Chapter 32: Breaking One Million [1]
In July, the cumulative sales of the Silver Spoon collected volumes broke one million copies.
The celebration party was held at the most luxurious hotel in the provincial capital. Sue sent Alex photos from the scene , it is a giant screen displayed the number "1,000,000", and everyone in the editorial department was raising their glasses.
Alex didn't go. He was at the ranch drawing Chapter 37, the one where Hachiken learns acupuncture.
His phone buzzed. Sue texted: "The Editor-in-Chief asks what reward you want. Car? House? Or just cash?"
Alex thought for a moment and replied: "Just settle the reprint royalties normally."
Sue sent a crying-laughing emoji: "You're too practical. But the Chief said whatever you ask for, he'll grant."
"Then keep the status quo, let me draw in peace."
"Okay, I'll pass it on."
The news of the celebration hit the papers the next day. The State Daily Culture Section headline: "Local Manga 'Silver Spoon' Sales Break One Million, Setting Industry Record."
The report listed a set of comparative data:
"Silver Spoon: Agricultural theme, rookie author, serialized for 10 months, sales 1 million.
Legend of the Sword God: Battle shonen, famous author for 10 years, serialized 45 volumes, highest single volume sales 920,000.
Magic Academy: School fantasy, serialized 8 years, highest single volume sales 870,000."
The conclusion was brutal: An agricultural manga had beaten all traditional popular genres.
The industry was thoroughly convinced.
Manga Weekly Editor-in-Chief Zhou said in an internal meeting: "Don't think about surpassing it. What we need to do now is learn. Learn how they made a niche theme hot, learn how they made professional knowledge vivid."
"But none of us grew up on a ranch..." an editor whispered.
"Then go learn!" Zhou slammed the table. "Send editors down to the countryside, to ranches, to vet stations! Stay for a month, I don't believe you won't learn anything!"
So that summer, several magazine editors packed their bags and went to the countryside to "experience life." The industry called it the "Silver Spoon Effect"—a manga made the whole industry start valuing reality and professionalism.
Alex knew nothing of this.
He was drawing Chapter 38. In this chapter, Hachiken encountered a complex case—a cow with a strange illness that no one at the station had seen before. The station chief said: "Look up materials, ask experts, but in the end, you have to judge for yourself."
Hachiken stayed up for three nights, went through all available materials, called a dozen experts. Finally, he proposed a bold treatment plan.
The chief looked at it, silent for a long time, then said: "The risk is high. If it fails, the cow dies, and you will be questioned."
Hachiken said: "I know. But this is the only way to possibly save it."
The chief nodded: "Then do it. I'll take responsibility."
Simple dialogue, but heavy.
Alex drew with great detail. Drawn the dark circles under Hachiken's eyes, his trembling hands flipping through pages, his nervous expression on the phone. Drawn him finally walking into the treatment room, taking a deep breath, eyes steady.
The end of this chapter stopped right before the treatment began. The cow lay on the table, Hachiken holding the instrument, the chief standing behind him.
In the dialogue box, only one word: "Start."
Cliffhanger.
He knew readers would go crazy, but he wanted this effect.
Sure enough, after Chapter 38 was released, the forum exploded.
"Cliffhanger again! Dairy King I hate you!"
"Did the cow survive or not!"
"I bet it survives! So much foreshadowing!"
"Not necessarily, vets aren't gods, failure is possible."
"But Hachiken has grown, failure is also growth."
"Begging for the next chapter! Now! Immediately!"
Discussion heat hit a new high. A reader made a "Analysis of Silver Spoon Cliffhanger Art," tabulating the cliffhangers of the first 38 chapters, concluding: "The Dairy King knows suspense well, cutting off at the most critical point every time, making it impossible to stop."
More interestingly, students from the Vet Department of the State Ag University performed a simulation experiment in the lab using Hachiken's proposed treatment plan. They filmed the process and posted it online, titled: "Feasibility Verification of Silver Spoon Chapter 38 Treatment Plan."
( To be Continued)
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