[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-rising-in-1979":3,"chapter-rising-in-1979-rising-in-1979-chapter-95":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},2260803,4412,"Chapter 95: The Children","rising-in-1979-chapter-95",95,"\u003Cp>On a long bench, Wei Ming and Melinda sat side by side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She told Wei Ming first: “I studied Chinese for two years in Britain and another two at Peking University, but that’s only four years total. I understood your story, and I found it quite interesting—Yuan Gong is truly Prometheus, stealing fire for humanity!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming: But\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I couldn’t translate it—I’d be utterly helpless. Many parts confuse me even now; I can only guess. If you want this novel to break into the international children’s market, you need a translator fluent in both East and West.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming asked: “Do you think an Eastern myth like this has a market abroad?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe, but not a big one. Even ‘The Monkey King’ and ‘The Monkey’s Rebellion in Heaven’ aren’t widely known overseas, and Chinese-style magic might be incomprehensible unless directly translated as ‘magic.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming nodded sadly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Melinda patted Wei Ming’s shoulder: “Don’t lose heart. You’re the most gifted writer I’ve ever met—you write novels, poetry, fairy tales—all of it. It’s incredible. And I’ve already fallen for Dan Sheng. Of course, the illustrations helped a lot. Can I have the next draft? I can’t wait to read more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Okay…” Wei Ming was about to agree when he heard movement in the bushes behind them—he thought Feng Master’s Meier had come out again to flirt with the tomcat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when he turned, he saw Xiao Yan’s aunt leading Xi Zi and Le Le, both covering their mouths, hiding behind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Auntie, what are you doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Melinda exclaimed in surprise: “Oh! Dan Sheng!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xi Zi now looked seven-tenths like Le Le and seven-tenths like Dan Sheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiaoyan quickly apologized: “Oh dear, your colleague didn’t explain clearly—if I’d known you two were talking here, we wouldn’t have come over.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s fine, we’re done talking. By the way, Auntie, have you finished copying the original manuscript of ‘The Heavenly Book’? Can you return it to me? This foreign friend wants to see it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, of course!” she hurriedly agreed. “By the way, have you eaten? Come home for dinner—your uncle’s cooking right now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Melinda: “Great!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming: “I have to go to work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiaoyan smiled warmly: “Oh, you can come alone, dear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like in his past life, Auntie Xiao Yan still loved setting Wei Ming up with girls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Melinda knew it was forward, so she shook her head and declined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then keep talking. Come on, Xi Zi, stop staring.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Melinda waved goodbye to the three and whispered to Wei Ming: “Next time, bring your brother and sister out—I want to take photos with them. Especially your brother—he’s so beautiful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Another time. Let’s go—I’ve got work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after Lu Xiaoyan walked away did she suddenly remember why she’d come—oh no, she’d forgotten the main reason!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On her way past the South Gate, she left the letter in her bag along with a note.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back home, she immediately started teasing Wei Anping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Wei, I saw that foreign girl with Xiao Ming—oh my goodness, she’s stunning! Red hair, tall figure!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Calm down. Why are you acting like a gossiping old woman? Don’t make up stories.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who’s making it up? If we hadn’t been spotted, Xiao Ming and she would’ve kissed—right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xi Zi nodded and mimicked it to his sister, placing both hands on Le Le’s shoulders: “They were like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?!” Wei Anping lost his cool. “Lu Bian, sit down. Tell me everything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me tell you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After patrol ended, Wei Ming took Auntie Xiao Yan’s letters and note back to his room. Too late to read the letters—he only checked the note.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Ming: I’ve got good news—in just three days, we received thirty-six letters from Jingcheng—all addressed to you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming was surprised. So many?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The Toothless Tiger’ got about ten letters; ‘If I Were Wu Song’ got over twenty—mostly complaints about teachers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming hadn’t expected such a strong response to ‘The Heavenly Book’—was it because he’d ended the chapters so perfectly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He kept reading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Many kids in Xi Zi and Le Le’s class have read ‘The Heavenly Book.’ When they discussed it, Xi Zi said he knew what happened next—and instantly became the class leader. He bragged for ages, with Le Le playing the harmonica as accompaniment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One boasting, the other playing the harmonica—Wei Ming imagined the scene and chuckled in the dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also, because the editor-in-chief and publisher believe in ‘The Heavenly Book’s’ quality, the first print run is 280,000 copies—up from 230,000 last issue. Today, Xinhua Bookstore already reported sales are excellent; further print runs are likely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this good news, Wei Ming sat bolt upright from his deathbed and wrote more of ‘The Toothless Tiger’ script.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next evening, Lu Xiaoyan returned the original manuscript and Wei Ming gave her the ‘Tiger’ script.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow, you wrote this fast? Only a few days!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rewriting my own stuff is quick. Show it to Meiying Factory—approve it, and they’ll pay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiaoyan said: “Alright. Oh, one more thing—Meiying Factory sent word to delay ‘If I Were Wu Song.