[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981":3,"chapter-that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-111":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","That Year, the Flowers Bloomed in 1981",{"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},2294529,4489,"Chapter 111: Never Give Up","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-111",111,"\u003Cp>On this land of Shenzhou, tolerance, humility, and even twisted interpretations of “repaying hatred with virtue” have long been revered as virtues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In contrast, “revenge for even the smallest slight” is branded as a “moral flaw,” despised by all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The principle of “leaving a line of retreat” in dealings is widely applied in nearly all situations, especially formal ones under public scrutiny.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So when Li Ye, on the podium, said to Director Yao, “We meet again,” Director Yao was utterly unprepared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He firmly believed his refusal of Li Ye was correct, and that Li Ye’s grandfather was a man of status—Li Ye should have understood the unwritten rules of social decorum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Ye went ahead and caused trouble anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, Li Ye had used connections to enter County No. 1 High School, but Director Yao had interfered and expelled him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you didn’t want me in, why didn’t you say so earlier? Isn’t this humiliating?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, it couldn’t be said Director Yao was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But on the day Li Ye came to retrieve his bicycle, in front of hundreds of people, Director Yao had declared with certainty that Li Ye was a “rotten apple” and a “tumor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was a bit too much, wasn’t it? If the child had been emotionally fragile, he might have burst into tears right there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Director Yao didn’t know what to do now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye said “long time no see”—should he reply, “I never want to see you again in my life; meeting you brings nothing but trouble”?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The principal was watching right behind him—even with his back turned, Director Yao could feel the principal’s icy gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qingshui County was small; Li Ye’s line, “Yesterday you ignored me, today you can’t afford me,” had already spread among several schools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the leaders present learned of Director Yao Renhua’s “exploits,” how could he bear the shame of this moment?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as Director Yao was pondering how to make amends, Li Ye had already released his hand and walked past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Thank goodness, this fool didn’t blurt out anything inappropriate.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sitting back down, Director Yao still felt relieved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then he sensed something was off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cautiously glanced around and realized over half the audience was staring at him with cold, assessing eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sweat dripped down Director Yao’s face; only now did he finally understand Li Ye’s “malicious intent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just now, when Li Ye shook his hand, he held it far too long—unlike with anyone else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he hadn’t directly spoken of their past grievances, it was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After today, countless people would dig into his story with Li Ye, turning it into a gossip legend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Director Yao Renhua didn’t know how long he’d have to explain himself before his life returned to normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t know how long it would take to make people understand that back then, he had truly been strict, impartial, and fair in rejecting today’s provincial top scorer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had indirectly turned away a host of national key candidates—and it wasn’t his fault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But how often can things truly be divided into right and wrong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People don’t care about your reasons; they only care about the outcome. Isn’t that common enough?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the years, Yao Renhua had clung to his position as Director of Student Affairs and hoarded his seat on the college entrance exam grading committee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his domineering way, he had blocked countless opportunities and earned the hatred of many.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In 1980s report meetings, there was a fixed format: naturally, school leaders spoke first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These speeches had become formulaic, boring enough to make many doze off; only the obedient students stayed alert, displaying good spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye didn’t doze off, because beside him sat a q-version young reporter who caught his eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, girls in 1982 had an average beauty level far below their counterparts in later eras.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Poor nutrition, exhaustion, lack of skincare products, and outdated fashion meant fewer girls could be called “beautiful”—less than half the proportion of later times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye’s eight-member group was an extraordinary combination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Man scored 8.5, Jiang Xiaoyan 8, and even Han Xia scored 7.5—these were already among the prettiest girls in County No. 2 High School.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This gives a clear picture of girls’ physical standards in this era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh, Wen Leyu was a rare gem, far beyond ordinary girls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Yue Mengmeng beside Li Ye—if placed in the future—would be a little girl capable of melting the hearts of countless lads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially since this little girl also passed him notes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye took the note with surprise; it read: “How many people misunderstood you to make you say ‘ignored yesterday, unattainable today’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye turned to look closely at Yue Mengmeng and saw a sparkling glint of gossip in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye borrowed a pen from Hu Man and wrote on the paper: “This topic can’t be published; at best, it satisfies curiosity—why dig deeper?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yue Mengmeng took back the note, paused in shock, then suddenly beamed with excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Topics never published are the best ones. I’ve read your ‘Infiltration’—isn’t your style exactly ‘the once insignificant now commands respect’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Damn, that’s not my style—that’s the standard narrative technique!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye quickly wrote another line and slipped the note back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop passing notes—it’ll be misunderstood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Misunderstood?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yue Mengmeng’s eyes darted again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced around and saw Hu Man, Han Xia, and Jiang Xiaoyan all watching her with sharp suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yue Mengmeng smiled, like a hunter who’d caught the fox’s tail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve got a girlfriend, right? Good students aren’t allowed to date—you must give me an exclusive interview.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye sighed, crumpled the note into a ball, and returned the pen to Hu Man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eight-member group would gather in Beijing; when Hu Man and the others whispered with Wen Leyu, misunderstandings might arise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t think smart girls aren’t jealous—they can be far more cunning and devastating when jealous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the girl is both smart and beautiful...