Chapter 4

Inside the room, it was completely silent. In fact, they hadn't planned to ask a second question, intending to eliminate Zhang Ye in the first round. However, now, the seven or eight interviewers looked at each other, unsure how to score him. If they were to judge by his on-site performance, they should give this young man a perfect score, no, even two hundred points wouldn't be too much!

Ten seconds? Recite over nine hundred words without a script?

What kind of genius could accomplish that?

When the interviewers first saw Zhang Ye's expressionless face, they thought he was a fool. Now, it seemed he was confident and didn't take the task of reciting nearly a thousand words without a script seriously at all. In contrast, it made the interviewers look foolish!

However, if they gave Zhang Ye a perfect score, it would mean his hiring was a sure thing. Although his written test scores were not outstanding among the more than twenty qualified candidates, the gap wasn't significant. Moreover, the interview was the most critical part, and a score of eighty was already considered high. So, if he got a perfect score, he would definitely rank in the top two among the twenty candidates. However, Zhang Ye's conditions were not to their liking. His appearance was too ordinary, and even for a radio host who doesn't often appear on camera, there are times when they need to show their face, such as at events or in public places. If his appearance was unsatisfactory, it would affect the audience's listening enthusiasm. Therefore, appearance and height were unavoidable factors.

Li Honglian hesitated, "Old Zhao?"

Zhao Guozhou sighed and said earnestly to Zhang Ye, "Zhang Ye, from both the written test and the interview, it's clear you are a rare talent, and you have a proper education. We should welcome you, and indeed, we do. However, you... chose the wrong major. Your appearance, as you know, has been commented on by your university teachers. The broadcasting industry is like this. Here's what I can do for you: I'll give you a special favor. We won't ask a second question. Our radio station has many positions, and you can choose any behind-the-scenes role except for broadcasting. I'll approve it directly, and you can start tomorrow. If you want to pursue a career in hosting, it will be very difficult. Think about what I'm saying."

Zhang Ye didn't hesitate, "Teacher, thank you for your kindness. I know the path is difficult with my conditions, but I only want to apply for the broadcasting host position." This was his last bit of persistence for his dream. If he wanted to switch to another job, he would have done it long ago and wouldn't still be jobless today.

Zhao Guozhou shrugged, this kid just wouldn't listen.

Li Honglian clicked her tongue, "Are you sure? Let me warn you, the second question won't be easier than the first. Passing it is almost impossible. Young man, we're not deliberately making it difficult for you. The interview is like this. We give questions based on the candidate's conditions. Your conditions are such that you can't even meet the basic requirements for a broadcasting host, so the questions will be very difficult. You must show exceptional talent to compensate for your shortcomings. I suggest you consider Director Zhao's offer."

Isn't this making it difficult?

This is deliberate difficulty!

Zhang Ye was a stubborn person and remained firm, "No need to consider. Please give me the second question."

Li Honglian shook her head in frustration, getting angry, "Alright, I'm in charge of the foreign language frequency. We have many talented English broadcasters, but we lack talented Russian speakers. My original intention for this recruitment was to find someone with a basic foundation in Russian. If you can recite a modern poem in Russian that satisfies us, then I'll give you a perfect score for the interview!"

Russian?

Recite a poem in Russian?

Zhao Guozhou glanced at Li Honglian, remaining silent, which was a tacit agreement.

The other interviewers had mixed expressions. Zhang Ye's performance had left everyone speechless, and they knew he was very capable. However, in the broadcasting industry, an unsatisfactory appearance was a significant drawback. Except for a few exceptional cases, almost no one could break this barrier. So, it was clear that Li Honglian and the others still didn't intend to give Zhang Ye any chance. Russian? Zhang Ye's resume was right in front of them, and it only listed English as a foreign language. He wasn't in a foreign language major, and even if he was, his teachers wouldn't have taught him Russian. He couldn't even speak Russian, let alone recite a poem. How could he do it?

Zhang Ye had anticipated that the second question wouldn't be easy, but he didn't expect it to be this difficult, leaving him no chance at all. Russian? He could barely speak English, only reaching the minimum passing level required for graduation. How could he know any nonsense about Russian? Damn it, just because my appearance is unsatisfactory, does my path have to be harder? Do I have to suffer so much unfair treatment and difficulty? Why? Why do you think I'm not good enough? Why doesn't anyone give me a chance to show myself? I just want fairness! Is that so hard?