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re still debating what kind of film to make. Wait until they decide before writing the script.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Probably a difference between animated film and puppet film. In his past life, it was puppet; this life, he didn’t know. Wei Ming nodded—he could now focus fully on ‘Heroes Born in Youth.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Passing Shaoyuan, he met Xiao Cha and handed her the manuscript to deliver to Melinda.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come in and sit a while~” Xiao Cha teased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday, the international students’ office had asked her about this—she’d said she found no solid evidence, and she sensed they were just curious, gossiping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming: “Xiao Cha, don’t be like that. I’m a serious person.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Cha was furious—I’m a serious girl too!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She kicked out at him, but he was already far away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhan Jianying looked at the manuscript in her hand—and froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This… this is the Dan Sheng story my nephew’s been obsessed with lately?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But how does Wei Ming have the original?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhan Jianying’s older brother went to Renmin University High School with Chen Jiangong—they’re both over thirty. Her nephew is eight. Yesterday, over dinner, he made her retell the whole story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in her dorm, Melinda laughed: “What’s so strange? He wrote it—Wei Ming’s last name is Wei too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah…” Zhan Jianying stared blankly for a long moment. “Can you let me read it after you’re done? I want to impress my nephew!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, Wei Ming and Biaozi went to Shichahai Sports School again—first to return the books, second to watch live sparring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As luck would have it, the team returning from the Hangzhou competition arrived just then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming saw people getting off the bus and asked Biaozi: “Oh no, is Yanzi in there? Maybe we should just call it a day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Biaozi shrugged: “What’s the big deal? Besides, you’ve got Mei Sister now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Biaozi went up to greet familiar juniors—until he saw Yanzi and the man she was supporting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Biaozi’s eyes widened—he’s who?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming quickly grabbed Biaozi’s arm, glanced at Zhen Zidan, then smiled and greeted: “You must be Huang Jiaoyan. Your name’s worn a groove in my ear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s me,” said the elegant Huang Jiaoyan, amused. She studied the handsome, tall Wei Ming curiously. “You must be the legendary Wei Ming. You’re even more impressive in person.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Biaozi: “Stop flattering him! Explain yourself!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Flattery, flattery,” Wei Ming said. “What happened to this student? Is he injured?” He nudged Biaozi. “Help him out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, right!” Biaozi snapped to attention and took Zhen Zidan from Huang Jiaoyan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Jiaoyan said: “This junior hurt his leg during the match.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming thought: Is Universe Dan really this fragile now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Biaozi grabbed Li Lianjie, who was getting off the bus: “A junior’s injured and you don’t even help? Disrespectful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lianjie smiled awkwardly, too afraid to resist—Biaozi wasn’t his match in competition, but in a fight? Biaozi was half a head taller, twice as thick, maybe even double-boned. How could he win?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for why no guy helped him—he was American, always acted tough. Why should a Chinese guy carry him? Only Huang Jiaoyan had kindness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhen Zidan and Li Lianjie were both sixteen—hard to believe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming knew he’d trained at Shichahai, but not during this period—and clearly he didn’t get along well with his classmates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was American now, no shortage of money. Yet he couldn’t even manage relationships with these sharp-witted kids? His emotional intelligence was terrible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming joined the crowd: “What’s your name, friend?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m Zhen Zidan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder he didn’t talk much—he couldn’t speak Mandarin well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lei Hou…” Wei Ming switched to Cantonese. Zhen Zidan’s eyes lit up—he hadn’t heard his own language in over a year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Jiaoyan nudged Biaozi: “You came to see me? Why bring a friend?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Biaozi: “I came for you—but Xiao Wei has another purpose.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming froze: I’m ‘Xiao Wei’ now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Biaozi winked—give a girl some face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, yes, Biao Brother came specially for you. I’m here to see Coach Wu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Jiaoyan asked curiously: “Why do you want to see Coach Wu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming: “I want to watch Biao Brother spar with Coach Wu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Biao Brother panicked—maybe I should just go back to being ‘Biaozi’~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, Biaozi didn’t spar. A student match was going on, so Wei Ming watched briefly—disappointed. It was weak, mechanical, all routine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But real masters decide fights in one or two moves—it wouldn’t be flashy anyway. So better to imagine beyond the forms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That day, Wei Ming and Biaozi treated Coach Wu to dinner—also inviting Yanzi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, Wei Ming officially began writing ‘Heroes Born in Youth.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two days later, Auntie Xiao Yan came again, carrying a bag of reader letters, and delivered two good pieces of news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“‘Children’s Literature’ has been reprinted—another 120,000 copies! It’s broken the record!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1646,"2026-06-19T16:30:57.111Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","36c92dd295a9c894074e38695edae20bb86b4f2f7cfb49b853639c7465ca87e7","rising-in-1979-chapter-96","rising-in-1979-chapter-94",509,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frising-in-1979-cover.jpg"]