[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-rising-in-1979":3,"chapter-rising-in-1979-rising-in-1979-chapter-159":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Rising in 1979",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2260867,4412,"Chapter 159: Huayuancun Overseas Chinese Apartments (Guaranteed First Update)","rising-in-1979-chapter-159",159,"\u003Cp>After the Lantern Festival on March 1, Wei Ming officially returned to work at the school magazine office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon entering, he saw Yang Hao, who had just come out of the darkroom after developing photos—he’d taken plenty during the holiday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Deputy Editor Zhou Junfeng arrive, Wei Ming quickly went into his office to explain his leave request.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he was asking for leave right after returning to work, Wei Ming felt a bit guilty, so he offered to wait until the office found a convenient time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you going to Guangzhou?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, the general manager of Guangzhou Pacific Audio Company invited me for a visit, but I’m mainly going to tour the Huangpu Military Academy—it’s closely tied to my first novel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So it’s for your writing? No problem. Just let us know when you want to leave,” said Editor Zhou generously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vice Principal Wang Lu bin had already told him: Wei Ming was now Peking University’s flagship writer; his creative work took absolute priority over his job. If not for concerns about other staff’s feelings, Wei Ming didn’t even need to show up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming quickly thanked him, deciding to take leave together with Biaozi and Mei Wenhua when they went on break—they’d have each other’s backs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back at his desk, Wei Ming started writing the script for “Heroes Emerge in Youth,” spent the afternoon on the puppet film script “If I Were Wu Song,” and spent evenings poring over materials in the library.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes he’d audit classes to broaden his knowledge and network.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he had friends not just in the Chinese and Law departments, but across all faculties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During this time, Liu Rulong brought his comic drafts to consult Wei Ming, but Wei Ming rejected them—he felt blindly imitating Hong Kong comics wouldn’t work; they needed to build their own style. After offering some suggestions, he told Liu to revise again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That day, Wei Ming returned to his dormitory from the library—no one was there; Biaozi and Mei Wenhua were on night shift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All alone—it felt so lonely. Wei Ming turned on his cassette player and played the foreign music tape Melinda had left him, humming some tune he didn’t even recognize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, as he slept soundly, Biaozi and Mei Wenhua returned. Wei Ming checked his watch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you back so late? Is patrol duty now overtime?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wenhua said: “An old professor from Yannanyuan passed away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?” Wei Ming sat up quickly. “Who?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Biaozi: “From Villa 51. We helped out all evening but never found out who it was.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming recalled his senior’s advice: “Villa 51—that must be Professor Qi Sihé from the History Department.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This old professor, a graduate of the old Yanda, was a towering figure in the History Department. His research focused on pre-Qin and medieval world history—Wei Ming had never taken his class. Now he devoted himself mainly to modern history, especially the KMT-CCP cooperation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing of the old professor’s death, Wei Ming felt regret—he’d been interested in pre-Qin history too, but thought he’d have time later to audit the professor’s lectures. He never expected it to happen so suddenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, Wei Ming joined Yang Hao in documenting Professor Qi’s funeral arrangements. The memorial service was held at Babaoshan Cemetery, with Vice Principal Wang Lu bin attending and speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another day passed, and Wei Ming covered the 40th anniversary memorial for Mr. Cai Yuanpei—a great Chinese educator and the most deeply remembered president in Peking University’s history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the memorial, Wei Ming met Cai Yuanpei’s two children, Cai Xin and Cai Yingduo, as well as Gao Pingshu, who had long served as his secretary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And of course, Vice Principal Wang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the memorial, Wei Ming happened to walk out with him and teased him about being perpetually busy—seemed like he had to show up for every school event.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The plain-looking old man chuckled: “They brought me here to do exactly this. But in a few days, you won’t see me—I’m traveling abroad with President Zhou.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Which country?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“America. To secure more study-abroad quotas!” said Principal Wang with determination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming’s departure date was now set. The next day, he formally requested leave from Deputy Editor Zhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, he visited Uncle Anping’s home and handed him the motorcycle keys.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“While I’m away, feel free to use the bike.” He’d confirmed that Uncle Anping and Aunt Xiaoyan both knew how to ride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were thrilled—who didn’t love efficiency? But the motorcycle was too expensive; even with their high incomes, they struggled to afford it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing them so happy, Wei Ming pointed to a photo in a frame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle, can I have this photo of you and my dad? I’ve never seen him so young.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sure, take it—I’ve got others,” Wei Anping told Lu Xiaoyan. “Go buy a new helmet—I’ll take you for a ride.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiaoyan: “I’ll drive you—I’m better at it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the daughter of a commander, she’d ridden motorcycles and cars since childhood—even crawled inside tanks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mom, what about me?” Xi Zi piped up sweetly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiaoyan cooed: “Xi Zi, there’s no room for you on the bike. Wait till your Xiao Ming brother buys a car—you can ride in that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Anping said: “There’s no policy allowing private car ownership yet, but you can get one assigned through the university.