[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-1987-my-era":3,"chapter-1987-my-era-1987-my-era-chapter-117":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","1987: My Era",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2259277,4409,"Chapter 117: Outburst: Mother vs. Daughter (Request Subscription!)","1987-my-era-chapter-117",117,"\u003Cp>On the other side, the Chen household.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the entire Chen family had just finished dinner and were gathered on the sofa, watching Chen Zitong rush through the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Including Zhong Lan and Chen Xiaomi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Including Chen Xiaohong and Chen Xiaoyun, the two sisters who had rushed over upon hearing the news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xiaomi lifted her right wrist to glance at her watch and was the first to ask the young niece:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zitong, why are you only back now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zitong remained silent, her eyes darting, glancing at her mother, then at her aunts, and finally extending one hand toward Chen Xiaomi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Zhong Lan snorted coldly, her temper ready to flare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zitong shrank slightly away from her mother but kept her right hand extended toward her aunt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xiaomi found it amusing and thought how obsessed this niece was with money—she wondered who she took it from—and asked: “Money isn’t the issue. Tell me what happened today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zitong shook her head like a rattle, clacking loudly: “Auntie, first give me the ten yuan reward, then I’ll tell you something worth every penny.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aunt Chen Xiaohong asked: “What news is worth ten yuan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zitong shouted loudly: “Auntie, this news will shock heaven and terrify ghosts! You’ll be stunned—I’m already giving you a friend’s discount at ten yuan!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her sister-in-law about to explode, Chen Xiaomi pulled out her wallet, took out a ten-yuan note, and handed it over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zitong snatched the money like a thief, shoved it into her pocket at lightning speed, then extended her hand again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xiaomi asked: “What? Still want more?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zitong said: “Ten yuan is for the information. I had dinner outside—I ate a bowl of noodles, spent my own money. You owe me one yuan and fifty fen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aunt Chen Xiaoyun laughed now too: “What noodles cost one yuan and fifty fen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zitong retorted: “Of course it wasn’t just noodles! There were so many delicious snacks on the street—I bought one whenever I got hungry. Besides, I’ll get reimbursed when I get home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To hear the news faster, Chen Xiaomi pulled out another one yuan and fifty fen and shoved it into her hand: “Now can you talk?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. Money makes the devil push the mill—of course I can talk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ignoring the dark expressions of her elders, Chen Zitong plopped down on the sofa and began her vivid recounting:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So today, my sister dressed like a fairy, skipping along as happily as a starving noblewoman, descending from heaven to the second floor of the hotel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here she paused, her eyes gleaming with envy as she looked at her aunts: “I know the room number. Just fifty fen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xiaohong actually handed her fifty fen, teasing: “You’ll make a brilliant businesswoman someday.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the money safely in her pocket, Chen Zitong danced with excitement: “I saw my sister stroll up to Room 208, knock on the door—no answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knocked again—this time the door opened. She locked eyes with the man inside for a long while—huh! Suddenly, a pair of huge hands shot out like lightning and grabbed her waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—bang!—the door slammed shut.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her mother and three aunts hanging on every word, Chen Zitong paused again, teasing:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Want to know how long my sister stayed in the room? What happened inside? Four yuan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere suddenly grew heavy. Seeing her mother and aunts staring at her without blinking, Chen Zitong grew uneasy and cried out:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Half price! I’ll cut it in half—two yuan! Final charge—and I’ll throw in what they ate tonight!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lan, desperate to hear the rest, growled: “Talk!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zitong lowered her head like an ostrich, holding firm to her rule: no money, no words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lan urged: “You want a beating?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zitong muttered: “Friendly reminder: my sister and Sister Wu from the restaurant both said Li Heng is her boyfriend—they were betrothed back home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the four exchanged glances. Chen Xiaomi promptly paid another two yuan: “No more tricks. Or I won’t give you money again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With money in hand, Chen Zitong swore on her honor: “I’ll tell you everything in one go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So once the door shut, there was silence for a while, then the door started thumping—ha, that’s my dramatic flair, don’t look at me like that, I’m uncomfortable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the curtains were pulled shut with a swish—then, then… you really still want to hear? Li Heng is really intense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lan had already guessed what came next. Furious, she gasped for breath and glared: “If you dare stop again, I’ll tear your mouth apart.