[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-1987-my-era":3,"chapter-1987-my-era-1987-my-era-chapter-43":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},2259203,4409,"Chapter 43: Telegram","1987-my-era-chapter-43",43,"\u003Cp>Fried rice with an extra egg!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such capriciousness, in this day and age, not even the English teacher had seen it—let alone the fried rice vendor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching him bow his head and eat with ravenous delight, mouthful after mouthful, Wang Runwen, who had no appetite, couldn’t help asking:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does adding an extra egg make it taste better?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though this woman looked fresh and juicy, tempting and alluring, she was a teacher—useless as a target, impossible to touch—Li Heng still felt eating was the priority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he casually brushed her off: “Asking won’t help—just try it yourself and you’ll know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Wang Runwen glanced around and, seeing no one paying attention, actually scooped half a spoonful from the edge of his bowl and put it in her mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After chewing slowly, she frowned and said: “The egg flavor’s too strong—it lacks the rice’s natural fragrance. Not as good as mine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng glanced at her: “How’s that possible? Don’t my saliva add any flavor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Runwen shot him a cold glare: “Your saliva’s fragrant?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng kept shoveling fried rice: “I don’t know if it’s fragrant, but everyone who’s tried it says it’s good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Runwen laughed bitterly: “Have you kissed Chen Zijin?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since she already knew about the incident in the eastern grove, Li Heng decided to stop pretending and brazenly replied: “She likes swallows carrying fresh mud—she often comes to me voluntarily to build a nest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Runwen lightly tapped the edge of her bowl with her spoon, expressionless: “You pay for this meal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng instantly lost his appetite and looked up: “Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Runwen ignored his carefully feigned innocence, treating him like air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng turned to the vendor: “Boss, do you have vinegar?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vendor blinked in surprise: “We have vinegar—you want to put it in fried rice?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng said: “Try something sour—I’ve lost my appetite.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, wait a sec.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vendor set down his tools, wiped his hands hastily on his apron, bent to fetch a bottle of old aged vinegar, and walked over—but suddenly said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kid, settle your bill first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked you for vinegar, and you’re telling me to pay?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This twist came too abruptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng froze for a few seconds, then spun around—holy shit! The English teacher had already slipped silently to the school gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course—that vendor’s mood switched faster than flipping a page; the goldmine had vanished, and he feared being cheated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng stood there like an idiot, staring at that alluring back, his heart bleeding: Money, come back…!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Runwen seemed to sense it—before entering the reception room, she turned and smiled at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that smile wasn’t bright—it was pure mockery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fried rice costs 28 fen a bowl. Add an egg, and it’s 36 fen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two bowls total 64 fen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it! His monthly allowance barely covered ten meals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it all! He got ripped off—Tian Rune would have to sell five catties of rice to make back this 64 fen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He counted out the loose coins, handed them over grumpily, and complained: “Boss, if you run your business like this, you won’t get repeat customers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vendor smiled ingratiatingly, apologetic: “Sorry, kid—I’ve been getting scammed a lot lately, and I’m getting scared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They all use the same trick: one by one, they walk off. I’m old, my legs don’t work well—I can’t chase them…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Shaodong County, a place with a long tradition of fierce folk customs, how could a vendor survive without being cheated?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’ve got to get used to it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng muttered inwardly but insisted: “That’s our No. 1 High’s English teacher.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vendor shook his head: “This stall used to be run by my wife. She left recently, so I took over—I don’t know anyone here…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng opened his mouth, then closed it—felt like facing a pile of cotton, strength with nowhere to apply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sigh—everyone’s got a hard life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The 5th and 6th period classes were math.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The math teacher’s surname was Pan, and he had a well-known habit: whenever he taught Class 204, he arrived ten minutes early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This habit was unshakable, rain or shine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course—to learn from his mistakes, to study Li Heng’s math workbook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around the second semester of sophomore year, the math teacher spent a whole class carefully explaining a complex inequality problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That class, Li Heng had been dizzy, head down on the desk. When the bell rang at the end of the fourth period, starving, he instinctively jumped up to head for food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the math teacher was just finishing up, eyes fixed on Li Heng’s lunchbox.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng had long resented this math teacher, feeling he paled in comparison to the one from freshman year, and thought he was too slow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, in a moment of youthful impulsiveness, he solved the blackboard problem using a simple method.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He explained it orally, in four steps, giving the answer in under a minute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answer was greater than or equal to two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng still remembered the scene: the math teacher first glanced at the answer in his lesson plan, then smiled—but it looked forced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The whole class fell silent, all turning to stare at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Zou Aiming, who also disliked the math teacher, muttered loudly: “Math still belongs to our old Heng—that’s a real expert!