Chapter 45

Sunday.

According to the announcement, this was the last day of the "Old and Young Storytelling" program, and it was also the day when this long-running program would come to an end.

The audience's comments were very active.

"This program can't end!"

"Right, it can't stop, did you hear that!"

"Our family of eight is waiting to listen!"

"If you end the storytelling, I'll smash the radio station's windows, damn it!"

The letters from the audience that Zhang Ye received in the morning also showed this strong desire, but Zhang Ye did not reply to any of them. He couldn't, and could only do his best and leave the rest to fate.

Teacher Feng came in with a stack of documents.

Wang Xiaomei politely said, "Uncle Feng, have you finished your retirement procedures?"

"Just finished," Teacher Feng sighed, "I really don't want to leave."

An old editor with similar seniority to Teacher Feng said, "Old Feng, let's have a farewell dinner tonight."

But Teacher Feng waved his hand, "No need. I don't plan to leave for a few days. I'll stay for two more days to help Teacher Zhang through this last period."

Everyone understood that Teacher Feng's intention was not just to help. Regardless of whether Zhang Ye's personality was likable or whether he had good relationships, no one doubted his ability and strength. Whether it was "Midnight Ghost Stories" or yesterday's "Old and Young Storytelling," Zhang Ye had brought them to a peak. How could someone with such talent need Teacher Feng's help? Clearly, Old Feng was worried about the program he had been with for so many years and wanted to see if "Old and Young Storytelling" could miraculously survive under Zhang Ye's hands!

"Has the audience rating come out yet?" Teacher Feng asked.

Zhang Ye took the initiative to help Teacher Feng with the documents, "Not yet, I'm not sure."

Xiao Fang had also come to work early, "We need to wait. The people responsible for statistics were mostly off yesterday, so it's a bit slower, but it should be soon."

Teacher Feng sighed, "I hope the audience rating doesn't drop too much."

Zhang Ye laughed, "You have too little faith in me."

"I'm not doubting you," Teacher Feng looked at him, "If I didn't have faith in you, would I have entrusted you with the last few days of the program? The main issue is that your serial yesterday was too ambitious. The story was too long, and splitting it over two days is risky. Kids might change the channel halfway through."

Split over two days?

Yes, everyone thought Zhang Ye was telling the story in two parts, one chapter each day, and it would be finished today.

Zhang Ye smiled but didn't tell them that the novel version of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" actually had a full twenty-four chapters, meaning the story would take at least ten days to finish! Two days? The main characters hadn't even all appeared yet, so it was impossible to finish!

Everyone was too naive. They really didn't expect Zhang Ye to be so shameless as to leave an unfinished serial for Jia Yan to take over. Most people wouldn't do such a despicable thing!

Tian Bin, standing far away, couldn't stop smiling at Zhang Ye.

Jia Yan, who was busy planning a new program, was also eagerly waiting to see how much the audience rating would drop due to Zhang Ye's poor move. He estimated it would drop to at least tenth place. The reason was obvious: the mandatory promotion by the education department was limited to "The Little Rabbit Who Listened Well." While people recognized this story, it didn't mean they would recognize Zhang Ye's other stories. Moreover, the format of a fairy tale serial was inherently flawed.

They waited and waited.

Finally, someone came in through the door. It was Zhao Guozhou, who hadn't shown up for two days. He was holding an A4 sheet, clearly the audience rating table for all the programs from yesterday.

Jia Yan quickly stood up, "Director."

Zhao Guozhou pressed his hand down, "Sit down. I'll read the audience ratings today."

"Uh, okay," Jia Yan awkwardly sat back down.

Then, Zhao Guozhou looked at Zhang Ye. He hadn't communicated with Zhang Ye in front of everyone for a long time, and hadn't even looked at him in the past few days. But today, for some reason, Zhao Guozhou looked at him, and his eyes were full of complex emotions.

Zhang Ye wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he seemed to see a hint of joy and satisfaction in Zhao Guozhou's eyes. Zhao Guozhou was his mentor, his patron. Zhang Ye had privately told Zhao Guozhou that he would never forget this, but he couldn't deny that he was still upset. Even if the director was under pressure from the station leadership, Zhang Ye couldn't accept it emotionally. But now, seeing Zhao Guozhou's satisfied gaze, Zhang Ye's anger vanished, and he nodded at him.

There was a poem that fit the situation perfectly.

"After enduring all the trials, the brothers are still together, a branch of red apricot blossoms over the wall... No, wait, it's 'a smile erases all grievances'!"

This made Zhang Ye even more curious about his audience rating from yesterday. What had caused such a significant change in Director Zhao today?