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t that how stories and operas go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zitong grumbled, then continued: “From one-thirty in the afternoon until five forty-one, they didn’t come out until then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I calculated it—four hours and thirty-nine minutes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment she spoke, the living room fell utterly silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if a terrifying aura had spread, chilling and dreadful!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lan’s face was as cold as water, her hands clenched tightly, as if ready to explode at any moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her sister-in-law like this, Chen Xiaoyun quickly broke the silence: “During daylight hours? Really stayed that long in the room?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zitong displayed professional dedication: “Absolutely true! I kept running around outside the hotel—peeking through windows, listening at the door. The staff tried to kick me out, but I named Uncle Zhou and they left me alone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Zhou was a bureau director, classmate of Chen Gaoyuan, extremely close—he controlled that entire area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Chen Xiaohong told Chen Xiaoyun: “Big sister, we mustn’t let word of what happened in the hotel room spread. Brother hasn’t come back yet. You’re closest to Zhou Jian—call him and warn him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they were sure Zhou Jian wouldn’t gossip, Chen Xiaoyun still didn’t take chances. She immediately picked up the landline and handled it in moments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xiaomi pressed: “What happened after?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing the mood had turned sour, Chen Zitong spilled everything like beans from a sack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Including what the two had for dinner?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where did they walk after?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What gifts did they buy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What clothes did Li Heng wear today? What hairstyle? And so on…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, she also extracted details from Sister Wu at the restaurant and added them in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing her, the three aunts all thought the same thing: this is what they call loving your job—professionalism. Expensive? Yes. But worth every penny.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet even if worth every penny, it couldn’t dispel the heavy gloom pressing on their hearts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially Zhong Lan—right now she was like a volcano about to erupt. Even sitting perfectly still, her three sisters-in-law could clearly feel her fury barely contained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone present was no fool. Chen Zijin had always been well-behaved and sensible, embodying the grace of a refined lady in every other aspect. But whenever Li Heng was involved, she was like bewitched—refusing all advice, constantly clashing with the family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their instincts told them: today’s actions were deliberate. She was doing this for the family. For them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The message was obvious: don’t even think about separating them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the atmosphere grew heavier and her sister-in-law’s gaze darker, Chen Xiaomi—the one who had met Li Heng in Shaoshan and felt it most deeply—finally spoke up:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister-in-law, it’s still early. Why don’t we go for a walk? Catch a movie?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lan, furious at her daughter’s behavior, snapped: “Nowhere. We wait for her to come back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, everyone who knew her sister-in-law’s temper stayed silent. Their eyes turned in unison to the door, waiting for Chen Zijin’s return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In anxious waiting, time slipped away, second by second…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before Chen Zijin returned, they were met by Chen Gaoyuan, coming home from work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Gaoyuan walked in and asked: “What happened? Why are you all looking like this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zitong turned around and said: “Dad, Sister went to see Li Heng. She hasn’t come back yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Gaoyuan glanced at the clock: 7:21.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smiled: “Still early. It’s not even fully dark yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zitong quietly added: “Sister and Li Heng stayed in the hotel room for over four hours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Gaoyuan’s smile vanished. He set down his bag and sat on the other side: “What happened? Tell me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zitong recounted everything she knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When her daughter finished, Zhong Lan suddenly interjected: “Chen Gaoyuan, can you still believe her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Gaoyuan looked embarrassed—he’d just said he trusted Zijin at lunch, and now the backlash came so fast: “Where are they?