[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-1987-my-era":3,"chapter-1987-my-era-1987-my-era-chapter-40":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},2259200,4409,"Chapter 40: What If I Quit My Job and Marry You?","1987-my-era-chapter-40",40,"\u003Cp>Don’t think Wang Qi always looks sour and cold in front of students—that’s just part of his role.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In reality, among friends and acquaintances, he’s quite humorous and easygoing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As 206’s homeroom teacher Luo said: if Wang Qi starts joking around with you without restraint, that means he truly considers you a friend; otherwise, he’s tight-lipped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Wang Runwen didn’t take the words “marry him” seriously—just heard it and moved on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She asked later: “So, Old Wang, which is better, People’s Literature or Harvest?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Qi pointed at the ceiling above his head: “Both are the pinnacle of domestic literary magazines—both are excellent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“People’s Literature” needs no explanation—it’s backed in Beijing by the China Writers Association and the China Writers Publishing Group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the chief editor of Harvest is Old Master Ba—figure it out yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the names “China Writers Association” and Old Master Ba, Wang Runwen bowed in reverence; their status in her mind instantly soared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This guy Li Heng has quietly pulled off something huge…!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Runwen didn’t understand anything right now, yet somehow understood everything; she told Teacher Wang:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are a few minutes left until class ends—I’ll take Li Heng with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Qi didn’t ask why—he just said “alright,” stepped aside, and made way for her to enter the classroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the English teacher carrying a bundle of breakfast, students in Class 204 stared with envy; some boys even sneaked glances at her full, upright figure, wishing they were Li Heng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arriving at Row 4, Group 5, Wang Runwen tapped a student’s book with her finger: “Come out with the teacher—there’s something to discuss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she addressed the curious glances around her: “Keep reviewing vocabulary and sentence patterns—memorize what you must, strengthen what you need. The scholarship exam is coming soon; I heard the headmaster say the questions will be especially hard—you’d better prepare mentally.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With little time left, Li Heng had spent morning study session writing the remaining part of “To Live”; after two seconds of thought, he tucked the manuscript into his backpack to carry with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the classroom, the English teacher simply handed him a portion of breakfast and said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when they reached the playground and saw no one nearby did Wang Runwen speak:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just now, the teacher received a call from an editor at People’s Literature—they’re looking for you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She recounted the entire phone conversation, then added regretfully: “Unfortunately, the line had static—I only caught ‘People’s Literature.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t hear what came after, didn’t even catch the caller’s name, only knew it was a young woman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching him slurp his tofu pudding nonstop, Wang Runwen asked: “Is ‘December’ your pen name?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why December? Why not another month? Is there some special meaning?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are only twelve months in a year—it means ‘red every month.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Shaoshan, many places add a ‘2’ at the end of red envelopes—this is where it comes from.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arriving at the small artificial hill behind the teaching building, the English teacher sat on a sheltered stone bench and fixed her gaze on his eyes:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t you have anything to tell me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng sat opposite her and smiled: “Teacher, let’s make a deal—let me finish breakfast first, then you can interrogate me, okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t phrase it so harshly—you don’t have to say anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could I not? You’re the only person here who’s truly close to me—and I’ll need your help later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Close? I bet you’re just after my home landline.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her father used to be the longtime principal of No. 1 High School, then transferred to Xiangnan Normal University Affiliated High School, where he built a new family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The current principal of No. 1 High School was promoted by her father, so her home landline was never disconnected, and she wasn’t asked to vacate the apartment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng’s eyes darted as he muttered: “If not the phone, what else could I want? I wouldn’t dare say I’m after you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Runwen crossed her arms, half-lidded her eyes, and spat five words through clenched teeth: “Try it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Try it and you’re dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng wasn’t foolish—he’d won the verbal exchange; no need to push further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In public, he shed his home-style wolfish eating habits and ate slowly, carefully, mindful of his image.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Runwen didn’t rush him—she watched him in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing one fried dough stick, one cup of tofu pudding, and three meat buns—each the size of a palm—he was finally full.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of mutual gaze, Li Heng, now clear-headed, recounted the entire story of writing “To Live” in detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The English teacher listened quietly, asking no questions, interrupting not once; only after he finished and she’d digested it for a while did she suddenly speak:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So if ‘To Live’ gets published, you’ll be a famous writer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng nodded smugly: “Yeah, more or less.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You haven’t turned eighteen yet, have you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My birthday’s in May—two months away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Studying his face closely, Wang Runwen fell silent; after a long while, she extended her hand:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you have a copy of ‘To Live’? I’d like to read your masterpiece.