Chapter 130 part1 (1/2)

Yu Hao struggled to refine his language and began writing introductory speeches. Jin Weicheng watched him write his manuscripts at one side. At first, Yu Hao had been most nervous about conducting interviews as a reporter, but this manuscript that he couldn’t escape ended up making him the most frantic. Interviews felt good for a moment, but writing manuscripts was like being cremated.

As Yu Hao typed noisily on his laptop, Jin Weicheng said, “Don’t you have the least bit of hesitation?”

Yu Hao said, “What’s there to hesitate about?”

Lin Ze looked at Jin Weicheng and didn’t interject. Yu Hao knew that most of the time, Lin Ze and Jin Weicheng’s world views conflicted a lot, but both sides also restrained themselves a lot. After all, Jin Weicheng was ranked higher in seniority than Lin Ze, so no one would refute him openly.

Everyone’s values had been tempered by their unique vicissitudes of life, just like what was said in《The Great Gatsby》, “Whenever you feel like criticizing any one, just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.”

Yu Hao wrote an introduction, deleted it, wrote it, deleted it again, then leaned against the back of his chair and ruminated silently. He looked sideways at Jin Weicheng.

“What follow-ups will our investigation report trigger?” Jin Weicheng said, “Before writing, think about that carefully.”

Yu Hao said, “Reform, large-scale compensation ma.”

“Reform will be impossible.” Lin Ze casually said, “There will never be a reform. When something happens, it will just be shut down straight away. Guangxian’s incident can already be considered to be quite serious.”

“Yes.” Jin Weicheng said, “Shut down completely, which means that these people will lose their jobs. A feature report will affect an entire county’s GDP, affect their finances, affect their lives. After leaving the battery plant and getting their compensation, what can they do? Farm? The land is already polluted. These people will either have to leave their hometown and travel somewhere else to find jobs, or play cards in the village and gamble for a living.”

Yu Hao said, “If they don’t shut down, more and more people will die.”

Jin Weicheng answered, “So, what we’re doing is virtually equivalent to making decisions for the fate of these people. Have you ever wondered, what right do you have to decide the fate of others?”

Yu Hao said, “Un……”

Jin Weicheng, “Officials obtain remarkable achievements for bringing benefit to people in one region, yet they concealed a large-scale accidental death incident. Getting him sacked could lead to soaring property prices; the local people’s lives will suffer, and everyone will scold you. Do you report it or not?”

Yu Hao said, “Report it, how could it be more reasonable to conceal it for him? What did they do before concealing the report? Why didn’t they think it through beforehand?”

“If it’s reported, even more people will die of starvation.” Jin Weicheng said, “How do you choose?”

Yu Hao said, “That’ll be the successor’s problem. If it’s serious, chase it and continue biting on it.”

Jin Weicheng got up and refilled his cup with water, “Trolley problem: there’s one child on a track while there are five children on the other. The switch is in your hands, where do you pull it to?”

Yu Hao, “Pull it towards the side with one child, save five lives.”

Jin Weicheng, “Human life is priceless. One life is not inferior to five.”

Yu Hao, “Not for me.”

Jin Weicheng, “Wouldn’t you have let down the one who died?”

Yu Hao, “Yes. But if he has any grievances, then he can just come find me. I’ll wait for his revenge. In any case I have a clear conscience.”

Lin Ze finally laughed, but he didn’t interrupt Yu Hao.

Jin Weicheng pondered for a bit and nodded. He said, “What if that person is someone you know? For example, your boyfriend?”

“Pull it towards the side with five children, save my boyfriend.” Yu Hao thought, did you even need to ask that?

“What is that based on?” Jin Weicheng said, “What right do reporters have to decide whether a person lives or dies? To determine a person’s life?”

Yu Hao smiled and continued writing his manuscript, “Based on the fact that the switch was handed to me, and based on the fact that I’m the reporter for this feature.”

Lin Ze didn’t speak for a long time. Jin Weicheng nodded and didn’t comment. He got up and left, stood in the sun and snow for a while, then went out for an interview.

“You were taught that in psychology?” Lin Ze said.

“Zhou Sheng taught me.” Yu Hao said, “I think I’m actually much gentler. If it were Zhou Sheng, as long as I’m not on the track, his answer would probably be ‘I’ll pull it to wherever I feel like’ ba?”

Lin Ze laughed, but Yu Hao said, “But learning psychology has its influence.”

Lin Ze said, “So the books you’ve read are useful.”

Yu Hao, “Did Jin Laoshi ever……”

Lin Ze, “After you get to know him better, he’ll tell you, so I won’t gossip about it.”