[{"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-112":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},2294530,4489,"Chapter 112: Focused on One Person","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-112",112,"\u003Cp>Dong Yuejin got off the train, and at the station exit, he saw Li Ye waiting there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow, the top scholar came to pick me up personally? I’m truly honored!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What top scholar? It’s a new society now—how can you still be so feudal?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye took Dong Yuejin’s suitcase and smiled: “You should call me the province’s number one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Yuejin paused, then burst out laughing; his inner gloom instantly lifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving the train station, Li Ye led Dong Yuejin straight to the Dongfeng truck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Yuejin was surprised: “You actually got a car to pick me up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye apologized: “We only have this much—no sedan, just a cargo truck. Don’t look down on it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Yuejin scoffed: “Who am I to complain? Just don’t look down on me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye looked at Dong Yuejin with surprise, finally noticing something was off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He started the engine, didn’t head back to Qingshui County, but first found a restaurant in the provincial capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was already eight or nine at night; the waiter reluctantly brought out a few dishes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Li Ye ask Dong Yuejin: “Brother Dong, you had something unsaid earlier—did we misunderstand each other?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Yuejin glanced at Master Hu at the table, hesitating as if wanting to speak but holding back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Hu, sharp-eyed, immediately said: “You two eat first—I’ll go buy some cigarettes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Master Hu left, Dong Yuejin asked Li Ye in a low voice: “Since you call me Brother Dong, how have I treated you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye replied seriously: “Brother Dong, between us, no need for roundabout talk—just say it straight. If I did something wrong, I’ll apologize.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Yuejin nodded: “Then I’ll say it—Brother Li Ye, didn’t you just write a new book and get it published by another publisher?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This left Li Ye speechless—he had no idea what he was talking about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he asked Dong Yuejin: “What news did you hear?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Yuejin sighed: “A colleague from Beijing called me—said the new edition of Seven-Inch Knife Edge is about to be printed, but why isn’t it from Lanhai Publishing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Li Ye, this isn’t fair. You told me you’d write a story about the Tang Dynasty’s western wars and give it to us for publication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ve told the press multiple times—now you suddenly went to a Beijing publisher? Are you trying to get me in trouble?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tsk~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye grabbed Dong Yuejin’s arm, pulled him closer, and whispered: “I did write a new book, but not the one I told you about—it’s a battle story against the Japanese.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Yuejin froze, about to ask more, but Li Ye added: “The material for this book comes largely from real people, so I can’t decide on publication myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, I only just learned from you that the other book is nearly ready to print!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You didn’t know about your own...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Yuejin looked at Li Ye skeptically, but suddenly remembered the elegant, cultured Teacher Ke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did “real people” mean?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Living? Or dead?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lowered his head and asked softly: “Teacher Ke...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye slapped his shoulder: “Back in Beijing, education system, administrative level five.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Yuejin suddenly felt like he’d lost something—his heart felt hollow and aching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why hadn’t he thought of it before!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why hadn’t he said more to her back then?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Administrative level five, in his early forties!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And under Teacher Ke’s circumstances, she wouldn’t be promoted directly after returning—meaning she’d already reached that level before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long silence, Dong Yuejin gave a wistful smile and let it go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sharing one meal together was already a stroke of fortune—don’t be greedy, or you’ll shorten your life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Li Ye, the fact that you still call me Brother Dong today moves me—you’ve climbed onto a ladder of destiny!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Yuejin shouted to the restaurant waiter: “Waiter, what good wine do you have?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, no, I can’t drink—what did you just say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye pondered—why did Dong Yuejin’s earlier words sound so familiar?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Yuejin sighed: “I won’t go into details—ask your grandfather, he’ll understand. But tonight’s wine—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye quickly said: “No drinking and driving—I’m learning the ropes. Can’t knowingly break the rules.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Hu returned from buying cigarettes and asked curiously: “Who says drivers can’t drink?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye: “.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Yuejin said: “I’ve met many drivers—some don’t drink, but plenty do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Hu: “Exactly! I usually like a sip or two—only held off these past days because I was teaching you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【In the 1980s, were drivers this reckless?