[{"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-257":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},2294675,4489,"Chapter 257: Don","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-257",257,"\u003Cp>Before the holiday, Mu Yunning announced a class meeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way to the classroom, Sun Xianjin sidled up to Li Ye and said, “Big Brother, when are you coming back to school? I’ll come back early to help you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye had been selected for the school debate team, so he would return earlier than other students to prepare for the national debate competition in October.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now that Sun Xianjin wanted to return, Li Ye asked curiously, “Why rush back? Don’t you want to stay home and spend time with your parents?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Xianjin smiled and said, “If I come back, won’t that help me improve my debate skills? More skills never weigh you down—I’ll learn some experience.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, do as you like,” Li Ye said indifferently. “I’ll probably be back in fifteen to twenty days, but no guarantees—if something comes up at home, I might be delayed another ten or so.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Xianjin sighed enviously. “Big Brother, I really admire you. Everyone else hates going home, but your school debate team can’t do without you—you truly are Big Brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye laughed and shoved Sun Xianjin lightly. “Don’t say things like that so casually! The school team is just being nice to me—nice, understand?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Xianjin nodded, thinking, “Big Brother, a few days ago my dad called me and said he absolutely must come in person to thank you. So when you get back to school, send me a telegram. Otherwise, he won’t be able to plan his holiday.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No way,” Li Ye hurriedly refused. “Xianjin, you’re being too formal! I’m still holding that ginseng like it’s burning my hands. If you drag your old man all the way here, I can’t accept it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean you can’t accept it? I’m not stupid—you’re still bringing up that ginseng. You saying that makes me feel awful. Besides, I can’t control my dad either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Xianjin was displeased with Li Ye’s refusal; he felt he owed Li Ye too much and it weighed on his conscience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The play “The Return of the Prodigal Son” had brought him enormous benefits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention school, after appearing on TV, his father, who was a forest farm director in Heilongjiang, threw a three-day banquet. Even local bigwigs called Sun Xianjin, urging him to study hard and serve the country.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the more Li Ye refused, the more guilty Sun Xianjin felt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye thought a moment, then said, “Here’s what you can do: when you go back, get me two fur hats—my two sisters and three sisters, the cute kind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also, if you find any good mink coats, buy a few for me. Remember, you’re buying them for me—if you refuse payment, don’t bother. I’ll get mad if you do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last winter, Li Ye had bought a mink coat on the train, and it nearly caused a family feud at home. This year, he was already planning to get a few more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, alright, alright,” Sun Xianjin quickly agreed. “I’ll pack you a whole bundle—anything you want. Bear fur hats, bear fur coats too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye: “Is that legal?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Xianjin blinked. “Why wouldn’t it be? Tiger fur might be risky, but what law does bear fur break?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, guns weren’t even banned in 1983!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone be quiet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Yunning arrived late, stepped onto the podium, and stood with a solemn, expressionless face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Remember your return date. On your way home, be careful. If you encounter danger, don’t be reckless—contact the hat uncle immediately. Don’t be a hero.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll say it again: don’t be a hero. You’re students, not Dongfang Xu, not Jueyuan the monk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Yunning stood on the podium, repeatedly emphasizing holiday safety, glancing often at Li Ye and He Dazhuang, her expression stern, her tone harsh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This year’s security situation was even more serious; news of violent incidents kept reaching the faculty and students of Jingda, with several even making the newspapers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Mu Yunning, as homeroom teacher, was genuinely anxious—over half her dozens of students would travel thousands of miles home, and if they ran into a thief on the way, should they intervene?