[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-rising-in-1979":3,"chapter-rising-in-1979-rising-in-1979-chapter-56":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Rising in 1979",{"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},2260764,4412,"Chapter 56: Is This a Blind Date?","rising-in-1979-chapter-56",56,"\u003Cp>Hit someone and run—so thrilling!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Biaozi felt immensely satisfied; he hadn’t had such an easy fight in a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after the joy faded, he started worrying—worried the guy might really be the principal’s son, worried he’d lose his job if they tracked him down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Wei Ming wasn’t worried at all; the principal was ancient history, and even then just a deputy. Right now, his grandma was at Beihang, and his grandpa was about to head south to help build Shenzhen University—what did he care?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But for now, don’t come to Tsinghua anymore. Better not even step out of Peking University’s gates.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, yeah, exactly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterward, they avoided the southwest gate of Tsinghua and took the west gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back at the dorm, Biaozi kept resting—he was still on sick leave, but that didn’t stop him from bullying kids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming kept writing children’s mythological stories, still finding his own Eggborn more adorable—he poured every ounce of cuteness, kindness, and righteousness into the little guy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, “kawaii” didn’t exist; in Wei Ming’s stories, even villains had charm—it was a fairy tale world, no need to portray pure evil and taint children’s hearts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If kids wanted to know more, they could wait until they grew up and read Wei Ming’s works—Wei’s stories were better off being cheerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even for the tragic ending of Yuan Gong in the original, Wei Ming planned to give Eggborn a glimmer of hope, to avoid dragging it all the way down into despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, Wei Ming kept working and creating—during work hours he’d draft mentally, then write after hours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he returned to the south gate in the afternoon, before even going downstairs, he saw Mei Wenhua looking utterly dejected and lifeless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming frowned: “I didn’t have lunch with Qingqing today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t ride your little pigeon either!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wenhua sighed: “Not the pigeon—the swallow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Swallow?” Wei Ming froze, then burst out excitedly, “The swallow’s here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rushed downstairs and saw Biaozi staring dreamily at a bag of apples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where’s the swallow?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Biaozi burst into song: “Little swallow, dressed in flowers, comes here every spring. I ask the swallow why she comes—she says, Biaozi here is the coolest!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming leaned against the wall and vomited out his breakfast and lunch, making room for dinner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sadly, Wei Ming didn’t get to see the swallow—she’d already flown off, leaving only a bag of lopsided, bruised apples. But Biaozi treasured them, vowing not to eat a single one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So now they’ve gone from ugly apples to rotten apples,” Wei Ming muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Biaozi ignored him. Soon after, Mei Wenhua came down too, still wearing that look of unbearable suffering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d never envied Biaozi before—what was a swallow? A martial arts girl—he figured she was just a male version of Biaozi, nothing compared to his Qingqing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But seeing her today—damn, she was pretty!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least in looks, she surpassed Qingqing. More importantly, that martial arts woman’s aura was simply refreshing—so spirited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could Biaozi possibly be worthy of a woman like that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Mei Wenhua’s envious, jealous gaze, Zhao Debiao tore off his bandage: “No good—I need to improve. I need to become worthy of the swallow. Ming, how did you get your permanent position again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted an official position first—temporary staff couldn’t possibly match up to a national champion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wenhua snorted: “Heroically saving a child, plus fame in the literary world—can you do that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Mei was right—if Wei Ming had relied on just one thing, he probably wouldn’t have gotten permanent status so fast. But with both factors combined, it was almost impossible not to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Biaozi groaned: “I can’t write, so I’ll just save more kids.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wenhua: “That makes perfect sense—but where are you going to find so many chances to be heroic?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Biaozi sighed deeply: “Yeah… where do I even look?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, Biaozi returned to his post.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d used to slouch through work, but after that night’s vow, he stood like a spear, eyes bulging like copper bells, staring at everyone like a criminal or spy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he spotted a unfamiliar face pushing a brand-new Phoenix bicycle, a gold watch gleaming on his wrist—clearly expensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop! Who are you? Are you from our school?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Rulong shrank back: “Big brother, I’m not from Peking University—I’m from the Film Academy. I’m looking for someone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Debiao scrutinized Liu Rulong: “What could someone from the Film Academy possibly be looking for here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s your colleague—Wei Ming.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Debiao instantly switched from suspicious to friendly: “Oh! Looking for Ming? You’re his friend?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, best buddies. Is he working now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yep. Lately he’s been hiding out at Snow’s Tomb for peace—you can find him there.” Then Biaozi enthusiastically gave directions to Snow’s Tomb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From his attitude, Liu Rulong knew Ah Ming was well-respected on campus. But Wei Ming wasn’t at Snow’s Tomb—he was helping move books in the library.