Short, Light, Free

"This is the concern every engineer had upon seeing this . After all, as long as the worker underground is safe, the collapse is not a problem . When it comes to a vital organ like the heart, however, that must not happen . I can promise that, but no one believes me . "

"I do," I corrected him .

"So you"re willing to help me?" he asked eagerly .

"I"ve already resigned and flown to meet you . What more a.s.surance do you need?"

"I"ll prepare the materials for you tomorrow, then . All you"ll need is an interview . There will be a conference after you get the job, so just use your mining a.n.a.logy to strengthen my proposal . We will get a script ready so you"ll just have to read it out . "

"Wait, conference? You didn"t say anything about a conference" I said .

"It"s really nothing . You just need to show your face to the people,"

"Won"t there be reporters? And won"t it be shown on television?"

He nodded . "It"s a 300,000 dollar job, after all . If there"s no need to make an appearance, everyone would be fighting for this job . Didn"t you say you trust me? Are you going back on your words?"

"No, I"m not, but I need to clarify something with you… the forging . . . of doc.u.ments…" I stammered .

"No one else knows about it other than me and your sister-in-law . If outsiders were to investigate thoroughly, they would arrive at the materials I"ve prepared . Just like how I"m concealing my marriage . Your certs and credentials will be declared and made known online as well so it will just be like the real thing . There"s no need to worry," he rea.s.sured .

"Like the real thing?" I repeated .

"It all boils down to whether you"re able to perform a convincing show," Brother added .

"Convincing?" I thought back to the time I visited own my parents and stuttered non-stop despite a full day of rehearsal .

How would I fare in front of other people? The media? The whole world?

I fell silent .

Brother patted me my shoulder . "You should rest first . The room on the left is yours . You don"t have any luggage, right? In that case, remember to get some clothes . I"ll prepare a suit for your interview in a few days" time . The appearance will happen about a month or two after your interview . We will get you familiar with the job scope before starting work properly . "

I nodded .

A week later, Brother brought me out to pick a suit .

A blue suit that made me look different from usual .

I was then given a fresh hairstyle . The thick amount of wax made me feel uncomfortable and stifled .

He then drove us to the company building and handed me a doc.u.ment file .

"Everything you"ll need is inside . You don"t have to speak when the cameras flash and when they talk to you . Your sister-in-law will intercept their questions and cover for you . "

I nodded . "Got it . "

He smiled and pointed to the entrance as I brought the file into the building .

My sister-in-law was waiting for me inside . "This way, Mr . Li," she greeted kindly .

We took the elevator right up to the highest floor and to a door with the word plate "CEO" .

I recalled Brother"s words and opened it .

A fleshy man raised his head and asked, "Who"s coming in without knocking?"

I placed the file down on his table .

Sister-in-law walked in from behind and introduced, "Director w.a.n.g, this is Mr . Li . He"s here to interview for the senior engineer and spokesperson"s position . "

"How do I address you, Mr . Li?" Director w.a.n.g asked, smiling .

I shut my mouth and looked at him expressionlessly .

Sister-in-law quickly walked over to him and whispered something .

"Oh . It"s only normal for Mr . Li to be in a bad temper . You"re highly skilled and I admire you . " Director w.a.n.g smiled and flipped through the file after putting on his gla.s.ses .

After reading through each and every doc.u.ment, he took his gla.s.ses down . "You"re perfect, Mr . Li Goudan . The company is willing to work with you and have you as our spokesperson . Thank you for wanting to be a part of this . "

I continued observing him with a blank face .

"Mr . Li?" Director w.a.n.g called out before standing up and waving his hand .

"Have I pa.s.sed?" I asked faintly .

"Yes," he confirmed with a smile, extending his hand out .

After a brief handshake, I turned around to leave .

Outside the door, I leaned against the wall to breathe .

I could hear Sister-in-law talking to him in the room .

"Talented people mostly have a temper," she commented .

"I"m a director… should I be like him, too?"

