[{"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-153":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},2294571,4489,"Chapter 153: Whether It Has Effectiveness Depends on Strength","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-153",153,"\u003Cp>\"Mr. Seven-Inch Blade, may I ask your surname?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong fell silent for at least ten seconds before calmly continuing his conversation with the Seven-Inch Blade on the other end of the line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the other party’s tone was harsh, Pei Wencong was a graduate of HKU—he couldn’t behave like a street thug from Causeway Bay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the voice on the other end remained cold and blunt: \"Does my surname have anything to do with the two conditions I mentioned earlier?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“。”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong’s fingers involuntarily tightened around the receiver, both angry and astonished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't understand why, among inland \"intellectuals,\" the differences could be so vast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Pei Wencong had previously dealt with Lanhai Publishing, they had always been extremely courteous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong merely spent a few hundred Hong Kong dollars to help them acquire a few cutting-edge international literary journals, and received heartfelt thanks in return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In recent phone conversations, Lanhai had gone to extraordinary lengths to demonstrate “friendship and respect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whenever Pei Wencong called, it was always a senior executive from Lanhai Publishing who answered—junior staff dared not pick up the phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But why is this Seven-Inch Blade so arrogant?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then I’ll address you as Sir,\" Pei Wencong said calmly: \"Sir, the promotion and sales of 'Shuangfeng Feiyang' have just begun; we haven’t reached a profit stage yet, so your demand for a 20% profit share is invalid.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Invalid?\" Li Ye said coolly. \"How much profit did you make each month before publishing 'Shuangfeng Feiyang'?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong couldn’t admit that before publishing 'Shuangfeng Feiyang,' his situation had been dire—with almost no profit at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could only reply: \"It’s hard to say—it’s also a business secret.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye didn’t argue further, but said directly: \"Then take the profit after publishing 'Shuangfeng Feiyang,' subtract the profit before, and I want 20% of that difference—is that a problem?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’re really clever!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong was genuinely impressed—who said northerners were all warm-hearted proletarian brothers? This guy’s no different from Hong Kong’s capitalistic sharks!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, maybe slightly better—because in Pei Wencong’s situation, a capitalistic shark would’ve likely devoured him outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sir, 20% is unreasonable—you’re only one author; our magazine features many other writers’ works.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong finally took this seriously and adopted a bargaining stance with Li Ye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Ye replied: \"You think 20% is unreasonable? How about 25%?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong wanted to slam the phone down right away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Do you really think this is a gangster turf war? Whoever’s more aggressive gets the upper hand?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But right now, Pei Wencong needed 'Shuangfeng Feiyang'—without it, he couldn’t sign a contract with Shulian Sales and would lose his chance at redemption.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Pei Wencong had spent over a decade in the industry and had encountered plenty of difficult people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he immediately changed the subject: \"Sir, we’re in disagreement over the 20% profit share—let’s first discuss your second request, shall we?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye replied briefly: \"Fine, but don’t waste my time—I hate beating around the bush.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong had grown accustomed to Li Ye’s style and said calmly: \"Sir, inviting you to Hong Kong to visit is something I should naturally do, both morally and professionally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But an invitation letter isn’t something you can just issue—it requires time to process, and I can’t guarantee an exact timeline.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Pei Wencong had even finished speaking, the voice on the other end asked incredulously: \"Aren’t three months enough for you to develop it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you can’t make 'Shuangfeng Feiyang' a sensation in three months, are you even worthy of your HKU degree? At that point, what’s the point of an invitation letter?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“。”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong was finally stunned—this Seven-Inch Blade seemed to already know 'Shuangfeng Feiyang' would be a hit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t told Lanhai Publishing anything about the book’s sales performance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True, if he could sign with Shulian Sales, Pei Wencong’s ability alone could transform Tawang Publishing within three months.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even among taxpayers, there are hierarchies—Pei Wencong three months from now would be an entirely different person from the one he is today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, Sir, I’ll definitely get you the invitation letter. When you come, I’ll show you the splendor of the Pearl of the Orient—the Lion Rock, Ocean Park.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You never agree to everything right away—Pei Wencong felt the timing was right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He understood well the mainlanders’ deep desire to visit Hong Kong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past two decades, countless mainlanders had swum across the border, willingly becoming illegal residents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even those who came on business trips were awestruck by Hong Kong’s prosperity—just Ocean Park alone could keep them enchanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Ye continued: \"I’m not interested in Ocean Park. I want to see Victoria Harbour, and also Kowloon Tong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I want to see if there are still teenage street racers on Tsing Shan Road, and whether the hillside really is full of immortals—by the way, Mr. Pei, do you own a mansion on the Peak?