269: Chapter 269 The harsher the scolding, the deeper the love.

Ten o’clock in the morning.

The sky over Jiangcheng was somewhat overcast, seemingly brewing a long-overdue downpour.

The tranquility of the internet was abruptly shattered by a pop-up notification.

Tens of millions of users' phones vibrated at the same second, as the bold, red push notification from the New Tide APP,

forcefully grabbed everyone's attention and trampled the entire literary world's 'decorum' into dust.

[Jian Shen's new work launches in three days! China's first 'serialized paid subscription for serious literature' model, inviting you to witness — "ordinary world"]

The cover image accompanying the push notification was shockingly crude.

There was no exquisite gold-embossed font, no beautiful artistic illustrations,

only a hazy, even grainy Loess Plateau,

and a line of bold text that looked like it had grown out of the mud.

Microblogging platform crashed.

The topic #Jian Shen'sNewWorkPaidSerialization# soared to the top of the hot search list in just ten minutes.

This wasn't just news; it was a declaration of war.

The traditional literary circle exploded.

Those literati who usually prided themselves on their aloofness, sipping tea and playing with prayer beads, all jumped out, expressing profound distress.

The famous book critic 'Guest of Black Earth' posted a long article, angrily denouncing:

"This is the degradation of literature! Jian Shen just won back dignity for Chinese literature in Europe with "the ferryman," and in a blink of an eye, he's bowing for mere pennies? Selling serious literature chapter by chapter like web novels is throwing an idol into the mud! Wang De'an, you're ruining Jian Shen!"

Selling serious literature chapter by chapter like web novels is throwing an idol into the mud!

Wang De'an, you're ruining Jian Shen!"

A popular short video influencer commented:

"Culture desecrated! Reeking of money! The value of literature lies in its depth; this fast-food style serialization will only cheapen the work!"

The value of literature lies in its depth; this fast-food style serialization will only cheapen the work!"

Amidst the condemnations from these 'righteous individuals,' various conspiracy theories began to spread like wildfire.

Fans couldn't accept that the aloof master who wrote 'The soul knows no borders' would willingly become so worldly.

They concocted a grand drama of 'capital forcing innocence into prostitution' in their minds.

"It must be the Xinchao Publishing House's doing! Teacher Jian Shen was most likely kidnapped by a shady contract!"

"My heart aches for Teacher Jian Shen! To help the publishing house boost its performance, he had to lower himself to write this kind of thing. New Tide, be a decent human being!"

Even more radical fans directly flooded the official Microblogging platform accounts of Chaohua Publishing House in Beijing and Shenyao Publishing House in Modu, spamming messages:

"Please, save Teacher Jian Shen! We'll crowdfund the breach of contract fee! Don't let him be ruined by that vampire named Wang!"

While the traditional literary circle was in an uproar, the web novel circle wasn't idle either.

In the Hong Guo Net reader groups and the Longkong forum, an unprecedented carnival of mockery began.

For readers accustomed to the web novel model, serious literature doing paid serialization was simply a joke.

"ordinary world? Listen to that name, it's so rustic. Looks like a flop at first glance."

"Laughable, does serious literature understand what the golden three chapters are? No cheat system, no system, no decisive killing at the start, who would pay to watch a farmer dig the ground?"

"Waiting for the master's divinity to shatter. This meal isn't for everyone; do you really think writing two bestsellers means you can run wild in the web novel circle? Readers nowadays are shrewd; if it's not good, they won't pay!"

Even some struggling authors in the group sourly predicted:

"I bet fifty cents that less than half will finish the first chapter. A slow-burn book like this won't even make it past the first chapter on an APP."

...

Jiangcheng, Xisheng Mansion.

Outside the window, cicadas chirped hoarsely, but the air conditioning inside was running strong.

On the dining table were steaming fried dough sticks, soy milk, and a plate of small pickled vegetables mixed by Wang Xiulian.

