An Eye for News Chapter 10
Se Cai
scanned the surrounding behind the safety of his hiding spot.
The
jumper was a man who appeared to be in his 40s. His grey shirt hugged a thin
frame and he was on the other side of the roof’s safety rail, one step away
from failing down 33 floors.
There
were only 2 police officers on the roof trying their best to negotiate with the
jumper. One of them was the commissioner that Se Cai saw earlier.
“This
spot is not bad, it’s within the jumper’s blind spot.”
Se Cai
observed. He had his ears open to all the commotion as he started recording on
his video camera.
“w.a.n.g
Da Fa, please calm down. Have faith in the strength of the law and don’t do
something stupid!”
The
commissioner yelled at a distance away from the jumper.
“F*ck
the police, f*ck the law! The law is only there to guard the rich!”
The
aggravated 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’s
the richest man in County S, he’s living freely while my family’s under the
ground!”
Apprehension
dawned for Se Cai.
Gao Song
must have used his connections to avoid the law if what w.a.n.g Da Fa said was
true.
Da Fa must have felt extremely helpless. Without
an authority to rely on, he used his life as leverage by turning to the public
to pressure Gao Song into admission!
Se Cai
had seen many injustices in his life as a reporter but he still couldn’t help have
his heart go out towards w.a.n.g Da Fa.
His was
the quintessential story of the weak being oppressed by the elite.
“Has
Gao Song arrived?”
The
other officer spoke into his walkie-talkie. After a short period of white
noise, the reply came, “We have him at the 32nd floor but we didn’t
bring him up lest his appearance badly stimulates w.a.n.g Da Fa.”
“Good
job. We’ll try to keep w.a.n.g Da Fa calm on our end so get the fire department to
work faster. We’ll distract him to give them the chance to climb from the 32nd
level to grab and detain him from behind!”
The
officer whispered into the walkie-talkie. Then he lifted his head and yelled, “w.a.n.g
Da 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 to
what you have to say and get to the end of your family’s death because no one
is above the law!
Plus, you must think of your remaining
families. What about your parents and your in laws? Can you really face your
wife when you’re on the other side? So listen to me, don’t be so reckless!”
It was
obvious that deputy director Wong had more field experience than commissioner
Xie. He had the presence of mind to inveigle w.a.n.g Da Fa from the angle of
familial responsibility.
w.a.n.g Da
Fa was visibly affected. He hesitated before saying, “But this is all words of
mouth. I won’t believe you… unless you have it broadcasted on the news!”
“That’s
fine. We happen to have reporters from Province X Tv Station with us. You would
believe them right?”
Commissioner
Xie saw w.a.n.g Da Fa’s resolve breaking. The reporter from the tv station could
be the key to solving this difficult case. The name Xie Wu would get more
influential after his brilliant handling of the situation was broadcasted
across the province. It would definitely help advance his career. That was why
he was quick to answer w.a.n.g Da Fa’s demand.
Se Cai
saw Deputy Director Wong frowned behind Commissioner Xie. He even heard him
whisper, “Commissioner Xie… Are you sure about this? I don’t think this is the
right course of action…”
Deputy
Director Wong had also spent years fielding the difficult currents of career
politics so he saw through Commissioner Xie’s ploy easily.
Xie Wu
waved him away, adding, “Let him talk to the reporter if he wants. It’s our
decision to decide whether to use the film or not. He’s shaken, this is the
best chance we’ve gotten all day. Plus, need I mention again the reporter from
the Province X Tv Station is here, this will reflect badly on both of us if we
fail.”
Since
Xie Wu was so adamant, Deputy Director Wong had no choice but to follow.
Their
main objective was to calm the jumper’s emotion and since it was his demand to
address the media, they had to allow it.
He was
a deputy director but at the end of the day, he still had to obey the director’s
orders.
“h.e.l.lo,
reporter friends, I have a favor to ask of you. It’s like this…”
Commissioner
Xie talked into his walkie-talkie. A few minutes later, the 2 reporters from
Province X Tv Station appeared at the rooftop entrance. With deft actions, the filming
equipment was set up almost instantly.
Se Cai
saw the program name that was written on the cameraman’s media badge. It said
Alongside
the highest ratings among all the news program. It was a household name across
the entire Province X.
In fact,
excerpts from
Se Cai’s own station’s many research meetings.
“Tv
reporter saved suicide attempter after a heart-to-heart talk… d.a.m.n it, I even
had the news t.i.tle ready for you!”
A
frustrated Se Cai mumbled to himself. If the reporters from Province X didn’t
happen to be there, this news would be his! Xie Wu would have no choice but to
let him up when w.a.n.g Da Fa asked for media appearance.
He
wouldn’t have to cower inside a dusty old air duct.
He
would be directly involved in this news and not record it from afar.
The difference
in news value between the two was gigantic. It might even help Se Cai earn his
first reporting accolade.
Of
course bouncing it up to central news would be a non-issue.
“Why
those 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 county
station?”
Se Cai
bristled with anger.