[{"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-87":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},2294505,4489,"Chapter 87","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-87",87,"\u003Cp>Late June, the sun blazed like fire, the earth a steaming cage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even at night, sleep was hard to come by—a torment for students on the brink of the college entrance exam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything to be learned had been learned; everything to be practiced had been practiced. All they wished was for tomorrow to be exam day—success or failure, just get it over with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Yue hadn’t slept well for two days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao had promised her the Algebra book, but it arrived days late; the promised volumes on Plane Geometry and Solid Geometry never came at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This completely shattered Xia Yue’s plan, for even though these self-study texts were invaluable, they required time to absorb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With barely over a month left, Xia Yue had begged Teacher Hu to help her condense the key points, and even then, she’d only grasped the basics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the later geometry books, she’d given up hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d sent multiple letters and telegrams urging delivery—still no reply. That meant Lu Jingyao had broken her word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sigh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Yue sighed, saw the sky outside the window beginning to lighten, then finally fell into a deep sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she didn’t know that Lu Jingyao, thousands of miles away, had also been feeling uneasy for days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao had originally obtained part of the Self-Study Series from Liu Muhan—only a highly educated family like Liu’s could possess such scarce books.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the several Geometry volumes Lu Jingyao promised Xia Yue came from a senior student.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, that student reneged, claiming he’d already lent the books to someone else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This left Lu Jingyao deeply embarrassed; she had to beg Liu Muhan again to see if she could acquire them indirectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at this critical moment before the college entrance exam, where could one even find such scarce items? Even Liu Muhan couldn’t help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Helpless, Lu Jingyao wrote to Xia Yue to explain—but before her letter arrived, Xia Yue’s letters and telegrams kept pouring in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reading the frantic, demanding words on the letters and telegrams, Lu Jingyao felt absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can’t help you—and now I’m the guilty one?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This hurt Lu Jingyao deeply. Xia Yue had once been her best friend—how had she become so extreme?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, Lu Jingyao’s final exams began, and after exhausting herself without reward, she suddenly felt utterly drained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She returned to her dormitory in low spirits, washed her face with water, skipped her usual study session, and collapsed onto her bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above her, Liu Muhan noticed something was off, leaned halfway down, and asked: “You look listless. Sick?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao shook her head: “No, just tired.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Muhan studied her for a moment: “You’re sure you don’t need my comfort?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao smiled: “Go on with your own business. I’m fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Muhan snapped back up, lay down, and resumed reading her novel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao glanced over idly, her gaze sharpened: “Muhan, didn’t you already read that book, The Infiltrator?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Muhan squinted: “I’ve read it twice. But this novel’s got something to it. You finish it, forget most details, then reread—it’s still interesting...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Interesting?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. A fresh writing style—unlike traditional literature or wuxia. It takes an unconventional path, bold and original. This Seven-Inch Blade must be quite an intriguing person.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao froze for a long moment. Li Ye’s face flashed in her mind—but she couldn’t connect him to “intriguing” at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before this winter, Li Ye had been simple-minded, always clinging to her, annoying her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This winter, Li Ye had become cold, keeping her at arm’s length, avoiding her entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Between the two, it was as if he’d become someone else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or perhaps he hadn’t changed—just his heart had turned cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without thinking, Lu Jingyao asked: “Muhan, do you think Seven-Inch Blade can get into Beijing University?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Muhan, absorbed in her book, replied automatically: “Beijing University? Hard to say. Seven-Inch Blade writes novels, sure—but writing novels doesn’t prove his Chinese scores are good, let alone the others...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Muhan stopped mid-sentence, then, like a nimble monkey, flipped down from her top bunk and landed on Lu Jingyao’s bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re saying Seven-Inch Blade is taking the Beijing University exam?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I... didn’t... I just wondered.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Muhan knew people too well—she instantly spotted the panic in Lu Jingyao’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the early 1980s, girls still held poets and writers in high regard. Liu Muhan immediately brightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The author bio says Seven-Inch Blade is a young writer from Dongshan Province. You’re from Dongshan too. Tell me—are you acquainted?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao stayed silent, but her shifting gaze betrayed her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know Seven-Inch Blade well, don’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Muhan was stunned. She shoved Lu Jingyao hard against the inner wall of the bed, excited: “Tell me—what’s Seven-Inch Blade like? An old man? A middle-aged guy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao said nothing—or wanted to, but her mouth felt too bitter to open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Muhan asked, puzzled: “Jingyao, what’s wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long silence, Lu Jingyao forced a awkward smile: “He’s just... my former classmate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Muhan froze, then slowly realized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She widened her eyes: “Your ex... boyfriend?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao said nothing—her silence was confirmation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Muhan sat stunned for a long while, then blurted: “So... is he ugly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao shook her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Muhan pressed: “Short? Dark? Any weird flaws?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao laughed outright: “He’s 1.8 meters tall. Looks... a bit better than Lin Qiang. But he’s just... not my type.