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterwards, homeroom teacher Wang Qi specifically called Li Heng and Zou Aiming into the office to counsel them, urging them to learn respect for teachers and to be more mindful in their actions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since then, the math teacher developed the habit of arriving early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But all that was ancient history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Wang Qi’s patient explanations, Class 204 gradually accepted this slow-paced teacher, and now their relationship was fairly harmonious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, how did you come up with this method?” The math teacher, flipping through his workbook, happily asked him about a parabola problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the teacher’s question, he wasn’t the least bit nervous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These past days, Li Heng had realized: rebirth only added decades of life experience—his original knowledge hadn’t vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the foundation of his confidence to take the college entrance exam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And also why he’d dared to work overtime on “To Live.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng leaned over, spent five minutes discussing the problem with the teacher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the bell rang, the math teacher whispered with a smile: “Page 186 has something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng flipped numbly to page 186—and sure enough, there was something: a folded heart-shaped note.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t even need to open it—he could guess what it probably said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Manning in the front row stared fixedly at the note and asked, puzzled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who slipped this under my nose? I didn’t see anyone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Heng even more confused than she was, she turned to Mai Sui: “Mai Sui, did you see anyone near his desk?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mai Sui shook her head seductively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Manning looked at Song Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yu smiled beautifully and shook her head too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Chen Lijun from the right chimed in: “Probably a girl from another class—I saw someone lingering by Li Heng’s desk this morning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Manning shot up instantly: “Lijun, do you recognize that person?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Lijun thought hard: “Looks familiar—I’ve seen her on campus, but I don’t know her name.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you see her again, can you recognize her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Probably.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Manning, eager for drama, rubbed her hands: “After dinner, let’s go around other classes and look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yu: “….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mai Sui: “….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng: “….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Lijun: “….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Manning reached out: “Li Heng, hand over the love letter—I’ll treat you to two stir-fries.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng was speechless: “This is my business—why are you so involved?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Manning argued: “How’s it just your business? Chen Zijin’s my best friend—I’ve got to keep an eye on you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng said: “Song Yu’s also her best friend—and my desk partner. Let her keep an eye on me—that’s more convenient.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Sun Manning and Mai Sui exchanged glances, both smiling—smiles full of hidden meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yu, as if she hadn’t heard or seen anything, quietly opened her textbook, uncapped her fountain pen, and prepared to listen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Math was relatively hard for ordinary liberal arts students, but for him, it was an easy point-scoring subject—light and pleasant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He remained immersed in his own world, writing “To Live,” ignoring entirely what the teacher was saying above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yu noticed his odd behavior these past days and gently advised him—but it had no effect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now she was torn: should she tell Zijin about this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let Zijin contact him herself?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, in the eyes of these top students, the college entrance exam was the top priority—novels could be written anytime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Song Yu glance at him subtly five times during the class, Li Heng felt a stir—and handed her the love letter directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And attached was a note saying: Please keep this for me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afraid others might see and misunderstand, Song Yu covered the love letter with a book, hesitated briefly, then wrote a reply note.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She asked him: When will your novel end?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng replied: Tomorrow, roughly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having received the answer, Song Yu tucked away the note and returned to focusing on her lesson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the time that followed, Li Heng pushed himself to the limit, making his final effort to complete \"Alive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As predicted, at 12:09 the next day, he wrote the final character.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing him exhale deeply, his face filled with relief, Song Yu silently slipped him a note: Finished?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He replied: Hmm…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he finished writing the character “hmm,” intending to add more, the dismissal bell rang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if timed perfectly, the English teacher appeared at the classroom door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She called out: “Li Heng, your telegram.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng immediately ran out of the classroom and asked urgently: “Teacher, where’s it from?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In front of the other students, the English teacher said nothing more; only after entering the homeroom teacher’s office did she hand him two telegrams: “Read them yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng took the telegrams, glanced down, and gasped—his heart instantly burned with heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The telegram, headed “People’s Literature,” read: Our publishing house has accepted your submission and has dispatched editor Chen Xiaomi to your location to negotiate publication details…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hey!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That bitch is coming herself?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without pretense, Li Heng had been waiting for this day a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He longed to see the expression on the face of that once-disdainful golden child when she learned he was the writer “December.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng never claimed to be a magnanimous man; in this chaotic world, just surviving was hard enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For those he couldn’t fight, he had to endure—that was unavoidable, that was for survival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when facing an enemy he could strike back at, if he hesitated even slightly, he would betray his two lifetimes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1798,"2026-06-19T15:27:33.982Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","487847a1c0daa85c815353fed8c4368ca6e134441d4591b03534dc9a2aab9597","1987-my-era-chapter-44","1987-my-era-chapter-42",713,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002F1987-my-era-cover.jpg"]