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zitong answered: “They’re out shopping. Should be back soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speak of the devil, and he shall appear!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had Chen Zitong spoken than the sound of the courtyard gate closing echoed outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Footsteps drew nearer. A figure in a light blue floral dress appeared at the doorway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Chen Zijin stepped in, every gaze in the room snapped toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing the tension, Chen Zijin hesitated at the door—but the next second, she walked calmly toward them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dad, you’re back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Auntie, Auntie, you’re here too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After greeting everyone, Chen Zijin set down her gifts and headed toward her bedroom to change clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dress was new—only worn twice today—but that man had been too absorbed in what he was doing. One spot was torn, and the front had been bitten for a long time, wrinkled. She wanted to wash and iron it clean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the outer dress still looked fine—no obvious signs at a glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But her undergarments? Completely ruined. One strap was nearly broken. She’d walked home all tense, afraid it might snap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her daughter greet her three aunts but ignore her, hearing her call Gaoyuan but not her, watching her stride straight toward her bedroom with utter disregard—Zhong Lan’s long-suppressed emotions exploded:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where are you going? Come back here! Stand still!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zijin ignored her, her right hand pressed against her left shoulder as she kept walking toward the bedroom—she’d just felt the strap snap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lan shot to her feet with a sharp slap and shouted: “What? Now that you’ve got a man outside, you don’t even see your own mother?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That little thing comes to you, and you think you’re special? He locks you in a room all afternoon—what does he want but your body!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battle, unexpected yet inevitable, erupted instantly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing her mother use her status to pressure her, Chen Zijin knew her mother needed to vent. She didn’t fight back, turned around, and sat down gloomily beside her sister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lan’s rage kept rising, her words still spilling out: “If he truly cared for you, if he truly had your best interests at heart, why would he force you into that during daylight hours?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’re just great! For his sake, you’ve thrown away your dignity, your family, even your parents—I really shouldn’t have raised you this long!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These words were too harsh; Chen Gaoyuan wanted to speak, but his wife shot him a furious glare, silencing him—he knew she was in a rage and nothing he said would help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zijin glanced at Chen Zitong; the traitor immediately lowered her head, twisting her hands together, too afraid to utter a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zijin replied with a hollow, detached gaze: “He didn’t force me. I did it willingly—I asked him to carry me to bed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You! You! You’re trying to kill me!” Zhong Lan’s chest heaved violently; she pointed a trembling finger at her eldest daughter, too furious to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xiaomi, Chen Xiaohong, and Chen Xiaoyun exchanged glances, their eyes wide with disbelief—none of them expected their eldest niece to be so bold, to even say something like “carried to bed”—in the Chen family, this was outright rebellion!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the eldest sister, Chen Xiaoyun, spoke to soothe her: “Sister-in-law, calm down. Your voice is too loud—neighbors will hear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having already lost face back home, these words finally took effect; Zhong Lan took a few deep breaths, steadied her emotions slightly, and glared fiercely at her eldest daughter: “You’re an adult now, grown and past your youth—why can’t you use even a little common sense? Why are you still so stupid?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did you go to him today of all days? Why let him take advantage of you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’re a girl—this lack of self-respect hurts only you. He zips up his pants and walks away untouched; when he grows tired of you, he’ll just find someone else—and then you’ll have nothing but tears to cry!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her daughter remain silent, Zhong Lan grew angrier by the moment, her blood pressure rising, her voice unconsciously rising further: “He’s famous now, has a few coins in his pocket—if he were studying in Jingcheng for four years, that might be acceptable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if he goes anywhere else, I doubt you can hold onto him! I’ve never seen such a fool—he’s treating you like an idiot!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still getting no reply, Zhong Lan shoved her husband’s hand away and snapped: “Where’s that little brat? You dare defy your own family for him—why doesn’t he come here for you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is he afraid of shame? Holding a grudge? Or is he just playing with you, hiding something?