Se Caiscanned the surrounding behind the safety of his hiding spot.
Thejumper was a man who appeared to be in his 40s. His grey shirt hugged a thinframe and he was on the other side of the roof’s safety rail, one step awayfrom failing down 33 floors.
Therewere only 2 police officers on the roof trying their best to negotiate with thejumper. One of them was the commissioner that Se Cai saw earlier.
“Thisspot is not bad, it’s within the jumper’s blind spot.”
Se Caiobserved. He had his ears open to all the commotion as he started recording onhis video camera.
“w.a.n.gDa Fa, please calm down. Have faith in the strength of the law and don’t dosomething stupid!”
Thecommissioner yelled at a distance away from the jumper.
“F*ckthe police, f*ck the law! The law is only there to guard the rich!”
Theaggravated man shouted in return, “That b.a.s.t.a.r.d Gao Song is the best example!He ran over my wife and child while driving under influence, but because he’sthe richest man in County S, he’s living freely while my family’s under theground!”
Apprehensiondawned for Se Cai.
Gao Songmust have used his connections to avoid the law if what w.a.n.g Da Fa said wastrue.
Da Fa must have felt extremely helpless. Withoutan authority to rely on, he used his life as leverage by turning to the publicto pressure Gao Song into admission!
Se Caihad seen many injustices in his life as a reporter but he still couldn’t help havehis heart go out towards w.a.n.g Da Fa.
His wasthe quintessential story of the weak being oppressed by the elite.
“HasGao Song arrived?”
Theother officer spoke into his walkie-talkie. After a short period of whitenoise, the reply came, “We have him at the 32nd floor but we didn’tbring him up lest his appearance badly stimulates w.a.n.g Da Fa.”
“Goodjob. We’ll try to keep w.a.n.g Da Fa calm on our end so get the fire department towork faster. We’ll distract him to give them the chance to climb from the 32ndlevel to grab and detain him from behind!”
Theofficer whispered into the walkie-talkie. Then he lifted his head and yelled, “w.a.n.gDa Fa, I am Deputy Bureau Director Wong. This here is our head, Director Xie,he’s also our county’s newly appointed Politics and Legislative Commissioner!We’ve contacted Gao Song and he’s on his way here. We promise we’ll listen towhat you have to say and get to the end of your family’s death because no oneis above the law!
Plus, you must think of your remainingfamilies. What about your parents and your in laws? Can you really face yourwife when you’re on the other side? So listen to me, don’t be so reckless!”
It wasobvious that deputy director Wong had more field experience than commissionerXie. He had the presence of mind to inveigle w.a.n.g Da Fa from the angle offamilial responsibility.
w.a.n.g DaFa was visibly affected. He hesitated before saying, “But this is all words ofmouth. I won’t believe you… unless you have it broadcasted on the news!”
“That’sfine. We happen to have reporters from Province X Tv Station with us. You wouldbelieve them right?”
CommissionerXie saw w.a.n.g Da Fa’s resolve breaking. The reporter from the tv station couldbe the key to solving this difficult case. The name Xie Wu would get moreinfluential after his brilliant handling of the situation was broadcastedacross the province. It would definitely help advance his career. That was whyhe was quick to answer w.a.n.g Da Fa’s demand.
Se Caisaw Deputy Director Wong frowned behind Commissioner Xie. He even heard himwhisper, “Commissioner Xie… Are you sure about this? I don’t think this is theright course of action…”
DeputyDirector Wong had also spent years fielding the difficult currents of careerpolitics so he saw through Commissioner Xie’s ploy easily.
Xie Wuwaved him away, adding, “Let him talk to the reporter if he wants. It’s ourdecision to decide whether to use the film or not. He’s shaken, this is thebest chance we’ve gotten all day. Plus, need I mention again the reporter fromthe Province X Tv Station is here, this will reflect badly on both of us if wefail.”
SinceXie Wu was so adamant, Deputy Director Wong had no choice but to follow.
Theirmain objective was to calm the jumper’s emotion and since it was his demand toaddress the media, they had to allow it.
He wasa deputy director but at the end of the day, he still had to obey the director’sorders.
“h.e.l.lo,reporter friends, I have a favor to ask of you. It’s like this…”
CommissionerXie talked into his walkie-talkie. A few minutes later, the 2 reporters fromProvince X Tv Station appeared at the rooftop entrance. With deft actions, the filmingequipment was set up almost instantly.
Se Caisaw the program name that was written on the cameraman’s media badge. It said. Alongside, the program had one ofthe highest ratings among all the news program. It was a household name acrossthe entire Province X. In fact,excerpts from were often used as learning sample duringSe Cai’s own station’s many research meetings. “Tvreporter saved suicide attempter after a heart-to-heart talk… d.a.m.n it, I evenhad the news t.i.tle ready for you!”
Afrustrated Se Cai mumbled to himself. If the reporters from Province X didn’thappen to be there, this news would be his! Xie Wu would have no choice but tolet him up when w.a.n.g Da Fa asked for media appearance.
Hewouldn’t have to cower inside a dusty old air duct.
Hewould be directly involved in this news and not record it from afar.
The differencein news value between the two was gigantic. It might even help Se Cai earn hisfirst reporting accolade.
Ofcourse bouncing it up to central news would be a non-issue.
“Whythose reporters can walk underneath the light while I have to hide in the dark?F*ck that Xie Wu, it’s because of his partial treatment that I ended up here!Who says reporters from the province station must be better than the countystation?”
Se Caibristled with anger.