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I had a mansion on the Peak, I wouldn’t waste another word on you, damn it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong cursed silently under his breath several times, barely holding back from swearing aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are you mocking me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who lives on the Peak? Would someone like that bother negotiating a petty deal worth tens or hundreds of thousands?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Ye didn’t wait for an answer—he continued: \"Still, what interests me most about Hong Kong is its cultural market—I’d like to visit Chung Hwa Book Company, Joint Publishing, Commercial Press, and Ming Chuang Publishing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong listened in stunned silence as Li Ye rattled off names like a menu—by the time he’d named over twenty publishers, Pei Wencong’s sense of calm and superiority had vanished completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【So this Seven-Inch Blade knows Hong Kong well—in fact, from the very beginning, he saw me for what I am: a tiny shrimp.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When dealing with Lanhai Publishing, Pei Wencong had always maintained the persona of a “big Hong Kong businessman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now he realized—the Seven-Inch Blade had seen right through him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No mansion on the Peak, no renowned publishing house, no guarantee of turning things around in three months—inadvertently, the Seven-Inch Blade had gently peeled back Pei Wencong’s wounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong sighed for a second, then made his decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sir, long-distance calls are expensive—I’ll arrange your invitation letter by Spring Festival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let’s talk about the profit-sharing now—I think 20% is perfectly reasonable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong felt uneasy—he feared the Seven-Inch Blade might now demand 25% or even 30%.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, he had no bargaining power left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this Seven-Inch Blade simply wrote a letter to Joint Publishing or Commercial Press saying the copyright for 'Shuangfeng Feiyang' wasn’t held by Tawang Publishing, all Pei Wencong’s month-long efforts would benefit someone else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would he work tirelessly to build up 'Shuangfeng Feiyang's' reputation, only to let the big fish steal the harvest?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong couldn’t accept that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the 20% profit share Li Ye demanded—he could always find ways to manipulate it later…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then Pei Wencong suddenly remembered Li Ye’s earlier words on the phone: Don’t play games.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should he play games?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would it backfire?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye hung up the phone inside the Xicheng Post Office, curling his lips into a faint smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had assumed that whoever was connected to Lanhai Publishing couldn’t be a major publisher—after all, Lanhai wasn’t a cultural giant on the mainland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he hadn’t expected just how weak the other side was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Li Ye was still young, he couldn’t afford to be polite or deferential—he’d only be seen as weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he adopted a decisive, blunt, even unreasonable tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Tawang Publishing didn’t even put up a fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather, they lacked the courage to even slam the table or challenge him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either Pei Wencong was a powerless little fish grabbing at any scrap of profit, or a cunning, untrustworthy schemer planning to renege on his promises.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given the current situation between mainland China and Hong Kong, it wouldn’t be hard for the other side to play tricks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But so what?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Pei Wencong can play games, why can’t Li Ye?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could cut off your serialization mid-stream, or even release a special edition that subtly leads you into a trap—Hong Kong’s colonial government might even invite you for a “tea chat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye dialed Dong Yuejin at Lanhai Publishing again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Dong, have you drafted the reprint contract? If so, send someone over to sign it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Yuejin paused, then chuckled and scolded: \"I’ve had it ready since day one—just waiting for your big-writer approval! But didn’t you already foresee this situation when you signed the original contract?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, when Li Ye signed with Dong Yuejin, he had explicitly reserved only mainland sales rights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the time, Lanhai never imagined a cheap book could earn foreign exchange—they’d casually overlooked it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, they had to sign another contract and peel off another layer of profit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye laughed: \"Times are changing—we should look at things from a developmental perspective, right? Besides, you’re getting this money for free—I’m only taking a small cut, nothing excessive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t say that, little brother,\" Dong Yuejin said seriously. \"No matter how famous you are on the mainland, you’re still just an individual. We at Lanhai are a state-run institution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I won’t ask why you insist on dealing with Hong Kong, but I warn you: any agreement you make with Hong Kong, without Lanhai’s involvement, may not hold legal weight—capitalists don’t care about honor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know, Brother. Legitimacy comes from strength.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, you’re right—it’s all about strength. And Lanhai has strength.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“。”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye didn’t want to explain to Dong Yuejin that the “strength” he meant wasn’t Lanhai’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, if Hong Kong reneged, Lanhai would be powerless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Ye was certain Pei Wencong could see the true strength of 'Shuangfeng Feiyang.