Chapter Eight: No One Believes

Since the essay competition could earn money, then submitting articles for payment was certainly feasible. In his previous life, Zhou Xuan had let novels ruin his studies; although he skimmed through most of them, many remained vivid in his memory. He recalled those rebirth entertainment stories he'd read: in the beginning, everyone relied on plagiarism. As long as he could develop the Brain Domain Development Potion and enhance his own cognitive abilities, none of this would be a problem. At that point, whether he became a writer, scientist, or entrepreneur, it would be within reach.

Back in the 1990s, Zhou Xuan remembered several magazines that were popular among teenagers and students. In his memory, there were "LN Youth," "Reader," "Youth Digest," "Story Club," "Science Fiction World," "Boys and Girls," and many others. Later, in 2001, "Legend of Today and Ancient Times" launched its martial arts edition, and Zhou Xuan, a fan of martial arts novels, bought it for years.

He went to the section of the Xinhua Bookstore where magazines were displayed and, sure enough, saw those titles—distant yet as if only yesterday. Zhou Xuan sighed again; over the next decade, many of these magazines would disappear, some would move online, launching mobile reading platforms to keep going. Fewer and fewer people would buy magazines and newspapers in the future. After entering university, Zhou Xuan rarely bought magazines, except for picking one up at the train station during Spring Festival or summer vacation to read on the journey home.

With time, everything gradually changes. Truly, the sea becomes mulberry fields, year by year. Having been through so much, Zhou Xuan knew that only by cherishing the present could one reflect on the past.

He copied down the submission guidelines for several magazines, planning to send in a few articles in the coming days to earn some pocket money. With so many memorable articles in his mind, even casually written pieces could be published. He also intended to enter the 1998 New Concept Essay Competition, which in its early years produced many talents—Han Han and Guo Jingming being the most famous. Later, both started companies and became directors, their careers thriving—truly enviable.

Unfortunately, Zhou Xuan didn't know the exact payment rates for these magazines. In his memory, "Reader" paid five hundred yuan per thousand words in the early 2000s. He hadn’t submitted to the others, so he had no idea.

Leaving the bookstore, Zhou Xuan turned into a nearby alley, where there was a noodle shop renowned for its food.

He especially liked their ginger duck noodles—an exquisite taste.

Soon, a steaming bowl was brought to his table. Ginger duck noodles were made with duck meat and fresh ginger, supplemented with scallions, ginger, and garlic, resulting in a spicy, invigorating flavor! The chewy noodles and the fragrant, spicy ginger left an unforgettable aftertaste.

After enjoying his noodles, Zhou Xuan bought some envelopes and stamps, as well as two thick blank notebooks for writing manuscripts, then returned to school to begin his creative endeavor.

Entering the classroom, he found only a few students inside—those who loved to study. Some had good grades, others not so much. Watching their earnest efforts, Zhou Xuan felt a surge of emotion.

It was still alright now, but after a couple of years, when university enrollment expanded, graduates would lose their value. Sometimes Zhou Xuan wondered: what use was university? Now he realized it was still worthwhile, but only if one truly engaged; otherwise, even technical college graduates might fare better.

He took his seat, picked up his pen, and gazed out at the mountain behind the window, lost in thought.

"Reader" was a towering presence in the magazine world. Even into the twenty-first century, it kept pace with the times—not only partnering with Alibaba to sell online through Taobao, but also launching a mobile app. Amid the decline of print media, it stood out, with steadily rising circulation, even expanding sales overseas.

For a magazine like "Reader," with its inspirational, soul-soothing flavor, Zhou Xuan thought an original essay would be best. He recalled his grandmother, a woman in her sixties. Robust and energetic, she cooked, washed clothes, picked vegetables, carried firewood—she could do it all. Whether it was windy, rainy, or sweltering hot, she never sat still, always finding something to do. Thinking of his grandmother, now nearly sixty, Zhou Xuan’s eyes brimmed with tears.

A sudden burst of inspiration swept through him, his pen moved as if guided by some divine force. In no time, he'd finished an essay of over 800 words, titled "My Grandmother." Zhou Xuan read it through—it was moving, well-written, and would likely fare well with "Reader."

For "Science Fiction World," Zhou Xuan prepared a novella called "Revival." "Revival" was inspired by a beloved post-80s science fiction author, whose "Gray City-State" series explored themes of information lockdown, giant robots, and resurrection of the dead.

And so, Zhou Xuan became immersed in the repetitive grind of writing and copying manuscripts.

What Zhou Xuan didn’t know was that, with Liu Yixue and Yu Xiaoling returning from the bookstore, news of his intent to enter the essay competition spread through all the girls in Class Six.

"I used to think Zhou Xuan was alright, but lately he seems like a completely different person—I can’t figure him out."

"What’s so hard to figure out? He spent a year being quiet in class and now just wants some attention. Look—recently he’s been fighting, running, constantly flipping through books, and now wants to enter the essay competition."

"That explains why Zhou Xuan’s been writing non-stop today—so he’s preparing for the competition. He does seem pretty serious, though."

"Serious! What good is that? He’s not like Yixue, who has real talent."

"Exactly, he’s probably just playing around."

"I never expected Zhou Xuan to be this kind of person—arrogant, conceited, ignorant..."

"I bet he won’t even make it past the preliminary round. Everyone will get a good laugh."

"Do you think he’s showing off just to catch the school beauty’s attention?"

"Haha, you’re overthinking. If the school beauty were so easily impressed, she’d have been taken already."

"Right, it’s destined to be a wasted effort."

That evening, back in the dormitory, even Zhou Xuan’s roommates had heard the news.

"Zhou Xuan, I heard you’re entering the essay competition?" Zhou Lin asked with a mysterious look as soon as Zhou Xuan returned.

"Yeah! What about it?"

"You’re serious?"

"If I weren’t serious, why bother? If I win, I’ll treat you to a feast."

Zhou Lin studied Zhou Xuan for a moment, finally convinced he wasn’t joking. "Brother Xuan, I feel you’ve been different lately."

"Very different," another classmate agreed quietly.

Thinking of his recent actions, Zhou Xuan replied, "I wasted a year—I don’t want to fail to get into Yizhong next year." He paused, then said earnestly to Zhou Lin, "Zhou Lin, I hope you’ll work hard, too, and aim for Yizhong so we can stay classmates."

Zhou Lin’s grades were even lower than Zhou Xuan’s—nearly three hundredth in the year, practically at the bottom. They were close friends, and Zhou Xuan naturally hoped Zhou Lin would follow his path and continue studying together.