Afternoon.
It is autumn, but it is still hot outside.
Dong Xuebing sat in his living room alone. He hates those experts from the Earthquake Administration to the core for disrupting his plans. He had planned to report the animal’s weird behavior to the higher-ups and publish the article in the papers. This will alert everyone to be prepared. But the test result from the Earthquake Administration experts did not detect any earthquake movements. He doesn’t believe this outcome.
The earthquake is happening in less than two days.
What should I do now?
Ring… ring… ring…. Zhou Yanru called from the Subdistrict Office. “Director, I heard the Earthquake Administration concluded that everything is fine.”
Dong Xuebing sneered. “Can you trust their words?”
Zhou Yanru paused for a second. “I think so. They had brought their equipment with them.”
Dong Xuebing can’t be bothered to explain. “Have you submitted the report to the District Government?”
“Yes.” Zhou Yanru replied. “But they had not given us any replies. I heard the District Government knows about the Earthquake Administration’s findings, and District Party Secretary Wang Anshi has been discharged.”
“Secretary Wang has recovered?”
“Yes.”
“Alright. I know.”
It’s another piece of bad news. Dong Xuebing felt he was down on his luck these few days.
Dong Xuebing took a deep breath and thought about it. He must warn everyone about the earthquake even if no one believes him. He kept the article in his bag and left it for Fen Zhou Daily’s office.
Fen Zhou Daily News Agency.
Dong Xuebing parked his car and asked around for News Department Su Jia’s office location before finding her.
Knock… knock… knock…. Dong Xuebing knocks on the door.
“Come in.” Su Jia said.
Dong Xuebing enters the office. “Sister Su. Are you busy?”
Su Jia is alone in her office and smiles when she sees Dong Xuebing. “Xuebing? Why are you here? Have a glass of water.”
Dong Xuebing sat opposite Su Jia. “No thanks. I am here to ask for a favor.”
Su Jia laughed. “You can just call me and don’t need to come over yourself.”
Dong Xuebing replied seriously. “This is a grave matter, and I must talk to you. Sister Su, my Mum and your Uncle are getting married, and we are a family. Other than you, I don’t know anyone in Fen Zhou City’s media industry. That’s why I am here to ask for help.” He took out the article he wrote this morning and gave it to her. “Look at this first, and I hope you can help me.”
“Let me read it.” Su Jia nodded and started reading the article. Her face changed when she saw the header and looked at Dong Xuebing before reading.
Su Jia finished reading the article after a while.
Dong Xuebing asked. “What do you think?”
Su Jia rubbed her forehead. “Earthquake? Are you oversensitive?”
“I had researched on abnormal animal behaviors, and I hope I am imagining things. But I am not.”
“Did you report this to the Earthquake Administration? Let their experts conduct checks first.”
“I had reported, and they had checked. But they say everything is normal, and there’s no indication of earthquakes happening.”
Su Jia has the same reaction as most people. She sighed in relief. “Then it should be fine. After all, they are the experts in this field.”
Dong Xuebing coldly replied. “They are experts, but have they predicted any earthquakes before? Can their findings be trusted?!”
Su Jia hesitated and asked. “How do you want me to help you?”
“I want this article to be published on tomorrow’s Fen Zhou Daily, and let all Districts and Counties be prepared.”
“What?!” Su Jia shook her head. “Xuebing…. You must not do this. It’s not that I don’t want to help, but this will get you into trouble.”
Dong Xuebing looks at Su Jia. “This is helping me and not harming me.”
“This is a serious matter. I heard your Subdistrict had recently been doing Earthquake prevention and mitigation awareness promotion. It is fine if you are doing it in your Subdistrict, but publishing it in the papers will affect the city and its surroundings. This article is not only promoting earthquake prevention. It is telling everyone that an earthquake is coming. You can be charged for spreading earthquake rumors!”
Dong Xuebing replied. “Sister Su, I will not harm you.”
