[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-1987-my-era":3,"chapter-1987-my-era-1987-my-era-chapter-95":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},2259255,4409,"Chapter 95: Achieving Fame and Glory, Erasing Past Humiliation (Request Subscription!)","1987-my-era-chapter-95",95,"\u003Cp>Mother was insulted all afternoon?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or was it the several sisters-in-law from the Chen family ganging up on her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, Li Heng tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. To be honest, his biological mother in his past life had never mentioned this to him—he’d been completely in the dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he never got a chance to rise in this life, would he remain as ignorant as he had been in his past life?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made him deeply uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Knock, knock, knock!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he lay awake, a knock came at the door, followed by a voice calling: “Man Zai, are you asleep?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not yet, the door isn’t locked—come in, Mom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng sat up halfway, leaning against the wooden wall and looking toward the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a creak, the wooden door opened, and Tian Rune appeared inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She immediately glanced at the still-lit kerosene lamp and said gently, “I just came back from checking the field water with your father. I saw the light upstairs and worried you’d forgotten to cover it—so I came up to check.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, all houses were wooden, and if kerosene lamps weren’t promptly smothered, fires could easily break out—lighter cases burned down houses, heavier ones destroyed entire families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such fires caused by carelessness were common in the countryside, happening several times a year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially on New Year’s Day in 1985, someone from Production Team Eighteen accidentally set off firecrackers that landed in a pile of firewood; that night, thirteen wooden houses burned down, two elderly people and one child died, countless pigs, cattle, sheep, and grain were lost, and the entire village and neighboring villagers rushed out with buckets and basins to fight the flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, the fire was too fierce—even trees twenty meters away caught fire from the heat, making it impossible for anyone to approach; they could only watch helplessly as the flames devoured everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many people cried, their eyes filled with tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although afterward, some superstitious elders claimed it was the Fire Deity sending heavenly fire to punish those who disrespected him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this painful lesson had only passed two years; now everyone was extremely sensitive to the word “fire,” which was why Tian Rune had come up even though she didn’t know if her son was asleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng asked: “Didn’t you already check the water? Why check again in the middle of the night? Afraid someone would steal it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Rune nodded. “Good thing I went with your dad—the fields still weren’t wet; the water had already been dug away by people from the village below. This is the season when rice is pregnant—it can’t go without water.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Li Heng had settled in a big city in his past life, he’d lived in the countryside for years—he understood this principle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sighed: being a farmer was hard. Even the field water had to be fought over with scheming and exhaustion, and after all the toil, they earned barely any money—most of it went to agricultural taxes, beyond basic grain rations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After observing her son, Tian Rune sat on the edge of the bed and asked gently, “Something on your mind? Can’t sleep?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng forced a smile and shook his head. “No, I’m just excited—I haven’t been home in a long time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Rune wasn’t a real country woman—this excuse wouldn’t fool her. After a moment’s pause, she asked: “Is it because of Chen Zijin?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She guessed right. Li Heng stopped hiding and nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Rune asked: “Tell me, Mom—do you still like Chen Zijin?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could he not?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his past life, Chen Zijin had been kind to him, always sticking by his side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng followed his heart: “I do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Rune fell silent, then finally spoke her mind: “Actually, I also liked that girl—beautiful, tall, well-behaved, sensible, and sweet-tongued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the whole Chen family looks down on us. Your father and I aren’t capable enough to help you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She added: “Except Gao Xu—he’s a good man. He’s been caught in the middle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng comforted her: “Mom, don’t say that. My matter with Chen Zijin—I’ll handle it myself. Don’t worry so much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of how her son had shocked her and Jianguo before, Tian Rune felt boundless pride, then continued:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you go to Jingcheng this summer and meet Zijin, pass along my and your father’s greetings. I may not get along with Zhong Lan and the others, and we probably won’t sit at the same table again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But we must judge things fairly and separate people. Our Li family still owes this girl an apology. She’s been wronged.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng murmured: “Mm, okay, I understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worried her son’s emotional burden might affect his studies, Tian Rune dropped the subject and changed topics: “How’s school?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng said: “Fine. Teachers and classmates all get along well. Haven’t I gained two pounds? That’s proof.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Rune studied him, then smiled warmly: “Still too thin. You can gain more—if you lift your shirt and don’t see ribs anymore, that’s good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng blinked and corrected: “Ribs. Ribs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Rune smiled gently: “Alright, ribs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she switched topics: “Did you secretly give money to your second sister?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng denied it outright: “No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Rune looked into his eyes, then stood after a long moment: “It’s late. Go to sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tomorrow morning, go visit your Second Uncle. Since your book’s prototype is based on him, bring him some sugar and wine—he loves those two things.