[{"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-5":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},2294423,4489,"Chapter 5","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-5",5,"\u003Cp>“Ding-ding-ding~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the bell signaling the end of class, the previously quiet County No.1 Middle School suddenly erupted into chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today was Saturday; except for graduating and retake students, every child—whether boarding or day student—rushed home for dinner and family time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zixue slung his military-green shoulder bag over his shoulder, left the classroom, crossed the playground, and headed for the school’s bicycle shed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last night’s rain had soaked the playground, leaving puddles; Lu Zixue carefully dodged them, keeping the mud from staining his Li Hui sneakers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cherished these shoes—white sneakers with stains looked terrible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come on, Zixue, let’s go together! My mom said she’s making dumplings tonight—come eat at my place!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A classmate caught up to Lu Zixue, warmly inviting him home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had been junior high classmates, both admitted to County No.1 from Liuqiao Township, and their families lived close by, always getting along well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lu Zixue refused: “No thanks. My dad said the rear rack of my bike is too light—it can’t handle heavy loads, or it’ll break… You should ask your dad to buy you a bicycle, a Qianlima brand would be fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rear rack of a 26-inch Phoenix bike was indeed less sturdy than a 28-inch one, but this classmate was thin and small—even lighter than most girls—how could that be “too heavy”?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enthusiastic classmate stood frozen for a long while, then lowered his head and walked away awkwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zixue didn’t care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>County No.1 was the best school in the county, naturally drawing many hardworking, smart kids from township junior highs; they studied and joked together daily, yet an invisible divide always separated them into cliques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zixue had a military bag, Li Hui sneakers, and a bicycle—no kid from the county town, not even a teacher from County No.1 High, could match his “style.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he felt he shouldn’t mix anymore with those country kids in coarse cloth clothes, thick-soled cloth shoes, and hand-sewn cloth bags.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The city kids, dressed sharply and radiating confidence, were the \"kindred spirits\" that Lu Zixue recognized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After crossing the playground, Lu Zixue entered the bicycle shed and pulled out his standout 26-inch Phoenix bicycle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he’d quietly wiped it clean with last night’s rainwater, the brand-new Phoenix bike unsurprisingly drew envious glances from classmates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zixue pushed the bike slowly toward the school gate, his eyes scanning the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then his gaze lit up—he quickened his steps toward a group of girls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gao Xiaoyan, I’ll give you a ride home! My mom added a cushion to the rear rack—it’s fast and steady.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Xiaoyan was a lively, pretty girl who also owned Li Hui sneakers and a military bag, just no bicycle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at Lu Zixue, who had summoned the courage to invite her, surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zixue’s home was in Liuqiao Township, southwest of the county; hers was in the Meat Processing Plant dormitory, northwest—hardly on the same route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Gao Xiaoyan was polite and smiled: “We’re going to the movies—we’re not heading home yet!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zixue felt awkward: “You’re going to the movies…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of Gao Xiaoyan’s friends, playful by nature, teased Lu Zixue: “Hey, wanna come with us and Xiaoyan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I… can’t. My family’s waiting for me to eat!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zixue forced a smile, lowered his head, and pushed his bike away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he walked, he suddenly realized something—he looked up and caught sight of his country classmate watching him, smirking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A look of contemptuous mockery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, Lu Zixue’s heart ignited with bitter rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He resented that his pockets held only a few fen—barely enough for a movie ticket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hated his stubborn sister—why had she rushed to break off her engagement with the Li family? Couldn’t she have waited a year until he got into university?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Think back then—when that fool Li Ye made eight trips a month to Liuqiao Township, his pockets always full of spare change, his clothes replaced season after season—how different from his current poverty and humiliation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【What an idiot. Why didn’t you come beg me? Why didn’t you ask me to speak well of you to Father? Don’t you know I call the shots at home?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zixue cursed inwardly—then heard cheers ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The candy seller’s here! I knew he’d come today!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Candy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Lu Zixue immediately pushed his bike forward through the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had five fen left—he’d buy two taels, eat it all himself, and watch that mocking country classmate choke on envy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after pushing forward only a few meters, Lu Zixue froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The very Li Ye he’d just been muttering about stood right ahead, staring at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zixue’s mind churned with conflict.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【He must be here to flatter me—bringing me money? Or gifts? Probably money…】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【My sister said we must never accept another favor from the Li family—she’ll repay every debt slowly… but now I’m being humiliated…】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Father said if this guy gets into university… then I won’t oppose them getting back together—that’ll be a huge favor to Li Ye. I call the shots at home.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In less than two seconds, Lu Zixue devised a perfect plan: he’d accept Li Ye’s benefit without owing him anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>………………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye stood at the entrance of County No.1 Middle School, drawing the same attention from the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tall, long-legged, strikingly handsome, with a calm, unassuming aura—even the shyest girls stole glances at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, girls in this era were still reserved—if he’d lived in the future, he’d truly need to be told: “Boys, protect yourself when you go out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, you’re out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, I saw.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without Li Dayong’s reminder, Li Ye had spotted Lu Zixue from afar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bicycles were rare among the crowd after school; a 26-inch Phoenix was impossible to miss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye saw Lu Zixue—after a brief moment of surprise, Lu Zixue pushed his bike over, stopped before Li Ye, and tilted his chin up coldly to meet his gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye was baffled—because in that instant, he saw the same intern supervisor from his past life whom he’d despised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A complete idiot who understood nothing, yet always put on airs in front of interns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone secretly cursed his ancestors, yet he felt superior, convinced everyone had to flatter and serve him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zixue was now performing that same “putting-on-airs” act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The acting was crude—but he performed it earnestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【He’s waiting for me to speak first.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye had no interest in playing games with this half-grown boy—he reached out and grabbed the handlebars of the 26-inch Phoenix, intending to yank it away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zixue was caught off guard—he saw his beloved Phoenix slipping from his grasp and instinctively grabbed the rear rack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then cold sweat soaked his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Is he here to give me money? … Or to steal my bike?】\u003C\u002Fp>",1127,"2026-06-20T05:04:59.129Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","de1af94ec424ace78b9a4ebe14cdac09046a83676dc085259252b92ee761e62a","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-6","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-4",884,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-cover.jpg"]