Chapter 63:

Yu Xiang’an and the others set off early, a few days before the start of the semester. Upon arriving in the capital, the four of them first went to a guesthouse near the university, dropped off their belongings, and then followed the address to visit Lin Houpu’s old comrade-in-arms, Zhao Li.

They brought along some liquor and meat that Zhao Li liked—homemade liquor and dried meat, just the right amount—plus a bag of fruit. That was enough for a visit. If they had shown up with too much, people might have wondered what they were up to.

Zhao Li welcomed their arrival warmly. He was an exceptionally tall man, rare for the time, standing nearly 1.9 meters tall with a broad, imposing frame and a booming voice. When his large hand clapped Lin Chuanbai’s shoulder in approval, Lin Chuanbai felt half his body go slightly numb from the force.

Struggling to maintain his composure, Lin Chuanbai greeted, “Hello, Uncle Zhao.”

Zhao Li boomed, “Good! And hello to you all! These must be your twins—they look wonderful! Don’t stand on ceremony with me. Your father and I fought side by side in the trenches—we’re brothers for life. Now that you’re here, don’t be polite. I heard you wanted to rent a place, but I told your father, why bother? Just stay with me! No need to rent outside.”

Lin Chuanbai smiled. “With the kids around, it’d be more convenient to rent near the university. Thank you for your kindness, Uncle Zhao.”

Zhao Li sighed. “True, it’s a bit far from here to the university. Otherwise, even if you refused, I’d insist you stay—let my two hopeless kids soak up some of your scholarly vibes!”

He walked over and gave his own children a hearty pat on the back. Lin Chuanbai winced in sympathy at their pained expressions.

That strength must *hurt*!

Zhao Li genuinely regretted it. He had three children—his eldest son was already grown, with a grandson about to start elementary school, but his second daughter and youngest son were much younger. His daughter was seventeen, and his son sixteen. His daughter had taken the college entrance exam this year but failed. Her studies had been neglected, so he made her repeat the year and try again next time. His youngest son’s grades weren’t great either. Before the college entrance exams were reinstated, he hadn’t pushed them too hard—just passing was enough. But now, standards were stricter.

They were lucky to be born at the right time, able to take the exams—a stroke of fortune they had to cherish.

“These college students are the ones who’ll be heavily relied on in the future—their prospects are bright.”

“If these two could learn even half of what you know, I wouldn’t have to worry.” Half their scores would be enough to get into a junior college.

Hearing this, Zhao Lin and Zhao Mi’s expressions twisted slightly. Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai recognized it instantly—the look of academic despair.

Having status didn’t guarantee academic success. Some people just didn’t have the knack for studying—read one sentence, forget the next. These two probably weren’t that bad, but they’d neglected their studies before, so their grades suffered. Catching up now would be painful, but if they endured for a year, passed the exams, and graduated from university, their futures would be promising.

“Brother Lin, Sister Lin, you both scored so well—do you have any study tips?”

They envied Lin Chuanbai and Yu Xiang’an, who had already gotten into prestigious universities.

Both of them were retaking the exams next year. Zhao Li had already prepared thick stacks of study materials and even hired a strict tutor for them.

“Practice problems. A lot.”

“Besides that, any learning methods? Brother Lin, do you have time to tutor us?”

At this, Zhao Li’s eyebrows twitched. That wasn’t a bad idea. One was the second in the province for liberal arts, the other third in sciences—more than qualified to teach his kids. The question was whether they had time.

Lin Chuanbai didn’t even consider it. “I’ll be busy with university, plus the kids. Tutoring takes a lot of preparation. If you have questions, feel free to ask, but regular tutoring isn’t feasible. If I half-heartedly tutor you, it’ll just waste your time. But if you don’t mind, you can photocopy our old notes.”

After they got into university, countless people had asked for study tips. Some were hard to refuse, so they’d compiled their notes—very popular.

Their notes!

Zhao Mi was thrilled. “Yes! Thank you, Brother Lin!”

Zhao Lin, in liberal arts, chimed in, “Thank you, Sister Lin!”

Zhao Li watched them cheerfully before steering the conversation back. “About renting—I’ve looked into it. There are three places near your universities.

“First, a single-story house. The owner has three rooms. His son was transferred out of town and won’t be back soon, so he’s renting one out. Shared kitchen and bathroom, but you could build your own kitchen if needed. The room’s about 18 square meters—not small. It has electricity, and there’s a well about a hundred meters away. Both universities are nearby—one’s a ten-minute walk, the other fifteen. There are two nurseries within a ten-minute walk.

