[{"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-248":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},2294666,4489,"Chapter 248: Just Wanted to Make a Friend","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-248",248,"\u003Cp>Shao Huimin came down quickly, bringing several classmates with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two of the girls held two sets of clothes, clearly nervous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each set cost twenty-eight yuan—equivalent to a young worker’s monthly salary—and if it was fake, the disappointment was obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I bought this yesterday. They said it’s the Tianjiao series, specially made for college students.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye said nothing; Jin Peng took the clothes with a smile and examined them closely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fabric was decent, the counterfeiters used plenty of material, and the design copied the Fenghua brand’s Doukou series by ninety percent—but the stitching couldn’t compare to the real thing, and the buttons, zippers, and labels bearing the Fenghua logo were poorly faked, either altered or outright removed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye laughed—he never expected to encounter high-quality counterfeits in 1983.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Could this be someone from the same circle?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Peng inspected the clothes thoroughly, then returned them to the anxious classmates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two girls immediately asked: “Excuse me, are these genuine Fenghua brand clothes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Peng paused a moment, then said: “I’m just a distributor, so I can’t be certain. But if you’re willing to sell them to me at original price, I’ll send them back to the factory for verification.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Okay, I bought mine yesterday for twenty-eight yuan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I bought mine this morning—also twenty-eight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two girls immediately shoved the clothes into Jin Peng’s hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the relieved look in their eyes, Li Ye guessed their thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having been tricked into buying these clothes, they already sensed something was off when compared to the genuine items worn by Shao Huimin and others—but they refused to admit it, and a few even argued fiercely with Li Dayong and Shao Huimin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like those fools in the future who tell their best friends they’ve dated a fake socialite, only to be met with furious betrayal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Have you even seen the real thing? How dare you ruin my happiness?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Peng paid them, then warned: “We haven’t confirmed anything yet. Don’t spread this around—it might hurt friendships among classmates.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, yes, we understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girls all promised enthusiastically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Ye knew that, given women’s nature, this news would soon reach the ears of those few classmates with “connections.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let’s be honest—crooks are smart people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his past life, Li Ye didn’t learn until the 1990s that some merchants had begun targeting campus markets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d find energetic students and use their status to help them profit from other students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, early “movie packages,” where students were organized to support movie theaters on the brink of collapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, as it grew bigger, they’d organize students for summer jobs, letting the organizers skim the middleman profit and buy cars before graduation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are they bad?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hard to say—they did offer convenience to students, but the line was hard to draw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye and Jin Peng left Beijing Institute of Technology and drove straight to Beier Tiao to find Huang Gang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Wang Qiang moved last year, Li Ye hadn’t seen Huang Gang—but Jin Peng had occasionally had drinks with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of Wang Qiang’s connections, Huang Gang should’ve been able to leverage Pengcheng Factory No. 7 and grow rich quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he was stubborn. Though he was as close to Wang Qiang as brothers, he still clung to his small stall, refusing outright to join Pengcheng Factory No. 7’s operations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Qiang couldn’t understand, but Li Ye told him: everyone has their own principles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Wang Qiang hadn’t taken an interest in Huang Suwen, Huang Gang might’ve already come to help him—but now the two were in this ambiguous state, how could Huang Gang let people gossip about his sister?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, Wang Qiang stopped urging him, instead occasionally “disposing” of defective goods to him, letting him and his buddies live comfortably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result, Huang Gang knew every rumor in Beijing’s private clothing circle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why Jin Peng often consulted him—he was a local, with advantages Jin Peng and others could never match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye and Jin Peng first went to Wang Qiang’s house, but the door was locked and no one was home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Peng led Li Ye to Huang Gang’s place, and upon entering, they saw Wang Qiang sitting at the dinner table, his face flushed from drinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Ye enter, Wang Qiang hurried up: “Brother, I’ve just—Uncle Huang’s back. You came to see me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Gang’s father, Huang Qixian, worked at a suburban coal mine and returned only every few days; whenever he came back, he always invited Wang Qiang over for a meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qixian, seeing Jin Peng, warmly said: “Is this urgent? If not, have a bite first, then deal with business.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Peng smiled: “We’ve already eaten. It’s not urgent—we just need Huang Gang’s help with a small favor. You two keep drinking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Drinking? What drinking?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing they needed Huang Gang’s help, Huang Qixian glared and barked at his son: “What are you standing there for? Get to work!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, alright, I’m going, I’m going!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Gang, who in public was a fearsome figure ready to fight at a moment’s notice, was instantly shooed off his stool by his father’s single command and hurried out with Jin Peng and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Peng handed Huang Gang the two clothes and said seriously: “Find out who’s seen this kind of product. Anyone with solid info gets a hundred yuan reward.