"You"re right . I"ll keep this," she offered, packing the doc.u.ments .

She exited his office and laughed upon seeing my breathless face . She pulled me to the lift and out of the building .

From that day onward, I had a private office of my own .

Brother visited me regularly and brought in a script a month later .

I could change its content if I wish . There were a lot of medical terms that I wasn"t familiar with .

The script was three pages long, and I scored badly in school precisely because I hated memorizing .

Brother said I only had half a month"s time so I had no choice but to recite the script daily .

On the day of the conference, I had the whole script ingrained in my head .

I was given a small b.u.t.ton to press in order to change the presentation slides .

What I had to talk about was Brother"s new treatment method .

I explained and demonstrated how it would work while Brother watched me .

When it was finally over, the stage was overtaken by a round of applause .

The host announced, "Let"s move on to the interview segment . "

Brother came over to me and whispered, "I kept it from you because I didn"t want to you be nervous . "

"Hi, may I know how this is better than bridge building?" a reporter asked .

After a short pause, I picked up a gla.s.s of water and sipped on it a little .

It was something I had memorized previously but it was still nerve-wracking .

"The support frame technique is minimally invasive, brings little damage and cost . Bridging is the opposite and not allowed in some hospitals . Of course, the patient should be properly examined before we determine the best treatment . "

"So there"s no comparison value?" the reporter continued .

"Yes," I said, looking straight at him .

Another round of applause broke out and Sister-in-law gave me a thumbs up from off stage, which helped me relax .

The next few questions were those I had prepared for so I was extremely relieved .

When things got awkward, Brother took over the microphone to answer on my behalf .

His answers were ambiguous but evoked cheers nevertheless .

When all was done, I saw Brother and Sister-in-law smiling widely from below .

Epilogue .

My name had been added to Baidu"s information page regarding the support frame treatment .

Brother"s name, however, could not be found since he had chosen to focus on research and development and stay behind the scenes .

There are pros and cons to the treatment but it served as a new alternative to the bridging method .

I chose to resign three years later and returned to the village .

I redeemed the land my parents had sold off and started to farm with the excuse of wanting to spend more time with them since I had already earned enough money .

