[{"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-114":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},2294532,4489,"Chapter 114: The Man on the Bicycle Seat","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-114",114,"\u003Cp>Li Ye held up a book to shield his face—and the girl on the middle bunk from his view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then she softly asked, “Excuse me, are you Li Ye?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye lowered the book and sat up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He studied her face carefully, three times over, and confirmed he didn’t know her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry, I don’t recall knowing you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, I was too impulsive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl smiled, turned, rummaged for a moment, then pulled out a newspaper and handed it to Li Ye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye looked—and it was the Dongshan Education Daily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On page two was a photo of Li Ye and an article titled “Never Give Up, Focus on One Thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was Yue Mengmeng’s work—she’d even gone back to Qingshui County just days ago to brag about it to him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Ye, staring at the blurry photo of himself, chuckled and asked, “You recognized me from this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Newspaper photos back then had terrible resolution—even if Li Ye looked stunning, the blur filter made him far from unrecognizable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl smiled. “Half guess, half hope. I wasn’t sure myself just now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye smiled, then asked, “Your accent isn’t from Dongshan. How’d you end up with this paper?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl smiled openly. “I’m not from Dongshan, but my father read about you and discussed you with friends in Dongshan Province—so one of them sent him this paper.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye nodded slightly. “That’s quite a coincidence. If I get the chance, I’d love to hear your father’s advice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl smiled again and extended her hand. “Jingwai, Liu Muhan. Pleased to meet a talent from Jingda.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What talent?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye shook her hand lightly, then handed the newspaper back to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Muhan was puzzled—Li Ye wasn’t cold or distant, but his reserve was unmistakable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Could he know I’m Lu Jingyao’s roommate? Or just because I’m from Jingwai?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Muhan had slipped in a subtle hint earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My father read about you and was fascinated, and my Dongshan friends—could you at least ask if my dad’s in the Writers’ Association?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Ye acted as if he had zero interest—after returning the paper, he picked up his other book again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Muhan noticed he’d brought two books. “Li Ye, are you reading the other one? Could I take a look?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye handed her the spare book without looking up, silent and unresponsive, leaving Liu Muhan utterly deflated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【No wonder Jingyao doesn’t like him—he’s kind of clueless. But damn, he’s so handsome!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Muhan was proud by nature. If Li Ye wouldn’t engage, she wouldn’t force it—she lay down and opened her book.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Woo~~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the train whistled to depart, the last passenger rushed aboard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a short, stout middle-aged man, drenched in sweat from running, yet his white shirt buttons were perfectly fastened, and two pens stood neatly in his pocket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, a “rigid type.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when he tried climbing into his bunk, he couldn’t stay rigid anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His bunk was the top tier on the right—extremely cramped, hard to climb, and once up, he couldn’t even sit upright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why lower berths were hardest to get.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Train berths got progressively tighter from bottom to top: lower berths let you sit with headroom, middle berths only worked for short girls, upper berths—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man climbed down and smiled at Li Ye. “Kid, I’m too old to climb up. You’re young, strong, agile—let’s swap, okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye didn’t even lift his eyes. “No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Refusing people was a skill—he’d learned it years after his first job. Now he refused cleanly, no room for negotiation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man hadn’t expected such a blunt rejection after flattering him so nicely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Helplessly, he winced. “Kid, I’m not asking for free. Upper and lower berths cost different prices—I’ll give you two yuan extra.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye cut him off. “Sorry, sir, I’m tall. Upper bunk’s too cramped. Find someone else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one-meter-six man stared at one-meter-eight Li Ye, panting heavily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what could he do? This was a civilized age. A few years ago, he could’ve beaten Li Ye into tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to Liu Muhan—but the girl who’d been reading was now fast asleep under her blanket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【It’s sweltering out—how’s she not suffocating under that?