[{"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-883":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},2295301,4489,"Chapter 883","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-883",883,"\u003Cp>Li Ye saw that Zhao Meiwen wanted to leave, but even if she left, she should do so with dignity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Li Ye asked, “Meiwen, are you feeling unwell?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Meiwen, eyes red, nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She deeply regretted today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she was at school with Ruan Jiawei, he had always been considerate toward her, but today, facing his parents, she felt nothing but humiliation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Humiliating her was bad enough, but they humiliated her cousin Li Ye too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is my cousin the kind of man who takes insults lying down?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even my sister-in-law’s powerful family wouldn’t dare insult him even a little—what are you people?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re unwell, let’s go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye turned to Ruan’s father and said, “Sorry, we’re leaving now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan’s father’s gaze was unusual—he sensed Li Ye’s words carried a double meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which part was unwell? Where exactly? Was Zhao Meiwen physically unwell? Or emotionally unwell?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ruan’s father said nothing; he felt no regret. Though Li Ye seemed promising, he was too arrogant—youthful arrogance was never a good thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Ye and Zhao Meiwen rise to leave, Ruan Jiawei, who had remained silent until now, seemed suddenly anxious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Meiwen, are you unwell? Let me take you to the hospital! I’ll ride my dad’s motorcycle—it’s fast.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need. I came by car.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Meiwen rejected him coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Li Ye spoke with Ruan’s father and mother, Zhao Meiwen had been watching Ruan Jiawei—he had hesitated, struggled, but ultimately said not a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this what they call “good manners—children don’t interrupt adults”?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then why are you speaking now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Meiwen wasn’t foolish—she understood now. Ruan Jiawei wanted her to bow down, to show absolute obedience to his parents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a submissive daughter-in-law could win their favor, earn even a sliver of opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she, Zhao Meiwen, had been her family’s cherished daughter since childhood—why should she bow? Why should she submit?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Zhao Meiwen defy her son, Ruan’s mother smiled without warmth: “Meiwen, you’re a delightful girl, but you must strive harder. If you don’t get the study-abroad quota this year, keep trying—there’s still next year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Meiwen had been lowering her head, following Li Ye toward the door, but hearing her mother-in-law’s words, her resentment suddenly erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Auntie, I’m not going abroad. Our county may be small, but over the years, over a dozen of our family members have entered university—Peking University, Beijing Aviation, Beijing Polytechnic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet none of them went overseas. All of them took positions on the mainland, contributing to the mainland’s development. If I go abroad, I might miss this once-in-a-century transformation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Once-in-a-century transformation” was a phrase Li Ye had repeatedly explained to his sisters, so Zhao Meiwen had never truly longed for studying overseas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, neither Li Ye nor Wen Leyu had gone abroad; her parents, brothers, and sisters were all on the mainland—why go to some foreign land where she knew no one?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ruan’s mother smiled and said, “Your county has over a dozen university graduates but not one who studied abroad—doesn’t that prove how precious these study-abroad slots are? If everyone could go, what value would it hold?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Heh~—you’re absolutely right, Teacher!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Meiwen laughed—mockingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t know how other families were, but in Li’s family, anyone who wanted to go abroad could go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Zhao Meiwen call her “Teacher” instead of “Auntie,” Ruan’s mother’s smile vanished. She coldly picked up the four gifts Li Ye had brought and shoved them into Zhao Meiwen’s hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our family is small—we can’t finish all this fruit. Take it back. Otherwise it’ll go to waste.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Meiwen nearly broke down in tears—was she dropping the act now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Ye casually took the gifts from her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn, these cost over fifty yuan! I won’t even feed them to Pavlov.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Meiwen opened the door and pulled Li Ye out, but a woman was just coming up the stairs—they had to stop at Ruan’s door and let her pass first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the woman stopped, staring at Li Ye in surprise: “You’re here… to deliver gifts?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ll deliver gifts to your sister!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye sighed, irritably: “Sister Cai, what are you doing here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Cai Minying—by the order of Baishi , Li Ye would call her “Sister” for life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cai Minying pointed to the door of the east unit on the second floor: “I live here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Cai Minying lived across from Ruan Jiawei—that explained why Ruan’s father asked if Li Ye knew her!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What? You looked down on my sister and set your sights on Cai Minying?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cai Minying has no boyfriend—should I introduce you two?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With her temper, you three won’t survive a single meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye waved his hand, signaling Cai Minying to move along—don’t block the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Cai Minying pulled out her keys and said, “Li Ye, don’t leave yet—I have a few questions for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye chuckled: “Director Cai, you’re a returned overseas elite—why are you asking for advice from a country bumpkin like me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Be serious!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cai Minying snapped, opened her door, and yanked Li Ye’s arm inside: “Teacher called you several times and you never showed up—what’s this? All you care about is making money? You’re looking down on your senior classmates now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye was speechless, but Cai Minying dragged him into her apartment anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Meiwen followed inside, and Cai Minying slammed the door shut—leaving Ruan Jiawei and her mother standing dumbfounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t he say he didn’t know Cai Minying?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He didn’t say he didn’t know her…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After entering Cai Minying’s apartment, Li Ye realized some people looked polished on the outside but were messy inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cai Minying’s furnishings were simple, but chaotic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clothes, books, slippers were scattered everywhere—he even saw a few pairs of underwear casually tossed on the sofa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Li Ye teased: “Director Cai, you’re something else! Two years on the job and you got a three-bedroom apartment—but the cost is high. Too busy with work to even clean your home?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cai Minying didn’t blush as she tidied up the clothes and invited Li Ye and Zhao Meiwen to sit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I live alone—whether I clean or not doesn’t affect my life. Better to spend spare time reading.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm-hmm, geniuses’ worlds are beyond us!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye gave Cai Minying a thumbs-up, but internally he sneered at this senior sister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a woman dislikes housework, she’s a disaster to men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cai Minying brought two cans of cola and asked, “What’s going on with the Ruan across the hall?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing’s going on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye dodged: “By the way, I wanted to ask you—when I first entered their home, Director Ruan asked if I knew you. Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cai Minying raised an eyebrow: “He only asked if you knew me? Not anyone else?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye was surprised: “No—he could ask who else?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cai Minying said: “Plenty of others. In this Economic Committee alone, Teacher has more students than both hands can count—you’d have to call everyone ‘Senior’ or ‘Junior.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye suddenly understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Qiyan was a giant in mainland economics—his students were everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Cai Minying wasn’t just “young and capable” at work—she was the little junior sister of a faction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was worth cultivating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Cai Minying added another remark that made Li Ye’s eyes widen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You haven’t visited Teacher lately, have you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t have time!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye groaned: “You know as well as I do—our factory just imported two new projects. I’ve been working nonstop for half a month—I haven’t even gone home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Busy, busy, busy—you’re the busiest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cai Minying rolled her eyes: “Teacher changed posts—you didn’t even ask?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye exclaimed in shock: “Teacher changed posts? He’s not teaching at Peking University anymore?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cai Minying nodded: “He’s been transferred to our unit—considered a promotion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1292,"2026-06-20T05:05:02.628Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","75763b3d2a25123ac0e2425e051593f8261c147b372a026a5b833d522cf50a0b","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-884","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-882",884,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-cover.jpg"]