Starting from crossing the Fengshen

Chapter 32 Distribution of civilian newspapers

"newspaper!"

Yin Shishi exclaimed, she quickly stood up, stretched out her hand and asked: "Give me a copy quickly. Hehe, I didn't expect that we in Shanyin would have our own newspaper so soon. I thought I would have to wait for several years!"

When she was in Shanghai, she was used to reading newspapers every day.

By reading newspapers, she can learn about domestic and foreign affairs and gain various insights.

"Good lady!"

The chief steward stepped forward and handed the three newspapers to Yin Shishi and Yin Chengtao.

Yin Chengtao took the newspaper, glanced at it and said, "Minbao, this is a good name. Haha, I'm also curious. I don't know how our first newspaper in Shanyin is like."

As the first issue of the publication, Minbao marked its founding purpose in boldface, borrowing the slogan of the Westernization Movement: learn from the foreigners and develop their skills to conquer the foreigners, and look at the world from a broad perspective.

No matter what the intentions of the people's newspapers are, this superficial work must still be done, and no one can take advantage of it.

At least this slogan cannot be shouted wrongly.

Yin Chengtao nodded slowly. The founding purpose of this Minbao was in line with the trend.

He continued reading. The first section was about the rise of Britain and the changes in the system. Because there was a lot of content, it would cost at least hundreds of thousands of words to write in detail. Therefore, Tao Chengzhang divided it into several parts, which is equivalent to a serialized novel.

"what!"

Yin Chengtao frowned. He discovered that this article was actually written in spoken language.

As a person who has read a lot of poetry and books, it was the first time he saw such a straightforward article, and he was somewhat uncomfortable.

But out of curiosity about Britain's rise, he could only hold his nose and continue reading.

As a result, when I saw it, I fell straight into it.

Although the writing is straightforward, it is well written, the context is clear, and punctuation is added, eliminating the need to break sentences, so it reads very smoothly, as if someone is explaining it to him face to face.

The use of punctuation marks in the true sense actually had to wait until Kang Youwei proposed it later, and it was not until April 1919, when Hu Shi, Qian Xuantong and others jointly proposed the "Proposal for the Promulgation of a New Punctuation Mark" that punctuation marks were fully implemented. promotion.

Tao Chengzhang's use of punctuation marks was also influenced and inspired by "The Legend of the Condor Heroes".

"Why is it gone!"

Yin Chengtao read it with great interest, but found that there was no more after that. It only talked about Cromwell's victory in the British Civil War.

He still has more to say, but he can only wait until tomorrow.

Next is current affairs, reporting on some major domestic events. Kang Youwei, Liang Qichao and others are working hard for the upcoming Reform Movement of [-], establishing societies in various places to strengthen the reform, as well as new schools and newspapers.

In fact, there is such a society in Hangzhou.

Just after reading Current Affairs, Yin Chengtao heard Yin Shishi exclaim: "Father, mother, this poem is also written in vernacular, and it is so beautiful. Take a look." "Rain Alley": holding an oil-paper umbrella, wandering alone in the long , long and lonely rain alley, I hope to meet a lilac-like girl with sorrow and resentment..."

Mother Yin also exclaimed: "It really has a strange beauty."

Yin Chengtao's expression condensed. He quickly scanned the entire newspaper and found that it was all written in vernacular.

He had a vague feeling that the literary world would be shaken or even changed drastically because of this newspaper.

"Wow, this novel is so good, why is it so short!"

"Father, mother, you see, these poems and novels were written by one person, Ximen Yaochuixue. This pen name is really strange. Hey, this common sense was also written by him. It turns out that the clouds in the sky are formed after water evaporates. No wonder It rains when there are dark clouds, this man is really talented.”

Yin Shishi's beautiful eyes were filled with sparkles, as if she had discovered a new world.

Yin Chengtao patiently read the newspaper. He nodded and commented: "Yes, this Ximen Yaochui is indeed very talented, but this Tao'ershan is not bad at all with Lu Xun. Especially Lu Xun, an article is memorable and has profound meaning. . I really didn’t expect that we in Shanyin still have three such great talents.”

…………

"Selling newspapers, selling newspapers, our Shanyin people's own newspapers!"

“With just two pennies, you can see the world!”

“The establishment of the Sericulture Museum (the predecessor of Zhejiang Science and Technology University) in Hangzhou means that we will cultivate better silkworm breeds!”…

Early in the morning, dozens of newsboys were wearing uniforms and carrying cloth bags filled with newspapers.They shouted along the street in different areas, attracting everyone's attention.

Newspapers were still a rarity in this era and were only available in big cities.

In Shaoxing, that was the first time.

What's more, it only costs two cents a copy, which is too cheap for scholars.

Even ordinary people who can read can afford it with gritted teeth, and it only costs half a bowl of rice.

"Hey, we actually have a newspaper in Shanyin. Give me a copy!"

"Then kid, come here and bring me a newspaper too."

"My youngest son is also studying. Buying a newspaper and reading it at home will help him gain some knowledge."

……

Because the price was set low and people were very curious about newspapers, there was an endless stream of buyers.

This made the newsboys so tired that they kept running to the newspaper office to get more newspapers.

But although they were tired, they were happy.

Because for every five newspapers sold, they can get one penny, which can easily be twenty or thirty pennies in a morning, or even more. This is more than an ordinary working-age man can earn.

The Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions have a prosperous literary style, a high literacy rate, and many families with heirlooms of poetry and calligraphy.

Therefore, in just one morning, the Minbao sold more than 5000 copies.

For young people, this newspaper opened the door to a new world for them. It turns out that articles and poems can be written in vernacular, and the beauty of the language and the depth of ideas are no worse than classical Chinese.

But for some old Confucians, this newspaper is simply deviant and harmful to the country and the people.

They were trembling with anger and shouted:

"What kind of bullshit is written here? It's so straightforward. Is it meant for readers?"

"It is an insult to elegance, it is an insult to elegance. This Tao'ershan man, Lu Xun, and Ximen Yaochuixue have simply read the book into a dog, and their writing is so unsightly."

"If you tarnish the teachings of a saint, these three of them will all die!"

……

The prefect also reads newspapers, and he also doesn't like vernacular literature.

It's just that he doesn't like it or not, and it's not illegal to write articles in vernacular.

Even if he was the prefect, he could not order newspapers not to use vernacular.

Unless the newspaper publishes a prohibited article.

What's more, the current situation is complicated. Kang Youwei, Liang Qichao and others are running around the capital, trying to imitate the Japanese's reforms. At this time, he doesn't want to cause trouble and just watch quietly.

Perhaps, this people's newspaper was founded under their instruction.

He didn't want to get into trouble.

Not only in Shanyin City, but also in the other eight counties under his rule, Tao Chengzhang sent people to each deliver [-] percent newspapers for sale. Anyway, they were not far away, and they could be delivered in the afternoon as soon as possible.

Although this will definitely lose money, what the People's Daily wants is fame.

So in one day, the people's newspaper was in flames in Shanyin Mansion.

People can be seen discussing the content of Minbao everywhere. Scholars discuss articles and poems. Common people discuss "The Legend of the Condor Heroes". Of course, there are also many people who abuse and slander Minbao.

A mighty New Culture Movement thus kicked off.

(End of this chapter)