Entering the broadcasting room fifteen minutes early, Ji You reviewed the script again. She needed to skim it twice quickly. Suddenly she spotted a typo. She immediately stood up, moved the chair aside, and looked toward the door.
Luo Dongping asked, “What’s wrong?”
“There’s a wrong character,” Ji You replied. She turned back, pulled her chair into place, sat down again, and said, “Forget it, I’ll fix it myself.”
She pointed it out to Luo Dongping. “Look at this character. I’m the one reading it, it has nothing to do with you.”
Luo Dongping nodded. “It’s a rare character and time is tight. Then change it yourself.”
Fortunately he was not the one reading it. If he failed to notice and read it incorrectly, he would lose a lot of face.
Working with Ji You really was better. When it came to work, she was always extremely meticulous.
He was a bit surprised. Ji You used to have zero tolerance for typos. Whenever she discovered one, no matter how urgent the time, she would run to the editorial department and point it out.
Maybe because she was pregnant, she had become much gentler in dealing with people.
Ji You corrected the typo herself. It did not affect her mood. When the prelude music faded, her clear voice sounded on time.
“Good morning, listeners…”
The broadcast went smoothly as usual. When it ended, Ji You stood up with the script in hand and walked toward the door.
“You’re still going to the editorial department?” Luo Dongping asked.
“Of course. How can I not? This kind of mistake absolutely cannot be tolerated,” Ji You answered.
Not going before the broadcast did not mean she would not go afterward.
Ji You left the broadcasting room and went downstairs to the editorial office.
The male announcer thought the junior editor was going to be unlucky again and would receive another scolding from Ji You. Still, being scolded helped people learn.
As usual, Ji You walked steadily into the editorial office with the script and called out, “Du Zhongqiu.”
Coming to the editorial office immediately after the broadcast could only mean there was a problem with the script.
Everyone had seen how strict Ji You could be. Knowing she was difficult and demanding, the atmosphere in the office seemed to freeze.
Du Zhongqiu, whose name was called, felt his heart sink. He quickly stood up, scratched his hair, and said with obvious guilt, “I’m here.”
Ji You walked to his desk, tossed the script onto it, and said, “There’s a typo. Look carefully. It should be ‘work together and move forward,’ not ‘poke forward.’ You wrote the wrong character.”
Du Zhongqiu awkwardly tugged his hair. “I know. When you read it I realized the character was wrong.”
Everyone looked over. Some were glad the mistake was not theirs. Others thought they must carefully check any script given to Ji You in the future.
Ji You glanced at him. “If my level were slightly lower, I would have read it incorrectly. You created the typo, but the listeners would only know I made the mistake. The one embarrassed would be me. The audience would not care who edited the news. They would only say the morning news female announcer had no skill and no education.”
Du Zhongqiu suspected she was implying he had no education and weakly admitted his mistake. “It was my fault. I didn’t notice and turned it into a typo. I’ll check scripts carefully from now on. It won’t happen again.”
Ji You did not want to let it go lightly. “You should know that broadcasting emphasizes colloquial language. Who are you using such rare words for? Do you think most listeners understand it? Why not use simpler words? Using complicated vocabulary does not make you cultured. It only shows you want to show off and does not put the audience’s needs first.”
Sweat kept forming on Du Zhongqiu’s forehead and back. Every sentence she said was reasonable and impossible to refute. He could only admit his mistake repeatedly and promise not to repeat it.
“When you have time, read the dictionary more. Don’t give me incorrect scripts again,” Ji You said.
“Okay, okay, definitely,” Du Zhongqiu hurriedly replied.
No need to linger. After finishing, Ji You turned and walked out. She happened to meet the editorial team leader entering from outside and said, “Leader Liu, the morning news script has a typo.”
After speaking she left and returned to the broadcasting office.
Leader Liu’s heart also sank. Important scripts had to pass three levels of review before airing. First the editor, then her, and finally Deputy Station Director Gao.
Deputy Director Gao only controlled the overall direction and did not handle typos, so the responsibility fell on her.
However Ji You’s attitude today surprised her. She did not loudly question why the error occurred and simply left.
Leader Liu frowned. “Little Du, what happened?”
Du Zhongqiu quickly explained, “I wrote the character wrong, but Ji You corrected it and there was no mistake during the broadcast.”
Ji You had been quite gentle just now. Leader Liu, however, scolded Du Zhongqiu harshly and then said, “Everyone pay attention. Scripts absolutely cannot have low level mistakes.”
“Understood, leader. We will check the scripts carefully.”
