[{"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-86":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},2294504,4489,"Chapter 86: Block","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-86",86,"\u003Cp>May 25th, the final day for volunteer application submissions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the small warehouse of the Second Grain Store, Li Dayong and the others solemnly filled out their college application forms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye said: “I’ll ask one last time—are you all certain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Man and Jiang Xiaoyan nodded firmly, while Han Xue shrugged carelessly: “Don’t worry, if we don’t get in, we won’t blame you, Li Ye.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s not right,” Yan Jinbu muttered gloomily. “Whether we get in or not, we should thank Li Ye.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, fine, you’re so clever—can’t even say three words in a row. Should’ve known better than to apply with you...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Xia scoffed at Yan Jinbu and gave him a withering glare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye’s original plan was for each of them to apply independently, but the eight-person group, seeking courage in numbers, split into four pairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Xia and Yan Jinbu applied to Beijing Chemical Engineering Academy; Fu Yingjie and Li Dayong applied to Beijing Institute of Industry; Hu Man and Jiang Xiaoyan both applied to Beijing Aviation University.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, their ambitions were higher than Li Ye had expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beijing Institute of Industry was the future Beijing Polytechnic; Beijing Aviation University would become Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were solid Double First-Class universities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, it was a bit risky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was too late now; Li Ye had already said everything he needed to say, and further advice would be useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eight-person group submitted their applications right at the deadline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then word spread quickly through the county No. 2 High School.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Ye applied to Peking University? Is he crazy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Peking University’s Economics Department, World Economy... Is there even such a major? What do they even study?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In 1982, popular majors were literature, philosophy, history, physics, and chemistry—economics was a novelty, and most people had no idea what it even was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When choosing schools, Li Ye considered Tsinghua’s Computer Science program, but Tsinghua’s discipline was brutal back then—you might have to line up and march in step just to eat in the cafeteria!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That would’ve hindered Li Ye’s plans to attend school, earn money, and pursue Wen Leyu simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Plus, Wen Leyu loved Peking University, so Li Ye chose Peking University with her, opting for the relatively freer environment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why study economics?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, when you’re a capital tycoon showing off, you still need some professional knowledge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye had no intention of ever doing frontline work anyway—major didn’t matter much; he just needed to scrape by. Peking University turned out talent every year, and plenty of its graduates ended up in the central government. If he could hitch a ride, he’d be ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Probably just wants to go to Beijing with Wen Leyu—look, she applied to Peking University’s English Department...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone spotted Wen Leyu’s application and felt a twinge of envy—once you ignored Wen Leyu, now you can’t even reach her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye and the others didn’t linger at school; they left immediately after submitting their applications.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they didn’t know that after they left, Xia Yue had quietly written “Beijing Foreign Languages Academy” on her own application form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had finally made up her mind—not to brake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For high school seniors in 1982, once applications were submitted, everything was final—only forward, no turning back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye increased the study intensity of the eight-person group and began slipping in extra material.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t know the exact content of the 1982 college entrance exam, but he knew some interesting bits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, the math section that once made Ma Ali score only one point, and...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As June arrived, the weather grew increasingly hot; Li Ye had Hao Jian scrounge up two fans, which made Hu Man and the others feel immensely comfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In 1982, having a fan was far more luxurious than air conditioning forty years later—never mind the cost of buying one; many people still hesitated to turn on lights at night because of electricity bills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enduring summer with a palm leaf fan was the norm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With all these advantages, the group’s progress was smooth, and Li Ye’s political knowledge slowly improved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But by mid-June, Li Ye noticed Yan Jinbu acting strangely—he’d been distracted for several days straight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was the pressure too much?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye felt uneasy; the group studied over fourteen hours daily, and even he was exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jinbu, are you too tired?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, no, no, I’m fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye sensed something was off—Yan Jinbu’s eyes clearly avoided his gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye’s tone turned serious: “If something’s bothering you, say it. Don’t bury it inside—especially if it’s related to our college exams.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Man and the others caught Li Ye’s implication, looked up in surprise, and fixed their eyes on Yan Jinbu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What could be related to their exams besides the practice problems? Had someone approached Yan Jinbu with a bribe?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sweat immediately began dripping from Yan Jinbu’s forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was never talkative, and now under so many stares, he stammered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, it’s not that someone asked me to...