Secretary Zhou

Biodata

Title Usage

“Secretary Zhou” is not exclusive to Zhou Yi. Early in the story, it refers to Zhou Zhiyuan, Anping’s Municipal Party Secretary. Later, Zhou Yi receives the same address while holding several different secretary posts 51 178 182 486 574.

The fuller form “Deputy Secretary Zhou” is used during Zhou Yi’s appointment to Changtian’s Political and Legal Affairs Commission, although reporters also call him simply “Secretary Zhou” 211 213 215.

Documented Offices

Authority and Responsibilities

Political and Legal Affairs

• Yangcheng: Zhou Yi briefly holds both the commission secretaryship and the Public Security directorship. His tenure ends when he is transferred to Changtian only days after taking office 366.
• Changtian: His deputy secretary title leaves him with limited access to police personnel. Liao Wensong and Ji Fengning remain the two officers he can reliably call upon 211.
• Public accountability: Despite his changed duties, he challenges the official handling of the arson investigation at a standing committee meeting and a press conference 213 215.

Discipline Inspection

• Investigative oversight: As Qingning’s commission secretary, Zhou Yi summons investigators, questions their methods, and orders reports for disciplinary review after Shang Xinfeng jumps from a building 486.
• Review of coercive measures: He opposes both the grounds for opening a formal investigation into Shang and the decision to place him under Shuanggui 487.
• Witness protection: He accepts evidence safeguarded by Wu Haili and assigns personnel to protect her and locate Xiang Yicong 494.
• Inspection work: While serving with the Inspection Team in Jiangnan, he questions senior officials and reports allegations of abuse of power, bribery, and coercion to team leaders 515 518 522.

Municipal Leadership

• Economic planning: In Anping, Zhou Yi promotes metropolitan cultural-tourism integration to address the city’s economic decline 570 578.
• Intercity cooperation: He agrees to pursue a sister-city relationship with Tianlai, creating a platform for cooperation across economic, educational, cultural, and other fields 581 582.
• Tourist protection: His administration establishes a complaints hotline backed by joint enforcement against fraudulent goods, forced purchases, and abusive service 597.
• Citywide coordination: By Anping’s tourism boom, his influence helps mobilize officials and residents behind the city’s development plans 609.

Major Events

Changtian Arson Investigation

Zhou Yi’s transfer to the Political and Legal Affairs Commission is presented as a promotion but also serves to remove him from the police post threatening the Zhao family. He continues pursuing the arson case despite that loss of direct authority 210 211 213.

At the press conference, he states that forensic specialists found no fabrication in the video evidence he obtained. When Wen Li asks whether it is identical to the video discussed by Chen Bin, Zhou directs the question to Chen, exposing a contradiction between their accounts 215.

Qingning Leadership Conflict

Zhou Yi’s objections to Shang Xinfeng’s treatment put him at odds with Municipal Party Secretary Fu Xueqian. Commission officials face competing demands: follow Fu’s instructions and sideline Zhou, or follow Zhou and risk Fu’s retaliation 487 489.

His reputation also draws people seeking protection. Wu Haili approaches him because she believes his record shows that he opposes wrongdoing and upholds justice 494.

Anping Tourism Development

Zhou Yi brings former colleagues into discussions about Anping’s revival, secures support for a promotional film, and welcomes the artists who participate. He declines an invitation to appear in the film himself 570 593 597.

The campaign, sister-city publicity, investment, and tourism projects help draw visitors to Anping. Municipal officials credit his planning as one contributor to the surge, while attentive service strengthens public support for the initiative 597 600. By the winter season, record crowds create opportunities for dining, accommodation, transportation, and local employment 609.

Leadership Style and Reputation

• Strong backing: Zhou Yi openly recognizes that Jian Wanyan’s position as his father-in-law gives him alternatives when confronting obstructive officials 213.
• “Officialdom Killer”: His reputation comes from earlier campaigns against corrupt officials and criminal groups, making his arrival as a discipline inspection secretary especially intimidating 483 484.
• Discipline within his own circle: He orders Shao Mingbao to report an improperly accepted cash gift to the Party organization, even though Shao has already returned it 507.
• Respect for reporting lines: He reprimands Cai Xiaobo and Zhu Jianping for bypassing the vice mayors responsible for their work, warning that being “his men” does not excuse disregarding other leaders 585.
• Approachability: Residents greet him enthusiastically during inspections, and visiting artists describe him as witty and unpretentious without mistaking that friendliness for a lack of authority 578 597.
• Mixed public reactions: Online comments praise his effectiveness and express loyalty across cities where he has served, though one commenter calls him overbearing 599.

Relationships

• Jian Wanyan — Zhou Yi’s father-in-law and political supporter; expects his Anping tenure to prepare him for eventual advancement to deputy ministerial level, not an already achieved promotion 569.
• Shan Wenxu and Sima Yanan — Close allies of Zhou Yi; the three are described as an “iron triangle” 581.
• Fu Xueqian — Qingning Municipal Party Secretary whose instructions conflict with Zhou Yi’s position on Shang Xinfeng’s case 487 489.
• Li Yang — Anping mayor who supports Zhou Yi’s development plans and warns colleagues against outward compliance paired with secret obstruction 571 572.
• Cai Xiaobo, Zhu Jianping, and Shao Mingbao — Longtime subordinates whom Zhou Yi continues to supervise and reprimand when necessary 507 585.

Notable Quotes

“The truth will ultimately come to light, and the real culprit will ultimately be brought to justice.” 215

“Anyone who dares smash our cooking pot will have their rice bowl smashed by me!” — Zhou Yi’s warning to businesses harming Anping’s tourism, quoted by taxi driver Master Kang 597