Chapter 458

Modern architectural education in China began with Liang Sicheng. He was the son of Liang Qichao, the husband of Lin Huiyin, and he was the father of modern Chinese architecture. He participated in the design of works such as the Monument to the People's Heroes and the national emblem. He was an architectural historian, an architectural educator, and an architectural master.

Studying architecture, it was a matter of course that one couldn't bypass this big mountain of Liang Sicheng. Standing on the shoulders of giants was exactly the welfare of those who came later.

Wang Yan flipped through the History of Chinese Architecture in his hand, listening with one mind and two uses to the old professor on the podium lecturing with spit flying and high spirits. Probably the happiest time for these teachers was this kind of freshman year when they had just entered school.

Because all the students were sitting there upright, listening seriously to architectural history, and even Zhang Kai, who was repeating a grade, hadn't skipped class, nodding drowsily beside him.

This was because the students had just arrived and hadn't yet mastered the school's rules, the teacher's temper, their own learning progress, and so on. With many people, and all with big eyes and a face full of thirst for knowledge, the teacher on the stage naturally had motivation.

After another period of time, when the students adapted to the current study life, that wouldn't work. They would start skipping classes, dating, sleeping, or self-studying what they felt was important. Sustained investment in high-intensity learning was always a tiring thing. The students' minds weren't set, and it was normal for them to relax and slack off.

"Alright, that's it for today. Studying architecture, what our ancestors passed down cannot be forgotten. How about this: tomorrow and the day after are rest days. You have also attended three of my classes; go back and write a reflection on Chinese architecture. There is no limit to the length; play freely. Hand it to me next Monday."

The old professor spoke cleanly and left crisply. In the blink of an eye, only a swarming crowd of complaining students remained in the large classroom. Because in the past week, they hadn't had an easy time. Reading and studying, advanced mathematics, geometry, English, and also practicing drawing lines—every day was very miserable and very tired. And this was only the first week, and there were already quite a few assignments, which was far from the poetry and painting they had imagined.

"Hey, wake up, wake up, class is over."

Wang Yan looked at Zhang Kai, who was wiping drool and looking spiritless: "I don't know why you're so sleepy, sleeping in class every day. Don't let them fail you next year; that would really be a recommendation to quit. No matter how much the teachers like you, they can't keep you."

"Long-winded." Zhang Kai wanted to reach out and put his arm around Wang Yan, but was patted away with disgust. Remembering that he had just wiped his drool, he put his hand down awkwardly: "I'm self-studying, okay? I've already finished learning what you're studying now. If it weren't for these teachers knowing my, Zhang Kai's, great name, I wouldn't come."

"As long as you know it yourself, let's go, let's go."

Zhang Kai was repeating a grade, after all. Now, activities like attending classes and eating were all mixed in with Wang Yan and the others. If it weren't for the fact that he still went back to 310 to sleep at night, Zhang Kai wouldn't have been able to play with Xu Kaiyang either. After all, Young Master Xu had money and didn't lack friends.

The group swayed, laughing and talking as they walked on the road, walking back together with other young students who were laughing and talking loudly. It wasn't mealtime yet; although there was food, very few people went to eat. Because eating too early meant being hungry at night.

Zhang Kai and several other boys had restless eyes, looking around in the crowd. They were a science and engineering university, and there were few girls. The times they could see a large number of girls were only a few: before class in the morning, after class in the afternoon, and also at the cafeteria at noon and night. Although school had started for a week, they could always discover girls they hadn't seen before.

Zhang Kai, who was looking at girls with a thief's eyes, said, "Look at that one, she looks really good."

As the words fell, not only Sun Mingbo, Wang Kang, and Zhou Jianguo, but even Wang Yan turned his head to look: "Then you ignore the boyfriend who is laughing and talking beside her?"

"Look at you, vulgar again. Is it against the law for us to admire?" Zhang Kai curled his lips: "Hey, tomorrow the clubs and student union are recruiting new members. Are you really not going?"

"Can't go, I'm earning money, don't you know? I've been handing out flyers for a week. Recently, there have been quite a few phone calls asking. For this period, I have to go to the schools near us to introduce them, striving to sell a few units."

"Big brother, I advise you not to toss and turn. That computer costs over ten thousand—yes, you're selling it for eight or nine thousand, which is quite a bit cheaper than Zhujiang Road, but that's not a small amount of money either. Who can afford it?"

"Have to try, right? I've already negotiated the price; it's so suitable. I'm seeking welfare for our vast number of university student friends. Jin Ling is so big, and there are so many schools; no matter what, I have to sell a few units."

