Afternoon.
The sun was shining brightly outside.
It was already autumn, but the temperature had not dropped much.
Dong Xuebing was sitting at home with a gloomy look on his face. He hated those experts from the Earthquake Department to the core. They had failed to accomplish anything and only spoiled his plans. Dong Xuebing had planned to report this incident to the district government and publish an article in the newspaper. He will use the facts to sound the alarm in the city and let everyone be on their guard. But the Earthquake Department's statement disrupted his plan. There were no signs of an earthquake, and even if everyone believes it, Dong Xuebing will not believe it!
The earthquake is less than two days away!
What should he do now?
Ring … ring … ring … Zhou Yanru called from the other side of the street. "Director, I heard the Earthquake Department said everything is fine."
Dong Xuebing sneered. "How reliable do you think their results are?"
Zhou Yanru was stunned. "It should be accurate. They had brought the equipment with them. "
Dong Xuebing can't be bothered to explain. "What is the district's reaction? Have they submitted the report? "
"They had submitted it." Zhou Yanru replied. "But there is still no news. It seems the district knows about the Earthquake Department's results, and Secretary An Shi had just been discharged from the hospital."
"Secretary Wang has recovered?"
"Yes. He had just recovered and is a few days late."
"… I know."
It was another piece of bad news. Dong Xuebing felt he had been unlucky these few days.
Dong Xuebing took a deep breath and thought for a while. Even if he becomes the target of everyone, he must stand out no matter what. Dong Xuebing took a copy of the report and stuffed it into his bag. He went downstairs and drove towards Fen Zhou Daily News Agency.
News Agency Compound.
Dong Xuebing parked his car inside and asked someone for the address of Su Jia's office. After that, he walked up to the third floor.
Knock, knock, knock. Dong Xuebing knocked on the door.
"Come in." It was Su Jia.
Dong Xuebing pushed the door open. "Sister Su, are you busy?"
Su Jia was alone in the office. She smiled when she saw Dong Xuebing. "Xuebing, why are you here? Have a seat. I will get you a glass of water. "
Dong Xuebing sat down. "No need, Sister Su. I have something to discuss with you."
Su Jia laughed. "Can't you just give me a call? Why did you come all the way here? "
Sister Su, my Mum and your Uncle will be getting married soon, and we are family. You are the only person I know in Fen Zhou City's Media Department, and I will not hide anything from you. "Dong Xuebing replied solemnly. Dong Xuebing took out the article he had printed and passed it to her. "Take a look at this. I hope you can help me with something."
"Let me take a look." Su Jia nodded and took it from Dong Xuebing. She flipped through the pages and was stunned. She looked at Dong Xuebing and continued reading.
It didn't take long before Su Jia finished reading.
Dong Xuebing asked. "What do you think?"
Su Jia rubbed her forehead and said, "Earthquake? Xuebing, are you being too sensitive? "
"I've already investigated the abnormal data of the animals. I also hope that I'm too paranoid, but unfortunately, I'm not."
"Have you reported it to the Earthquake Department? Why don't we let them check it out first? "
"I've reported it and checked it. They said that he was fine and nothing happened to him."
Su Jia's reaction was similar to that of most people. She heaved a sigh of relief and said, "Then it should be fine, right? After all, they are professionals, and compared to us … "
Dong Xuebing replied coldly. "They are professionals, but have they ever predicted an earthquake before? Their test results can't be trusted. "
Su Jia hesitated. "How do you want me to help you?"
"I want to publish this article on Fen Zhou Daily and ask all the districts to be on their guard."
"What?" Su Jia shook her head. "Xuebing, you can't do this. It's not that I don't want to help you, but I cannot harm you."
Dong Xuebing looked at Su Jia. "This is helping me and not harming me."
"This isn't something else. The impact of the earthquake is too great. Actually, I've heard that your street is doing earthquake prevention and disaster reduction work these days. I've also publicized it, but it's not a big deal to do this in Guangming Street. After all, it's your own internal affairs. But if it's published in the daily newspaper, it will affect the entire city and cause panic. It's not even earthquake prevention publicity, but it's telling everyone that an earthquake is coming. You … if this isn't handled well, it's spreading rumors about an earthquake."
Dong Xuebing replied seriously. "Sister Su, I will not harm you."
"You are not trying to harm me." Su Jia replied. "I don't mind what happens to me. But this is too serious, and we cannot publish an article without any scientific basis."
"There is no scientific basis for the abnormal behavior of cats and dogs."
