Zhang Ping, a Chinese writer famous for his series of anti-corruption novel protagonists, was elected as the vice-governor of north China's Shanxi Province on January 23 at the first session of the 11th Provincial People's Congress.

The cover of Zhang's novel The Culprit

"I am a nobody from the bottom of Chinese society", said the 54-year old Zhang, who once taught in a village primary school and worked for a county-level magazine. Later he took the post as vice-chairman of China's writers association, according to Xinhua News Agency on January 24.

Zhang's election attracted widespread public attention, and reflected China's evolving trends for selecting government officials. In the past, no one would ever imagine that a fiction writer would be elected to the post of vice governor. Until recently only those excellent in politics or capable of pushing forward economic development were elected to important governmental positions.

The election has also reflected the public's doubts and hopes to Zhang. As a writer, is he capable of doing a good job as a high-position official? Zhang described the image of a good cadre in his novel The State Cadre, whom he believes represents the majority of Chinese cadres. But after all, it's a completely different can of worms to be a cadre than to create cadres in a novel.

Many of his novels contain anti-corruption themes, including The Choice and The Culprit from the 1990s. Perhaps his books have caused the public to hold more faith that he too will behave as an honest and upright official.

"I diligently tried to be a good writer for the people, and I will strive to become a good governor for them too," Zhang said, upon hearing the news that he had been elected as vice-governor of Shanxi Province.

(China.org.cn January 24, 2008)