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming waved his hand: “I’d rather buy a house with that money.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiaoyan chuckled: “So you’ve saved up pretty well, huh?” Wei Ming didn’t hide it: “My short story collection had a first print run of one million copies. People’s Literature Publishing House paid me ten yuan per thousand characters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Lu Xiaoyan calculated the word count of those stories and guessed her nephew had just received a massive sum. Good heavens—compared to him, she and her husband suddenly felt useless!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Anping knew that at Wei Ming’s age, getting an apartment would take years. He was nineteen now—old enough to marry and have children. Without a house, it wouldn’t do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Houses are hard to buy these days. Single-yard siheyuans are rare—most are crowded courtyards with tangled ownership,” Uncle Anping analyzed. “And housing allocated by other units can’t be bought or sold.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming sighed: “Yeah, Uncle, have you heard of the Overseas Chinese Apartments?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Anping: “Of course—the Overseas Chinese Apartments in Huayuancun. When I first entered university, everyone was talking about them. Built from leftover materials from the Great Hall, they were sold exclusively to overseas Chinese, paid in foreign currency. Only about a hundred units total.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming: “That neighborhood isn’t far from Peking University, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed—not far at all. On the northern third ring road. A 30-minute bike ride, maybe 20 minutes on a motorcycle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Owning a unit there would be the most convenient option for Wei Ming, who worked at Peking University.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Anping nodded: “It’s a good choice, but expensive. At least 150 yuan per square meter. And the units are large—smallest is 150 square meters, largest over 200.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming calculated: That meant over twenty thousand yuan just for the smallest apartment?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even pricier than a Sihe Academy! His current savings were nowhere near enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then he imagined 150 square meters—with flush toilets, private bathrooms, property management, security—this quality was irresistible!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Anping added: “A few years ago, some overseas Chinese left, and some units were never sold. I can ask around for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many Peking University faculty were overseas Chinese—Wei Anping remembered a few living in the Overseas Chinese Apartments, others had relatives there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guess I’ve got to admit—you’ve got wide connections. I’ll wait for your news then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Wei Ming didn’t have enough money yet, housing never moved fast—he still had time to earn more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The publisher had already sent him the proof copy of “Ferocious Animals,” and he’d finished the script for “Heroes Emerge in Youth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, back in his dorm, he wrote another letter to the old man in Hong Kong, enclosing his works and photos, and mailed them the next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he and Biaozi and Mei Wenhua boarded the southbound train.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two letters he’d mailed earlier had just arrived today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Huimin had returned to school. After the break, teachers didn’t pay much attention to routine homework, but they closely monitored students’ pen-pal exchanges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Huimin quickly lowered her head—none of her pen pals had replied, while most classmates had already exchanged at least one letter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She regretted choosing such distant pen pals. Some classmates even got replies from Singapore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mainland China hadn’t banned correspondence with Hong Kong. Why hadn’t Wei Ming replied? Was the Peking University genius looking down on a middle schooler?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn’t help wondering: Ghost Uncle, what exactly is your relationship with this Wei Ming?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After school, Zhou Huimin rushed to Mary Hospital to find Ghost Uncle on duty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ghost Uncle had just received a letter from the mainland and hadn’t opened it yet when this girl pounced on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ghost Uncle, did you reply to that mainland letter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I did.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You did—and you didn’t ask me to help you write it!” Zhou Huimin was disappointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ghost Uncle: “Haha, a colleague helped me, so I didn’t bother you. And you’ve got heavy homework.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Huimin asked: “Did they reply to you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ghost Uncle lied: “Not yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Huimin felt a little better—probably just slow mail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She asked again: “The sender’s name is Wei Ming. Who is he to you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ghost Uncle: “Why ask so much? You sound like a gossiping old woman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell me! I care about you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ghost Uncle lied: “He’s a distant relative—my great-nephew, I suppose.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about your blood relatives on the mainland?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ghost Uncle suddenly burst into tears: “Gone. All gone!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Zhou Huimin dared not press further and quickly comforted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Zhou Huimin rode off, Ghost Uncle’s expression returned to normal. Though the girl was kind, he’d long learned not to trust anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After his shift ended, Ghost Uncle immediately found a quiet spot and tore open the letter…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(Please vote for monthly tickets!)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1674,"2026-06-19T16:30:57.111Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","76e651c39a5d8b25e068e6eb2ad4003447c321ff2e58c22d16266eeec67fe3e9","rising-in-1979-chapter-160","rising-in-1979-chapter-158",509,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frising-in-1979-cover.jpg"]