When Jiang Xinyi came, he was also stunned at the door. He first let the technicians in, then walked to the desk, bowed to Ji Fenglin and said: "Mr. Ji, Miss Ji, please express your condolences. Please move elsewhere to rest and work."
Leave some space for people to work, thank you."
Ji Fenglin glanced at Li Zhongtian hesitantly, then walked slowly towards the door.
Ji Ruoxi also set off.
Mu Tian supported her, then quickly bent down to pick up the bunch of manuscripts from the wastebasket and put it in his arms.
They came to the reception room reserved for the chief writer next door.
Ji Fenglin stood in the center.
Ji Ruoxi sat on the sofa she had just entered because she really didn't want to go any further. Maybe she could see the main seat where Li Zhongtian usually sat when visiting guests.
A large floor-to-ceiling clock in the corner made a "click-click" sound, and the hour hand pointed to one o'clock in the morning.
"what happened?"
Ji Fenglin finally spoke. He was obviously asking about his daughter Ji Ruoxi.
Ji Ruoxi said weakly, "I came back from the interview and sent the manuscript to Mr. Li for review. He said a few incomprehensible words to me. I didn't pay attention and went back to my seat to wait. But not long after, I heard his voice coming from the room.
There was a gunshot inside. I ran over quickly, opened the door, and it was just like what you saw."
"What did he say?"
"He told me to ask me to supervise the printing tonight, and then he said a few words about the past, present, and future. I felt confused and didn't understand, so he left. Who knows..."
Ji Fenglin pondered.
"If I knew, I would ask him clearly what he meant. But, but now..."
"Forget it, you don't have to blame yourself. He called me and I answered, but he didn't say a word. But I knew it was him on the other end of the phone." Ji Fenglin said sadly.
Mu Tian secretly looked at the pointer on the big clock, which had already pointed to one o'clock.
"when!"
Once it rang, the sound merged with the bells on the Bund, making it much more distant.
"Mu Tian!" Ji Fenglin suddenly shouted, his voice was not loud, but it was extremely thick and had strong penetrating power.
Mu Tian couldn't help but tremble and responded, "Sir."
"Do you know why Master Li committed suicide?" Ji Fenglin asked in the same tone.
"Know."
"speak out."
"It was the concept of my soft article that killed him."
Ji Ruoxi looked at Mu Tian in surprise, as if she didn't recognize him.
"You still know?" Ji Fenglin suddenly turned around and glared at Mu Tian.
"I know that it was my concept that destroyed his sacred journalistic principles, and under the pressure of capital, he had to do so. He didn't want to be the first executioner to destroy the sacred beliefs of journalism, so he did not publish those soft articles.
Signed. I have read all his journalistic works. He used to be a soldier." Mu Tian said sadly.
"Soldier. I have known him for thirty years. When he was forced to go into exile overseas, he did not choose this path despite internal and external difficulties. But why is he so decisive today? Is it just a struggle against me, a capitalist?" Ji Fenglin simply said
About to get furious.
Mu Tian bowed and said, "Wan Sheng understands." He took out the bunch of manuscripts in his arms, quickly unfolded them, smoothed them as much as possible, and held them with both hands without moving.
Ji Fenglin looked at Mu Tian calmly and suddenly shouted, "Go get pen, ink, paper and inkstone!" He snatched the manuscript from Mu Tian's hand and held it in his hand.
Mu Tian came in with a pen, ink, paper and inkstone, put the paper on the long table, poured ink into the inkstone, and handed the pen to Ji Fenglin.
Ji Fenglin threw aside the manuscript in his hand, took the brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote with a swipe: "Like a huge pen breaking from a rafter, the backbone of the mountains and rivers was suddenly lost."
Mu Tian heard him read it just now, and now it seems that this is an elegiac couplet. Changing "Where" to "Suddenly Lost" is indeed more powerful and neat. Mu Tian's admiration spontaneously arises.
"Xi'er, go and ask them to find the best photo of Mr. Li. In addition to the obituary, read this elegiac couplet and the photo of Mr. Li on the entire page." Ji Fenglin said as tactfully as possible to Ji Ruoxi, who was still confused.
