[{"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-205":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},2294623,4489,"Chapter 205: Wen Leyu: I Missed You!","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-205",205,"\u003Cp>The next morning, Li Ye was still asleep when he heard loud knocking at the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he heard Wang Qiangdong call out from the courtyard: “Who is it? Who are you looking for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the door, Wen Leyu’s voice replied: “I’m here for Li Ye.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Qiangdong asked sternly: “I’m asking who you are.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman outside said nothing more, but Li Ye had already slipped on slippers and thrown on his coat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s my classmate, here to see me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh oh, let me open it for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I’ll open it myself—go back and rest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh oh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Qiangdong hurried back to the side room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d slept in the side room with Wang Qiangqiang the night before, and had woken early to sweep all the snow from the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he hadn’t expected to block Wen Leyu outside—seeing Li Ye rush out barefoot in slippers, how could he not know what he’d done?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye flung open the gate and saw Wen Leyu standing outside in a thick cotton-padded coat, frost clinging to her beautiful eyebrows, her tiny nose red from the cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu, seeing Li Ye dressed only in autumn underwear and a coat, rolled her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two stared at each other, then almost simultaneously spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aren’t you cold?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aren’t you cold?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get inside!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get inside!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two perfectly synced lines made the young couple burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come on, hurry inside—how did you come out alone in this weather?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye took Wen Leyu’s hand and pulled her inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You said you’d arrive yesterday, but with all that snow I didn’t know what was going on—this morning I called Jin Peng, he said you got to Zaojunmiao, so I came!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu was still reserved, too shy to say outright “I missed you,” but the way she looked at Li Ye made him feel that meaning clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye instinctively rubbed her head; she didn’t pull away, only tilted her head like a big orange cat and mewed softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In this weather, you should’ve had Jin Peng call me—I could’ve gone straight to your place. What if you’d slipped on the way?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wouldn’t slip!” Wen Leyu said proudly. “Since you left, I’ve practiced bayonet drills every day—my stance is way more solid now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye pulled her inside and warned: “Bayonet drills are just for fitness—don’t overdo it, or you’ll end up with thick legs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could they get thick? I feel like they’ve gotten thinner!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu answered instinctively, then realized what she’d said, tilted her head, and glanced at Li Ye to see if he had any wicked thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, Li Ye’s cultivation was already extremely high—he wouldn’t let his girlfriend peek into his secrets so easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He brought over a small stool, placed it beside the radiator, and pulled Wen Leyu down to sit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Warm your hands first—I’ll change clothes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu sat obediently in front of the radiator, but when she heard Li Ye changing clothes, she sneaked a glance, stretching her neck to look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she saw him putting on a strangely crooked sweater, she snapped her head back and giggled softly twice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the sweater she’d knitted for him—twisted, uneven stitches, no repeating patterns, looking like some abstract art piece.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She rewove it twice and barely finished it before the New Year, too embarrassed to give it directly, so she slipped it into a pile of New Year gifts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't expect Li Ye to look so good wearing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After dressing, Li Ye asked: “Have you eaten, Xiao Yu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu replied: “I had a small bowl of noodles—my mom made them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye, now dressed, asked again: “I have lamb soup from yesterday—want to have a bowl with me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu stuck out her tongue and nodded: “Okay, I’ll have one with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wow—Wen Leyu devoured that bowl with gusto.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On a freezing winter day, hot lamb soup with a splash of vinegar was both appetizing and warming; in front of Li Ye, she never hid her appetite, going bowl after bowl without shame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye smiled approvingly: “So you weren’t lying—you really trained hard these days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More exercise means bigger appetite; sitting idle all day won’t increase your hunger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu picked the fatty bits from her bowl and placed them in Li Ye’s: “My mom teased me the other day—said if things weren’t better now, she couldn’t even feed me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye replied instantly: “No problem—I’ll feed you. I’ll make you plump and rosy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu narrowed her eyes at Li Ye, then after several seconds, softly spat out one word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye wasn’t going anywhere—he wasn’t some shy, blushing rookie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He propped his chin on one hand, staring steadily at Wen Leyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her complexion had improved greatly—once pale and cool-toned, now clearly flushed with healthy pink, very lovely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Girls of this era differed from those of the future: less powdered and perfumed, but healthier, with strong blood and qi, their fingernail moons large and bright white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn’t burn out mentally—no late nights, no binge-watching, no gaming, no agonizing over whether to drink bubble tea or Amuxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this assumed adequate nutrition—after a year and a half of care, Wen Leyu had fully recovered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing Li Ye’s bold gaze, Wen Leyu drank the last sip of soup calmly, then pushed her bowl away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You wash the dishes today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, give me ten minutes, then I’ll go to your place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu blinked: “Why are you going to my place?