Chapter 89: Da Yizi

It was already late, and Xu Yuexin had spread his arms, pulling her tightly into his embrace.

"Ah, you really are..."

"How could you... um... how could you do this?"

Chen Yixue felt both shy and frantic, futilely pushing Xu Yuexin away twice.

"Um..."

As Xu Yuexin kissed her and his large hand slipped into her sweater, Chen Yixue's breathing grew rapid, accompanied by gasps.

Her two‑handed resistance grew increasingly feeble.

"Ugh..."

A moment later, Xu Yuexin pressed a firm kiss to Chen Yixue's red lips, and she immediately let out a muffled hum.

The hand she had been pushing outward finally stopped.

…

After a long while, Xu Yuexin ended the embrace with Chen Yixue, releasing her graceful body.

"Huh..."

Chen Yixue immediately slumped weakly onto the bed, opening her mouth to gasp for fresh air, relieving her brain's oxygen deprivation.

Xu Yuexin sat beside Chen Yixue, draped an arm over her shoulder, and teasingly glanced at her: "How's that, feels good, right?"

Chen Yixue glared fiercely at Xu Yuexin, tried to push him away but failed, and could only submit.

"Don't talk nonsense."

Chen Yixue, with a composed face, said irritably, "You said this was the last time."

"You misunderstood."

Xu Yuexin said seriously, "This is the last time you must not get angry. If I do this again later, you may be angry."

Robber logic…

Chen Yixue looked at Xu Yuexin helplessly, feeling that all her experience dealing with people since childhood was rendered useless by him.

"What exactly do you want?"

Chen Yixue said with mixed feelings, not knowing how to face her own brother‑in‑law.

"I told you, I want both of you sisters."

"And I won't shortchange either of you."

Chen Yixue was on the verge of questioning her life.

How could anyone in the world be so self‑righteous as to say such words out loud?

The worst part is that she simply can't shake him off now.

"No one would believe you."

Chen Yixue, having mostly recovered, hurriedly stood up and said, "Stay alone for a while."

"Oh?"

Xu Yuexin also rose, hugging Chen Yixue tightly again, and said, "So, if what I say is true, you agree to be with me?"

What kind of person is this…

In a short time, Chen Yixue once again witnessed Xu Yuexin's robber logic and was simply speechless.

"Let me go quickly."

Chen Yixue pleaded helplessly, "You haven't agreed yet and you already…"

"If I truly agree, would you become lawless?"

Da Yizi was captured.

Xu Yuexin, hearing her plea, slightly lifted the corner of his mouth and released his grip: "Come, I'll see you back home."

Chen Yixue regained her freedom, fuming, walked out of the bedroom and waited at the house entrance.

Xu Yuexin didn't follow her out; instead, he opened the cabinet, took out several unopened hair clips and hairpins, and slipped them into his pocket.

He went out, went downstairs, and rode a bike to take Chen Yixue back to East Third Ring.

On the way, passing a clothing store, Xu Yuexin stopped his Harley motorcycle.

"Why aren't we going?"

Chen Yixue asked.

"Didn't you say you'd buy me clothes?"

"How can you still have the nerve?"

Chen Yixue got angry as soon as she brought it up, "It's already good that I haven't fallen out with you."

"Fine, the clothes are on the ledger."

After saying that, Xu Yuexin restarted the motorcycle and rode forward.

After delivering Chen Yixue home, Xu Yuexin turned a corner toward the Drama Troupe, just in time for their noon break.

"Why did you come?"

Seeing him, Gong Ruxue exclaimed with surprise and joy.

"I went to Xiangjiang earlier and brought you some things."

Xu Yuexin took out the hair clips and hairpins, saying.

These hair clips and hairpins aren't expensive, but their styles are very trendy and beautiful.

"Really nice."

When Gong Ruxue saw them, her eyes immediately couldn't look away, "Thank you for remembering me."

"They'll look gorgeous on you."

"How about putting it on now?"

After handing the hair clip and hairpin to Gong Ruxue, Xu Yuexin suggested.

"Okay, okay, then wait for me a moment…"

Gong Ruxue finished speaking, ran back to the courtyard, went to the Drama Troupe's restroom to change into the hairpin, and then ran out again.

"How is it, does it look good?"

Gong Ruxue used her hand to adjust the hairpin on her head and asked sweetly.

"Especially beautiful."

Xu Yuexin looked carefully, then nodded, "Let's have a meal together."

"Well, there's a place here that makes beef soup that's especially tasty, would you like to try?"

"Where is it?"

"Just go straight ahead; it won't take long to get there."

"Alright, you can sit up."

Xu Yuexin said, and after Gong Ruxue got on the vehicle and sat steadily, he pressed the motorcycle throttle.

In no time, they arrived at the beef soup shop Gong Ruxue mentioned.

Just as she said, the beef soup here was indeed very delicious.

Xu Yuexin and Gong Ruxue ate and chatted, and before they knew it, more than half an hour had passed.

The two talked about his works and experiences, then about their views on some current social issues, and finally discussed Gong Ruxue's current life and work.

