In memory of Wu Qingyou, the founder of Eslite Group: live the resilience of life and be your own supporter

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According to the Central News Agency’s report, the world’s first 24-hour bookstore [Elite] (https://www.eslite.com/) Dunnan store will officially turn off its lights at the end of May. Eslite Chairman Wu Minjie announced that the 24-hour bookstore will be taken over from the third floor of the Xinyi store because there is “big room for imagination” in the next 20 years. But she was reluctant to say goodbye to the first Eslite bookstore opened by her father with tears in her eyes, and she was too timid to go there because she was close to her hometown.

Remembering the founder of Eslite

It’s hard to bear to see the scenery of Eslite Dunnan store disappearing from our eyes, but we are reminded of the past nearly three years ago: Chairman of Eslite Group Wu Qingyou died of a sudden heart attack on the evening of July 18, 2017 in Beijing Medical University. This news once made me feel shocked. After all, judging from the advanced level of modern medicine, 68 is still very young!

It is said that “the world is impermanent.” Although we know the truth, when we are really faced with the test of cruel reality, we often find it difficult to bear it.

I still remember that in late June 2017, I had just attended the [AAMA Annual Conference] (h I listened to Chairman Wu’s speech on ttp://www.aamataipei.com.tw/). How could we not feel sad that this wise elder suddenly left us while our words were still ringing in our ears?

It can almost be said that there is no Taiwanese who does not know about Eslite Bookstore. To exaggerate, Eslite can be regarded as a scenery in Taiwan. But I must admit that my previous understanding of Chairman Wu was actually very limited, and I didn’t even fully agree with Eslite’s transformation; I didn’t even know that he silently endured Eslite’s losses for fifteen years before slowly turning losses into profits.

In this era that emphasizes quick success and utilitarianism, Wu Qingyou did not choose to use a business model to view profits and losses. Of course, there is an “innocent romance” hidden in this as an entrepreneur, but also because “[he wants to see what else he can be creative with in his life] (http://www.ntutana.org.tw/?p=1373)”!

The meaning and mission of life

It was also because of listening to his speech in June that I learned that Chairman Wu was suffering from congenital heart disease. This made him think more actively about the meaning and issues given by life - what dreams are worth pursuing in the next life? What other missions must be completed?

Without business, Eslite cannot survive; but without culture, Eslite does not want to survive either.

Because he encountered life tests and career bottlenecks again and again, Chairman Wu wanted to understand life and himself through reading. This was also the origin of Eslite Bookstore, and it even touched countless book lovers along the way. In recent years, Eslite Bookstore has begun to embrace the cultural and creative industry, extending its reach to galleries, exhibitions, residences, restaurants and hotels, lifestyle cultural creation and travel, and has also developed different career peaks in Hong Kong, Suzhou and other places. However, what Chairman Wu really misses is Taiwan’s cultural industry, as well as the people and things he loves.

Unfortunately, Chairman Wu fell. Although we are far away, I will never forget Chairman Wu’s contribution to Taiwan and the wonderful reading experience Eslite Bookstore brings to book lovers.

Wu Qingyou said: “My personal belief is that life is above career, mind is above ability, career and work are the dominion of your life.”

Live the resilience of life

Although I cannot undo the fate of the Eslite Dunnan store, known as “Taiwan’s most beautiful cultural landscape”, to close its operations, I still want to thank Mr. Wu Qingyou, the founder of Eslite Group. Thank you for making me understand how important it is to live with resilience and be your own biggest supporter!

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