[{"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-217":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},2294635,4489,"Chapter 217: The Little Cat Guarding Her Food","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-217",217,"\u003Cp>Li Ye and the others arrived at the Zaojunmiao sihe academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Li Ye rarely stayed here overnight, Jin Peng had fully equipped the place with daily necessities; a color television sat in the living room, gathering dust year-round.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the time, televisions had no internet cables and relied entirely on external antennas to receive signals; in Jingcheng, only five or six channels could be picked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The signals from Channel One and Jingcheng Television were the clearest, with sharp images, while the others displayed varying degrees of snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At exactly nine o’clock, Channel One began broadcasting a promotional segment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On screen, a single beam of light appeared—the first light of dawn—slowly awakening the sleeping city of Jingcheng; quiet streets gradually filled with figures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Water trucks rolled slowly down the roads, sanitation workers swept the streets clean, and the city, moments before half-asleep, suddenly became tidy and vibrant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Workers began streaming out of their homes, merging onto the streets, heading toward their workplaces on waves of bicycles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the camera shifted, scenes from every industry appeared on screen; everyone’s faces beamed with happy smiles, showing how well their small lives were going.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Peng watched the footage and muttered under his breath: “They really used our ad. If we use the same ad to advertise on Channel One, aren’t we just making things harder for them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The opening of this promotional segment used the exact same visuals as the Fenghua Clothing advertisement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Fenghua’s ad, after the scenes of people going to work, models would appear—suddenly bursting into bright red, yellow, and white fashion colors against a dull backdrop of gray, green, and black, creating a stark contrast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this promotional piece showed water trucks, sanitation workers, and office employees, gradually depicting various industries, only introducing the fashionable models at the very end as symbols of the “new era.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, this was a promotional film already shot and prepared, but after seeing Fenghua’s ad, the editors had hastily spliced in those footage clips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Except for the shots displaying the Fenghua Clothing logo, they’d used nearly all the best parts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Budebushuo ， Zhegegaidongxiaoguohenhao ， Yinweipaisheyaoqiu 、 Shoufadebutong ， Naxiesuiyizirandemote 、 Yanyuan ， Fanerrangrenmenganshoudaolegengqiangliedezixin ， Congcemianxianchulelingyizhongduibixiaoguo 。\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only thing that surprised Li Ye was that the promotional film ended with his own natural runway walk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That segment didn’t exist in Fenghua’s ad, yet the director of this film had added it in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Actually, getting our ad on Channel One was difficult, but now there’s an opening.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s ride this wave—get Hao Jian to place ads on provincial TV stations quickly, while the impression from Channel One is still fresh in viewers’ minds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But we can’t use the original ad anymore. Shoot a new one—don’t repeat the previous footage, but make it feel familiar, like ‘I’ve seen this before.’ Master Wang will understand what I mean.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also, have Hao Jian rush a batch of clothing samples over for backup, and ramp up recruitment and training for new staff—get factory workers past ten thousand as soon as possible to ensure sufficient production capacity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After watching the promotional film, Li Ye laid out a string of demands to Jin Peng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye had indeed planned to advertise on Channel One, but after talking with Wen Qingsheng that day, he learned Channel One rarely accepted ads from foreign-funded enterprises.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, “Astro Boy” was aired free of charge in exchange for a Japanese watch ad on Channel One.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coca-Cola came even later—only in 1986, when Channel One wanted to buy a BBC documentary but lacked funds, did Coca-Cola seize the chance and sponsor 200,000 yuan to secure airtime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the day it aired, eighteen TV stations across the country broadcast Coca-Cola’s ad simultaneously, making it instantly famous nationwide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fenghua Clothing’s trademark belonged to Hong Kong’s Seris Company; if thoroughly reviewed, it might cause complications.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now that Channel One had aired this promotional film, Li Ye saw a glimmer of opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Peng drove them back to campus. Li Ye saw Wen Leyu to her dormitory; as they parted, Wen Leyu said: “Remember to come wake me up for morning exercise tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So the little lazy cat finally remembers to exercise? Good. From now on, sleep early and rise early—stop staying up late.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t the little lazy cat doing all this for you? Hmph~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye teased Wen Leyu with a smile; she shot back a scolding remark before heading into the dorm building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the past few days, Wen Leyu had been buried in translating manuscripts, skipping running and sparring; Li Ye had worried it might harm her physical development, but now it seemed the girl had strong self-discipline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But only the next day did Li Ye realize Wen Leyu wasn’t just disciplined—she was extremely alert.