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye chuckled: “I took so many New Year gifts from you—don’t I need to return the favor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu pouted: “You’re not an outsider—so formal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listen to that—how sweet is that? How satisfying?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Li Ye dragged out two large suitcases; Wen Leyu excitedly opened one and saw a full array of clothes and shoes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu stared at the contents, then blurted: “Did you hide money last time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In 1983, RMB didn’t work in Hong Kong—last time Li Ye had shown five thousand U.S. dollars, and still had five thousand left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Wen Leyu seemed sweet and gentle, her mind was sharp—she’d instinctively hit the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, why would I hide money?” Li Ye said without blinking. “I took that English manuscript to Hong Kong—they accepted it and paid me part of the fee upfront.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I figured if I brought it back, I might have to hand it over, so I just spent it. This big suitcase is yours—that other one is for your mom, dad, and brother. Really, I used your money to buy these.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu tried on a coat, then a trench coat, admiring herself—her beautiful brows curved into crescents, joy blooming across her face like spring jasmine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did she care about the clothes?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—she cared about Li Ye’s favoritism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two suitcases: she got one all to herself; her parents and brother squeezed into the other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What’s this called?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s knowing where the real power lies—though her family had other powerful members, she was the one who truly mattered to Li Ye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cough, I bought quite a few things for you, so I ended up using your mom's royalty payment too. When we get to your house, you'll have to cover for me and make sure Miss Ke doesn't get upset.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Absolutely not,” Wen Leyu said, chin lifted confidently. “My mom already entrusted me with her manuscript fees—and she’ll never ask about our little savings again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu was certain—she’d already explained this to her mother before. With their deep understanding, Professor Ke would never again inquire about “her and Li Ye’s” money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye carried the two suitcases out of the main room; Wang Qiangdong immediately emerged from the side room and helped load them into the car, ready to drive Li Ye out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Ye said: “I’ll drive myself—today, have Qiangqiang take you around, try some Beijing snacks, see the lantern festival.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Qiangdong paused, about to speak, but Wang Qiangqiang silenced him with a look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Li Ye drove off, Wang Qiangqiang told Wang Qiangdong: “Next time you see this girl, don’t get too close. Do you know what a ‘light bulb’ is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Qiangdong mumbled: “But Uncle Li told me to stick with Li Ye and protect his safety.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Qiangqiang patted Wang Qiangdong’s shoulder: “Don’t worry—Li Ye’s skills are no joke. Ordinary people can’t touch him. And anyone who dares to bother that girl? They’ll be in for a real surprise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>………………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since it was Sunday, Professor Ke and the Wen family were all home; when Li Ye arrived, Professor Ke had nearly finished preparing the meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye put down his things and went to help in the kitchen, which pleased Professor Ke immensely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A son-in-law who earns money, cooks well, and knows how to care—how could their Wen Leyu ever be mistreated?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the table, Wen Leyu took several bottles of brandy from Li Ye’s large suitcase and placed them before Wen Qingsheng; Wen Qingsheng protested, “Too much trouble, too extravagant!”—then told his son to pour Li Ye a full glass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye had taken so many New Year gifts from them—how could he come back after the holiday only remembering Wen Leyu and her mother, forgetting the two men?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the suitcase was too small—he could only give them two bottles of wine and two pairs of high-end leather shoes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, Wen Leyu had taken one pair of imported leather shoes from her father for Li Ye—he didn’t say anything, but he knew exactly what was owed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere at the table was warm—Professor Ke ladled soup into Li Ye’s bowl and smiled: “How was your trip to Hong Kong? Did the glitter there dazzle you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye shook his head and said, “It’s certainly more prosperous than our side, but not everyone lives in wealth, and gold isn’t lying around for anyone to pick up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Many people are worried about what they’ll eat tomorrow, and class oppression is far more severe than here—ordinary people finding upward mobility is even harder than it is here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Ke was surprised; she’d only asked offhandedly, never expecting Li Ye to answer so seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, the mainland has its own influence in Hong Kong; the general public doesn’t know the real situation, but those above certainly do, and Teacher Ke was somewhat aware of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she asked again, “How do you know all this? Did your contacts at the publishing house tell you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sort of,” Li Ye said. “Besides people from the publishing house, I also talked with two fellow writers—they reacted strongly to this issue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But many there have misunderstandings about us, and I noticed some small problems with their textbooks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Problems with textbooks? What kind of problems?