[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-1987-my-era":3,"chapter-1987-my-era-1987-my-era-chapter-77":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},2259237,4409,"Chapter 77: Not Enemies, But Fate: Forcefully Showing Up (Subscription Requested)","1987-my-era-chapter-77",77,"\u003Cp>“Zhong Lan, go buy dinner ingredients.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, we’re almost out of vegetables, so I came out to buy some.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The seafood today is great—I bought two pounds of prawns, you should go take a look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carrying her basket of vegetables, Zhong Lan forced a smile to greet her alley neighbors despite her gloomy mood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, there was more than enough food at home—so much that it might not all be finished by tomorrow; she had come out for reasons far beyond shopping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she hadn’t yet decided how to confront the issue between Zijin and Li Heng, she had taken her sister-in-law’s advice to heart: why not first see what kind of book “Alive” really was?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even deep inside, she still strongly rejected Li Heng and refused to consider letting Zijin be with that boy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after countless battles with her daughter over the past half-year, she had learned one truth: some things cannot be suppressed by force—the harder you push, the harder they rebound; strategy and method are needed. If there’s even a chance things might spiral out of control, learning more about Li Heng is just prudent preparation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following her neighbor’s suggestion, Zhong Lan first bought fresh prawns at the market, some clams for soup, and a couple of other vegetables.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On her way back, she deliberately detoured to the newsstand near the alley entrance and walked over to ask: “Boss, I’d like the latest issue of ‘Shouhuo’ magazine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boss, busy serving other customers, replied offhandedly: “‘Shouhuo’ is sold out—take a look at something else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lan was surprised: “Sold out? Already?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boss said: “Fast? It’s not fast enough. You’re here because of ‘Alive,’ aren’t you? Today, everyone was rushing to buy it—I sold out by noon. Afternoon after afternoon, people like you keep asking, but I can’t restock. There’s nothing I can do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lan was stunned: “Alive” had become a bestseller exactly as her father predicted—thanks to the huge hype around “royalties” and “Master Ba”—and was already sold out on day one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She asked: “Will you have any tomorrow morning?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boss shook his head: “Hard to say. I’ll have to hustle tonight to get some in. Come early tomorrow and check.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lan sighed, then visited two more newsstands—same result: sold out, all sold out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, she didn’t leave empty-handed: seeing that the Beijing Evening News’ front page carried a review of “Alive,” she bought a copy on impulse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She reasoned: any review on the front page of the Beijing Evening News must come from a seasoned critic. Even without reading the book, she could gauge its quality from the opinions of these respected voices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she returned home, Zhong Lan immediately noticed a new telephone being installed—white, identical in model to the old one. If she hadn’t smashed the previous one herself, she’d have thought it was the same phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Staring at the white landline, Chen Zijin grew more puzzled: had her mother really conceded?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was like the sun rising in the west—something that shouldn’t happen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it have something to do with the novel “Alive”?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just now, her sister-in-law had called her mother into the bedroom—was that deliberately to avoid her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could the author “December” really be Li Heng?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Combining Song Yu’s hint, she had no choice but to refocus her suspicions on Li Heng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it really was him—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zijin’s expression suddenly brightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was eager to imagine how her mother and three aunts would react when they met Li Heng—she wouldn’t lift a finger to smooth things over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The respect he earned through his own talent, the glory he won with his own ability—why should she help those who had ever mistreated him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this very moment, boundless anticipation surged within her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced at the wall clock—it was still early; Song Yu probably hadn’t gone to school yet. Chen Zijin suddenly had a way to test whether “December” was Li Heng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was to call Song Yu again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And she would make the call right in front of her mother and sister-in-law!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, Chen Zijin, accustomed to her mother’s scolding, was ready to risk it: if she was wrong, the phone would just get smashed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking this, she asked the technician: “How much longer until the phone’s ready?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Almost done,” the technician replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost done—indeed, almost done. Less than three minutes later, the technician left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Glancing at her sister-in-law seated to her right, then at her mother emerging from the kitchen, Chen Zijin forced down her nervousness, picked up the landline, lifted the receiver with her left hand, and rapidly dialed the numbers with her right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two hours ago, her sister and mother nearly came to blows over the phone—now she dared to call again? Chen Zitong was startled and asked urgently: “Sister, who are you calling?