Chapter 40 - Fairytale Essay Competition! (1/2)
Before getting off work.
Zhao Guozhou called Zhang Ye into his office, “Little Zhang, now that it’s just the two of us, I want to have a nice chat with you.” He said earnestly, “You were brought in by me. The facts have proven that I was not wrong. Your ability has been acknowledged by everyone. You have also gained the recognition of the listeners. However, humans are not lone individuals in this society. You need to eat, you need to survive, you need to cater to others, you need to be tactful. The station had planned the case regarding “Ghost Blows Out the Light” for a very long time. It had even established a special small planning team for it. Just because of one simple word from you of not selling, all the plans the station’s management had gone up into smoke. How could the station not be angry about this? Me suppressing you a bit this time was beyond my control. Do you understand what I mean?”
“I understand.” Zhang Ye said with a deadpan expression.
“That’s good, then about the copyright…” Zhao Guozhou persuaded.
Zhang Ye said without hesitation, “Not selling.”
Zhao Guozhou turned mad again, “You really can’t give me peace of mind!”
Zhang Ye also said his heartfelt feelings, “Director Zhao, I know you greatly appreciated me. Back then it was you who took me in despite my looks. For this favor, I’ll remember you for life. I know the station is repressing me, so it’s fine no matter how you treat me. However, about the copyright, I will say that same line forever – not selling!”
“You are willing to not go on a segment in the future?” Zhao Guozhou asked as he worried over his talent.
Zhang Ye said, “I still have a segment now. I will pull it up!”
Zhao Guozhou knocked on the form on his table, “The afternoon listeners.h.i.+p rates have been handed out. Although it will only be announced tomorrow, I shall take this opportunity to tell you that ‘Old and Young Story Club’ is still in last place. This segment cannot be pulled up. It’s useless, no matter who it is. Your talent should be placed on a bigger stage, but why are you so stubborn? You…Hai, forget it. Go back.”
Lining the bottom once again?
Really can’t be pulled up?
Zhang Ye refused to believe that it was so. If two episodes weren’t enough, he would record a third. If the third recording wasn’t enough, he would record a fourth. He still had three days’ time. It was still possible for him to turn the situation around!
The sky still was bright, even after he returned home.
The rental apartment was quiet and lonely. It was like his current situation.
Zhang Ye switched on the computer as he absent-mindedly read the news. After some a.n.a.lysis, he realized that the reason why the ratings had not been pulled up was not the fault of the story. How could “Snow White” and “The Emperor’s New Clothes” have a problem? They were the cla.s.sic fairy tales out of the cla.s.sics fairy tales from his world. The reason was apparently due to inertia. There were not that many people listening to this segment. New listeners were already completely disappointed with the present fairy tales, or they were sick of them. There was no habit to even listen in. There would not be any fresh blood being injected, so it would be odd if the listeners.h.i.+p rate was going up!
How was he to attract new listeners?
He felt that he needed an opportunity; otherwise, it would be very difficult!
Zhang Ye left his mouse as he switched on television, planning to watch the News Channel. As someone working in the media industry, watching the news was part and parcel of one’s daily work.
“Today, another heinous case of a missing child happened in the capital. In a small district near to Cheng Nan Jia Yuan, four-year-old Wen Wen was left alone at home with his parents at work. According to police investigations and a.n.a.lysis of closed-circuit TV footage, Wen Wen had opened the door to a male stranger around the age of 35. It is unknown what method this person used to gain Wen Wen’s trust. Not only did he bring away Wen Wen, he had taken several valuables in the house. According to the closed-circuit TV footage, Wen Wen apparently was not crying. Currently, the police are using all their efforts to take in criminal suspects. This is the picture of the suspect taken from the closed-circuit TV. If anyone sees this suspect, please immediately contact the number shown on your screen!” The Central TV’s News Channel’s female anchorwoman said solemnly with a tinge of anger.
Next were street and school interviews.
A woman holding a vegetable basket said to the reporter, “This is already the fourth time a child has been abducted from home this month, right? It’s so depraved! These people should be shot to death!”
An old man said, “Why do these sort of things keep happening? Why would a child open the door to a stranger? I think it’s a problem with our education!”
At a particular kindergarten, the reporter interviewed at a promotional event held in the school. There were many people gathered in the school field. There were teachers, older students and parents.
“Little friends, remember that when you are alone at home, you must never open the door to strangers. Did you hear that?”
“Heard that!”
“Can you remember?”
“Yes!”
The screen switched back to the studio. The female anchor said, “Actually, the instructions of never to open the door to a stranger has been repeated countless numbers of times in the children education system. All the children know this, but when they meet strangers who claim to be “Mommy’s” or “Daddy’s” colleague, they still open the door. This is the fourth time that it has happened this month. I do not know what has gone wrong in our education system.”
Maybe we should use a teaching method more suitable for children to tell them this. It should not be something repeated to them in a dogmatic manner. Children have their children’s way of thinking and their own world. The way we indoctrinate them with ideas might not be something they can understand. Hence, a week ago, Beijing’s Education Ministry has led the way by organizing the historically largest fairy tale essay compet.i.tion event. The name is “Fairy Tale Essays Collection for Not Opening the Door to Strangers”, The goal is to use these fairy tales to caution children in a fun and educative manner, so as to let children genuinely realize how to protect themselves.”
Fairy Tale Essays Collection?
Zhang Ye immediately had a feeling. Here came an opportunity!
But the next thing the female anchor said made him disappointed, “Submissions began last week and the deadline is at midnight, tonight. During this period, the education ministry has allowed people to vote as a fair way to choose the number one story. From that, kindergarten and elementary schools or other child care groups will receive large-scale promotions!”