[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-1987-my-era":3,"chapter-1987-my-era-1987-my-era-chapter-585":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},2259745,4409,"Chapter 585","1987-my-era-chapter-585",585,"\u003Cp>The Chen family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Heng and Zijin return to deliver the New Year offerings, the two aunts, Chen Xiaomi and Chen Xiaohong, who had been waiting anxiously, finally exhaled in relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone in the Chen family knew Yu Shuheng was at the Li household, and they all knew where Yu Shuheng came from—this made them wary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Yu Shuheng hadn’t been across the street, Chen Gaoyuan would’ve rushed over the moment he got out of the car, handing out cigarettes and catching up with Li Jianguo, as he always had in past years. But this year, he didn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that Li Heng had come over with Zijin, it proved one thing: Zijin’s position in the Li household was still stable, and Yu Shuheng, the outsider, hadn’t yet disrupted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xiaomi poured Li Heng a cup of hot tea and brought up his new book: “I heard you’re writing a new one—almost finished?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng replied: “Not yet. I’ve only completed about half.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xiaomi asked curiously: “What’s it about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng said: “It’s about the tusi system—traditional subject matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xiaomi was dying to borrow it, but felt it inappropriate; the words died on her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Laoyezi made time specifically to entertain Li Heng and played three games of xiangqi with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, Chen Laoyezi lost two games, then won one back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But anyone with eyes could tell: in the final game, Li Heng held back, giving the old man face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Laoyezi sat silent before the board for a long while, then looked up at Li Heng and said: “I’m entrusting Zijin to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words were brief and sudden, yet packed with meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng was stunned—he never expected this stubborn old man to yield so quickly. In his past life, the old man had never said such a thing, and they’d barely spoken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zijin smiled brightly, thrilled by her grandfather’s words, her face alight with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the gaze of all the Chen family members, Li Heng declared: “Grandfather, rest assured—I’ll take good care of her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Laoyezi slowly nodded, then sipped tea and chatted with Li Heng for about an hour before leaving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He only left then because it was fully dark; Li Heng remembered he had Yu Laoshi waiting at home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zijin walked him to the door and whispered in his ear: “Husband, I’ll take a bath first, then come join you later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That one word—“husband”—made him understand: his wife intended to sleep with him tonight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his heart trembled, Li Heng answered with unhesitating ease: “Alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, whether he cowered or stepped forward, it was still a knife to the neck. Since these entanglements couldn’t be avoided, he might as well face them with full courage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better to comfort Zijin—the first woman who’d chosen him—than shrink in fear and offend both women. As for Yu Laoshi, he’d find a way to make it up to her later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He believed Yu Laoshi wasn’t the petty type.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, he’d made his stance clear long ago: Xiao Han, Song Yu, and Zijin—he wanted them all, not letting go of a single one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He admitted he was greedy, but believed his conduct was upright: he never broke his word, and had never deceived or hidden anything from Yu Laoshi—he aimed for mutual understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Li Heng left, Chen Xiaomi found her sister-in-law, who had stayed hidden, and asked puzzled: “Sister-in-law, things have come to this—why haven’t you come to terms with it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lan shot back: “You’ve all come to terms, but does he only have Zijin? I heard there’s Song Yu at Peking University, and now Yu Shuheng is right across the street at the Li household—how do you explain that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a native of Jingcheng, Li Heng’s bold pursuit of Song Yu at Peking University had been too conspicuous. Though Zhong Lan hadn’t heard the news immediately, after a year and a half, the whispers had finally reached her ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Yu Shuheng, she was now living right across the street at the Li household, the only daughter of the Yu family—impossible to ignore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lan’s question left Chen Xiaomi speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Chen Xiaohong entered and reflected: “If we hadn’t forced Zijin to go to Jingcheng during her sophomore summer vacation, maybe none of this would’ve happened. Maybe Li Heng and Zijin would’ve gone to university together. Sigh—in the end, it was us who ruined this perfect match.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xiaohong had once disapproved of Li Heng, but now that he grew stronger by the day, she had no choice but to accept the reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lan frowned, angrily asking: “I doubt it! Isn’t Yu Shuheng, the only daughter of the Yu family, outstanding enough? Even in my youth, I never felt the urge to compete with her for a man—yet now? We just watch helplessly as that little scoundrel runs around chasing other women?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Yu Shuheng can’t rein him in, how do you think Zijin can?