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professor You Guoen, a literary historian and expert on the Chuci, had passed away last year. Recently, his family donated nearly ten thousand volumes to the Chinese Department, and Wei Ming and others were helping transport them into the library.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many of these books were valuable ancient texts, mostly related to the Chuci. Wei Ming himself had little interest in the Chuci—he figured he wouldn’t understand most of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Professor Jin Kaicheng, Professor Qu’s husband, also studied the Chuci and had once served as Professor You’s assistant in his youth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Jin had taken charge of receiving the books and organizing them with his students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of Wei Ming’s connection to Professor Qu, Jin treated him like an old friend, chatting freely—making the other guards envious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And a little pitying too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Wei Ming was famous, Jin not only chatted with him but deliberately tested his knowledge of the Chuci.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming scratched his head: “I don’t know anything about the Chuci—I just know Li Sao was written by Qu Yuan, and he also wrote Nine Songs, Tianwen, and Nine Chapters. His student Song Yu wrote Nine Debates.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are the titles of the Nine Songs?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Donghuang Taiyi, Yunzhongjun, Xiangjun, Xiang Lady, Shangui…” Wei Ming listed them one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professor Jin was surprised: “You know quite a bit!” This wasn’t high school Chinese textbook stuff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fellow guards: “…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming: Thanks to Guo Moruo—he often watched Guo’s play “Qu Yuan” at the People’s Art Theatre, and absorbed some basic facts about Qu Yuan by osmosis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professor Jin assumed Wei Ming was genuinely interested in the Chuci and advised: “The Chuci is beautiful and full of local myths and legends—it might help your writing. If you have free time, you should read some.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professor Jin added: “You’re welcome to attend my class if you’re free.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming nodded and promised he’d come next time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At lunch, Wei Ming headed to the No. 1 Dining Hall as usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhenyun, who’s treating me today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Zhenyun sighed: “Wei, all the female editors in the editorial office have already taken turns.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Already? So fast?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Zhenyun chuckled: “But if you ask, I’m sure the girls in our class would be happy to treat you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming shook his head: “I don’t accept favors without earning them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He accepted meals only because “Weiming Lake” had published his poems for free.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he firmly bid farewell to Liu Zhenyun and went to the staff dining hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There he ran into Biaozi and Ah Long and others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Biaozi grinned: “Ming, your friend came looking for you, couldn’t find you, so we brought him to eat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he whispered to Wei Ming: “Your friend’s loaded—he bought every guard at the south gate a milk ice pop!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s the confidence of wealth—Wei Ming still didn’t have that kind of cash power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah Long had fully bonded with Wei Ming’s coworkers—he welcomed him to sit down, told him not to be shy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming: Who am I? Where am I?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After lunch, Wei Ming told him: “I’ve got two more hours before I’m off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No problem—go about your work. I’ll hang out in the library. When you’re done, come pick me up. Oh, by the way,” Liu Rulong handed Wei Ming a notebook, “this is my latest work—there’s a photo of you in it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The photo was one of the two taken by Zhang Yimou—no wonder he was Old Movie—though he’d only been studying for a year, and though they were black-and-white, they already showed signs of a master’s touch, perfectly capturing Wei Ming’s charm. Too bad they weren’t front-facing—he couldn’t use them as ID photos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah Long pointed to one photo: “This one won first place in their class—it’s displayed outside. Several girls from the Acting Department have been asking about you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Ah Long’s work—he’d drawn over thirty sequential panels of the Monkey King wreaking havoc in heaven, incredibly detailed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming flipped through them slowly, and saw a brief animation—Ah Long’s month-long effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Wei Ming pulled out his own copy of “The Legend of the Heavenly Book” outline and character designs, told him to take a look in the library, and they’d chat later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two hours later, as Wei Ming headed to the library to find Ah Long, he saw Qiao Feng approaching, accompanied by Zhao Debiao and Mei Wenhua.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fengge said: “Xiao Ming, I was just going to tell you—my wife’s unit has a girl. She got a radio voucher and wants to buy a tape recorder, so she’s selling her old radio. It’s barely used, nine-tenths new. Interested?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes! Thanks, Fengge, thanks, sister-in-law—but how much?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiao Feng: “You’re going into town to buy a watch on the fourth, right? I’ll tell my wife—we’ll arrange a meeting spot. You two can meet alone that day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wenhua frowned: “Fengge, you’re setting him up on a blind date!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Biaozi rubbed his chin: “Yeah, this really does look like a blind date.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiao Feng laughed helplessly: “What are you talking about? I’d have to call her ‘sister’!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1668,"2026-06-19T16:30:57.111Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","24f2eb71def05739dfbe21762f087f3c64bad2838421537b735ce34f4ab96d79","rising-in-1979-chapter-57","rising-in-1979-chapter-55",509,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frising-in-1979-cover.jpg"]