[{"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-84":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},2294502,4489,"Chapter 84: A Catfish","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-84",84,"\u003Cp>Li Ye and Wen Leyu arrived at the classroom just as Jiang Xiaoyan and Xia Yue had finished their argument.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xiaoyan and Hu Man and the others sat in the back row.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since it was self-study period and the critical time for college applications, students were drifting between classes, discussing in groups, clustering with their close friends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye also spotted He Weiguo from Class Two, surrounded by a crowd, enthusiastically discussing something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Hu Man and the others were clearly separated from everyone else, sharply divided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye glanced at Xia Yue, but she pretended not to see him; even those around her avoided his gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye walked to the back and sat down, asking Jiang Xiaoyan: “Why were you crying just now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xiaoyan instinctively wiped her eyes, then realized it was pointless: “I didn’t cry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the tear marks on Jiang Xiaoyan’s eyes, Li Ye didn’t expose her lie, only asked: “What did you argue about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xiaoyan stayed silent; Hu Man answered for her: “We were copying the admissions brochure when Xia Yue came over and asked Jiang Xiaoyan which school she’d apply to. Jiang Xiaoyan said she hadn’t decided yet, so Xia Yue said...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Man explained at length, and only then did Li Ye grasp the full picture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Lu Jingyao got into Jingwai last year, Jiang Xiaoyan and the others had all made similar vows—I’ll get into Beijing Foreign Languages College too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But those were just words of self-encouragement, no one took them seriously; Li Ye himself had probably said something similar back then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet now, Xia Yue came over to debate Jiang Xiaoyan, the class top scorer, and the conversation turned into taunting, until finally she said, “Whoever doesn’t apply is a xx.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It sounded like childish bickering, but Jiang Xiaoyan’s gentle nature and poor verbal skills couldn’t match Xia Yue’s sharp tongue—after a few quarrels, she broke down crying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye listened, stunned into silence for a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Isn’t this exactly what I wanted to do to Xia Yue?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【I held back out of pity, yet she struck first?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye looked at Xia Yue in the front row—and suddenly understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, Li Ye had already struck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he first crossed over and clashed with Huang Shiren over Xia Yue, he had already acted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since last winter, when Li Ye helped Jiang Xiaoyan secure the top spot in the joint exam, he had already acted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During one preliminary exam, Jiang Xiaoyan outperformed Xia Yue; six of the eight-member group made the top ten, and Li Ye had unmistakably moved against Xia Yue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The conflict between Li Ye and Xia Yue had already lasted over half a year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye thought she was a piece of trash; Xia Yue thought Li Ye was bullying her too much!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, after all this back-and-forth, they were approaching the final showdown—wasn’t this just Mount Hua Duel?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Yue’s final move? “I’ll get into Beijing Foreign Languages College. Can you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, Li Ye understood many things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He, Li Ye, really was the “rebel” Xia Yue called him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Li Ye arrived, the remedial Class One was a warm family; though Xia Yue was domineering, overall it was peaceful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone just studied books—no materials, no practice tests—everyone relied on brains and talent, no one complained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since Li Ye came, everything changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Ke used Li Ye’s practice book to create questions, Li Ye explained problems, and disparities emerged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Jiang Xiaoyan took first place; Xia Yue and the others realized the value of Beijing’s college prep materials and turned to Lu Jingyao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Beijing’s exam materials kept arriving by mail, the class’s peaceful environment vanished; everyone plunged into escalating competition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And all of this stemmed from him—Li Ye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He, Li Ye, was the first “not helping classmates” outsider; he was the root of all chaos. Today’s childish drama was merely the consequence of the seed he planted half a year ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Am I a bad person?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye asked himself, then laughed silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye was a catfish, thrust into the calm school of fish that was remedial Class One.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charging recklessly, stirring up trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the consequence of this catfish was the overall improvement of remedial Class One’s performance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last winter’s joint exam, Jiang Xiaoyan scored only 345 to become class top.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, how many in the class have surpassed 345?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thirteen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye’s arrival gave remedial Class One at least thirteen students who crossed the junior college threshold, even reaching bachelor’s level, plus many more qualified for vocational colleges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This doesn’t even count Wen Leyu as an exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So—is Li Ye a bad person?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No. This catfish, Li Ye, helped remedial Class One shift the gears of fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Xia Yue and Jiang Xiaoyan’s squabble, their feud with Li Ye—it was like a car repeatedly accelerating in road rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The brake pedal? Under Xia Yue’s foot, not Li Ye’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Ye remain silent for so long, Hu Man and the others felt guilty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye had gone out of his way for them, done so much—but they kept causing him trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Actually, we shouldn’t have argued...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The quiet Yan Jinbu said: “It was He Weiguo stirring things up—he said you, Li Ye, now have a new... new goal, so you won’t apply to Beijing Foreign Languages College. That’s why Jiang Xiaoyan argued with them...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye’s gaze sharpened, turning toward He Weiguo ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder something strange happened today—it was this Class Two troublemaker causing chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Weiguo had a relative in the education system and claimed insider knowledge on college applications; lately, many had flocked to him, and he’d grown arrogant, thinking he was back on top.