Doing things always requires a high-end signboard. Not talking about earning money, but seeking welfare for the vast number of student friends, was helping others. As for the money earned, it was just the hard-earned fee deserved in the process of helping others.

"Not hitting the south wall and not turning back, I won't worry for you. Oh yeah, tomorrow the clubs are recruiting; let's see if we can pull in a few good-looking junior schoolgirls. It'll be comfortable in the future... Oh right, what about you three? Do you want to go with me?"

The three shook their heads in unison. Sun Mingbo said, "I want to join the student union. Can Brother Zhang help me introduce me?"

"No problem, leave it to Brother Zhang." Zhang Kai patted his chest with a clatter, with the four-sea appearance of an old big brother: "What about you two?"

Zhou Jianguo responded: "I already agreed with Wang Yan before; we two will go with him."

"Hmm, earn some money, and also learn from Wang Yan." Wang Kang nodded repeatedly. He felt Wang Yan was really awesome—understanding a lot, knowing a lot, having a good body, studying well, daring to think and act—he was his role model, and he wanted to follow him to be influenced.

Of course, those weren't the key points. The most critical thing was that going out to work with Wang Yan meant eating at restaurants at noon...

Only Wang Yan, Zhou Jianguo, and Wang Kang returned to the dormitory. Sun Mingbo, in order to join the student union and enter a good organization, went to Zhang Kai next door to learn from his experience, saying he also wanted to meet several student union leaders living in the same dormitory building, making it look like a real thing.

The three Wang Yan returned to the dormitory without much communication, all lying on the table writing assignments. The only communication was to communicate problems.

He studied very seriously, honestly writing assignments there. What he said to the three roommates wasn't a lie; this time he really wanted to do design. And to tell the truth, his major was also a match. After all, for so many years, he had built more than one headquarters building, and he had also been an emperor twice, building wonders flying high, and he had a lot of understanding of the architecture of the Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties.

Truth be told, he was that kind of nagging client...

After all, his requirements were high and he had many ideas. Doing design wasn't about letting the designer be the master, but about letting the designer design the effect he wanted. Everyone is a different individual and has different ideas. He was the one paying, and he wasn't willing to settle, so he communicated a lot, and there were even more rejected drafts, so naturally, his reputation on the side of the contractor wasn't good.

Learning architecture this time wasn't a bad thing. He had money; as long as what was produced could be built and could be guaranteed not to collapse, it could be implemented. In the future, building headquarters buildings and such could also find a pastime for himself; after all, he was too idle, and doing some creation was also quite good. He even planned to study civil engineering; architecture requires civil engineering, and the two complement each other. Learning more is never wrong.

The next day, it was still an early wake-up after more than five hundred years, bringing breakfast back from the Haoyun Steamed Bun Shop, waking up Wang Kang and Zhou Jianguo who were sleeping in, and after the two finished eating, drinking, and washing up, taking them to Zhujiang Road. He got a tricycle, loaded with a big sound system, and also took a long power strip, as well as some steel pipe racks and such, and went to the printing shop he had already contacted to get the banners.

Together they pushed it back to Southeast University. The students from the same school who had been working part-time together were already waiting on the playground, helping to string up the banners and set up the racks, connecting the wires, connecting the sound system, and testing the sound with "feed, feed, feed."

Everyone knew there was an activity today, so whether it was a club or the student union, many people were busy on the playground early, setting up sheds, setting up stages, moving tables and chairs, and various other things, which was very lively.

But they saw that big sound system, those high racks, those big-letter banners, especially what was written on the banners: "Computer Direct Promotion, Factory Direct Sale," "Two-Year After-Sales Guarantee, Small Repairs Cost No Money, Big Repairs Cost Less Money," "Sell with Peace of Mind, Use with Comfort, Save Worry in the Future," "Installment Repayment, No Pressure"—really fucking professional...

Looking at the surrounding crowd, Wang Yan jumped directly onto the platform made of four tables, picked up the microphone, and fed it a few times: "Dear students, good morning. Let me introduce myself: my name is Wang Yan, a freshman in the Department of Architecture, class of '94. With such a big battle today, I believe everyone has seen the words on the banners. Taking advantage of the fact that many students haven't come yet and everyone is busy working, let me introduce it to you first. Anyway, since we're idle, and I'm a big girl getting on a sedan chair for the first time, I'm also afraid when there are many people, so let me practice first. Come, you guys, hand out the flyers to the senior brothers and sisters.

What I want to promote, everyone has seen—that's right, it's a computer, the big name is electronic computer. Without a doubt, the computer is the greatest creation of mankind in the twentieth century—one of them. Some students will ask, what are the other great creations? Without a doubt, the atomic bomb! It makes the world nuclear-peaceful. Note, this 'nuclear' of mine is the nuclear of nuclear explosion..."

