Chapter 652: Responses from Both Sides of the Strait
"Nonsense! Who made up these rumors?" Lin Weimin scolded in a serious tone.
Wei Fengjun remained silent. He didn't know what to say when he saw Editor-in-Chief Lin's confident behavior of lying with open eyes.
As long as I pretend to be asleep, you can't wake me up.
"Editor-in-chief, I am also a member of the publishing company after all." Wei Fengjun said helplessly.
"Don't tell the people in the community, even if the people in the office ask me, I will say the same thing. The production capacity is only 3,000 sets, no more."
Lin Weimin's tone was firm and his words were decisive.
"That bookstore..."
"Just let them wait. Readers won't run away anyway. Those who want to buy will definitely buy. If they wait a few more days, these readers will cherish this opportunity even more."
Wei Fengjun sighed helplessly. Even though the editor-in-chief denied it, the news had already spread throughout the company.
In fact, the production capacity of the Aid Printing Factory is sufficient, and printing 10,000 sets per month is not a problem, but the editor-in-chief insisted that they print at a monthly output of 3,000 sets.
Book sales are so hot now, but Lin Weimin insists on suppressing them. Not only Wei Fengjun, but everyone in the publishing house doesn't understand.
"Leader, can't you tell the truth?"
"What truth?"
"Why did you do this?"
Lin Weimin hesitated for a long time, and finally said: "Okay. Since you asked, I will tell you the truth."
Wei Fengjun was cheered up when he heard this, and couldn't help but sit up straight and listen to what Lin Weimin was going to say next.
"You should also be aware of the scale of the World Literature Masterpieces Collection. It will contain at least 200 volumes. This is a project that will likely last for several years or even more than a decade. During this process, it will consume countless manpower and financial resources of our National Literature Publishing House..."
Wei Fengjun couldn't help but nod when he heard this. The "Collection of World Literature Classics" is not only one of the largest series of books in the history of Guowen Publishing House, but also in the history of domestic publishing.
“Our series of books has many advantages, but excessive investment and rising printing costs have also put our Guowen Press under great cost pressure.
You may think that now that the book has been published, the faster and more it sells, the better.
But I don’t think so…”
Having said that, Lin Weimin's expression became serious, and he handed the two copies of "The Count of Monte Cristo" on his desk to Wei Fengjun.
"Old Wei, have you ever thought about what kind of readers would choose to buy our series of books?"
Lin Weimin's question stunned Wei Fengjun. He had never thought about this question before.
He frowned and thought for a long time before he said, "Scholars and writers engaged in literary research, and readers who are relatively passionate about literature and those who have a hobby of collecting literature."
Lin Weimin continued to ask: "Then what do you think, if ordinary readers were asked to choose between the book in our library and the book in your hand, which one would they choose?"
The two copies of "The Count of Monte Cristo" in Wei Fengjun's hands are the library version published by Guowen Publishing House and the paperback version published by Writer's Publishing House. The library version is priced at 13.6 yuan per copy, while the paperback version is priced at only 5.8 yuan.
The price difference was more than double. Wei Fengjun weighed the two books in his hand and said, "Probably the one from Writers Publishing House."
"Look, you understand. In fact, in the affordable book market, our series of books has no competitiveness. Even if we make a paperback version, it will not change this situation."
Wei Fengjun nodded, agreeing with Lin Weimin's words.
"Since we are facing homogeneous competition in the market and do not have an advantage, we must innovate in some areas. Do you remember the 'buying spree' in 1988?"
Wei Fengjun nodded again. It had only been a few years, how could he have forgotten it? He remembered it clearly.
At this point, Wei Fengjun already understood Lin Weimin's strategy and ideas.
"You want to use the current enthusiasm of readers for our series of books to thoroughly hype up the reputation of the series and establish a unique impression in the minds of readers so as to better distribute and sell it in the future."
Lin Weimin nodded and said, "The essence of scarcity is that supply is less than demand. The target user group of our series of books is inherently narrower than that of ordinary paperback books. If we go into battle bare-handed with those paperback books, we will be using our own weaknesses to attack the enemy's strengths.
The biggest benefit of doing this now is that it can create momentum for the "World Literature Classics Collection".
The World Literature Classics Collection is huge in scale and cannot be completed in one or two years. If we cannot establish our own brand image in the book market, it will be easily forgotten by readers.
Although we do not seek to have this series of books accepted by all readers, we should ensure that as many readers as possible understand it and have the willingness to purchase it.
If the World Literature Masterpieces Collection can create a trend among a large readership, or even develop a group of die-hard readers, then why should we worry about sales?"
After listening to Lin Weimin's words, Wei Fengjun completely understood the reason behind his previous actions.
It seems that the editor-in-chief has far-sighted thoughts!
Although the editor-in-chief's idea has not been fully verified, at least judging from the current situation, there are signs of such a development.
In the future, if "World Literature Classics Collection" can really do as the editor-in-chief said, and continue to be sought after by the market and readers in this state of continued shortage, forming a lasting trend, it will be of great benefit to the future sales of "World Literature Classics Collection".
"I see!"