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【I must control myself, I must control myself—absolutely no evidence left behind.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, our provincial top scorer and outstanding student representative, Li Ye, will share his study experience. Welcome.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, it was Li Ye’s turn to take center stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Chang, the principal seated on the podium’s side, felt a jolt inside, his eyelid twitching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye hadn’t brought his speech script.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That script had been revised repeatedly by Principal Chang and several teachers before being given to Li Ye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just before going on stage, Principal Chang had warned Li Ye to “be serious”—but now, something felt wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye took the microphone and gave a brief self-introduction: “Hello everyone, I’m Li Ye, an ordinary native of Qingshui County, as ordinary as you all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You might wonder how I scored first in the county. I’ll tell you—I don’t have three heads or six arms, no X-ray vision or super hearing. All I have is a good memory.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The students on the playground burst into laughter; many on the podium also smiled tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Principal Chang’s face darkened; he muttered under his breath: “Get to the point, get to the point.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye’s expression shifted; he became serious: “Today, the school asked me to share study experience. After thinking, I realized there’s only one point worth mentioning: never give up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The ‘never give up’ I mean isn’t just for students—it’s for teachers too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Many students, after a few days of effort, feel their grades haven’t improved, so they quit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I don’t think that’s a failure—you can still do many meaningful things, take up many jobs, and still contribute to national development.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In every profession, excellence emerges. A child unwilling to study isn’t necessarily useless to the nation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several people on the podium were already restless; some leaders showed visible displeasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is a study experience report—how can you say not studying is acceptable?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are you a villain sent by some organization?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, excellence emerges in every profession—but this is a school! Why not go to your grandfather’s workplace and give them a talk on labor experience?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What I most want to say today is teachers’ refusal to give up on students.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye paused, then spoke to the silent playground: “I was once a bad student.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was good at fighting, didn’t like studying, and had average grades—but my teachers never gave up on me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The children on the playground were stunned; but Principal Chang, who had lifted his buttocks, sat back down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Hmm, this is starting to make sense—if you praise the teachers, I’ll let you off today. Otherwise...】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I remember when I was transferred to the remedial class at County No. 2 High School, many didn’t understand—they thought my grades didn’t meet the standard for the remedial class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But my teachers didn’t think so; they firmly believed I had great potential.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Luo, who had brought the remedial class to listen, froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【You got into my remedial class because your grandfather got the school some subsidized grain—why are you slapping credit on my face? Go ahead, stick on more.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye went full throttle: “Sometimes I was mischievous, and I’ve seen teachers’ faces twisted in frustration—but in the end, they patiently taught me knowledge and principles.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below, He Weiguo and several other students looked ready to cry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【How can you lie like this? Your grandfather’s a bureau chief—teachers never slapped you, right? Are we not even human?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Director Yao Renhua of County No. 1 High School glared at Principal Chang, who was grinning beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【You old bastard, when students from the two schools clashed, you swung your stick to favor one side—where was your patience? Where were your principles? How dare you smile?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye took a breath, dropped his half-joking tone, and said seriously: “I truly believe a teacher who never gives up on a student contributes far more to society than a student who never gives up on studying.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But in the eyes of the world, people may only remember students like me who shine in public, while forgetting the teachers who toil in silence.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye, accustomed to certain post-era attitudes, spoke these words sincerely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because most teachers of this era genuinely wished for their students to succeed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though teachers of this time might strike or scold their students harshly, their faith in the four characters “teaching and nurturing” was worthy of Li Ye’s admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a child who had dropped out, some teachers would walk dozens of li to visit the student’s home, plead with the family, and even open their wallets generously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a student who had caused trouble, Principal Chang had once gone to apologize and beg forgiveness on his behalf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for staying late after hours to grade papers—such minor things were never even mentioned as hard work or grievance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, many teachers of this era may have had flaws in their educational standards and methods, yet in certain ways, they were noble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye also hoped these teachers would, for the sake of future students, show more patience, hold on longer, and continue passing down the precious tradition of “never giving up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I believe a teacher who never gives up on a student is great.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A withered, yellowing sapling that regains vigor and grows into a useful tree owes its revival not only to its own effort,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"but also to the careful watering, care, and cultivation of one or even countless teachers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Clap, clap, clap, clap~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Principal Chang led the applause, stealing the spotlight from many, but he didn’t care at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had originally prepared many flashy moves to face off against the old rivals from County No. 2 High, seeking to erase years of humiliation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, none were needed—Li Ye’s words alone were enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Did you see? Did you see? This is the student you gave up—finally, I saw his true worth! Ha ha ha ha!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Ah, ah, ah, don’t get carried away. Today Li Ye behaved far too much like a teacher, not a student. I must remind him later to mind his place.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2002,"2026-06-20T05:04:59.129Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","4a11169da5ae2a68fb36a4297d3bd0fff8942059712a15fa618f934bc6f78b8a","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-112","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-110",884,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-cover.jpg"]