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man sighed and turned back to climb his bunk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d scanned the whole carriage—only these two kids were greenhorns; everyone else were seasoned travelers, not worth bothering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he was annoyed, so he muttered under his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Times are falling apart. What kind of teachers are raising kids these days? No respect for elders, no love for the young—plus, they cut corners, chase comfort—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How’s a kid even qualified to ride a berth? Where’d he get the ticket? Where’d he get the money? Where’d he—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye suddenly sat up on his bunk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fat man reacted instantly—upon hearing the noise, he kicked hard and rolled into his upper bunk, eyes locked on Li Ye with alarm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Li Ye moved, he’d scream for help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye didn’t move. A man worth hundreds of thousands wouldn’t hit a guy who winced at two yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Ali had fought with officials when he was young selling goods—but had he ever fought since?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye glanced at the fat man, pulled out his bag, and dug out a net full of walnuts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fat man stared, confused. To eat these, you need a hammer—or a brick, a rock. Did trains carry those?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the next moment, he froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye simply clenched his fingers—and “crack” split the walnut open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Crack. Crack. Crack. Crack. Crack.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Six quick snaps. The fat man’s eyelids twitched six times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【This guy’s a young master! Why me?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then the “young master” held up a broken walnut and said, “Want a taste?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taste? What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taste the walnut? Or your eagle-claw grip?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those fingers didn’t look thick—but if they clamped down on me—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No thanks, young master, haha~~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fat man turned inward and pretended to sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye smiled, popped the walnut meat into his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t showing off—he just didn’t want to deal with annoying chatter for another ten hours. Why ruin his mood?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can I try some?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice came from behind his head. Li Ye turned—Liu Muhan, who’d been pretending to sleep, now stared at him with wide, bright eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye nodded, cleaned the walnut shells from his palm, and offered the nutmeat to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Muhan took it, stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d always prided herself on reading people’s thoughts and actions—but Li Ye kept surprising her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d assumed he’d offer her a walnut—but never imagined he’d clean the shells first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【If he gave someone watermelon, would he seed it for them too?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll trade!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Muhan pulled a pack of snacks from her bag and handed it to Li Ye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye looked—it was saqima.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In 1980s Shenzhou, food was scarce; oil, sugar, rice, flour were rationed. Baked goods were rare—many pastries only appeared in luxury hotels or a few Western restaurants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saqima with raisins and nuts was a rare treat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye took it, ate while lying down, and went back to reading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Muhan lay down too, savoring the nut’s rich aroma, shaking her head with a wry smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She suddenly understood—Li Ye wasn’t clueless at all. He was clever, in a way she couldn’t quite grasp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Ah, Jingyao, you missed out on someone special.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Beijing Station, Liu Muhan struggled to drag her suitcase, frowning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her mom had packed too much—afraid her daughter would eat poorly, get cold, or tan—stuffing in dozens of pounds of random stuff without a thought for exhaustion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luckily, the imported suitcase had wheels—on flat ground, she could pull it. But the few steps out of the carriage were a nightmare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as she hesitated, Li Ye lifted her suitcase with one hand and placed it on the platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks! Where are you going? Do you know the bus routes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Muhan thanked him, about to say more—when she saw Li Ye sprinting ahead without looking back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carrying two large bags, he was actually running.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far ahead, a tall girl was also running toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was an unusual girl—her face was small, her eyes large, oddly out of step with the era’s beauty standards,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Liu Muhan merely glanced twice, then couldn’t help but praise, “Truly beautiful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially the girl’s smile—reserved, elegant, gentle and refined, carrying a quiet, fragrant charm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu skipped up to Li Ye with a smile and reached out to take the large tote bag from his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye quickly stopped her: “Don’t mention that—just help me carry my backpack.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Wen Leyu snatched one of the large tote bags, swung it over her shoulders with both hands, and nearly toppled from the weight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet she still laughed lightly: “Don’t worry, I can handle it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye took the bag back, unloaded his small backpack, and slung it over Wen Leyu’s shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The things in this bag are valuable—keep a close eye on them!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh oh oh, alright alright alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu immediately agreed, determined to protect Li Ye’s “valuable items.