[{"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-43":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},2294461,4489,"Chapter 43","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-43",43,"\u003Cp>“Could you please give me a receipt... and by the way, how do I get to No. 2 Middle School in Qingshui County?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geng Zhi handed the money to the guesthouse cashier, retrieved his introduction letter, and casually asked for directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This noon, he suddenly received “good news”: after comprehensive review by the office, it had been decided that he would personally handle the negotiations with “Seven-Inch Blade” and finalize the publication of “Infiltration” as soon as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geng Zhi was seething with rage, barely holding back from exploding on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Isn’t this just making me clean up Feng Bo’s mess? Whoever shat it should eat it back...】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in the end, Geng Zhi swallowed his anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he truly believed in the potential of “Infiltration” and couldn’t stop thinking about fighting for it again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Bo had played a trick—he never told Geng Zhi he’d called Principal Chang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Geng Zhi didn’t know that someone from a publishing house had already approached Li Ye; after arriving in Qingshui County, he figured he’d just check into the guesthouse and collect his travel allowance first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, official business trips didn’t involve “faking receipts”—you just earned a travel allowance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geng Zhi’s departure today counted as one day; tomorrow would be at least another day. Two days’ allowance wasn’t much, but it was enough for his family to eat meat twice, or upgrade their cigarette quality this month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, Geng Zhi spotted a middle-aged man with glasses exiting the guesthouse and sprinting off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【What’s wrong with this guy? Is he being chased by a dog?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here’s your receipt. Leave the guesthouse, turn left, walk one li—you’ll get there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guesthouse clerk handed Geng Zhi the receipt and pointed in the direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geng Zhi glanced—wasn’t that the exact direction the guy who’d been running like hell was heading?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thought struck him, and an inexplicable unease surged through him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【It’s still early—why not head to No. 2 Middle School first?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geng Zhi stepped out and walked toward No. 2 Middle School.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qingshui County lay on flat land; the streets were long and straight, and from afar, Geng Zhi could see Dong Yuejin, out of breath, stumbling along with each step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geng Zhi looked around, utterly confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【There’s no dog chasing him!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the next moment, he saw Dong Yuejin turn back and glance at him—then sprint forward again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is he looking at me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geng Zhi unconsciously guessed a possibility and quickened his pace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geng Zhi was far younger than Dong Yuejin, and the man ahead was already gasping for air—he couldn’t shake Geng Zhi off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Dong Yuejin disappeared into No. 2 Middle School, Geng Zhi still didn’t understand—until the gatekeeper, Old Liu, blocked his path and he realized he was in trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you want? Who are you looking for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m from Dahe Publishing. I’m here for Li Ye.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Another publisher? Are you with the guy who just came in?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it~~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>。。。。。。。\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Dong Yuejin, panting with his mouth wide open, arrived at the remedial class, Li Ye and the others were each holding their enamel mugs, crowding the corridor outside the classroom, ready to head to the cafeteria.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Yuejin pushed through the crowd, fought his way to Li Ye’s side, swallowed hard, and said: “Li Ye, I’ve consulted the office—your royalty rate is raised to eight yuan per thousand characters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye was slightly surprised. Just hours ago, it was five yuan; now it was eight—something must have happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, with 1980s bureaucratic efficiency and rigid thinking, such a change would be impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since you’re in a hurry, I’m not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye smiled gently: “Editor Dong, let’s not rush. Let’s eat first, then talk slowly, okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like hell we will!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Yuejin yanked a stamped contract from his backpack, pulled out a fountain pen, and pressed it into Li Ye’s hand, coaxing him like a devil tempting a lamb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Ye, believe me—no one will offer you more. Your manuscript is nearly three hundred thousand characters. Sign this contract, and you’ll get 2,400 yuan in royalties within two days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whoa~~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My god, 2,400 yuan!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What did Li Ye write to earn that much? Is he... doing something illegal?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If breaking rules gets you 2,400, show me how to do it...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The students packed in the corridor erupted, all tiptoeing to see Li Ye in the center, as if he were a glittering money tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two thousand four hundred yuan in the early 1980s could build several large brick houses, buy over a dozen bicycles, or marry dozens of wives...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A regular worker earned thirty to forty yuan a month—it would take years to save that much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Yuejin blurted the number on purpose, hoping to shock the students and use their awe to pressure Li Ye into signing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, a young kid hearing such a sum would be dazzled and sign without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, objectively speaking, eight yuan per thousand characters was indeed high for a debut author—only Dahe Publishing’s interference forced Dong Yuejin to resort to this trick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Ye had seen real money—he wasn’t easily swayed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook his head and gestured to the surrounding students: “Editor Dong, look around—this isn’t exactly a place to discuss business, is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I..........