[{"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-168":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},2294586,4489,"Chapter 168: One Hundred and Sixty-Eighth Chapter: Ruling Twenty Thousand Li, None Dare Disobey","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-168",168,"\u003Cp>Hong Kong Island, Sai Wan, Tàlàng Literature Publishing House.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong sat in a brand-new executive chair, legs crossed, his shiny leather shoes bouncing—three parts smugness, three parts ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But a sharp-eyed psychologist observing him would notice four parts anxiety hidden beneath his movements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within ten minutes, Pei Wencong spun his chair seven times and unconsciously touched his left wrist four times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On his left wrist he wore a newly bought Rolex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A genuine Rolex worth sixty thousand Hong Kong dollars—not those cheap fakes that shatter with a single hard slap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The saying goes: money can solve ninety-nine percent of problems, including the matter of “face.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few months ago, Pei Wencong spent fifteen minutes every morning grooming himself: suit crisp, shoes polished, a battered Corolla wiped again and again, desperately holding up his face in social interactions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the fake smiles of others, and his own inner unease, made him realize that forced face was not real face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Money is a man’s courage—this phrase is certainly extreme, yet it holds some truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wise men with strong inner cores can ignore the illusion of money, but aren’t there still more ordinary people in this world?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So once he had money in his pocket, Pei Wencong immediately transformed himself to test whether this saying was true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The proof showed it was largely correct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, he himself now had confidence, and his partners clearly became much warmer toward him—even if he internally despised their opportunism, he couldn’t deny how satisfying it felt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a time, Pei Wencong was riding high, floating on air, feeling he was only one step away from Hong Kong’s elite class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But a month ago, sudden changes appeared on Hong Kong’s market: several “masterpieces” on the same theme as *Shuofeng Feiyang* suddenly hit shelves, riding the trend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong had some psychological preparation, since Hong Kong’s literary market was highly commercialized—once a theme became popular, imitators flooded in, nothing unusual or shameful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the simultaneous release of works by several long-established writers greatly exceeded Pei Wencong’s expectations, bringing him intense pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never mind how prestigious those authors were—the publishing houses behind them were so powerful they crushed Pei Wencong with pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shulian Sales, highly sensitive to the market, immediately notified Pei Wencong to respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for how to respond, they left it to him to figure out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Pei Wencong urgently alerted Qichun Dao Feng in the north, urging him to take this seriously and make the subsequent plotlines more captivating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was almost as humiliating as saying, “I’m weak and frail, unable to withstand storms.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with imminent wealth facing uncertain danger, how could Pei Wencong still care about face?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Even three more months would do! Even two months!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong felt helpless: just two more months of growth, and Tàlàng Literature’s accounts would have tens or even hundreds of thousands in surplus—he could then deploy market tactics to challenge those competitors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, he simply had no strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rain fell again outside the window; the deep, winding crack on the gray building wall ten meters away was maddeningly irritating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A Min, hasn’t Shulian Sales sent this month’s report yet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong shouted toward the clerk, A Min.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today was the day Shulian Sales distributed reports to partners—all cooperating merchants received last month’s sales data.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If sales were good last month, promotion would increase this month; if sales were poor, the consequences spoke for themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong’s anxiety today stemmed from this report, since within days after its release, Shulian Sales’ revenue share would be deposited into Tàlàng Literature’s account.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was real cash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not yet, Boss—you’ve asked me three times already this morning,” A Min smiled at Pei Wencong. “According to our market survey, this month should still be fine! Don’t be so anxious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where am I anxious? I’m just bored!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong naturally wouldn’t admit his nervousness—his mouth was stubbornly stiff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A boss must never show weakness in front of employees—even if his legs trembled, he must remain unmoved under a mountain’s weight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re bored, why not write a review and trash that Korean guy named Park? Are you a Hong Kong University Chinese Literature graduate or just a fraud?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiang, who was Ditou  editing layouts, muttered a retort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few days ago, a Korean immigrant openly plagiarized *Shuofeng Feiyang* and published it in a small magazine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He merely swapped the protagonist and supporting characters’ names—didn’t even bother changing plotlines, sentences, or paragraphs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he claimed it came from Korean historical records—truly infuriating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiang, a fiery junior editor, immediately wrote a scathing review—but the guy’s pen was sharper, and his rebuttal shut Qiang up completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he kept pushing Pei Wencong to engage in a war of words; Pei Wencong’s writing was excellent, just neglected these past years due to business.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Qiang, verbal battles have levels. You, Huo Renqiang, fighting that Park guy is evenly matched. But I, Pei Wencong, drive a Benz. To even glance at him is to lower myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong looked down at Qiang with contempt, chin raised proudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiang instantly bristled, returning the contempt: “How is your level higher than mine? Is there hierarchy between people? Don’t forget your Benz was secondhand—I bought it for you. What’s there to boast about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A Benz is a Benz—even a secondhand Benz is still a Benz.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong sneered, unashamed—wasn’t a secondhand Benz still a luxury car? Besides, I wear a Rolex on my arm! You, Qiang, can’t even be bothered to comb your hair—how could you be on my level?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re just stingy. You promised us a raise three months ago and still haven’t given it. You bought yourself a Rolex to show off, [52] but I know you’ve secretly saved money. We work our asses off for you, and this is how you treat us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t think I don’t know you’ve been secretly hoarding money—we work our asses off for you every day, and this is how you treat us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiang angrily tossed down his work, ready to argue fiercely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d followed Pei Wencong for years, enduring hardship without complaint—they weren’t just boss and employee, but close enough that an argument carried no psychological weight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m the boss. Do I need your approval to spend or save my own money?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong was also growing angry—he had indeed saved money, but that was Li Ye’s 20%. A man must keep his word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Min smiled, brewed coffee, and stood aside to watch the drama. But after just two sips, the office’s ancient fax machine began whirring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop arguing! Shulian Sales’ fax just came in!