Seeking Truth with a Sword-Chapter 553 - 496 Jin Jiang

Chapter 553: Chapter 496 Jin Jiang
"What’s this?"
Li Ang blinked.
"It’s something I wrote."
Chai Chai fidgeted with her fingers and whispered, "Because the Lanling Newspaper has a writing submission event recently..."
As one of the newspapers with the largest circulation in the world, the Lanling Newspaper had a loyal following among all social classes in Yu Country, and Chai Chai was one of them.
As for the content...
The male lead and the female lead went out for a ride in a carriage when suddenly, without any warning, the male lead stopped the carriage, yelled angrily, and told the female lead to get out.
The bewildered female lead got very angry and had no choice but to leave the carriage and walk home.
The next day, she heard that the male lead had tragically passed away; his carriage had fallen off a cliff. It turned out that the male lead had spotted the precipice ahead and had to stop the carriage abruptly to protect the female lead. He, however, fell down the cliffside.
Well, it was moving, but something seemed off?
Li Ang rubbed his chin thoughtfully and decided he would use his personal connections to contact the Lanling Newspaper later, suggesting that the editor offer Chai Chai some advice on revisions.
By the way, many readers of the Lanling Newspaper belonged to the Noble Families of the Two Capitals. Consequently, in some writing contests for the newspaper’s supplementary issues, it was common to see third-place stories like "My Uncle the Chief of Staff" and second-place stories like "My Father the Prime Minister." As for the first prize and the main issue submissions, these were relatively fairer, with fewer outside influences.
"It’s pretty good, I support you."
Li Ang put down the stack of papers, pretending he hadn’t quite seen the content, gave Chai Chai a thumbs up, then smacked his lips and casually said, "The business model of the Lanling Newspaper still isn’t mature enough."
"Ah? The Lanling Newspaper isn’t mature enough?"
Chai Chai asked in confusion, "Their paper already has the largest circulation. Although it’s called a small paper, its size is almost the same as ordinary newspapers."
"It’s not about the circulation; there’s a lack of interaction with the readers."
Li Ang shook his head. "For example, they could print a security seal the size of a postage stamp on every issue, named a monthly ticket. Readers could write their favorite articles from that issue on the back of the monthly ticket and send it back to the Lanling Newspaper headquarters for free.
The headquarters would then announce the number of monthly tickets each article received in the next issue and give the authors honor, bonuses, and other rewards. It would let readers who like the authors feel honored too."
"OH, OH!"
Chai Chai’s eyes lit up. "That’s a good idea. In Chang’an City, many loyal readers buy several copies of an issue at a time to give to friends and family. Those they can’t give away just pile up at home, which is a regrettable waste.
But won’t this cause some people to deliberately manipulate the monthly tickets?"
"It might happen. There might also be fanatics who buy a hundred copies at once, cut up the newspapers with scissors to keep only the voting slips, and throw the rest away."
Li Ang thought of the fan ranking phenomenon from his Otherworld memories and shrugged. "Anyway, a single issue of the newspaper isn’t expensive. It just might draw criticism from the more traditional scholars about wasting paper resources or something of that sort."
In fact, after the widespread use of Spiritual Energy Machines, the argument about wasting paper became somewhat weak.
Large paper workshops, having abandoned much human labor and switched to Spiritual Energy Machines, increased production efficiency by tens to hundreds of times. Consequently, the price of paper had decreased significantly.
"This idea is really good."
After giving it some thought, Chai Chai said with some envy, "It’s just that there won’t be any suspense for the first prize; it will definitely go to Jin Jiang."
Jin Jiang was a leading writer for the Lanling Newspaper, setting the trends in this domain. Chai Chai, Li Leqing, and Qiu Feng all adored her writings.
"Right."
Li Ang nodded. He was actually quite curious about Jin Jiang’s identity as well because he always felt a sense of déjà vu from her writing. "I wonder whether this person is a man or a woman."
"Definitely a woman."
Chai Chai asserted confidently, "Her writing is as elegant as a spring, her emotions delicately restrained, and when they burst forth, they surge like a wildfire. She must be a woman with a profound inner world, her heart holding ravines and rivers."
"Such high praise?"
Li Ang watched the worshipful stars twinkling in Chai Chai’s eyes and felt inexplicably jealous; in the past, that adoring gaze was reserved only for him.
He smacked his lips, saying sourly, "She’s currently being criticized quite harshly by the scholars, you know. They say she flaunts her literary skills but lacks virtue."
"They’re just haters with vested interests."
Chai Chai swept a large hand through the air, exuding confidence. "I don’t quite understand why they have to drag Jin Jiang into this. She never likes to show her face, and I don’t know why the scholars harbor such malice toward her. Her personality and capabilities are quite up to standard, right? Besides, are there any concrete scandals about her? It feels like many scholars are just jealous of her influence and are crazily slandering her; some are simply jumping on the bandwagon.
"Some newspapers, other than the Lanling Newspaper, even forbid their readers from defending her, accusing them of manipulating comments and stirring public opinion. I really don’t understand what’s wrong with the scholars’ ethos nowadays."
"..."
Li Ang scratched his head, feeling this conversation was strangely familiar, and subconsciously replied, "So angry that on a hot day, I tremble all over with cold hands and feet?"
"Eh?"
Chai Chai looked at him oddly. "Young Master, it’s almost winter now."
"Uh, I was just making a casual remark."
Li Ang waved his hand, deciding to skip the topic. "Where’s my homework?"
"It’s in your study."
Chai Chai paused, then smiled mischievously. "It might be a little much."
Might?
Li Ang stepped into the study. As he opened the door, he saw three thick stacks of exam papers and books, reaching from the floor to the ceiling.
"Why is there so much?"
Even though Li Ang was mentally prepared, he couldn’t help but be startled.
"They include assignments from the Academic Palace, textbooks, reference books, and tasks assigned to you by publications. Young Master, you are the main reviewer for journals of Natural Science and Medicine; all important articles must pass your review."
Chai Chai chuckled. "I specially brought them back for you."
"Well, thanks a lot for that."
Li Ang gave a resigned smile and ruffled Chai Chai’s hair. How could he not know what Chai Chai was thinking? It was most likely because he went to Taiyuan Prefecture, taking Li Leqing, Qiu Feng, Ouyang Shi, and He Fanshuang, but hadn’t taken her. She was still sulking. "Grind some ink for me!"
Li Ang shouted, stepping into the study and releasing his Telekinesis.
A whole stack of papers and books flew into the air, unfolding gently. Li Ang’s mind split into twenty Heart Thoughts, controlling pen and ink, and he started writing quickly.
Although he wasn’t sure about his life from the Otherworld memories, one thing was certain. In the Otherworld, he seemed to be the type of student who left holiday homework until the last day. One person, one pen, one night, one miracle.
「Meanwhile, in Shengping Square, southeast of Chang’an City.」
He Fanshuang held a dinner plate (with a meal made by her mother) in one hand and pushed open the door to her own study.
Looking at the mountains of assignments, their corners fluttering with the breeze from the window, she took a deep breath and muttered to herself,
I knew I should have learned Mind...