Haizhou

Biodata

Geography and Notable Locations

Government

Leadership Changes in 1994

Political Networks

• Ding–Zhou rivalry: Ding Xiangshan and Zhou Fuming repeatedly competed over senior municipal posts, with Ding generally retaining the advantage 15.
• Xinfeng restructuring: Zhou insisted that Tang oversee the restructuring despite Ding’s objections. Zhang Ke interprets this as an attempt to expose Ding while leaving Tang to bear the risk 15.
• Provincial backing: Officials treat Zhang Zhixing’s connection to Xu Xueping as a major change in his political standing, although few know that Zhang Ke rescued Xu’s granddaughter 33.
• Continuing divisions: At least three deputy Municipal Party secretaries miss the school-admission banquet attended by Zhou and Tang, revealing discord beneath the city’s outward unity 33.

History

Original Timeline

In Zhang Ke’s original life, Tang Xueqian’s investigation during Xinfeng Group’s restructuring destroys Zhang Zhixing’s career. Zhang Zhixing leaves Haizhou after receiving a message attributed to Tang, but his departure becomes evidence against Tang and is later interpreted as betrayal. The wrongful case is exposed years afterward, causing a nationwide sensation without restoring Zhang Zhixing’s reputation 1 2.

After dismissal from public office, Zhang Zhixing returns to teaching at Haizhou University. When he can no longer remain there, Xu Hongbo takes him in at the Haizhou Chess Institute, where he works as a gatekeeper 2 4.

July 18 Traffic Disaster

On July 18, nearly one hundred Xinguang Paper Mill workers protest at Bell Tower Square. The Chengnan District government has relocated their mill far from the urban area, but the new facility lacks money for raw materials while the old mill faces closure. Most West District traffic patrol officers are diverted to maintain order at the protest 17.

A drunk dump-truck driver enters through Beiguan and reaches North Street without being stopped. The resulting crash kills four people, including Xu Xueping’s son, Xu Zhiming. In the altered timeline, Zhang Ke saves Xie Zhitong from beneath the truck’s wheels. After learning about the rescue, Tang Xueqian pledges to address Haizhou’s traffic problems 4 16 17 23.

Exposure of the Ding Xiangshan Case

After returning to 1994, Zhang Ke helps uncover evidence linking Tang’s supposed bribery case to corruption at Xinfeng Group. The discovery that Zeng Jianhua has fled with embezzled funds prompts Zhang Ke, Zhang Zhixing, and Zhang Zhifei to leave Haizhou immediately: Ding’s local dominance makes pursuing the case inside the city too dangerous 9 15.

The evidence reaches Xu Xueping and the Provincial Procuratorate. Zeng Jianhua’s notebook undermines the bribery allegations, and a Special Investigation Team takes over the case from the original inspection team 17 18 19.

Provincial investigators move into Haizhou, seal Xinfeng Group’s records, question its management, and search Ding’s residence and villa. Large quantities of cash, collectibles, and gold and silver handicrafts provide direct evidence against him. Tang returns cleared of suspicion, while Zhou assumes municipal leadership 22 26.

The broader Xinfeng investigation remains unresolved after this leadership change. Its ten years of chaotic finances and Zeng Jianhua’s unexplained disappearance are expected to require months of investigation 28.

Economy and Business

Industry

• Xinfeng Group: A major restructuring target with longstanding financial irregularities. Earlier municipal inspections repeatedly failed to uncover its problems 9 22.
• Xinguang Paper Mill: Its relocation, lack of production funds, and threatened closure of the old plant trigger the workers’ protest 17.
• City Agricultural Machinery Factory: Employs Xu Si’s father, Xu Haishan, as a skilled worker 27.
• Construction: Zhang Ke urges Zhang Zhifei to expand from Dongshe into Haizhou, emphasizing stronger personnel, qualifications, technology, and equipment rather than reliance on a small rural crew 27.

Digital Communications Market

Haiyu’s Haizhou Office

• Near closure: Following Xu Zhiming’s death and Haiyu’s management crisis, most local staff withdraw. Xie Wanqing initially intends to close the office 37.
• Reorganization: Zhang Ke obtains permission to use the remaining office, recruits Xu Si, and begins hiring staff despite lacking working capital and an operating distribution network 38 39 41.
• Advertising campaign: Three days of advertisements in the Haizhou Daily, supported by a radio phone-in contest, introduce the Ericsson GH388 and draw calls, visitors, and prospective partners 48.
• Dealer financing: Prospective funding reaches 600,000 yuan in half a day as local telecommunications merchants consider cooperation 50.
• Agency agreement: Shengxin appoints Haiyu as a specially appointed Ericsson agent, bypassing the usual provincial-agent tier 50.

Education and Cultural Institutions

Local Customs

• Funerals: The funeral procession and mourning banquet take place on the third day after death, when ordinary relatives and friends generally attend. Keeping vigil after the evening meal is also customary 9 10.
• Cash gifts: Ordinary family gifts in 1994 are approximately 50–60 yuan. By contrast, the politically prominent school-admission banquet produces 234 red envelopes containing more than 66,000 yuan, illustrating the scale of official gift-giving 33.