[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-1987-my-era":3,"chapter-1987-my-era-1987-my-era-chapter-14":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},2259174,4409,"Chapter 14: Xiao Han","1987-my-era-chapter-14",14,"\u003Cp>Seven or eight minutes later, the tractor stopped at Shimen Station.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhiyong shouted loudly: “Four mao per person for Shangwan Village, two mao for Xincun…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone asked: “How much for the ride from Hengbanqiao?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhiyong said: “Uncle Zou, I’ll charge you three mao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Zou leveraged his age to haggle: “Last time I rode your father’s cart, it was only two mao. Now it’s three? Are you robbing me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhiyong replied cheerfully: “Uncle, two mao it is. You’re old—I won’t argue with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After successfully haggling down to two mao, Uncle Zou pulled two two-mao bills from his pocket and paid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng unloaded the rice and asked Zhang Zhiyong: “Why are you driving today? Where’s your dad?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhiyong, still collecting money, grinned: “My two uncles and my little aunt’s husband came over. Old man’s busy playing cards with them, so I’m out here earning my pocket money.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng asked: “Do you keep all the money you make today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhiyong smacked his lips, smug as hell: “Of course I do! Obviously! If they don’t give it to me, why the hell would I even bother? I’d rather stay home and play.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Rune handed over a yuan note to pay for the ride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhiyong leaped back in shock, yelping: “Auntie, are you kidding me? You trying to shame me to death?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Heng and I are brothers who share the same pants. You believe me—if I even dare take your money, he’ll beat me to death when he gets home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Rune tried handing the money several times, but Zhang Zhiyong refused outright each time; finally, she gave up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once all the passengers had left, Li Heng seized a moment when his mother wasn’t looking and whispered to Zhang Zhiyong: “I need to send something at the post office. Lend me ten yuan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afraid Tian Rune might see, Zhang Zhiyong turned his back in perfect sync, didn’t even count the bills, quickly shoved a stack into Li Heng’s hands, and winked toward the street to his left:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s a new noodle shop next door. Listen—I’m telling you, the boss lady’s a widow. Breasts this big, ass this round, damn, she’s got everything. After you sell your rice, come find me—we’ll go eat together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng asked instinctively: “Is it called Chunjie Noodle Shop?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhiyong blurted out: “You son of a bitch! How do you know that? Have you been there already? Why the hell didn’t you bring me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng replied smoothly: “No, I heard your dad bragging about it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhiyong nearly jumped out of his skin: “Damn it! That old bastard’s stealing my milk?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng burst out laughing—he hadn’t expected this idiot to hit the nail on the head. From his past-life memories, he knew Chunjie was indeed his father’s secret mistress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The largest storefront in town was the Supply and Marketing Cooperative; the loudest loudspeaker was always the rat poison vendor. By eight o'clock, the market was packed with people, growing steadily livelier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, the agricultural market wasn’t regulated—most stalls sold clothes, shoes, and socks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rice had its own designated spot, beside the Agricultural Machinery Station. Every market day, sellers and buyers naturally gathered there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Rune had sold rice here before; she knew the place well. After scanning the crowd, she quickly found an open spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She swept aside large trash with her right foot, swiftly laid out a plastic sheet, then told her son to neatly line up the four sacks of rice, open the mouths, and fold them into circles so passersby could instantly see the quality of their rice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Few customers were buying rice yet, but over twenty vendors were already selling it; more people kept arriving with rice on their shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of the heavy rain, the mother and son arrived late and missed the best spots. Tian Rune circled the area quietly, her face growing more anxious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng whispered: “Mom, are other people’s rice better quality?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Rune leaned closer, afraid of being overheard: “Several vendors’ rice is noticeably brighter than ours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When origin is the same, rice quality depends on variety, milling precision, and freshness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, indica and japonica rice differ in texture and stickiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indica rice is thinner; when cooked, each grain remains separate and plump. Japonica rice is stickier, ideal for soups, porridge, and sticky rice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Milling precision is a major factor in rice quality. Higher precision means better whiteness, grain integrity, and lower impurity levels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Freshness is straightforward: new rice is white and glossy, with a fresh aroma; old rice darkens, loses stickiness, and fades its fragrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng believed their rice was among the best on the market—sticky, fragrant, with a hint of natural sweetness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after hearing his mother, he lost confidence. He slipped away to scout—and confirmed it: three or four vendors had rice of clearly superior quality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only was their rice better, but they had huge quantities—this was practically denying them any chance to survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Rune resolved: “We’ll start at one jiao nine fen. If we haven’t sold any by noon, we’ll lower the price.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng asked: “Mom, how much did you sell it for last time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Rune shook her head: “Prices keep changing. When it’s in demand, I’ve sold it for two jiao per jin. I’ve even sold it for one jiao six.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Heng fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, this price stunned him—he never imagined it. One hundred jin of rice sold for barely over ten yuan. No wonder few people in the countryside wanted to farm anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this rate, unless you achieved scale, small-scale farming wouldn’t even guarantee a family’s basic meals, let alone a decent life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rubbed his temples, silently cursing himself: Damn it, I’ve been so full of myself lately—I looked down on a few yuan or tens of yuan in manuscript fees, only chasing big money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I need to change my mindset. Even a mosquito is meat. How hard must Tian Rune work to earn a few or a dozen yuan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How much effort does it take?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My second sister was forced into shady deals just for twenty yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slapped his forehead again—damn it, what right did he have to be picky? He had to grab both big and small opportunities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a plan forming, Li Heng thought about what novel to write next while helping his mother sell rice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, most people clustered around the top vendors; only those who couldn’t afford high prices wandered around haggling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time dragged on—nearly two hours passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still no sales. Seeing his mother strain to persuade customers with little success, Li Heng grew anxious, his stomach twisting with guilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mom, I’m going to take a break—I need to use the restroom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His legs were numb from squatting—he really needed the toilet, but he also used the chance to slip off and mail his manuscript.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Rune’s entire focus was on selling rice; she mumbled an answer and agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Li Heng stood up, shook his legs, and prepared to leave, two women suddenly appeared at their stall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More precisely, a mother and daughter who looked somewhat alike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The older woman, around forty, wore a long snow-white wool coat, her hair styled in big waves, light makeup, radiating a fashion sense utterly out of step with the times—her name was Wei Shiman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young girl had a stunningly beautiful oval face, sharp features, her hair loosely pinned, her skin pale and luminous like fine porcelain, slender eyebrows, almond eyes, delicate and elegant. She wore a blue-and-white plaid trench coat with a pale red scarf, and red sneakers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simple, yet exuding timeless grace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stood tall—165 centimeters—with a slender, flowing waist. Her left arm linked with her mother’s, her right hand tucked in her trench coat pocket, she turned toward the light, startled, staring at Li Heng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Heng, what are you doing here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Han.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They spoke in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Today’s trial push is live—I’m nervous as hell in March. Please, great lords, take a moment to follow along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1352,"2026-06-19T15:27:33.982Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","3cf78b46db4585b8df5603071ecad003a4f335d422269a9924a24d07a3c33b00","1987-my-era-chapter-15","1987-my-era-chapter-13",713,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002F1987-my-era-cover.jpg"]