He had been unemployed for more than half a year. Then, through his distant relative's social connections, he had paid a king's ransom before he was finally accepted as a reporter in this newspaper.
The hardship he had endured along the way fueled his inner d.e.s.i.r.e to fight for a better future.
He had to become successful. It was his obligation!
During his internship, all the tasks that had been assigned to him were trivialities such as feel-good articles for public consumption and so on.
Wei Feng felt nothing but contempt for such tasks.
After studying various notable cases, he concluded that if he wanted to become famous overnight and cause a great sensation, he had to first understand the people's minds.
Indignation consumed outsiders' hearts in every "classic" case.
As a professionally trained graduate, he fully understood the complexities of such cases.
Those involved in national civil services, law enforcement, the medical field and the education system were easy targets of public outrage.
On his desk lay yesterday's newspaper with a shocking headline—Senior Citizen Loses 2000 Yuan A Month By Selling Tea Eggs Outside University!
The news only stated that someone had paid only a cent through a QR code payment for tea eggs. The reporter who had written this article did not… or perhaps deliberately twisted the story, highlighting the university entrance where the incident had occurred in bold.
Hence, the first thought in every reader's mind was that students nowadays were so low as to cheat a tea egg seller out of their dues.
Wei Feng had read through the online version of this news, and as expected, many people indignantly reprimanded college students for their poor attitudes.
However, the truth had nothing to do with college students taking advantage of an elderly tea egg seller.
In fact, it was one guy from an urban village near the university who had used the old seller's blurry vision under the cover of the night to his advantage.
College students were not to blame for this incident.
In fact, younger college students were far better-mannered than most a.d.u.l.ts in society.
They abided by the rules, and yet were frequently slung with mud.
This was another one of those times.
After seeing the headline, Wei Feng could guess how things turned out in the end. He presumed that university authorities would provide clarification, but the damage was done and their college students had become scapegoats; as for the rest of it, who cared, anyway?!
The draft he had prepared overnight had been cleverly typed into a suspenseful, multi-part story. He was convinced that its publication would definitely cause an uproar in society.
Sales of the newspaper office's flagship—Sea City Life News—would increase tremendously from this article alone.
Wei Feng, the article's mastermind, would surely welcome the first pinnacle of his career.
The email had been sent to the lead editor. He glanced at the time and guessed that his article was being reviewed this very moment.
He once again happily read through his article. Lots of interesting twists had been included to completely control readers' minds, and his words could guide them using their cognitive inertia and inadvertently misdirect their focus toward the designated goal.
Wei Feng also had plans for the subsequent part of the draft. He was merely waiting for the first part to raise public outcry so that he could make minor adjustments according to readers' emotional fluctuations.
This article was definitely better than that of the tea egg seller outside the university and would lead to a greater controversy over the internet.
Controversy meant popularity, which also meant lots of attention very quickly.
'Just you wait! Those who rejected me, I'll make your jaws drop, and I won't even blink in your direction when you plead for my return!'
The delightful thought swam in Wei Feng's mind as if he had already been awarded The Pulitzer Prize and become a prominent member of the media.
"There are a million possibilities in an instant1…" Wei Feng's phone suddenly rang. It was the lead editor.
'She must have thought that the draft was very well done.' Wei Feng smiled and accepted the call. A lyric from the song A Million Possibilities by Christine Welch.
Chapter 129 - Freedom And Honesty
"Is this Wei Feng? Please come to my office." The lead editor hung up immediately after finishing her short sentence.
Delighted, Wei Feng thought, 'The lead editor is going to praise me in person!'
His footsteps were brisk and light, as if the goddess of luck was welcoming him with open arms and granting him boons.
The path to success,
Was right in front of him.
He lifted his foot and,
Stepped forward,
Like a carp leaping over the Dragon Gate and,
Transformed into a dragon!
As for the bones and flesh buried beneath him,
Who cared anyway?!
"Knock-knock-knock!" He regained his composure upon reaching the lead editor's office and rapped on the door.
"Please come in." The lead editor's voice traveled from the other side of the door.
'A girl who uses her family background to act superior to me,' Wei Feng thought contemptuously, but his emotions were well-concealed as he entered the room with a polite smile on his face.
A smart-looking, short-haired woman in her late twenties sat behind the desk, reading a printed copy of the article in her hands.
She was Tang Xiu, a lead editor of the news and information department.
"Wei Feng, good work on your article," said Lead Editor Tang plainly.
The smile on Wei Feng's face deepened, but he maintained a certain degree of formality without putting on a smug look.
"I'm just a newcomer doing my internship in journalism. This is all thanks to your guidance," Wei Feng reluctantly complimented the lead editor, but kept the slightest hint of disinclination out of his tone.
"However, this news will impact society greatly, so forget about it," said the lead editor indifferently as she put the article down and pushed up her black-framed spectacles.
What?
What!
What…
Lead Editor Tang's words exploded violently in Wei Feng's ears with a thunderous boom.