Next, in the dumbfoundedness of Wang Kang, Zhou Jianguo, and others, Wang Yan babbled a lot. He briefly talked about the development history of computers, talked about future prospects, then returned to what computers could bring them now, and then babbled a bunch of professional vocabulary, talking about various configurations like counting family treasures, and finally returned to the price, making a horizontal comparison—he was at least a thousand yuan cheaper...

"The price I said above, I can guarantee. You don't need to worry about being cheated, because I am from this school, no matter what, I can't run away. If there is a problem, finding me is definitely right. I see many students just arrived and might not have heard it all; it doesn't matter, I will talk about it again in a while. Now, I will sing two songs for everyone to celebrate the annual big event of our school and help the senior brothers and sisters. Senior brothers and sisters of the Music Club, please come with a song; let's cooperate—let's do 'Wudizhirong' (Self-Abasement)."

Earning money is not easy; after all, he, the dignified Wang Mou, ran here to sell his mouth and sell his art...

"Hurry up, Ruan Guan, didn't you hear such a big movement? It must be a talent show; let's hurry over and watch the fun."

Zheng Wei pulled Ruan Guan, who was unhurried, and ran anxiously. She loved fun and was afraid of missing it.

"Oh, what's the rush? It's all there; can it run away?" Ruan Guan said helplessly, but she was pulled by Zheng Wei to run in small steps.

Not long after, the two ran to the playground and stood behind the crowd watching the scene.

Zheng Wei curled her lips and rolled her eyes: "Tsk, making such a big fuss, it turns out it's selling computers."

"Is it him?" Ruan Guan looked at Wang Mouren, who was standing on the table and shouting and singing hard in the field, widened her eyes, and exclaimed in surprise.

"Who is it?" Zheng Wei first looked at the big banner. Hearing her good sister's words, she also looked at the field and exclaimed, pointing there: "Isn't that who, that... the one who is always nodding and sending electric sparks to you? I remember he sang during military training."

"It's Wang Yan, from the Department of Architecture."

"Oh..." Zheng Wei's "oh" was bent three times, circled three times, and added a long one, turning her head to look at Ruan Guan: "No way, you don't really have ideas about this person, right? Not going to be with that Zhao Shiyong forever?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? It's just that he's quite interesting. When we just came back from the military camp last week, Ruan Guan and I met him in the library, chatted together for a while, and that's how we got to know each other."

"It has to be you, Miss Ruan, who has charm, haha..." Zheng Wei's tone was a bit sour.

Although she went to find her childhood sweetheart before, she got the news that Lin Jing had gone abroad without a word, and she was desperate, sad, and heartbroken. Ruan Guan comforted her and they drank and told stories together. It was also because of this that she and Ruan Guan, who had been slightly incompatible roommates before, became good sisters now. But this didn't delay her jealousy that Ruan Guan's beauty was three points more than hers, and her attraction to boys was also three points stronger.

After all, she considered herself, in terms of face, to be called pretty, and many people had liked her since she was a child, but she didn't care about them. So in this regard, Ruan Guan had a slight advantage, and she wasn't convinced.

Just at this time, she saw Wang Yan, who was singing there, nodding towards this side, and at the same time, Ruan Guan also returned a smile. She said unfairly: "Still saying you two don't have a thing? So far away, with so many people, he's greeting you. Even if you don't have ideas, he definitely has ideas about you."

Recalling the accidental encounter in the library before, Ruan Guan shook her head and smiled: "Who knows, stop gossiping. I really don't have anything with him. Besides, you're also arm-in-arm with the male students in our class."

"That can be the same? I treat them as brothers."

"They might not treat you as brothers. Alright, alright, let's not talk about it, okay? He sings quite well; otherwise, how could he gather so many people? Let's listen to him sing for a while."

After a passionate and dynamic "Wudizhirong" was sung, Wang Yan changed his routine again, recited the matter of selling computers, and then sang "The Internationale," even shouting for a big chorus—very lively, and the scene was very wonderful.

After the two songs were finished, he introduced it again, and then dismissed it directly, packed up his things to eat lunch, and went to Jin Ling University in the afternoon. He had already contacted them; it was the Music Club of Nanjing University. He paid the hard-earned fee and also invited them to a restaurant. It was a very good thing; after all, they also had clubs and student union recruitment over there. Now making it big, there were both audiences and money to take, and they could also eat for free at a restaurant at night—there was no reason to refuse.

After Wang Yan answered a junior student who came to consult, Xu Kaiyang and Zhang Kai squeezed over: "Fuck, didn't you say you weren't coming? Coming is fine, but why make such a big battle?"