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zijin turned her head away, still ignoring her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lan clenched her right fist and slammed it onto the coffee table: “Speak! I’m talking to you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blow, fueled by rage, was loud and sudden—startling everyone in the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zijin turned back, defiant: “He’s not some ‘little brat.’ He has a name—he’s Li Heng. Why should he come here alone? To be beaten by you all?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the word “beaten,” Chen Xiaomi, Chen Xiaohong, and Chen Xiaoyun felt uneasy—but in this moment, none dared to accuse her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Gaoyuan stepped in to ease the tension: “Zijin, where’s Li Heng now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zijin said: “He went back at the alley entrance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she added: “I told him to leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words “I told him to leave” silenced the room. Such a simple phrase had unveiled many long-suppressed issues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, Chen Zijin had publicly voiced her dissatisfaction—for the first time—for her mother, and for her three aunts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, it exposed the irreconcilable rift between the Chen and Li families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it truly Chen Zijin who told Li Heng to leave?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not necessarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone in the room worked within the system—they were all sharp. A moment’s thought revealed the truth: Li Heng held deep resentment toward the Chen family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, how could he have slept with their daughter yet refused to step inside their home?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To test her suspicion, Chen Xiaomi asked: “Did Li Heng buy these gifts?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zijin gave a single nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xiaomi pressed: “Who did he buy them for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zijin replied: “For Grandpa.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listen, listen—Chen Xiaomi glanced around; the message was crystal clear: Li Heng bought gifts only for the old man, none for anyone else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not even for Zijin’s own parents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was closeness laced with distance—everything was laid bare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing through the surface, Chen Gaoyuan sighed: “You all went too far back then. It’s clear Run’e holds a deep grudge against our family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lan snorted: “We went too far? If it were her, she’d be worse!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Chen Zijin spoke: “I said it—I did it willingly. Why are you blaming him so relentlessly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lan intensified her tone: “Still blinded by oil, defending him? Just wait—you’ll regret ignoring elders’ advice. You’ll suffer for it later!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Chen Zijin stood again, walking toward the bedroom as she said: “I chose him myself. Even if suffering comes, I’ll bear it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zijin retreated to the bedroom, leaving the others stunned into silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, Chen Zijin had argued back, often clashed with Zhong Lan over Li Heng—but never with this intensity, never with such broad scope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was unprecedented—unheard of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zitong curled up, trembling—had she known her sister would be this fierce, she’d have cried rather than take the money. Now she prayed her sister would forgive her, forget her like a fart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lan nearly spat blood: “Look! Look! That bastard shows up, and suddenly she’s got wings—ready to fly! It’s enough to kill me! It’s enough to kill me!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Zhong Lan’s “little brat” had finally escalated to “bastard”—a testament to her fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xiaomi poured tea for everyone: “Sister-in-law, no matter how wrong Zijin is, she’s still your daughter. Don’t fly into such a rage—she’s grown. This will damage your relationship.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lan raised an eyebrow: “Just because she’s grown, she’s no longer my flesh and blood? I’d like to see what power she has!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lan added: “No, tomorrow I’m going to meet that bastard. I want to see what’s different about him now that he’s a writer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t think becoming a writer gives him free rein—we Chen family won’t coddle him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Li Heng met Zhong Lan, one filled with anger, the other with resentment, sparks would fly—and the situation would spiral further. Chen Gaoyuan intervened:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lanlan, drink some tea, calm down. I’ll meet Li Heng tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xiaomi added: “Big brother, I’ll go with you tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zitong thought she’d misheard; she finally lifted her head: “Auntie, aren’t you also Li Heng’s enemy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>ps: Please subscribe! Please vote for monthly tickets!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2862,"2026-06-19T15:27:33.982Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a4c0d80d1dfee42d79ad19ff38614ec6f4c602604449b45c7ba144a665a7dfeb","1987-my-era-chapter-118","1987-my-era-chapter-116",713,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002F1987-my-era-cover.jpg"]