After stating their position, the editors began discussing Ji You.
“Did you notice her attitude is much gentler than before? She stayed calm and did not argue.”
“She’s already in the middle stage of pregnancy. Where would she get the energy to argue.”
“She’s a very straightforward person. Even when she argues, it’s for work, not personal gain.”
“She’s right. Broadcast scripts should not use rare words. Use the simplest vocabulary and keep it colloquial.”
Du Zhongqiu’s back was covered in cold sweat. Because there was no broadcasting mistake, Ji You had helped him. He should thank her.
Ji You was direct, serious about work, and well educated. Only she would mercilessly instruct him and force him to improve. She was a teacher in a single word to him.
He would memorize dictionaries in his free time and continuously improve, completely eliminating errors.
He felt grateful to Ji You. When people said she was arrogant, that must be prejudice. How could someone so responsible and capable at work be arrogant?
When she returned, Luo Dongping also entered the office and asked, “Did you talk to them?”
Ji You nodded. “Yes.”
“This time it was quick,” he said.
Ji You slapped her forehead. “I got excited and forgot breakfast. My husband should have brought food. I’ll go eat.”
As usual she walked to the entrance where Fang Yi was already waiting. She said, “I was delayed today.”
“No hurry. The reception room is already open,” Fang Yi replied.
While she ate, Fang Yi said, “Take your time. I won’t be late. Even a few minutes late doesn’t matter.”
After Ji You finished eating, Fang Yi packed the containers into the mesh bag and said, “Then I’ll go to work.”
The couple did not talk much, but Fang Yi saw she was in a very good mood.
At the entrance she met a colleague coming to work and greeted her. “Teacher Wang, you got a haircut. The new style looks great, very stylish and energetic.”
The announcer in her forties was very surprised. She hosted the evening news and was considered a pillar of the station.
When Ji You first arrived, the broadcasting leader assigned Announcer Wang to guide her, but Ji You used to ignore everyone. Wang never expected Ji You to greet and praise her.
The compliment sounded natural and sincere, leaving a good impression.
Wang replied, “Really? You young people have good taste, then I’ll believe it. I cut it yesterday at a private salon. Better than the state owned shop.”
“Which one? If it’s not far I’ll go too. My hair needs cutting,” Ji You said.
They chatted and laughed as they walked inside. Fang Yi watched her back and thought she could actually chat normally.
Wang thought the same. Everyone said Ji You was arrogant and ignored people, but maybe she simply wanted to focus on work.
After Ji You started it, people entering the office all praised Wang’s hairstyle. Her mood improved and even the office atmosphere became lighter.
Xue Xiaochen watched Ji You all day and naturally noticed the difference.
She was astonished. Hadn’t Ji You always looked down on everyone? Was she suddenly trying to build relationships?
Had colleagues forgotten how cold she used to be, now happily chatting with her?
Later.
Ji You stopped writing letters to Zou Wentao and switched to sending telegrams.
This villain wanted to stir trouble without any psychological burden.
On Sunday neither of them worked. Ji You slept in until nearly eight, ate the breakfast, kept warm in the pot, read for a while, and after ten stretched and called to Fang Yi, “I’m going to send a telegram. Are you coming?”
Of course Fang Yi accompanied her. “I’ll go with you. Who are you sending it to?”
Ji You did not hide it and honestly said, “Who else? Of course Zou Wentao.”
Fang Yi suddenly felt darkness before his eyes.
Just hearing that name gave him a headache.
She was escalating things. Now not writing letters but sending telegrams.
She did not even avoid him.
He stood up and organized the books and papers while asking, “What important matter requires a telegram?”
Ji You smiled at him with a provocative tone. “Very important.”
What else could Fang Yi do? Helplessly he said, “Let’s go.”
Ji You answered lightly, “Let’s go.”
They lived in the city center so everywhere was convenient. After walking about ten minutes they reached the post office. Ji You took a form and they stood by the window filling it out.
“I want to tell him I found two three hundred year old ginseng roots and will bring them to Binjiang City for him. I arrive at two in the morning the day after tomorrow and he must come pick me up. Quickly help me compress it into concise wording,” Ji You said.
Fang Yi’s brain processed the information.
His throat felt dry and his voice hoarse as he asked, “Where did you get three hundred year old ginseng? Did you buy train tickets?”
How did he know nothing about this?
Ji You suddenly found teasing him amusing. “I have ginseng and tickets. I’m sending a telegram so he will pick me up.”
Fang Yi’s eyes darkened.