Zhang Ping, a Chinese writer famous for his series of anti-corruption novel figures, was elected as the vice-governor of north China's Shanxi Province Wednesday at the first session of the 11th Provincial People's Congress.
"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 in a county-level magazine, and then took the post as vice-chairman of China's writers association.
In his novels, Zhang depicted lots of nobodies living in China's countryside struggling for better lives.
Zhang pictured the image of a good cadre in his novel "The State Cadre", whom he believes represents the majority of Chinese cadres.
Many of his novels are anti-corruption novels, including "The Choice" and "The Culprit" from the 1990s.
"I tried hard to be a good writer for the people, and I will strive to become a good governor for them," said Zhang, on hearing the news he was elected as the vice-governor of this coal-rich province.
(Xinhua News Agency January 24, 2008)
