[{"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-132":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},2294550,4489,"Chapter 132: Knocking the Female Accountant Speechless","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-132",132,"\u003Cp>The big truck took away Director Zhang’s belongings, leaving Li Ye a messy home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without needing Li Ye’s instructions, Lao Song, Tan Min, and others immediately began cleaning up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite his limp, Lao Song had sharp eyes—he first tidied up Li Ye’s study, then pulled out his personal thermos and tea set, and soon brewed a pot of tea for Li Ye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Try this Zhang Yiyuan tea. Though folks in Beijing rave about it, I think it’s decent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Min moved swiftly, filling the yard’s big hole in no time, then fetched water, swept the floor, and scrubbed everything—his efficiency was unmatched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let’s be honest, the internal discipline of soldiers is top-notch; no matter their background before enlistment, once they’ve been through training, few remain sloppy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Jiaxian, meanwhile, carefully examined every piece of furniture in the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye poured a cup of tea and handed it to Wei Jiaxian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not thirsty, thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Jiaxian spoke little, but was always polite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye didn’t bother with formalities and asked, “What do you think of these furnishings?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Jiaxian blurted out, “This set of round-back chairs is from the late Qing Dynasty, but one chair is missing and was later replaced—poorer material and inferior craftsmanship.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That bed frame is from the early Republic era; the wood and craftsmanship are excellent, but one leg was broken and later repaired—slightly flawed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The bookshelf in the study was patched together—half old, half new.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cough cough, Jiaxian, Jiaxian, go help Tan Min out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lao Song hobbled over, limping urgently, and shooed Wei Jiaxian out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye watched Lao Song with a knowing look, smiling faintly without speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lao Song grinned, showing his yellow teeth: “He’s just a fool. I brought him here to pick apart the items while we’re collecting them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye chuckled: “Someone who can spot flaws is a real talent. Why are you so nervous?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lao Song looked embarrassed: “He’s talented, sure, but he speaks too bluntly, right? Young Master, don’t take offense—antique dealing? Perfect pieces are rare. Yours—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not angry,” Li Ye said, nodding toward Wei Jiaxian. “Who taught him? You?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lao Song shook his head: “I couldn’t teach him. He inherited the skill. When his father died, he’d already learned four or five tenths of it—everything after was self-taught.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then who’s more skilled—you or him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It depends on what kind of skill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lao Song puffed out his chest: “If it’s about distinguishing real from fake, tracing origins—no, I’m not his match. He has lineage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But when it comes to buying low, selling high, haggling, playing mind games—add his dead father to the mix, and he still can’t match one of my fingers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye probed: “When someone comes to pawn a cotton-padded coat, you used to shout, ‘Bare lining, no fur, a ragged coat’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lao Song’s eyes lit up: “Young Master, you’re truly learned—know everything!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, alright,” Li Ye couldn’t help but sigh. “You’re not humble at all—and you’ve got no shame! Back when you ran the pawnshop, didn’t you just scam people and rack up sins?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master treats me with honesty, so I won’t lie to you,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lao Song chuckled awkwardly: “I’ve cheated gamblers and thieves, sure—but if it’s a decent family, I always leave them a way out, accumulate some merit. Otherwise, how’d I even have a grandson?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye finally understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Jiaxian’s grandfather was the owner—sharp-eyed, skilled—but never got his hands dirty. Lao Song had some ability too, but mostly did the dirty work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One truly “played” antiques; the other just traded them. Their realms differed, but each excelled in their own field—hard to say who was better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At noon, Hao Jian arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he walked in, he gave Li Ye a genuine surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crisp trousers, shiny leather shoes, a spotless white shirt, a meticulously combed hairstyle, and a tie neatly knotted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he’d added a suit jacket, he could’ve walked any runway of this era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d also brought two others trailing behind him like attendants—had Li Ye not known his background, he’d have believed Hao Jian was some overseas Chinese businessman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye circled Hao Jian with interest and smiled: “Impressive, Lao Hao. Shouldn’t I call you Deputy Factory Director now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Donglun had finally helped Hao Jian resolve his affiliation issue—though the official title went to someone else, Hao Jian held full authority over operations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hao Jian waved his hands nervously: “No, no, no, Brother Li Ye, don’t tease me. These are all our own factory’s products. I’m just following your advice—getting firsthand experience, firsthand experience.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Ye insisted: “I’m not teasing you. Dress for the job. Keep this look—it’s good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hao Jian chuckled twice and quickly introduced: “This is the accountant I told you about, Zhou Lijuan. I brought her to Beijing to meet you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two people Hao Jian brought were Ma Qianshan and a new female accountant, Zhou Lijuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Lijuan had previously worked as an accountant at a large enterprise in Yangcheng, but took the blame for someone else, which landed her in Hao Jian’s hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t surprising Hao Jian didn’t pick and choose—by 1982, who was just sitting around waiting to be hired?