Reborn in '77, I have a job panel!

Chapter 90 Report

They got on the bus again.

The train was even more crowded, so crowded that there wasn't enough room to turn around. Qian Cheng carried two large bundles, while Zhang Mingxi held onto the handrail; the two of them were jostled and pushed about.

After sitting for more than an hour, I finally had to stand.

After getting off the bus, I saw a large gate with the words "Liaoning Normal University" written on it.

The two stood at the doorway, looking at it, and something welled up inside them.

This is what university is like.

The universities they were admitted to.

Zhang Mingxi grabbed Qian Cheng's arm and whispered, "Qian Cheng, we've arrived."

Qian Cheng nodded: "Yes, we've arrived."

The two carried their luggage and walked into the school gate.

The campus is large, with many buildings, trees, flowers, and paths. Students come and go along the paths, chatting and laughing.

They found the freshman registration area, lined up to complete the procedures, and received their dormitory number, meal tickets, and books.

Qian Cheng's dormitory is on the third floor of the boys' dormitory, while Zhang Mingxi's is on the second floor of the girls' dormitory.

Before they parted, Qian Cheng said, "Pack up first, and I'll come find you when you're done."

Zhang Mingxi nodded and followed a senior student.

Qian Cheng found his dormitory and pushed open the door to go inside.

There were four beds in the room, and three people were already there. One was a tall, thin man wearing glasses; another had a dark complexion and looked quite strong; and the third was short and stout, with a smiling face.

Upon seeing Qian Cheng enter, the short, stout man greeted him first: "Coming, coming, another one. My name is Wang Dabao, from Jinzhou, and yours?"

Qian Cheng said, "Qian Cheng is from Liaobei."

The other two also gave their names. The one with glasses was named Li Jianguo, from Shenyang. The one with the dark complexion was named Zhao Tiezhu, from Anshan.

Qian Cheng put down his luggage, made the bed, tidied up, and then went downstairs to find Zhang Mingxi.

Boys weren't allowed in the girls' dormitory, so he waited downstairs.

After waiting for a while, Zhang Mingxi finally came out. She had changed into clean clothes, combed her hair, and had a smile on her face.

"All packed up?"

Zhang Mingxi nodded: "Yeah, there are four people in the dorm, and they're all doing well."

Qian Cheng said, "That's good."

The two strolled around the campus, familiarizing themselves with the surroundings. They checked out the cafeteria, the water fountains, and the classrooms.

It was getting dark, and they ate dinner in the cafeteria. They were given meal tickets; each meal included a serving of rice, a side dish, and a bowl of soup. It was cheap, but simple.

After dinner, Qian Cheng escorted Zhang Mingxi back to her dormitory.

Zhang Mingxi stopped downstairs at the girls' dormitory.

She looked at Qian Cheng and asked, "Qian Cheng, are you scared?"

Qian Cheng asked, "What are you afraid of?"

Zhang Mingxi said, "I'm afraid I won't be able to read it well."

Qian Cheng thought for a moment and said, "Don't worry. If we can pass the exam, we can do well in school."

Zhang Mingxi looked at him and smiled.

"Yes, that's what I think too."

Qian Cheng said, "Let's go to class together tomorrow."

Zhang Mingxi nodded, turned around, and went inside.

Qian Cheng stood there, watching her figure disappear into the corridor, before turning around and walking back.

Back in the dorm, the three were chatting. Seeing him return, Wang Dabao greeted him.

"Qian Cheng, come on, let's chat for a bit."

Qian Cheng sat down and listened to their chatter.

Li Jianguo said his parents were both factory workers, and it wasn't easy for them to support his education. Zhao Tiezhu said his family lived in the countryside, and getting into university meant escaping rural life. Wang Dabao said his family ran a small business and could afford to support him.

Qian Cheng also explained his situation.

After chatting for a while, the lights were turned off.

Qian Cheng lay on the unfamiliar bed, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling, feeling a little dazed.

And so I went to university.

More than half a year ago, he was still on a kang (heated brick bed) in Laowozi Village, worrying about earning a single yuan. Now, he is lying in a university dormitory, a college student.

He thought back on the past six months: sprouting beans, gathering wild vegetables, running around the county, and taking the college entrance exam. All the exhaustion, the hardship, the perseverance—it was all worth it.

He thought of Zhang Mingxi again.

That girl, she's probably lying in a strange bed now too. I wonder if she's asleep, if she's scared, if she misses home.

As he thought about it, the corners of his mouth turned up.

From then on, they studied together, ate together, and walked together on campus.

Things will get better.

He closed his eyes and slowly fell asleep.

The next morning, Qian Cheng got up, washed up, had breakfast in the cafeteria, and then went to wait for Zhang Mingxi downstairs in the girls' dormitory.

Zhang Mingxi came down, and the two went to the classroom together.

The first class was advanced mathematics. The classroom was full of students, all freshmen. The teacher was an elderly man in his fifties, wearing glasses, and he lectured slowly and methodically.

Qian Cheng listened attentively, taking notes as he listened.

Zhang Mingxi sat next to him, listening attentively.

After class, the two went to the cafeteria for lunch together. After lunch, they took a walk around the campus, found a big tree, and sat down to read.

They had no classes in the afternoon, so they spent the whole afternoon in the library.

After dinner, Qian Cheng escorted Zhang Mingxi back to her dormitory.

As they reached the girls' dormitory, Zhang Mingxi suddenly said, "Qian Cheng, let's write a letter back home."

Qian Cheng nodded: "Yes, it's time to write it."

Zhang Mingxi said, "I've finished writing it, I'll mail it tomorrow."

Qian Cheng said, "Okay, I'll write one too."

The two stood there for a while, then Zhang Mingxi went inside.

Qian Cheng returned to his dormitory, took out paper and pen, and wrote a letter home.

"Mom, brother, sister-in-law, I've arrived at school, and everything is fine. There are four of us in the dorm, and everyone's nice. The school is quite big, and the food in the cafeteria is alright. Mingxi goes to the same school as me, and we go to class together every day. Don't worry about me, I'll study hard. I'll come back to see you during the holidays."

After writing it, he looked at it and added, "Remember to write to me when your sister-in-law gives birth."

He carefully packed the letter and placed it under his pillow.

The next afternoon, since they had no classes, Qian Cheng and Zhang Mingxi went to mail a letter together.

There was a green mailbox standing right at the school gate. Zhang Mingxi stuffed the letter in and glanced back at Qian Cheng.

"Can you imagine how happy the family must have been to receive the letter?"

Qian Cheng said, "She'll definitely be happy. Our mom might even cry."

Zhang Mingxi laughed: "My mom is the same, she cries a lot."

The two stood beside the mailbox, looking at the green tube, both thinking of home.

After mailing the letter, they took a stroll around the campus.

The teachers' college is quite large; it takes about twenty minutes to walk from one end to the other. It has teaching buildings, a library, a canteen, dormitories, and a small grove of trees with rows of tall poplars that rustle in the wind.

Zhang Mingxi said, "These trees are about the same as the row at the entrance of our village."

Qian Cheng looked at it and said, "Hmm, it's about right."

The two found a bench in the grove and sat down.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling the ground in patches. A cool breeze blew by, making it feel less hot than midday.

Zhang Mingxi leaned back in his chair, looking at the clouds in the sky.

"Qian Cheng, tell me, where do you think we'll be assigned after four years of study?"

Qian Cheng thought for a moment and said, "I don't know, but it won't be too bad."

Zhang Mingxi asked, "Do you want to stay in the city?"

"Of course I'll stay. There are more opportunities in the city, and it's much easier to make money there."

Zhang Mingxi nodded without saying anything.