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, I was already planning to,” Li Heng said—not out of flattery, but sincerely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just before reaching the door, she stopped and turned back to her son:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lately, I had a dream—I saw your Second Uncle pass away, and your Grand Uncle’s branch returned to attend the funeral.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng’s grandfather had three elder brothers. The eldest had fled to Xiangjiang before the founding of New China.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second uncle had stayed in the village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third uncle—Li Heng’s grandfather—had joined the Eighth Route Army with Chen Laoyezi, but his luck wasn’t as strong as Chen’s; he died during the Civil War.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, sixteen men from the village had gone together; only Chen Laoyezi and another, Sun Daye, survived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Sun Daye had left the army early after losing his left hand and one eye in the first year of the Korean War.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng asked curiously: “Have you heard anything from Grand Uncle’s branch?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Rune had never met them. She shook her head: “Maybe I heard too much from your grandma and just dreamed it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mentioning Grandma, Li Heng asked: “When will Grandma come back from Second Aunt’s?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had two aunts. The eldest had married into Wei Jia Duan, a village under the former town, about twenty miles away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second aunt had married farther away—in Loushi’s Lengshuijiang; it took three transfers and a full day to get there from Shangwan Village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Rune said: “I got a letter from your second aunt—she plans to return before the Ghost Festival to pay respects to our ancestors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also, she’s eager to hear your college entrance exam results—she might even come earlier.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, after the exam, I’ll go pick her up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need. Your second aunt said she’ll bring her herself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After some small talk, Tian Rune left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no sooner had she gone than Li Lan, hidden behind the black coffin, pushed the door open again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng jumped, annoyed: “Why are you hiding behind the coffin in the middle of the night? I didn’t betray you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His “betrayal” referred to giving her 200 yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lan leaned against the doorframe, glancing sideways at him: “What’s there to fear about a coffin? Only a weakling like you fears dead things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you give me another fifty, I’ll sleep on top of the coffin tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He believed her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing his sister, if the money was right, she wouldn’t hesitate to sleep on the coffin—or even spend the night in the graveyard behind the hill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked up and asked: “You need money again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lan examined her nails: “I just spent over twenty on clothes. I’m not short.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng frowned: “If you’re not short on cash and I didn’t betray you, why are you here? It’s this late—why aren’t you sleeping?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lan dropped a bombshell: “Your English teacher’s got a nice figure and a sexy voice. You two are so intimate—did you sleep with her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unbelievable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng was stunned: “Are you feverish? If not, shut up and go to sleep!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lan instinctively raised her fist: “You dare yell at me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng sat still: “What? Still want to hit me? Go ahead—try it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gaze swept over him, then slowly lowered her fist. She threw out another question:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who’s Song Yu? Is she the one on your school’s Honor Wall? Not a coincidence, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng lifted his eyelids slightly, saying nothing—waiting to see what she was up to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his silence, Li Lan wore a sly, seductive smile: “Back in January, you talked in your sleep for three nights straight—calling out her name every time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng was confused. January? That was right after he’d been reborn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Waiting, but she didn’t reveal her true intent. He pulled the blanket up: “I’m going to sleep. You should rest too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lan said: “I’m going to talk to Yang Yingwen and Duxinxian tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng said: “Just say it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lan said: “Fine. I hate the Chen family. I’d love to tear Zhong Lan to pieces and feed her to dogs. Why don’t you try chasing Song Yu? I know you won’t succeed—but what if you get lucky? I’ll never accept Chen Zijin as my sister-in-law.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng retorted: “Even if Song Yu crushes you in every way—she’s the pinnacle of womanhood—I’m still a writer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lan, who usually thought she was the top of the world, surprisingly didn’t deny Song Yu was prettier: “She doesn’t know you and Chen Zijin slept together yet. Want me to tell her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng glanced at her, then rolled over and went to sleep—smothering the kerosene lamp as he did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lan’s voice came from the darkness: “Your English teacher said Chen Xiaomi came looking for you, wanted to be your editor. You should’ve given her the novel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Imagine: turning an enemy into a lovesick girl without even trying—making her yearn for you, afraid to confess, forever craving you… wouldn’t that be satisfying?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng was speechless, then laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no doubt about his sister’s vengeful nature. If she were a man, with her looks and twisted mind, Chen Xiaomi would be in real danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—more than Chen Xiaomi. Any girl who crossed her was in danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng said: “Enough. Stop talking nonsense. It’s all empty talk. Close the door—I’m really sleeping.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lan stopped teasing him: “Sleep. If you meet Chen Xiaomi in Jingcheng this summer, pass on a message for me—I’m going to beat her up someday.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng smiled: “How am I supposed to deliver that? Should I just say: ‘My sister says she’s going to beat you up—watch out’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lan closed the door, and outside came the voice: “Your typing’s got feeling—no wonder you eat with a pen. Nice!