Chapter 10 Negotiation

                Se Cai scanned the surrounding behind the safety of his hiding spot.

                The jumper was a man who appeared to be in his 40s. His grey shirt hugged a thin frame and he was on the other side of the roof’s safety rail, one step away from failing down 33 floors.

                There were only 2 police officers on the roof trying their best to negotiate with the jumper. One of them was the commissioner that Se Cai saw earlier.

                “This spot is not bad, it’s within the jumper’s blind spot.”

                Se Cai observed. He had his ears open to all the commotion as he started recording on his video camera.

                “Wang Da Fa, please calm down. Have faith in the strength of the law and don’t do something stupid!”

                The commissioner yelled at a distance away from the jumper.

                “F*ck the police, f*ck the law! The law is only there to guard the rich!”

                The aggravated man shouted in return, “That bastard Gao Song is the best example! He ran over my wife and child while driving under influence, but because he’s the richest man in County S, he’s living freely while my family’s under the ground!”

                Apprehension dawned for Se Cai.

                Gao Song must have used his connections to avoid the law if what Wang Da Fa said was true.

　　      Da Fa must have felt extremely helpless. Without an authority to rely on, he used his life as leverage by turning to the public to pressure Gao Song into admission!

                Se Cai had seen many injustices in his life as a reporter but he still couldn’t help have his heart go out towards Wang Da Fa.

                His was the quintessential story of the weak being oppressed by the elite.

                “Has Gao Song arrived?”

                The other officer spoke into his walkie-talkie. After a short period of white noise, the reply came, “We have him at the 32^nd floor but we didn’t bring him up lest his appearance badly stimulates Wang Da Fa.”

                “Good job. We’ll try to keep Wang Da Fa calm on our end so get the fire department to work faster. We’ll distract him to give them the chance to climb from the 32^nd level to grab and detain him from behind!”

                The officer whispered into the walkie-talkie. Then he lifted his head and yelled, “Wang Da Fa, I am Deputy Bureau Director Wong. This here is our head, Director Xie, he’s also our county’s newly appointed Politics and Legislative Commissioner! We’ve contacted Gao Song and he’s on his way here. We promise we’ll listen to what you have to say and get to the end of your family’s death because no one is above the law!

                 Plus, you must think of your remaining families. What about your parents and your in laws? Can you really face your wife when you’re on the other side? So listen to me, don’t be so reckless!”

                It was obvious that deputy director Wong had more field experience than commissioner Xie. He had the presence of mind to inveigle Wang Da Fa from the angle of familial responsibility.

                Wang Da Fa was visibly affected. He hesitated before saying, “But this is all words of mouth. I won’t believe you… unless you have it broadcasted on the news!”

                “That’s fine. We happen to have reporters from Province X Tv Station with us. You would believe them right?”

                Commissioner Xie saw Wang Da Fa’s resolve breaking. The reporter from the tv station could be the key to solving this difficult case. The name Xie Wu would get more influential after his brilliant handling of the situation was broadcasted across the province. It would definitely help advance his career. That was why he was quick to answer Wang Da Fa’s demand.

                Se Cai saw Deputy Director Wong frowned behind Commissioner Xie. He even heard him whisper, “Commissioner Xie… Are you sure about this? I don’t think this is the right course of action…”

                Deputy Director Wong had also spent years fielding the difficult currents of career politics so he saw through Commissioner Xie’s ploy easily.

                Xie Wu waved him away, adding, “Let him talk to the reporter if he wants. It’s our decision to decide whether to use the film or not. He’s shaken, this is the best chance we’ve gotten all day. Plus, need I mention again the reporter from the Province X Tv Station is here? This will reflect badly on both of us if we fail.”

                Since Xie Wu was so adamant, Deputy Director Wong had no choice but to follow.

                Their main objective was to calm the jumper’s emotion and since it was his demand to address the media, they had to allow it.

                He was a deputy director but at the end of the day, he still had to obey the director’s orders.

                “Hello, reporter friends, I have a favor to ask of you. It’s like this…”

                Commissioner Xie talked into his walkie-talkie. A few minutes later, the 2 reporters from Province X Tv Station appeared at the rooftop entrance. With deft actions, the filming equipment was set up almost instantly.

                Se Cai saw the program name that was written on the cameraman’s media badge. It said <Legal Frontline>.

                Alongside <Province X Daily News>, the program <Legal Frontline> had one of the highest ratings among all the news program. It was a household name across the entire Province X.

                In fact, excerpts from <Legal Frontline> were often used as learning sample during Se Cai’s own station’s many research meetings.

                “Tv reporter saved suicide attempter after a heart-to-heart talk… Damn it, I even had the news title ready for you!”

                A frustrated Se Cai mumbled to himself. If the reporters from Province X didn’t happen to be there, this news would be his! Xie Wu would have no choice but to let him up when Wang Da Fa asked for media appearance.

                He wouldn’t have to cower inside a dusty old air duct.

                He would be directly involved in this news and not record it from afar.

                The difference in news value between the two was gigantic. It might even help Se Cai earn his first reporting accolade.

                Of course bouncing it up to central news would be a non-issue.

                “Why those reporters can walk underneath the light while I have to hide in the dark? F*ck that Xie Wu, it’s because of his partial treatment that I ended up here! Who says reporters from the province station must be better than the county station?”

                Se Cai bristled with anger.
               

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