Deng Yongnan, a former deputy director of Chenzhou bureau of agriculture, has recovered from the depression he suffered after being removed from office.

On Feb 28, he was discovered browsing a stock market website at work, in contravention of the rules. By early March, he was no long deputy director. "Some people knocked on my door asking where the director's office was, I did not know they had stepped into my office and taken a photo of the stock market website," said Deng. "I didn't think it mattered, but I was demoted."

In March, he was embarrassed by a conversation in a taxi. "Officials like the deputy director don't have anything important to do, chatting online or trading on the stock market. When will they do something meaningful for us?" asked the taxi driver. Deng did not have the courage to tell the driver that he was the man in question.