White Olive Tree

Chapter 30

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Song Ran woke up the next day and found that after one night, the matter had quickly matured. The article she wrote spread to all corners of the Internet and attracted national attention.

The direction of public opinion reversed overnight, from ridiculing the person who jumped from the building for being weak and incompetent to scolding the teacher Zhao.

"Being a 'bitch' is rubbish."

"He's still a special teacher. I don't know how he got selected. The education system is rotten to the core."

"Don't such people need to go to jail? Go to hell!"

"Does the Education Bureau dare to admit that special teachers are scum? No, no, haha, it's public relations again."

Song Ran was not at all pleased with this reversal of results. The Internet seems to have always been just a place to vent your emotions.

However, amidst the overwhelming abuse, a netizen’s message caught Song Ran’s attention:

“Are the other teachers at the school telling the truth

What makes people despair is that the person they want to protect may not have that much power. They just want to safeguard the interests of their own group, and people in the same group are bound to harbor each other. In this society, if you do not belong to any group, congratulations, you are alone. "

Song Ran read that sentence for a long time, and she said to herself that the so-called reporter is just to make everyone no longer alone.

As for her, she doesn't want to lead or change public opinion. All she wants to do is record a voice that has been ignored, even if it only plays a role in supervision and restraint, so that the authoritative party can finally give a fair and just result.

However, she soon discovered that things were not that simple.

That morning, she was called to the office by Liu Yufei, who asked her to delete the article, apologize, forward the investigation notice issued by the police, and hand over student Wang's private information.

Song Ran couldn't understand: "Didn't Taiwan ask me to follow up and report the truth, and they also said they support me in press freedom?"

Liu Yufei was also in a dilemma, saying: "But now, the truth needs to be investigated by the police."

"The police are going to investigate. Why do you want me to delete the post and apologize? I didn't express any opinions. I just recorded a student's statement. Shouldn't they investigate what I recorded?"

Liu Yufei rubbed the bridge of his nose, feeling troubled: "They will investigate. But you have to delete the negative impact. Now the discussion among netizens has escalated to the education system, the public security system and even beyond, thinking that they are shielding teachers."

"Since they don't have it, wouldn't it be good to find out? Also, I won't hand over the student's information until the truth comes out. The video and screenshots he provided are on Zhu Yanan's phone. The police can find out and there is no need for me to provide them. "

"Song Ran, you do international news most of the time, and you don't understand how to do domestic news. There are some things... you can't be too stubborn."

Song Ran tried to figure out the meaning of his words and whispered: "Is someone putting pressure on the stage? It's just a teacher. This has to be maintained. Is the victim so insignificant?"

Liu Yufei had nothing to say. He is very clear about the ideals and purity of mind of young journalists, he is aware of their lack of smoothness, and he also knows that conflicts of ideas cannot be resolved in a short time.

He sighed: "Song Ran, I asked you to delete it for your own good. This matter has turned into national news. Look how many people are involved. If it continues to cause trouble, the station may not be able to protect you."

Song Ran was shocked. After all, she was young, so she was immediately frightened and panicked. But she gritted her teeth for a moment, and she didn't know where the strength came from, and she said softly: "Then let's do it."

Song Ran returned to the office area, her hands and feet were fighting, and her face was a little pale.

But she quickly calmed herself down and opened the information to continue looking for clues.

It was almost noon when she found the residence of the director of the teaching office of the experimental middle school. She paid a visit and wanted to ask the senior high school students about reporting Teacher Zhao Yuanli's corporal punishment to the teaching office.

The director is in her forties and a woman. She has been interviewed by several reporters today, and she is not very patient, but still polite.

But when she heard that Song Ran was a reporter who wrote "Another Voice", she immediately changed her face, pushed and pushed Song Ran out of the door, and yelled:

"Do you, a journalist who eats steamed buns with human blood, have any conscience? No student here has ever reported Teacher Zhao. Do you believe what he lies about? Wang Han is just a useless student who hates his teacher. He can't be saved. No, you have no idea!"

Song Ran was stunned and chased after him with a recording pen: "I didn't tell you the name of the student, why did you say his name was Wang Han? So Wang Han did report to you that Teacher Zhao bullied the students, right? Why as a teacher? Director, you didn’t deal with it at the time, and you’re still hiding it now…”

The director immediately yelled back: "You told me Wang Han's name! I remembered, you are the notorious war reporter, waiting to photograph dead people and eat steamed buns with human blood! You don't have to worry about our school's affairs , you go abroad and shoot dead people!”

The director pushed Song Ran away suddenly and slammed the door.

