From street tabloids to the first newspaper of the Republic of China

August 10th, Shanghai.

Before dawn, Wangping Street was already bustling with activity.

Peddlers and laborers emerged from the alleyways pulling their carts, their bells jingling. A tall bundle of newspapers, still wet with ink, sat on the back, emitting a distinctive bitter odor in the hot morning breeze.

"Shenbao, Shibao, and Xinwenbao, three cents a copy!"

"The latest issue of the Strange Newspaper is blasting the Americans in its editorial! And it only costs two cents!"

"Strange News Report, Strange News Report, limited quantity, sold out."

The shouts of newspaper vendors rose and fell, like some kind of ancient and distant work song.

Many newspaper vendors' stalls are quite different from what they used to be.

In the past, the "Strange News" newspaper was usually tucked away in a corner by newspaper vendors, squeezed together with magazines and pictorials with covers featuring half-naked women, and no one bothered to look at it.

Today, it stands alongside the *Shen Bao*, *Xinwen Bao*, and *Shi Bao*, the four newspapers arranged in a prominent row, like a silent declaration—

The Strange Newspaper emerged from the street tabloids with a ruthless attitude!

Even casual newspaper readers know that *Strange News* is undergoing a transformation, but not so quickly. Last issue featured interviews with workers, and this issue is now on par with the three major newspapers? Is there some mistake?

There's only one possibility: this issue of the "Strange News" must have published something extraordinary.

"Give me a copy of the 'Strange News Report'!"

A middle-aged man in a long gown jumped off the rickshaw, and before he could even stand properly, he shouted and threw a coin into his bag.

"I'll have one too!"

"Give me one too!"

"Me too, two servings, please!"

Customers lured by the newspaper vendors immediately became interested upon seeing the headline on the front page of the "Strange News" newspaper and crowded together to buy it.

The newspaper vendor's hands were starting to run out, so he simply moved the entire stack of "Strange News" newspapers onto the table, collecting money and handing out newspapers at the same time. The smoke made him squint, but his hands didn't slow down at all.

A young rickshaw driver stopped his rickshaw by the roadside, stood on tiptoe to look this way, hesitated for a long time, then took out two coins from his pocket, clenched them in his fist, and walked over:

"Is this issue of the 'Strange News Report' about us?"

The news vendor glanced at him and handed him the newspaper:

"No, it's an article criticizing foreigners for fawning over Yuan Shikai. The words in this newspaper are easy to read, all in plain language. I'll pay you if you want it."

The young driver hesitated for a moment, then handed over the coins he had used for breakfast, took the newspaper, glanced at it, and smiled.

"Hey! This really is an article that criticizes Americans!"

A bystander, without even looking up, said:

"It wasn't just insults, it completely refuted Goodnow. This 'wake-up call' is really effective; it truly woke me up!"

Another onlooker chimed in:

"I waited for several days, but not a single newspaper dared to criticize it. Now, a tabloid that made its fortune through scandals dares to jump out and refute Goodnow, and writes such a powerful article. The world has really changed."

The newspaper vendor, while collecting money and handing out newspapers, interjected with conversation:

"To be honest, I saw it first thing this morning, and it's incredibly well-written! With the quality of this 'Strange News Report,' as long as it's not suppressed, it will definitely become a major newspaper in the future, and the price will definitely increase then. Everyone, enjoy it while you can!"

The young rickshaw puller pointed to the newspaper and said excitedly:

"Everyone knows Yuan's ambition to become emperor. In times of national crisis, there will always be someone who stands up to defend the people. If you ask me, if the *Strange News* can continue like this, what's wrong with charging five copper coins per copy in the future!"

The crowd gathered around the newsstand nodded.

......

The sun rises.

Sanmalu, the Shenbao building.

On the second floor, Shi Jiaxiu stood by the window, holding a cup of coffee in his hand, looking down at the scene on the street.

He saw the people gathered in front of the newsstand, the literate rickshaw pullers squatting by the roadside reading the newspaper to the illiterate ones, and the customers arguing heatedly over an article in the "Strange News" newspaper.

The fact that we didn't see any resistance or disdain is enough to show where the customers' needs lie.

Unfortunately, the Shenbao newspaper can no longer be the one to make this announcement.

He read the article "A Critique of 'Co-governance and Monarchy' - Mr. Goodnow, You're Wrong." Shen Zishi brought him a sample copy yesterday at noon. Although it was called an editorial, it was actually a political essay.

