[{"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-234":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},2294652,4489,"Chapter 234: My Goddamn Big Nephew","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-234",234,"\u003Cp>Early the next morning, Lu Huaiwater arrived at the inn where Li Zhongfa was staying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he saw Li Zhongfa, he exclaimed in surprise: “Hey, old company commander, you’ve sprouted new shoots from an old tree—showing off to whom?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dajun brushed off his new clothes and said coolly to Lu Huaiwater: “Don’t pretend you don’t know. Since Gao Shuyi came, could Liu have stayed away?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you like it, I’ll give you one. These aren’t the days when more patches mean more honor—you’ve got to care about face, about spirit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’d be perfect—I’ve worn this Zhongshan suit for Qiba  years; my wife won’t let me change it. Only an old company commander could appreciate me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I appreciate your ass,” Li Zhongfa grumbled. “Why did you secretly contact Gao Shuyi yesterday? What were you thinking, dragging her all the way from Shanghai to Beijing? Are you that bored?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop pretending,” Lu Huaiwater shot back. “I saw how frantic you were yesterday. Do you really think if you don’t meet this time, you won’t regret it for the rest of your life? We’re both this old—each meeting is one less.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa fell silent. Just moments ago he’d stood tall and proud; now a quiet desolation settled over him, the weight of aging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In 1983, China’s average life expectancy hadn’t yet reached the levels of later years!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People like Li Zhongfa and Lu Huaiwater, who came from the old era, felt seventy was near the end—they never dared dream of living to eighty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this era without WeChat, no high-speed trains, no private cars, meeting an old friend was harder than you could imagine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miss this chance, and you might never see them again—ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Zhongfa sigh and reflect, Lu Huaiwater added softly: “Actually, this time, the political instructor was eager to see you too. He’s wanted to ask you something for years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa blinked. “What? Does he want to know if the medic ever liked me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Huaiwater stared at him, speechless, and shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa grew annoyed. “Come on, you always hold back—what are you hiding? Spit it out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Huaiwater refused to speak, only saying: “Wait till he arrives—he’ll tell you himself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa was frustrated and angry but had no choice—he knew Lu Huaiwater’s nature. Once he clammed up, he’d die before speaking. That’s why they called him “the silent one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he asked: “I didn’t get to ask you yesterday—what’s the political instructor’s current position?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Huaiwater glanced at Li Zhongfa. “Don’t even think about competing. He’s a full rank above you—he’s a bureau-level official.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa wasn’t surprised. “Expected. The political instructor had education and ability. But this time, we’ll compare culture—I’ll show you my grandson, my grandson—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Huaiwater cut in: “The political instructor’s a real cultured man now—he’s even with the Writers’ Association! Don’t say I didn’t warn you, old company commander—if you lose face, don’t blame me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa scoffed. “So what if he’s in the Writers’ Association? My grandson’s a writer too. And he’s an adult—does he really think it’s fair to compete with my grandson? If he wants to compete, let’s compare looks—does he look as handsome as my grandson?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Huaiwater immediately gave a thumbs-up. “No contest—grandfather’s a hero, grandson’s a warrior. Company commander, you’re still as dashing as ever—no one disputes it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa beamed again: “Hmph. The medic married Liu Zhengqing? What a flower wasted on manure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then Li Zhongfa turned sharply to Lu Huaiwater: “Actually, you sneaked off to make that call yesterday—you just wanted to see me and the political instructor go at it again!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hehehe, you still see right through me, old company commander. Haven’t seen you two brawl in years—I actually missed it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Near noon, Li Zhongfa, eagerly waiting, saw two sedans approaching in the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Huaiwater quickly fastened his collar button and asked Li Ye: “Help your old grandpa check—anything off?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye reached out, tugged at the hem of Lu Huaiwater’s coat, and smiled: “Looks perfect everywhere—dignified, impressive, totally cool.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both Lu Huaiwater and Li Zhongfa wore outfits from Fenghua Apparel’s special line for middle-aged and elderly people—similar to the “Zhonghua stand-up collar” endorsed by Jiege—eye-catching in 1983.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sedans pulled up directly before them. Before the driver could even get out to open the door, the rear door swung open on its own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman with silver hair stepped out quickly and walked three quick strides to Li Zhongfa’s side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Company commander.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She said only that, then couldn’t speak further—she grabbed Li Zhongfa’s arm, tears streaming down her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s this? Why cry? Don’t you remember what the political instructor said? A strong soldier doesn’t cry—crying isn’t for real soldiers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa’s own eyes were wet, but he held back his tears and scolded Gao Shuyi sternly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he saw an old man, faintly familiar, stepping out of the car.