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the moment they began their morning jog around Weiminghu, people kept staring at Li Ye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By noon and afternoon, when they ate together in the cafeteria, many pointed and whispered about him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them were girls from every grade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an era with a severe gender imbalance on campus, this was like stacking eighteen layers of ridicule on Li Ye, fully activating the hatred of singletons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Wen Leyu had been incredibly attentive, always by Li Ye’s side, radiating such a powerful aura that Li Ye avoided most of the embarrassment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was like a fierce little cat guarding her food, growling “Aowu!” at every other cat eyeing her treasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But on the afternoon of the third day, the class monitor approached Li Ye with a complicated expression and handed him two letters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Two students from other schools asked me to deliver these to you. After reading them, please write a reply.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Letters from students outside our school?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye took the letters, opened them, and was stunned—speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elegant handwriting, restrained words, gently revealing a girl’s admiration for a boy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were love letters!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye hadn’t seen anything like this in a very, very long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his past life, he’d written some—but never sent them. Maybe others had written to him, but he’d never received any.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, WeChat appeared: “Add me as a friend?” A quick tap could check mutual interest scores and predict success rates—casual, effortless. Who’d bother laboring over handwritten letters?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if your handwriting looked like dog scratches?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this life, by the time he reached Qingshui No. 2 High, everyone knew Li Ye’s name—who’d write him a love letter?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after arriving at Jingda, rumors of “Li Ye dancing by the lake with a girl” had reached the Economics Department’s class meeting; everyone vaguely knew he had a girlfriend, so no one dared to make things awkward for themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Ye never imagined that just a ten-second clip from the promotional film had drawn in girls from other schools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Girls in this era were far more reserved than those decades later; writing a love letter took enormous courage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So now, suddenly receiving two love letters, Li Ye felt they were burning hot in his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not good at writing replies. Can you help me return them, Monitor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Read them carefully first, then reply politely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, fine!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye reluctantly crafted two polite rejection notes, entrusted them to Monitor Zhen Rongrong to return, and felt a quiet pang of guilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A handwritten love letter might take half an hour—or longer—to write, soaked in anxiety, courage, and hope, only to receive the one outcome the writer feared most—how cruel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he’d received rejection notes himself back then, the girl hadn’t felt guilty at all—why was it different now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Li Ye struggled with this frustrating dilemma, Wang Luyang, the cinematographer from Beijing Film Studio, was also troubled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Luyang had taken on an ad job for Pengcheng Factory Seven, shooting for nearly half a month; the client treated him to good food, drink, and hospitality, and even gave him a large red envelope at the end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Word was, in Pengcheng, the thickness of the red envelope directly reflected client satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Luyang didn’t know how satisfied Jin Peng was, but he counted the envelope twice—clearly, he was very pleased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before the satisfaction even faded, trouble struck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After submitting the edited ad footage, Wang Luyang hadn’t destroyed the original film reels—and someone at his unit found them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The footage was then reused by another production team, but Wang Luyang got no credit; instead, he was reprimanded for “doing private work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being reprimanded was fine—it didn’t cost him anything—but when he learned those reels would air on Channel One, his heart sank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red envelope was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pengcheng Factory Seven had agreed to shoot one ad per season—meaning a thick red envelope every three months.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the first one hadn’t even cooled in his hands before this mess happened; not only would future envelopes vanish, this one might even have to be returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah~ my color TV and refrigerator.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Luyang sighed, eyes closed, feeling the sting deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just as he shut his eyes, someone shouted outside: “Old Wang! Old Wang! Hurry up—the boss wants you in his office!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this nonsense never going to end?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Luyang stormed to the office, only to find several unit leaders and a few outsiders inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wang Luyang, leaders from Channel One are here to ask you questions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ask me questions? About what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After our promotional film aired, many organizations and viewers called to ask: where are the clothes in the film made? Are they domestic products, or imported?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Domestic. Purely domestic. Made by Pengcheng Factory Seven.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The visitors visibly relaxed. “Can you contact Pengcheng Factory Seven right now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. They have an office in Jingcheng and several retail stores—we can reach them immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Luyang had been in the unit for years—he’d heard countless stories. Seeing the scene before him, he suddenly understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【My red envelope probably won’t need returning. Maybe I’ll get an even bigger one.】\u003C\u002Fp>",1647,"2026-06-20T05:05:01.382Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","b51aa675b31dbff6bc8be97cee8dcbe96336f97f5e147eb826e89f3e2eb229cb","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-218","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-216",884,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-cover.jpg"]