Something was wrong! This had to be a shady deal!
Wei Feng was instantly infuriated.
There had to be a backroom deal! Someone must have persuaded this f*cking b*tch under the table to suppress this news!
His heart began to race at an incredible speed. His brain instantly went into overdrive as multiple thoughts whizzed past his mind like bullet trains.
"You can go back now. Keep up the good work. I have faith in you," said Lead Editor Tang coldly.
Enraged, Wei Feng lost his composure and remained rooted to the spot.
It was undeniably a good article. He had spent most of his already-low salary to obtain an informant. In order to produce a detailed and accurate article, he had also visited Sea City General Hospital, a godforsaken place, in the middle of the night, and had even dealt with a group of people who smelled heavily of booze and tobacco.
All that hard work, and for what?!
His sole purpose was to publish news that could send everyone into shock!
Who the hell did she think she was to disallow that?!
Wei Feng quickly calmed down, sorted out his emotions and suppressed his rage. "Lead Editor Tang, may I ask why?"
"The risks are too huge and the content isn't suitable. Once it's published, it'll bring lots of trouble to the company."
"As a free and honest journalist, I perform my duty with a clear conscience," replied Wei Feng loudly with a straight face, almost impressed by his own words.
"I know this article will offend some people, but no matter what kind of resistance or pressure awaits me, even if I
'm physically threatened or—"
"That's enough!" Lead Editor Tang raised her head and stared at Wei Feng coldly. "Are you sure what you said is true?"
"I'm sure!" answered Wei Feng energetically.
He was under overwhelming stress; at that moment, he even considered resigning and exchanging his article for a job in a major newspaper firm in the South.
That firm loved this type of news.
Lead Editor Tang picked up her cell phone, seemingly sending messages via WeChat.
This very sight irritated Wei Feng even further. To him, she was giving him the cold shoulder.
Lead Editor Tang's unspoken words were clear. "This matter ends here. Your draft won't be published so that the newspaper stays out of trouble."
'Choosing pieces over controversy?! No wonder this remained a small newspaper in a remote city.' Wei Feng sneered.
"Lead Editor Tang, I understand your concerns." Wei Feng decided to argue the matter.
The article was simply too good. Once it was published on the right platform, he was certain that a bright future would await him.
He would regret this for life if he backed off now.
Wei Feng had seen what he could become and was unwilling to spend the rest of his life rotting in Sea City.
"If the newspaper office gets into unnecessary trouble because of my article, I will owe you a sincere apology," Wei Feng said coldly, "But the ownership of this article belongs to me, and I think it deserves a better place. I won't let society—"
His phone rang all of a sudden, interrupting his speech.
"This isn't a university presentation and no one will listen to your lecture. Please be quiet and take a look at these photographs." Lead Editor Tang gave Wei Feng a cold, piercing gaze.
Wei Feng was taken aback. Photographs? Had someone taken a photograph of him paying off the informant or receiving cash from the professional troublemakers?
A shiver ran down his spine as he unlocked his cell phone.
In the first photo, the patient's family members were holding a silk banner high in the air at the main entrance of Sea City General Hospital, surrounded by a huge crowd.
The second photo, taken from a different angle and much closer than the first, showed a man holding the silk banner with densely embroidered words clearly visible on it.
'They…' Wei Feng's heart sank immediately.
'Please, let this be the last picture,' he desperately prayed in his heart. However, when his finger swiped left, a picture of a dark corner appeared before his eyes.
It was a photo of him and the yellow-toothed, tattooed man.
The man was stuffing a stack of red banknotes into his hands.
Seeing Wei Feng frozen on the spot, Lead Editor Tang picked up the printed article and threw it into his face.
"Aren't you going to resign? Take your article and get lost!
"F*cking idiot, not only had you received money, but you also left evidence behind!
"It's a good article, and I was prepared to endure all kinds of pressure to publish it, but you've been blackmailed! You dare to lecture me on fairness and freedom?!
"Don't you want the article in a place it deserves to be in? Get out, now! Right away! Immediately! It belongs to the trash can, so throw yourself into the garbage along with it!
"Sc.u.mbag!"
The smart and competent Lead Editor Tang cursed out loud, unable to control her anger.
Blood drained from Wei Feng's face as the papers floated weightlessly down to the ground like snowflakes.
…
…
In the Sea City General Hospital emergency ward, Zheng Ren was reading a book, Chang Yue was doc.u.menting medical records, and Su Yun was engrossed in his phone behind Zheng Ren.
Zheng Ren would check on the patient with tetanus every half hour.
Even though there was no significant improvement in the patient's symptoms following the infusion of tetanus toxoid, there was no further deterioration, either.
This proved that the drug had worked, which was a good sign.
Half an hour later, Zheng Ren once again stood up to check on the patient.
"Chief Zheng, are you not going to wear a mask?" asked Su Yun as he trailed behind Zheng Ren.
