[{"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-61":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},2294479,4489,"Chapter 61: The Sharp-Tongued Wen Leyu","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-61",61,"\u003Cp>At 5:30 p.m. in winter, the sky was completely dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The few lights along the street stretched Wen Leyu and Lu Jingyao’s shadows long and thin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two had wandered the street for a long time, neither speaking first, as if competing in a silent breath-holding contest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the younger Wen Leyu broke the silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You shouldn’t have come to find Li Ye. Sending money to County No. 2 High School already caused him great trouble,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and now you’re coming to see him—do you want that whole school-wide joke to be remembered forever?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao suddenly stopped walking, staring at the calm, indifferent Wen Leyu, feeling the last dam inside her heart slowly crumble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since leaving the Second Grain Store, Lu Jingyao’s heart had never settled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hostility from Hu Man, Han Xia, and others left her both confused and heartbroken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had once studied and struggled together, encouraging each other to seek freedom and change their fates—but now that Lu Jingyao had succeeded, why couldn’t she receive even a word of congratulations?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that wasn’t the worst. Strong-willed Lu Jingyao could ignore Hu Man’s attitude; after all, they no longer lived in the same world and would never cross paths again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Wen Leyu was different—she was the “little sister” Lu Jingyao truly cared for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet now, this little sister, in the cold winter, spoke words so cold and heartless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little Yu... I thought you’d understand me... We’re both people abandoned by fate... We must strengthen ourselves, change our destinies...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao sniffed hard, lifted her head, and stiffened her neck: “Is it wrong to strive to change your own fate?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu stared at the resolute Lu Jingyao without expression, coldly saying: “Changing your fate is your freedom, but hurting others is your fault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t use some bullshit notion of freedom to cover up your betrayal, and don’t turn it into a weapon to hurt people again and again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Wen Leyu’s words, Lu Jingyao felt a sudden panic, but she shouted loudly: “I never meant to hurt anyone—it’s Li Ye who’s useless!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything I’ve done is legal. The law guarantees marriage freedom; I’ve repaid everything I owed him...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No~!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu cut her off sharply, raised her arm, and pointed straight at Lu Jingyao’s chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You betrayed him. You betrayed pure, sacred love.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao froze as if struck by a spiritual acupuncture point, stumbling backward several steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Love”—in literature, such a noble word—but for over half a year, Lu Jingyao had deliberately avoided those two syllables.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two fell silent again. After a long while, Lu Jingyao smiled bitterly: “Little Yu, you’ve only known Li Ye for a few days—how did he steal your soul?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A few days? Hmph...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu sneered softly: “People aren’t that complicated. Sometimes, you see through someone in just a few minutes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“..........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao thought the girl had been possessed—but then Wen Leyu began recounting an old story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you remember last year, when you took me to steal corn?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh~~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao froze, embarrassed by what Wen Leyu mentioned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Wen Leyu and Teacher Ke had just arrived in Liuqiao Township, they’d met because Lu’s father and Teacher Ke both taught at the school.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That late summer, Lu Jingyao and Lu Zixue invited Wen Leyu to eat “green ears.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an era of severe food shortages, sweet-tasting green corn was one of the few delicacies in the countryside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unable to resist the “enthusiasm” of the Lu siblings, Wen Leyu followed them to the cornfield north of the township government—only to learn the “invitation” was actually theft.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In those days, stealing corn wasn’t unusual; many sent-down youth had done it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Wen Leyu had never done such a thing! What if...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if fate mocked her, perhaps the cornfield had been raided too often—someone was on watch that day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The watchman was an old man with bad legs, but he had a big dog.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clueless little mute, with zero experience in theft, was chased by the dog, panicked, failed to leap over the small ditch, and tumbled in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao ahead wanted to turn back and pull Wen Leyu out, but the old man was already approaching; her brother Lu Zixue yanked her away desperately, even losing a shoe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Wen Leyu wasn’t caught. Lu Jingyao only remembered her returning soaked in mud, her face unrecognizable, like a mud monkey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Li Ye, who had come to Liuqiao to find Lu Jingyao, was caught red-handed and branded a “corn thief.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the time, Lu Jingyao couldn’t understand it. She asked Li Ye, but he said nothing. It wasn’t anything good, so everyone soon chose to forget.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now Wen Leyu brought it up—Lu Jingyao instantly sensed Li Ye and Wen Leyu had crossed paths that day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, the previously icy Wen Leyu’s eyes grew moist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know my ankle was sprained, my foot stuck in the muddy bottom, unable to stand? And that big dog was barking right above my head.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know how much trouble it would’ve caused my mother if I’d been caught stealing, given my status?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you didn’t come back to help me... You just told me to run. Am I an idiot? Don’t I know to run?