‘Yes, it’s a research documentary about the air pollution in China.’

‘But how could it be possible for such a movie to come out under the government censorship?’

‘Censorship is a matter of course in the socialism of China’s characteristics – that is if the documentary is ever going to make its way into the movie theater. But for something put on the Internet, with a stroke of luck, it could be a different story.’

‘That’s intriguing, Bian.’

‘Theoretically, it’s permissible for people to post a video online as long as there’s no anti-government stuff in it. With those latest smartphones, they can so easily make videos for fun – a clip of several minutes or a bit longer, no big deal like before. The government is not too worried about it. After all, it can be instantly blocked once the net cops find in it anything politically incorrect or dangerous.’

‘But how long is her research documentary?’

‘Longer than one hour, I think, covering a considerable number of aspects. Possibly an hour and a half.’

‘So it’s quite professionally made – not at all like those cellphone video clips?’

‘Yes, as professionally as you can imagine.’

‘But what about the funding for the production of such a professionally made documentary?’

‘That’s where we came in, offering to cover a part of the expense,’ Bian said with a touch of pride. ‘Several other entrepreneurs like me. At the end of the movie, Shanshan will make a list of donors for the project. To be honest, that shall be a marvelous marketing opportunity for our companies. Exceptional PR work. Really worth every penny we have put in.’

‘Is she that well known?’

‘Quite well known, I should say, especially in our circle. And among the netizens too, who follow her posts all the time. But of course, you don’t say a single word about the documentary to others, not even to that leading comrade from Beijing. Not until after its release.’

‘Not a single word, you don’t have to worry about it. I totally understand, Bian.’

For a privately funded documentary about the national environmental crisis, Chen observed, its eventual release to a large audience appeared to be open to question, when the net cops kept prowling around. So the secrecy of its production could be crucial, as Bian emphasized.

But how was it possible that people like Zhao – and Internal Security too – had not heard something about it? It was a puzzle, to which he had no answer.

‘So the documentary will be put on one particular website?’

‘Well, more than one. You know how much those websites depend on commercials?’ Bian said with a proud smile. ‘My company put a lot of them on the New Waves website. Its owner knows what a favor he owes me for them, and he promised he would have the documentary on as soon as it’s available.’

‘But it can be a huge risk to him – and the website, too.’