[{"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-842":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},2295260,4489,"Chapter 842: Do You Know What","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-842",842,"\u003Cp>“Notice is out! The notice is out! Our welfare building is perfectly fine, and the housing allocation list has been posted again—everyone go take a look!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So fast? Deputy Factory Director Li said it’d take a week for results, and it’s only been three days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, don’t you know how efficiently our Factory Director Li handles things? When has he ever delayed anyone’s time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come on, let’s go take a look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s there to look at? Your name wasn’t on the list last time—do you really think the director’s going to feel sorry for you and give you a unit this time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you know? The housing list is posted publicly precisely to allow public oversight—to verify whether each household’s housing situation is genuinely difficult.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Director Li doesn’t know our circumstances—what if he’s fooled by those deceitful liars who falsify their claims?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh, you’re right—what if someone’s faking it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to her colleagues’ chatter, Ge Qian couldn’t help feeling anxious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the two factory directors had “fully supported” Ge Qian and affirmed her special housing needs, what if all her coworkers believed she had no right to a unit—how would she handle that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ge Qian truly needed a home right now—what would happen to her two children without one?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half an hour later, colleagues who had gone to check the notice began returning one by one, and Ge Qian immediately sensed their gazes on her were markedly different from usual; some even pointed and whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Qian felt utterly uncomfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed to her that their stares carried contempt, envy, and revulsion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Qian kept her head down, lips pressed tight, silently doing her work, refusing to meet anyone’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d seen thick-skinned people before—those who, with leadership backing, ignored even the loudest public outcry, since nothing could change the facts anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ge Qian knew she could never reach that level—if not for her two children, she’d have willingly renounced her housing eligibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her best friend Zhang Jing walked over, eyes red, staring at Ge Qian for a long time without speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Qian’s heart ached—she’d had only Zhang Jing as a true friend all these years, and now even she was going to grow distant over a housing unit?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just as Ge Qian was drowning in sorrow, Zhang Jing said: “Xiao Qian, if you ever feel wronged, speak up—I’ll share the burden with you. Those two kids are pitiful—I’ll be their godmother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Qian stared at Zhang Jing in surprise, then finally smiled bitterly: “You know already?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jing nodded. “The factory issued an official explanation about your housing case—it clarified everything. Otherwise, I never would’ve known you’ve been paying off your sister’s debts and raising two children all these years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Qian didn’t know what to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d always been proud, never wanting to reveal her struggles, afraid others would pity or mock her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this time, she truly couldn’t hide it anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single woman raising two children? She had to have an explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Lao Miao, the most respected veteran worker in Factory One, walked over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ge Qian! I got a unit too—I don’t know which building yet, but since we’re both in the same area, if you ever work overtime or night shifts, bring the kids over to my place for meals.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Qian hurriedly refused: “No, no, thank you, Master Miao—my nephew and niece are old enough to cook for themselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Girl, don’t keep turning down kindness—life’s long! It’s settled.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Miao waved his hand and walked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Qian opened her mouth to protest again, but ultimately said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Ge Qian looked around at the other workers in the workshop and realized she’d misunderstood earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of their gazes held compassion and goodwill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chinese people deeply understand “kindness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Qian’s parents were dead, her sister had passed away early, and she alone raised her sister’s two children—just these three facts alone were enough to stir kindness in nearly everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But kindness, as a virtue, exists in some and not in others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Ge Qian’s housing eligibility was posted, no frontline workers raised objections—but several managers were unhappy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the posting ended, Factory One held a cadre meeting to discuss specific floor allocations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These days, buildings had no elevators—the prime second- and third-floor units were vastly better than the fifth- and sixth-floor ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zhizhang spoke first: “By yesterday afternoon, we received four objections during the posting period. Chen Zi from Workshop Eight doesn’t meet the housing criteria; the other three objections are baseless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Envy was unavoidable—during this housing allocation, there were always those who couldn’t stand others’ good fortune, seizing on minor flaws and blowing them out of proportion to sabotage them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[If I don’t get a unit, neither will you.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve adapted the housing rules from Changbei Machinery Factory to suit our own conditions. Please voice any opinions—let’s discuss them together and get our workers into new homes as soon as possible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, Lu Zhizhang handed printed floor allocation rules to the heads of each department and workshop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lai Jiayi took hers but didn’t immediately look at it—instead, she said seriously: “Factory Director Lu, before we discuss floor allocation, I’d like to raise an issue:”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After Ge Qian received housing eligibility, many colleagues can’t understand why a single worker who’s been here less than a year outranked veteran employees with over a decade of service.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take Old Zhang from Workshop Four and Union’s Old Qi—they both have terrible housing conditions and over ten years of seniority—why didn’t they get units?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The workers are resentful—how much did Ge Qian contribute to our unit to earn a new home? Is it just because she’s raising her nephew and niece?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The meeting room fell silent; all eyes turned to Li Ye and Lu Zhizhang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Qi and Old Zhang had been on Lai Jiayi’s original shortlist, but Li Ye and Lu Zhizhang had eliminated them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lai Jiayi had accepted it—after all, Factory One was run by Li Ye and Lu Zhizhang—but then Ge Qian was chosen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What’s this? Only the magistrate can set fires, but commoners can’t light lamps?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lai Jiayi felt backed into a corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the boss is useless, his subordinates will turn against him—who doesn’t want to follow a magistrate?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Lai Jiayi had to fight back—even if it meant adding just one more “special slot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye glanced at Lai Jiayi and said coolly: “Sister Lai, we received no objections targeting Ge Qian—so when you say workers are resentful, which specific worker?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lai Jiayi smiled: “Factory Director Li, you don’t understand the workers’ psychology—you personally wrote the explanation for Ge Qian, so everyone assumes that’s your stance. You don’t know how much respect and support you command.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Your meaning is: the workers fear my tyranny?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye smiled gently: “We absolutely reject personality cults—every issue must be handled fairly and impartially. I propose a show of hands.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zhizhang immediately agreed: “Alright. Those in favor of Ge Qian receiving housing, raise your hands.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye and Lu Zhizhang raised their hands; everyone else followed immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lai Jiayi: “.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You claim to uphold fairness and impartiality—then why pull this stunt?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A show of hands is indeed a fair and impartial method—but in practice, hehehe~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You two factory directors raised your hands first—who dares not follow?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isn’t that bullying?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye glanced at Lai Jiayi, a smug smile curling his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Do you know what “unethical” means? Do you know what “rat’s tail juice” means?]\u003C\u002Fp>",1257,"2026-06-20T05:05:02.628Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","0631a3b2e6b8c75ce8ae0313d1198b4778aa2adc209add580761e201fa990b38","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-843","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-841",884,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-cover.jpg"]