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words “nice” had barely faded when he heard hands scraping against the coffin lid—his skin crawled instantly. This sister was up to her old tricks again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t the first time. Whenever they quarreled, he’d always hear hands scraping the coffin lid at night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh. Swoosh. Swoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound was endless, eerie, cold—chilling to the ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng sighed and opened the door, shouting at her: “You’re an adult now—can you please just calm down?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lan only laughed, then sauntered off to the opposite room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Downstairs bedroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After returning from checking the fields, the couple couldn’t sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jianguo leaned close to the kerosene lamp, reading the magazine *Harvest* his son had bought—specifically the story “To Live.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more he read, the more he felt it; the more he read, the more stunned he became; the more he read, the more convinced he was that his son was gifted beyond measure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Rune sat beside him, flipping through several newspapers again, then suddenly asked: “Is there really a shadow of Second Uncle in the book?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jianguo fell silent for a long while, then spoke: “Yes. Many parts I’ve witnessed with my own eyes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Tian Rune’s tense mood eased slightly, and she added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Manny’s English teacher is surnamed Wang. I’ve never met her, but her voice on the phone was quite pleasant. I’ve got her number—I want to call her tomorrow morning in town.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jianguo looked up. “Still don’t trust it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Rune stood up, paced twice around the room, and said, “It’s not that I don’t trust—it’s just that this surprise is too big. If I don’t confirm it, my heart won’t settle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jianguo fell silent for a moment, then said: “You should call. I’ll go with you tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They say no gold nest or silver nest compares to your own doghole, but for some reason, after talking with his mother, Li Heng felt like he’d developed insomnia—or rather, extreme sleepiness—by the second half of the night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he woke again, it was already past eight in the morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before he’d fully opened his eyes, he already heard loud commotion downstairs—many people had come to the house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, Li Lan, your big sister says your little brother’s become a big writer and earned 3,800 yuan from one book—is that true?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Lan, where are your parents? Gone to hide? With news this big, they wouldn’t dare show up, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lanzi, is your little brother home? Call him out to chat—I really want to know how his brain’s built to write books and earn so much money!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Lan, you’ve got four pigs. With such good news, aren’t you going to slaughter one to celebrate?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Unbelievable! Our front town’s produced generals, district officials, county magistrates, even Wei Yuan—but a big writer? First time ever! We absolutely must slaughter a pig and celebrate! Hey! Li Jianguo, come out! Hey! Tian Rune, come out!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Heng! Li Heng! Are you still asleep? Get down here—the sun’s on your butt!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Early that morning, over thirty households at the crossroads skipped breakfast entirely and rushed to Old Li’s house to hear the news and confirm it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, some felt heartbroken, unable to accept the sudden reversal—how could the Li family, once fallen into ruin, their phoenix turned to chicken, now rise again as if they were no different from ordinary folk?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What justice is this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why does heaven favor only the Li family?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few even, consumed by jealousy, desperately hoped Li Lan would step forward and say “No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, most people, though sour inside, were mostly just here to watch the spectacle, to hear the gossip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the crowd shouted and called out, soon everyone from nearby production teams was stirred and came over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A little later, half the village arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some had come to cut cow fodder or head to the fields, but upon hearing that Upper Bay Village had produced a big writer—oh! They dropped their hoes, forgot their fodder. This was a rare spectacle, a wonder—must go see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>See just how big this big writer really was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could one book earn 3,800 yuan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At today’s average wage of 1.5 yuan per day for laborers, you’d have to work day and night for seven years—many people never earned that much in a lifetime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some were envious, some admiring, some jealous—each carrying their own complex feelings, the crowd outside Old Li’s house grew thicker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In moments, the crossroads was packed with black heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this era, there was little entertainment—even a new outfit could spark days of gossip. How much more so for an event this monumental?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Absolutely impossible to ignore!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any ripple drew them all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Must go see, must join the crowd, must hear the first-hand news to gossip about elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it had nothing to do with them, boasting about it in the neighboring villages, being the center of attention—how glorious!