[{"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-33":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},2294451,4489,"Chapter 33","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-33",33,"\u003Cp>Li Ye and Jin Peng returned to Qingshui County by over ten at night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought for a moment and decided not to go back to school today but to go home instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For people in the 1980s, night was dull and silent; even in the county town, there were few bright lights, and everyone went to bed early to keep warm, never turning on a light if they could do something in the dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Save electricity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Li Ye arrived home, his family had already gone to bed; after pounding on the door for a long time, his father finally came out in a cotton-padded jacket, his face full of annoyance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you coming home at this hour? Are you disturbing the neighbors?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【I...】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye was speechless, but one glance at Li Kaijian’s attire made him understand immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Kaijian had been single for over a decade and only married Han Chunmei last year; the two were nearly ten years apart in age, and Li Kaijian doted on this young wife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now Li Ye had interrupted Li Kaijian’s good fortune—men understood this; if they weren’t father and son, they’d be enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye lowered his head in a posture of apology, pushed his bicycle inside, and then saw the light in his grandfather’s room turn on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Both of you come in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man called Li Ye and Li Kaijian into the main room, solemnly motioned them to sit, then suddenly fixed his gaze on Li Ye’s eyes—his piercing stare like a gleaming dagger baring its edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mighty reincarnator, the chosen one, the protagonist with the aura of destiny... Lord Li Ye, Jingran  felt nervous under the stern gaze of an old man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sssss~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【So this is the guy who took on three at once and killed three Japanese soldiers—still this scary at his age.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye took a deep breath and gained a deeper understanding of his makeshift grandfather, a man who had crawled out of piles of corpses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Ye didn’t know that Li Zhongfa was also puzzled by Li Ye’s reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My precious grandson’s courage has grown a lot! He used to be terrified if his father even glared at him—now he dares to stare right back at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good. Takes after me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa’s gaze softened instantly, and he smiled as he asked Li Ye: “I heard you partnered up to start a sesame candy business?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sesame candy business? What sesame candy business?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye’s father, Li Kaijian, looked from Li Ye to his father, utterly confused, and only after a long while realized one thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You two are treating me like I don’t exist, aren’t you? You’ve been hiding things from me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pfft, I can’t beat the old man, but I can beat the kid. Wait till I get you, little thief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Li Kaijian’s gaze toward Li Ye, under the effect of a double buff, turned outright hostile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your grandfather’s asking you—answer honestly, then come back to bed with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are you sure you’ll let me sleep after dragging me back to your room?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Li Kaijian’s tone, Li Ye knew exactly what he intended to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since he’d decided to come home tonight, he’d prepared accordingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye looked at the smiling Li Zhongfa and smiled back: “Grandpa, if anyone else asked me this, I’d deny it—I’m just a student, what business would I run?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“..........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye’s answer surprised both Li Zhongfa and Li Kaijian, leaving the room silent for one or two seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Li Kaijian’s palm swung toward Li Ye’s face—fast, sharp, unmistakably the move of a retired soldier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll teach you to talk back!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instant Li Ye sensed Li Kaijian’s movement, his body reacted instinctively—he twisted his waist, sidestepped, and effortlessly dodged the slap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You dare to dodge?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Kaijian was truly furious—this was a sign of losing family authority!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eldest daughter already talked back constantly, Han Chunmei was his treasure he couldn’t scold, and now even this one “punchable” son was rebelling?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Must be crushed. Severely crushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bang~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa slammed his palm on the table; Li Kaijian, moments ago roaring like a beast, instantly slumped into his seat like a deflated balloon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Fine! You’ve got backup—I can’t hit you, but your monthly allowance’s gone. Don’t come begging me, hah hah hah.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Kaijian paid the bulk of Li Ye’s allowance, so he believed no matter how much Li Ye acted up, he’d never escape his control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa looked at Li Ye and smiled: “Good. Smart. Did you plan this business with someone else taking the blame from the start?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye shook his head: “Grandpa, I don’t see it as blaming someone. I provided the capital and the idea for profit; they took the risk—it’s shared responsibility, no one owes anyone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You really did it...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Kaijian was about to explode again, but Li Zhongfa’s piercing gaze silenced him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa said to Li Ye: “Small-scale side business is fine, but I heard from Jin Peng you’re doing something big. Money stirs hearts—have you thought about the consequences?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye blinked: “A monthly business of just a few thousand yuan? That’s big? If there’s real danger, Grandpa, can you get me a food processing cooperative license?