“Second, a place two kilometers from Qingmu University. Closer to Qingmu, but smaller—about 10 square meters, with a makeshift kitchen outside. Water’s about 500 meters away.

“Third, near Medical University—two small adjacent rooms on the second floor of a two-story building. Only 12 square meters total, owned by two brothers who’ve moved out. They’re renting for extra income.”

The first option sounded best.

Zhao Li nodded. “Want to take a look? Decide after seeing them. These two can show you around and help you get familiar with the area.”

“Then we’ll trouble you two.” Lin Chuanbai naturally wanted to see for himself. “Uncle Zhao, do you know if anyone’s selling houses near the universities? Even old, small ones—we could tear them down and rebuild.”

Building their own place would be ideal, but sellers were rare. Most people barely had enough space for themselves.

Zhao Li hesitated. “That’d mean waiting a while before moving in.”

“That’s fine. We can rent first.”

Zhao Li warned, “Building a house won’t be cheap.”

“We know. We’ve worked for years and have some savings.”

Buying in the capital was never a bad investment—when had property values here ever disappointed? If they got lucky with demolition, instant wealth wasn’t a dream. And near universities? Prime school district housing.

Zhao Li nodded. “I’ll keep an eye out. It’ll take time.”

Rentals were easier to find than sales.

“Thank you, Uncle Zhao. We’d be lost without you.”

Zhao Li waved it off. “No need for thanks. Move here from the guesthouse—don’t waste money.”

Lin Chuanbai smiled. “Uncle Zhao, no offense, but it’s closer, and moving back and forth is too much hassle. It’s only a few days.”

Zhao Li’s home had three rooms. If they stayed, as guests, he wouldn’t make them sleep in the living room with the kids—meaning one of his own children would have to. Better not.

Zhao Lin and Zhao Mi led them out, fascinated by the twins, each holding one’s hand.

Away from their father, they could finally play with the kids. They admired Lin Chuanbai’s refusal: “Dad’s so intimidating—I never dare argue. Brother Lin, you’re amazing.”

He’d refused twice! Without a hint of fear.

Lin Chuanbai smiled faintly. “My dad’s similar. You get used to it.”

Neither seemed easy to deal with.

After touring the three places with Zhao Lin and Zhao Mi’s help, Lin Chuanbai and Yu Xiang’an leaned toward the first option. They could build their own kitchen, and the room was spacious enough for their family of four.

They also checked out two nearby nurseries—essentially kindergartens. At this age, kids understood some things, so teachers didn’t just play with them but also taught numbers, nursery rhymes, etc., though play still dominated. They helped busy parents by minding the kids.

Nowadays, children were largely free-range, unlike later generations where even toddlers had endless enrichment classes.

The first nursery charged three yuan a month, including lunch. Kids were dropped off in the morning and picked up in the afternoon. But five teachers managed over forty kids, ages two to six—chaotic.

The second nursery also provided lunch but had fewer kids—four teachers for twelve, max sixteen, and no kids under three. The meals were better, with a posted menu, but cost five yuan a month—nearly double.

No contest. Yu Xiang’an chose the second nursery. They could spare the extra two yuan.

With the nursery settled, they returned to confirm the rental.

The landlord’s mother handled it. Her second son had moved away with his family, leaving the room empty. She was happy to rent to a university couple—reliable tenants.

They signed a six-month lease at four yuan a month, with a small outdoor space for a kitchen. The agreement guaranteed their privacy.

Zhao Lin and Zhao Mi watched, impressed. Brother Lin and his wife were decisive!

With the lease signed, Yu Xiang’an asked, “Where’s the nearest supply and marketing cooperative? We need daily supplies.”

The twins needed pillows, blankets, cups, lunchboxes, and backpacks for nursery. Plus, they’d need things for their new place.

Zhao Lin bounced. “Sister Lin, follow me!”

Yu Xiang’an winced at the address. “Call me Sister An. ‘Sister Lin’ feels like someone else.”

Zhao Lin laughed. “Okay, Sister An!”

They bought what they needed, cleaned the room, checked out of the guesthouse, and moved in—all in a day. The siblings were stunned by their efficiency.

Zhao Lin especially admired how much Sister An knew—she made most of the decisions.

Yu Xiang’an: “…”

She’d visited this area before as a tourist.

In the days before classes started, they handled countless small but time-consuming tasks. Once everything was settled and the twins were in nursery, it was time to register at their universities.