Li Honglian tapped her fingernails on the teacup, making a tinkling sound, "The poem must be your original work. Don't recite famous works by people like Chen Tianmo or Wells. I want to see your language skills and the literary foundation they reflect. They are interconnected. Start now."

An original poem? Another interviewer thought, why start at all? Just move on to the next person. Even those with a Russian major would find it almost impossible to recite a poem in Russian, let alone someone who doesn't know Russian at all!

Chen Tianmo?

Wells?

Who are these people? And famous?

Zhang Ye suddenly remembered. Chen Tianmo—when he searched online, he had seen him. He was one of the most famous poets in China now. When Zhang Ye was modifying the background, the poetry collection on the windowsill by Xu Zhimo had turned into Chen Tianmo's! He almost forgot that in this world, Xu Zhimo and Pushkin didn't exist, replaced by poets and works from this world that he had never seen. Zhang Ye realized that if he hadn't seen the poetry from this world, then the people in this world definitely hadn't heard the famous poems from his world!

Zhao Guozhou, feeling a bit sorry, added, "Zhang Ye, it's not too late to change your mind. I still stand by my offer. You don't need to take the second question, and I'll arrange another behind-the-scenes position for you."

Not take it?

Why not take it!

Zhang Ye was already seething with anger. You keep making it difficult for me, and you still haven't finished? You want me to recite an original poem in Russian? Fine! I'll do it today! I don't know Russian? So what! Zhang Ye hadn't studied Russian, but that didn't mean he couldn't recite a Russian poem! These two statements weren't contradictory. During his college years, the broadcasting teachers always gave them various difficult tasks to train them. Zhang Ye remembered clearly that in the second half of his third year, his broadcasting and pronunciation teacher had found a Russian foreign teacher to record a famous Russian prose poem in standard Russian. They were forced to memorize it, and Zhang Ye and his classmates suffered greatly. It took them a whole month to memorize it. Looking back, those days were like a nightmare, but after memorizing it, Zhang Ye understood the teacher's intention. His pronunciation and memory skills improved significantly. This method of memorizing through rote repetition rather than understanding the text was very effective, and he believed that all those with a proper education had experienced it.

"Move on to the next person if you can't do it," Li Honglian said, flipping to the next resume.

Zhang Ye, recalling his basic training from his third year, said, "Can it be a prose poem?"

"A prose poem?" Li Honglian was taken aback. A prose poem? That's even harder than a regular modern poem, especially in a foreign language. In Li Honglian's view, it was a completely different level of difficulty. She was the only one among them who knew a bit of Russian, but even she found some prose poems difficult to read, let alone write. This Zhang Ye was really something, making bold claims with his eyes wide open, "If you insist on choosing a more difficult prose poem, I won't stop you. As long as it's an original Russian poem, any theme is fine."

"Alright." After saying this, Zhang Ye closed his eyes and fell silent, gathering his emotions.

"Are you ready yet?"

"Why haven't you started?"

"Forget it, you haven't even studied Russian. Come back for another interview next time."

"Can you stop wasting time? There are others waiting in line. Go home, your conditions really aren't suitable for broadcasting!"

After a long silence, the interviewers gradually lost patience, each saying a word. They didn't believe for a moment that he could speak Russian. This was a joke, right!

Amidst their doubts and sarcasm, Zhang Ye gathered his breath, opened his eyes, and spoke. The first sentence left all the interviewers with their mouths agape!

"Песня-о-буревестнике, Над-седой-равниной-моря-ветер-тучи-собирает, Между-тучами-и-морем-гордо-реет-Буревестник, черной-молнии-подобный."

"Huh?"

"Really can speak?"

"What language is this?"

Zhao Guozhou's eyes widened for a moment, then he quickly looked at Li Honglian, "Old Li? This is?"

The other interviewers also looked at Director Li with blank expressions, knowing that only she understood Russian.

But when they looked over, they saw that Li Honglian's eyes were even wider than theirs. Without a word, everyone instantly understood!

Damn it!

You can really speak Russian!?

Zhang Ye spoke faster and faster, his voice filled with pride, and his emotions were fearless, as the poem required this recitation style!

Gorky's "The Seagull"!

This was a well-known Russian poem in his world, even appearing in middle school textbooks. This poem also expressed Zhang Ye's current emotions to some extent. He recited it with great satisfaction, especially the last line, which he almost shouted!

"Пусть-сильнее-грянет-буря!"

The poem was over!

Everyone was stunned!