Mo Yan appeared at a book-sharing event for his new title Ren Na (People), hosted by JD.com Books on the evening of August 7. The Nobel Prize-winning author engaged in a cross-disciplinary conversation with veteran media personality Yang Lan and Oxford University anthropology professor Xiang Biao. The three guests delved into topics including the creative origins of the work, the formal exploration of short fiction, how ordinary people can weather the "big winds" of the era, and how young people can build a spiritual anchor.

The book Ren Na collects 81 concise short pieces, with the shortest entry being just 71 characters. It depicts the everyday lives of ordinary people, such as street vendors, passersby, and those striving to make a living. Discussing the inspiration behind the work, Mo Yan revealed that the foundation of these short stories pays homage to the classic Chinese writer Pu Songling. "His technique of using just forty or fifty characters to make a scene feel vividly real proves that fictional stories can possess immense credibility," Mo Yan said. When he resumed writing new pieces in the second half of last year, Mo Yan admitted he was spending four to five hours a day scrolling through short videos. "My self-control as an adult forced me to put down the phone, but I couldn't let it be a waste. I had to get something back from it," he explained. "Taking the perspective of experiencing life and accumulating knowledge, I thought, since everyone is consuming short, interesting content, why not try writing something short?"

Since its release in April, the work has received a strong response, with print runs exceeding one million copies and topping the overall sales chart for two consecutive months. During the deep dialogue, the three guests also extended the discussion to address the current situation of young people. When asked about topics that concern the younger generation, Mo Yan stated that he believes it is not his place to offer advice to youth. "Young people have their own opinions and are often able to overcome difficulties as long as they have firm convictions," he said.