"I'm glad you understand. You must keep your mouth shut to the outside world. It doesn't matter what the rumors say, but we absolutely cannot admit it," Lin Weimin warned.
Wei Fengjun showed a somewhat relaxed smile on his face, "Don't worry, I understand."
Wei Fengjun is the vice president of Guowen Publishing House in charge of publishing, which is why Lin Weimin was willing to spend time explaining his actions to him.
As for other people in Guowen Publishing House, no matter what misunderstandings they have about the publication of the "World Literature Classics Collection", they do not need Lin Weimin to explain.
Time passed slowly, and the first batch of 3,000 sets of the first volume of "World Literature Classics" had already been sold out in bookstores everywhere. Many readers had been waiting for the new book for a long time, and after carefully inquiring with the bookstore, they found out that the monthly printing volume of "World Literature Classics" was fixed, and there was no more. If they wanted to buy it, they could only wait until next month.
After waiting for more than half a month, the first volume of the new batch of "World Literature Classics Collection" finally arrived. It was sold out again in just two or three days.
Many readers who are busy with work did not expect that the sales of this series of books would be so good. By the time they remembered to go to the bookstore to buy the books, they were already sold out.
Just when these readers were full of disappointment and prepared to wait another month, they were surprised to find that someone was selling the first volume of "World Literary Classics" at a higher price.
This discovery made many readers both angry and happy.
These readers immediately divided into two groups. One group was fed up with the agony of waiting and happily paid for these "marked-up" books. After buying them, they did not forget to show off to their friends and colleagues.
"This set of the first volume of the World Literature Masterpieces Collection published by Guowen Publishing House is not easy to buy. I had to use connections and spend a lot of money to get it."
Another group of people were angry at the immorality of the unscrupulous businessmen who actually engaged in such reselling and speculation. If this had happened a dozen years ago, they would have been forced to go in and taste the steamed corn bread.
At the same time, they are full of envy and jealousy towards those around them who have bought the first volume of "World Literary Classics Collection", and have a contradictory feeling of loving but not being able to get it.
In more than a month, the popularity of the first volume of "World Literature Classics" has gradually formed among readers.
At the same time, the repercussions in the literary and academic circles also began to emerge.
Mr. Yu Guanying, a classical literature expert who presided over the compilation of "History of Chinese Literature" and "Selected Tang Poems", published an article highly praising the publication of "World Literature Masterpieces Collection", calling this series of books "the 'Three Gorges Project' of my country's publishing industry."
At this time, the Three Gorges Project has not yet been built, but it has been thriving for many years and is well known to the public.
Mr. Feng Zhi, a famous writer, translator, poet, and former deputy editor-in-chief of Guowen Publishing House, also spoke through the media, praising the compilation level of the first volume of "World Literary Classics Collection".
In addition to these two influential figures in the literary world, good news also came from Lin Chunhui who was far away in Taiwan Island.
A few months ago, Lin Chunhui brought Mi Dao to Guowen Publishing House to purchase the copyright of "World Literature Classics Collection". The publication of the first volume of the Taiwan Island version of "World Literature Classics Collection" was only half a month later than that of Guowen Publishing House.
The publication of this type of library series is the first of its kind in China and even in the entire Chinese-speaking cultural circle. It not only requires an extremely strong professional background and a deep accumulation of talents, but also requires strong determination and execution from the publishing house. Those publishing houses in Taiwan dare not even think about publishing a series of books on this scale.
Therefore, as soon as the series was launched, it was strongly sought after by literature lovers on the island.
After reading the first volume of the "World Literature Classics Collection", Ye Shitao, a famous writer and literary critic on the island, praised the Guowen Publishing House for "starting a long and arduous task that will benefit future generations."
The recognition from so many famous writers on both sides of the Taiwan Strait makes all the editors of Guowen Publishing House who participated in the editing and review of the "World Literature Classics Library" feel proud, but also feel a great responsibility.
After all, whether in terms of scale, editing level or bibliography, the "World Literature Classics Collection" series far exceeds its predecessors, and there is no precedent to learn from in the domestic publishing industry.
Although the first volume has achieved good results and praise, the editors of Guowen Publishing House are facing even greater pressure.
Such a huge project, such a perfect beginning, if it cannot be completed to perfection, it may be a lifelong regret for everyone.
After all, being able to participate in the editing and review of such a series of books may only come once in a lifetime.
How can we not cherish it? How can we not feel the pressure?
But no matter what, the success of the first volume of "World Literature Classics Collection" is still a positive encouragement for Guowen Publishing House.
From the disbelief when Lin Weimin first proposed this idea at the beginning of the year, to the brainstorming and discussion, to the painstaking and hard-working editing and review, the efforts of the editors of Guowen Publishing House have finally paid off, and everyone is full of motivation for the subsequent work.
Just as Lin Weimin once said.
In the forty years since its establishment, Guowen Society has enjoyed unique innate conditions in the Chinese literary world.
Maintain your troops for a thousand days and use them for a moment.
It is the unshirkable responsibility of Guowen Publishing House to launch a world-class library such as the "World Literature Classics Collection".
It will become the 'Great Wall' of China's publishing industry, and all editors involved in the editing and review of this series of books will be remembered in history!
(End of this chapter)
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