Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

However, there's a practical problem with copying novels: you need a platform and channels. Otherwise, if there are any copyright issues, it's really difficult to go to court, and it's very troublesome.

After a long period of investigation, Zhang Yaoyang finally decided to follow the example of Bruce Wayne or Tony Stark and use his wealth to his advantage. If you guys won't include me, I'll just buy a newspaper or magazine and do it all myself!

I calculated my cash balance: over HKD 12!

There seem to be a lot, but acquiring magazines... is difficult.

Then, Lou Yufan helped find people to consult, contact, and investigate, and finally several directions were determined.

"Martial Arts World", "Asia", and "Hong Kong Times".

Is it worthwhile for a milk tea seller to work on magazines and newspapers?

Based on the information gathered by Lou Yufan, Zhang Yaoyang pondered it carefully.

First choice: "Martial Arts World" magazine.

Founded in April 1959 by Luo Bin, this publication was distributed throughout the Chinese-speaking regions of Southeast Asia, with a circulation of approximately 12,000-15,000 copies per issue. It primarily featured martial arts novels, but also included articles on martial arts. It was the only professional platform that could directly compete with Ming Pao's serialized martial arts novels, and it boasted a well-established distribution network in Southeast Asia.

In 1961, it suffered a slight loss, with monthly losses of about HK$800-1200. Due to the founder's lack of capital for expansion and the serious homogenization of content, it could be acquired at a low price and had great potential for transformation.

The acquisition price is HKD 12-15 (full copyright), including the publication number, Southeast Asian distribution network, 1.8 subscribers, editorial team, and office equipment, making it extremely cost-effective.

Second choice: Asia Magazine

Founded in Shanghai in 1946 and moved to Hong Kong in 1949, it positioned itself as the "Asian version of Time," with a total circulation of approximately 1.2-1.5 copies in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, primarily targeting high-end readers. It already had an English distribution channel—it could easily copy Harry Potter! Ready-made!

In 1961, the company was losing approximately HK$2000-3000 per month. Big Beauty Capital, which held 60% of the shares, was eager to exit. There were serious disagreements among local shareholders. The company had a window of opportunity to buy at low prices and had great potential to transform into a bilingual (Chinese and English) version.

The acquisition price is HK$3.8-4 (full copyright), including assets of 5 branch offices, 1.8 high-end users, and art design by Henry Steiner. Buying this magazine would allow for rapid control of the English-language media landscape, enabling the pioneering serialization of "original English fantasy novels" (a direct copy of Harry Potter), igniting a frenzy among expatriates and overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia, and silencing Western media. It would use future intellectual property to disrupt the 1961 Hong Kong English-language media landscape.

III. Alternative *Hong Kong Times* —

Founded in 1959, it is a bilingual (Chinese and English) daily newspaper distributed in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, with a daily circulation of approximately 8000-10000 copies. Its supplements are of high quality and can publish martial arts novels and English fantasy novels simultaneously, making it a one-stop competitor to Ming Pao.

In 1961, it barely turned a profit. Due to a dispute over equity (each of the three shareholders held 33%), its development stagnated. After the acquisition, it was able to integrate resources and expand rapidly.

The acquisition price is approximately HKD 20-25 (full copyright), including the newspaper's publication number, printing equipment, and a Southeast Asian distribution network. After the acquisition, two supplements, a "Martial Arts Gold Edition" and a "Magic Fantasy Edition," can be launched to attract different reader groups with differentiated content.

If you don't have enough money, you can use gold bars to make up the difference, or you can use "Mixue Ice Cream" and "Catering Supplies Company" as collateral for a loan, as long as you have the opportunity to buy.

Lou Yufan was stunned to hear that Zhang Yaoyang was planning to buy a newspaper or magazine and was even prepared to stake all his savings.

You've only been in Hong Kong for a few days?

You stinky milk tea seller, trying to get into media? You've gone way too far with this crossover!

Do you know that taking big steps can easily lead to injury?

Zhang Yaoyang rolled his eyes at him, saying he would gather information and think it over first; there was still no certainty about this.

Besides, a person should have dreams. What's the difference between someone without dreams and a salted fish?

What if it works out?

The time spent collecting and analyzing the data went straight into September 1st, when Zhang Yaoyang (Zhang Dabiao) was about to start school.

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A new semester brings a fresh start; in early September, Beijing is blessed with clear skies and crisp air.

Early in the morning, everyone is either going to work or going to school.

Zhang Dabiao carried a canvas bag filled with art supplies. The Beijing Arts and Crafts School he was admitted to was in Baiduizi, about a half-hour bike ride away, not too far, so he considered it a form of exercise.