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Muhan stared at Lu Jingyao for a long time, then slowly got up, climbed back to her top bunk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she climbed, she muttered: “You turn your nose up at the Queen Mother’s peaches—what’ll you do when all you’ve got left are rotten apricots? You’re doomed!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>July 7, 1982, lunar calendar Ren Xu Year, fifth month, seventeenth day: auspicious for marriage, opening business, praying for blessings, traveling; inauspicious for digging wells, cutting wood, keeping livestock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At five in the morning, Han Chunmei quietly rose, slipped free of the arm wrapped around her, dressed swiftly, and headed to the kitchen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today was Li Ye’s college entrance exam—he’d come home two days early, and she needed to prepare his breakfast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when Han Chunmei entered the kitchen, she found her mother-in-law Wu Juying already busy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She smiled awkwardly and hurried to help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t lazy—today, the mother-in-law was unusually diligent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two women worked in silent harmony: one kneaded dough, the other mixed filling. Soon, bamboo steamers were packed with dumplings stuffed with leek and egg.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was still early; the dumplings didn’t need boiling yet. Han Chunmei sat with Wu Juying in the kitchen, uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Wu Juying asked: “Are you getting used to it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chunmei blinked, then quickly replied: “I’m fine, Ma. Everything’s behind us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Juying’s face hardened. “Once you’re in the Li family, we won’t mistreat you. Those two girls bear the Li surname—they won’t suffer. But there’s one rule...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li family has only one heir: Xiao Ye. If he’s happy, we’re all happy. If he’s unhappy, none of us are.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, yes, I understand, Mother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chunmei hurried to agree. She’d long understood who truly ruled this household.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One thing tames another—eventually, everything circles back to Li Ye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For his exam, the whole family revolved around him—even her sister-in-law’s child had been barred from staying over these days, lest he disturb Li Ye and ruin his exam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, since last winter, this little demon had changed. Though occasionally domineering, he’d grown more reasonable and kinder to his two daughters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as he treated his daughters well, that was all that mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just before six, Li Juan stumbled into the kitchen, half-asleep. Seeing Wu Juying, she snapped awake and hurried to light the stove, boil water, and pull the bellows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My brother’s taking his exam today—how could I oversleep?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At half past six, Wu Juying woke Li Ye. He washed, ate, and his clothes were adjusted three times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nai, I’m going to take an exam, not a marriage proposal. I don’t need to be so stiff.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What nonsense are you spouting? Who are you going to propose to?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Juying frowned: “That teacher Ke brought her daughter over the other day. You’d better behave yourself from now on—don’t let people laugh at us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, alright, I got it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye grabbed his bag, pushed his bike out the door, and the whole family followed him to the gate, as if he were leaving for war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Same routine as always: first to County No. 2 Middle School, then line up and march out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this time, Li Ye was assigned to Yuhong Middle School—a junior high with far worse facilities than County No. 2.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fate was cruel: at Yuhong, Li Ye spotted his cousin-in-law Cui Aiguo again—though they were in different exam halls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two lumps on his head had faded, but faint traces remained—he’d need to shed several layers of skin before they vanished completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm. Smart kid. Didn’t cause trouble yesterday.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui Aiguo hadn’t come to Li’s house to sleep last night. Li Ye didn’t know whether Wu Juying had barred him—or if the boy was simply afraid of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the moment Li Ye thought this, Cui Aiguo raised his left hand, flashing a brand-new watch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Is this... a challenge?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at Cui Aiguo’s “come on, hit me if you dare” expression, Li Ye couldn’t help but feel a pang of emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This bastard cousin had inherited not only his father’s ugly face but also his cunning malice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fighting in front of so many teachers, right in the middle of the official college entrance exam, was such a stupid thing to do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye merely moved slightly, extending his arm to reveal the plum blossom watch inside his sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui Aiguo’s eyes widened instantly, as if flames were about to burst from them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For that plum blossom watch, he’d been beaten by Li Ye into a swollen-headed monster, avoiding people for days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now... was this just taking a beating for nothing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye smiled and walked into his examination room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If your mental resilience isn’t strong enough, don’t go looking for trouble—anger will ruin your exam, and you’ll be the one who suffers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first subject: Chinese.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye had completed the earlier sections smoothly, with nothing beyond his expectations; occasionally, a few unreviewed points could be guessed reasonably well with some thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning to the final page’s essay, Li Ye smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Essay topic: “Be the First to Worry About the World’s Troubles, the Last to Enjoy Its Joys.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>History had not changed; everything was exactly as expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the other members of the eight-person group were all beaming with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This essay topic had been a key focus for Li Ye’s eight-person group; everyone had a ready draft memorized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They wrote furiously, completing it in one uninterrupted flow.\u003C\u002Fp>",1797,"2026-06-20T05:04:59.129Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","63a391f879340de7a668982942766919bf9158dd109d432f1be52f97cac982ec","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-88","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-86",884,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-cover.jpg"]