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Yuejin wanted to grab Li Ye right then, pin his fingers down, and force him to sign like Yang Bailao signing his life away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But looking at Li Ye’s harmless smile, Dong Yuejin felt utterly powerless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【This kid’s a slippery bastard... no, he’s a merchant through and through.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excuse me, which one of you... is Li Ye?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geng Zhi appeared at the end of the corridor, his gaze piercing through the packed crowd and locking onto the contract in Dong Yuejin’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of arms shot up simultaneously, eager classmates shouting: “He’s Li Ye!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geng Zhi pushed through, glanced at Dong Yuejin, and extended his hand: “Hello, Li Ye. I’m Geng Zhi from Dahe Publishing. I’m now handling the publication of your novel...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Another publisher? What a surprise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The students abandoned their meal plans and crowded outside the classroom, gawking like it was a circus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two publishers competing for one student? They’d never seen it, never even heard of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye asked Geng Zhi curiously: “Wasn’t Feng Bo the one who contacted me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geng Zhi was annoyed but explained: “Feng Bo just happened to take a phone call. I’ve been handling this from the start.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh oh oh,” Li Ye beamed: “Then let’s eat first—I’ll treat you. We can talk slowly, okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>。。。。。\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half an hour later, at a mutton soup shop outside the school, the three sat in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fierce bidding war Li Ye expected never came—Dong Yuejin and Geng Zhi, as if reading each other’s minds, suddenly formed an unspoken truce and engaged in a cold standoff with Li Ye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Ye, having lived two lives, saw right through their little game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slurped up his last spoonful of soup, bid them farewell, and stood to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You two enjoy your meal. I’ve got class. You can talk to me separately or together—either way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geng Zhi couldn’t hold back any longer. From Dong Yuejin’s frantic sprint earlier, he was certain Dong would approach Li Ye alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since empty promises cost nothing, Geng Zhi opened up: “Li Ye, could I see your manuscript first? Don’t worry—Dahe Publishing has top-tier resources and can offer the best terms.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye scratched his head, humbly replying: “My manuscript is just finished—I still feel it’s not quite ready. I’d like to have a few experienced readers review it first, then I’ll ask for your feedback once the final version is settled.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【You want someone to review it? You’re planning to submit it to other publishers, aren’t you?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geng Zhi ground his teeth in frustration; Dong Yuejin sighed helplessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were many publishers in China. Even if none offered better terms, the situation would become complicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Give up? Then we’d just hand the win to someone else.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Yuejin exhaled a heavy breath and declared firmly: “Ten yuan. Ten yuan per thousand characters. That’s Blue Sea Publishing’s final offer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geng Zhi stared at Dong Yuejin in shock, suddenly seeing him as a tragic hero.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye blinked and asked: “What about print-run royalties?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【You want print-run royalties too?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geng Zhi widened his eyes at Li Ye, suddenly thinking Feng Bo was the perfect match for him—like a turtle pairing with a bean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Yuejin smiled: “I can’t answer about print-run royalties right now, but we’ve recently established contacts with several literary media outlets in Hong Kong, and we can recommend your novel there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Royalties there are high—if they take interest, you could earn not just thousands, but tens of thousands—even hundreds of thousands.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pfft~ Do you believe that yourself?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geng Zhi sneered, turning his face away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Kong, due to controlling eighty percent of the province’s export share, did have easier external connections—but how trustworthy were they?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And a novel like “Infiltration,” with its obvious political coloring, would never catch the eye of Hong Kong media.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither Geng Zhi nor Dong Yuejin believed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to their shock, the cunning little thief... seemed to... believe it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye’s eyes suddenly gleamed with sharp brilliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn, you’ve got connections like this? Why didn’t you say so earlier!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Infiltration” won’t work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I’ve got “Seeking the Qin”!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I have The Search for Qin!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of tomb-raiding notes or ghost-blown lamps do you want?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If all else fails, there are plenty of female-audience tragic romance novels—let’s have a friendly chat with Aunt Qiongyao?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five percent per ten thousand copies, raised to eight percent in 1990.\u003C\u002Fp>",1615,"2026-06-20T05:04:59.129Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","027d291d090ddf08fb968c56eaf4866139c1306afcfd43b0d845038a44ef155e","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-44","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-42",884,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-cover.jpg"]