"But the Earthquake Department's results are out. What will people think of this?"
Dong Xuebing replied. "I know you are troubled by this, but you must believe me. Don't you know what kind of person I am? I can scam anyone but you. "
Su Jia smiled. "Let me tell you the truth. Xuebing, it's not that I don't want to help you publish this article, but I don't have the authority to do so. Even if I submit this article, the Chief Editor will not approve. Even my higher-ups will get angry with me, and I can't even submit this article. Although I am considered a leader in the news department, my power is limited. I can't do anything …"
This is true.
Dong Xuebing also understood what Su Jia meant. He rubbed his brows and kept quiet.
Xuebing, how about this? I can use your name to submit this article and help you fight for it. But I promise the higher-ups will not approve it. We are not a small newspaper agency, and we are under the City's Publicity Department. But I can give you a suggestion. It is not impossible for the higher-ups to approve your article, but … "Su Jia lowered her voice." You just need my uncle to approve. He has many connections in the City and even has connections with the Publicity Department. As long as my uncle approves, and I submit it to the higher-ups, there is a high chance it will be approved. "
Your uncle?
City's Organization Department Head, Yang Zhaode?
Dong Xuebing nodded. "Alright. Thank you, Sister Su. I will try."
Su Jia nodded. "I will edit your article first and submit it for tomorrow's review."
"Thank you." Dong Xuebing knew Su Jia will have to bear the consequences if it is a false alarm. That's why he is grateful for her help.
"Don't thank me. I also think what you said makes sense. We must take precautions against earthquakes."
Dong Xuebing left the agency and boarded his car. He took out his phone and was about to call Yang Zhaode.
But after hesitating for a while, Dong Xuebing did not call Yang Zhaode. He had contacted Uncle Yang previously, but it was useless. This time, Dong Xuebing decided to call his mother, Luan Xiaoping.
Dong Xuebing's mother answered. "Hello, Son?"
Dong Xuebing asked. "Mum, is Uncle Yang resting today?"
"He is resting on Saturday. I am at your Uncle Yang's place, and I am preparing dinner. Are you coming over for dinner?"
"No. Mum, I had asked you to help Uncle Yang release the data on the earthquake. Have you completed it?"
"I did." Luan Xiaoping smiled helplessly when she mentioned this. "How can I not do what you asked me to do? I had asked you twice and released the data a few times. But your Uncle Yang is not interested, and I did not mention it again. I can't nag him every day. "
"Mum, I need to ask you a favor."
"What's wrong? Tell me about it. "
"Your blood pressure is high. Don't be anxious. Listen to me, alright?"
"What the hell happened?"
"Our City … might have an earthquake!"
"What did you say?!" Luan Xiaoping was shocked.
Dong Xuebing immediately told his mother about the cat and dog's condition. He also told her about his worries and analysis. "I can confirm that there is a 99% chance of an earthquake happening. From the looks of it, it should not be a small earthquake. It should be at least 7.8 on the Richter scale."
"This … this … what should we do?"
A magnitude 8 earthquake would raze many fragile old residential areas to the ground!
Luan Xiaoping didn't question him like others. She didn't ask him if it was possible or if he was thinking too much. Since her son said so, she believed him. Sometimes, the relationship between a mother and son wasn't as simple as trust. Many things were unconditional. Unconditional love and trust.
"The problem now is not what I should do. Other than me, no one believes me and thinks I am bullshitting them. That's why I hope you can help me speak to Old Yang. I am not asking Uncle Yang to support me. I just need his help to approve my article. I had handed the article to Su Jia, and Sister Su will submit it. But Uncle Yang must use his connections to approve it before it can be published. This way, everyone will be prepared." Dong Xuebing sighed. "The problem now is not what to do. It's because other than me, no one believes me and thinks I am lying to them. That's why I hope you can help me speak to Old Yang.
"This …"
"Mum, can you speak to Uncle Yang?"
"Alright. I … I know!"
"Then I'll leave it to you. Thank you, Mom."
"Don't worry. I will settle it for you. Just wait for my call."
Dong Xuebing also doesn't know if this will work, and he can only rely on his mother now. This article must be published. This will not only let the people prepare for the earthquake, but it will also help Yang Zhaode, Su Jia, and everyone else. As long as this article can be approved, it might cause panic and give Dong Xuebing, Yang Zhaode, and the rest a lot of pressure. But when the earthquake happens the day after tomorrow, everyone will thank Dong Xuebing for sounding the alarm!
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