[{"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-235":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},2294653,4489,"Chapter 235: True Warriors Never Boast","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-235",235,"\u003Cp>Several old comrades shed a few tears at the inn’s entrance, then it was time for dinner, so they got in the car together and headed to a restaurant to catch up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Zhengqing and Gao Shuyi’s car led the way, while Li Zhongfa’s Shanghai-brand sedan followed behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Huishui pressed the backseat of the Shanghai sedan and teased, “Old Company Commander, your rank isn’t high, but your car’s pretty nice!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many in Beijing with higher ranks still don’t have a sedan. Is Qinghe County that wealthy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa waved it off: “It’s not that Qinghe County is rich—it’s my unit. Otherwise, do you think I’d willingly stay stuck in the grain system with such a low position?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Li Zhongfa sounded proud, he knew this sedan was only possible because of last year’s China Grain project in Qinghe County; before that, his official car was a 212 that broke down three times a week.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And only because Li Zhongfa was senior and bold enough could he still keep this car.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three sedans passed Fuchengmen and continued north, approaching Xizhimen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Company Commander, today we’re going to treat ourselves to something fancy,” Lu Huishui declared confidently. “This is definitely going to Lao Mo. Our political instructor studied in Soviet Russia in the fifties—Lao Mo originally served people like him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What fancy food? Just steak, bread, salad, and black caviar? We’ve eaten it before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? Old Company Commander, you’re really well-off—I’m having that black caviar today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph, like you can’t afford it? Today, caviar’s on the house.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa blurted it out, then turned to look at his grandson Li Ye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the early 80s, Moscow Restaurant was no longer as glamorous as it had been in the 50s and 60s—ordinary folks could now enjoy a fancy meal for just a few yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if you wanted black caviar, that was no longer just a matter of “a little money.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye lifted his suit jacket, revealing the thick wad of cash inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday, when Li Ye saw Li Zhongfa frantically changing clothes, he knew today was about making his grandfather proud—he couldn’t possibly go without cash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grandpa, I brought some US dollars too. We should be able to eat our fill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. Watch my cues.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa felt reassured—his grandson was capable and thoughtful, one of him was worth three.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three cars passed Xizhimen and stopped right in front of Lao Mo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group got out, chatting and laughing as they entered the restaurant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye casually glanced around, taking in this “place where dreams began,” sensing the twenty-year-long bourgeois taste in its ornate, luxurious decorations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was already 1983; most of the Soviet chefs and waitstaff had long left. Otherwise, Li Ye could’ve enjoyed Soviet waitresses years earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After they sat down, Liu Zhengqing sighed: “It’s been so many years—I didn’t realize how much it’s changed. The tableware used to be all silver. I wonder if the taste’s changed too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Moscow Restaurant first opened, much of its tableware was silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But during that special era, there were too many young people like Zhong Yuemin—silverware kept disappearing, so they had to remove all valuables and replace them with ordinary utensils, lowering the overall luxury level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The staff began bringing napkins and waited for orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Zhengqing was generous—he ordered borscht first, then cream-baked fish, braised beef in cans, tuna salad, steak, and finally, caviar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa glanced at the menu, then gave Li Ye a subtle nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye nodded back—he understood: he was to pay the bill later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Li Zhongfa didn’t know Li Ye’s true financial standing, he knew the Qinghe County rock candy business had never stopped—every penny earned was saved for Li Ye. So his grandson was far richer than any of these grandfathers and grandmothers here; treating them was no burden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main dishes arrived quickly, and Li Zhongfa began reminiscing with Liu Zhengqing, Gao Shuyi, and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye couldn’t join the conversation, so he lowered his head and ate his portion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as he ate, Gao Shuyi suddenly asked him with a smile: “Little Ye, do you often eat Western food here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye was puzzled. “No, this is my first time at Lao Mo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye’s uncle, Liu Muyang, said: “Really? You handle your knife and fork so smoothly—you don’t look like it’s your first time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Li Ye realize: in 1983, there weren’t many Western restaurants, and chances to eat Western food were rare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t actually like Western food, but in his past life, he ate it often when chasing girls—because Western meals were the most bourgeois, the most pretentious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many girls loved that vibe, unaware that real high-end Chinese cuisine could outclass Western food in flavor, price, and prestige by miles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye nodded: “I’ve eaten Western food a few times. During Spring Festival, I went to Hong Kong and tried some so-called Western banquets. Overall, they’re distinctive—but Chinese cuisine is still far more profound.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke the truth. For all its reputation, Lao Mo was nowhere near the same league as the small Cantonese eatery in Chaoyang District that he and Wen Leyu frequented.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you know, kid?