The evaluation can be summed up in four words:

Astonished.

He never imagined that an eighteen-year-old could write such an article, which tried to conceal its sharpness but still revealed its brilliance.

It was like a knife hitting the vital points with every strike, showing absolutely no mercy.

Goodnow quotes extensively from classical texts, and so does Lin Wangzheng, who hides behind the identity of "Warning Bell." Goodnow employs comparative analysis, and so does the assertive Lin Wangzheng, whose logic is more impeccable than Goodnow's.

Such an article deserves such a result; there's nothing to envy.

"Thump, thump-thump—"

There was a knock on the door behind me.

"Please come in."

Shi Jiaxiu turned around and sat down.

Chen Huasheng pushed open the door and came in, holding a copy of the "Strange News" newspaper. His expression was unusually calm, and his eyes were full of surprise.

This editor-in-chief, who uses the pen name "Cold-Blooded," is likely to present himself as aloof and meticulous. When writing editorials, he is incisive and to the point, but in his daily life, he is sparing with words and rarely shows any emotion on his face.

When have you ever held a newspaper belonging to a fellow journalist and shown such an expression?

Shi Jiaxiu was not surprised and took a sip of his coffee:

"You watched it? What did you think?"

Chen Huasheng threw the newspaper on the table and said:

"This is no simple matter. This is definitely not something that old scoundrel Shen Zishi could have written. He must have stolen the article from somewhere."

"Hahaha!"

Shi Jiaxiu laughed so hard he could hardly breathe.

He wasn't surprised at all by such a reputation for Shen Zishi. In the eyes of journalists like Chen Huasheng, Shen Zishi was nothing more than an idle good-for-nothing who did absolutely nothing good all day long!

Is it a bit too hurtful to say it like that?

After laughing heartily, Shi Jiaxiu wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes and gestured for Chen Huasheng to sit down:

"Sit down and tell me your thoughts."

Chen Huasheng didn't sit down immediately. He paced back and forth, organized his thoughts for a moment, and finally spoke:

"The logic of this article follows the proper academic debate approach. It first acknowledges Cournot's academic standing and then refutes his points one by one. The whole article is extremely clear. Judging from this point alone, the author must be an experienced writer who knows exactly what he is writing and is not just venting useless emotions."

Shi Jiaxiu nodded.

Chen Huasheng continued:

"In terms of materials, the article cites the French Revolution, the American War of Independence, the situation in South American countries, and the Xuanwu Gate Incident and the Tumu Crisis in Chinese history. Although Goodnow also cites a lot of things, I think Goodnow loses a lot in terms of understanding these events. At least he cannot convince me, but this article can convince me."

"There's also the writing style, which is crucial. Although the entire piece is written in vernacular Chinese so that ordinary people can understand it, surprisingly, it looks very dignified and doesn't lose the seriousness and precision of an editorial. It took me ten years of writing editorials to master this sense of proportion."

Shi Jiaxiu smiled, not in a hurry to reveal the answer:

"Is there anything else?"

Chen Huasheng nodded, found a passage, and read it aloud:

"This is my favorite part."

The author states: "Mr. Goodnow resides in Xia Kingdom, receives a salary from the co-governed government, and advocates for the monarchy. This is his personal choice, and we have no objection to it. However, he uses the guise of scholarship to engage in political activities, attempting to cure Xia Kingdom's ills with prejudiced medicine. This is not scholarship, but blatant flattery. Scholarship can be discussed, and political systems can be negotiated, but the future of Xia Kingdom should be decided by the people of Xia Kingdom themselves, without your interference." This is a brilliant touch, exposing Goodnow's true colors to the public.

Shi Jiaxiu crossed his arms and laughed:

"Actually, this article is also related to me."

"Huh? You wrote this? You're capable of this too?"

"I said it's none of my business! Are you deaf?!"

"you say."

Chen Huasheng picked at his ear. In his eyes, Shi Jiaxiu's business acumen was superior to his writing skills.

In other words, in his mind, Shi Jiaxiu was not good enough to sit at the same table as Shen Zishi.

This is the arrogance unique to "cold-blooded" people!

Shi Jiaxiu understood the editor-in-chief's look and gritted his teeth, saying:

"Why do you think Lao Shen came to see me a few days ago? It was to use my information to write this article."

"But as you said, he really didn't have that ability; someone else wrote it for him."

Shi Jiaxiu deliberately kept everyone in suspense.

