[{"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-188":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},2294606,4489,"Chapter 188: Jiang Xiao Goes Berserk","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-188",188,"\u003Cp>When the train arrived at Dongshan Provincial City Station, Li Ye emerged from the sleeper car, his back burdened with two suitcases, hands clutching three handbags, and a shoulder bag dangling around his neck—he looked like a bloated snowman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu had arranged things well when seeing him off, assigning Li Dayong and others to share the load, making the journey to Dongshan effortless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Dayong and the others were in the hard-seat carriage, where boarding was already a struggle, worse than Li Ye carrying everything himself—so he handled it alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet after disembarking, Li Ye certainly wouldn’t be foolish enough to carry it all himself—over a hundred jin of luggage dragging on him made walking unsteady, and if a pickpocket showed up, wouldn’t he be disgusted?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dayong! Dayong, come help me! Hey, hey, over here! Where are you running to?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye spotted Li Dayong, who stood a full one-meter-ninety, from afar—but after calling out twice, the guy ran even faster, vanishing past the exit gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I fucking—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Ye cursed, Fu Yingjie and Yan Jinbu arrived, each taking one of Li Ye’s suitcases; three girls together lifted his two handbags, leaving only the lightest shoulder bag still hanging around his neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Xue spoke quickly, teasing: “Li Ye, stop calling—Li Dayong chased after Lin Qiuyan. You didn’t see how she looked just now—like we were her enemies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye frowned: “Why does she treat you like that? Does she owe you something?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Xia laughed: “You’re really blunt. Those foreign exchange coupons were yours, right? Lin Qiuyan got her coat bought for her, but now she’s shivering in just a sweater—wouldn’t you be angry?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what? Do I need her approval to buy a mink coat?” Li Ye sneered. “Is Li Dayong an idiot? Can’t he take off his cotton-padded jacket and give it to her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Dayong did take off his jacket, but she refused to wear it! I think Li Dayong’s going to suffer for it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He brought it on himself. Men shouldn’t be more than three years older, women shouldn’t be more than four—Lin Qiuyan is four years older than Dayong. I opposed it from the start, but he spat at me, said I didn’t understand mature charm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone laughed and mocked Li Dayong, but Hu Man, who wasn’t there, said: “If what you say is true, Lin Qiuyan doesn’t think she’s wrong—so she must think you’re all wrong. All that anger would naturally land on Li Dayong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s not wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s hard to say—her coat might’ve really been expensive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The classmates couldn’t judge whether Lin Qiuyan was right or wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Ye said calmly: “Logically, she’s not wrong—but humanely, she has no humanity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye never thought Lin Qiuyan’s actions were wrong, but he fundamentally rejected her behavior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye and the others followed the crowd out of the train station, just as Lin Qiuyan slipped into a Jeep, while Li Dayong stood helplessly by the roadside, breathing in its exhaust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye smiled, walking over to Li Dayong: “Hey, she’s a refined lady! Dayong, you’ve hit the jackpot!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dayong glanced at Li Ye, lowering his head: “Brother, don’t tease me—I’m really hurting inside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Suffer in silence,” Li Ye said coldly. “Didn’t I tell you you had the right to choose? Why pick someone like this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qiuyan had started by putting on airs, then publicly snubbed Li Dayong—Li Ye found her utterly repulsive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was 1983.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Men weren’t even kneeling yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, girls rarely publicly lost their temper at boys.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasn’t Wen Leyu’s background good enough? Wasn’t she better than Lin Qiuyan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet when Li Ye was with Wen Leyu, eighty percent of the time he enjoyed her gentleness and thoughtfulness—she’d say: “I’ve never yelled at you—why would you fear me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even a girl like Wen Leyu thought it wrong to vent anger at a boy she liked—yet Lin Qiuyan, four years older, had her years gone to the dogs?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Dayong said: “Brother, she’s actually nice normally. Today wasn’t her fault—she adores that coat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye looked at his lifelong friend, heart heavy yet still defending Lin Qiuyan, and could only sigh helplessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those in the thick of it are blind; outsiders see clearly—but those in the thick aren’t blind by accident—they simply refuse to step out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Diiiiii~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A horn blared nearby, startling the silent brothers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye and Li Dayong looked up—it was the familiar Dongfeng 140, driven by Old Hu, with Li Ye’s adoptive father Li Kaijian in the passenger seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The 140 truck stopped before Li Ye; Old Hu jumped down, grinning: “My tire blew out—I almost missed the appointment!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Kaijian studied Li Ye carefully, then nodded in satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not thinner—slightly taller too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Satisfied, Li Kaijian waved to Jiang Xiao and the others: “Get in, I’ll take you home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Uncle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No thanks needed—it’s on the way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The students climbed into the truck bed and found it lined with straw mats and two quilts—they immediately spread them out, huddled together for warmth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dongfeng truck returned to Qingshui County, first dropping off Li Ye and Li Dayong in town, then heading to the countryside to deliver Han Xia, Yan Jinbu, and others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Li Ye’s doorstep, his two younger sisters, Li Ying and Li Juan, ran out cheering from afar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the six months Li Ye was away, the two girls had missed him terribly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Li Ye was home, the family improved meals every few days; after he left, they only improved once a week.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though this standard was still far higher than neighbors’, who wouldn’t prefer meat over vegetables?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, Li Juan’s pocket money had plummeted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their mother Han Chunmei was stingy—five fen a week, doled out reluctantly; how could that compare to her brother’s generosity?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Li Juan’s pocket money cut, her younger sister Li Ying suffered too—she had to constantly hide her savings, exhausting her wits to outsmart Li Juan, or else her hard-earned coins might vanish like prey to a rat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, you’re back—was the trip cold?