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t talk like that—it’s too formal. Wait a moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did have a copy: after sending two 40,000-word openings, he’d made a third at home, just in case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This habit—slightly obsessive—came from his time working in the system: always overthinking, always preparing for emergencies, anticipating surprise inspections from superiors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So far, I’ve written about 105,000 characters—not finished yet. Here, take this and read it; the ending should be ready the day after tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng pulled three stacks of manuscript from his backpack and handed them over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The English teacher took them and asked half-jokingly: “Aren’t you afraid I’ll steal your manuscript?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meeting her gaze, Li Heng said seriously: “No. You’re my teacher.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The English teacher snorted: “Ha! This is a chance to leap straight to the top—your teacher’s title isn’t enough protection.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng, full and relaxed, stretched and yawned sleepily: “If I can’t even trust our dear, lovely Teacher Wang Runwen, then this world is truly fucked.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes lingered on his face for four or five seconds, then she waved her hand irritably: “Class is about to start—get out! Remember to come home at noon for the phone call.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, no! Don’t turn on me so fast—I still have something to tell you.” He stayed seated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Spit it out!” Wang Runwen’s mind was on the manuscript—she was dying to know, and had zero patience for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here’s the thing—I submitted to two magazines. When I get the call at noon, you stand beside me and help me out…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind “stand beside me” came a string of shenanigans; Wang Runwen frowned: “Where did you learn these underhanded tricks? Don’t you fear angering them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng said confidently: “No fear—I have full confidence in my writing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, I’ve rewritten another copy—if those two reject it, I’ll submit to others immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At worst, I just waste time—no real loss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine. Get out!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The English teacher didn’t say yes or no—she just told him to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her begin flipping through the manuscript, Li Heng wisely let it go, stood, and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first two periods were Chinese class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chinese teacher was the school’s head of discipline—he stood about 170 cm tall, wore a side-parted hairstyle, had sharp features, and was neatly groomed with hair gel and a tie—impeccably handsome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, three finger-length bloodstains on his left cheek ruined his appearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the whole class stare at his left cheek—up and down, side to side—the head of discipline touched the scars and joked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh! Don’t follow my example. As a man, if you can’t even beat your wife, it’s because you lack education.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I had deep knowledge, I could silence her with words alone—why would I end up like this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Study hard, understand? Aim for a good university this year, marry a cultured, well-mannered wife later—don’t repeat my mistake. It hurts like hell.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahahaha…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The whole class burst into laughter; the two periods passed quickly in a relaxed atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third and fourth periods were history—homeroom teacher’s class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the previous two, everyone sat upright, listening intently and taking meticulous notes; the lesson was so rich, time flew by.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ding ding ding…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the bell rang for the end of the fourth period, Teacher Wang Qi glared furiously at a boy sitting by the door and scolded:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you that hungry? Can’t you wait one second? Go stand in my office for two hours—dismissed!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The class sympathized with the poor guy, closed their books, grabbed their lunchboxes, and hurried toward the cafeteria.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey? Li Heng, why aren’t you bringing a lunchbox?” As they left the classroom, Liu Li asked him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhiyong tilted his head and exclaimed: “What’s to ask? He’s going to the English teacher’s place for a feast, obviously.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, classmates around turned to look again, envious once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Down on the first floor, Li Heng parted ways with the group and headed alone toward the teachers’ dormitory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before he’d gone far, Sun Manning called from behind: “Li Heng, wait up!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng turned: “Aren’t you going to the cafeteria? Going home to eat?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Manning jogged over, shaking the lunch box in his hand: “My family slaughtered a chicken today—I’m taking some to Song Yu and Mai Sui.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do I get a share?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I did, but now I don’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re going to the English teacher’s for food—we’re jealous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Manning lived on the third floor; so did the English teacher. They chatted all the way up, parting only at the third-floor corridor entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just before separating, Sun Manning turned back and asked: “Want to come home and eat something?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Man narrowed her lips: “Ginseng stewed with black chicken—can’t even tempt you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng smiled and waved his hand: “No thanks, I need to speak with my teacher.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, fine then, see you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bye.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking ten meters down the corridor to the right, Li Heng stopped at the fourth door and knocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Knock knock knock…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Knock knock knock…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After six knocks, movement finally came from inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Teacher, it’s me,” Li Heng announced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a creak, the old wooden door opened, revealing Wang Run’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could greet her, she stared at his eyes strangely and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Heng, maybe I should just quit my job and marry you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Long chapter. Posting first, editing later…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1744,"2026-06-19T15:27:33.982Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","11af4429bdc3994080258fb16bc251c5c781817dfbe10d534981631f8bea6504","1987-my-era-chapter-41","1987-my-era-chapter-39",713,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002F1987-my-era-cover.jpg"]