Lin Que, who had just woken up, was wearing a loose T-shirt and dipping a fried dough stick into his soy milk bowl.

"Clap!"

Lin Jianguo, sitting on the sofa, slapped his thigh hard. His usually gentle face was now flushed liver-red,

his eyes fixed on his phone screen.

On the phone, a marketing account's short video was playing,

with a narrator reporting on the New Tide Publishing House's 'feat' in a complex tone.

"These unscrupulous merchants! Absolutely devoid of conscience!"

Lin Jianguo pointed at the image of the New Tide building on the TV, spittle flying, his voice trembling with anger:

"How dare they? Huh? Who is Teacher Jian Shen? He's a wenqu star who brings honor to our country! He's a master! How can they force him into such a state?"

Lin Que shrank his neck, silently shoved the soy milk-soaked fried dough stick into his mouth, and mumbled indistinctly:

"Dad, calm down, it's early in the morning..."

"I can't calm down!" Lin Jianguo suddenly turned his head to look at his son.

"Son, look! This is what you call an ugly display! Making a great writer who wrote "the ferryman" sell his words for money like a web novelist?"

"What is this called? This is called spoiling good things! Forcing a good national banquet chef to set up a street stall to fry stinky tofu!"

Forcing a good national banquet chef to set up a street stall to fry stinky tofu!"

Lin Jianguo grew more agitated as he spoke, even standing up and pacing back and forth in the dining room, his hands behind his back, looking profoundly distressed.

"I can't even imagine how bitter Teacher Jian Shen must feel right now. Netizens have analyzed it; he must have been pressured by that Wang De'an with a contract and had to bow his head.

Netizens have analyzed it; he must have been pressured by that Wang De'an with a contract and had to bow his head.

Literati value integrity the most; this is simply a slap in his face!"

Lin Que, who was drinking porridge, nearly choked.

He coughed violently twice, pulled out a tissue to wipe his mouth,

and looking at his father's posture as if he was about to blow up the New Tide Publishing House, a sense of extremely absurd helplessness and... secret pleasure? welled up in his heart.

This feeling of 'the whole world is fighting for me, but only I know I'm doing it voluntarily' was indeed a bit subtle.

"Um... Dad."

Lin Que put down his spoon, tentatively spoke, trying to defend 'Wang De'an,' which was to defend himself.

"Actually, I don't think it's that serious. Maybe... I mean maybe, Teacher Jian Shen himself wanted to try a new model? After all, literature also needs to make a living, and isn't it great to let more people see it?"

After all, literature also needs to make a living, and isn't it great to let more people see it?"

"What do you know!"

Lin Jianguo interrupted his son, looking at Lin Que with an expression that said, 'You're still too young.'

"You simply don't understand what a literati's integrity is! How could someone like Jian Shen, who disdains to show his face at the Moyun Awards Ceremony, bow for such a small amount of money? This is definitely persecution!"

Old Comrade Lin waved his hand, making a definitive conclusion:

"It must be that Wang De'an's doing! No, I can't swallow this! I have to go to New Tide's official Microblogging platform and curse a bit; I can't let Teacher Jian Shen suffer this injustice!"

I have to go to New Tide's official Microblogging platform and curse a bit; I can't let Teacher Jian Shen suffer this injustice!"

Saying that, Lin Jianguo pulled out his phone, clumsily tapping on the screen while muttering:

"If only I could contact Teacher Jian Shen, I'd definitely send him two boxes of our hometown's local specialties. At this time, he must need comfort the most; he needs to know that we readers support him, not this vampire publishing house!"

At this time, he must need comfort the most; he needs to know that we readers support him, not this vampire publishing house!"

Lin Que looked at his father's indignant back, his mouth twitching twice.

Sending local specialties isn't necessary.

Your son is sitting right in front of you, eating the fried dough sticks you bought.

He shook his head and picked up his bowl again.

"Dad, curse all you want, but don't get yourself sick."