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bump-bump-bump~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Dongfeng truck rumbled along a muddy, bumpy dirt road, jolting like a rabbit, throwing passengers off their seats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yue Mengmeng pressed her skirt down, afraid it might fly up again like butterfly wings and expose her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, she was deeply frustrated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After meeting Li Ye a few days ago, she thought she’d quickly lock him in—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>peel him open, crush him, uncover all his secrets, hobbies, and weak spots, then completely win him over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after days of contact, her once-unfailingly effective “little charm” had completely failed on Li Ye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem wasn’t just the failure—its ripples had affected innocent people around her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like Editor Dong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After learning Dong Yuejin was Li Ye’s discoverer—the one who brought out the hit novel The Deep Cover—Yue Mengmeng had gathered plenty of info on Li Ye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then, Editor Dong started discussing literature with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Come on—I only pretended to like literature to dig into Li Ye’s writing secrets!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your mother’s wrinkled face is already full of lines—why are you taking this seriously with a little girl like me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’re not Li Ye—just drop it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Ye’s resistance only made this little girl more interested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【You run—I’ll let you run, hehe.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dongfeng truck pulled into Liuqiao Township Middle School, one of the final stops on Li Ye’s county-wide lecture tour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye parked the truck, jumped out of the driver’s seat, and saw a familiar face approaching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Ye, you haven’t shown up in ages—I almost didn’t recognize you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Ye’s blank expression, the man said: “I’m Lu Tao—Lu Jingyao’s uncle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye remembered—he was Lu Jingyao’s cousin, the school cook at Liuqiao Township Middle School, close to Lu Jingyao’s father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, when he often came to Liuqiao to see Lu Jingyao, he’d known him well—used to call him “Uncle” all the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now... hehe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye nodded, said nothing, and turned to walk away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lu Tao hurriedly called out: “Li Ye, your father-in-law’s been sick for days—go see him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye spun around, glaring at Lu Tao, his cold gaze slicing like a blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could guess Lu Tao’s intent—last year, he and Li Dayong had come to Liuqiao and forced Lu Jingyao’s father to say something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you get into college next year, I won’t stand in your way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But times had changed—Li Ye, this wild horse let loose, needed to eat grass from behind?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The endless grassland is my domain—do I pine for just one mouthful?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Tao felt uneasy under Li Ye’s stare, wanting to say more but unable to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye turned and walked away—never uttered a word from start to finish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying even one more word now would invite trouble—there were too many “well-meaning” people,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>like those “gold-medal mediators” from the future—couldn’t convince you, just annoyed you to death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Tao waited until Li Ye was far away, then stomped his foot hard, mounted a bicycle, and pedaled furiously toward Qianjin Village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Left turn into the village, Lu Tao rushed to Lu Jingyao’s home, shouting before even entering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fourth Brother, Fourth Brother—are you really sick or faking it? Can you even get up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, I’m just a bit unwell, nothing serious—Jingyao, pour your sixth uncle some water.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao’s father, seeing Lu Tao enter, hurried to offer him a seat and told Lu Jingyao to pour water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I still have the energy to drink water—when I told you Li Ye was here, he didn’t even acknowledge me. If you two keep up this attitude, you’ll lose your chance for good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clang!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao dropped the teacup on the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her face turned pale: “Sixth Uncle, what did you say to him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean, ‘Hu Daodao’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Tao said unhappily: “Last year he came to your door crying and begging—didn’t that happen? Didn’t your father say he’d agree to the two of you if he got into university? So why are you acting all high and mighty now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Slap~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao’s father, usually so mild-mannered, slammed his fist on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d taken today off from work at the township middle school precisely to avoid seeing Li Ye, and now this well-meaning cousin of his was using his own face as a punching bag for that man!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over these past days, Lu Jingyao’s complexion had visibly worsened—could her father not guess at least part of the reason?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alas, the wheel of fate turns—has heaven ever spared anyone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You made your own bitter wine, you drink it—but you can’t pry open my mouth and force it down my throat!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao’s chest heaved violently as she said sternly: “Uncle Liu, I have nothing to do with that Li Ye anymore. Why are you dragging filth into my family? Do you think my father’s illness isn’t bad enough?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The prestige of a college student was powerful indeed—Lu Tao, faced with his niece’s accusation, failed to unleash the usual authority of an elder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I meant well, but you two are utterly unreasonable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Tao stomped off, muttering something flowery as he left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After he was gone, Lu Jingyao’s father burst into a violent coughing fit, as if all strength had drained from his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dad, don’t get angry—Uncle Liu’s just like that. No one takes his words seriously.