl of Northwest China.' Her experience in Party building pilot projects was promoted throughout the province. The inspection team visited more than a thousand cadres and the public, and the satisfaction rate reached 98%."

No sooner had the Minister of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee finished speaking than Secretary Li Xiangming took the lead in expressing his support: "I firmly support him. During the time I worked with Comrade Zhou Jin, his pragmatic style and professional competence were evident to all. The development miracle of Yancheng in Northwest China is a testament to his dual advantages of 'financial thinking + local governance.' The Ministry of Finance urgently needs such versatile talents who can solve complex economic problems."

Secretary Qin Zhenbang followed up: "Comrade Zhou Jin's experience in the financial system and her practical achievements in local areas corroborate each other. In particular, her experience in industrial transformation and risk prevention and control is exactly in line with the current needs of fiscal reform, making her a suitable candidate for Executive Vice Minister of Finance."

The financial sector committee members unanimously agreed, acknowledging her professional competence and practical experience. However, at this point, a senior committee member raised a different opinion: "Comrade Zhou Jin's outstanding achievements are undeniable, but at 42 years old, assuming the core ministerial-level position of Executive Vice Minister of Finance is indeed too young. I suggest either assigning her to a non-core ministerial-level position to continue her training, or postponing the appointment until she has accumulated more macroeconomic work experience before considering it again."

Another committee member added, "The Ministry of Finance is vital to the national economy and bears a heavy responsibility. It's good that young cadres are energetic, but core positions require a more solid foundation. Reassigning them to a ministerial-level position with relatively less pressure would not only reflect the organization's cultivation efforts but also reduce decision-making risks."

The discussion became heated, with supporters focusing on "performance is king" and "special talents are needed in special times," while opponents argued around "age and job suitability" and "core job experience requirements," without mentioning any family background and adhering to the compliant boundaries of the organized discussion. Zhou Chengbang and Su Weidong remained silent throughout, their expressions calm, clearly practicing the principle of avoiding any appearance of impropriety.

At this crucial moment, Standing Committee member Lu Zetao spoke, his tone calm and weighty: "Comrades, regarding Comrade Zhou Jin's age, I need to add some background information. He entered university at 15 and graduated with a doctorate at 22. According to regulations, he was directly appointed as a chief clerk, a starting point higher than that of ordinary cadres—most cadres graduate from university at nearly 23 and need to work for about 5 more years to reach the section-level. Zhou Jin's 'youth' is essentially a time advantage brought about by starting school early and meeting regulations."

He further clarified the compliance of his resume: "His career has only seen one exceptional promotion, namely after the 1998 financial crisis, when he was promoted from deputy director to director based on his significant contributions and the then-current policy of promoting younger cadres. This promotion fully complies with the organizational principle and policy orientation of 'rewarding those who make contributions.' Since being transferred to local government in 2006, from mayor to municipal party secretary to deputy provincial party secretary, each step has met the requirement of 'serving as a subordinate head for more than three years' for promotion, and all have gone through the complete process of democratic recommendation, organizational review, and collective discussion, without any violations."

Lu Zetao emphasized: "The current international economic situation is complex and volatile, and fiscal reform, financial supervision, and risk prevention are urgent tasks. Comrade Zhou Jin possesses professional experience in the financial system, practical experience in local governance, and macro-level coordination capabilities. Such a composite resume is rare among cadres. As for her suitability for the position, the evaluation report has fully demonstrated her ability and reputation, and the organization has a sound supervision mechanism to ensure the exercise of power, so there is no need for excessive concern."

These words precisely addressed the age controversy and clarified the compliance of her resume, gradually calming the debate on the spot. The leader surveyed the room and said firmly, "The selection of cadres should adhere to the principles of both moral integrity and competence, appointing people based on merit, considering both seniority and performance, and taking into account both age and ability. Comrade Zhou Jin's resume is compliant, her performance is outstanding, and it meets the actual needs of national development."

The vote was then announced: "Those who agree to appoint Comrade Zhou Jin as Executive Vice Minister of Finance (at the ministerial level) please raise your hands."

Most committee members raised their hands, while Zhou Chengbang and Su Weidong abstained. After counting the number of members, the leader announced: "The number of those in favor exceeds two-thirds of the members who should be present; the resolution is passed. The relevant appointment documents will be printed and issued as soon as possible."

When the news reached Shaanxi Province, Zhou Jin was conducting research on a technology upgrade project at the Yancheng New Energy Industrial Park. The moment he hung up the phone at the Provincial Party Committee Office, he couldn't hide his excitement—at 42, he had reached the ministerial level, an honor and responsibility that filled him with immense pride, but even more so, a deep reluctance to leave this land in Northwest China. For eight years, from apple orchards to photovoltaic power stations, from community alleys to industrial parks, every place bore his footprints, and every cadre and ordinary citizen became a source of his concern.

The news spread quickly throughout Yancheng, sparking heated discussions on the streets: "Secretary Zhou became a ministerial-level official at the age of 42, that's amazing! But considering he led Yancheng to a trillion-yuan scale, he truly deserves it!" "Having worked with Secretary Zhou for so many years, seeing the city get better and better, although it's hard to leave, I'm genuinely happy for him!" "I hope the new leadership can continue Secretary Zhou's vision and make Yancheng even better!"

In the Yancheng Municipal Party Committee compound, the cadres were filled with emotion. Minister Zhang Li said, "Secretary Zhou's promotion is the organization's recognition of him and also the pride of Yancheng. His pragmatic style and compliance awareness are worthy of our emulation."

The Shaanxi Provincial Party Committee also held heated discussions on the matter. At the Standing Committee meeting, Secretary Wang Jianjun emphasized: "Comrade Zhou Jin has served in Shaanxi Province for eight years and has proven himself with his compliant resume and solid achievements. His promotion is an affirmation of the Shaanxi Provincial cadre team by the Central Committee and has set an example for young cadres throughout the province that 'those who are pragmatic and compliant should be given important positions'."

That evening, Zhou Jin returned to his dormitory, stroking the calligraphy inscribed by his former superior—"Rooted in the Old Revolutionary Base Areas, Working Hard to Revitalize the Nation"—his heart filled with mixed emotions. From the financial battlefields of Hong Kong to the Loess Plateau of Northwest China, from local governance to central government duties, every step he took was inseparable from the organization's cultivation and the support of the masses. Outside the window, the city of Yan'an shone brightly with lights, much like the new journey he was about to embark on.

He knew that wherever he went, the red genes and pragmatic spirit of Yancheng would accompany him, and his new position in the Ministry of Finance would be another battlefield for him to fulfill his oath of "putting the country first".