782 Morning News (1/2)
Zhang Zian was about to give a serious lesson to Snowy Lionet. It could not eat too much Spicy Diced Chicken––it was too hot. Then he heard Old Time Tea shouting for him from downstairs.
He waved the feather duster again to intimidate Richard, then quickly walked downstairs.
”Grandpa Tea, what's the matter?” he asked as he bent down next to Old Time Tea.
Old Time Tea lifted a front paw, pointed at the TV screen, and asked, ”Zian, is this news worth watching?”
Zhang Zian looked at the screen.
The local morning news was on.
In fact, girls in Binhai City, such as the news hostess, were of high quality. She was prettier than the CCTV hostess, except not as nicely presented.
The hostess glanced at the script, then lifted up her head with a smile.
”Here is good news for everyone: the pollution treatment has been proven effective in our city. Minke whales that have not been seen for many years are resurfacing in the sea near our city. Here is the detailed story.”
The screen switched.
On the vast sea, the cameraman seemed to be rising and falling with the waves on a boat. Water drops splashed on the camera lens.
The cameraman pointed the lens somewhere in the distance.
The lens zoomed in.
Among the rolling white waves, a number of giant grey creatures swam on the surface of the deep, blue sea.
They chased each other and jumped out of the water every once in a while. After they turned their bodies in the air and exposed their white bellies, they landed back into the sea with a loud splash, making waves a few meters tall.
Poof!
Poof!
A thin air pillar squirted out of their nostrils. They revealed their identity as whales in a unique way.
A voice-over spoke:
”As reported by fishermen, a pod of whales has recently appeared in the sea near our city. In order to not disturb their games, the cameraman is keeping a distance. The experts have identified them as minke whales, who have not been spotted in decades near our city.”
The screen shifted again. A middle-aged man wearing glasses was standing in front of the camera. Subtitles showed that he was a high-level official in the Ocean and Fishery Bureau of Binhai City.
”Minke whales are very sensitive to the environment. The fact that they are resurfacing the sea nearby is proof that the pollution treatment work in our city is going well. We are heading towards the right direction, taking the right measures, and following the right method. The agencies involved have done a lot of work, but there remains a lot to be done.”
”As instructed by city officials, the Ocean and Fishery Bureau has made an urgent plan to work with other departments to deepen the regional corporation and strengthen the administrative measures on the sea. They will do everything they can to keep the pod of minke whales here and make them beautiful scenery in our city!”
He spoke with resolution. His tone was a bit rusty, as if he had just recited the script.
The screen switched back to the hostess.
”The government offices suggest that everyone should not watch the whales in the sea simply out of curiosity. Just let them roam freely between the water and the air.”
”That's it for the news today. The weather forecast will follow. Before we end our program today, let's appreciate the beauty of these minke whales in the waves once again.”
With the subtitles, the screen switched once again to the minke whale pod. The boat and the cameraman never got too close to them, and stayed parallel to the pod. The sea surface was bumpy, so they could not be clearly seen in the camera. Yet, the audience could still feel their happy and relaxed mood.
After the subtitles, the weather forecast was on the television.
”From now into tonight, it will be cloudy, then sunny in the north of our city, with western wind…”
Zhang Zian was speechless…