wavenovel Chapter 16 Your "Grandma" is a Real Hit
Chapter 16 Your "Grandma" is a Real Hit
While "The Record of Strange Tales of the Tang Dynasty" was selling like hotcakes, Luo Jinnian was ice skating.
"Congratulations on winning first prize in the essay contest... no, it's a special first prize."
Luo Jinnian took a sip of mineral water and let out a long sigh of relief.
"Your 'Grandma' has actually gained some popularity online."
The famous director handed him his phone.
"I want to see it too! I want to see it too!"
Fei Yuxi was also particularly curious about the online discussions surrounding Luo Gege's works.
It's only early September 2012, and the latest iPhones won't be available in Hong Kong until almost October, and even later in mainland China, they won't be available until December.
The iPhone 5 that Qin Chuan handed him was brought to him in person from its place of origin by a friend he had asked.
"Is 'Grandma' a hit?"
If that's the case, the first move in Luo Jinnian's plagiarism spree has already exceeded his expectations.
The primary reason for the popularity of "Grandma" is undoubtedly the influence that "The Legend of the Tang Dynasty" has cultivated over the years.
In the internet age, the creation of works is particularly difficult because "good wine needs no bush." Without a large platform like "Strange Tales Records," Luo Jinnian would not have been able to have his first work seen by so many people.
Secondly, it certainly owes to the solid quality of "Grandma" itself.
"Grandma" was the most popular episode in the fall special of the long-running Japanese drama "Tales of the Unusual" in 2001.
With its subversive dark ending and multiple plot twists, it has left a deep impression on viewers and is hailed as a milestone in the entire series.
Although due to the passage of time, it is difficult to find official viewership and broadcast ranking data to prove it.
However, what is certain is that when it spread to China, it was hailed as the "most bizarre thing in the world" on major Chinese communities, and was listed as a must-see option in the horror/dark genre by many media outlets and self-media. It is recognized as the "most popular dark-themed work".
Luo Jinnian started with a royal flush; in a normal card game, that would be considered a bad hand. But he carries the weight of all the outstanding works from another planet on his shoulders. He's practically cheating; there's no possibility of him running out of ideas.
At that time, Baidu occupied about 80% of the domestic search market. In addition, Apple attached great importance to the domestic market, so Baidu search was added as the default option in the settings of the Chinese version of the iPhone and the Safari browser.
This can be described as an unprecedented moment of glory for Baidu in the iOS ecosystem.
So when Luo Jinnian opened her phone, the first thing she did was find Baidu and type "Tieba" into the search bar.
In 2012, the main platforms for online commentary on a work were vertical interest communities and comprehensive social networking platforms.
In layman's terms, at this point, the "reputation" and "popularity" of a work are basically determined by the three giants: Douban, Tieba, and Weibo.
There has indeed been a lot of discussion about "Grandma" on the three platforms.
(On Tieba) A homeless kitten said:
The author is a true genius; the most detached writing style evokes the most chilling feelings. It's hard to believe this is a domestic work.
(Teasingly) Bitter melon is really hard to eat:
[The soul of an elderly woman on her deathbed is not concerned with her husband, children, or grandchildren, but with what a woman's deepest, most persistent and cherished desires are... Considering that human nature is inherently "self-centered," one can easily imagine what the outcome would be...]
(Tieba) Smash it! Smash it! Smash it!
[The grandmother's critical illness and body-swapping with her granddaughter is actually a smokescreen. The grandmother had already swapped bodies with her granddaughter when she was an infant. It is actually the granddaughter's soul that is dying this time. And in the final scene, the grandmother's expression shows no remorse, only malice, indicating that she is not inherently good.]
This is also one of the most controversial arguments on Tieba recently. Although it lacks any substantial evidence, it has garnered a lot of support. Objectively, it has also made the already mixed discussion forum even more lively.
The creators left too much room for interpretation, giving the audience a huge space for imagination and discussion.
For example, someone on Weibo brought up the point about the "Nakamura family":
Did anyone notice the "Nakamura family home"? The old lover's house is the Nakamura family home, and there's a close-up shot of the Nakamura family home during the mother's funeral at the end of the film. What is this hinting at?
[Holy crap, the more I think about it, the more creepy it gets. The more I analyze this work, the more terrifying it becomes.]
[Could this be some kind of premonition about reincarnation?]
There were serious discussions, and naturally, there were also baseless slanders.
[Was this work written by the author himself? The call for submissions said the age requirement was under 20, so could it be something like an adult in his family taking his place in the army?]
Is this kind of thing really that unusual in China's cultural circles? I think the magazine itself condones this kind of thing, since they get the attention they want.
[I absolutely refuse to believe it unless the magazine reveals the creator's identity.]
Of course, whatever the point of contention, it shows that the work did become quite popular. After all, without popularity, there would be no controversy. Even flies don't land on eggs without cracks.
Luo Jinnian was still happily watching the online discussions about the plot of "Grandma," where everyone expressed their own opinions.
He wasn't even angry yet, but Fei Yuxi next to him was already fuming.
"Brother, why aren't you angry? They said those things about you!"
Because they inadvertently spoke the truth—the work was indeed not written by Luo Jinnian, and given his status as a plagiarist, he felt he had no right to be angry.
He had anticipated that his article "Grandma" would be accused of "an elder taking an exam for him" when he first submitted it.
Moreover, these critical comments were ultimately in the minority. Netizens in 2012 were ultimately simple-minded, and what was more dramatic than slander was the "deification of gods".
Luo Jinnian was more afraid of being put on the spot.
"Many people say you are the dark horse of suspense literature, a rising star in the suspense genre, and many people are looking forward to your new works."
Whether they support or question it, they are all eagerly awaiting the new work from this up-and-coming author called "Early Spring Tea".
Luo Jinnian smiled. His next work to be published was a suspense novel that he was going to submit to "The Record of Strange Tales of the Tang Dynasty".
Whether those hoping to see his next work are genuine fans of his work or simply eager to see a shining new star fall, it all provides a natural boost to his next project.
Who says haters aren't fans?
"Why don't you send me your new work now, and I'll submit it directly to a magazine for you? Use your talent to shut up those who can only bark like dogs."
The famous director was there playing the role of the strategist, secretly offering advice and plans.
Fei Yuxi didn't understand much; she just looked at the boy's face.
Luo Jinnian shook his head.
"No need, let's wait for the magazine's call."
Even if you submit your work now, it will take half a month to get it published. You should know that "The Record of Strange Tales of the Tang Dynasty" is a bi-monthly publication.
Actually, the director was just saying that; he simply wanted to be the first to "read" the young man's latest masterpiece.
But Luo Jinnian had many thoughts on this.
He was waiting for the magazine to contact him.
At least... let's increase the payment for the next article first.
Wait a minute, at this moment Luo Jinnian finally realized what he had forgotten—
"What about the prize money for the first prize in this essay contest?"
Luo Jinnian is still a creator who is starving.
We can discuss the impact of the work later; the most urgent thing is to fill our stomachs first.