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Large tears poured from Wen Leyu’s big eyes, sliding down her small face, freezing into tiny ice flowers on her cotton coat collar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She would never forget that moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dog feared water and didn’t jump into the ditch to tear at her—but it kept circling and barking, drawing the old man closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu struggled desperately, but to no avail; she kept falling, swallowing filthy water, her face caked in stinking mud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Wen Leyu was utterly hopeless. Tears fell steadily, but she dared not make a sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hoped her ostrich tactic would delay capture, praying the Lu siblings would return to save her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Lu siblings never came. Instead, a tall, straight-backed boy sprinted over and kicked the dog so hard it lost its life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He truly kicked its heart out—the dog died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu wiped her tears with her coat sleeve—and smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mocking smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you remember what happened? Li Ye was caught, admitted to killing the dog, and even admitted to stealing the corn cobs we’d dropped by the ditch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And you, Lu Jingyao—Li Ye’s fiancée—didn’t care for him. You mocked him for being stupid, blamed him for making your father lose face.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had only forgotten the scene by choice—how could she possibly forget?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye was dragged to the township square, shoved back defiantly at the old man, and boasted: “So I kicked your dog to death? So I stole a few cobs? I’ll pay you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The townsfolk of Liuqiao, tightly bonded, surrounded Li Ye, shouting to beat him up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even with black eyes, Li Ye remained arrogant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when Lu Jingyao’s father intervened did Li Ye pay compensation and walk away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the time, Lu Jingyao had indeed resented Li Ye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re so strong—why didn’t you run? Your grandfather’s a bureau chief—why didn’t you name-drop him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye said nothing, only chuckled dumbly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now she realized—he’d saved Wen Leyu that day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao bit her lip and defended: “I wasn’t mocking him for being stupid—I just thought he could’ve avoided that embarrassing scene with a better approach.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye’s grandfather had already resumed his post—he could’ve simply said he didn’t steal, and no one would’ve doubted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Wen Leyu sneered: “If Li Ye didn’t steal, who did? Do you think you’re the only smart one?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though younger than Lu Jingyao, Wen Leyu had experienced far more complexity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In your own hometown, who can you fool? Lu Jingyao being local was one thing—but Wen Leyu, an outsider, could she have escaped?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Li Ye hadn’t taken all the blame that day, Wen Leyu might’ve faced serious trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(The author once did this—ran off successfully, but then how the hell did they track me down? I was home for summer vacation; strangers stood out. Three questions, and they knew it was me.)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh~ huh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao breathed deeply, using the cold air to cool her inner anxiety and heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So back then, you and Li Ye...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. Li Ye didn’t even know me. I was covered in mud—he kicked the dog and didn’t even look at me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu was certain of this, because in later interactions, Li Ye rarely even glanced at her properly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only this year, when she entered County No. 2 High School, did everything suddenly change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao was speechless again. After half a minute, she spoke to Wen Leyu in an adult tone: “Little Yu, you’re still young—you don’t understand many things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s no such thing as love without reason. Every benefit comes with a price. If someone treats you well, they always have a motive—they want something...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d only realized this truth after being humiliated by Qian Shun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before she finished, Wen Leyu shot back: “Then what did Li Ye gain from treating you so well back then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao was dumbfounded—when had the quiet, mute Wen Leyu become so sharp-tongued?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Li Ye wanted to marry me? Isn’t that obvious?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lu Jingyao had accepted benefits and broken the engagement—she couldn’t now state that reason with any moral certainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too humiliating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But worse was yet to come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu asked Lu Jingyao directly: “You keep talking about self-strengthening, self-reliance, changing your fate—so how did you get into university?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao paused, then answered calmly and confidently: “I got in through hard study and Teacher Ke’s help. I’ll never forget his kindness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, that’s not it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu slowly shook her head, staring into Lu Jingyao’s eyes: “You got into university because I ate a piece of candy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“..........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao was completely stunned; she couldn’t understand why Wen Leyu would say something so absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in an instant, a memory flashed through her mind, striking her like lightning and shattering her soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, Lu’s father, Li Ye, and Lu Jingyao had brought gifts to ask Teacher Ke to tutor Lu Jingyao in English.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Ke had refused calmly, leaving no room for further pleading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just as they were about to leave, Wen Leyu opened the gift Li Ye had brought and ate a piece of milk candy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Ke immediately agreed, devoting herself wholeheartedly to helping Lu Jingyao get into university.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【The turning point of fate was because of a single piece of candy?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao looked up helplessly at the sky; all her self-reliance, self-respect, and self-confidence now seemed like a joke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without Teacher Ke’s help, she could never have gotten into university—certainly not into Jingcheng Foreign Languages College.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that candy belonged to Li Ye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long, long time, Lu Jingyao smiled bitterly and asked Wen Leyu: “Do you regret eating that candy back then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu smiled, ignored Lu Jingyao, and turned away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Regret it? Of course not!】\u003C\u002Fp>",1834,"2026-06-20T05:04:59.129Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","80967188403639c95ee120e9c6b13692966a3912ee26bf8d95764b9e9a5d7565","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-62","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-60",884,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-cover.jpg"]