Chapter 130 - Honor Over Life
"The patient's illness isn't airborne. The smell in the room is pretty strong, anyway, so there's no point in a mask," Zheng Ren replied, deadpan.
When that happened, everyone would know which room it was.
The rooms were all ventilated. Sometimes they were crowded with family, leading to a drop in air quality but never a strong smell.
The tetanus patient was from the countryside, where hygiene standards were lower than in the city. In addition, the door and windows were tightly shut, causing the room to stink unbearably.
Every doctor who made their rounds expected others to put masks on, but no one did.
They were aware of the implications of doing so
The patient's family would notice that doctors only wore masks when entering their room. It would be hurtful.
Although it was the prerogative of medical personnel to don a mask when making their rounds, Zheng Ren, Chang Yue, and Su Yun decided against it for the sake of the patient and her family.
The patient was in a stable condition now. Her abnormal posture had relaxed a little after the administration of tetanus toxoid, but her limbs were still restrained by straps.
Zheng Ren performed a thorough check of her limbs for any signs of necrosis.
Checkups were done in 30-minute intervals and this was the sixth visit. Chang Yue noted down muscle tension and the angle of the arched back during each visit.
From the data collected, they could infer that the patient was on the right track to recovery.
Zheng Ren felt a weight lift from his shoulders.
It was his first time encountering a tetanus patient and he was following procedures laid out in one of his medical textbooks.
Textbooks were certainly a reliable source of information. Zheng Ren wondered whether he should update his book collection with some newer editions.
He had the fourth edition of the surgical handbook when he was in medical school. It was likely in its eighth or ninth edition now with more updated procedures within.
Chang Yue bid the patient's family farewell and they left the patient's room. The door quietly closed behind them and everyone took a deep breath of fresh air.
It was almost lunchtime. They visited a few more patients on their way out.
Thanks to his superb surgical skills, the patients were all healing well.
They were greeted with warm smiles all around.
Zheng Ren knew the generous smiles were mainly meant for Chang Yue.
Treatment was only 30 percent of the work, while care was 70 percent. Chang Yue clearly did a very good job attending to the needs of patients and their families.
They walked into one of the hospital rooms and saw a looming figure.
The large man was tidying up his bed, a task typically done by the nurses. This oversight was probably due to the influx of hospital visitors.
The man, however, was focused on his task. His big hands patted the pillows and smoothed out their creases.
The other two occupants in the room had been admitted for more than five days, but once their critical period was over, they had sneaked out to go home. As such, the room was tidier than the others.
"Fan Tianshui," Chang Yue announced.
"Yes." The heavyset man turned and saw Chang Yue and Zheng Ren, giving them a wide smile.
This was the gangrenous appendicitis patient whom Chu Yanzhi rescued the night Su Yun and Chang Yue finished 11 cartons of Snow.
He had recovered in record time from the severe infection; after less than a week, he could already be discharged.
This man was made of something else.
"You should stay a few more days," Chang Yue said.
"No, it's alright."
Fan Tianshui stood with his back straight as a pole. "I wouldn't want to owe the hospital too much."
His words were honest and earnest.
"Chief Resident Zheng, Fan Tianshui has requested to be discharged. No fever in the past four days. No swelling or discharge at the incision site. A successful recovery overall," Chang Yue reported to Zheng Ren.
A voluntary discharge only required the patient's signature, but Chang Yue relayed the patient's status out of habit.
"Have you spoken to him about the job?" Zheng Ren asked.
He remembered that Chang Yue had asked him if he could help this patient.
Zheng Ren had contacted Little Six and managed to get him a job as a security guard.
He could not guarantee good pay but it was better than being unemployed and homeless.
From Fan Tianshui's habits, Zheng Ren figured that he had some military background. Zheng Ren had always respected the army.
Fan Tianshui's mannerisms and behavior certainly lived up to the army's reputation. Zheng Ren did not know how the man had ended up on the streets, willing to rot rather than commit crime.
Fan Tianshui once protected the country with his life and now, he still put honor above survival. Zheng Ren could respect that.
"Yes. I had to persuade him for two solid days before he accepted," Chang Yue said with a smile.
"That's good. As for the medical bill, didn't Chief Pan settle it?"
"Debts must be repaid," Fan Tianshui said in a tone that brooked no dissent. "I must also thank all of you who have cared for me during my stay here."
"It's not an issue." Zheng Ren did a final checkup to assess the patient's condition. If all was well, he could leave the hospital.
The sutures were thick and obvious. Fan Tianshui probably could remove them himself.
"Dr. Zheng, I will give you my contact number as soon as possible," Fan Tianshui said as he took two steps forward. His fighting spirit was palpable. "You can contact me for anything. I'm reliable."
His commitment made Zheng Ren smile.
"I'm serious," Fan Tianshui emphasized. He worried that Zheng Ren was taking it as a joke.
"I heard you were willing to compensate the man who framed you, even though you did not harm him."
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