Ch123.1 - Choosing a Topic (1/2)

The next morning, Yu Hao felt a little better, so he insisted on going to work again. The manuscripts weren’t submitted yet. He was prepared to let Lin Ze know once he submitted the manuscripts, then come back and take a nap.

He had just returned to the office when Yu Hao saw the vice Editor-in-Chief appear in their office. Lin Ze stood as he listened to his rebukes and threw Yu Hao a look, telling him not to come in.

“All my face is about to be thrown away because of you guys!” Vice Editor-in-Chief said, “Now all the netizens are going to Weibo and WeChat’s public number to talk about how you guys can’t do anything right and only know how to spam hit counts and buy reposts! How do you want me to explain this in Monday’s meeting?!”

Yu Hao still went in and stood with Lin Ze.

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

“It’s him again?” Vice Editor-in-Chief said, “Lin Ze, don’t tell me it’s this intern who was in charge of it again.”

“It’s a small accident.” Lin Ze said, “I’m already ready to transfer him to a full-time position.”

Yu Hao said, “What happened?”

“Do you guys have so much money that you don’t know where to spend it?” Vice Editor-in-Chief said, “A media public number going around buying views, are you trying to deceive your superiors? Not fulfilling the view target set for you guys and then resorting to such dishonest practices!”

Yu Hao, “……”

The one Chen Yekai introduced was the Student Union, so that shouldn’t have happened?! Yu Hao’s heart jolted — could the Student Union have bought views for them in order to meet Lin Ze’s target?

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“The mistake has already been made.” Lin Ze said, “We found a third-party to promote it, we also didn’t think that would happen. We’ll clear the followers and restart it. We’ll definitely be more careful from now on, do you think that would be okay?”

The Vice Editor-in-Chief almost roared angrily, “What kind of an offhanded attitude is that with regard to admitting your mistakes?! Or are you trying to say that you’re not in the wrong this time?! Stop the usage of your public number! Write a review for me……you! Intern! You write the review! A Notice of Criticism for the entire newspaper! We’ll look at your attitude in acknowledging your mistake before deciding whether to let you guys use your public number again or not! Without suffering a severe punishment once, you won’t learn your lesson! And you’d still resort to dishonest practices next time!”

Four words whirled out of Yu Hao and Lin Ze’s heart at the same time. Vice Editor-in-Chief turned around and left.

Yu Hao sat down. After looking at the WeChat public number on his laptop, he took his phone. Lin Ze said, “Don’t call. Your Laoshi doesn’t know either, there’s no point in mentioning it.”

Yu Hao said, “The middlemen did such a great job, I……ai!”

Lin Ze said, “At least the department’s formally established now. I was intending to find them for a drink tonight, everyone will go. Better ask vice chief for a favour while drinking ba.”

Yu Hao said, “Then I’d better write the review first.”

Lin Ze cursed a few times. Situ Ye came over, and after he heard about what happened, he said, “Ah Ze, I already told you not to accept this job. Why don’t we just beat them up and go home?”

Lin Ze, “Xiao Ye!”

Situ Ye wore a gloomy expression on his face. Lin Ze immediately said, “What would Yu Hao think after hearing you say that? What would Jin Laoshi think?”

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

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“No need.” Lin Ze was deleting the followers on their WeChat’s public number, while Situ Ye looked at the reposts on Weibo. Lin Ze said, “The newspaper won’t care, just finish the feature first. Jin Laoshi, talk about the topic a little?”

Jin Weicheng said, “Bumped into two petitioners, they were both daughter-in-laws in their families. There’s a battery processing plant in Guangxian County; it discharged wastewater containing cadmium far above quota, resulting in large-scale cadmium poisoning. An explosion had even occurred in September, killing twelve people and injuring ten. This plant is backed by officials and businessmen, so the news had been forcibly suppressed. Now, the cadmium poisoning has affected nearly 3,000 residents. The government has given some compensation, but most of it was embezzled by the village committee. An armed fight broke out in November that killed three people.”

“Okay.” Lin Ze answered as soon as he heard it, “Do that ba, that’s steady. Pick a soft persimmon to begin with, don’t go too big.”

Jin Weicheng said, “I just asked a few questions before some guards came over, so I couldn’t ask them in much detail. But they left me a number. We’ll look for that old lady’s home first after going over.”

“Just need to worry about news leaking.” Lin Ze said, “But Jin Laoshi is more experienced than us, so the two of you decide. I’ll entrust Yu Hao in your care.”

Jin Weicheng said to Yu Hao, “Just follow me.”

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

Yu Hao’s head was still hurting a little. He asked, “When do we set off?”

Jin Weicheng said, “I’ve checked the train departure schedule. Why don’t we leave in the afternoon?”

Lin Ze said, “You can’t. The department was just established, so we need to accompany the leaders for dinner tonight. Tomorrow ba.”

“Caught a cold?” Situ Ye saw Yu Hao’s runny nose and tested the temperature of his forehead, “Go back and rest ba.”

Yu Hao said, “I don’t have a fever.”

Lin Ze said, “Can you go?’

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Situ Ye and Lin Ze looked at each other with slight anxiety. Yu Hao waved his hand, “It’s just a slight cold, I’m really okay. I’ve taken medication.”

Situ Ye asked, “What did you take? Don’t drink at night.”

Yu Hao said, “I know what I’m doing, I didn’t take cephalosporin. It’s okay.”