Welcoming new students?

Both were senior students at Huaqing – the male of average height, the female of ordinary appearance, but both radiated exceptional confidence.

Xia Xiaolan’s group received the same treatment getting off the jeep as those arriving on old bicycles. Not just anyone could participate in welcoming new students – only those with good academic performance. These two were active members at Huaqing University, embodying the confidence of elite students!

Though the senior male admired Xia Xiaolan’s appearance, he didn’t become tongue-tied!

The senior female showed no jealous sourness, speaking with exceptional gentleness as she introduced Huaqing’s situation.

Xia Xiaolan felt that coming to Huaqing, beyond Zhou Cheng being in Beijing, might have been the very right decision!

Learning Xia Xiaolan was in the Architecture Department, the senior sister showed extra delight:

“I’m from Civil Engineering – we’re sister departments! My name is Shan Yujun.”

Huaqing’s Civil Engineering and Architecture departments had merged and split several times, previously combined as “Civil and Architectural Engineering,” then Civil Engineering merged with Environmental Engineering, and this year Civil Engineering became independent again. Given the close relationship between the departments, Shan Yujun naturally felt extra warmth toward Xia Xiaolan – both departments had very few female students, and now Architecture had gained a beautiful freshman. The male students from several departments would surely be excited.

Shan Yujun was enthusiastic, and knowing Xia Xiaolan came with their family, helped them check into Huaqing’s guest house.

“Junior Sister Xia, you came early – by tomorrow there wouldn’t be any rooms left here.”

“Senior Sister Shan, thank you, you’re too kind!”

Shan Yujun showed no disdain for Chen Qing, and upon learning he was from UIBE, invited him to visit Huaqing more often.

“Fellow provincials who make it to Beijing stay closely connected. Yunan surely has its provincial association, with students from several universities joining. You’ll understand these things gradually!”

Shan Yujun didn’t monopolize Xia Xiaolan’s attention. Learning they hadn’t eaten, she recommended several affordable restaurants before leaving with her partner.

After she left, Li Fengmei clicked her tongue:

“That girl is gracious!”

They’d thought Xia Xiaolan was exceptional, but at Huaqing, any female student could explain campus attractions with warmth and efficiency. Everyone noticed Shan Yujun’s capability and cheerfulness.

Those actively participating in student activities were surely outstanding.

High scores didn’t mean low emotional intelligence – some people excelled in both. Xia Xiaolan believed Huaqing harbored hidden talents!

Shao Guangrong felt intimidated.

The two Huaqing students welcoming newcomers deepened his understanding of elite university students. He pondered whether he should improve his education.

With the gracious Huaqing senior sister setting such an example, Shao Guangrong dropped his smugness and honestly took everyone to dinner. He paid for the meal at Quanjude – Xia Xiaolan had been before, but others hadn’t.

They ate several Peking ducks, with Shao Guangrong showing no concern for cost.

For someone with over 30,000 yuan in debt, he handled the hundred-plus yuan bill well.

But for Chen Qing, spending over 100 yuan on one meal seemed excessive. The duck was delicious, but why so expensive? If he excelled at university and received the highest scholarship, he’d only get twenty-some yuan monthly.

Back home, a twenty-yuan stipend would make villagers envious.

In Beijing, twenty-some yuan bought just two Peking ducks.

Chen Qing felt the wealth gap, especially since Shao Guangrong wasn’t even Xia Xiaolan’s boyfriend, just her boyfriend’s friend. Someone friends with car-driving, freely-treating Shao Guangrong must be quite successful!

Chen Qing strengthened his resolve to study economics.

To escape poverty and achieve wealth, he needed to understand how “economics” worked.

Chen Wangda remained composed – being treated was just being treated. Beijing wasn’t his territory; if Shao Guangrong visited Qijing Village, Village Chief Chen would show hospitality too. Such was the wisdom of age – experience taught Chen not to fear others’ threats!

Xia Xiaolan wrapped duck for Liu Zitao, “Is it good? I came with your father last time, and finally brought you here!”

Liu Zitao mumbled with his mouth full: “Delicious… school looks nice too…”

Huaqing University was beautiful.

Nothing else needed saying – just telling Liu Zitao this was one of the nation’s best universities made him look up in awe.

Counting on his fingers – he’d soon start second grade, then elementary plus middle school, then high school – university was ten years away… Liu Zitao couldn’t grasp how long ten years was; he just knew first grade had seemed endless!

After dinner, Shao Guangrong drove Chen Qing and Chen Wangda back to UIBE.

Departing, Chen Wangda smiled warmly, “Comrade Shao, you’re welcome to visit Qijing Village – we’ll certainly give you a lively welcome!”

Shao Guangrong promised repeatedly. Xia Xiaolan would surely meet the Chen grandfather-grandson pair tomorrow – they planned to visit the Forbidden City. They’d return to Yunan Province after Huaqing officially started on September 1st.

Shao Guangrong would drive them again tomorrow. Xia Xiaolan felt bad about constantly troubling him – tomorrow was Wednesday, and he’d taken leave today to pick them up.

“Huaqing is far from the Forbidden City – over ten kilometers!”

Xia Xiaolan flexed her wrist – after a month and a half, the bone fracture barely affected daily life.

“Could you lend me the car? I’ll drive them tomorrow.”

Shao Guangrong looked completely skeptical.

He knew Zhou Cheng wanted to give Xia Xiaolan a car; Kang Wei had even taken her to customs, but they hadn’t chosen one.

How could she drive?

Shao Guangrong didn’t believe it.

“Sister-in-law, you have a license?”

“No.”

Xia Xiaolan spoke about driving without a license very matter-of-factly. Her driving skills were quite good – technical knowledge from her previous life. In ’84, nobody checked licenses; unlicensed drivers filled the streets. Xia Xiaolan was confident her skills surpassed most others.

Shao Guangrong wouldn’t believe it without a demonstration.

The ’84 cars differed from later automatic transmissions and even from the manual transmissions Xia Xiaolan knew. But the principles were the same – driving required boldness, attention to detail, and stability. After getting instructions from Shao Guangrong, Xia Xiaolan quickly mastered it.

Liu Fen’s heart raced anxiously, but Xia Xiaolan drove steadily up and down Academy Road without a single mistake.

Li Fengmei thought: that top students were smart, learning everything quickly!

Shao Guangrong had nothing to say: “I’ll bring the car over tomorrow morning!”

The borrowed car needed returning tonight; he’d borrow it again in the morning.

Xia Xiaolan jumped from the driver’s seat, “It’s settled then!”

In the distance, Shan Yujun returning with classmates saw Xia Xiaolan driving on Academy Road and thought this Architecture freshman was quite something.

“Did you see? Your Architecture department’s junior sister – I bet she’s already secured this year’s campus beauty title. This afternoon I welcomed students with Du Xuefeng from the Student Union. He was so struck he couldn’t speak, leaving me to handle all the interactions.”