Song Ran stumbled and bumped into the stair railing, feeling pain in her back. She was sweating coldly and forced herself to stand up straight.

She stood in the suddenly silent corridor, her face blood red.

That incident with candy was the first time someone scolded her in person.

But, she was not wrong. Dr. Liang said.

At that moment, her purpose was just to capture the joy of the child getting the candy, but instead she caught the devil. That was not her intention, and she was not wrong.

Dr. Liang said she was not wrong.

She lowered her head, covered her eyes with her hands, restrained herself for a long time before raising her head, with slightly red eyes, and walked down the stairs calmly.

This time, she will definitely protect the child.

The investigation of this case was managed by the Criminal Police Team, but because the scope of the incident was too large, the impact was too bad. The superior requires that the case must be solved this weekend and an explanation must be given. All police officers in the Baixi area had no rest and were all doing auxiliary investigations.

Li Zan has been busy outside all day long.

He saw the article and saw the impact it had. But he didn't even have time to ask Song Ran what was going on. He had thought that when she posted this article, she would at least ask for his opinion first.

Li Zan and his colleagues spent the whole day doing research in the experimental middle school, questioning Mr. Zhao Yuanli's colleagues and the 10 classes he taught, with four to five hundred students.

Since it was a holiday, teachers and students were all scattered, which made the investigation very difficult. Fortunately, the school gradually called people back.

Li Zan was responsible for questioning more than a dozen students, but did not get any useful information. He couldn't sit still and carefully read the article written by Song Ran again.

Colleagues all thought she was spreading rumors, but Li Zan felt that her records were true, and it could even be seen from the questions and answers that Song Ran was not even suspected of leading or misleading.

But, where is the evidence...

Li Zan found a line of small words in the full dialogue:

"...I reported it to the director of the teaching office, but was scolded..."

He rushed to find the director of the teaching department.

The director said that he had never received any student complaints against Teacher Zhao, and he did not know which student disclosed it to the media. After much deliberation, I think it was the reporter who wrote it blindly.

She severely criticized Song Ran in front of Li Zan.

Li Zan listened silently to her accusation, and said a faint thank you before leaving.

He returned to the school and went through all the transcripts and confessions collected by his colleagues today, as if he wanted to prove something; but after going through hundreds of documents word for word, he could not find any corporal punishment or even verbal violence by the teacher. However, many students said that Teacher Zhao was very good. Some students even expressed their disgust and dislike for Zhu Yanan who jumped off the building, thinking that he was just weak and had harmed the teacher and the school.

The truth seemed to tilt to the side that frightened him.

At this moment, news came that due to the bad impact of the incident, all police officers in the area, from the police to the police station, had their monthly bonuses deducted.

At that time, police officer Xiao Jia and others had just returned to the station after a tiring day and had not had time to sit down and take a sip of water. Hearing this, the room was silent, and he didn't even have the energy to complain.

After a long time, policeman Xiao Bing whispered: "The salary was not high in the first place, and the hard work was ruined by these reporters."

Xiao Ding said: "Who will maintain the official Weibo today, I won't go. Usually no one cares about solving things, but today there were tens of thousands of scoldings."

Xiao Jia glanced at Li Zan silently, but Li Zan remained silent. His organizational relationship is with the army and he is still a cadre, so the punitive measures here will not have any impact on him. But he...

Xiao Yi also glanced at Li Zan, said nothing, picked up the police uniform, got up and left.

At this time, Xiao Ding received a call.

Li Zan listened to what he said, and it seemed that the students wanted to write an open letter to speak out for Teacher Zhao Yuanli and asked Xiao Ding for specific operational suggestions.

Xiao Ding said: "We can't interfere in this kind of thing. If you must give advice, just talk about the teacher's character. Don't attack Zhu Yanan, as he will get scolded. It's best to wait until tomorrow for the announcement, everyone needs time to calm down."

Li Zan looked at his watch and saw that it was almost time to get off work. He still refused to give up and rushed to the Baixi Public Security Bureau.

He wanted to know Zhao Yuanli's transcript and confession, but Zhao Yuanli was interrogated directly by the public security and Li Zan was not accessible at the police station.

When he went to the police station, the detectives ignored him. Fortunately, the detective who "faked bombs" in the shopping mall was there that day. He was Deputy Captain Wu who was in charge of handling the case.

He recognized Li Zan and asked, "Why are you here?"

Li Zan explained his intention.

Deputy Wu said: "I can help you with other things. But this case is confidential until it is finalized. I'm sorry."