At Qingmu University, Yu Xiang’an presented her documents and admission letter. When assigning dormitories, she explained her situation—she had children and couldn’t live on campus, requesting off-campus housing.

The registrar looked up, studying her carefully.

Without checking her household registration, no one would guess she had kids.

Of course, she wasn’t the only student with children, but those who lived far away wouldn’t bring their kids along so quickly. For those nearby, their families were here, and the children were taken care of by other relatives. As of now, among those who had reported, she was the only one who had brought her child from so far away.

However, this situation had been anticipated earlier, so he wrote her a note: “I understand your situation. With this, you don’t need to arrange for dormitory accommodation. Your classroom is here. Please arrive on time tomorrow.”

“Okay, thank you.” Things went smoothly, and Yu Xiang’an breathed a sigh of relief. Staying in the dormitory would have brought many inconveniences.

The next day after registration, she went to school and arrived at the classroom, where over a dozen people were already scattered around. The older ones looked to be around thirty, while the younger ones were about eighteen—ranging from teenagers to young adults. Among them, most were male.

When they saw a new classmate arrive—someone who appeared quite young, likely in her early twenties, with neat short hair and a pleasant appearance—someone immediately took the lead in cheering, “Welcome, new classmate!”

Everyone’s faces bore warm, friendly smiles, free of any shadows. After passing the college entrance exam, life suddenly brimmed with new hopes, naturally lifting everyone’s spirits.

Yu Xiang’an didn’t shy away either. She greeted everyone confidently: “Hello, everyone. I’m Yu Xiang’an. It’s an honor to meet you all here. We’ll spend the next four years together, and I hope we can all learn more during this time and become more valuable contributors to society!”

“Well said!” Applause sounded from the doorway as a man in a Zhongshan suit, with a pen clipped to his chest, walked in. He glanced at the students and said, “Classmates, I’m your homeroom teacher, Wu Zhusheng. Male classmates, come with me to move the textbooks. Female classmates, don’t just sit around—come help too. We’ll have time to chat later.”

Those who arrived early inevitably had to do some manual labor. Yu Xiang’an joined in, helping to carry the books. The thinner ones were assigned to the girls.

As more students arrived later, none of them idled either—they all pitched in enthusiastically. By the time the latecomers arrived, the books were already neatly arranged. Following the instructions on the blackboard, they distributed the textbooks one by one. With ten minutes left before the bell, the entire class had arrived, and the books were all handed out.

Everyone had come early. Clearly, they were all excited.

Wu Zhusheng then stood at the podium and formally introduced himself, writing his name on the blackboard with chalk: “My name is Wu Zhusheng. For the next four years, I’ll be your homeroom teacher.”

He was around fifty, with streaks of gray at his temples. His smile was warm as he looked at the students. “Classmates, this is our first lesson. As you know, you are the first batch of students since the reinstatement of the college entrance exams. Your responsibility is great. Study hard in the coming days and cherish this hard-won opportunity. I won’t repeat unnecessary words. Now, let’s have each of you give a brief self-introduction so we can get to know one another. We’ll start with the first student on the left.”

At the moment, seating was arranged simply by height—taller students naturally sat in the back, while shorter ones took the front.

The young man sitting in the first seat on the left was caught off guard when suddenly called upon. He stood up abruptly, stammering, his dark face flushing red. “E-everyone, hello. My name is Wu Qiang, from Sichuan. I’m very happy to meet you all.”

After speaking, he quickly sat back down.

The person next to him promptly stood up, his voice loud and clear: “Hello, classmates. My name is Zhou Shengyu, from Hainan.”

“Hello, classmates. My name is… I’m from…”

Some stumbled through their introductions, while others spoke smoothly. When it was Yu Xiang’an’s turn, she stood up gracefully. “My name is Yu Xiang’an. Qingmu University has always been my dream. I’m honored to meet you all here. Before taking the college entrance exam, I worked at a bookstore. My hobby is cooking all kinds of delicious food. If any of you are struggling with improving your cooking skills or don’t know how to handle certain ingredients, feel free to ask me. I’ll help however I can.”

Their teacher was a man of action. Once the introductions were done, he appointed temporary class leaders.

“Now that we’ve gotten to know each other a little, I’ll appoint two people. Wang Haiwen, your academic performance is the highest in our class, so you’ll serve as acting class monitor. Yu Xiang’an, you have the highest grades among the female students, so you’ll be acting deputy monitor. If anyone has any issues, you can report them to these two first.”