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After struggling for a long time, Yan Jinbu finally explained clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few days ago, someone had come to his home and offered 500 yuan to have him abandon his own exam and take it in someone else’s place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Man and the others stared at Yan Jinbu in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Xia demanded first: “So you agreed? You’d sell your future for five hundred yuan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, no!” Yan Jinbu shook his head frantically. “I told them I only scored 406 on the mock exam because I guessed right—I usually get around 340. I turned them down. I turned them down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Xia snapped: “Then why are you spacing out? I’ve noticed you’ve been off these past few days—I thought you were just tired!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Jinbu lowered his head and whispered: “I... I just sometimes think, if I had five hundred yuan... I could retake the exam next year...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye, watching Yan Jinbu’s inner turmoil, could easily imagine how the offer had been pitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A year of retaking costs over a hundred yuan—five hundred yuan means you’d be studying with a salary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Retake a year, get a better score next time, and get into a better university...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What truly troubled Yan Jinbu wasn’t necessarily the five hundred yuan, but the applications of Li Ye, Wen Leyu, and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Jinbu had applied to Beijing Chemical Engineering Academy—a fine undergraduate school—but it paled next to Tsinghua, Peking University, or Beijing Aviation University.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quiet and reserved, Yan Jinbu was hardworking and proud; perhaps for a moment, he’d actually considered it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye patted Yan Jinbu’s shoulder and asked: “You missed five hundred yuan! Why didn’t you just say yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Jinbu laughed bitterly and shook his head: “I thought it through—I realized if you all leave and I’m left alone, I don’t know if I can keep going. So I just thought about it. Just thought about it...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye nodded, his face darkening as he said sternly: “You’re lucky you didn’t agree—if you had, and got caught, you’d never be allowed to take the college exam again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, no, they’re from Lin County...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Jinbu broke into a cold sweat, stammering in shame to defend himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye pressed on: “It’s not the one-in-ten-thousand you fear—it’s the one-in-ten-thousand that happens. Nothing is foolproof. If you’re willing to gamble your entire future, go ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Jinbu pleaded: “I really refused! You have to believe me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Xia quickly intervened: “We believe you. Just study hard and take the exam properly—stop thinking about all that nonsense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, yes, I’m studying hard!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Jinbu nodded repeatedly, the earnest boy nearly on the verge of tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Xia teased him: “Hey, why doesn’t anyone offer me five hundred yuan? I’m not thinking of taking it—I just want to see what five hundred yuan looks like, that’s all!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye smiled but didn’t say anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because in 1982, no ordinary family would spend five hundred yuan on a girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary girls weren’t worth that price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, let me say something real,” Li Ye clapped his hands and addressed them seriously. “We’ve only focused on studying and schools, never discussed your futures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now I’m telling you: this year’s college graduates will be vastly different from next year’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example,” Li Ye wrote “77” and “78” on the small blackboard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Graduates from ’77 and ’78, if lucky, got assigned to National Level Five Institutes. Our cohort might at best get provincial or ministerial posts—next year will be even harder...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Students who entered in '77 and '78, if lucky after graduation, could be assigned to State Fifth Academy; but our cohort, at best, might get provincial or ministerial-level posts—next year will be even harder.......\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Man and the others looked at each other, uncertain yet excited, both thrilled and regretful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thrilled because they might land jobs in the province; regretful because they’d missed the chance to join the National Level Five Institutes by just a few years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Wen Leyu affirmed: “Li Ye is right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Wen Leyu timely affirmed: “Li Ye is right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone was stunned, then elated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Throughout dinner, the students chattered nonstop, as if they’d already been assigned to provincial posts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Jiang Xiao remained thoughtful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, Jiang Xiao suddenly grabbed Hu Man’s arm and begged: “Hu Man, come with me to see Old Huaiye!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? It’s this late... Fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two girls crept in the dark to the old locust tree north of Qingshui County.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xiao clasped her hands together and whispered a fervent prayer:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Huaiye, please protect me... Don’t let anyone find my family... Don’t let my grandfather hear about five hundred yuan... Please...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Master Huai, please protect us... don’t let anyone find my home... don’t let my grandfather hear about five hundred yuan... please...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Man: «............»\u003C\u002Fp>",1636,"2026-06-20T05:04:59.129Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","060291adbfcfcef5252ced70a15f2c6e9a53d093619d88bffe983b85a4ebf1da","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-87","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-85",884,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-cover.jpg"]