Since the Revolution of 1911, governments in both the north and the south have called for the cancellation of the Lunar New Year and the replacement of the Western Calendar New Year's Day.
But which customs and traditions formed over thousands of years can be abolished by a single decree?
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, in accordance with government regulations, the "Ta Kung Pao" newspaper office continued to work normally. However, every employee of the newspaper office received a red envelope from the boss, and there were melon seeds and candies on everyone's desk.
There was thunderous laughter in the president's office.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Hu Zhengzhi laughed loudly, nibbling melon seeds and said: "Mingcheng, this past year has been a great harvest. Not only did the daily sales of "Ta Kung Pao" in the north exceed 60,000, the daily sales of the "Popular" supplement exceeded 20,000,
We have also successfully opened a branch in Shanghai.”
Zhou Hexuan asked: "What is the sales volume of newspapers in Shanghai?"
"The competition in Shanghai's printing industry is too fierce, and there are two giants, Shenbao and Xinbao. Now our Ta Kung Pao barely has 5,000 daily sales in the south," Hu Zhengzhi said without worry, "But this is just
Initially, as long as we continue to follow the eight-character newspaper policy, sales will eventually catch up."
Zhou Hexuan suggested: "How about serializing "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" in newspapers. Few people in the south have read this book, which should be able to increase newspaper sales."
"How can that be done?" Hu Zhengzhi directly rejected this suggestion. He said, "The contents of the Ta Kung Pao in the north and the south must be consistent. We can't print one or two more pages in the south, right?"
"Why not," Zhou Hexuan said with a smile, "print two more pages in each issue, specifically to publish martial arts. The cost will not increase much, but it can quickly open up the market."
"No, no." Hu Zhengzhi waved his hands repeatedly. Both he and Zhang Jiluan were very pure newspaper people. They believed that newspapers were public tools and refused to even increase the advertising space, let alone add more printing pages.
"Then it's up to you," Zhou Hexuan could only smile bitterly and didn't want to persuade him anymore, "Beifang, what are your plans?"
Hu Zhengzhi talked about his lofty ideas: "When Chi Zhang (Zhang Jiluan) opens the scene in Shanghai, I will go to the Northeast to open a branch in Fengtian, followed by Hubei, Guangdong and Sichuan. Within ten years, I will open a branch of "Ta Kung Pao"
Open all over the country!”
"Hahahaha, that's a good idea," Zhou Hexuan said with a smile, "When I was having New Year's Eve dinner last night, an idea suddenly came to my mind."
"What do you think?" Hu Zhengzhi asked.
"Start a radio station." Zhou Hexuan said.
Hu Zhengzhi said: "Is it the kind of radio station where you can hear people talking through the radio box?"
"Yes, that's the kind." Zhou Hexuan said with a smile.
Today, China only has radio stations in Shanghai and Harbin. The central radio station run by the National Government in Nanjing will not be established for several months. There are no radios in Tianjin or Peiping.
Moreover, two of Shanghai's three radio stations have now closed down.
The reason for the collapse was simple: the expenses were too high and no money could be made.
Hu Zhengzhi didn't know much about this. He asked: "Running a radio station requires very advanced science and technology, right? And the capital investment is also very high."
Zhou Hexuan laughed and said: "Haha, brother Zheng, don't think about how difficult it is to do a radio station. That thing is simpler than a telegraph. But it does require some investment, and the daily expenses are also very high. It's hard to say whether it can make money."
"Then don't do it. We are in the newspaper business, and opening a radio station is a bit unprofessional." Hu Zhengzhi is not optimistic about the radio industry.
Zhou Hexuan thought for a while and said: "That's okay, then I'll pay for it myself. But I want to cooperate with Ta Kung Pao. Some news content in the radio program requires the use of press releases from Ta Kung Pao."
"You are the president, you have the final say, you can use it for free," Hu Zhengzhi said.
"That won't work. Public is public, private is private, and news royalties must be paid. However, it is difficult for radio stations to start a business, so this news royalties can only be given symbolically," Zhou Hexuan explained in detail, "In fact, this is also an increase in "
The way Ta Kung Pao exerts its influence is that the two newspapers Shenbao and Da Wanbao cooperate with Shanghai Kailuo Radio Station and have their own dedicated broadcast substations (i.e. radio channels)."