He was still wearing 40 pounds of protective gear, so what was this little bit of road to him?

As for living on campus, that's unnecessary.

In 1961, the core accommodation policy of vocational schools and universities in Beijing followed the principle of "mandatory boarding for students from other places, and voluntary choice for local students to commute or board." Due to the shortage of supplies during the three years of hardship, schools generally encouraged local students to commute (to reduce the pressure on dormitories and food rations). A few majors, due to their teaching characteristics (such as practicing instruments/rehearsals in the arts, or conducting experiments in engineering), would suggest that local students board at their discretion. Overall management was based on "uniform schedules for boarding students and flexible attendance for commute students."

He Yushui is from the Chemical Fiber Engineering College of Beijing. Today, she dressed up beautifully and rode her bicycle to school.

Mu Wanqing was already waiting for them at the entrance of the courtyard. She had been admitted to the Beijing Art Academy, located in Prince Gong's Mansion, majoring in music performance. Today, she was wearing a light blue dress, her hair was neatly combed, and she was carrying a military green cloth crossbody bag, just like most schoolbags in that era.

Qin Jingru went to junior high school with Da Tou's younger sister Qi Xiaoli and Yan Jiekuang.

The rest are elementary school students like Banggeng Yan Jiedi and Huzi's younger brother Zhong Xiaotao.

The students chatted as they walked, their lives simple: go to school, come back for meals.

The workers were also getting ready to go to the factory for a new day of work.

In the courtyard, Jia Zhangshi peered through the crack in the window at the "energetic" young people, muttering under her breath, "So what if they got into university? What's there to brag about..."

Qin Huairu stayed inside to soothe her child, planning to go to work after feeding him cornmeal porridge. She was now a level-two fitter at the steel rolling mill, her position relatively secure, but Jia Zhangshi kept a close eye on her every day, afraid she would run away.

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In addition, Mu Wanqing's workstation was eventually sold, and the money was given to Zhang Dabiao, but Zhang Dabiao did not accept it and told her to keep it as pocket money.

It wasn't bought by Yu Haitang, because the Yu family doesn't have the money right now.

Yu Haitang also approached Yu Li, wanting to borrow money from the provident fund of the "No. 95 Courtyard Youth Mutual Aid Association" in her brother-in-law Yan Jiecheng's name to buy a workstation.

Is that a wishful thinking?

Yan Jie was stunned. How could you say such a shameless thing?

I'll borrow money (take out a loan) to help you buy a workstation?

Yu Li is still working at the street food processing plant, but she's only a temporary worker.

I can borrow that much money, but I don't know how to send my wife to work?

However, Yan Jiecheng was too proud to refuse, and with the encouragement of Yu Li, Yu Haitang, and his parents-in-law, he reluctantly went to borrow the money.

As a result, the three presidents disagreed.

Are you kidding me?

The housing provident fund is for the members of the Youth Mutual Aid Association, and Yu Li is one of them because she married into this compound.

But Yu Haitang is not.

Let alone Yu Haitang, Zhang Dabiao also took care of Mu Wanqing and Aunt Mu's jobs himself. Even Zhang Dabiao couldn't just touch that money!

Even if Mu Wanqing and he had a good relationship, they weren't considered part of this household unless they got married.

If you, Yan Jiecheng, were to say you'd lend money to Yu Li to buy her a workstation—we'd still consider you a man.

But that won't work either, because you, Yan Jiecheng, haven't paid off your debts yet. We can't let you spend it all by yourself, can we?

But how could you, Yan Jiecheng, use our housing provident fund to buy a job for your sister-in-law? That's impossible. If that were possible, every family would have a bunch of distant relatives!

If everyone borrows, wouldn't the housing provident fund have been borrowed out long ago?

Without giving Yan Jiecheng or Yu Haitang any face, they directly rejected the proposal.

What else can Yu Haitang do?

I could only leave in a huff.

With hiring now tighter, a lot of high school graduates can't find jobs and can only wait.

This year, there will be a reduction in urban staff, so it's hard to say when I'll be able to find a job.

For this, Yan Jiecheng was ridiculed by Liu Guangqi, Xu Damao, and Zhang Dabiao for quite a while.

They've already split up the family, but they still don't act like they're in charge.

If you, Yan Jiecheng, were to sit at the children's table for meals from now on, we would be ashamed to be associated with you!

Yan Jiecheng turned his head and asked a question—

"Are the portions of food on the children's table the same as yours?"

Zhang Dabiao—Destroy him, there's no saving him.