“No. This is not about harming me.” Su Jia replied. “I don’t mind what will happen to me, but this matter will influence a large area. Such article cannot be published without any scientific proof.”
“Abnormal dogs and cats’ behaviors are scientific proof.”
“But the Earthquake Administration’s test result is out. What will others think?”
Dong Xuebing smacked his lips. “I know I am putting you in a difficult spot, but you got to trust me. You should know me well. I will never put you in trouble.”
Su Jia smiled warily. “I have to be honest with you, Xuebing. It’s not. I don’t want to help you. It is because I don’t have the authority to do it. Even if I submitted your article, the Chief Editor would not approve it. The article might not even get past my supervisor, let alone get through to the Chief Editor. I might be the News Department’s Chief, but I have limited powers.”
She is right.
Dong Xuebing starts frowning.
Su Jia paused for a second and said. “The abnormal animal behaviors you mentioned did frighten me, and I think it’s good to be prepared for a disaster. Xuebing, I will submit your article to the higher-ups under your name and try to get it published. But I have a suggestion. If you want this article to be approved, you must….” Su Jia lowered her voice. “You must get my Uncle’s approval. He has influence in the City and the Publicity Department. Chances of it getting approved is higher once he agrees.”
Your Uncle?!
City Party Committee Organization Department Minister, Yang Zhaode.
Dong Xuebing nodded. “Alright. Thank you, Sister Su. I will speak to him.”
Su Jia nodded. “I will amend your article and submit it for approval.”
“Thanks a lot.” Dong Xuebing knows Su Jia will be blamed if it turns out to be a false alarm, and he is very grateful to her.
“Don’t thank me. I find your findings believable, and we must take precautions for earthquake disasters.”
After leaving the news agency, he looks at the time and is about to call Yang Zhaode.
Dong Xuebing hesitated. He had spoken to Yang Zhaode about this issue before, and it did not work. This time, he decided to ask his Mum to help.
Ring… ring…. Luan Xiaoping answered. “Hello, Son.”
Dong Xuebing asked. “Mum, is Uncle Yang working today?”
“It’s Saturday, and it’s his off day. I am at Uncle Yang’s house preparing dinner now. Do you want to come over for dinner tonight?”
“No. Mum, have you shown Uncle Yang the earthquake information and DVDs?”
“I did.” Luan Xiaoping replied. “I will not forget what you asked me to do, and I even showed it to him several times. But your Uncle Yang is not interested, and I didn’t bring it up again.”
“Mum, I need you to help with one more thing.”
“What is it?”
“You have high blood pressure, and you must remain calm when you hear this.”
“What happened?”
“There might be an earthquake happening in our City soon.”
“What did you say?!” Luan Xiaoping gasped.
Dong Xuebing immediately told his mother about the abnormal animal behaviors this morning. He told her about his worries and analysis. “I am very confident that a major earthquake is happening, and it will be at least 7.8 on the Richter scale.”
“How… how is that possible?”
An earthquake of almost eight on the Richter scale?! Many old buildings will collapse!
Luan Xiaoping did not question Dong Xuebing like the others. She trusted her son, and she would believe whatever he said.
Dong Xuebing sighed. “The problem is no one else believed me and thought nothing about it. Everyone felt I am talking nonsense. That’s why I hope you can convince Old Yang. I don’t need him to support me. I only hope he can approve my article. I gave Su Jia the article, and she will submit it to her higher-ups. I need Uncle Yang to pull his strings and get it approved. My article will increase everyone’s awareness and be better prepared.”
“This….”
“Mum, can you talk to Uncle Yang?”
“Alright. I know.”
“Then I leave it to you. Thank you, Mum.”
“Don’t worry. I will settle this for you. Wait for my call.”
Dong Xuebing doesn’t know if his Mum can succeed, but she is his only hope. This article must be published to prepare the residents, and it will help Yang Zhaode, Su Jia, and everyone else. This article will cause panic and chaos, but everyone will be grateful once the earthquake happens. They will thank him for raising this alarm.