Ji Ruoxi put away the elegiac couplets and went out silently.
Mu Tian wanted to follow him out, but looked back at Ji Fenglin.
Ji Fenglin picked up the manuscript just now, laid it on the table, and stared at Mu Tian.
Mu Tian stopped and turned to look at Ji Fenglin.
Ji Fenglin glanced at the manuscript in front of him, "Don't you have anything to do of your own? Don't think that just because you sign it, the manuscript will be published in the newspaper!"
"Junior knows."
"Why don't I do your business even though I know it? Do you want Li Laobai to die?!" Ji Fenglin suddenly raised his hand and slapped it on the table, almost roaring.
Mu Tian stood at attention, raised his chest, and subconsciously saluted. When he felt it was inappropriate, Jiang Xinyi came in and looked at Mu Tian strangely.
Mu Tian took advantage of the situation and turned to Jiang Xinyi, and Jiang Xinyi also returned the salute to Mu Tian seriously.
Mu Tian put down his hand and ran out of the door.
When Jiang Xinyi saw Mu Tian disappear outside the door, he closed the door, walked to Ji Fenglin and sat down, stretched out his hand to shake Ji Fenglin's hand, "Are you okay?"
"It's okay, just tell me, Section Chief Jiang."
"We inspected the scene and the preliminary conclusion is that it was suicide." Jiang Xinyi said seriously.
"I shouldn't have bought him that gun in the first place."
"Uncle Ji, this has nothing to do with guns. Mr. Li can't get over this hurdle. Your wife just told me what happened today. Mr. Li can't tolerate the sacred principles of journalism being tarnished. Especially when he does it with his own hands."
"You have saved him for many years. Don't blame yourself. After all, this is Mr. Li's unique personality and the fate of this kind of person." Jiang Xinyi advised.
Ji Fenglin sighed deeply.
Jiang Xinyi patted the back of Ji Fenglin's hand twice and said, "I'll leave first and lead them to collect the team. Please take care."
Ji Fenglin nodded silently and did not get up.
Jiang Xinyi walked directly to the door, looked back at Ji Fenglin who was still bowing his head, opened the door and went out, then closed the door gently.
Mutian drove on the streets where drunkards occasionally appeared. He knew that in another hour or two, the streets would be filled with people of all kinds coming out of various feasting and entertainment venues, allowing the lonely island to truly end the day's hustle and bustle.
His mind was completely filled with the scene of Li Zhongtian's death. The bullet holes in his temples were curled up in flesh, still exuding the unique smell of burnt skin, his eyes were wide open, there was blood, gunpowder residue left on his hands, and the gun on the ground.
Why did he commit suicide? Was it really because of my soft article?
When Ji Fenglin asked himself, at that moment, Mu Tian really thought that he knew why Li Zhongtian committed suicide. But now, he had some doubts about his thoughts at that time.
When Li Zhongtian first proposed this page and news proposal, although Li Zhongtian did not support it enthusiastically, he did not oppose it. It could even be said to be gratifying. But then, not only did he end his life without signing his manuscript?
Judging from Ji Fenglin's tone, even though he almost tore up Mu Tian's soft article in great grief, he finally published it according to the original plan. The last few words he said to Mu Tian were just a warning to Mu Tian.
Don't be too arrogant, and you didn't say it to Mu Tian's face. What did Ji Fenglin's words and deeds indicate? Did he, or Li Zhongtian, know about Mu Tian's plan?
This is impossible. What Mu Tian is playing is a building block game. Only by putting each component together can you understand it. But Li Zhongtian saw through it at a glance? He knew what Mu Tian wanted to achieve, but he couldn't tolerate this kind of game.
His tactics have tarnished his sacred journalistic principles? If this is the case, it can only be said that a persistent person like Li Zhongtian has such a fate.
The headlights of a car parked on the roadside flashed once, long and twice. Mutian didn't react at all.
When the car passed by, Mu Tian woke up and suddenly stopped the car.