"Who?"

Chen Huasheng pressed for more information.

Shi Jiaxiu was silent for a moment, then said:

Do you know Lin Zisheng?

Chen Huasheng was stunned for a moment:

"Brother Zisheng?"

"Yes, it's his son."

"..."

Chen Huasheng's expression changed.

This name may not be widely known in the press, but those in the know understand that he was among the first and most tragically killed journalists during the Gui Chou disaster reporting period.

According to the rumors, there wasn't a single piece of good flesh left on his body when he died. This was because the head of the military and political law enforcement department at the time was Lu Jianzhang, who was known as "Butcher Lu" and often killed people by inviting them to dinner. His invitations were also called "King Yama's Tickets".

Thinking of this, his expression showed confusion:

"How old is Brother Zisheng's son now?"

"I remember I was only sixteen two years ago when I fled from Beiping to Shanghai. I was so thin that I was just skin and bones."

"So, the author of this article is only eighteen years old this year?... "

"Yes, the previous interview with the dockworkers was also done by this person himself, who did the reporting and wrote the article himself."

Shi Jiaxiu nodded.

Chen Huasheng remained silent.

Outside the window, on Wangping Street, the shouts of newspaper vendors continued, and the rickshaw bells jingled, as noisy and vibrant as ever.

His thoughts were as chaotic as his mind.

How can someone only be eighteen?! How can an eighteen-year-old write an article like this?!

What kind of freak has this come out of nowhere!

He really wanted to slam his fist on the table and question Shi Jiaxiu about whether he was making fun of him, but in the end he held back.

"Old Shi, haven't you ever thought about poaching him?"

"Um?"

Shi Jiaxiu glanced at him with "surprise" but did not answer immediately.

Chen Huasheng frowned:

"What are you pretending for? Do you think I can't read your mind?"

"I'm almost forty. I've been writing all my life, and I've lost count of how many manuscripts I've gone through. But in recent years, there hasn't been a single young person who has truly impressed me."

"The one you mentioned is the first one, and I believe he's pretty much the same in your heart. You almost got into a fight with Di Pingzi to bring him here for me, so I don't believe you wouldn't be tempted by this treasure."

When Shi Jiaxiu first took over the Shenbao newspaper, he urgently needed a capable editor to manage the editorial work and set his sights on Chen Huasheng, a fellow townsman who had worked at his former employer, the Shibao. In order to poach this talent, he secretly hired him as the chief editor of the Shenbao with a monthly salary of three hundred silver dollars, but this was kept secret from Di Pingzi, the owner of the Shibao.

When Di Pingzi learned of this, he was furious and almost got into a fight with Shi Jiaxiu. In the end, the two sides reached a friendly compromise, with Chen Huasheng taking on the role of consultant while also handling the work of the Times, which calmed the storm.

It can be said that as long as Shi Jiaxiu had his eye on someone, he would go so far as to resort to underhanded tactics to recruit them into the Shenbao newspaper.

Shi Jiaxiu leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, making a crisp "tap tap tap" sound, his laughter somewhat awkward.

Chen Huasheng smiled, a rare occurrence, and continued:

"His style is very much to my liking."

"Old Shi, I like people who are bold and outspoken. If you recruit him, I'll give him my position as chief editor."

Shi Jiaxiu was startled.

Chen Huasheng was a pillar of the Shen Bao newspaper, his right-hand man. He was never polite, which meant he was sincere.

"Are you serious? Thinking about retiring?"

"Seriously, I'm not thinking about retiring. This young man is worth nurturing. His future is definitely brighter than mine, while I, sitting in this position, have limited and restricted writing opportunities. He's different. I can sense a suppressed anger in his writing, so this article is definitely not his full potential."

Shi Jiaxiu smiled and nodded:

"I'd like to, but now's not the time."

"Shen Zishi took care of him for two years. He has his own ambitions at the Strange Newspaper and won't leave easily."

Chen Huasheng stood up and pointed in the direction of the Times newspaper office:

"Don't wait too long, let's lure him over here to do something else first."

"If you don't take advantage of this kind of person, someone else will."

Shi Jiaxiu did have this intention, but he wouldn't go so far as to steal it. They were already so familiar with each other; he could just find a reason to trick them into giving it to him later. Question:

"Now that even the kids are standing up, aren't you going to do something?"

Chen Huasheng was somewhat surprised:

"Can you write?"

"Go ahead and write it."

"Then I'll go."