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I still say it: anyone who dares to take Zijin to bed at such a young age is a degenerate—born to be no good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xiaohong: “...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xiaomi intervened: “Sister-in-law, that’s too harsh. ‘Degenerate’ is too strong a word. A scholar? At most, he’s romantic. But then again, first love is the most precious thing in life. Once that door opens, Li Heng won’t be able to stop himself. It’s understandable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lan glared at her sister-in-law: “You’re lying with your eyes open—you’re changing your tune because he’s become successful. Haven’t you seen Song Yu? Don’t you think that little bastard had his eyes on her from the start? Was it only after we drove Zijin away that he developed these feelings?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words silenced the two aunts again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xiaohong said: “Meeting someone as stunning as Song Yu—there must be countless boys secretly in love with her. Li Heng being drawn to her is perfectly normal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They say you judge by deeds, not intentions; if you judge by intentions, no one is perfect. If we hadn’t driven Zijin away, maybe none of this would’ve happened.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sister-in-law, we were wrong—we admit it, and there’s no shame in that. But it’s a pity for Zijin—this perfect match is slipping slowly from her grasp. I feel terrible for her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lan’s brow furrowed deeper, but for once she didn’t argue. Instead, she asked: “Didn’t Grandfather say he’d clear Li Jianguo’s name? Why hasn’t anything happened in half a year?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xiaomi shook her head: “Father gave up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lan asked: “Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xiaomi said: “Father and I analyzed it: judging by Yu Shuheng’s actions, she’s determined to have Li Heng—she likely intends to marry him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grandfather said we’ve already missed the best time to support Li Jianguo. Now, trying to make amends looks like groveling—it’ll make us look ridiculous. Better to do nothing. Let Yu Shuheng handle it. Or leave it to Li Heng’s future daughter-in-law.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lan looked up: “So Grandfather has given up on the idea of Zijin marrying Li Heng in a proper, formal way?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xiaomi stayed silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xiaohong sighed: “Not entirely given up—but we can’t compete with the Yu family. And we ourselves shattered Zijin’s perfect hand of cards. Even if we wanted to fight now, we’re powerless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ve paid attention to the girls around Li Heng—all of them beautiful, each with her own unique charm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zijin’s personal qualities may be top-tier at Renmin University, but beside him, she’s merely keeping pace—she doesn’t outshine Song Yu or Yu Shuheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason Li Heng still dotes on Zijin is nostalgia—she was his first woman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Zhong Lan spoke harshly to her eldest daughter, she was still her flesh and blood. Hearing this, she felt heartbroken and snapped: “Why bother pleasing him? Even if we’re wrong, we’ll stay wrong—I won’t bow to a man like him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xiaohong said: “But improving relations with the Li family will still benefit Zijin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lan didn’t want to hear it—she stood up and walked out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Chen Xiaomi said: “Forget it, Second Sister. Haven’t you realized yet? Sister-in-law has always been proud—even if she knows she’s wrong, she won’t admit it, and she won’t change. Let it end here. Better to say less from now on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back home, Li Heng sensed something was off. Li Jianguo and Tian Rune sat on chairs in the main room, sighing heavily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His grandmother sat silently, staring blankly at the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng stepped over the threshold and asked: “Mom, what’s going on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Rune sighed again and told him: “Manzi, Yu Laoshi left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng’s heart tightened: “Left? When?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Rune said: “Shortly after you left for the Chen household.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng asked: “Did you try to stop her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your grandmother and I held onto her for a long time, but we couldn’t stop her,” Li Jianguo interjected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng asked: “Did she take her belongings?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Rune said: “She did. Before leaving, she left gifts for me, your father, and your grandmother—and a separate red envelope just for Grandma.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng turned to his grandmother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His grandmother said: “The red envelope was large—2,200 yuan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng took the envelope from his grandmother’s hand, felt it, and stood frozen for a long time without speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, he returned the envelope to his grandmother and asked: “Did Yu Laoshi say anything before she left?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All three shook their heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng pressed: “Not a single word?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jianguo smoked in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>",1580,"2026-06-19T15:27:37.100Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","004be2c1f77193762359c297f6f7eaf6311735ef6cc33c82dd2c1dd0c601c74c","1987-my-era-chapter-586","1987-my-era-chapter-584",713,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002F1987-my-era-cover.jpg"]