"I suffered from frequent transfers."

Gong Ruxue sighed, "No matter where I go, I'm unfamiliar with the place, and the rankings never come my way."

"At least you became the performance team leader."

Xu Yuexin said reassuringly.

"The performance team leader just does the work; they have no authority over people."

"Frankly, the only responsibility I have as team leader is to see who does a poor job and clean up their mess."

Upon saying that, Gong Ruxue's eyes dimmed.

Xu Yuexin felt sympathy for Gong Ruxue's situation.

"As long as you can produce solid works, there will always be a chance."

Xu Yuexin said earnestly, "No matter which unit, you can't be without a business expert."

"In the drama field, to stand out you need a good script."

Gong Ruxue looked at Xu Yuexin pleadingly, "Can you write scripts? Could you help me?"

"I won't shortchange you."

The future national goddess was pleading with a sorrowful face, and Xu Yuexin felt that refusing might not be right.

"I'll go back and show you."

After thinking for a moment, Xu Yuexin replied, "If I have a script, I'll give it to you to perform."

"It's all on you."

Gong Ruxue, as if she had grasped a lifeline, said in a sweet voice, "As long as you give me an outstanding script, no matter how I thank you, it'll be enough."

"How can any thanks be enough?"

"Then could…?"

A wicked thought briefly flashed through Xu Yuexin's mind, but he quickly stopped it. It's time to eat, don't daydream.

After the meal, Xu Yuexin escorted Gong Ruxue back to the Drama Troupe and went home to ponder the script.

These days, script trends fall into two categories: one condemns the people of a special period from a few years ago, the other revolves around reform and opening up, depicting social changes.

The former has been producing works since 1977, and competition among writers is quite fierce.

The latter started after last year's end-of-year conference and is still in its infancy.

Xu Yuexin thought that the latter seemed easier to write.

Regarding a specific angle, he felt starting from the countryside would be better, since current reforms still focus on rural areas, especially the rural land system.

Just write about Contracting Production to Households?

But if we only write about Contracting Production to Households, would the script feel a bit thin in content?

Since it's a script for Gong Ruxue, it should be refined to the utmost.

Xu Yuexin considered and said, "For now, I'll set the pen aside."

…

A few days later, the enrollment time for Yanda's 1979 freshman class arrived.

Xu Yuexin rolled bedding, pillows, sheets, and the like like pancakes, placed toothbrushes and other items into a plastic bucket, loaded everything onto the vehicle, and set off.

He twisted the throttle, and the motorcycle roared out of the community, heading toward Yanda two kilometers away.

Today Yanda's gate was bustling, with freshmen and their parents coming and going.

Most freshmen were dressed very plainly, and their parents were even plainer.

Xu Yuexin saw many of the freshmen's parents were farmers wearing straw sandals and carrying flat loads on their shoulders, their faces darkened by the sun.

In 1979, 40% of Yanda's freshmen were from rural backgrounds, about four times the later proportion.

Xu Yuexin looked at the scene at the campus gate and for the first time gained a concrete understanding of the phrase "talent emerging from a poor family."

After parking the motorcycle at a safe spot nearby, Xu Yuexin lifted the bedding and bucket, and walked into the school where Chen Qiaoqiao had already been waiting at the gate.

"Junior brother, here to register?"

Seeing him, Chen Qiaoqiao giggled, walked over, and took the plastic bucket.

First check in and register, then look at the dormitory allocation list.

What surprised Xu Yuexin was that his roommates were Chen Jiangong, Liu Zhenyun, and Liang Zuo, plus two other classmates he didn't know.

"Did they make a mistake? I'm not in the same class as you."

Full of questions, Xu Yuexin asked Liu Zhenyun, who was in charge of welcoming freshmen for the Chinese department.

"No mistake. Your class has an extra person, so you have to share a room with a student from a previous class."

"Same here; our class also had an extra person, so they put me together with Old Chen and Old Liang."

Liu Zhenyun cheerfully explained, "Wait a moment; I'll finish registering these students and then take you to our dormitory."

Being able to live with well‑known literary figures he was familiar with put him in a good mood.

Xu Yuexin felt pretty good upon hearing the explanation.

Living with friends right away saves the effort of getting to know each other.

After finishing, Liu Zhenyun took Xu Yuexin and Qiao Qiao to the dormitory.

When they reached the ground floor, Qiao Qiao stayed outside while Xu Yuexin and Liu Zhenyun went upstairs together.

Currently, Yanda dormitories are of the type where a single floor contains many rooms lined up along a corridor, each housing six or eight people.

Xu Yuexin's dorm housed six people; aside from him and Liu Zhenyun, the others were all Class 77.

The room layout has beds along both sides, with a table placed opposite the door for studying and meals.

Carrying his bedding, Xu Yuexin rolled into the room and saw Chen Jiangong bent over the desk writing, while Liang Zuo, holding a theoretical book on Situational Comedy, lay on a bed reading.

On the inner bunk, there were two unfamiliar roommates who appeared a bit older.

