The protagonist Chu Jun has struggled in the officialdom for nearly two decades, during which he has experienced 29 job adjustments, including 11 promotions, 2 demotions, and 3 seemingly horizontal transfers that were actually disguised demotions. These 29 subtle position changes reflect how an ordinary person sticks to his principles in the waves of officialdom, maintains his true character in the whirlpool of power, and copes skillfully in the intricate network of interpersonal relationships. His thirty-year official career showed us the broad scene of officialdom as well as the little-known inside stories.