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many people never left Front Town in their lives—they lived for these moments of glory, to feel important, to prove they existed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The very aunt who had started the rumor about Li Heng and Chen Zijin sleeping together now hid quietly among the crowd, holding a rice bowl, eating while straining to listen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she dared not get too close to the Li family gate—she’d been terrified of Li Lan since January, and now just seeing her made her flinch, instinctively avoiding the spotlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But hiding did no good—everyone in Upper Bay Village knew about the feud between Aunt Fat and the Li family’s second daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone knew she’d been whispering slander about the Li family behind their backs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many had given her a nickname: “Slippery Eel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Man Wu, the village’s notorious joker, spotted her and immediately shouted: “Aunt Fat, what are you doing here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your once-poor Li family boy’s now soared to fame—he’s a big writer! What do you think of that? Can your three-inch-tongue still stop it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd erupted in laughter—they loved Old Man Wu’s absurd comedy, it was hilarious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aunt Fat wanted to stubbornly retort, “Everyone knows Li Yan’s not bright—this is probably fake news!” But when she met Li Lan’s gaze, she shuddered and lowered her head, silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lan was no pushover. Seizing such a perfect chance, she couldn’t miss it—she sneered: “Tsk tsk, isn’t that Aunt Fat? Thanks so much for caring about our Li family’s affairs!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please go tell everyone outside: Li family’s youngest son, Li Heng, is now a writer—‘To Live’ is his book. Tell families still looking for brides to hide their daughters—he’s become even more charming, even more dangerous!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lan had slapped her face hard—worse, she didn’t shy from the scandal; she weaponized it to slap back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd roared with laughter again, joining in the teasing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Lan, where’s your brother? Call him out—I’ve got a niece studying at a vocational school, graduating this year, already lined up for the State Tax Bureau. Family connections are all set—ask your brother if he’s interested?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh! Teacher Youwen, you’ve got a sharp mind—come here to play matchmaker? Afraid of the rumors about Li Heng and the Chen girl?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Youwen smiled. “Pfft! That’s ancient history. Who among the young doesn’t have a crush? We’ve all been there—understand. I think Li Heng and my niece are perfectly matched.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone shouted: “Your niece is from Jinshi Town next door—you’re hoarding the good water for your own field! Why introduce a talent like Li Heng elsewhere? You should start with your own village!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Youwen lifted his chin. “But we don’t have anyone suitable in our village, do we?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, someone spotted Aunt Fat trying to slip away, her face blotchy with shame—suddenly yelled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aunt Fat, don’t go! Li Lan’s got sunflower seeds and peanuts—grab a handful before you leave!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aunt Fat, this big event’s not complete without you! Don’t go—I’ll go fetch two low stools and we’ll chat!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d always mocked others—now she was the one being mocked—who could take it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could she take it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aunt Fat couldn’t take it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a crash, her bowl shattered. In a rage, she lost her balance and fell to the ground, nearly fainting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she gritted her teeth, rose up, ignored everything, turned, and sprinted home—slammed the door twice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaning back against it, she gasped for breath, chest heaving—she’d lived her whole life, never felt so humiliated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This feeling of being stabbed in the back—oh—it hurt more than when Li Lan had beaten her, more than when her husband and daughter-in-law had slept together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man lives for his face, a tree for its bark—her face had been slapped raw, stripped bare, gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, her son stepped out of the inner room—he’d been drunk last night, still half-asleep. Seeing his mother like this, he asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s going on outside? Why all the noise? Mom, what’s wrong? Why so angry?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Angry? How could I not be angry? You just drink, drink, drink all day! Your wife’s already sleeping in your father’s arms—and you’re still drinking!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why don’t you just die? Drink yourself to death! How did I give birth to such a useless waste?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her useless son, and thinking of the admirable Li Heng, Aunt Fat exploded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All her pent-up grievances surged like a flood—she grabbed a broom from the corner, weeping, and beat him relentlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he even understood why, he was struck from head to toe—he didn’t tolerate her. He snatched the broom, shoved her to the ground, and roared:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you crazy? You can’t control your husband, so why beat me? That slut was your idea to marry in the first place—I had no interest. Let whoever wants her have her. I’m not touching her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You damned bastard! You damned bastard! You dare hit me—you’ll die a miserable death!” Aunt Fat collapsed on the floor, more wronged than ever, hugged her head, and wailed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to the shouts downstairs, Li Heng was speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his eldest sister there last night, he should’ve foreseen this scene today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If his second sister was the type who kept secrets tight,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>then his eldest sister was the exact opposite—shallow-minded, couldn’t hold anything back—any news that passed her lips never survived the night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he guessed right, she’d gone home last night and bragged to everyone in the courtyard—hence today’s explosion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They say a mother knows her daughter best—but Tian Rune didn’t silence her; she let her eldest daughter spread the news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jianguo likely guessed his wife’s intent, and finally sighed, choosing to accept it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because over the past year, the Li family had endured too many negative rumors—so many that his son’s reputation had been utterly ruined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now they needed a massive, village-shaking event to help restore Li Heng’s name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Li Lan, haha!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She, who always protects her young, not only did not stop it, but had already instructed her eldest sister yesterday on what to do and how to spread the word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Please subscribe! Please vote for monthly tickets!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",3713,"2026-06-19T15:27:33.982Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","6c4a6e1302dfbb2ed0916f5b3d60cac05c676a576eda42a2fa8c64a8f76752d6","1987-my-era-chapter-96","1987-my-era-chapter-94",713,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002F1987-my-era-cover.jpg"]