Lin Que picked up a piece of pickled vegetable with his chopsticks, silently lighting a candle for Wang De'an, the scapegoat.

...

Meanwhile, at Hong Guo Net headquarters.

In the small group chat for senior management.

Several Editors-in-Chief were forwarding screenshots of New Tide's miserable situation.

[Fantasy Group - Azure Bird]: "New Tide's move is too risky. Serious literature readers' payment habit is to buy the whole book; paying chapter by chapter will break the immersion."

[Urban Group - Blue Whale]: "This is typical traffic anxiety. Pulling a master off his pedestal will only lead to a reputation collapse."

[Editor-in-Chief - Hong Hu]: "Everyone, keep an eye on this. This is also an opportunity for us. Once this serialization flops, the conflict between Jian Shen and New Tide will erupt. At that time, many publishing houses will surely try to win him over. We'll go with a full copyright operation plan; for someone of his caliber, even if he doesn't write, signing him for brand endorsement is a sure profit."

At that time, many publishing houses will surely try to win him over. We'll go with a full copyright operation plan; for someone of his caliber, even if he doesn't write, signing him for brand endorsement is a sure profit."

In their view, this was not a competition at all, but a suicidal performance destined to fail.

They just needed to sit in the stands with coffee, waiting to pick up the pieces for New Tide.

...

New Tide Publishing House, Operations Department.

The atmosphere here was completely opposite to Hong Guo Net; it was like the end of the world.

Dozens of customer service phones rang non-stop simultaneously, the incessant ringing giving everyone a headache.

The young female operators all had tear-streaked faces, their voices hoarse.

"Hello sir, we did not kidnap Teacher Jian Shen..."

"Madam, please calm down, it's really just a normal business collaboration..."

"No, no, no, our agency has its own plans..."

...

On the computer screen, the New Tide APP's rating was dropping at a visible speed.

The comment section was full of curses, and some even started spamming curse images.

The Operations Director rushed into the President's office with a data report.

"President Wang!"

The director slapped the report onto the table, his voice urgent:

"It's only been an hour, and our APP's uninstall rate has already soared by five percent! The comments under the official Microblogging platform are unreadable, all cursing us for forcing innocence into prostitution. Some people are even sending you razor blades!

The comments under the official Microblogging platform are unreadable, all cursing us for forcing innocence into prostitution. Some people are even sending you razor blades!

Should we first issue a statement clarifying that Teacher Jian Shen is aware of this? Or... should we close the comment section first?"

The office was filled with smoke.

Wang De'an sat in the large leather chair, a nearly burnt-out cigarette between his fingers.

On the computer screen in front of him, those vicious curses scrolled by.

"Vampire Wang De'an!"

"Give Jian Shen freedom!"

"New Tide, go bankrupt!"

Looking at these shocking words, Wang De'an's face showed no panic; instead, it exuded a chilling ruthlessness.

He slowly exhaled a smoke ring, and through the grayish-blue smoke, glanced at the director.

"Close the comment section?"

Wang De'an sneered, a madness and composure unique to a gambler who has gone all-in.

"Why close it? This is immense traffic, a level of popularity that others couldn't buy for tens of millions."

He fiercely stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray, stood up, leaned his hands on the desk, his gaze as sharp as a knife.

"Send down my orders."

"No comment control! Not a single one is to be deleted! And no explanatory statements are to be issued!"

The Operations Director was stunned: "But... if the cursing continues, before the new book even launches, our brand image will..."

"Image?" Wang De'an interrupted him.

"The greater the curses now, the deeper their love for Jian Shen. What I want is this effect of widespread public outrage."

He pointed to the dusty cover of "ordinary world" on the screen.

"Let them curse. The harsher they curse, the harder they'll cry when the book launches in three days."

Wang De'an turned around, looked at the gloomy sky outside the window, his voice deep but firm.

"Tell the technical department to expand our server capacity fivefold.

In three days, I want to make those who cursed the most fiercely,

cry as they hand over their money!"

...