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any university graduate had to accept an assignment. If you refused, your school and neighborhood committee would come to your home to pressure you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye nodded politely to Zhou Lijuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t look down on her—he was open to anyone with talent. Grab them first, sort it out later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a welcome dinner, Hao Jian voluntarily pulled out an account book.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here’s the ledger for the past two months. Brother Xiao, take a look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye opened it and saw it was far more organized—everything he wanted was clearly recorded, unlike before, when he’d had to guess and estimate from a mess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the money had grown significantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The expanded secondary wholesale model was already paying off, growing faster and larger by the day, with no end in sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the current cash surplus, Li Ye calculated—and confirmed he had truly become a millionaire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ge, go get Dayong. We’ll meet tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hao Jian, bring Zhou Lijuan in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye sent Jin Peng to find Li Dayong, then summoned Zhou Lijuan alone to the study.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sit. Want tea?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, thank you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Lijuan sat nervously across from Li Ye, staring at the young man, momentarily lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Hao Jian had told her about Li Ye beforehand, meeting him in person still hit her hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was too young—but his demeanor lacked the usual youthful restlessness. It was strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Accountant Zhou, how many years did you work at your previous unit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eleven.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Were you the chief accountant?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. I served as chief accountant for three years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Accountant Zhou, I won’t waste time with formalities. Tell me your difficulties first, then I’ll explain my financial requirements.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye didn’t put on airs or beat around the bush. Zhou Lijuan had worked in a large enterprise—she’d seen plenty of people who played games. He’d rather be direct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone who rose to chief accountant in a ten-thousand-person company wasn’t simple. Playing mind games with her might just make him look foolish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have no difficulties. I’ll do my job well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Lijuan answered stiffly—she had no other options.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving the factory, she felt the world had collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye had given her shelter, a place to stand—how could she dare complain?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, I’ll state my requirements.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye’s smile vanished. He spoke formally: “First, I demand clean books—truly clean. Can you understand?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Lijuan blinked, then quickly replied: “I understand. I can do it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She prayed he’d demand exactly this!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye continued: “Second, you must clearly know who’s in charge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Lijuan immediately said: “I know—you’re the real boss. All accounts will be regularly submitted for your review.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye nodded inwardly—Hao Jian still knew his place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was precisely why Li Ye had to meet Zhou Lijuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye operated behind the scenes—he could avoid direct involvement in everything else, but finances had to be under his direct control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, for a long time, many organizations in Shenzhou had two “final authorities”—sometimes one dominated, sometimes the other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If subordinates couldn’t tell who held real power, just look at the finances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoever controlled the finances was the king.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third, whether you recruit or train, build a financial team as soon as possible—set up the financial structure in Beijing, Yangcheng, and Pengcheng. Conduct regular audits and strict oversight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Lijuan asked in shock: “So I’ll still have to travel between Yangcheng and Beijing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye nodded: “Absolutely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Lijuan fell silent for several seconds, then whispered: “I have children. My elderly parents aren’t well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye’s expression didn’t change. He spoke firmly: “Heavy responsibility means high pay. I’ll give you one percent of the position’s profit share.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Position profit share? You mean one percent of the profits?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Lijuan instantly understood—and stared at Li Ye in disbelief, even using the honorific “you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. You get the share while you’re on the job. No job, no share.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye smiled and explained further—and Zhou Lijuan was utterly stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As an eleven-year veteran accountant, she didn’t need to check the books or pick up a pen—she could already roughly calculate how much she’d earn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In later years, high-level executives receiving stock options and profit shares was normal—but in 1982, giving an accountant such a massive position-based profit share was like detonating a nuclear bomb inside her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It completely stunned her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This young man is far more impressive than Director Hao!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1596,"2026-06-20T05:04:59.129Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e1fa9970e838870c013995986617b285d984ad2cdfffee633baa2498e0cb0294","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-133","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-131",884,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-cover.jpg"]