Li Zan knew that according to regulations, it was impossible for him to have access to more information.

But he still refused to give up and fought hard, saying, "Vice Captain Wu, the reporter who wrote that article is my friend. I'm worried that she... will be taken advantage of."

"Your friend?" Deputy Captain Wu was stunned. After thinking for a moment, he handed him a thin document and said, "We are police officers and everything depends on evidence."

"Thank you." Li Zan took it and opened it.

In the afternoon, all Song Ran's articles were suddenly deleted.

Song Ran was not afraid.

She is an idealistic person, but she is not ignorant of social reality, nor does she have the illusion that this is a spotlessly clean white world.

She was also panicked and timid, but after a battle between heaven and man in the spiritual world, she still refused to retreat.

The abuse and humiliation suffered by that child was vivid in her mind, and she could not turn a blind eye.

Surprisingly, because the article was deleted, the Internet was full of solidarity and support for her. The voices criticizing the powerful became more and more fierce, and even affected the issue of credibility, which seemed to be unstoppable. Teachers, students, the Education Bureau, the police, and countless others were involved.

At the end of the day, more than 100,000 netizens sent her messages, sharing the educational violence they encountered, thanking her and supporting her; there were also journalists from other cities who said they would help her as long as she spoke.

This made Song Ran feel a little bit of strength.

However, in real life, no one expressed support to her.

Colleagues kept the matter secretive and kept their mouths shut.

Ran Yuwei called and asked her if she was crazy and if she still wanted to work in this industry.

After get off work, Liu Yufei found her again. Ask her to provide information about student Wang and issue a letter of apology within today to completely curb the turmoil on the Internet.

Song Ran responded with silence.

Liu Yufei couldn't do anything to her: "Song Ran, you're going to kill me! You said that there are so many reporters in the department, but you are the only one who is sensible and worry-free. You have the best temper. Why did you act stupid at this time? Can I write the apology letter for you?" ? You have to send it.”

Song Ran said nothing, bowed and left.

But she was actually very tired.

She returned home exhausted, and as soon as she walked to the yard, she saw Song Zhicheng and Yang Huilun waiting at the door. Yang Huilun was carrying a basket of vegetables.

Song Ran had been fighting outside for a whole day, and the moment he saw them, he became alert all over.

But Song Zhicheng touched her head and said warmly: "You haven't been home for several days. Your aunt said that she would come home to cook a meal for you. She was afraid that you would be in a bad mood alone and not have a good meal."

Song Ran was stunned for a moment, his heart softened, and he felt even more guilty for being a villain.

"I'm fine," she said softly.

Yang Huilun quickly prepared three dishes and one soup, and the three of them sat around the table.

Song Zhicheng asked with concern: "Have you been feeling better recently?"

Song Ran knew that he was asking about her condition and mumbled: "It's getting better." After saying that, she realized that she was so busy today that she forgot to take medicine.

"That's good. What's the work? Is it going well?"

"Um."

He asked a bunch of trivial questions about life, went in a long circle, and came back:

"You are now a celebrity, and your speech has great influence, which is a good thing. But influence is a double-edged sword. Because you are famous, you must be more cautious in doing things and not affect your future."

Song Ran stopped holding the chopsticks in his hand for a moment, feeling very clear in his mind.

She said: "That is my future and I am responsible for it myself."

Song Zhicheng was speechless.

Yang Huilun couldn't bear it anymore and said, "But what about your dad? If something goes wrong with your dad's work, how will the family live in the future? How can you be responsible?"

Song Ran raised his head: "What do you mean?"

Song Zhicheng didn't answer, put down his chopsticks, and said with a sad face: "Ran Ran, please write a clarification statement."

"Did someone force you?" Song Ran asked in a trembling voice, "I don't believe it..."

"Ran Ran, can you stop being so aggressive?" Yang Huilun asked anxiously, "You are famous for not being afraid of anything, but your father, I, and Yang Yang have to live together. People can't be too selfish, right? You made the matter so big, If something happens, I'm afraid it won't be too late for you to regret it!"

Song Ran pinched the edge of the table and whispered: "I just recorded it objectively, I didn't even bring any of my own feelings. Where did I go wrong? The school is lying, the director of the teaching department is lying, the TV station is also lying, I tell them After fighting for a whole day, do you know how I feel? Do you care whether I am wronged outside? You are my relatives, why can't you support me? "

"What is the struggle, and who are you fighting against?" Song Zhicheng said, "Those of you who have just emerged from society are very student-minded and always struggle. It is a good thing to have ideals, but you must also see the reality clearly. You know how to shout slogans, but you hang up every day I don’t think you can tell clearly what fairness and truth are in your mouth!”