"First place, Wang Xiaomei, 'Words of the World,'" Zhao Guozhou read. "Audience rating 3.66%, a bit of a decline from the past few days, Teacher Xiaomei. You might need to add some spice to your program. It can't be too dry. I listened to yesterday's program, and it seemed to be relying on past success."

Wang Xiaomei nodded, "I'll make some improvements today."

Zhao Guozhou smiled, "Actually, the performance is already very good, but as the pillar of our station, the expectations for you are naturally higher."

"I understand," Wang Xiaomei was still very humble.

"Next, second place," Zhao Guozhou shook the sheet in his hand.

At this moment, many people, including Jia Yan, Zhang Ye, and Teacher Feng, swallowed hard, very nervous.

"Daily Entertainment," Zhao Guozhou said.

Wu Datao immediately beamed, finally reclaiming second place, a great redemption! Tian Bin and Jia Yan also breathed a sigh of relief!

But before they could celebrate for even a second, Zhao Guozhou's tone changed completely, "I need to criticize the 'Daily Entertainment' team, especially Wu Datao and Song Yan. You two have been hosting the program, but the ratings have been declining every day. Today's audience rating is only 2.21%. Look at your entertainment news from the past few days. Is there any highlight? Any news that everyone is paying attention to? Even if there is, it's all leftovers from others. There's no sparkle in your news program. How do your reporters collect news leads? How do your broadcasters report? There are frequent mistakes in the live broadcasts. Do you even want to keep your jobs?"

Wu Datao was speechless!

Zhao Guozhou continued, "Including today, your program has been out of second place for two consecutive days. Today's second place is not you!"

Not "Daily Entertainment"?

Then who? Whose program??

Everyone's eyes widened in shock!

Zhao Guozhou read, "Second place, Zhang Ye's 'Old and Young Storytelling,' audience rating 2.45%!"

"Ah?"

"Oh my!"

"Again, 'Old and Young Storytelling'?"

"0.05% higher than yesterday?"

"Are you kidding? This program is going crazy!"

Exclamations rose one after another, and Tian Bin and Jia Yan were stunned!

Teacher Feng also looked incredulous. No! No! Yesterday was a surge due to the promotion by the education department. How could the audience rating still increase today? And for a serial fairy tale that everyone thought was impossible to succeed? Hadn't the previous fairy tale masters already proven that this format wouldn't work? Why could Zhang Ye do it? Why could he succeed?

Why?

No one knew!

Only Zhang Ye clenched his fist, a weight lifted from his chest. Great! The audience rating not only didn't drop but increased? Zhang Ye was surprised but also knew it was reasonable. The impact of the "The Little Rabbit Who Listened Well" essay contest was just beginning to show. The surge on the second day was just the initial stage, with only a part of the audience rushing in. But yesterday and today, the promotion by the education department reached its peak, with reports in newspapers and on TV. Even though few mentioned Zhang Ye's program, with the internet being so developed, people could easily find out. So, while a large part of the audience who only listened to "The Little Rabbit Who Listened Well" left, many more parents came to listen, causing the audience rating to rise instead of falling!

Of course, the main reason was the story!

Zhang Ye didn't bet wrong. "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" played a crucial role, attracting many parents!

Zhao Guozhou pressed his hand down, "Everyone, calm down. I want to praise Teacher Zhang. When he took over 'Midnight Ghost Stories,' we all knew it was the worst-performing program on our station, always at the bottom. But on his first day, he brought it to the top three, creating a record for the late-night program. Later, 'Old and Young Storytelling' became the worst-performing program, with no improvement for years. But when Teacher Zhang took over, the results are clear. Second place, from the bottom to the second! Even if 'Old and Young Storytelling' ends today, I think Teacher Zhang's spirit of effort is something we all should learn from! I hope everyone remembers this: Teacher Zhang has taught us a lesson with his actions—no program is doomed to fail forever!"

Holding up the A4 sheet, Zhao Guozhou led the applause!

Clap, clap, clap, clap. Teacher Feng was also very excited, his eyes a bit moist, clapping hard for Zhang Ye, his hands turning red!

What a powerful newcomer!

At this moment, many colleagues who had previously had issues with Zhang Ye were completely convinced!

But Jia Yan was in a bind, feeling extremely embarrassed. How had the director's attitude changed? What did it mean to applaud Zhang Ye in public and praise him? Although Zhao Guozhou said "Old and Young Storytelling" would end today, he added "perhaps" before it, meaning it might not end today?

The audience ratings were read one by one.

Zhao Guozhou was about to leave, and Jia Yan quickly followed him to the hallway, "Director, my program on Monday..."

Zhao Guozhou was still very kind, "Hehe, Jia, let's talk about it tomorrow. The Mid-Autumn Poetry Festival is being prepared, and I need to supervise the whole process. You can talk to Old Xu