"Shenbao has its own radio station?" Hu Zhengzhi was quite surprised by this.
Zhou Hexuan said: "In fact, radio stations, like newspapers, are news carriers. With the advancement of science, radio stations and radios will definitely become more and more popular."
"Maybe." Hu Zhengzhi obviously didn't believe this.
Shanghai's Kailuo Radio Station is the longest-running radio station in China, but its profit model is too simple.
The radio station doesn't even have advertisements, let alone any listening fees. They collect market business trends, compile them into market code sheets, and print them once a month. Listeners need to pay to buy or sell the code sheets to get the news.
What the hell kind of gameplay is this?
What’s even more funny is that in order to increase its influence and expand its user base, Kailuo Radio Station actually opened a radio channel and provided it to newspapers such as Shenbao for free to broadcast news.
If Zhou Hexuan wants to be a radio station, he will naturally put his mind on advertising expenses. However, the initial advertising expenses will definitely not be much. He must increase the number of listening users in order to achieve breakeven step by step.
…
Sunday.
Zhou Hexuan took Meng Xiaodong, who was stranded in Tianjin, to the foreigners' hometown club.
Liao Yaquan also wanted to follow, but Zhou Hexuan refused and asked her to stay at home and copy books. The female spy suddenly started thinking wildly and felt that Zhou Hexuan must have gone to meet someone.
"Hey, another whiskey!"
"Oh oh oh, you don't even know how to make cocktails, so let me be the bartender instead."
"..."
The club was extremely lively, and the bar counter was packed with people. At least half of them were newly arrived American soldiers. Their specialty was mixing cocktails. This thing was a new method spawned by the prohibition of alcohol in the United States. The original purpose of its birth was to
Evade prohibition agents.
Of course, Zhou Hexuan did not come to find American soldiers. Nowadays, most foreign businessmen from North China gather in Tianjin, and you can meet many of them every day in the club.
"Hey, Mr. Neville, long time no see." Zhou Hexuan greeted a foreigner.
The foreigner smiled and said: "Zhou, sit down and have a drink."
"No, there are too many customers and I'm too lazy to wait," Zhou Hexuan asked, "Mr. Neville, do you know who sells radios?"
The foreigner shook his head and said: "The sales of radios are not good in China. No one is doing this business. You can go to Shanghai and ask."
While the two were talking, loud laughter suddenly came from behind: "Haha, Mr. Zhou, I didn't expect to meet you here."
Zhou Hexuan turned around and saw that it was an unconventional American general greeting him. He responded with a smile: "Hello, General Butler."
Smedley (Smedley) Butler is actually Smedley (Smedley) Darlington Butler, with different translations. His goodwill behavior in China is not entirely for show. This guy is a pacifist, even
He publicly stated that he "will not be a thug for Wall Street bosses and capitalists."
As for the deception and abduction of American soldiers in Tianjin, Butler was unaware of it.
When this person returns to the United States next year, he will be promoted to the youngest major general in the Marine Corps, and he may even succeed as commander of the Marine Corps in 1930.
It's a pity that Butler likes to tell the truth, and often scolds the president, congressmen, and capitalists. As a result, he makes too many enemies on weekdays, and eventually misses the post of commander. Later, because his gun went off and injured someone, his political opponents immediately added insult to injury, and he was punished by a military court.
Interrogation and house arrest.
After leaving the army, Butler ran for parliament, but failed. In the end, he became a social activist and military writer, opposing fascism and capitalists, and was busy giving peace speeches all day long.
Later, the Butler Marine Corps Barracks in Okinawa was named after this man.
"Zhou, can you bowl?" Butler asked.
Zhou Hexuan smiled and said: "I know a little bit."
Regardless of his status, Butler put his arms around Zhou Hexuan and said with a smile: "Let's go and play basketball with me."
Zhou Hexuan introduced: "This is my girlfriend Meng Xiaodong."
Meng Xiaodong immediately smiled and nodded: "Hello."
"Oh oh oh," Butler exclaimed in English, "sometimes, I really envy Chinese men."
Zhou Hexuan laughed in agreement and asked casually: "General Butler, do you know which businessman sells radios? It would be better if they also have radio equipment."
Butler said: "Of course, the world's first radio station was born in the United States. The United States is the best at radio. I will introduce a friend to you another day."