The living room, illuminated by incandescent lights, was silent.

Song Ran looked at him, with endless disappointment flashing in his eyes:

"I've been writing and keeping notes since I was a child, purely out of love, and I don't have any big dreams. Instead, it's you who always instills great principles into me, what... Use articles to change society, and insist on what is right in your heart. These are what you said, right? ? It seems to you that this is a way to gain fame? Just be famous and reap the benefits, right? "

"Pah!" Song Zhicheng slapped his chopsticks on the table.

Song Ran closed her eyes suddenly.

"You..." Song Zhicheng pointed at her twice, but he had never been angry with his daughter. He quickly lowered his hand again and said helplessly and sadly, "Ran Ran, since you got sick, your temper has become more and more weird, and your temper has become more and more weird. The more extreme you are, the more you don't listen to advice. The doctor said that you are not suitable for work because of your illness. It was my fault that you kept it from the TV station for so long. It's time to let them know and let you rest and recuperate. "

Song Ran's eyes widened in disbelief.

Without saying a word, she got up and walked out.

What does Yang Huilun want to persuade

Song Ran slammed the door.

In the late winter and early spring nights, the cold wind surges.

Song Ran hugged herself and walked on the dark night street. She had never felt that the city she had lived in for twenty-three years was so cold and desolate, with no glimmer of life in sight. This cannibalistic battlefield is very similar to the Eastern Kingdom battlefield thousands of miles away, cruel, absurd, indifferent, and crazy.

She didn't know if she was sick or if the world was sick.

She suddenly stopped, held onto a tree, and gasped for air. She was like a drowning person, frantically breathing in the cold air, but her lungs couldn't take it in, as if they were about to burst.

Who will give her a hand

Her eyes were filled with moisture, and two tears fell down.

In the cold wind, the phone rang.

She stood up and wiped away her tears. It was Li Zan.

Song Ran was stunned for a while and then picked up the phone.

She said nothing.

It was quiet for a while, and then he tentatively asked, "Song Ran?"

It had been a long time since she heard him call her name like this. Her eyes became wet again and she softly said "hmm".

He asked: "Where are you?"

She didn't answer, but asked: "Why are you calling? Is it the police or a friend?"

"Friends," he said.

"I'm at the intersection of Xichen Road and White Oak Road."

Song Ran was a little tired and sat down on the side of the road. After waiting for a while, she heard the sound of a vehicle approaching. Low-beam headlights pierced the night sky.

This road is very quiet, with few cars and fewer people.

The taxi stopped across the road, Li Zan got out of the car and walked over from the opposite side.

"Isn't it cold sitting here?" he asked, his voice low.

"It's not cold." Song Ran shook his head, his expression a little dull.

Li Zan stood next to her, looking down at her. She looked empty and frustrated, like an abandoned animal on the street.

He took a step forward and sat down next to her, and asked in a low voice: "Are you tired today?"

It was a very ordinary question, but it made her eyes wet instantly.

She raised her head and looked at the night sky. The street lights illuminated the dry tree trunks. There was not a single star in the winter night.

"I guess you are very tired," Li Zan said softly, "There must be a lot of people putting pressure on you."

Song Ran still didn't say anything, just clasping her fingers. She was afraid tears would come out.

"However, more people support you."

"They are all netizens," she said now. "There are no people around me..."

Only he comes...

Song Ran thought of something and turned to look at him: "Did your leader blame you? Were you scolded badly?"

"No." Li Zan looked at the deserted street, smiled slightly, and said, "But, I thought you would tell me before publishing that article."

"It was too late and I didn't want to disturb you." Song Ran asked again, "How is the police investigation going now?"

Li Zan's side face was silent in the darkness for a few seconds, then he turned to look at her, his eyes very bright and quiet at night, and said: "The current investigation does not show that the deaths of teacher Zhao Yuanli and classmate Zhu Yanan are directly or indirectly related. Indirect connection.”

He was concerned about her emotions and chose his words carefully. But Song Ran still noticed it. She was stunned and stared at him for a while, her expression slightly stiff and defensive: "You are also here to persuade me to clarify?"

Li Zan looked at her quietly and said nothing.

Song Ran hugged herself, lowered her head and tapped her knees with her forehead. She suddenly wanted to cry, but when she raised her head, she smiled softly, stood up and left.

Li Zan stood up, took her arm, and said in a low and even voice: "Song Ran, you may be a little reckless this time."