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Mu Yunning nagged more than a mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t think it’s safe just because trains and buses are packed. In the first half of 1983, people on trains would say, “Just put your money in my pocket,” and on long-distance buses, they’d just shove you into a sack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that were all, it wouldn’t be so bad—after all, in this era, the title of university student still carried weight; most crooks avoided targeting them. Just pinning your school badge on your chest could avoid many troubles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the problem was Li Ye’s act of righteousness last semester, plus the widespread circulation of Jin Yong’s novels, which had instilled in these economically-minded students—already strong in justice—a “martial hero” mentality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention He Dazhuang, who still harbored a grudge against Li Ye and was now a core member of the school’s martial arts club, practicing “hee-hah” daily and claiming eight months of cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Zhen Rongrong and Chen Xiaoling had become obsessed; after each stipend, they bought a copy of “Martial Arts World,” and in their spare time practiced the illustrated moves in the hallway, driving Mu Yunning furious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who swim well drown in water. In this situation, having a sense of justice and thinking you can fight—that’s a textbook danger factor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even after Mu Yunning shouted eight times from the podium, some students just mechanically replied, clearly not listening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Helpless, Mu Yunning turned to Li Ye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Ye, you’ve fought criminals before. Tell us—if one of our classmates encounters a criminal, how should they respond?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye instantly understood, stood up, and said, “If classmates encounter criminals, the first thing to do is throw your luggage to them, then run as fast as you can and seek help from authorities—that’s the most effective way to stop the criminal and make the greatest contribution to society.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Yunning looked at Li Ye and said again, “Be more direct—why not stop them on the spot? Why go find the hat uncle?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye: “...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Yunning had once asked Li Ye what level Zhen Rongrong and others could reach, and how they’d fare against criminals. Li Ye had sincerely replied, “If they can run away, that’s already good. If they try to intervene, they’ll likely get crushed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But you, Mu Yunning, can say that—why do you make me repeat it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should I say, “You’re all weaklings—if three of you face one criminal, it’s still just a few knife thrusts for him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh my god, how would my classmates see me if I said that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’re the only one who can do it, right? You, Li Ye, took on three against twenty-seven, and we can’t even do three against one?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Actually, the homeroom teacher is absolutely right. When we face problems, we should choose the correct solution. Criminals naturally fear state power—like rats fear cats, even hearing a cat’s meow makes them flee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s why in movies, police always blow their whistles from far away—to defuse danger in advance. When criminals hear the whistle, in their panic, they won’t dare kill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But if someone like us, with no law enforcement authority, intervenes, we might not protect the public—instead, we could provoke the criminal into even fiercer retaliation against innocent bystanders. Isn’t that helping with bad intentions?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, Li Ye carefully explained his reasoning, trying to dampen the class’s heroic impulses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, these students lacked the skill to disarm a criminal barehanded—calling the police was the best choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the future, Li Ye had seen a news report: a top soybean expert in China was killed by thugs, causing massive national losses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although these Jingda students weren’t experts yet, wouldn’t they become some day?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many students found this reasonable, but He Dazhuang suddenly asked Li Ye, “Li Ye, if you faced the same situation as last year, what would you do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, you and I aren’t comparable,” Li Ye said frankly. “I’ll be blunt—if I had a stick in a narrow alley, I could take on any three of you in this class, at least.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also, last year’s situation was special—it was very late, the street was empty except for us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And most importantly, they weren’t committing theft or robbery—crimes motivated by money, not life. So my two companions and I had no choice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye paused. “So if they’d been petty thieves, or if police had been nearby, I would’ve immediately called for help instead of acting myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Dazhuang opened his mouth, dissatisfied, but didn’t press further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Li Ye’s feat of kicking a table leg clean off had spread widely; He Dazhuang had gone to see the broken table himself, then secretly practiced on classroom tables countless times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The result? His foot swelled up, but the table leg didn’t budge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even someone as strong as Li Ye chose to call the police—why are you trying to be a hero?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Yunning glared sharply at He Dazhuang until he shrank his neck, then declared loudly, “Everyone heard that? Li Ye is absolutely right. Don’t be like dogs stealing mice and stealing the cat’s job.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahahaha~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye: “...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher, that’s not what I meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the class burst into laughter, they actually remembered Mu Yunning’s words—less recklessness, more caution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the meeting, everyone said goodbye to Mu Yunning and went to prepare for returning home, but Mu Yunning stopped Li Ye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Ye, stay behind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye sighed. “Teacher Mu, I’ve already cooperated enough—isn’t that enough?