"Give you two a surprise, right?" Wang Yan answered with a smile: "Besides, I really didn't join a club; I just borrowed the crowd to show off my talent."

With so many people today, not to mention that most of the freshmen had come, many people from the three grades above had also come to stroll and watch the fun. With such a good opportunity, if he didn't open it up to show off, he would be too sorry for such a big activity. Of course, he had to come over to rub some traffic.

Zhang Kai expressed admiration: "Really thief enough."

Xu Kaiyang didn't care about that; he wasn't short of money. Looking at the sound system being loaded into the car on the side, he pulled Wang Yan: "Lend me this set of stuff, buddy. Our Go Club also wants to shout a few times to improve our popularity."

Wang Yan shook his head regretfully: "Can't lend it; I have to leave immediately. I still have to go to Jin Ling University; they are also recruiting new members today. If I'm late, people will disperse. Go borrow it from the Music Club; aren't you all acquainted?"

"Forget it, I just had a temporary idea. Alright, we two won't delay you; we have to hurry back to guard the stall and see if we can recruit a few pretty junior schoolgirls this year."

"Gone, I'll wait for your battle results when you come back at night." Zhang Kai raised his head with a smile, turned his head, and left with Xu Kaiyang. The two swayed, dangling, like ruffians, discussing the female students they saw while laughing and talking.

"Hurry up and pack, it's noon, let's hurry to eat." Wang Yan shouted, turned his head to look at the students coming from behind: "Senior brother, hello, what don't you understand?"

"Ah, we are from the same year; I'm not a senior brother. Just asking how this installment is calculated?"

The installment was, of course, negotiated by Wang Yan with that boss, and it was only agreed upon after much difficulty. After all, pressing too much payment like this affected operations. But for this period, because of the ideas he gave, the boss earned a lot, so he could make up for it no matter what. Plus, the boss didn't think he could sell many to poor students, so that was it. Returning the favor, giving face.

"Classmate, this installment was specially fought for by me, just to help our university student friends buy computers..."

Watching other clubs busy, but his own side had nothing to do, Xu Kaiyang sighed to the sky: "Old Zhang, our Go Club really won't work. How about we change one? Start a dance club or something?"

"Forget it, it's not that our Go Club won't work; it's that we two won't work." Zhang Kai had a clear understanding of himself, and his mentality was quite good. He was even laughing when he spoke.

Just at this time, Zheng Wei and Ruan Guan, hand in hand, walked over laughing and talking. Zhang Kai's eyes lit up: "Zheng Wei, Weiwei, hurry over."

Hearing the movement, Ruan Guan looked at the long-haired man wearing a floral shirt and grinning there, and asked suspiciously: "Who is this? Flowing and ruffian-like."

"Met when school started, his name is Zhang Kai. He said he can open up anywhere."

Ruan Guan reacted and understood that this was an indecent joke, shook her head and smiled: "You go, I'll wait for you here."

Zheng Wei responded and ran lively to the Go Club's stall.

"Not contacting Brother Zhang since school started—if it weren't for my good memory, we would have no fate in this life. I propose criticism to you."

"Criticize, criticize." Zheng Wei laughed: "What kind of club is this? How come there isn't even a logo?"

Xu Kaiyang picked up a piece of paper: "Go Club."

"You guys won't work either. Walking all the way here, I haven't seen anyone as hard-working and simple as you guys."

Just like in the movie, a few people laughed and talked. Xu Kaiyang invited Zheng Wei to join the club, and Zhang Kai asked about Ruan Guan.

Xu Kaiyang towards Zheng Wei, perhaps because he felt they were on the same temper, perhaps because of a temporary freshness, it was not more than the inner frustration of Chen Xiaozheng in the past. To say how deep the feelings for Zheng Wei were, it was still a bit far-fetched. Of course, no one is Xu Kaiyang, and no one knows what he is thinking.

But there is no doubt that compared to Xu Kaiyang towards Zheng Wei, Zhang Kai's feelings for Ruan Guan were deeper. He should be the legendary love at first sight, without any intention for beauty.

As far as Wang Yan observed, after Zhang Kai asked him about Ruan Guan when he returned from military training, for this period, this boy had been inquiring about Ruan Guan from many sides, hiding very deeply. Now that there was finally a channel for open communication, Zhang Kai of course still went up like the original to let the person he loved remember his name and make a friend.

Zhang Kai's youth should start with him holding his business card, enduring the chaos of soldiers and horses in his heart, and solemnly sending it to Ruan Guan with both hands, while saying "Architecture Department Zhang Kai, courtesy name Tianran"...