Wang Haiwen was a refined-looking man in his late twenties, wearing glasses. When called upon, he showed neither surprise nor hesitation, standing up naturally. “Then, until the formal election of class leaders, I’ll serve as acting monitor. If anyone has any problems, feel free to come to me. I live in Room 303 on the third floor of Dormitory No. 2. Don’t get the wrong room, everyone.”

Yu Xiang’an was a little surprised, but since she had been appointed, she couldn’t show hesitation. “Due to family reasons, I’m not staying in the dormitory. If you need me, just talk to me in class.”

Wu Zhusheng clapped his hands. “Good. Let’s make the most of our precious study time. The class schedule is ready—I’ll give it to the monitor later, and he’ll write it on the blackboard. Everyone, take note and memorize it so you don’t miss any classes. Also, everyone’s stipend will be distributed tomorrow. Spend it wisely. Now, take out your textbooks and turn to page two…”

Yu Xiang’an’s previous major in her past life had nothing to do with economics, but she listened attentively. She couldn’t afford not to—the atmosphere was contagious. Everyone cherished this rare opportunity to study, and each person was fully focused. If she slacked off, she’d stand out like a sore thumb.

She had no intention of slacking.

The opportunity was right in front of her. If she didn’t seize it tightly, she’d be a fool. She might not be a genius, but she was certainly no fool.

When the bell for the first class rang, the homeroom teacher didn’t drag it out—he timed it perfectly. After he left, the classroom immediately buzzed with chatter.

Yu Xiang’an was seated between two female classmates. At this time, people still paid attention to maintaining some distance between genders—male and female students were seated with an empty seat between them.

To her left sat a girl from the Northeast named Liu Mingyue. The name sounded poetic, but her personality was bold and straightforward. She was already a mother of three.

To her right sat a girl who likely wasn’t married yet—Ke Manyun, around twenty years old, somewhat shy and timid. During the self-introductions, if Yu Xiang’an hadn’t been sitting right next to her, she wouldn’t have even heard her name.

Liu Mingyue grabbed Yu Xiang’an’s hand. “Deputy monitor, you said you’re not staying in the dormitory—are you a local?”

Yu Xiang’an didn’t hide it. “No, I’m married. I brought my child with me and rented a place outside the school.”

Some male classmates nearby who had been eavesdropping looked astonished. “No way, Yu Xiang’an, you already have a child? You look like you’re barely twenty.”

They were saying she looked young. In good spirits, Yu Xiang’an smiled. “Why would I lie? If it weren’t true, the teacher wouldn’t have agreed to let me live off-campus. I have to take care of my family—my child is still young, not even in elementary school yet.”

Liu Mingyue thought of her own children. “Then who takes care of your child?”

“I leave them at a daycare center and pick them up after school.”

“Where’s the father?”

“He’s at Medical University.”

Liu Mingyue was envious. “He got into college too? You two are really lucky. I passed the exam this time, but my husband isn’t cut out for studying—no chance there. Still, he’s trying to get transferred here. He works at the post office, and they have branches everywhere. If he can transfer, our family can reunite.”

Yu Xiang’an nodded. “It’s best for families not to be separated.”

“Exactly. What about you? Are you married?” Liu Mingyue asked Ke Manyun.

Ke Manyun lowered her head shyly, her voice almost inaudible. “N-not yet…”

Liu Mingyue laughed heartily. “No need to be embarrassed! You’re still young—there’s no rush. You can take your time finding someone after graduation. I married early because back then, there was no college entrance exam. After finishing high school, it was time to start a family. But now it’s different.” At twenty-eight, she saw the twenty-year-old Ke Manyun almost like a younger sister.

…

Before long, the class bell rang again, and everyone returned to their seats. After the last class of the morning, Wang Haiwen copied the schedule onto the blackboard while the others took notes.

Yu Xiang’an glanced at it—unsurprisingly, the schedule was packed.

At noon, she followed her female classmates to the cafeteria. Most students had brought money and ration coupons with them, and since the school stipend wouldn’t be distributed until the next day, no one went hungry.

Yu Xiang’an went with the flow, getting a mixed-grain steamed bun and a bowl of porridge with more dried vegetables than rice—a simple meal. While the others returned to the dormitory, Yu Xiang’an followed them to the girls’ dorm.

Though the position had come unexpectedly, she was now the deputy monitor. She needed to have a general idea of things.