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Kong’s literary scene was certainly filled with brilliant minds—Gu Liang Jin were giants of their era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But 'Shuangfeng Feiyang' was a literary work spanning nearly thirty years, written on the shoulders of predecessors—its perspective and understanding of reader psychology far surpassed 1980s standards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previous generations had spent countless works testing reader preferences, and today’s writers absorbed them unconsciously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many now simply feel 'Shuangfeng Feiyang' is thrilling to read, but its core substance is entirely different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Li Ye, how did your talks with Hong Kong go? Did they agree to issue you an invitation?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Yuejin tried to control his tone so Li Ye wouldn’t sense anything unusual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the society meeting, they clearly said to let the Seven-Inch Blade test the waters, see how Hong Kong responds—if it works, we could even issue invitations ourselves!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the Seven-Inch Blade is young; being turned down won’t shame them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They said they’re applying—it’s not easy to handle,” Li Ye said. “I won’t chat anymore, Brother Dong. I might send you a similar manuscript soon—give it some consideration.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A similar manuscript? What kind?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The title isn’t settled yet, but the mailing address should be Peking University.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, that invitation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dududuu~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Yuejin listened to the dial tone, shook his head, and muttered bitterly, “How could it be that easy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye hung up the phone and paid the call fee, drawing stunned looks from the post office staff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, several dozen yuan was no small sum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He mounted his bicycle and rode slowly to find Li Huai and the others—today was the last day to mail submissions, or they’d miss the next issue of New Wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Li Ye arrived at Li Huai’s activity room, before he even stepped inside, several people were shoving Li Huai and Yang Yu, getting pushed out the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These men weren’t as strong as Li Huai and lost the shoving match, but their mouths didn’t stop: “What’s this about promoting historical culture? You’re just digging up feudal trash from the garbage pile!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You were raised by the new society, yet you praise and glorify that decaying feudal dynasty—you’re an embarrassment to Peking University. Only fools would publish your articles.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Huai and the others blushed with anger, clearly furious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even mild-mannered Yang Yu grabbed a broom handle and shouted at the men outside:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You write your poetry, we write ours. Say one more word—I’ll crack your skull open.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go ahead, hit me. If I dodge, you’re impressive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The poet outside kept talking tough, but his body was helplessly shoved far back by Li Huai, and he finally stormed off, breathing heavily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yu dropped the broom and glared at Li Ye, who stood nearby grinning at the spectacle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little brother, you came at the perfect time—watched a good comedy. You owe us admission.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye ignored his teasing and asked, “Who are those two? What grudge do they have with us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Two great poets,” Li Huai snorted, nodding toward the room. “That’s the grudge—but nobody admits it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye stepped forward and glanced inside, spotting a very tall girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A long, neat braid hung down her back, radiating efficiency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye whispered, “Who’s this trying to stir up jealousy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jealousy? Pfft. She just likes reading what we write, doesn’t care for their poetry. I’m not looking down on poets—but their poems? Pfft.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye nodded, decided not to enter, and turned to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third-year campus gossip had nothing to do with him, a freshman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Huai grabbed Li Ye, urgently saying, “It’s been days—we’ve argued back and forth and still can’t settle on a title. You’ve got ideas—give us one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason Li Huai’s group hadn’t named their new book was because they’d caught the academic disease:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>None of them were from ancient literature or history, yet they kept tossing out archaic names like “Return O’” and “Come Back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye thought for a moment and said, “I’m an economics major. From an economic standpoint, a popular title must be simple and clear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Like ‘Lonely Soldiers Gazing Home’—you hear it and instantly understand. Add a banner with a Tang-character flag and some tattered armor on the cover, and you’re done.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“‘Lonely Soldiers Gazing Home’? That’s too plain—no historical flavor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, I’m uneducated—I’m leaving. My girlfriend’s waiting for me to eat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Huai stared blankly after Li Ye’s retreating figure, filled with resentment and envy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He, a freshman, already had a beautiful, elegant girlfriend—while he, a third-year, still bickered like peacocks with a bunch of poets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pfft—who’s showing off?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Huai pushed open the door and said coldly, “I asked Li Ye. He says the book’s title is ‘Lonely Soldiers Gazing Home.’ Any objections?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long silence, one student finally said, “Arguing is pointless. Whatever. Just don’t use your ‘Soul-Calling’ title.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong with my title? ‘Return O’ isn’t soul-calling!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another round of arguing broke out, and eventually even the tall girl joined in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scholars can’t rebel for three years—it’s not without reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2458,"2026-06-20T05:04:59.129Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c7864d9372d1aed270343d19283ae5d64d1b0c473a45d798630f665bd894296c","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-154","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-152",884,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-cover.jpg"]