At that time, “Suzhou Daily” and “Yangzi Evening News” were daily must-reads for Dad to come home from work. Mom always put some “bosom friends” at the head of the bed; At that time, the editor in chief of HuaHuo was still Xiaoshi. Boys and girls were also divided into three editions: gold, silver, and copper. Readers and youth digest were recommended by Chinese teachers to read after class; At that time, the newsstand was the most wanted place on the way after school. The girls talked about the youth affairs in the magazine. The boys were obsessed with the latest comic books. From time to time, someone crowded the crowd gathered at the newsstand to buy several newspapers.
But now there are only 15 in Suzhou
How long have you not been to a newsstand?
What is the current situation of the strong newspaper kiosks still on the streets?
The newsstand beside Zhuhui road is hard to find. It faces the street with its back. If you don’t look carefully, you think it’s an ordinary billboard. Pedestrians hurried along the road. Few people knew there was a newsstand here.
“Business is bad and difficult to maintain.”
When asked about the current situation of the newsstand, aunt Bao, who was in charge of the newsstand, said this sentence without expression. She looked at the computer in front of her and didn’t even lift her eyelids. In just eight words, every word was poked on the pain points of all newspaper kiosks.
Not making money is not only the biggest reason for the gloomy departure of newspaper kiosks but also the current situation that newspaper kiosks have to face.
“In the past, there were so many kinds of newspapers and magazines that they couldn’t be displayed. Now…”
After dealing with the business on the computer, aunt Bao reached out from the window of the newsstand and photographed several piles of newspapers in front of her. Half of what she said, she could feel her helplessness more.
When the newsstand is brilliant, all kinds of newspapers and magazines will bloom. If there is no room on the desk of the newsstand, an iron frame will be placed outside for display.
Now, the original iron frame is rusted by time. It is filled with snacks and drinks. In addition to a few piles of newspapers, there is a printer and two machines for renting charging treasure on the display desk. Some children’s comic magazines are under the display stand. They don’t look down and don’t notice at all. The transparent plastic wrapping paper of the magazine is covered with dust.
“Please, take a bottle of water.”
“Is there any tissue paper here?”
Standing at the gate of the newsstand, the most people I see are customers who come to buy water because of the hot weather. It seems that this is not a newsstand, but a canteen on the street.
When asked how long it would last since the newsstand didn’t make money and the customers who stopped here basically bought water and didn’t read the newspaper, aunt Bao rarely smiled.
“I’ll retire in a while. It doesn’t matter whether I make money or not.”
Aunt Bao said that she has worked here for 20 years, experienced the golden age, and is experiencing a trough. She still likes this place. The newsstand has long been an indispensable part of her life. When she retires, the newsstand will no longer be her work, but her hobbies and habits.
Even if no one cares, those who love still love, and those who insist still insist.
The newsstand in front of vinegar warehouse lane is closest to the newsstand in memory. Old newspapers were pasted on both French windows, and the latest newspapers and periodicals were neatly placed on the display desk and window. Except that not many people gathered, everything seemed the same as before.
“Getting old, thin profits, many people don’t open.”
Uncle Wang has stayed in this newsstand for nearly 30 years. He was only 20 years old when he came to Jiangsu from Yancheng. He opened this newsstand because he likes reading books and newspapers. Now over half a hundred years old, love has not decreased at all.
When asked about the disappearance of newsstands, Uncle Wang sighed and said that there was no way. Many newsstands in Suzhou did not open for these two reasons. When they were old, they couldn’t afford to retire and take their grandchildren home. What’s more, they couldn’t open because of too little profit and perennial losses.
“Newspapers are still in great demand for the middle-aged and the elderly.”
“They came all the way from Wuzhong District and the park for a newspaper.”
Wang Shusheng was optimistic and always smiled when he spoke in front of the window. He was even more elated when he talked about it. Many people come here to buy newspapers. They have to queue up early and can’t buy them late! The long line could be thrown all the way to the other side of the road. He and his wife just distributed newspapers one by one along the long line.
The era of traffic has washed away many customers. You may be more willing to take out your mobile phone to brush the news and see the news. But there are many people who really love to buy newspapers. There is still a great demand for newspapers, especially for the middle-aged and elderly.
It may also be that people who love reading newspapers are getting old. Some people are not used to operating smartphones. Some people feel that watching the news with mobile phones hurts their eyes. Some people retire and want to find something to do for themselves. Taking newspapers at a fixed time every day is like buying vegetables and cooking to pick up children at a fixed time every day. It has long been a living habit.
Some old people even come by bus from Wuzhong District and the park every day just for a newspaper.
“I like it for myself and for people in need.”
Uncle Wang’s wife took out a pile of newspapers of different thickness from the newsstand and said that these were set by old customers on WeChat. Some old customers can’t come every day because of moving and retirement. They ask Uncle Wang to keep one for him every day on WeChat and come to pick it up once every ten days and a half months.
Uncle Wang said that he would always open the newsstand for his own liking and for those who really love reading newspapers to have a thought and let them know that he is always there as long as they want to read newspapers.
“Although the window is small, it has connected the human relationship for 30 years.”
“It’s not only a customer but also a friend.”
It was hot and sunny in summer in Suzhou. Standing in front of the newspaper Pavilion, the sweat never stopped. Finally, he exchanged greetings with Uncle Wang. When he was ready to leave, Uncle Wang handed him a bottle of ice water from the window.
At this moment, I really understood the significance of Uncle Wang’s saying that although the newsstand was small, it was filled with human feelings everywhere, and I also understood why this newsstand has been worried by many people for 30 years.
Love for persistence, sincerity for truth. Uncle Wang regards all the people who patronize the newsstand as friends and makes a corner of the street more human.
“Human warmth” is happening whenever and wherever.
Compared with many newspaper kiosks hidden in the corner of the street, the newspaper kiosk next to the First Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University is somewhat existential. Many people came to buy water and print medical records. Aunt Wang has spent 26 years here.
“A newspaper makes only 20 cents.”
“All rely on printing to fill the loss.”
“Up to now, I have sold one of your readers and one of your stories in the morning.”
Aunt Wang took out the record book on the stage, pointed to today’s date, and said that no one came to buy newspapers today except the reader I bought and the story meeting taken away by people passing by to buy water this morning.
Aunt Wang reluctantly photographed the newspaper on the display and told us that a newspaper only made 20 cents, but few people bought it. The newsstand is in a state of loss every month, thanks to a printer because relying on the hospital will help some patients print some certificates and medical records, so as to barely balance the loss.
“I’m really reluctant…”
Asked how long Aunt Wang could last, her expression was a little helpless. She said that her health is very poor, and it is normal to be hospitalized. If her health allows, she also wants to stick to it all the time. After all, she has been in one for 26 years.
There are only 15 Suzhou newspaper kiosks left in the whole Suzhou city. It’s impossible to say that one day there will be none left. Young people in the future may never see the newsstand again. Seeing that the things she likes and loves are gradually disappearing, Aunt Wang has infinite reluctance and sadness in her heart.
How long have you held on to what you love?
With the 4G era sweeping like a torrent, the paper media has been strongly impacted. Parents who used to love reading newspapers also shook their voices. When they were fifteen or six, they expected the newsstand to be released TikTok, new boys, girls, and magic.
Once thought the story would not end, but the reality forced it to end. With the gradual disappearance of newspaper kiosks in Suzhou, what else?
This era needs the existence of paper to kill impetuosity;
This era needs to give some entertainment to the elderly who are not proficient in smartphones;
This era needs to leave the memories and warmth brought by the newsstand.