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could bicker with Lu Huaiwater, but since they were married now, he couldn’t cause them trouble—over the years, too many families had been ruined by rumors and misunderstandings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the old man who’d just stepped out murmured softly: “Let her cry. If she doesn’t cry, how can I dare to?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the old man stroll slowly toward him, Li Zhongfa felt a storm of emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t help asking: “Political Instructor Liu, how have you aged so much? I remember you were younger than me by a year!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Zhengqing, eyes wet with tears, smiled through them. “Because I missed you. I’ve missed you for over forty years—of course I’ve aged.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahahaha~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahahaha~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two men paused, then burst into laughter together, embracing tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They pounded each other’s backs hard, loud “thump-thump-thump” sounds echoing like a fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the tears streaming freely down their faces revealed this was how men expressed their deepest feelings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough, enough—stop hitting! You’ll knock our old bones apart.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shuyi couldn’t watch anymore; she stepped forward and pulled the two emotional men apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa quickly released his grip and sneered at Liu Zhengqing: “Your frame’s too weak. Forty years apart and you’ve made no progress—you’ve regressed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shuyi sighed. “He spent ten years in the countryside, suffered hard, damaged his foundation—his health is poor. Old company commander, you said yesterday—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m fine,” Li Zhongfa cut in. “I’m in great shape! Ask my grandson—he learned every martial skill from me, hand to hand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is my eldest grandson, Li Ye—a student at Peking University’s Economics Department, top scorer in the entire province in the 1982 college entrance exam.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My grandson’s also a writer—he wrote ‘Infiltration.’ You’ve heard of ‘Infiltration,’ right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Zhongfa reached out to pull his grandson Li Ye forward to show him off, he swung his arm twice—both times, he grabbed air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned back—his usually arrogant eldest grandson looked awkward, strange?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa frowned. “You’re embarrassed? Liu Grandpa and Gao Grandma aren’t strangers—come over and show them what a heroic young man looks like, what youthful talent looks like!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Liu Zhengqing smiled. “Old Li, no need to show off—I already heard from my daughter that Qiucun Dao was a handsome lad. I just didn’t know he was your grandson.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your daughter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only now did Li Zhongfa notice two young people stepping out of the second sedan—a man and a woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa asked: “Your son and daughter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Zhengqing replied: “Yes. My eldest son works in the Foreign Trade Commission; my youngest daughter’s studying at Beijing Foreign Languages College.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa was showing off his grandson; Liu Zhengqing wasn’t backing down—his own children were no less impressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Zhengqing called out: “Muyang, Muhan, come say hello to Uncle Li.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye watched as Liu Muyang and Liu Muhan approached, smiling and greeting him: “Uncle Li, Uncle Li, your complexion looks great today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then they turned to Li Ye, waiting for him—the big nephew—to pay respects to his elders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially Liu Muhan—her eyes behind her glasses sparkled with unusual light as she looked at Li Ye in his sharp suit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye internally swore: “What the fuck.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was minding my own business—why do I suddenly have two uncles and an aunt the same age as me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Muyang I could accept—he looked seven or eight years older. But Liu Muhan? I knew her—she was just one grade above me. How the hell did she become my aunt?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In China’s customs, if there’s blood relation, you call someone grandfather even if they’re younger—you feel no psychological burden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But without blood ties? That’s harder to say out loud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet under Li Zhongfa’s stern gaze, Li Ye muttered: “Uncle, Aunt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, with the political instructor and the medic present, if he didn’t give Li Zhongfa face, the old man would hold a grudge—and wouldn’t rest until he’d scolded Li Ye seven or eight times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t be so formal—I like you. Let’s stay in touch, exchange often.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Muyang laughed and clapped Li Ye on the shoulder, brushing it off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Liu Muhan looked at Li Ye and smiled: “Since you call me Aunt, then I’ll call you Big Nephew from now on, okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My goddamn big nephew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1525,"2026-06-20T05:05:01.382Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","66ab390863bcd3259970c96647e1fc6ed60bd6f7603492d717eff2d05f462d95","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-235","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-233",884,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-cover.jpg"]