Sail across the sea

Chapter 524 doesn't really need to be forced.

Gao Fan began to understand what Yuan Xiaoyan meant.

Life is fleeting, like the life of a plant in autumn. Everyone has a desire to achieve fame and success, and this is especially true for Peking University graduates who are considered "the chosen ones of heaven."

When Yuan Xiaoyan was first assigned to the newspaper, she was probably full of dreams, wanting to become one of those journalists who shouldered the responsibility of upholding justice. But reality gave her a cold shower. Over the years, she not only failed to achieve anything extraordinary, but also encountered some unspoken rules in matters such as promotion and awards, which made her feel disheartened.

There are many reasons why Yuan Xiaoyan was unable to achieve results in her position.

Firstly, in times of peace and prosperity, it is inherently difficult to produce sensational news. As the saying goes, "national misfortune is a poet's fortune," meaning that the more chaotic and turbulent the times, the more likely they are to give birth to timeless literary masterpieces. Conversely, in times of peace and prosperity, poets and journalists alike tend to only write about the country's prosperity and tranquility, resulting in mediocre and unremarkable works.

Secondly, the newspaper where Yuan Xiaoyan works is very strict about publicity discipline, and reporters cannot be allowed to act freely. Even when there are major news stories, reporters must carefully consider the nuances of their reporting to avoid touching on sensitive social issues. This naturally diminishes the impact of the news.

Yuan Xiaoyan also tried to uncover the truth behind some news stories, hoping to break some sensational scoop and become famous overnight. But such efforts were often stopped by her superiors as soon as they started, who warned her that she had to write within the designated scope and not to step out of line.

After this happened several times, Yuan Xiaoyan became increasingly fed up with her job and her desire to leave grew stronger.

“I envy Huihui,” Yuan Xiaoyan said. “She is so passionate at all times. Among our classmates, there are very few who still have the same passion as she did in college.”

Gao Fan laughed and said, "No, I saw Xia Shihui a few days ago, and she also said that her job is very boring."

Yuan Xiaoyan said, "That was indeed the case a few days ago. However, didn't you just ask her to go to Lop Nur to look for potash? I contacted her yesterday, and she talked about potash at length. I could imagine her beaming with excitement even over the phone."

"It seems I saved a civil servant who was on the verge of depression."

"So, now it's my turn to be saved."

"How about I sponsor you to become a war correspondent in the Gulf?"

"It's not impossible, going to Bosnia and Herzegovina is also an option."

"Forget it, if I dared to do that, not only your parents, but even my sister wouldn't let me off the hook. Let's get down to business. Come work for our company as the Public Relations Director, responsible for the company's external image and publicity. Do you have any problems?"

"There shouldn't be any problem. I've done public relations planning for your company before, so I'm quite familiar with the company's external image and communication strategy."

"However, this job is unlikely to bring you any sense of accomplishment, and I'm worried that you'll find it boring after a while."

"If it's boring, just change it."

Yuan Xiaoyan replied in an indifferent tone. Perhaps to prove her stance, a faint smile appeared on her face. But Gao Fan, sitting opposite her, keenly noticed that the smile felt somewhat stiff.

Considering Yuan Xiaoyan's earlier statement that she didn't have any demands regarding salary, Gao Fan felt that this matter seemed to be somewhat different from what he had expected.

"Are you not satisfied with this arrangement?" Gao Fan asked. Yuan Xiaoyan looked up at Gao Fan, her gaze shifting slightly. After hesitating for a moment, she said, "Actually, there's nothing I'm dissatisfied with. I'm really tired of working at the newspaper, so a change of environment is good for me."

Gao Fan thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "If that's the case, there's no need to force yourself. The daily work of a corporate public relations director is quite mundane. If you want to do something more exciting, this position isn't particularly suitable for you."

Yuan Xiaoyan asked, "What kind of position would suit me? I don't know how to do anything else besides writing articles."

Before meeting Gao Fan, Yuan Xiaoyan had indeed considered accepting the position of public relations director. Like anyone considering a job change, she felt that everything outside was wonderful, and that leaving her current position was the best option.

But when Yuan Xiaoyan heard Gao Fan state this condition in person, she suddenly felt somewhat disheartened.

She used to do public relations planning for Canghai Chemical and Xinglong Coatings, writing press releases for them, and earning extra money each time made her quite happy. But when it came to actually making this a career, her interest quickly faded.

The thought that her job for the next few years would involve constantly generating buzz around company-related topics and publishing public relations articles in various media outlets left Yuan Xiaoyan feeling somewhat lost.

Did he leave the newspaper just to write public relations articles day after day? Or was he simply after the high salary Gao Fan might offer him?

Having already asked Xia Shihui to convey her desire to join Canghai Chemical, Yuan Xiaoyan couldn't go back on her word. So when Gao Fan asked if she would accept the job, she nodded. However, Gao Fan noticed the slight reluctance on her face.

“A dragon is not meant to be confined to a pond. I should have realized this sooner. This position is actually not suitable for you.” Gao Fan patted his head with some regret, then his eyes lit up and he said, “I have an idea that might be very suitable for you. I wonder if you would be interested in hearing it.”

Yuan Xiaoyan smiled and said, "President Gao's ideas are definitely brilliant. I will listen attentively. Please feel free to speak."

"Why don't you start your own publication? You'll be in complete control and can fully utilize your talents."

"What? I'll start my own publication? How is that even possible?"

"What's impossible? The government doesn't strictly control publication numbers these days. Don't tell me you've worked at a newspaper for so many years and still haven't been able to get one."

"Getting a publication number isn't difficult..."

Yuan Xiaoyan quickly considered Gao Fan's sudden suggestion in her mind, her expression shifting between light and dark.

As Gao Fan said, the current national policy on news and publishing is relatively lenient, or to be more precise, management standards have not yet been established, making it very easy to find loopholes.

Having worked as a journalist for so many years, Yuan Xiaoyan has accumulated a wealth of connections, so finding someone in the publishing administration department to apply for a publication number is indeed not difficult.

However, running a publication is not just about having an ISSN. What content to publish, what unique features to rely on to survive, how to solicit manuscripts, and how to operate the publication are all major issues.

Most importantly, publishing a publication requires investment.

Where does the money come from?
(End of this chapter)