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Yunning glared at Li Ye. “I didn’t call you for that. When are you going to write your application? Do I have to remind you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Application?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye blinked, then realized Mu Yunning meant his D-party application.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last year, Mu Yunning and Wen Leyu had independently planned a development path for Li Ye, but he hadn’t responded actively. He hadn’t expected her to push now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Li Ye said, “Teacher, it’s not urgent—I’ve only been in the Youth League for less than a year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Yunning’s chest rose and fell as she suppressed her breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re not in a hurry, but the department has asked about you twice already. If you don’t move forward, it’ll be seen as my negligence as homeroom teacher.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Yunning cut the chatter short and ordered, “Also, when you go home, tell your family to prepare all the documents needed for your D-party application—keep them ready for review.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye was uncomfortable with Mu Yunning’s firmness. “It’s not that fast—application, probation period... it’s such a hassle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Yunning laughed—a bitter laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked down at Li Ye with contempt. “I think it’s too fast too—but how fast it is depends on you. If you, Great Writer Li, want to rush, you can go as fast as you want.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One stunt from you, one promotion. In two years, I’ll be kowtowing to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye laughed too, grinning. “Teacher, please don’t use the word ‘kowtow.’ If you ever need me, just say the word.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Yunning stared at Li Ye in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye was puzzled—he felt something was off today, like she was reluctant to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Mu Yunning said, “I do have a favor to ask. I heard you have U.S. dollars?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the Gujun Literature Society started earning foreign currency, the school had allocated them a quota. Li Ye got the biggest share—dozens of dollars monthly, making many envious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recently, many people had tried to trade through connections, but Li Ye always replied, “I’ve already exchanged mine with someone else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye didn’t lack foreign currency, but who he exchanged with depended on his mood and his liking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Mu Yunning often seemed to pick on Li Ye, every time he analyzed it carefully, she was actually looking out for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Li Ye nodded. “Yes, Teacher. How much do you need?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Yunning paused for several seconds. “I need five hundred. But I can only offer four RMB to one dollar. Consider it a debt—I’ll pay you back later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Four to one? Teacher, you’re trying to drag me into immorality! I’m a promising, outstanding Five-Good Youth—how could I do something that ruins my future?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye held up two fingers with serious intent. “Two to one—slightly above official rate. Five hundred U.S. dollars. No change.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Yunning: “...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In 1983, the official RMB-to-dollar exchange rate was 1.9757—Li Ye’s two-to-one was indeed slightly higher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if anyone dared to demand a higher rate under this exchange, they were either clueless—or someone was giving it to them willingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you, I'll pay you back as soon as possible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye had never heard the word \"thank you\" come from Mu Yunning’s mouth before; it felt strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he immediately asked Mu Yunning: \"Teacher Mu, are you going abroad to study? Will you still accept my application? You’re not planning to never come back, are you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Yunning’s chest rose and fell again, dramatically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since Li Ye was so generous, she finally shook her head and said: \"No, I just got a short-term visa.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Short-term visa?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye thought for a moment, then suddenly understood: \"Teacher Mu, your boyfriend isn’t overseas by any chance? Then what about Teacher Jian from the Math Department? Is he just wasting his time?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recently, a teacher named Jian from the Math Department had been sending Mu Yunning love letters every day; everyone was used to it, but Li Ye’s sharp eyes could see her annoyance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Yunning glared at Li Ye, eyes blazing with anger, finally losing patience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Get out~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Hmph, you just used me to demonstrate for the students, and now you think I’m some cute little cat you can pet anytime? I’m not going to let you off that easily.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2311,"2026-06-20T05:05:01.382Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","55751b7b8787139ee6fabc792cc2bc8a1f43630bf4d86221b34352c69c2273ad","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-258","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-256",884,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-cover.jpg"]