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he saying Li Ye had a new goal? He was clearly hinting—Li Ye had a new girlfriend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye and Wen Leyu’s closeness was obvious to everyone in Class One, but no one dared speak up—except He Weiguo, clueless in Class Two, blabbing carelessly, stirring trouble without realizing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who’s He Weiguo?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Li Ye reacted, Wen Leyu beside him suddenly spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Jinbu instinctively pointed forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye, seated across the desk, reached out—but couldn’t grab her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl’s long legs moved swiftly, taking a few steps to get ahead of He Weiguo,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a word, she swung her small arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her tiny fist clenched tight, pale and delicate, like a little hammer, smashing hard against He Weiguo’s eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bang~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Weiguo, stunned, blinked for a second before clutching his eye and crying out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ow~~ What the hell are you doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu’s cold gaze swept over everyone around, including Xia Yue and Jin Shengli.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Watch what you say from now on!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu’s voice was quiet, not loud, clear and cool, not menacing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet not one of Xia Yue’s group dared retort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye: “........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xiaoyan: “.........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dayong and the others: “.........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rest of the eight-member group stared at the fierce little girl, all thinking the same thing: “Impressive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only He Weiguo, beaten, felt humiliated and yammered on—but no one paid him any attention, as if watching a clown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a teacher suddenly rushed in through the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Weiguo saw him and rushed forward to complain—but the teacher shoved him aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The teacher, panting, said: “Wen Leyu... hurry... to the principal’s office...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu froze, then bolted out of the classroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye, Hu Man, and the others followed closely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Weiguo thought for a moment, then followed too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The walk from remedial Class One to the principal’s office was far; Wen Leyu ran all the way, gasping for breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, she saw her mother standing beside the desk, holding a phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Wen Leyu enter, Teacher Ke extended the handset toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu stared in shock at her mother; after a silent exchange of glances, she suddenly trembled with excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, Teacher Ke had blocked all news from Beijing, fearing the girl would overthink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So today...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu felt her heart leap—she nervously took the handset and pressed it to her ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hello... who is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other end fell silent for a second—and that second made Wen Leyu even more tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, a voice, choked with suppressed joy, came through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Yu... it’s Dad!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hum~~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu felt her tiny skull explode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For thousands of days and nights, Wen Leyu had countless times drifted off in thought, missing her father’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless nights, she woke from dreams sobbing, tears streaming down her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, she couldn’t believe it—was this a dream, or reality?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Yu? Xiao Yu? Hello...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man on the other end of the phone grew impatient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu hurriedly said, “I’m here! Dad, I’m here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu’s father immediately calmed: “Xiao Yu! Dad’s already arrived in Jingcheng... I just told your mom—tomorrow, you’ll come back to Jingcheng, okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tomorrow?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had dreamed countless times of reuniting with her father; even after waking, the joy of those reunions lingered for a long, long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But why now did her heart feel so torn?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu grew flustered, unsure how to answer, and turned to look at her mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Ke smiled silently, tracing two characters on her desk with her finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【As you wish!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu’s heart steadied. She whispered into the phone: “Dad, I miss you too, but I want to... come back after the Gaokao, okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?” The voice on the phone rose sharply: “How can you think like your mom? Can’t you take the Gaokao in Jingcheng? I’ll find you the best tutor...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before her father could finish, Wen Leyu quickly handed the phone to Teacher Ke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She dared not provoke her father now—when he doted on her, he was truly gentle, but when he lost his temper, he was terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Ke took the phone and said: “Alright, there’s still a month until the Gaokao. If I abandon these students now, it’s irresponsible—their English foundation is terrible...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t care how bad they are,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the man on the other end finally lost his composure, his voice turning bitter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhiyu, do you know how I’ve survived all these years?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s because I thought of you, missed you... that I kept going!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All these years up north... I think of you and the child every day...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Day and night, I think of you—I’m almost going mad...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bring the child back to me, tomorrow—no, now, right now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You cowardly brat, get out of here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp, aged voice suddenly rang out from the receiver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the caller changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hello, Xiao Yu, it’s Uncle Peng.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, hello, Uncle Peng.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your attitude is excellent. We need people like you—practical, thorough. Keep holding your post until after the Gaokao, and I’ll arrange something for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That kid Qingsheng isn’t even as good as you!”\u003C\u002Fp>",1813,"2026-06-20T05:04:59.129Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a5fa88edc09adec038f9eab6027d1aaef936c8d26472f092055be2f1970d6760","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-85","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-83",884,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-cover.jpg"]