[{"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-57":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},2294475,4489,"Chapter 57: Who Is the Adult, and Who Is the Child?","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-57",57,"\u003Cp>\"Move aside, move aside, the train is about to be late... if you get hurt, it's not our responsibility!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bear of a man charged through the crowd, swinging his thick arms left and right, shoving people aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many angry passengers turned around, mouths open to curse loudly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but seeing Li Dayong’s massive frame and the piercing glares of Jin Peng and Li Ye, they swallowed their anger and stayed silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old-fashioned martial arts stance prioritized a strong lower body; Li Ye and his two brothers had a clear advantage in such a packed crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye and his two companions formed a triangular formation, shielding Professor Ke in the center, sweating profusely until they finally reached the platform just as the train arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when he saw the incoming train, even the usually calm Li Ye couldn’t help blurting out, “Holy shit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a through train from Shanghai to Beijing, stopping at countless stations along the way—by now it was packed like sardines in a can, and Li Ye felt adding even one more person might cause it to burst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Experienced passengers on the platform were already scrambling for spots, turning their luggage into projectiles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professor Ke quickly said, “After we get there, we’ll throw our luggage in through the window, then I’ll climb in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Li Ye realize these people intended to climb into the train through the windows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each carriage had only one door, but a dozen windows—any entrance would do, as long as you could get inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But imagining Professor Ke climbing through a window, Li Ye found it utterly unbelievable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Professor Ke, could I see your ticket?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, here... why do you need it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just give me a moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye took Professor Ke’s ticket and pushed urgently toward the rear of the train, where the sleeper cars were located.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dongshan’s provincial capital was a major city—even a passing train would have sleeper ticket quotas; Li Ye figured he might find a way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Near the rear of the train, the platform was less crowded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye began observing the waiting passengers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who walked with steady, even strides and looked down slightly at others were used to giving orders—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those with two pens stuck in their shirt pockets were high-level intellectuals—some easygoing, others stingy—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not suitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah~ this old man has large hands and feet, calloused palms, and deep, weathered wrinkles—he’s clearly one of our beloved workers, maybe even a Level 8 technician.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye approached him, pulled out a cigarette first, then spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle, could I ask you something—are you heading to Beijing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man was wary, glanced at Li Ye, and waved off the cigarette: “Just say what you want, no need for all this flattery!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye was embarrassed, quickly holding up the ticket: “Old man, I’m not a bad guy—here’s the thing: my relative is also going to Beijing, but she only has a seated ticket...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But she’s a woman, traveling alone—she’ll suffer terribly on the journey. Could I pay you to swap tickets with you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A woman?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man frowned but didn’t refuse immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this kind of crowd, no one would willingly trade a sleeper ticket for a seated one!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye quickly pointed toward Professor Ke: “That one... that big guy is my brother, and the one beside him is my relative... her health is so poor, on the train...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Professor Ke’s hair was disheveled, looking quite disheveled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man squinted and said, “Oh, your relative is a refined person!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye replied, “She’s a teacher, but she’s always been in poor health. The journey to Beijing takes over ten hours—no one could endure standing in the front like this...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man nodded: “That’s true. People with weak constitutions suffer terribly traveling like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing an opening, Li Ye pulled out fifty yuan from his pocket and shoved it into the old man’s, along with the ticket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please help me, Uncle—unless we had no other choice, I’d never beg anyone...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, kid, I...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man frowned, reaching to pull the money out—but when he felt the amount, he felt embarrassed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Actually, you don’t need to give me so much—my hard sleeper is 23 yuan, your seat ticket is 12.5, just give me the 10.5 yuan difference.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No way!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye grabbed the old man’s arm and pulled him toward Professor Ke, saying as they walked: “Sitting on a hard seat for ten hours is worse than working two extra days—if you gave it up for free, that’d be inhumane.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph, working two extra days? No big deal—you kids just need more exercise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Li Ye’s words, the old man felt less uncomfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they reached Professor Ke, Li Ye stepped forward and said: “Professor Ke, I spoke with this uncle—he’s willing to generously give us his sleeper ticket.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man immediately handed the ticket to Professor Ke, adding with pride: “We Dongshan men can’t stand seeing women suffer—it’s only right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Th-this is too much! Let me pay you back!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professor Ke, deeply embarrassed, began rummaging through her small bag.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man waved his hand: “No need—your nephew already paid. Just hurry aboard!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye quickly grabbed Professor Ke’s luggage and had Li Dayong and Jin Peng help the old man board the train.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, thank you so much! Thank you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professor Ke thanked repeatedly as she followed Li Ye toward the sleeper car, while Li Dayong and Jin Peng helped the worker climb aboard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man, a talkative fellow, asked: “Is that woman also your relative?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Relative?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Peng paused, then laughed: “Not yet—but who knows what the future holds?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Peng explained: “That kid is my younger brother—he might one day call Professor Ke his mother-in-law.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah! So that’s it!” the old man realized. “No wonder he was so eager! Today, I might’ve just helped arrange a match!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>。。。。。\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the sleeper car entrance had ticket inspectors, this area wasn’t crowded at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye escorted Professor Ke to the entrance, handed her the two bags of tobacco and alcohol, then leaned in and whispered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Professor Ke, when I asked Wen Leyu to proofread my manuscript, I promised to give her part of the royalties—but she never took it. This time, she told me to give it to you first—it’s at the bottom of the bag.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That won’t do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professor Ke firmly refused, but Li Ye had already let go and stepped back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Professor Ke, if you don’t need it, bring it back—don’t suffer on the road.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professor Ke: “........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stay safe on the journey. Once you arrive, if you can, send us a telegram.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professor Ke: “........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When you get to Beijing, don’t stay in small inns—stay at a proper hotel. Don’t be stingy with money.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With those words spoken, Li Ye’s figure vanished into the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professor Ke was urged aboard by the ticket inspector and didn’t calm down until she reached her berth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【I was just given advice by a child.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professor Ke couldn’t help smiling—just now, it felt as if she were the inexperienced child, and Li Ye below was the one seeing her off.\u003C\u002Fp>",1200,"2026-06-20T05:04:59.129Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","6772102420e7fd0c90ca19cfc1652be47984221354bc97056dabc3edf8166240","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-58","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-56",884,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-cover.jpg"]