Chapter 27

As previously announced online, this press conference, in addition to announcing the new developments of "The Great Jianghu" and revealing the name of the Han Shuo magazine, indeed had a third piece of news.

"The first thing, I believe everyone already knows, not long ago, we Qianhong acquired 'The Great Jianghu.' As everyone knows, this magazine has a very glorious history. I see that most of the media friends and readers here are not very old, so I boldly guess that when you were in school, you didn't read this magazine secretly under your teachers' noses, did you?"

Sure enough, a group of people chuckled, confirming Lu Yichou's statement.

"However, all of this now belongs to the past. With the development of the economy and the inevitable arrival of the information age, this magazine has also shown signs of decline. The most obvious example is the declining sales of the magazine. This is a very real issue. At this point, some of you might be curious: if the magazine's situation is getting worse, why did we still buy it?"

Lu Yichou smiled and looked around, seemingly giving the media and the audience enough time to think, although not many were actually thinking.

"The reason is very simple: we hope this magazine can return to the boring classrooms."

Laughter broke out in the audience.

Lu Yichou paused and continued, "If the teachers hear this, they will surely point at me and scold me. I'm not afraid of their scolding because the truth will prove that what truly influences our future lives is not the so-called knowledge points that teachers impart in class, but the things we learn secretly on our own."

This statement resonated with the fans once again. They didn't necessarily have a deep understanding of it, but they deeply resented the "knowledge points" that teachers forced them to master.

"Besides this, I have another, even grander ideal," Lu Yichou smiled appropriately at the word "ideal," which has become overused. "I hope, through my efforts, to pull readers away from their smartphones and computer screens."

"There is a phenomenon that I guarantee every one of you has experienced: whenever colleagues or classmates organize a gathering, everyone sits around a table, each holding a smartphone or tablet, constantly scrolling through microblogs, social media, and other platforms."

Lu Yichou's expression became more serious, and his tone more solemn. "This is a truly sad phenomenon. Our friends are right beside us, and we are already in a circle, yet why do we still get so engrossed in our virtual social circles as if we were addicted to drugs?"

This question left the audience speechless. They all knew, to varying degrees, that they were addicted to this phenomenon, which had spread throughout the country.

"We look at our phones while working, in class, in the bathroom, on the bus, in bed... Oh, I mean, when we are lying in bed..."

A rather clumsy explanation, and some female readers in the audience blushed and lowered their heads.

"In short, people are no longer willing to read purely. Of course, I know some will argue that they read books on their phones or computers, but how many people actually have the mindset to read when facing their phones or computers?"

Lu Yichou used rhetorical questions to build momentum in his speech, naturally drawing the audience into his rhythm. As a bookseller, his stance was not surprising. In fact, with the advancement of technology, electronic reading has become a popular trend, and many readers indeed prefer this method.

"A nation that does not read has no future, and a person who does not read has no future. Let me give a simple example: two security guards, one who likes to read and the other who only likes to browse trivial news, entertainment gossip, or chat with friends all day. After three years, the one who likes to read can become a security supervisor, while the other can only continue to be a security guard because their perspectives and depth of knowledge are different."

"You must have had this experience: people who read a lot can confidently boast to their friends."

Dissatisfaction began to show in the audience, and the media also seemed distracted. Lu Yichou suddenly realized that he was not the main focus of today's press conference. Every time he faced the camera and the audience, his tendency to teach would unconsciously show.

He smiled self-deprecatingly and cleverly changed the topic. "I know you are all cursing me in your hearts. Alright, I will now hand over the time to Yi Shui'an and Han Shuo. Let's first hear from Yi Shui'an about the situation of 'The Great Jianghu.'"

He led the applause, and the fans naturally followed.

Yi Shui'an nodded slightly and spoke softly, "You all know that I will be the editor-in-chief of 'The Great Jianghu.' After receiving Mr. Lu's invitation, we had multiple discussions until we reached a consensus. I agreed to take over this magazine for two reasons: Mr. Lu's sincere invitation and my genuine desire to try something different. I believe this is a beneficial endeavor worth investing time in."

"A reporter in the audience asked, "What changes will the magazine's style undergo?"

Yi Shui'an listened carefully to the question and answered, "Firstly, I will not turn it into a highly personalized publication. I hope to work with my team to create a platform that is simple and sincere, offering unique works and a new aesthetic and reading experience."

"Will the manuscript selection process remain the same?"

"We will still combine open submissions with some commissioned pieces. However, since the magazine is called 'The Great Jianghu,' our perspective will be broader."