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa glanced at Li Ye: “For the food processing cooperative license, have that Hao Jian go apply to your older sister tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also, your ambitions are too big—stay grounded. Isn’t a few thousand yuan still a lot?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Kaijian chimed in, scolding Li Ye: “Do you even know how much a street factory makes in a month? ‘Just a few thousand’? You’ve read so much you’ve stuffed your brain full of dog shit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye didn’t know how much those matchbox-assembling street factories earned monthly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But judging by their “wait for customers to come knock on your door and get emotionally abused” business attitude, they probably didn’t make much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Li Ye himself might become a ten-thousand-yuan household in just a few months—and that could attract envy from certain people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t know what a cooperative license was before, but now he did—this grandpa of his... he’d need to lean on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, under Li Kaijian’s contemptuous gaze, Li Ye placed his satchel on the table and pulled out bundle after bundle of cash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“..........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After laying all the money on the table, Li Ye said: “This is this month’s profit—no theft, no fraud, all earned through the hard sweat of laborers...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“..........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence fell. Around Li Ye, complete silence. After a long while, he heard Li Kaijian swallow hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This... is your... monthly profit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, it’s my monthly profit. The others already took their shares. Wang Qiang’s portion is small, so I’m holding it for him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Kaijian fell silent and turned to his father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even seasoned Li Zhongfa hadn’t expected his grandson’s seemingly playful business to earn so much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just by glancing at the denomination of the bills, he knew this was the work of small vendors—each sesame candy traded for a single jiao note, truly tied to “laborers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But “hard sweat”?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Can we speak seriously for once?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haven’t I shed blood for the state? Haven’t I worked hard? Why the double standard?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man thought for a moment and asked Li Ye: “What do you plan to do with all this money?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye said: “Keep it at home for now. But don’t worry—I heard the south has long allowed private businesses; soon, ten-thousand-yuan households won’t be rare.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa nodded: “Fine. Keep it at home. Let your father store it for you. Don’t worry—I won’t shortchange you a single cent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye shook his head: “I don’t need that much. Use it for whatever the household needs. But next year when I go to university, I’ll likely take most of it with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa: “Of course. Poor home, rich journey—our child must never suffer for lack of money when leaving home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Kaijian could no longer bear listening to their chatter and snapped: “Fuck, if you actually get into university, I’ll double your allowance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye turned silently to Li Kaijian and spoke clearly: “This thousand-plus is only half a month’s profit. If next month goes well, it’ll reach three thousand. The month after that...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“..........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Kaijian’s face turned a bizarre mix of colors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Damn it, your old man’s a workshop supervisor earning seventy yuan a month, and you’re talking about thousands here?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa looked at Li Ye and grew fonder by the second; then he glanced at his son and felt a surge of irritation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough. Li Ye, go to bed. You have to get up early for school tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Okay, Grandpa, I’m off to sleep.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye rose to leave, but just as he reached the door, Li Kaijian suddenly blurted out like he was watching a thief: “Have you hidden any money for yourself?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye paused, turned back, picked up a stack of bills from the table, and calmly stuffed them into his satchel—clearly at least a hundred or two hundred yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now I have.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“..........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after Li Ye hurried out the door did Li Kaijian realize—he was about to explode in rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough,” Li Zhongfa said. “Stop treating Xiao Ye like a child. Look at your own pitiful self.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But,” Li Kaijian protested, “look at what Xiao Ye’s doing—it’s dangerous!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Danger depends on timing,” Li Zhongfa said. “The county meeting the other day discussed private businesses. The south had private businesses two years ago and even issued business licenses. We’ll probably follow soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Kaijian blinked. “Then why give Hao Jian a processing cooperative license? Why not just give him a private business license? That way, we won’t get tangled up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa looked at Li Kaijian with disdain: “If a capable man emerged in your workshop, would you let him go to another workshop?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Kaijian finally understood—his father meant to bind Hao Jian to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He muttered, half resentful: “What capable man? Just a sent-down youth...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhongfa snorted, pointing at the pile of cash on the table: “Then tomorrow, go to the provincial capital yourself—see if you can bring back this much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“..........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From now on, you need to learn more—or you won’t even be as good as Xiao Ye.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1717,"2026-06-20T05:04:59.129Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","35302bf4bac723362f51a6670f89a342cb5d5ba94a2346aca942db71f7b85638","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-34","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-32",884,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-cover.jpg"]