[{"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-98":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},2294516,4489,"Chapter 98: Opportunities Belong to the Kind","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-98",98,"\u003Cp>Li Ye rode his bike around the county town for half a circle, found nowhere to go, and decided to head out of town toward Shuangliu Town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bumpy rural roads severely limited the speed of his Happiness 250; he spent half an hour riding thirty to forty li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today was the Shuangliu Town market day, and thousands of villagers from surrounding areas crowded the riverside near the town government.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The day before yesterday, Li Ye had told Han Chunlan to come here for sesame candy—he didn’t know where she’d set up her stall yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye’s motorcycle stood out; before he even reached the edge of the market, he saw Jin Peng waving at him by the river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye rode over and stopped. “You came all the way out here yourself?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Peng teased, “When Boss Li Ye gives an order, how could I not come check on it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye shook his head. “I told you not to take it too seriously—just treat them like ordinary acquaintances.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Peng said, “I know, I know—I’ve got Xiao Qiu watching them, checking their depth so you don’t get fooled.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye grumbled, “How could I get fooled?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Peng smiled and fell silent. The Han family’s affair had circulated in Qinghe County for months, only just quieted down—did Li Ye forget his past lessons so easily?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chunlan got up early today and pushed a cart with her husband Niu Dali toward Shuangliu Town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Li Ye’s words the night before had sounded frivolous, the couple could only treat it as a last resort—believe it and try.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her father-in-law had died early; Niu Dali was his mother’s only son, raised alone, and all burdens fell squarely on the two of them—no siblings to help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she married in, her father had demanded a heavy bride price, leaving the Niu family utterly drained; they’d just paid off their debts when this misfortune struck again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Han Chunlan couldn’t find another way, would she let her two children suffer on bran and wild vegetables too?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d give it her all—make money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the couple arrived at the Shuangliu market, it was only four or five in the morning—the sky was barely light, but many vendors had already claimed their spots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chunlan walked around and found only one young man selling sesame candy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rode a rare human-powered tricycle, piled high with several large bundles and two big sacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the sacks sat a small pile of sesame candy; he ate some while glancing around—clearly not here to sell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chunlan approached and asked, “Brother, are you selling sesame candy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man glanced at her and asked directly, “What’s your surname?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chunlan paused. “I’m Han. What’s yours, brother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need for courtesy—I’m Qiu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man pulled out a large balance scale. “Come, lend a hand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chunlan hurried to help him lift the scale and weigh the two big sacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Two hundred and two jin total—I’ll round it to two hundred. Sign here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Qiu pulled out a slip of paper and had Han Chunlan sign it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chunlan had only finished primary school; she carefully read the paper twice before realizing it was an IOU.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two hundred jin of sesame candy were being sold to her on credit—at five jiao per jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she pulled out her cloth bundle of money, she said, “Brother, I didn’t intend to buy on credit—just count it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Qiu lifted his head. “Want it or not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chunlan stared blankly for a long moment, then lowered her head. “Yes. Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She signed the IOU, called over her husband Niu Dali, loaded the candy onto the cart, and prepared to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Qiu stopped them. “Hey? Isn’t this a stall? Where are you going?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chunlan smiled. “You’re setting up here—how could we still sell here and compete? We’ll go elsewhere.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Qiu said, “No need. This small business is yours now—I’m switching to something else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Small business?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chunlan was puzzled, but she soon saw what Xiao Qiu meant by “small business.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Qiu untied the bundles on the tricycle, revealing colorful skirts, crisp shirts, and pants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also pulled out a large photo and hung it prominently on the stall—it looked like some kind of official document with a seal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Dali couldn’t read the seal, but the colorful skirts made his eyes dazzle—he imagined how beautiful his wife would look in one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you staring at? Get the stall set up and start calling out!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chunlan turned away from the skirts, urging her husband to prepare their own stall and wait for customers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was anxious—afraid no one would buy, afraid they’d make nothing, waste their whole day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But things were better than she expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the summer of 1982, people were still poor, but a few jiao was no longer an unaffordable sum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sweet treats had powerful appeal to eaters of all ages in this era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many villagers who sold their farm goods or handicrafts would spend three or five jiao on snacks to please their children or honor their elders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three or five jiao seemed insignificant, but small businesses thrive on accumulating small gains; by the time the market was breaking up, Han Chunlan realized her pockets were full of cash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though mostly coins and small bills, money—even coins—brought a solid sense of security.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dali, how many jin did we sell?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t count—I was too busy to keep track.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You idiot, can’t you see how much candy’s left?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, uh—still one full sack and half of another.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chunlan did rapid mental math, checking several times, and estimated she’d sold sixty to seventy jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they kept this up long-term\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Li Ye wasn’t lying—he really could make a thousand a year, just as he said!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dali, you’re staring at what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chunlan happily shared her joy with her husband, but noticed he kept glancing at Xiao Qiu’s clothing stall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, the couple had made money—but compared to Xiao Qiu’s clothing stall, it was like comparing a candle to the sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since opening his stall, Xiao Qiu’s sales never stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A crowd surrounded him—people grabbing one item, then another; he’d been collecting money until his hands ached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the peak, Han Chunlan even sent Niu Dali over to help maintain order, fearing the crowd would overwhelm them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, seeing Xiao Qiu nearly sold out, Niu Dali couldn’t help but envy him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chunlan kicked her husband hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dali, be honest and grounded. Don’t keep eyeing other people’s fields—we haven’t even mastered sesame candy yet! Why look elsewhere?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not greedy—I’m not! I just wanted to buy you a skirt—before they’re all gone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Dali stammered, sounding like a guilty child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chunlan snapped, “Why do I need a skirt? Can I work in it? Stop dreaming useless things—go shout and sell, then settle accounts with him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Owed money made Han Chunlan uneasy—she’d pay back whatever she could today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when the market broke up and she tried to repay part of the debt, Xiao Qiu refused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These two hundred jin were sold to you on credit—pay cash next time you restock. Also—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Qiu tossed a skirt to Niu Dali. “Thanks for helping me earlier. This is a gift for your wife—don’t refuse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, we can’t accept this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Dali grabbed the skirt quickly but insisted on paying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After much pushing and pulling, Xiao Qiu finally accepted three yuan and fifty jiao as cost price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, this skirt’s cost price... is only three yuan and fifty jiao?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? Interested?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Qiu blew a smoke ring, smiling faintly at Niu Dali.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earlier, Xiao Qiu had sold each skirt for seven or eight yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So shady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Dali waved his hands. “No, no, no—I’m not greedy. Brother, don’t worry—I’ll keep quiet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the market broke up, Xiao Qiu rode several li to the riverside and met Jin Peng and Li Ye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Peng, I’ve watched them—they’re decent, kind, not greedy, warm-hearted—but I can’t guarantee they’ll stay that way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, go take care of your own business.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Xiao Qiu left, Jin Peng asked Li Ye, “What now? Turn your little aunt into a wholesaler?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye said calmly, “Let’s wait and see. Opportunities belong to the kind, to those who know gratitude.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Peng rubbed his buzz cut, beginning to think to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kind people, those who know gratitude—aren’t those exactly people like me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heh~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Feng will finish his IV drip tomorrow and start writing, then add extra chapters tonight—hope everyone supports him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1433,"2026-06-20T05:04:59.129Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","681feb932fb3381ede21d0e99fde78d5023a1b6a1464d6d2d39d0135f69b748e","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-99","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-97",884,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-cover.jpg"]