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching from a distance, Liu Muhan sighed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【He truly cares about how girls feel.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Muhan had seen Li Ye’s backpack on the middle bunk—it was full of snacks and books, nothing but a decoy for thieves, with nothing valuable inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now giving the backpack to Wen Leyu was simply to make her feel “very capable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the pair laugh and chatter as they walked away, Liu Muhan couldn’t help but sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Not everyone can eat the peaches in the Peach Garden of Immortality! Heh~】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving Beijing Railway Station, Wen Leyu was stumped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Li Ye’s luggage was too much for her bicycle to carry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With two large bags strapped to the rear rack, how could they ride together?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye didn’t hesitate: “Sit on the crossbar—I’ll carry you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu stared at Li Ye: “.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the 1980s, many children had ridden on the front crossbar of their parents’ bikes—but those were children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a later-era movie called Nine Layers of Demon Tower, the male lead had ridden on the front crossbar—it looked authentically vintage, yet utterly incongruous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu was already 1.7 meters tall—she felt it would be inappropriate if she sat on the crossbar, with Li Ye’s arms wrapped around her sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not suitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye noticed Wen Leyu’s shyness and quickly corrected himself: “Then I’ll sit up front—you carry me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu puffed out her cheeks, then after a long pause said: “With the luggage, I can’t carry you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then wait for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye, belatedly realizing, unloaded the two large tote bags from the rear rack and sprinted off to the station’s baggage storage, checked them in, then dashed back without stopping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can we go now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu squinted, nodded vigorously, and mounted the bicycle, pedaling hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye moved at once, leaping lightly onto the rear seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu had chosen a 28-inch bike specifically to carry him easily, but Li Ye had just been thinking—admiring the bike’s front crossbar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Ah, girls in 1982 really are pure! In the future, with my looks and build...】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Ye, what do you want to eat today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whatever—you’re from Beijing, you decide.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll treat you to roast duck—Quanjude or Yibi Fang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? Little Yu, you’ve got money now? You can treat me to roast duck?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course,” Wen Leyu said proudly. “I get pocket money every month—pick anything you want.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye smirked teasingly: “Aren’t your royalties stored with me? Why spend someone else’s money?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not talking to you,” Wen Leyu blushed and scolded. “Today I’m taking you for roast duck, tomorrow for braised offal, the day after for pea cake...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye felt his ears buzzing, his head slightly dizzy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d come to Beijing a week early for some business—but now it seemed his schedule was already fully taken care of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Happiness, too, was full.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ding ding ding~ ding ding ding~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu’s cycling skills were average, so whenever she saw someone ahead, she rang the bell from far away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, this startled countless passersby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A young, beautiful girl, pedaling with long, straight legs, carrying a man down the street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is that proper?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the 1980s, when women carried men on bikes, it was either a daughter carrying her father, or a good Samaritan carrying someone disabled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These two? The man behind didn’t look disabled at all! How could he let a girl pant like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that guy was even closing his eyes, looking as if he’d just smoked opium?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fuck, he deserves a beating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they passed a group of troublemaking kids, Li Ye even heard someone shout, “Hey, get off, let me have a turn...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Hmph, today I’m in a good mood—I won’t bother with you. Don’t go looking for trouble.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sitting on the swaying bicycle, Li Ye looked up at the clear blue sky, then at the era’s buildings flashing past—his mood was utterly delightful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gentle breeze carried the girl’s scent into his nose, filling him with deep contentment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This... was the taste of pure love!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a few decades, it would be a rare treasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The holiday’s over—Old Feng, quickly adjust and start repaying debts: three chapters owed to the patron, two to the brothers who’ve supported me, at least five total... and more to come, later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thank you to reader “” for the reward—thanks, brother. thanks(w)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2239,"2026-06-20T05:04:59.129Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","fc5e6a585d59071218c0cb6f8d51271b1c3091c1c1ac7f3a022b6f7c9589ca78","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-115","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-113",884,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-cover.jpg"]