Xie Wu’s driver who was an armyveteran drove a Chevrolet Cruze. He sped through town and arrived at County STv Station at around 3.30 pm.
“Thanks, sir!”
Se Cai yelled as he leaped outof the car.
“Young man, wait!”
The driver called after Se Caiand after giving him an once-over, said, “I’ve been the Commissioner’s driverfor quite some time and this is the first time he has personally requested meto help him drive a person. He must have taken a liking to you. Anyway, I knowyou’re in a rush but I just want to remind you that our Commissioner’s firstname is read as Sai if you’re doing a report on him. He’s a minority and isused to having his surname read wrongly. This has happened way too often forhim to mind but it’s still a sign of respect to get his surname correct, don’tyou agree?”
“The word 解 has an alternatep.r.o.nunciation of Sai? It is indeed a rare surname, thank you sir for your kindreminder!” Se Cai bowed in appreciation.
The commonly acceptedp.r.o.nunciation is Xie, even for Se Cai, it was the first time he heard it calledSai.
Indeed it would be tootroublesome for Commissioner Sai to correct the reporting one by one since itwas the more common p.r.o.nunciation.
“Director Bai, I’m back…”
Se Cai stopped short because hefelt the atmosphere in the newsroom was unsettlingly different.
Normally, the place was achaotic hub, with people rushing here and there to meet the deadline.
That day’s newsroom though waschillingly quiet. Se Cai scanned the room and realized most were gatheredaround Xu Ran’s table.
The gathered crowd included rareguests like the station manager and the station’s press supervisor. Thesepeople were figures of certain authority in the station because even DirectorBai, the program director had to stand to the side.
“Perfect! This is the kind ofmaterials that we want! You’ve managed to capture the exact moment the thug wastackled by the plainclothes officer! We must make use of this valuable footage,play it in slow-motion if possible!”
Station Manager Wei Jian Guo exclaimed,pointing at Xu Ran’s computer screen.
“This moment is too precious.How did you manage to capture it?”
This had caused such a commotionin the room that even the normally unmoved Zhang Xin Yu had huddled over.
“I happened to be around thecommercial building when Director Bai called me. I have a friend that rents aroom in the skysc.r.a.per opposite the commercial building. I asked him for afavor and climbed above the water tower on his building’s rooftop to capture allthese.”
Xu Ran said more than a littlesmugly.
“And where were you, Se Cai? We’vealmost missed an important piece of news because of your absence! Thankfully Iwas there to save the day. The jumper took a female reporter as hostage but waseventually detained by a plainclothes police, this thing is huge! I’m sure it’llget bounced up to central news easily!”
Xu Ran saw Se Cai approachingand turned on him.
He had been waiting for Se Caito return since this not only allowed him to put Se Cai down but also impressZhang Xin Yu.
“Xu Ran, now is not the time forpetty squabbles! You only have less than 2 hours before the news broadcast!Quickly finishes the news and pa.s.s it on to the province and central newsstations!”
Station manager Wei Jian Guofrowned. He then turned to address Se Cai, “Se Cai, I know you just came out ofthe hospital but since you’re a reporter, you have to be serious about yourjob. Don’t drag the whole station down with your laziness and tardiness!”
“Xiao Se, I heard that people fromthe police bureau won’t let you in but I’m sure you must have some materials onthe surrounding areas right? Take them out and do a joint script with Xu Ran.”
Director Bai offereddiplomatically.
This was supposed to be Se Cai’sa.s.signment and even though he was at the scene first but he was blocked by thepolice and returned empty-handed. On the other hand, Xu Ran was lucky enough tobe conducting an interview in the skysc.r.a.per opposite the commercial buildingwhen it happened. No matter how you look at it Xu Ran had the bettercontribution.
Within County S Tv Station,having one’s news bounced up to the central news was important because they representedthe reporter’s record of service. They helped immensely for promotions andbonuses.
Se Cai was just systemized, thiswas an opportunity that he really needed. Even though Director Bai’s tone wasreproachful, he was actually trying to help Se Cai.
Having Se Cai do a joint scriptwith Xu Ran meant that Se Cai could have his name on the byline.
“Joint script? Director Bai, areyou kidding me? All the materials here are captured with my camera, the latestmodel there is and I also have pictures of the street scene. I don’t need SeCai’s contribution!”
Xu Ran knew what Director Baiwas going for and objected loudly.
Xu Ran came from a wealthyfamily and was the son of the deputy station manager, the measly remuneration wasnothing to him.
He wouldn’t even want to be ifnot for Zhang Xin Yu.
Normally, he wouldn’t mindadding some other people’s name to his byline because after all, they werestill his colleagues and they had to look out for one another.
However, he was already annoyedby Se Cai when he saved Zhang Xin Yu days ago and now he wanted to have hisnews as well?! Over his dead body!
Later Se Cai found out becausehis phone was dead, he failed to pick up the messages from Director Bai thatinformed him of the unexpected development in the newsroom.
“Station Manager Wei, DirectorBai.”
Se Cai began earnestly as he sethis own camera equipment on the table, “I feel it’s better if we do a jointscript. I agree Xu Ran’s pictures are impressive but I feel they are too drab,they don’t really portray the tension of the actual scene.”
“Se Cai!”
Gao Xiang yelped and pulled hisfriend’s shirt sleeve, trying to make him stop.
“Drab? Do you think we’reshooting a movie here? Why don’t we bring a lightning crew and sound technicianup there to glam up the shot? What’s an amateur reporter like yourself going toknow about good news material?”
Xu Ran continued angrily, “Doyou know how much effort it took for me to clamber up that water tower tocapture these materials? Who are you to be nit picking? Well, why don’t we see whatyou have brought back, Mr. Great Reporter?!”