Even Wen Dongrong wanted to buy a copy of Youth Idol to check it out, showing how much buzz the book had generated recently.
The large spread in the morning paper was a grand display for a debut author.
With such promotional effort, what book couldn’t be made a hit?
Wen Ying had hit a perfect moment. She didn’t clash with Hush, Little Secret, and with Editor Han’s “help”, various factors made Youth Idol a sensation before it even hit the shelves.
If the publication of Youth Idol was a 100-point plan, Editor Han contributed at least 40 points to the feast.
The remaining 60 points went to Zou Weijun, to Editor Wan and Chief Editor Song who quietly did good work, and most of all to Wen Ying—if the book’s quality wasn’t up to par, even praise from People’s Daily would only spark a brief flame. In any situation, the market decides a book’s worth!
After breakfast at home, Wen Ying, as usual, grabbed her backpack and headed out for her “study group”.
She didn’t know that as soon as she left, her parents quietly followed.
Qin Jiao was waiting for Wen Ying at the neighbourhood entrance. Chen Ru watched the two girls meet, buy a book at a newsstand, and board a bus together.
With Qin Jiao, Chen Ru felt reassured.
After all, Qin Jiao had been accepted into Peking University’s Guanghua School of Management!
If Chen Ru didn’t trust a top student like her, she’d have to chain Wen Ying at home.
The person was right, the study group was real, so what was off? Was it really just her imagination?
Wen Dongrong coughed, “You’re overthinking. I told you, she’s been well-behaved lately, her routine is regular, and she comes home every day.”
Tailing someone wasn’t out of the question, but getting caught would be mortifying.
Chen Ru glared at him, “Did I ask you to come?”
Wen Dongrong thought: She hadn’t, but if he hadn’t come, he might’ve been kicked out of bed tonight for some nonsense like grinding his teeth, talking in his sleep, or even farting.
The couple didn’t follow onto the bus.
Wen Dongrong went to the newsstand where Wen Ying had bought her book and spotted Youth Idol prominently displayed.
“Boss, give me one. How much?”
“32 yuan!”
The female boss took the money quickly, not forgetting to pitch the unsold Zhao Family Letters. Wen Dongrong glanced at the cover—a man dressed sharply, posing with an elite air. This kind of book screamed self-help nonsense. At his age, having fed plenty of motivational soup to his subordinates, he wasn’t about to pay for someone else’s!
“No thanks, just this one!”
Another failed pitch.
The boss had initially thought Zhao Dong was handsome, but with Zhao Family Letters not selling, she got annoyed just looking at his face.
Once Wen Dongrong left, she shoved Zhao Family Letters into a corner, filling the prime spot with Youth Idol.
Whether Youth Idol was truly “idol-worthy”, the boss didn’t care. With all this hype, she was sure it would sell big.
She didn’t judge the book’s quality, but if it helped a newsstand owner like her earn more to feed her school-going kids, it was a one-in-a-million book!
After Wen Dongrong left with his book, the boss pulled out her notebook and started calling numbers.
“Youth Idol is in stock, when are you picking up your order?”
“Yes, yes, it’s here.”
“Closing time? We close at night, we’re here all day for you!”
“Come soon if you want it, this book’s selling fast, I might not be able to hold it for you.”
“You paid a deposit? Got it, I’ll save it for you!”
She made over twenty calls, and most customers said they’d pick up their books today. The boss felt confident.
Those who paid deposits usually followed through, while those who hadn’t might back out. So far, no one had cancelled, so on Youth Idol’s launch day, she was guaranteed to sell at least 30 copies!
That was just the bare minimum.
If she was satisfied with just 30 copies, how could she dominate the newsstand business in several blocks?
The boss spread out the morning paper next to Youth Idol.
To everyone buying newspapers or magazines, she pitched Youth Idol.
“Rongcheng Morning Post says it’s good, must be a great book.”
“32 yuan a copy… what, you think that’s pricey? Look at your fancy clothes, 32 yuan wouldn’t even buy one sleeve!”
Knowledge and culture were never cheap. Though average salaries were one or two thousand, novels typically cost twenty or thirty yuan. For book lovers, the price wasn’t a barrier.
Even students, some spending pocket money on snacks, others glued to arcades, still had those who saved up to buy books.
On weekends, bookstores nationwide were packed with people browsing and buying. Wen Ying had been reborn in the golden age of print media, when the internet was widespread but smartphones hadn’t yet emerged, and many found joy in reading physical books.
While the newsstand boss pushed Youth Idol, Wen Ying and Qin Jiao, each holding a copy, rode a bus through Rongcheng’s streets.
No study group today.
Qin Jiao was accompanying Wen Ying to visit bookstores.
Youth Idol’s launch tugged at Wen Ying’s heart and had her friends worried sick.
Except for Li Mengjiao in Hunan, Qin Jiao, Wang Shuang, Tang Yifeng, and Geng Xiao in Rongcheng had planned today’s actions. The four divided the city into four zones, spending the day in bookstores to see if Youth Idol was selling and who was buying it.
Her friends were conducting their own market research for Youth Idol.
Their efforts were somewhat pointless, as Zou Weijun had already coordinated with Rongcheng bookstores. Since Wen Ying’s royalties depended on sales, tracking data was critical, and professionals were handling it.
But Wen Ying couldn’t reject their proposal.
It was her friends’ way of showing they cared!
Young people didn’t always act with calculated returns in mind. If everything was about payoff, they wouldn’t be young.
When Wen Ying and Qin Jiao arrived at Xinhua Bookstore in the south, Wang Shuang and the others were already stationed in the east, west, and north. Youth Idol was displayed prominently in bookstores.
This summer, Rongcheng bookstores treated it as their flagship title!
“Youth Idol, Overcoming Obstacles” posters were at every bookstore entrance, thanks to Zou Weijun and Xiao Ni’s meticulous work.
At one Rongcheng bookstore, Deng Shangwei parked his car outside, rushed in with a cardboard box, and said, “Youth Idol, I want a hundred copies!”
The clerk glanced at the big customer, impartial, “Even if you want 1,000 copies, you have to queue. Everyone here is buying books.”
Deng Shangwei wasn’t annoyed at the rebuff. He noticed a dozen people lined up at the checkout, mostly young, with girls in the majority. Nine out of ten held a copy of Youth Idol!
“No rush, no rush, I’ll queue.”
Deng Shangwei grinned.
These were all Xiao Ying’s readers!
