Zhang Zhixing

Biodata

Background / History

Academic and Government Career

Zhang Zhixing studied economics and taught at Haizhou Normal University for years before establishing his government career. His academic experience gave him a strong theoretical foundation, which later impressed Xu Xueping during their discussion of his career prospects 29.

He and Tang Xueqian became friends after Tang brought his daughter, Tang Jing, to apologize for scratching Zhang Ke’s face. The visit developed into drinking and a board game, beginning a friendship that had lasted fifteen years by 1994. Zhang Zhixing subsequently served as Tang’s secretary for a long period and received his support for promotion 1 21.

Original Timeline

In Zhang Ke’s original life, Tang Xueqian’s wrongful prosecution destroyed Zhang Zhixing’s career. Ye Xinming relayed a purported message from Tang urging him to leave Haizhou and lie low. His departure was instead treated as flight from prosecution and used as evidence against Tang. When the wrongful conviction was overturned years later, Tang could no longer remember sending the message, leaving Zhang Zhixing branded a betrayer 1 7.

After dismissal from public service, Zhang Zhixing never recovered his former prospects. His hair turned white before he reached fifty, and he spent increasing amounts of time playing cards. Although Zhang Ke’s mother regarded this as gambling addiction, Zhang Ke understood it as an outlet for his bitterness: his father donated his winnings to children unable to afford schooling 1 4.

Exposing the Frame-Up

After Zhang Ke returned to 1994, Zhang Zhixing initially remained frightened and isolated by Tang’s investigation. His son’s photographs linking Xu Si to Ding Xiangshan prompted him to question Ye Xinming’s message. He still attended his uncle’s funeral in Dongshe, but took Zhang Ke with him and left Liang Gezhen in Haizhou to gather news and maintain regular telephone contact 8.

In Dongshe, he enlisted his younger cousin Zhang Zhifei. Zhang Zhixing reasoned that the accusations against Tang were connected to deeper problems at Xinfeng Group and recognized that the photographs alone could not prove Tang’s innocence. Remembering Tang’s habit of preserving informal work notes, he approved Zhang Ke’s visit to Tang’s home and wrote a letter affirming his belief in his friend’s innocence 9 10 11.

The resulting notebook evidence led them to seek Zeng Jianhua. After discovering that Zeng had disappeared with company money and that police were watching his home, Zhang Zhixing escaped Haizhou with Zhang Ke and Zhang Zhifei. Zhou Fuming directed them to present their materials to Xu Xueping in the provincial capital. Meanwhile, Liang Gezhen was questioned and their home searched 14 15 16.

Xu Xueping was initially unreceptive, but the discovery that Zhang Ke had saved his granddaughter, Xie Zhitong, gave Zhang Zhixing an opportunity to explain the evidence fully. Xu praised his willingness to question the investigation and uphold judicial fairness. Zhang Zhixing subsequently assisted the Special Investigation Team and asked that Tang be allowed to stay with his wife and daughter while the case was reviewed 17 19.

Xu Si’s admission that Ding Xiangshan had coerced her into framing Tang vindicated Zhang Zhixing’s efforts. He accompanied the investigators to deliver the news, and his reunion with Tang reaffirmed their longstanding friendship. The two later returned to Haizhou after Ding was placed under investigation 21 26.

Promotion and Political Standing

Following Tang’s exoneration, Zhang Zhixing was offered a choice between Municipal Government Secretary-General and a municipal bureau position. At Zhang Ke’s urging, he consulted Xu Xueping, who endorsed the secretary-general post while encouraging him to work beyond its conventional internal administrative duties 28 29.

His promotion and connection to Xu changed how Haizhou officials treated him. At the banquet celebrating Zhang Ke and Tang Jing’s school admissions, officials with greater seniority warmly toasted him rather than slighting him. Most knew about his role in clearing Tang and his provincial connections, but not Zhang Ke’s rescue of Zhitong. The family later counted more than 66,000 yuan in gifts from 234 red envelopes 33.

Appearance

• Thin build: Described as physically slight when he sinks into the sofa during Tang’s investigation 4.
• Prematurely white hair: In the original timeline, bitterness over his ruined career turns his hair white before fifty 1.

Personality

Zhang Zhixing is intelligent and stubborn, but not immune to fear. Tang’s detention initially leaves him panicked and unable to see the larger scheme. Once Zhang Ke exposes the suspicious connections, he acknowledges his earlier confusion and begins analyzing the case rather than simply seeking escape 8 9 10.

His loyalty to Tang rests on years of personal knowledge. He refuses to accept the bribery allegations at face value and takes considerable risks to obtain a fair investigation. His charitable use of card winnings in the original timeline also contrasts with the embittered gambler he appears to have become 1 16 17.

As a father, he combines affection with discipline. He jokes with Zhang Ke and praises his unexpected ability, but rebukes him for overturning Zhang Zhiwei’s dinner table. Over the summer, his view of his son changes from an uninformed sixteen-year-old to someone whose mature judgment deserves serious attention 4 14 15 29.

Abilities & Skills

Political and Economic Analysis

• Recognizes that Tang’s alleged bribery is inconsistent with his position and the risks surrounding Xinfeng Group’s restructuring 9.
• Uses his knowledge of Tang’s working habits to identify a possible source of evidence 10.
• Draws on his economics training and teaching experience when discussing government work with Xu Xueping 29.
• Initially limits his career planning to advancement under Tang, until Zhang Ke encourages him to seek Xu’s advice 28.

Go

• Uses games and recorded matches to calm his mind when his thinking reaches an impasse 4.
• Loses to the reborn Zhang Ke, whose skill is clearly superior to his in 1994 4.
• Improves substantially after dismissal from public service in the original timeline 4.

Card Playing

• Becomes skilled enough that few neighbors remain willing to play against him in the original timeline 1.
• Donates his winnings to support children’s schooling rather than keeping the money 1.

Equipment / Items

• Motorola brick phone — Lent to him by Zhang Zhifei during the investigation to keep him reachable. He later doubts that digital communications could make such an expensive handset obsolete 10 48.
• Go stones and game records — Kept at home for play and solitary study 4.

Relationships

• Zhang Ke — His son. Zhang Ke prevents him from repeating his original mistake and becomes an essential partner in uncovering the frame-up 8 10 15.
• Liang Gezhen — His wife, an official at the municipal petitions bureau. She monitors events in Haizhou while he investigates from Dongshe and later endures questioning herself 2 8 16.
• Tang Xueqian — Longtime friend, former superior, and political patron. Their friendship survives the investigation and strengthens after Tang’s exoneration 1 21 31.
• Zhang Zhifei — Younger cousin and trusted ally. He admires Zhang Zhixing’s character and learning, maintains their relationship even in the original timeline, and provides transport and practical help during the investigation 9 10.
• Zhang Zhiwei — Older cousin. He distances himself from Zhang Zhixing during Tang’s downfall and taunts him at the funeral dinner, but later helps with the admission banquet and pays its bill 9 14 33.
• Xu Xueping — Provincial official who supports a fair review of Tang’s case and advises Zhang Zhixing on his promotion 17 29.
• Ye Xinming — Tang’s current secretary and the messenger whose instruction to leave Haizhou ruins Zhang Zhixing in the original timeline. In the revised timeline, Zhang Zhixing recognizes that the message may be a trap 1 7 8.

Notable Quotes

“If Tang Xueqian can trust Ye Xinming, why can’t he trust me? … Ye Xinming’s message from Tang Xueqian could be a trap. I can’t jump into it blind...” 8

“These few photographs we have don’t prove much.” 10