In 2023, Xiaoxinliang, a resident of Xiangyin County, Yueyang City, Hunan Province, was detained for criticizing a “substandard construction project” in a video comment two years ago. He went through two appeals and three verdicts, but it wasn’t until this year when the top leader of Xiangyin fell from power that his case was overturned. The incident has recently gained attention after being exposed online.
On August 8, Xiaoxinliang shared his experience with “Daxiang News”. According to him, in July 2023, while watching a short video, he came across a 30-second firefighting rescue video showing someone falling from the 4th floor to the 2nd floor scaffolding, with firefighters organizing the rescue operation. The accident occurred on Bishi Street in Xiangyin County, where some areas were undergoing renovation, including unified storefront advertisements.
Xiaoxinliang believed that the accident was due to substandard building construction quality, so he commented in the section: “Still doing shoddy construction work, unified signs?” After posting the comment, he received 6 likes and 1 reply. A netizen from Hubei commented, “You don’t know! He has many aunts and uncles working in advertising companies.”
According to Xiaoxinliang, the “he” mentioned by the netizen should be the then Xiangyin County Party Secretary Li Zhenjiang, who started the unified signage initiative after taking office. Li Zhenjiang was expelled from the Party in July 2024.
To Xiaoxinliang’s surprise, the trouble started with just a 12-character comment. On July 7, 2023, he was summoned by the Public Security Bureau and after questioning and evidence collection, he was informed that his comment was considered “provocative” and “disturbing public order” online, leading to a five-day administrative detention.
Unsatisfied, Xiaoxinliang filed an administrative lawsuit to the Miluo City Court after being released. On December 27, 2023, the court rejected his lawsuit request, stating that his comment had extended and expanded negative political impact on the Xiangyin County government and its leaders, disrupting public order and causing trouble.
Displeased with the verdict, Xiaoxinliang appealed to the Yueyang Intermediate Court. However, on April 1, 2024, his appeal was also rejected.
After two rejections, Xiaoxinliang did not give up and appealed to the Hunan Provincial High Court within fifteen days, requesting a retrial and new judgment.
On June 25, 2025, the Hunan Provincial High Court issued a third verdict, stating that the main evidence of the original two verdicts was insufficient and the law was misapplied, leading to their revocation. Finally, the administrative penalty imposed on Xiaoxinliang was lifted.
However, Xiaoxinliang mentioned that as of that day, he had not received the 2377.6 yuan compensation for personal freedom, and he demanded Xiangyin County Public Security Bureau to pay him 98,000 yuan for psychological damages.
After the case was exposed on August 8, it sparked controversy online. Netizens expressed their opinions, saying, “As the saying goes, ‘grownups should overlook children’s faults,’ but these officials seem to have smaller hearts than children.” “Maybe he hit the nail on the head.” “Too arrogant.” “How will the police who arrested him resolve this?” “Who reported him? All deserve investigation! Re-investigation!”
“Southern Daily” also commented that the revocation of the judgment came after the official implicated in “creating negative political impact” fell from power. “In future similar cases, will they be handled according to the law or personal preferences?”
Under public pressure, on August 10, the Political and Legal Committee of Yueyang responded to the Yueyang official media “Yueyang Daily,” stating that an investigation process has been initiated by the Public Security Bureau and Intermediate Court of Yueyang regarding the law enforcement and judicial actions involved in the case.