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zijin replied calmly: “Song Yu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment “Song Yu” was spoken, the living room fell into eerie silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xiaomi, who had been drinking tea, put her cup down and, without a word, exchanged a glance with her sister-in-law before standing up and saying:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m going outside to buy something—Zitong, come with me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zitong shook her head vigorously. “I’m not going. Mom and sister are going to fight again—I’ve got to break it up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lan, hearing this, was furious. She shot her youngest daughter a glare, then quietly left the main room and went outside to the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching her mother and sister-in-law flee at the sound of a single phone call, Chen Zitong, half-understanding, asked her grandfather: “Grandpa, answer me one question—I’ll brew you tea for a whole week.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Laoyezi chuckled softly, glanced at his clever eldest granddaughter, then picked up his book and walked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grandpa, where are you going?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The rain’s stopped—I’m going out for some fresh air.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, wait for me!” Chen Zitong was shooed away by her sister’s glare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is it really him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her mother’s and sister-in-law’s behavior was clear proof her suspicion was right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dong. Dong. Dong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hello?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After three rings, a middle-aged woman’s voice answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good afternoon, Auntie. This is Chen Zijin. Is Song Yu there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was desperate for the truth and had no patience for pleasantries with Jiang Yue—she cut straight to the point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yu Bao, it’s a call from Zijin,” Jiang Yue said, placing the receiver down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yu, who was having dinner with her family, was startled—her first thought: had something happened to Chen Zijin?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without even wiping her hands, she snatched up the receiver and asked anxiously: “Zijin, are you okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was, but now I’m fine,” Chen Zijin’s tone was far calmer than two hours ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yu relaxed. “Did you call for something?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answer was moments away—was she dreading it? Or hoping for it? Chen Zijin took a deep breath and asked bluntly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Song Yu—is ‘December’ him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yu hadn’t expected this—and hadn’t expected Zijin to figure it out so fast. After a two-second pause, she said: “Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One word: “Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flood of overwhelming joy descended upon her. In that instant, Chen Zijin’s eyes, her face, every cell, every strand of hair, all smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afraid she’d misheard, she rushed to confirm: “Really him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across the phone line, Song Yu could feel her joy and excitement. “Yes, definitely—he told me himself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The joy was so great that Chen Zijin automatically ignored the implication behind “he told me himself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She exclaimed: “Thank you, Song Yu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yu smiled and replied: “No need. I hope this news helps you turn things around.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Chen Zijin grew slightly calmer. She thought for a moment and said: “Give him my home phone number. If you can, ask him to call me around seven tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yu glanced at the wall clock and agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The call was short—Chen Zijin, too excited, chose brevity to avoid appearing foolish in front of Song Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, she was also unconsciously avoiding her own weakness: Song Yu was so beautiful—she might one day become her rival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, she had trusted Song Yu completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even knowing Li Heng had secretly fallen for her, she was certain Song Yu’s nature meant no immediate threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, that trust had halved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Li Heng had changed. His status would shift daily; his identity as a writer would crown him with dazzling glory, making him far more attractive to women. Who knew when Song Yu might be won over?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The call was brief. Song Shi and Jiang Yue only heard their daughter say “him, him, him” before the line went dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As always, they never inquired about their daughter’s private friendships—it was respect, and trust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing dinner in another seven or eight minutes, Song Yu set down her chopsticks and said: “Mom, Dad, I’m heading back to school.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, be careful on the way,” Jiang Yue walked her to the door herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shaoshi Normal College was extremely close to No. 1 High School—just a few steps away. During the day, the couple felt reassured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at night—even in the evening—they never let her walk alone. Her beauty was too striking; they were used to picking her up and dropping her off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as she entered the school gate, Song Yu spotted Li Heng—he was playing basketball with Zhang Zhiyong, Liu Li, and Zou Ai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lao Heng, look behind you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Li Heng was about to shoot, Zou Ai suddenly warned him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?” he asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t ask—just look,” Zou Ai snatched the ball and gave him a sly glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng turned—and his gaze met Song Yu’s as she approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exquisitely beautiful, elegant as an orchid, her eyes clear and serene, radiating quiet light—she was perfect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just moments ago, Li Heng had been flushed with the heat of exercise; now, seeing the woman he adored, he felt as if he’d drunk mint tea—coolness washed over him, his heart suddenly light and calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Song Yu, you’re looking for me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yu didn’t speak for a moment, waiting until the group behind her had passed before saying:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just spoke with Zijin. She told you to call this number at seven.