[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-1987-my-era":3,"chapter-1987-my-era-1987-my-era-chapter-69":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},2259229,4409,"Chapter 69: I","1987-my-era-chapter-69",69,"\u003Cp>Memories flashed through Li Heng’s mind as he entered the school store and exchanged all the money in his pockets for soda.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bottled!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Ying saw this and exclaimed in shock: “Li Heng, are you crazy? Spending all your money—you’re not going to eat?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing many classmates drawn over by the outcry, Li Heng handed her a bottle of soda and said quietly, exasperated:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, Old Rag, can you stop yelling? Today’s a big day for me—meaningful. You wouldn’t understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Ying was used to him calling her Old Rag during their banter and barely reacted, glaring at him:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s there not to understand? It’s all because of Song Yu, isn’t it? You really think everyone’s stupid?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng ignored her and asked plainly: “Stop acting like some village woman nagging. I already bought the soda—it’s not returnable. So, are you drinking it or not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Ying snatched the soda away angrily: “Drink? Why not? It’s bought by a fool—I don’t have to pay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng handed the second soda to Xiao Feng: “Here. We’re both from the same village and friends—we know each other well. Don’t be like someone else: eating my food and cursing me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Feng smiled, accepted the soda without hesitation, and as she opened it, said: “The scholarship won’t be paid until month-end—if you run out of living expenses in between, come borrow meals from me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng gave a thumbs-up: “Generous! Grand! I love your straightforward nature.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third soda, he gave to Song Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They exchanged glances for several seconds; Song Yu silently took it, saying nothing—everything was understood without words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before parting, Li Heng asked Yang Ying to take a soda back for Xiao Han.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yang Ying glanced at Song Yu beside her, thought for a moment, and declined: “You’re being generous like this for the first time—give it to her yourself, or invite her separately next time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Heng instantly understood the rural girl’s unspoken meaning: compared to a soda, Xiao Han might care more that you give it to her personally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing the reason, he took back the soda and said: “Fine. I’ll invite her separately next time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in the classroom, Li Heng handed out all the sodas—he gave some to Mai Sui, Zhang Zhiyong, Liu Li, and other friends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the first Chinese class, while Li Heng was attentively listening, his beautiful desk partner slid a notebook over to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the notebook was a line of writing, and tucked between the pages was ten yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The note read: The scholarship won’t be paid until month-end—use this money for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether or not he’d use the money, Li Heng happily slipped it into his pocket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He picked up his pen and asked: Should I pay this back?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yu glanced at him with a faint smile and wrote: You don’t have to repay it—just treat me to a meal when you’re successful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng asked: In your eyes, what’s the standard for “being successful”?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yu paused, then wrote: No fixed standard—it’s when you feel you’ve succeeded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Heng, come out here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Li Heng picked up his pen to reply further, the classroom door suddenly opened and the English teacher waved to him cheerfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He put down his pen and hurried out to the corridor, greeting warmly: “Teacher.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The English teacher’s gaze swept over him like infrared, arms crossed: “Did you win the top scholarship?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.” Li Heng nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Run: “First time. How does it feel?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng answered: “Amazing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When the scholarship comes, remember to treat your teacher to a meal.” In the past, Wang Run would never have said such a thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now? This kid’s a local rich man—so much money he’s almost outdone his parents’ secret savings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng readily agreed: “Sure. I’ll treat my respected teacher to egg fried rice—with an extra egg.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This reminded Wang Run of the previous incident. She adjusted her glasses with a fingertip and smiled: “A grown man holding grudges like this isn’t good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They knew each other too well—Li Heng joked without restraint: “Fine, I won’t hold a grudge—if you eat egg fried rice with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that this kid was unmoved by reason, the English teacher changed the subject: \"Your homeroom teacher told me you want to stick up a photo of yourself with Song Yu's?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Homeroom teacher” referred to the Chinese teacher’s wife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The homeroom teacher and the English teacher were close, often strolling together after meals on campus—Wang Run knowing about this wasn’t surprising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing him nod, the English teacher shook her head, pursed her lips: “I turned it down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng was furious: “Teacher, how could you do that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The English teacher tilted her head, her black hair cascading like a waterfall, and asked playfully:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why can’t I? As your teacher, it’s my duty to stop you from jumping into the pit of early romance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng shot back: “I’m almost eighteen—I’m an adult. Why are you meddling in my love life, Teacher? You—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, he lowered his voice: “Teacher, if you’re deliberately blocking me and Song Yu… are you really acting out of personal motives?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Run frowned, staring at his face, wanting to kick him right then and there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with so many students watching, she held back, pressed down her full chest, shoved the remittance slip into his hand, and spat out one word: “Go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng responded, looked at the remittance slip in his hand—it was from the magazine “Harvest”—and returned to class beaming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Heng, what’s so happy?” Sun Man asked quietly as he passed by.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng replied offhandedly: “Of course—I’ve gotten rich.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pfft!” Sun Man didn’t take it seriously and went back to class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng never took money lightly—he checked the remittance slip three times, confirmed it was correct, then wrote in his notebook: Is this considered success?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After writing, he placed the notebook and remittance slip atop Song Yu’s Chinese textbook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yu initially paid little attention, but when she picked up the remittance slip and saw the amount, she froze, then looked again, carefully examining it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remittance amount read: 4050 yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, she calmed her inner turmoil and asked curiously: “Is this the payment from ‘Harvest’ magazine?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng picked up his pen: Yes. Do you know this magazine?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yu wrote: Yes. My father loves literature—he’s subscribed to “People’s Literature” and “Harvest” for years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her father was a university professor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her mother was also a university teacher, but a music instructor. Both were highly educated intellectuals, with fertile soil for literary growth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng found this unsurprising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no intention of hiding his writing from Song Yu or Xiao Han.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He explained: Recently, I submitted a short story to “Harvest”—luckily, it got accepted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yu took the notebook, read the brief sentence, and fell into a long silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng quietly observed her facial expressions, hoping for a hint of admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after watching for a long time, no expected reaction came—she remained calm and serene, leaving him feeling his effort was wasted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, Song Yu, having returned from the remittance slip, picked up her pen again: Is this the story you wrote recently?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng replied: Yes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yu asked: What pen name did you use when submitting?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1225,"2026-06-19T15:27:33.982Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","d8ed40732d8d34da224c492a4691569241cb7027c8d76c3dd077e6782c8c8ac6","1987-my-era-chapter-70","1987-my-era-chapter-68",713,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002F1987-my-era-cover.jpg"]