A female reporter with a literary flair asked, "There is a voice online that believes your writing style is already formed and your aesthetic has a strong personal touch. Will this magazine become an extension of your personal taste?"

Yi Shui'an smiled faintly and said, "For a publication to stand its ground, it must have a strong style. For example, fashion magazines are luxurious, children's magazines are playful, and youth magazines must have a unique youthful vibe. However, my taste is not the same as the magazine's taste. We are a team, and we will have free discussions and democratic decision-making processes regarding topics."

"Will being an editor conflict with your personal writing?" a reader asked.

"I can confidently answer that there will be no conflict; instead, they will complement each other. First, working on the magazine will expose me to different types of manuscripts, which is a rare experience for me. In the past, I would choose books I liked, but now I need to broaden my horizons and engage with different types of writing. Second, working on the magazine will allow me to connect more directly with readers, which is beneficial for a writer. Lastly, they are all text-related work, sharing the same source. Even if there are minor differences, they are controllable."

Yi Shui'an's explanation took nearly forty minutes. Her calm and detailed manner easily evoked the style of her works, characterized by definitive statements, innate confidence, and a detached elegance.

In contrast, Han Shuo appeared somewhat reserved and even shy, which was different from his sharp writing style. However, his occasional humor during the discussion of the magazine's founding process still revealed some of his literary personality.

"Because I usually talk a lot, my name has almost become a sensitive word. So, when we first decided to start the magazine, to avoid some trouble, we considered using pseudonyms. My code name was 'Chiganmin,' which means I want to be a good citizen with a moral compass and a willingness to contribute. Moreover, reading this name backward would bring a pleasant surprise. Later, we realized we were too naive; we thought we had fooled everyone, but we had only fooled ourselves."

"So, we decided to appear in our true identities. We prepared for about two to three months, including manuscript selection, magazine cover style, illustrations, and advertising collaborations. Now, the first issue is at the printing factory, and if everything goes well, it will be available to everyone on Children's Day."

"What is the name of the magazine?" several voices in the audience asked almost simultaneously.

Han Shuo smiled and said, "We came up with over twenty names, of which we rejected about ten ourselves, and seven or eight were rejected by the higher-ups." Han Shuo jokingly pointed upward, causing a burst of laughter in the audience. "In the end, we decided to find inspiration from ancient poetry. We firmly believe that the wisdom left by our ancestors is the most convincing. One of my colleagues suggested 'Mingyueguang,' which means 'seeking light' and also references the poem 'Beside my bed a pool of light—Is it hoarfrost on the ground?' indicating that everyone will have our magazine by their bedside."

Han Shuo laughed and continued, "But another colleague quickly objected, saying that people usually keep tissues or small balloons by their beds. If someone gets too engrossed in play and grabs the magazine by mistake..."

The audience burst into laughter. Han Shuo pouted playfully and continued, "What a great insult and shock to our magazine!"

"After several days of discussion and decision-making, based on the style of the manuscripts, we finally decided to use the first line of Bai Juyi's poem 'Grass on the Ancient Plain'—'Grasses on the ancient plain, lush and green.' So..." Han Shuo looked at the expectant audience, leaving one last suspense, "So, the name of our magazine is—'Yuan Shang Cao.'"

The name of the magazine, which had sparked intense online discussions, was finally revealed. Reporters quickly took out their phones to send the news back to their offices, hoping to be the first to break the story on their official websites. Readers also took out their phones to share the news with friends or post on social media.

A reporter from Headline News, upon hearing the name "Yuan Shang Cao," immediately posted online: "Han Shuo's magazine is named 'Yuan Shang Cao,' symbolizing the spirit of resilience and rebirth."

Indeed, Han Shuo explained, "The meaning of this name is easy to guess: it represents the pursuit of endless vitality. We hope this grassroots spirit will be indestructible, unbreakable, and will always come back to life in the spring!"

The audience applauded, and then Han Shuo smiled slyly and said, "This name has another meaning, but it's not convenient to say now. You can freely speculate and leave your ideas on my homepage. Those who guess correctly will receive a reward. Now, I will hand the time back to Mr. Lu."

After listening to Yi Shui'an's explanation of "The Great Jianghu" and Han Shuo's revelation of the magazine's name, the media and readers were mostly satisfied. However, human desires are never fully met. Since Qianhong claimed there was a third major announcement, they were not willing to miss it after coming all the way to the event.

Mr. Lu smiled at everyone and said slowly, "We will launch a revolutionary novel in the martial arts world at midnight tonight, which is 00:00 on the 26th—'The Dragon and Tiger Battle in Jinghua'!"