This is the concern every engineer had upon seeing this . After all, as long as the worker underground is safe, the collapse is not a problem . When it comes to a vital organ like the heart, however, that must not happen . I can promise that, but no one believes me . I do, I corrected him . So you 39 re willing to help me he asked eagerly . I 39 ve already resigned and flown to meet you . What more a.s.surance do you need I 39 ll prepare the materials for you tomorrow, then . All you 39 ll need is an interview . There will be a conference after you get the job, so just use your mining a.n.a.logy to strengthen my proposal . We will get a script ready so you 39 ll just have to read it out . Wait, conference You didn 39 t say anything about a conference I said . It 39 s really nothing . You just need to show your face to the people, Won 39 t there be reporters And won 39 t it be shown on television He nodded . It 39 s a 300,000 dollar job, after all . If there 39 s no need to make an appearance, everyone would be fighting for this job . Didn 39 t you say you trust me Are you going back on your words No, I 39 m not, but I need to clarify something with you the forging . . . of doc.u.ments I stammered . No one else knows about it other than me and your sister in law . If outsiders were to investigate thoroughly, they would arrive at the materials I 39 ve prepared . Just like how I 39 m concealing my marriage . Your certs and credentials will be declared and made known online as well so it will just be like the real thing . There 39 s no need to worry, he rea.s.sured . Like the real thing I repeated . It all boils down to whether you 39 re able to perform a convincing show, Brother added . Convincing I thought back to the time I visited own my parents and stuttered non stop despite a full day of rehearsal . How would I fare in front of other people The media The whole world I fell silent . Brother patted me my shoulder . You should rest first . The room on the left is yours . You don 39 t have any luggage, right In that case, remember to get some clothes . I 39 ll prepare a suit for your interview in a few days 39 time . The appearance will happen about a month or two after your interview . We will get you familiar with the job scope before starting work properly . I nodded . . . . A week later, Brother brought me out to pick a suit . A blue suit that made me look different from usual . I was then given a fresh hairstyle . The thick amount of wax made me feel uncomfortable and stifled . He then drove us to the company building and handed me a doc.u.ment file . Everything you 39 ll need is inside . You don 39 t have to speak when the cameras flash and when they talk to you . Your sister in law will intercept their questions and cover for you . I nodded . Got it . He smiled and pointed to the entrance as I brought the file into the building . My sister in law was waiting for me inside . This way, Mr . Li, she greeted kindly . We took the elevator right up to the highest floor and to a door with the word plate CEO . I recalled Brother 39 s words and opened it . A fleshy man raised his head and asked, Who 39 s coming in without knocking I placed the file down on his table . Sister in law walked in from behind and introduced, Director w.a.n.g, this is Mr . Li . He 39 s here to interview for the senior engineer and spokesperson 39 s position . How do I address you, Mr . Li Director w.a.n.g asked, smiling . I shut my mouth and looked at him expressionlessly . Sister in law quickly walked over to him and whispered something . Oh . It 39 s only normal for Mr . Li to be in a bad temper . You 39 re highly skilled and I admire you . Director w.a.n.g smiled and flipped through the file after putting on his gla.s.ses . After reading through each and every doc.u.ment, he took his gla.s.ses down . You 39 re perfect, Mr . Li Goudan . The company is willing to work with you and have you as our spokesperson . Thank you for wanting to be a part of this . I continued observing him with a blank face . Mr . Li Director w.a.n.g called out before standing up and waving his hand . Have I pa.s.sed I asked faintly . Yes, he confirmed with a smile, extending his hand out . After a brief handshake, I turned around to leave . Outside the door, I leaned against the wall to breathe . I could hear Sister in law talking to him in the room . Talented people mostly have a temper, she commented . I 39 m a director should I be like him, too You 39 re right . I 39 ll keep this, she offered, packing the doc.u.ments . She exited his office and laughed upon seeing my breathless face . She pulled me to the lift and out of the building . From that day onward, I had a private office of my own . Brother visited me regularly and brought in a script a month later . I could change its content if I wish . There were a lot of medical terms that I wasn 39 t familiar with . The script was three pages long, and I scored badly in school precisely because I hated memorizing . Brother said I only had half a month 39 s time so I had no choice but to recite the script daily . On the day of the conference, I had the whole script ingrained in my head . I was given a small b.u.t.ton to press in order to change the presentation slides . What I had to talk about was Brother 39 s new treatment method . I explained and demonstrated how it would work while Brother watched me . When it was finally over, the stage was overtaken by a round of applause . The host announced, Let 39 s move on to the interview segment . Brother came over to me and whispered, I kept it from you because I didn 39 t want to you be nervous . Hi, may I know how this is better than bridge building a reporter asked . After a short pause, I picked up a gla.s.s of water and sipped on it a little . It was something I had memorized previously but it was still nerve wracking . The support frame technique is minimally invasive, brings little damage and cost . Bridging is the opposite and not allowed in some hospitals . Of course, the patient should be properly examined before we determine the best treatment . So there 39 s no comparison value the reporter continued . Yes, I said, looking straight at him . Another round of applause broke out and Sister in law gave me a thumbs up from off stage, which helped me relax . The next few questions were those I had prepared for so I was extremely relieved . When things got awkward, Brother took over the microphone to answer on my behalf . His answers were ambiguous but evoked cheers nevertheless . When all was done, I saw Brother and Sister in law smiling widely from below . Epilogue . My name had been added to Baidu 39 s information page regarding the support frame treatment . Brother 39 s name, however, could not be found since he had chosen to focus on research and development and stay behind the scenes . There are pros and cons to the treatment but it served as a new alternative to the bridging method . I chose to resign three years later and returned to the village . I redeemed the land my parents had sold off and started to farm with the excuse of wanting to spend more time with them since I had already earned enough money .