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa glared at Li Ye, annoyed he’d insulted the food in front of the chefs—lacking basic tact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he changed the subject: “Director, this morning, Old Lu said you’ve been wanting to ask me something. What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Zhengqing glanced at Old Lu and Gao Shuyi, then asked Li Zhongfa: “After we split at the fork in the road back then, where did you go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You just want to know that? Heh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After the D-Group’s emergency meeting, I headed alone northwest to scout. I walked all night, pushing myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I nearly turned back to find you several times—but I wanted to prove I was right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye had heard Li Zhongfa recount this twice before, but this time it was the clearest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, during that D-Group meeting, everyone had opposed Li Zhongfa’s opinion as company commander—not one wanted to take the right fork toward the northwest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa chose the right path alone, claiming “to scout ahead and gather intelligence”—and judging by their reactions, Liu Zhengqing and Gao Shuyi had both voted against him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My guess was right. The next morning, I reached Qihewan. I asked locals—they said the main force had passed through a full day ago. I turned back immediately to catch up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa grew agitated as he spoke: “When I caught up to Zhaojiadian that evening, I met a group of refugees who said a small unit had been slaughtered by the Japanese. I—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa paused for seconds, wiping tears as he said: “I went mad. I truly went mad. Only I was left from the Sixth Company. What was I even alive for? I had to kill them all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I chased them down, even though I was alone—I had to keep going.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That night, I finally caught up to them at Qianmiao Village—they were burning the village down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa was lost in memory, unaware that Liu Zhengqing, Gao Shuyi, and Lu Huishui were all visibly moved, their faces flushed with emotion—Gao Shuyi was already weeping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Liu Zhengqing interrupted: “So you launched a nighttime ambush on that Japanese patrol at Qianmiao Village—just you, alone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly me. I crept through the dark, struck from behind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Li Zhongfa realize something was off: “Wait—how do you know about Qianmiao Village? How do you know it was me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We were hiding inside the village!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shuyi choked out: “The Japanese surrounded us. We couldn’t break out. We thought it was better to burn than be killed—so we set the fire ourselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then fighting broke out outside. We knew it was our side, but we couldn’t put out the fire—we couldn’t get out to help you. Waaah~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Huishui added: “At the time, the Director said it must be the Company Commander returning to save us. We fought desperately to put out the fire—Hou Xiangui burned his hands.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But when we finally broke through a path, you were gone—you’d drawn all the Japanese away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa listened, stunned, murmuring over and over: “How could we have missed each other by so little? How could we have missed each other?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Zhengqing pulled something from his pocket and placed it on the table, slowly pushing it toward Li Zhongfa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a fountain pen cap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The next day, we searched everywhere nearby. We only found this cap.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Zhengqing’s eyes were red: “I used this pen for years. You swiped it from me—I was heartbroken. All these years, I’ve always hoped… one day, it could be reunited with its barrel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Huishui chimed in: “It’s true, Old Company Commander. When the Director found this cap, he bawled like a baby.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And me,” Gao Shuyi wiped her tears. “We all cried. If it weren’t for you, Old Company Commander, we wouldn’t be alive today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa sat stunned for a long while, then muttered: “That’s a problem—I stuck the barrel into the last Japanese soldier’s neck.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I fired all my bullets that night, then suddenly—I didn’t want to die anymore. But as I retreated, a Japanese combat squad caught up. Those three fools wanted to take me alive—they got what they deserved.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bang!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Huishui slammed the table and roared: “Company Commander’s still a warrior—no one can argue!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shuyi’s eyes sparkled: “I wish I’d been there to see Old Company Commander in action!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’d been there, there’d be no glory for me—you’d all have rushed in and beaten those bastards to a pulp! Do you think I wanted to fight three alone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old men laughed heartily. Li Ye and Liu Muhang listened with wide, shining eyes. Earlier, watching the elders cry had seemed amusing—but now they understood what a true warrior was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye knew Li Zhongfa had fought three alone, but Li Zhongfa had never told him this in detail. True warriors never boast of their exploits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while of excitement, they finally calmed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shuyi said: “Later, we met up with the 344th Brigade. The Director had a classmate there, so we joined them. We kept searching for you afterward, but never got any news.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa said: “After the Japanese stabbed me in the lower back, I wandered around dazed, lost, until I stumbled upon a guerrilla unit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I joined the guerrillas. I wasn’t reintegrated into the regular army until ’44, assigned to the Seventh Column—you’d never find me there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No wonder you’re only a Section Chief now! You’ve been… ”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Lu finally understood the full story and couldn’t help feeling sorry for Li Zhongfa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He enlisted in ’39, became company commander in ’41—then had to start over again in ’44.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Liu Zhengqing glanced at Li Ye and smiled: “Life’s unpredictable. Old Company Commander, when you joined the guerrillas, did you meet the woman you loved…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa’s face turned bright red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1842,"2026-06-20T05:05:01.382Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c07848d4aaedef0fb90e8ee097eae27a2d62c531929ad90f26320eeb47cf36e3","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-236","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-234",884,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-cover.jpg"]