Liu Zhizhong had received the message—it was a joint funeral notice from the Yangzhou Municipal Committee and the Municipal Government: Comrade Zhang Dingkang, the former Secretary of Yangzhou City Committee, suffered a sudden major myocardial infarction. Resuscitation was unsuccessful, and he passed away at 5:58 AM, at the age of 89! Of course, his real age was 88, but traditionally he was 89. That's correct.
Zhang Dingkang was none other than Zhang Hongyang's grandfather, who came from a humble background as a peasant. He had managed Yangzhou City for decades, serving ten years as Mayor and ten years as City Secretary, eventually retiring honorably while in office and helping his son succeed him as City Secretary. Within the province, to have a father and son serve consecutively as secretaries was indeed a legendary tale in officialdom.
Now, the legend had ended!
