I was a rookie reporter in the 00s

Sunlight streamed through the half-open curtains onto Zhang Wanqing's desk. Her eyes were fixed on an anonymous email on her computer screen. It described a shocking incident: a child had developed hemiplegia after receiving a vaccination at her town's epidemic prevention station. Zhang Wanqing's brow furrowed, knowing this could be a major news tip.

"This could be big news," Zhang Wanqing said, her voice filled with urgency. She turned to Fu Siyuan, "We need to investigate this matter in depth."

"Wanqing, have you forgotten what I said? We can't draw any conclusions until we've thoroughly investigated all the people involved. Everyone involved could be a suspect. We need to start collecting relevant information and investigating everyone involved." Fu Siyuan's voice was calm but powerful. "This incident may not be simple. We can't just listen to one side of the story in news reports. We can't assume that the vaccine or the epidemic prevention station are to blame just because we sympathize with this child. We must remain objective and neutral and interview every side of the incident before we can draw any conclusions."

Fu Siyuan is right. Past experience shows that whenever an incident breaks online, viewers initially sympathize with the weaker party, then overwhelmingly criticize the stronger party. However, soon after, the situation reverses, revealing that the true victim is the seemingly stronger party. The seemingly weaker party may have been faking it.

Therefore, before an incident is fully investigated, it is impossible to take sides easily. Instead, we should let the bullets fly for a while. Many incidents will be reversed again and again.

Zhang Wanqing and Fu Siyuan began their preliminary investigation. They first visited the epidemic prevention station, where the staff remained tight-lipped about the vaccine incident, seemingly hiding something. Zhang Wanqing scanned the corridors of the station and noticed the nervous expressions of some staff members.

They checked the child's vaccinations that day and found they were in full compliance with regulations, with no errors. They also checked the manufacturer and batch of the vaccine, which also met national regulations.

"I am an old nurse. I have to vaccinate many children every day, and this child's situation has never happened before. You should go and see if there is something wrong with the child himself. Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that many children came for vaccination that day, but only he had a problem?" The nurse who had vaccinated the child said worriedly.

"We have to talk to the child's family," Zhang Wanqing said in a firm and powerful voice. "They may know something we don't."

Fu Siyuan nodded and began to collect the child's medical records and vaccine batch information.

In a simple living room, Zhang Wanqing and Fu Siyuan sat across from the child's parents, who, with tears in their eyes and trembling voices, described the changes in their child after receiving the vaccine.

"He's eight years old and in the second grade. He used to be a lively child with no health problems," the child's mother said, choking up. "But now he has trouble even walking. He can only sit in bed every day. He can't move from his buttocks down and has no feeling at all."

Zhang Wanqing felt a surge of anger and sympathy. But she knew she couldn't let sympathy sway the course of events until the matter was fully investigated. Perhaps there was a greater secret hidden behind this incident. She began to meticulously record every word her parents said, a hint of determination in her eyes.

"The child's father works on the construction site, and I am the only one at home with the child. The child can't go to school now, and our family's life depends on his father's income alone." As she said this, the child's mother shed tears.

The child sat on the bed, listening to his mother's story without saying a word. It was clear he was heartbroken. It wasn't just him who was destroyed; it was his entire family.

"After this incident happened, did you go to the epidemic prevention station?" Zhang Wanqing asked.

"What's the point of looking for them? They insist on accusing us of blackmailing them. We got vaccinated from them and became paralyzed when we came back. If we don't look for them, who else can we look for? Comrade reporter, you have to stand up for us!" The child's mother cried as she spoke, and almost knelt down to Zhang Wanqing and Fu Siyuan.

"Don't worry, we will investigate it carefully. We cannot easily draw conclusions or write reports before the matter is thoroughly investigated. As journalists, we must also be responsible for the reports we write. Please understand!" Fu Siyuan said.

The child's mother nodded and sighed.

Zhang Wanqing, Fu Siyuan, and Li Wei stood in the center of the office, their gazes determined and sharp. After an overnight discussion, they decided to investigate the vaccine manufacturer. Meanwhile, they had already sent the same batch of vaccine that the paralyzed child had received for testing.

"We must be cautious in this operation," Fu Siyuan said with a hint of urgency in his voice. "We can't let the manufacturer know our true purpose."

"I have contacted an independent laboratory and they are willing to test the vaccine for us in secret," said Zhang Wanqing.

Li Wei, meanwhile, was preparing the necessary equipment and protective clothing, a cold look in his eyes. "We must ensure our own safety. This manufacturer might not easily let us get to the truth. So, of course, we can't investigate using normal means, right? Legal evidence collection is impossible!"

Fu Siyuan smiled: "It has to be you, Li Wei. When it comes to investigation, you are the most experienced."

"Brother, why don't you just say that I conducted an illegal investigation?" Li Wei replied.

Zhang Wanqing couldn't help but laugh. Yes, without resorting to illegal, underhanded means, there's no way to get closer to the truth. Not to mention journalists, even the police have their share of tricks.

The morning sun streamed through the car window, illuminating Zhang Wanqing's face as she stared intently at the winding road ahead. They were driving to a vaccine manufacturer on the outskirts of the city. The factory, surrounded by high barbed wire and tight security measures, filled Zhang Wanqing with a sense of unease.

Why would a normal pharmaceutical company put up so much barbed wire outside? Is it for theft prevention? Not really. Maybe it's to prevent people from actually wanting to go inside and take a look.

"We can't go directly into the factory," Fu Siyuan said in a calm but powerful voice. "We have to find another way."

Li Wei nodded, his eyes sweeping around the factory, searching for a possible entrance. "I noticed the back door seems less guarded. Let's wait until night, put on our night clothes, and then enter from there."

So, the three people did not take the exam to enter the pharmaceutical factory, but drove around the pharmaceutical factory to observe the situation.