Tang Xueqian

Biodata

Background / History

Academic and Government Career

Tang Xueqian was president of Haizhou Teachers College before transferring to the municipal government as vice mayor. Zhang Zhixing followed him from the college into government service, working as his secretary and receiving his support for subsequent promotions 1 2.

Original Timeline

In the history Zhang Ke remembers, Tang was falsely convicted of accepting bribes in 1994 while overseeing Xinfeng Group’s restructuring. The prosecution claimed that general manager Jiang Mingcheng had paid him 270,000 yuan through Xu Si, who was presented as both his mistress and an intermediary 2 5.

Tang’s conviction was overturned in 1999 after Ding Xiangshan’s arrest. By then, imprisonment had severely damaged his mental health. Even after years of recuperation, he could not return to a leadership position 2.

The case also ruined Zhang Zhixing’s career. A message attributed to Tang had urged Zhang Zhixing to leave Haizhou temporarily, but his departure became evidence against Tang and fueled accusations of betrayal. After his release, Tang could not remember sending the message, leaving Zhang Zhixing unable to clear his reputation 1 2.

Revised Timeline: The Xinfeng Group Case

Zhou Fuming had insisted that Tang oversee Xinfeng Group’s restructuring despite Ding Xiangshan’s objections. Tang sought to uncover the company’s financial problems and repeatedly spoke with finance director Zeng Jianhua in search of a breakthrough 15 22.

On June 24, Jiang Mingcheng reported that Zeng had fled with embezzled funds. While searching Zeng’s office with police, Tang discovered a notebook lodged between a drawer and the desk’s interior wall. He mentioned the discovery to his secretary, Ye Xinming, but did not examine the notebook closely before Ding suspended his restructuring work and the provincial inspection team isolated him for questioning. As a precaution, Tang left the notebook among his old books and porcelain at home 22.

Zhang Ke and Zhang Zhixing subsequently recovered the notebook. By shading erased impressions with a pencil, Zhang Ke revealed twenty-one withdrawals totaling 4.78 million yuan. The final three entries matched the payments supposedly made through Xu Si to bribe Tang, providing a crucial reason to challenge the existing case 13 18.

Vindication and Return to Haizhou

The Provincial Procuratorate’s Special Investigation Team took over the case and moved Tang, his family, and the other principal figures to Longhua Hotel. The original inspection team was itself isolated for questioning over suspected leaks and misdirection. At Zhang Zhixing’s request, Tang was allowed to stay with his wife and daughter rather than remain separated from them 19.

After Xu Si admitted the coercion, Jin Guohai formally apologized to Tang and confirmed that the bribery allegations were fabricated. Tang embraced Zhang Zhixing while Gu Jianping and Tang Jing cried with relief 21.

Ye Xinming’s subsequent confession exposed his acceptance of bribes and participation in the plot. Tang was particularly hurt by the betrayal of a secretary he had considered trustworthy 22.

Tang initially remained in the provincial capital because, as the victim, he could not participate in the investigation or safely return before action was taken against Ding’s associates. Zhou Fuming later personally welcomed him at the expressway exit on his return to Haizhou. The provincial leadership subsequently appointed Tang deputy secretary and acting mayor 23 26 28.

Transportation and Public Appearances

After learning that Xu Xueping’s son had died in a Haizhou traffic accident—and that Zhang Ke had rescued Xu’s granddaughter—Tang resolved to improve the city’s traffic conditions. Later, he rode a bus with transportation bureau leaders 23 45.

At the joint school-admission banquet for Tang Jing and Zhang Ke, Tang toasted Zhang Ke before Zhang Zhixing, openly acknowledging the boy’s contribution to saving him. The gesture astonished officials who did not know how the case had been solved 33.

Appearance

• Facial features: A narrow, rather dark face 21.
• During the revised investigation: Sunken cheeks, considerable weight loss, and exhausted eyes after roughly half a month in isolation. Despite this, he remained clean-shaven and wore a spotless short-sleeved white shirt 19.
• After imprisonment in the original timeline: A stooped back and tangled, graying beard made him look like a man in his sixties or seventies 19.

Personality

Tang places considerable value on longstanding friendship. After his vindication, he recalls fifteen years of friendship with Zhang Zhixing, beginning with a visit to apologize after Tang Jing scratched Zhang Ke’s face. His gratitude extends to Zhang Ke: he considers the boy deserving of a public toast regardless of his junior status 21 33.

He tries to maintain composure under pressure. During the investigation, he keeps himself neatly groomed and continues to believe the province will deliver a fair verdict. When investigators arrive with their findings, his calm expression conceals enough tension that his fists are clenched 19 21.

Although the text distinguishes him from officials who take bribes or embezzle, Tang does accept gifts. Zhang Zhixing describes their exchanges as reciprocal social courtesies, and Tang’s collections include presents from friends and subordinates 9 12 31.

Abilities & Skills

Go

• An enthusiastic player who calls himself a “hopeless Go addict” and seeks games whenever he has spare time 23.
• His honorary leadership of the Haizhou Chess Institute does not reflect professional-level playing strength; Zhang Zhixing considers Tang weaker than himself 4.
• Has a perceptive eye for play despite his limited strength. He recognizes that Zhang Ke’s narrow victory over Xu Xueping required more control than an overwhelming win would have 23.

Possessions

• Zeng Jianhua’s notebook — Recovered from the finance director’s desk and hidden at Tang’s home; its erased financial entries become central to clearing him 13 22.
• Old books and porcelain — Kept on shelves in his private study. Pieces came from antiques markets, his time in the countryside during the 1970s, and gifts; none are described as particularly valuable 12.
• Yangjiang apartment — A third-floor eastern-end unit retained after his transfer from the college to government. In the original timeline, the college reclaimed it after the case, and the city provided another apartment following his 1999 exoneration 11.

Relationships

• Gu Jianping — Wife. The accusations and supposed affair deeply distress her; she reunites with Tang at Longhua Hotel before his vindication 11 19 21.
• Tang Jing — Daughter. Her early childhood connection with Zhang Ke helped bring the two families together 21.
• Zhang Zhixing — Longtime friend, former secretary, and political protégé. His refusal to abandon Tang and his work uncovering contradictory evidence are instrumental in clearing the case 1 18 21.
• Zhang Ke — Son of his friend and a key figure in exposing the frame-up. Tang publicly honors him before the assembled Haizhou officials 13 33.
• Ye Xinming — Secretary of two years who betrays him after being drawn into corruption by Jiang Mingcheng 22.
• Ding Xiangshan — Municipal Party secretary responsible for orchestrating the fabricated bribery case 21 22.
• Xu Si — Coerced witness falsely presented as his mistress and bribery intermediary. Her revised statement exposes the plot 20 21.
• Zhou Fuming — Political colleague who pushes for Tang’s assignment to Xinfeng Group, welcomes his return, and becomes municipal Party secretary alongside Tang’s appointment as acting mayor 15 26 28.
• Xu Xueping — Provincial leader whose intervention enables a renewed investigation; later conveys the provincial Party committee’s concern to Tang 18 22.
• Jin Guohai — Procuratorate official who communicates the findings clearing Tang and apologizes for his unfair treatment 21.

Notable Quotes

“Who understands what kind of man I, Tang Xueqian, am? You, Zhixing. Who would run around on my behalf? You, Zhixing...” 21

“Ke, Uncle Tang will toast you first. The next glass will be for your father...” 33