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Ke hadn’t paid much attention before—after all, the situations Li Ye described weren’t within her responsibilities—but as someone in the education system, she was highly sensitive to textbook issues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can’t explain it clearly. I bought a few copies and left them in my suitcase. If you have time, take a look—I just find them uncomfortable to read.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, I’ll check them later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Ke looked at Li Ye and grew increasingly satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just now, when she saw him carrying two large suitcases inside, she thought he’d spent his days in Hong Kong shopping! Yet he’d actually done some real work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These days, inspections and exchanges are mostly official business plus shopping. Li Ye’s performance was more reliable than many official delegates—and if you factor in his age, calling him merely “excellent” wouldn’t be enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, let’s not talk business over drinks,” Wen Qingsheng raised his glass toward Li Ye. “I need to thank you, Li Ye. Xiao Yu has been training well these days—her health has improved. Hey, I always said, if Teacher Ke won’t drink with us, we should just have a good time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye felt awkward, because Wen Leyu had once said she wanted to learn bayonet combat from Wen Qingsheng—but Teacher Ke had stopped her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, she was being “corrupted” by Li Ye again—would Teacher Ke be upset?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye stole a glance at Teacher Ke and saw her smiling, as if she hadn’t noticed anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after he drank three bottles with Wen Qingsheng and Wen Guohua, and watched the father and son swaying on the verge of collapse, he finally sensed something off about Teacher Ke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, at this point, Teacher Ke would raise her glass and drink with Li Ye, “taking him down” to preserve Wen Qingsheng’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But today, Teacher Ke just smiled warmly at Wen Qingsheng, showing no intention to help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fine, never offend Teacher Ke—uncles, big brother, just fall down already!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll drink mine. Uncle Wen, help yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dr—drink it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>………………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye “got drunk.” Teacher Ke forbade him from driving after drinking and “forcefully” made him stay overnight in the guest room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu covered Li Ye with a blanket, slipped out quietly, then found Teacher Ke and said, “Mom, your authority is growing—you don’t even need to say a word, and Li Ye pretends to be drunk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? Are you blaming me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Ke smiled. “Xiao Yu, your temper is stubborn. Bayonet training can strengthen your body, but it easily breeds aggression. Li Ye knocking down a dozen men at once looks impressive—but it’s dangerous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mom, why are you sounding just like Li Ye? He’s always nagging me: train every three days, strengthen your body, don’t be reckless or aggressive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Ye is right! You won’t listen to me—will you not listen to him either?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why should I listen to him?” Wen Leyu pouted, then wrapped her arm around Teacher Ke’s. “I’d rather listen to Mom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mother and daughter chatted as they opened Li Ye’s suitcase and tried on the clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Ke wore the low-key luxury coat Li Ye had specially bought for her—and was very pleased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Fan Xiuling, following Li Ye’s instructions, who took him around several malls in Hong Kong to pick it out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fabric felt excellent, the style and color understated—seemingly conservative, yet sleek and elegant, perfectly matching her status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Wen Leyu’s several trench coats and overcoats also delighted Teacher Ke; she just couldn’t wear flashy clothes for work—but which woman doesn’t love beauty?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu grinned mischievously. “Li Ye accidentally bought too much—he spent your entire royalty payment on me. Mom, pick one from mine. Just one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Ke looked at her daughter with a half-smile, teasing, “Oh? How could that be? Xiao Yu, you’re really generous?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu replied generously, “Of course I am! Mom, pick whatever you like—I promise I won’t whine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Ke laughed, picked one up, and slipped it on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she couldn’t fasten the buttons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She tried another—sleeves too long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Ke slowly turned her head toward Wen Leyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu giggled like a cunning little fox.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mom, it’s not that I’m stingy—Li Ye bought small sizes. You just can’t wear them. Don’t blame me for being stingy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ohhh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Ke chuckled and flicked Wen Leyu’s forehead with a snap, shattering the girl’s smugness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2528,"2026-06-20T05:05:01.382Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","7dac27597bc40149accb7d4ee365405538d5cbcdbf0380891b5439ad7cefa6ae","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-206","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-204",884,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-cover.jpg"]