Pouring Cash

A posting to Lianjiang doesn't seem like a promotion. The rural county's neighborhoods of tight wooden houses lean toward the concrete banks of the Ao River like drunkards looking for support and not finding much. But winning the job of Communist Party Secretary there was Huang Jingao's big chance. He'd oversee the completion of renovations to the county town's riverfront and then could reasonably expect promotion to a bigger town in his coastal province, Fujian. The county's top position was a reward to the 52-year-old cadre for exposing corruption and braving death threats in a nearby city, and now he expected...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!