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both the furious Qiang and the smug Pei Wencong rushed to the fax machine, staring as the paper slowly emerged, tense as death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were all insiders—they knew how vital this data was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the settlement statement finished printing, Qiang stared at the numbers in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He blurted: “How can this be so high? Did Shulian Sales’ finance department make a mistake?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Min exclaimed happily: “How could Shulian Sales’ finance make a mistake? They’re at least HKU graduates. This is exactly what our press is owed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But it shouldn’t be this much! It’s more than last month… Oh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiang suddenly felt a sharp pain at the back of his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned—Pei Wencong held a thick magazine, clearly enraged, having grabbed the nearest object and hurled it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You bastard, stop being a jinx! Say one more word like that, I’ll dock three months’ salary and make you eat rice for free.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Hong Kong, superstition ran rampant—everything required good omens. Qiang’s unconscious muttering had offended Pei Wencong’s beliefs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiang knew he was in the wrong, so he stepped aside from the fax machine and sulked off to draw his comics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Min and Pei Wencong watched silently as the fax machine continued printing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But today’s report was unlike any before—it whirred for a long time without finishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing several pages of dense data, A Min stared in shock at Pei Wencong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong closed his eyes, tilted his head toward the ceiling, then said slowly: “Overseas sales must have exploded—Malaysia, Shicheng, and sales across the strait far exceeded our expectations.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Min found it hard to believe—only a few famous writers had significant influence in surrounding Chinese-speaking regions capable of driving readers to spend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qichun Dao Feng had only just emerged in Hong Kong—many places hadn’t even heard his name!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, A Min couldn’t help asking: “Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because of identification—with Huazhong civilization.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Min seemed to see a strange halo around Pei Wencong’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shicheng, Malaysia, Hong Kong… though far from the mainland, more prosperous, advanced, and open today, [80] no one can deny we share the same roots, the same ancestral civilization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no one can deny that we share the same origin and have a common ancestral civilization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter which flag we swear under or which national anthem we sing, we all internally recognize our skin, eyes, and hair as unique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if some deny it, these traits remain indelible bloodline marks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Min frowned, pondered long, then asked: “But how does this connect to *Shuofeng Feiyang*’s success?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong smiled: “A Min, do you know what ‘admiring strength’ means?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Min chuckled: “Admiring strength? That’s women envying men! We women all hope for a strong man to protect us, shield us from wind and rain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not just that. Admiring strength is all the weak’s reverence and envy toward the strong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong pointed north, lost in thought: “When I was in university, I encountered things not in textbooks…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For thousands of years, though dynasties rose and fell on the mainland, they maintained overwhelming dominance and influence over East Asia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within twenty thousand li north and south, everyone bowed to the northern dynasty, soaked in its culture—orders issued, none dared disobey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the height of Korean royal palace roofs was restricted by the mainland dynasty—dared not exceed by a single millimeter. Can you believe that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong smiled, continued: “The mainland has weakened recently, but how could thousands of years of historical influence vanish?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As long as Chinese is spoken, this identification with history, ancestors, and strength will never die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Shuofeng Feiyang*’s depiction of the mighty Tang Dynasty has quietly, silently, reconquered this land.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From now on, no need to worry,” Pei Wencong added with a light laugh. “Those authors who lack true identification cannot produce a work like *Shuofeng Feiyang*—they’ll inevitably fall short.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At 4:30 p.m., Pei Wencong stood beside the publishing house phone, doing nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was his scheduled weekly call with Li Ye, to exchange information and needs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Li Ye didn’t call this week, it meant no urgent needs—postpone until next week.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This left Pei Wencong passive: if something urgent arose, he had to either go through Blue Ocean Publishing or wait for Li Ye to call.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After some time of contact, Pei Wencong changed his original view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Lanhai Publishing placed great importance on Pei Wencong, their operational style was too conservative, burdened with countless rules and restrictions; instead, this Seven-Inch Blade had gradually grown compatible with Pei Wencong’s temperament.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ding ling ling~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phone rang on time; Pei Wencong picked up the receiver and heard a familiar voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The call might drop at any moment, so I’ll be brief,” Li Ye said calmly: “First, buy me the latest books and magazines on finance, and forward them to me through Lanhai Publishing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second, a novel called ‘Wandering Soldiers of the Homeland’ may soon be submitted to your press—arrange for its serialization as soon as possible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong listened patiently until Li Ye finished, then quickly voiced his anxiety: “Mr. Li, the situation I told you about last time has worsened recently.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I haven’t received your next manuscript yet—I’m wondering if the plot has any fresh elements?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye replied: “Do you think brilliant plotlines alone can crush your rivals in such a situation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong said apologetically: “I know, I know—I’ll ramp up marketing. I just got this month’s sales report; there should be some surplus funds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, no promotional tactic beats an author’s diligence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye said coldly: “I sent you two hundred thousand characters of manuscript. Whether you issue it as a special supplement or standalone volumes, flood the market—smother them with volume.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Flood the market? Smother them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong didn’t quite understand; it sounded like Li Ye was talking about eating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Does this Seven-Inch Blade like rolled pancakes? In the north, they have scallion pancakes.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Wencong ventured: “Mr. Li, if I understand correctly, you mean to overwhelm them with quantity?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, you understand perfectly—smother them with volume.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2099,"2026-06-20T05:04:59.129Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","1186cdafb46aa01e2f29571cabc1dfb728db730375f745af1e065cf186eb42ae","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-169","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-167",884,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-cover.jpg"]