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why pay money? What are we, beggars? Give me two days—I’ll track down the source.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Gang took the clothes, inspecting them as he made his grand promise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he heard Li Ye say: “We don’t have two days. We need it fast. One hundred yuan for any info—if you find the warehouse, we’ll pay ten thousand yuan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ten thousand? Ten thousand ten thousand?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Gang was stunned into stuttering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten thousand yuan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holy shit, do you even know how big a bundle of ten thousand yuan is?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten thousand yuan can buy a large sihe courtyard—with a fridge, TV, and washing machine!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is there something wrong with these two clothes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Gang wasn’t stupid—he immediately walked under the streetlamp to examine them closely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Peng said gravely: “Our Fenghua brand is being counterfeited and sold to unsuspecting students. These heartless bastards—how dare they cheat college kids?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who the hell is this scumbag? No way I’m letting this slide. I won’t need two days—I’ll turn Beijing upside down tonight and find him. Just watch!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Gang flew into a rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had a classic old-school temper—he loved helping his brothers, and now it involved Wang Qiang and college students; his sense of justice flared instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take my motorcycle!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Qiang was also alarmed—whoever touched Fenghua brand was touching his child’s baby formula money!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Ye immediately said: “You’ve been drinking—you can’t ride a motorcycle!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Qiang ran toward his house, shouting: “I didn’t drink much! I didn’t! Besides, I’ve got a helmet!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye felt uneasy—caution was always the best policy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he told Jin Peng: “We split up. I’ll ride the motorcycle with Huang Gang to find people. You drive and notify Hong Shu and the others—they must all assemble tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Peng nodded, and the four split into two groups to search.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Gang, as a local kingpin, knew plenty of people—he’d asked dozens by midnight—but this case was clearly tricky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Gang frowned: “Strange. Half of Beijing’s circle hasn’t heard a thing. Is this guy not even planning to distribute in the market?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye said calmly: “Maybe he hasn’t reached out to you yet—or maybe he’s planning to build his own entirely new distribution network.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s not easy. In Beijing, any business move leaves a trail. Let’s go ask further.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Gang led Li Ye forward—and they arrived at a video hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye didn’t go in—he waited outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was midnight; muffled, indecent sounds drifted from inside, reminding him of his old buddies from back when they watched videos together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shadow approached, grinning awkwardly: “Brother, you’re… thinking of going in?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I’m waiting for someone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye shook his head—what was the point of watching 1983 Hong Kong smut films?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then he turned—and recognized the man: it was “Duo Ye,” the guy he’d met back when Pengcheng Factory No. 7 first arrived in Xiushuijie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Duo Ye? This your place?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, don’t call me Duo Ye! Just Old Duo. I just keep watch here—make a living.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, then carry on. I’m not going in—I’ll be leaving soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Duo stared at the calm, composed Li Ye like a dozing tiger—too afraid to approach, yet somehow unwilling to let go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Huang Gang came out of the video hall and snapped: “Duo Xing, what are you doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duo Xing smiled: “What could I be doing? Just saying hi to an old acquaintance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph. Keep your distance. We still have unfinished business from last time. Don’t make trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hehe~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once a powerful figure with dozens of men under him, Duo Xing could only sigh—tigers fallen to the plains are bullied by dogs—and shuffled aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After spending time in jail, Duo Xing had lost his status; his old crew scattered, and even Huang Gang could push him around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the reason he’d been jailed? He’d gotten caught up because of Li Ye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just as they mounted their motorcycles to leave, Duo Xing suddenly remembered something and blurted out:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you looking for info on those fake goods?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Skrrt!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye slammed on the brakes; Huang Gang lurched off the bike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Duo Xing, you know something?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hehe, I know a little. Fenghua brand—it’s hot right now, big money.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Gang said coldly, “If you have concrete leads, I’ll give you a hundred yuan as information fee—but if you dare to deceive us, you know the consequences.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duo Xing grinned, showing his teeth triumphantly, “I don’t just know the leads—I know exactly where they’re storing their goods.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Gang glanced at Li Ye, then held up one finger to Duo Xing, “Take us there, and I’ll give you this much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duo Xing glanced at Huang Gang, his eyes filled with disdain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he turned to Li Ye with a warm smile, “Money doesn’t matter—I just want to make a friend.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1702,"2026-06-20T05:05:01.382Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","fe4a72655f0f994939ee11e4885cccb6f77df0f6ec6bb1a1a951c69601541b10","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-249","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-247",884,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-cover.jpg"]