Rebirth 04: Starting from Taking an Unconventional Approach

"That's a good question," Han Fei said, leaning forward and resting his hands on the lectern. "China Mobile is our partner, and we've never hidden that. But even without China Mobile's cooperation, we would still defend our rights in the face of things that cross our bottom line. If a legitimate publishing house doesn't speak up when its content is stolen and its distribution channels are disrupted, that would be a dereliction of duty to the industry. China Mobile's cooperation has indeed changed the way we defend our rights and given us more confidence, but it's not the kind of endorsement you're thinking of."

Han Fei paused for a moment, seeing that his suspenseful speech, interrupted at a crucial moment, had worked; the faces of the four reporters seemed to have been infused with new vitality.

"China Mobile didn't provide us with a lawyer or make a single phone call for us. What they gave us was a path where market rules mattered, allowing us to win the market with legitimate content, legitimate channels, and legitimate data. You may not have noticed the announcement yet, but just before the briefing started, we received a very telling result: Guangdong Mobile's open tender for content-based SP partners saw Qingniao Reading officially win the bid with the highest overall score."

The meeting room fell silent, completely silent. There wasn't a hint of a yawn, not even a flicker of foot under the chair. Good heavens, Han Fei thought, he'd kept them completely absorbed, utterly dumbfounded.

"This means," Han Fei said, "that our cooperation with China Mobile was determined through market mechanisms. Our rights protection efforts are about standing up for ourselves and protecting this proven, officially recognized path of content-plus-compliant channels from being disrupted. So, you ask me what role our cooperation with China Mobile plays? You might think it's acting as a shield?"

Han Fei waited quietly, then nodded, as if the reporter had already given his answer.

"No," Han Fei said, "it acts as an accelerator. We would still defend our rights without it; with it, every step we take in defending our rights is paving the way for the entire industry to find a way for legitimate content to survive in rural towns. Thank you everyone."

Han Fei finished his speech, stepped down from the podium, a bright smile on his face, and heard enthusiastic applause. Lu Hai dutifully clapped along with the reporters, his eyes fixed on Han Fei.

......

Han Fei and Yang Zheng entered the private interview room and sat down facing each other in the chairs. Yang Zheng then moved his chair to the side, sitting at an angle to Han Fei. Han Fei knew this was a habit of experienced interviewers, done to help the interviewee relax and avoid putting pressure on them.

"President Han, you explained things very clearly at the briefing just now, placing the important and the acceptable points in a very skillful way. Now that we're talking privately, I won't follow the typical interview format. As the reporter who has followed you the longest, I really want to hear what you have to say. Don't worry, I'll write what you think is worth writing about today, and I'll just be a listener for what you don't. Do you mind if I record this?"

"Go ahead and record it," Han Fei said. "Based on your previous two reports, I believe you."

Yang Zheng placed the recorder on the table and pressed the red button: "President Han, when I wrote about Qingniao before, there were rumors in the industry that more than one internet giant was in contact with you. Today, you just secured a cooperation with Guangdong Mobile, so your value is definitely different. I want to know, how much of these rumors are true? Or, in your view, are companies like Tencent and NetEase now Qingniao's competitors, or potential partners?"

"Our current focus is mainly on doing a solid job of what we've already decided. As for exchanges with other companies in the industry, it's a business matter, and it's normal for people to come and have a chat. We are open to all well-intentioned collaborations that can help expand the market. But at this stage, there is no substantial progress that needs to be disclosed to the public."

Yang Zheng nodded, tactfully changing the subject: "In my previous report, I quoted an old author from Qingniao, saying that your stuff isn't literature, it's garbage. What was your reaction when you saw that sentence?"

"My first reaction was pain," Han Fei said.

"Because he said some unpleasant things?"

"No, because I know he meant it when he said that."

"Really?"

"Yes, I believe he genuinely feels that what he was protecting was destroyed by me."

"Aren't you angry?"

"Why are you angry?" Han Fei said, forcing a smile. "I can understand his anger, but anger and understanding are useless. Because the problems and contradictions still exist. What about traditional literature? What about pure literature authors? I can't answer this question for him. I can only say that the Bluebird doesn't exist to eliminate them, and we don't have that ability."

"So, do you think an article like 'Borrowing Seed' qualifies as literature?"

Han Fei leaned back in his chair, looking at the ceiling: "The word 'literature' is too heavy; I dare not use it casually. But I know that Lao Huai's story had been bottled up in his stomach for twenty years, and when he wrote it, it was from the bottom of his heart. When Ye Cao wrote 'Living a Widow,' he even cried bitterly when he wrote the part about Liu Chunmei jumping into the river. I can't say whether these things are literature or not, but they are definitely not garbage. Garbage is fake, made up, and meant to fool people. But what they wrote is real."

"But you're also standing on the opposite side of things like 'People's Stories'," Yang Zheng said. "The fact that your model has been targeted by the black market precisely shows that this model itself has room for skirting the law."

"Yes," Han Fei answered without hesitation. "What we produce is bold in its subject matter, intense in its emotions, and walks the line of decency. But I can guarantee that every piece of our work has been reviewed three times. We know better than anyone where the red line is. Because we know what the consequences of crossing it are."

"So the only difference between you and 'People's Stories' is whether you comply with regulations or not?"

"No. The difference is that we want to live a long time, while they just want to make a quick buck and run. What we do is something that's hard to recoup within three months. But they can, because they don't have to worry about tomorrow. We plant trees, they cut them down."

"President Han," Yang Zheng said with a smile, "I'd like to ask you a question in a personal capacity."

"Um?"

"If one day, those veteran authors and editors who criticized you were willing to sit down and talk to you face-to-face, would you go?"

"Yes," Han Fei said.

What will you tell them?

Han Fei took a breath: "I will tell them: I have no right to criticize what you have guarded for so many years. But can you also take a look at those people you haven't seen? Those people on construction sites, assembly lines, and in villages who have something to say but no one listens? If you are willing, Qingniao's page can be reserved for you anytime to write whatever you want."

Yang Zheng smiled again, this time his lips almost touching his eyes: "One last question, also in a private capacity, not part of the interview. Have you ever thought about what Qingniao will be like ten years from now?"