"Look, who's here!"

Liu Zhenyun deliberately shouted.

Chen Jiangong set down his pen, looked up, and upon seeing Xu Yuexin, his face lit up: "Old Xu, what brings you here!"

"Just like Old Liu, our class had an extra person, so they assigned me to you guys."

Liang Zuo put down the book, got up from the bed, and shyly walked up to Xu Yuexin: "I didn't expect you'd be the one assigned to us."

"I was just studying the Situational Comedy you introduced."

The other two roommates also set aside what they were doing and gave brief introductions to Xu Yuexin.

One was named Yu Yun Guang, a native of Hu Hai, majoring in classical literature; the other was Chen Luping, from Jiangxi, majoring in Contemporary literature.

When Xu Yuexin spread out his bedding, Liu Zhenyun helped arrange all his daily necessities.

Qiao Qiao was still waiting downstairs; after Xu Yuexin finished making his bed, he said goodbye to his roommates and walked down with Liu Zhenyun.

Liu Zhenyun went on to continue the welcome duties, while Xu Yuexin and Qiao Qiao strolled together through the autumn‑filled Yanyuan, listening to her talk about school matters.

"This winter break, the school will organize a group of students to conduct grassroots research in urban and rural areas."

Holding a freshly fallen leaf, Qiao Qiao said with anticipation, "I heard the activity was launched by a directive from Hai Li; students from all majors can join, as well as those from other schools in Jing."

"I want to sign up."

"I'll go too."

"I'm afraid that's not possible; the activity only accepts Class 77 and Class 78, not freshmen like you."

"Oh…"

Xu Yuexin said with a hint of disappointment.

Participating in such a major event not only broadens one's horizons, but more importantly, helps build connections.

Students from Yanda Class 77—what a level of prestige that is.

Many of them are the kind who will sit in the front three rows at future conferences.

Now, watching helplessly as he cannot join, Xu Yuexin felt quite upset.

After chatting with Qiao Qiao, Xu Yuexin returned to the dorm and asked Chen Jiangong, Liang Zuo, and the others about the school's various rules and the tricks of studying and living on campus.

"The Sichuan cuisine window in Cafeteria One has good flavor, and the rice‑serving guy gives generous portions; Old Chen and I often eat there."

"The dried shrimp soup in Cafeteria Two is also tasty, only 0.1 yuan a bowl, and you can eat rice with it alone, no other dishes needed."

Chen Jiangong and Liang Zuo spoke enthusiastically until the dorm door was knocked: "Hello, classmates, we are from the Student Affairs Office."

"Ah, the teachers have arrived."

Chen Jiangong stepped forward and opened the door; several teachers in Zhongshan jackets entered, each holding a bundle of forms.

"This is the Class 77 dorm, right?"

The leading teacher asked, "We have a winter‑break research activity registration form; the theme is to go to urban‑rural grassroots areas to investigate the social situation during the anniversary of reform and opening up."

"Interested students may take a form to register; the school will later select participants based on the activity's needs and each individual's circumstances."

Wait… does that mean I might have a chance?

Upon hearing the teacher's explanation, Xu Yuexin's heart raced.

The activity is indeed open to Class 77 and Class 78, but if you submit the form and get the school leaders to notice, you might be allowed to go as an exception.

It's an era where anything can be made an exception—outstanding cadres get promoted unusually, outstanding students admitted unusually…

In short, everything is full of possibilities! Anyway, just get a form and start filling it out.

Like the other roommates, Xu Yuexin asked the teacher for a form, filled in his information, and handed it back.

"Old Xu, you also want to go?"

After the teacher left, Chen Jiangong asked Xu Yuexin.

"Give it a try; maybe it'll work."

Xu Yuexin replied, praying in his heart for a result.

A few nights later, in the Yanda president's office.

President Zhou Lin was reviewing the school's Socialist Practice Research Activity registration forms under the lamp, his expression exceedingly serious and meticulous.

Since the College Entrance Exam was reinstated, universities across the country have held this type of event for the first time, and the event was personally planned by senior officials.

Among the mentors leading the team, there are plenty of incumbent bigwigs, and their intention needs no explanation.

The entire Yanda had more than eight thousand students register, truly a mass participation.

The number of slots allocated from above was only fifty.

For each slot, Zhou Lin allocated it with extreme caution, because based on his experience, this event can profoundly affect the participants' futures.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Yanda was regarded as a Hanlin Academy, serving as a rehearsal for future Hanlins before they entered their posts.

Zhou Lin kept flipping through, gradually confirming forty‑nine slots, leaving only the final one.

"Xu Yuexin, proficient in writing, works: 'The Flower Wreath Under the High Mountain', 'The Horse Herder', has won the People's Literature Award."

"College Entrance Exam score: first in liberal arts in Jingcheng."

What a good seedling.

Zhou Lin sighed, preparing to sign his approval on Xu Yuexin's application form.

At that moment, the characters "1979 cohort" reappeared in his view.

The fountain pen Zhou Lin was about to drop stopped.

(End of chapter)