"Chen Yang, I never knew you were married," several roommates exclaimed in shock, looking at him.
It was not uncommon for people who had just resumed the college entrance examination to get married and attend university; there were no age restrictions, and some were even in their thirties with grown children. But Chen Yang was only in his twenties, which is why everyone was surprised.
"When I went to the countryside as a youth, I got married early. I already have several children." Chen Yang chuckled. He wasn't ashamed at all. Shen Xue and their three children were his treasures, and he felt proud just talking about them.
"You're truly a step ahead. We haven't even started working yet, and you already have a wife, children, and a warm bed," Wen Yong, the oldest in the dormitory, said with envy. He was 25 this year, older than Chen Yang, yet still single. Before the resumption of the college entrance examination, he was a worker in a machinery factory, already a second-class fitter. However, after the exams were reinstated, he was determined to get into university. The women introduced to him saw that he would have to spend another four years studying after getting admitted and were unwilling to marry him. This put him off for two years. He took the college entrance examination in 1977 and got in in 1979. By the time he finished university, he would be 29. In this era, being unmarried at that age truly made him a complete bachelor.
In fact, Old Wen had brought this fate upon himself. If he had stayed at the factory and focused on his work, he might have been promoted to a third-class fitter by now. By 29, he would have been a fifth-class fitter. A person who could get into university in this era, if they had dedicated themselves to honing their skills, would not have achieved nothing.
In his past life, Chen Yang never understood why Old Wen chose to attend university. After graduating, he was assigned to a state-owned enterprise. Although he was a university student, he still worked in the workshop as an accountant and didn't get married until he was almost forty. Later, due to his age and poor health, he never had children. In his previous life, his grandchildren didn't recognize him, and he was essentially alone. Therefore, he got along best with Old Wen, who also had no children, and they often got together for drinks.
"What's there to envy? If you truly envy me, find a girlfriend now and get married as soon as you graduate and start working." At this time, students were not allowed to date publicly, but it was permissible to develop relationships in secret as long as they weren't discovered. Having witnessed Old Wen's drunken sorrow and regret in his past life, Chen Yang wondered if he could try to change Old Wen's tragic fate.
"You're right. I'm quite good-looking, and back home, people kept trying to set me up. I'll ask my dad to arrange something when I go home for the New Year. I'm a university student now, so I need to find someone educated." Old Wen puffed out his chest. Despite his short stature, he had high aspirations, a typical case of aiming too high with insufficient ability.
Chen Yang shook his head. Old Wen's miserable life in his previous existence was entirely his own doing. If there was an opportunity in the future, he would offer him a few pointers. If Old Wen didn't listen, then Chen Yang couldn't do anything about it; the path was his own choice, and the consequences were his to bear.
After saying goodbye to his roommates, Chen Yang began to tidy up his bed. As he was the first to arrive, he got the upper bunk by the window. Their dormitory was on the first floor, and being in the south, it was very humid in spring and summer. If you slept on the lower bunk, your quilt would be sticky. After laying out his sleeping mat and storing his luggage in the wooden cabinet, Chen Yang took his towel to the washroom to wash his face. He realized he still needed to buy a basin and a bucket from the school's supply cooperative, otherwise, he wouldn't even be able to take a shower later. Since everyone else hadn't bought their daily necessities yet, they decided to go together.
Like many others, a large group of students headed to the supply cooperative, keeping the young girls working there extremely busy. Unlike in other places where the staff might scold you if they were overwhelmed, these customers were university students, so the girls didn't dare to be rude. These were educated people, and if they graduated and were assigned to the supply cooperative, they could become their leaders. Even if they weren't assigned there but joined other units and became leaders, it would be awkward to encounter them later. The value of university students was very high in those days. All industries needed talent, and most university graduates at that time would become leaders in their respective units.
After buying what they needed, Chen Yang took a proper shower. He had gotten all sweaty packing his belongings. After the shower, he lay down on the wooden plank bed with only a mat underneath. The hard wooden bed made Chen Yang's bones ache, a stark contrast to the comfortable life he was accustomed to at home. It was unbearable. Especially at night, when the dormitory was filled with snores, teeth grinding, and sleep talking, Chen Yang felt his brain was about to explode.
The next day, he got up first with large dark circles under his eyes. He couldn't live in this dormitory and needed to find a place to stay as soon as possible. Chen Yang found it strange; he couldn't fathom how he had endured it for four years in such an environment in his previous life. After washing up and having breakfast—sweet potato and millet porridge with a small packet of salted vegetables for one cent—Chen Yang put his lunchbox in a net bag and headed to the classroom to wait. The teacher had said during registration yesterday that the department's counselor and their class advisor for Accounting Class 2 would give speeches today, and then they would elect class cadres.
Chen Yang had no interest in electing class cadres. Although he was a young man in his early twenties now, he had the mind of an old man in his fifties or sixties. He couldn't bring himself to compete with a bunch of young people for a class cadre position. Moreover, he needed to focus his time on developing his business in Shanghai; he didn't have the leisure time to be a class cadre.
"Excuse me, classmate, which class are you in? This is the classroom for Class 2." Just as Chen Yang was about to enter the classroom with his net bag and lunchbox, a girl in a white floral dress stopped him at the door.
"I'm in Accounting Class 2. The teacher told us to gather here yesterday for registration." Chen Yang looked at the long-haired girl in front of him, feeling a bit perplexed. Did their class have such a beautiful girl? It shouldn't be! The girl's demeanor was ethereal, comparable to a celestial being who played the role of Xiaolongnü. If there was such a beauty, Chen Yang thought he wouldn't have forgotten her at all. Could she be another butterfly effect of his rebirth?
"You're in Class 2? Then hurry in. The meeting will start once everyone is here. We're still missing thirteen people." Zhang Yingying smiled slightly and waved, signaling Chen Yang into the classroom. Her actions made Chen Yang even more confused. What exactly was this girl doing here?