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao pounded her father’s back for a long time before picking up the broken teacup shards to clean the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Daughter, if you’re willing… I’ll swallow my pride and go back to the Li household one more time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dad, are you now also holding a knife to stab your own daughter’s heart?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao dropped the broom in her hand and returned to her small room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few minutes later, she came out carrying a small bundle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m going back to school. Unless something major happens at home… I won’t be coming back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao’s mother hurried over to plead with her, but Lu Jingyao walked quickly out the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu’s mother paced frantically: “Husband, look at this stubborn child—what are we going to do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu’s father wept bitterly: “We owe them. This… this is fate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao felt like she could barely breathe; only after walking three or four miles did she finally feel a little better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a year now, why would Li Ye haunt her like this, impossible to escape?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao didn’t want to stay in Qingshui County for another minute—she wanted to run as far away as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To get from Qianjin Village to the county town, one had to pass by the outer grounds of Liuqiao Township Middle School. Lu Jingyao quickened her pace, hoping not to run into anyone she knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the school’s loudspeaker, of all things, blared out a certain voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Many people keep asking me: how could my grades improve so much in just one year?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can answer you: it’s because of ‘focus.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you ever noticed how some people stare dumbly at fireflies for hours on end,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>or how others sit motionless watching a flower slowly bloom? People usually call these folks ‘fools.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahahaha~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the school’s podium, Li Ye continued speaking without notes: “I used to be one of those fools. I did many foolish things—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>focusing all my thoughts on just one thing, one person, for a stretch of time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The students and teachers of Liuqiao Township Middle School exchanged bewildered glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The province’s top scorer calls himself a fool—are you mocking us for being worse than fools?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yue Mengmeng, Principal Chang, Li Dayong, and others all laughed quietly—they’d grown used to Li Ye’s unrestrained style during his tour of talks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Principal Chang had once warned Li Ye to remember his status as a student.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye immediately followed suit—the next day he read his speech verbatim from a script, utterly dull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then many people complained: why was the reaction so enthusiastic at other schools, but so lifeless here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Yue Mengmeng protested to Principal Chang: don’t stifle the freedom of young minds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So later, Principal Chang simply gave up—do as you please.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A great man once said: spend twenty minutes a day, and you can learn a foreign language—that’s the power of focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When you pour your entire being into one task, the result isn’t just double or triple efficiency—it’s five times, even ten times.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When I focused on watching flowers bloom and fade, I felt the blossoming and passing of life;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>when I watched fireflies flicker, I felt their stubborn persistence against darkness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When I focused on writing,” Li Ye smiled, “I wrote ‘Infiltration.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ooooh~~~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wave of gasps rose—this was what everyone truly cared about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tens of thousands of yuan in royalties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When I focused on studying, I became the top scorer in the province.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahahaha~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clap clap clap clap~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye waved his hands repeatedly until the applause finally died down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So students, when you’re frustrated by your grades not improving, reflect on this: have you truly focused on your studies?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During class, have you stared blankly at a girl’s braid?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During evening self-study, have you wished the bell would ring sooner so you could go home and sleep?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During final exams, have you hoped other students would mess up the big questions so you’d rank higher?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye’s expression grew serious: “There are no shortcuts in anything—whether studying or working, don’t rely on luck, don’t be distracted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only by focusing wholeheartedly on one thing, on one person, can you earn the reward you deserve.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief silence, the Liuqiao Township Middle School erupted again in thunderous applause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as Lu Jingyao walked farther away, she suddenly remembered—last year at this time, Li Ye’s gaze upon her had been truly focused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This volume is finished. Starting tomorrow, Li Ye will leave Qingshui County, step out of the Xinshoucun .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ending this volume with Lu Jingyao may disappoint some readers, but old things must go for new ones to come—this is Li Ye’s final farewell to the original host.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thank you to the reader who tipped 500 coins, thank you to reader “Bei Dang Yun,” thank you to reader “Du Shu Da Da Juan,” thank you to reader “Xingji Cangshu Gali Bang,” thank you to reader “zh404.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2468,"2026-06-20T05:04:59.129Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","96840807a5b1f52828a05d84d4d01aa75257a6af0d150056e3d5bdba818ddfea","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-113","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-111",884,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-cover.jpg"]