Photo/Screenshot of With Yuhui Live Streaming 

In just 15 minutes, People's Literature Magazine sold 2,000 sets. Two hours later, the number of cumulative viewers reached 8.95 million, with a peak of nearly 700,000 online. From 8pm to 12am, the live stream sold a total of 82,600 sets and 992,000 copies.

The Chinese Writers Association's website eleased these figures on January 24. This achievement broke the record for single book sales in the East Buy live stream.

It is a new record for Dong Yuhui, and also a breakthrough for People's Literature Magazine.

Photo/Screenshot

On January 23, the editor-in-chief of People's Literature Magazine, Shi Zhanjun, the writer Liang Xiaosheng, and the writer Cai Chongda appeared as guests on the "With Yuhui" live stream. They talked about literature with Yu Minhong and Dong Yuhui. This is the first time that a top Chinese literary magazine has appeared in a live stream with a top streamer in this way.

“We have thought carefully and prepared for half a year before deciding to enter the live stream and choose which live stream to go to,” said Shi.

As of 4pm on January 24, the transaction data in the live stream has increased to 94,000 sets, a total of 1.129 million copies, with a sales value of 20.42 million yuan and a sales code of 22.69 million yuan.

Shi Zhanjun said that discovering new authors and finding new readers are the magazine's priorities in recent years. The challenges facing pure literary magazines are obvious. It is very difficult to sell 100,000 sets per year, and traditional subscription channels have naturally declined, losing many readers.

“So we plucked up our courage and came to the live stream with expectations, looking for customers. And the effect was really beyond our expectations.”

Looking at the steadily rising data, Shi Zhanjun, the editor-in-chief of People's Literature Magazine, was quite moved.

"Literary language sometimes leads popular language forward, and popular language sometimes particularly affects writers' creation. This is a very important interaction, so our literary magazines and live platforms like 'With Yuhui' are also mutually supportive. This platform has its own spirit and magic, and it has an unimaginable connectivity." Shi Zhanjun said.

Founded in 1949, People's Literature Magazine is the first literary magazine in the People's Republic of China, and it is also the leader and discoverer of New China literature. Many contemporary well-known writers have started their careers in People's Literature.

In the 1980s, a literary boom swept China. Pure literary magazines such as People's Literature and Harvest could sell millions of copies per month. Later, as the means of communication were constantly updated, the plight of print media almost became a common phenomenon.

"In the past, we only wanted to focus on the works. Now, we not only need to focus on the works, but also need to innovate ways to attract readers." Shi Zhanjun said that paying attention to new forces is a fine tradition of People's Literature. Wang Meng and Chi Zijian, etc., are all masters who published their debut works or famous works on People's Literature when they were very young. "Now, our authors of People's Literature include post-00s. We especially welcome masterpieces from masters, and we are also particularly looking forward to new forces."

"To be honest, I am a beneficiary of literature," Dong Yuhui said. "When you see me talking for hours on end in front of the camera, it seems like I have a lot of knowledge. I am grateful that I have read a lot of books since I was a child. I was originally an ordinary person with no distinguishing features. Because I was exposed to words and language, I was able to narrate, feel, analyze, and express myself ."