Song Ran turned around and grabbed his hand without breaking away: "If I didn't speak, the dead student would be hurt today. When so many people insulted the dead yesterday, what did you do? The school and the teaching office are lying. That student has already There was no way out. I had to help him."

"I'm not saying you are wrong. I don't think you are wrong. I even think what you wrote is very objective." Li Zan held her arm tightly and tried to comfort her, "But do you remember what I told you, A good purpose does not necessarily ensure a just outcome.”

A certain point deep in Song Ran's heart was stung. She shook her head mechanically and asked in a trembling voice: "Why did the result go wrong? The victim is the weakest party. I helped him speak out in exchange for a balanced and equal dialogue opportunity. Where? Wrong?"

"But now the situation is unbalanced. Things have evolved into online violence. Zhao Yuanli was searched by human flesh. 'His wife is an official in the Education Bureau', 'He is gay', 'His child is a school bully', 'The police The director is his student'... What are the results of these rumors that you want to see?"

"But it wasn't caused by me!" Song Ran was heartbroken, as if the candy incident was happening again, "I was just recording the facts I saw. Those who were wrong were those who maliciously misinterpreted and speculated and couldn't think rationally. What was wrong was They, not me!”

Li Zan frowned slightly, shook his head very lightly, and asked in a low voice: "But you are a reporter, don't you know the power of news dissemination? If you say 1, the dissemination will extend to 10. No one can control the consequences of this, including Yourself. Now everyone believes that you are telling the truth and does not believe anything the police say.”

"Is it my fault that you don't believe the police?"

"I'm not weird..." Li Zan was speechless. He looked at her silently for a long time and finally said, "I have read the autopsy report. Zhu Yanan had no old injuries from his life, and there was no possibility of corporal punishment. The video on his phone was too short. , The perpetrator cannot be analyzed. As for the verbal violence, the evidence alone is insufficient, so I tell you that there is no evidential relationship between Zhao Yuanli and the deceased."

Song Ran was stunned for a moment.

"I'm very worried now, afraid that you will..."

Will make the same mistakes I did.

Li Zan didn't say any more. He gritted his teeth and lowered his head, then raised his head to look at her and said, "I'm afraid that student is lying to you. You will have to bear the consequences alone."

"Whether he lied to me or not, I verified it in my own way. What about you, did your colleagues lie to you?" Song Ran looked at him warily and asked, "Still in your heart, students will lie, but the police will not Yes? But look who is guilty now? Who is trying desperately to suppress me and put pressure on me in all aspects of my work and life, even my father is involved."

Li Zan took a breath and tried his best to say: "Song Ran, you may think that I am excusing them when I say this. But sometimes, the repression may be just due to lack of confidence and fear of the situation getting worse. It is they who are self-defeating and execute rudely. This method is stupid and stupid, but it does not necessarily mean that you are guilty or guilty. You cannot use their behavior to verify your own correctness.”

He tried his best to make her return to rationality, but in her opinion at this moment, these words were too ridiculous; so ridiculous that she doubted the purpose of his coming, that he might be the second Song Zhicheng. This made her disappointed and frightened, and her whole body stood up. Stab.

She suddenly asked: "Did your superior ask you to come here? As a friend?"

Li Zan was startled for a moment.

He looked at her in surprise, looked at her quietly for a few seconds, and then smiled slightly, almost self-deprecatingly: "I have always known that you are such a girl."

"What?"

"You look weak, but you are strong inside."

"It's just that I didn't expect that you would end up in such a bad way. Do you think good intentions can lead to good deeds? There are too many people in this world who think they have a good starting point, but end up doing huge bad things.

You think you saved one person, but maybe you hurt more people. The suffering of those who were innocently involved does not matter to you? "

Song Ran could only feel his heart chilling in the cold wind: "I didn't expect that you would be so determined to protect the group behind you. So Officer Li thought that in order to protect some people, he would sacrifice a certain person, cover his mouth, and strangle him to death. His voice doesn't matter, right. You are a soldier, so you will obey the orders of your superiors unconditionally, right?"

In the dark and cold night, Li Zan's face turned pale.

They didn't quarrel, and they didn't speak loudly, but every word was bloody.

The two looked at each other, silent and quiet. Perhaps at this moment, they finally realized that they were strangers.

They were actually on opposite sides.

Finally, he took a step back and gently let go of her hand.

The author has something to say: 1. I know you don’t want to read too much about occupation, but occupation is a part of the character, and it is the most important part in my opinion. If I don’t write it thoroughly, I’m afraid it will end up being just a background review. Set skin. But don't worry, this will be over soon.

2. Make peace tomorrow.