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not cold at all. Help me carry the stuff—that gray handbag is your gift. Don’t mix it up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing their eager eyes, Li Ye hurried them to carry the bags—this large gift should make up for their long wait in the winter cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grandma Wu Juying stepped out too, studying her eldest grandson from all angles—only when she saw he hadn’t lost weight or gotten darker did she relax.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two girls hurried to carry Li Ye’s bags inside, then waited for Grandma to distribute them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Li Ye said the gray handbag was theirs, without Grandma’s approval, they dared not touch anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye, touched, stroked their heads and opened the bags himself to distribute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is from Teacher Ke for Grandma. This is for Grandpa. This is for the two girls.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, you’re a thoughtful brother—this much stuff could run a general store. Divide it yourselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Grandma’s permission, the girls happily began sorting their new clothes, shoes, and small gifts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when Li Ye pulled out the mink coat, before he could say it was for his elder sister Li Yue, Li Kaijian snatched it away: “Good of you—you bought your mother something nice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye: “.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grandma Wu Juying spoke softly: “Kaijian, why so eager? Do you think I’d fight your wife for it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Wait—didn’t any of you even ask me?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xiao jumped down from the Dongfeng truck, waved thanks to Driver Hu, then turned and hurried home, backpack on her back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her distractedness on the journey had been due to constant worry over her mother, Chen Jinhua.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over a month ago, Chen Jinhua had said she’d learned enough characters to come to Beijing to see Jiang Xiao—but Jiang Xiao waited and waited, and she never came.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xiao found it odd—based on her understanding of her mother, once she’d written a letter, she’d have come to Beijing before the New Year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Chen Jinhua couldn’t read, she kept her word—never broke a promise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So these past few days, Jiang Xiao had been restless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Passing the village entrance, Jiang Xiao saw a few old men basking in the sun, and politely greeted them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Er, Grandpa San, warming up here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, Xiao Yan’s back? Oh my, you’re back—your mother’s sick!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Puh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xiao’s backpack fell to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When did my mother get sick?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“About half a month ago,” one old man said. “For the past six months, she’s been weaving baskets at night and traveling markets by day—fifty to sixty li each day. Even iron would break.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xiao cried: “Didn’t I send someone to buy her a bicycle? Why is she still walking?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Child, you don’t understand—buying a bicycle won’t let your mother ride it. If you told her you had money, wouldn’t she have come to see you long ago?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xiao felt the world spin—she staggered home, fell twice, scraped her palms raw, and felt nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, girl, your backpack!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her Grandpa San called out, but Jiang Xiao didn’t hear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man walked over, picked up the pack, opened it curiously—and sighed: “This girl has a good heart—brought new clothes for family. Ah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mother~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mother, I’m back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xiao ran home, ignoring her grandparents, burst into Chen Jinhua’s room—and saw her mother motionless on the kang, tears streaming down her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mother, I’m back! Why won’t you answer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xiao’s soul nearly fled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she rushed to the kang and touched her mother’s forehead—it burned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xiao exhaled in relief—but then, fury erupted uncontrollably in her chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She spun and roared at her grandparents: “Mother’s like this—why wasn’t she taken to the hospital?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xiao’s grandparents froze—never in their lives had anyone shouted at them like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grandma glared and said, “Dead girl, who are you talking to?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xiaoyan didn’t back down: “I’m talking to you! You’re burning up like this—why aren’t you going to the hospital?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xiaoyan’s toughness forced Grandma back a step; she protested, “Who doesn’t get a headache or fever? Just tough it out, sweat it off—it’ll be fine. When I was young, I always did it this way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xiaoyan was so furious she wanted to curse, but even that felt beyond her strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the countryside, people never go to the hospital for a headache or fever—but when someone’s burning up and delirious, how can they still be so stubborn?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Jinhua is the backbone of this family! If Jiang Yougui were this sick, just see whether you’d go to the hospital or not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Yan! Xiao Yan’s back!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the bed, Chen Jinhua finally stirred weakly awake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xiaoyan forgot her anger at her grandparents; she turned and gripped Chen Jinhua’s hand: “Mama, I’m back. We’re going to the hospital right now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Jinhua forced a smile: “No need. I’ll just sweat it out. Don’t waste money.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xiaoyan said nothing—she dragged her mother and started dressing her. Outside, her grandparents chattered on, but she heard not a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Third Grandpa arrived at the Jiang household carrying Jiang Xiaoyan’s bundle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look here! This is the New Year’s gift your granddaughter brought you. I say, for the child’s sake, don’t be so unreasonable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Third Grandpa hadn’t finished speaking when Jiang Xiaoyan burst out of the house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She snatched the bundle, tore it open in a few swift motions, then marched over to the winter stove, lifted the lid, and tossed the clothes inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bundle was too big, the stove opening too small—but once good clothes caught fire, how could they possibly stay intact?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1945,"2026-06-20T05:04:59.129Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","67bf84418954e0002933400f146f1ec873b36d42c9342d732c7092fe6874b289","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-189","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-187",884,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-cover.jpg"]