What was it like to go from a small county to Huaqing University? In 1984, without forums or ubiquitous social media platforms, the only way to know was to hear it directly from those who made it into prestigious schools.

Xia Xiaolan followed tradition by taking several photos at the university gate and sending them to Principal Sun of Anqing No. 1 High School. This happened before military training, but the mail was particularly slow. Anqing didn’t receive the letter until just before National Day. By then, Xia Xiaolan had already begun her new journey in the capital, while Principal Sun was still basking in the glory of her gaokao achievement.

It had only been about two months since the July test results! Less than two months since Xia Xiaolan received her acceptance letter in August. Principal Sun felt his excitement wasn’t excessive but rather a natural reaction.

Although Xia Xiaolan had left South Henan for Beijing, her achievement as the provincial gaokao champion was just beginning to impact Anqing No. 1 High School. This year, the school’s enrollment quality improved. Students who might have wavered between the first and second high schools now directly chose Anqing No. 1. Those who failed the entrance exam could always fall back to the second high school.

This phenomenon wasn’t limited to Anqing County; even students from neighboring Hedong County came to study at No. 1 High School. Principal Sun wasn’t accepting just anyone – he rejected those with poor grades.

These students were attracted by the provincial champion’s aura. Having produced a gaokao champion meant the school’s teaching standards must be high. Regardless, the school was now recognized by the Provincial Education Department, which assigned two new teachers from South Henan Normal College this September.

Because Xia Xiaolan had been interviewed by the provincial TV station in the reading room, while the Provincial Department hadn’t responded, the Fengxian City Education Bureau felt Anqing No. 1’s reading room was too shabby.

“We should build a library,” the Education Bureau leader told Principal Sun. Would Principal Sun refuse? Of course, he happily agreed!

The library funding was quickly approved. Though the school had only been in session for a month, the ground had already been broken. Principal Sun had mentioned this to Xia Xiaolan, who promised to donate books to the library and referenced it again in her letter.

In 1984, building a library required significant funds, and filling it with books was equally expensive. A complete set of “Lu Xun’s Complete Works” published by People’s Literature Publishing House in 1981 cost 7.8 yuan per volume, and the entire set contained 16 volumes! To purchase the complete set would cost 124.8 yuan at the Xinhua Bookstore, with no discounts available.

Of course, these were hardcover editions. Paperbacks were cheaper – for instance, a 1980 Shanghai Translation Publishing House edition of “Jane Eyre” cost only 2.05 yuan.

Books weren’t cheap, and teacher salaries weren’t high, but they still scraped money from living expenses to buy books. Principal Sun’s wife allowed him to buy one book monthly, not exceeding 5 yuan. For more expensive books, he had to save for two months. The Fengxian Education Bureau wasn’t wealthy either – funding a library building for Anqing No. 1 was already generous. It would be a small building requiring tables and chairs, but asking the Education Bureau to also fund the book collection was unrealistic given their limited budget.

“We can encourage people to donate books,” the Education Bureau leader suggested to Principal Sun. People could donate old books from home – if each person contributed one book, the library would gradually fill up.

Before leaving for Beijing, Xia Xiaolan thought that once the library was built, she should have some spare money and told Principal Sun she would donate a batch of books to the school. How many was “a batch”? Xia Xiaolan hadn’t specified, but she knew the books needed to be suitable for high school students.

They would likely include collections, world classics, and study materials that could both broaden horizons and positively impact learning.

Xia Xiaolan had used the term “a batch” when she first mentioned it, but Principal Sun hadn’t paid much attention then.

In this letter back to the county school, Xia Xiaolan inquired about the library’s construction progress to determine the appropriate timing for the donation. Principal Sun was quite moved. Although Xia Xiaolan had mentioned at the teacher appreciation dinner that her private business outside school could earn enough to donate books, Principal Sun still advised her to focus more on academics after entering Huaqing.

Principal Sun assumed Xia Xiaolan’s “batch” meant several dozen books. If choosing inexpensive editions rather than hardcovers, it would cost just a few hundred yuan. This amount should be within Xia Xiaolan’s means. He was touched that she hadn’t forgotten her high school alma mater despite attending for only one year with countable visits, still remembering the school’s nurturing role. After replying to Xia Xiaolan, he read parts of the letter to the entire school.

This was meant to inspire the students with the gaokao champion’s example!

Most people listened intently – in an era without the internet, how else could they hear such experience sharing in a place like Anqing County in South Henan? While Huaqing might be out of reach, there were many other universities to consider.

However, some students kept their eyes fixed on the ground – Liang Huan didn’t know why she had come to Anqing No. 1. Although Xia Xiaolan had gone to Beijing, her shadow still seemed to loom over everything.

“Xia Xiaolan” was everywhere. Teachers constantly mentioned her name. Her photo and profile adorned the school’s honor board. The banner at the school entrance remained vibrantly colored.

As if this wasn’t annoying enough, now they gathered students to hear Xia Xiaolan’s letter about learning from her spirit, how she still thought of her alma mater’s cultural development while studying at Huaqing, wanting to donate books to the library… Liang Huan was about to break down! She wanted to return to Hedong County. Even though she was no longer the prestigious Miss Liang at her former school, at least she wouldn’t have to hear “Xia Xiaolan” constantly.

Was getting into Huaqing such a big deal? How good could it be!

Huaqing University was full of top students. How could a country bumpkin like Xia Xiaolan maintain her excellence there as she did in the gaokao?

Liang Huan refused to believe it.

No matter how wonderfully the letter described Huaqing University, who knew what kind of life she was living there? Liang Huan thought maliciously.

She had to think this way to protect her self-esteem.

…

Not only was Liang Huan wondering how Xia Xiaolan was doing at Huaqing University, but Xia Ziyu and Wang Jianhua were also curious. This year’s 35th-anniversary celebration allowed Beijing Normal College students to participate in the parade, though without an honor guard – just a simple marching contingent.

Both Xia Ziyu and Wang Jianhua were among them.

After learning about Huaqing’s parade scale, Wang Jianhua wondered if he might see Xia Xiaolan. First-year students might participate in the parade too, though he wasn’t sure if he could spot her among so many people. Back then, to take responsibility for Xia Ziyu, Wang Jianhua had chosen to let go of Xia Xiaolan. He told himself then that Xia Ziyu was more suitable as his like-minded life partner than Xia Xiaolan, never imagining that Xia Xiaolan would get into Huaqing a year later!

Wang Jianhua’s feelings were incredibly complex.