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, she handed him a note she had written at home, bearing the landline number of the Chen household.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng eagerly opened the note, read it three times, then looked up and asked: “Is she alright?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, she seemed to have run into trouble, but now she seems fine again—I can’t be sure. I can’t explain it well. Why don’t you ask her yourself later?” Song Yu thought for a moment and replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, thank you,” Li Heng said gratefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yu smiled prettily, then walked past him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t ask him where he planned to make the call—even though class had already started, even though the school gate was closed, there was still the English teacher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holding the note, Li Heng felt as if he held a long-lost sensation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He forgot to play basketball; no matter how loudly the group behind him shouted and yelled, nothing could stop him—he sprinted straight back to the dormitory, showered, brushed his teeth, changed clothes, washed his laundry, and when he was thoroughly refreshed, he began waiting for the sacred moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the minute hand reached 6:50, Li Heng arrived precisely at the English teacher’s door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Knock knock knock!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knocking echoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who is it?” came a cold voice from inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Teacher, it’s me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wooden door creaked open halfway, revealing the English teacher in a red robe, her eyebrows raised in surprise: “Class started twenty minutes ago—why aren’t you in class?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng said: “Teacher, I need to make a phone call.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A magazine publisher?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No—to call Chen Zijin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Beijing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s a long-distance call—it’s expensive. Did you bring money?” The English teacher scanned him up and down, extending her hand for payment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng’s eyelid twitched. “I’ll pay after I finish the call.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the English teacher smirked. “So you expect me to listen in?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng refused: “No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The English teacher’s expression instantly turned cold. “If I’m not beside you to time it, how will I know how long you talked? Pay a deposit first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng grumbled, “You—you’ve changed, Teacher!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh! Who doesn’t change? You’ve changed too—you’ve gotten rich, and more affectionate.” The English teacher’s face brimmed with mockery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng was speechless. “Fine. How much? Name your price.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How much do you have?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Twenty-eight. No, fifteen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Give me all twenty-eight. I’ll go visit your homeroom teacher’s office. When you’re done, pop your head out—remember to pop out. I need to time it. Overpay and I’ll refund you; underpay and you’ll owe me.” The English teacher showed no mercy, stripping every cent from him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, I’ll change clothes.” The door slammed shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two minutes later, Wang Run walked out, shaking her long hair, smiling cheerfully, leaving behind a captivating silhouette.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Weird. Maybe she’s sick, Li Heng muttered, pushing the door open and stepping inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beijing, Chen household.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ladies and gentlemen, good evening. Today is February 22, 1987, the twenty-ninth day of the first lunar month, Sunday. Welcome to the News Broadcast.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a political family, the Chens had an unshakable habit: watching the News Broadcast. Whether useful or not, this habit formed during their lowest days—and even now, in prosperity, they kept it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ding ling ling. Ding ling ling.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ding ling ling. Ding ling ling.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the landline on the coffee table rang out unexpectedly—loud, sharp, shattering the silence and disrupting everyone’s focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone in the Chen household—Chen Gaoyuan, Zhong Lan, Chen Laoyezi, Chen Xiaomi, Chen Zitong, and the visiting second aunt and second uncle—automatically turned their eyes to the white landline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a two-second pause, Chen Xiaomi, the closest to the phone, reached out and picked up the receiver:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hello? Who’s calling?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Request monthly tickets! Request subscriptions! Another 10,600 characters added—March is the best month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2317,"2026-06-19T15:27:33.982Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","6f42fd291575f89fbcc9227f3cbaf25251e609302e32658b230feb24ce1f8943","1987-my-era-chapter-78","1987-my-era-chapter-76",713,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002F1987-my-era-cover.jpg"]