A special class of students

The South Gate was the main entrance to Peking University, and outside the East Gate was a residential area filled with many bungalows, crisscrossing and complex.

The West Gate was quite far from the dormitories and teaching buildings, making it unfriendly for students, so very few students entered or exited there.

At this time, the senior students were all "worker, peasant, soldier university students" who had been recommended in 1975 and 1976.

They had not taken exams but were directly recommended for admission, which led to their varied educational backgrounds; many had only junior high or even elementary school education, but overall, most of them were very enthusiastic.

Only a very small number of students were not keen on the new students of the '77 cohort.

This was a historical issue; students admitted under two different policies naturally had fundamental differences and conflicts.

It wasn't until the senior students of '75 and '76 graduated that the campus atmosphere became unified, but that's a story for later... Zhao Dongchuan was in the Archaeology major of Peking University's History Department, and Runye was in the Journalism major of Peking University's Chinese Department.

They arrived at the welcoming point and, with the help of senior students and teachers, quickly completed their admission procedures.

The male and female dormitories were separate. Zhao Dongchuan was in Building 32, while Tian Runye's female dormitory was designed and built by Lin Huiyin's husband, Liang Sicheng, with a somewhat blurred foundation stone outside the dormitory.

It vaguely read "National Peking University Dormitory"; although damaged and unclear, it still could not erase the mark of the era.

"Hello, classmate... I'm also in Journalism in the Chinese Department, so we're classmates!" a delicate-looking girl with two small braids said to Tian Runye with an enthusiastic smile.

She had seen Zhao Dongchuan and Tian Runye also completing their admission at the welcoming point, and with careful observation, she had discovered that this beautiful older sister was her classmate.

"Haha, hello, classmate... My name is Tian Runye, and I'm from Huangyuan..."

"Hello, my name is Liu Xuehong, and I'm from Beijing..."

Seeing the two chatting happily, Zhao Dongchuan smiled slightly, "University life, it has begun!"

"Runye... let's go, I'll help you take your luggage to the women's dormitory first..."

"Classmate Tian, who is this? Hurry up and introduce him to me..."

"Haha, this is my husband... Zhao Dongchuan!"

Zhao Dongchuan smiled slightly and greeted, "Hello, Classmate Liu..."

"Hello..." Liu Xuehong's face flushed slightly as she spoke softly.

"He's your husband? You're already married?"

"Yes, we got married last year..."

"I've noticed that many students in this cohort are older brothers and sisters... quite old... I guess some even have children already..." Liu Xuehong said with a hint of surprise.

"Yes, it's accumulated over so many years... so of course, there are all age groups..."

"..."

Zhao Dongchuan accompanied Tian Runye, Liu Xuehong, and other students to the female dormitory.

This was a 3-story modern building with a courtyard layout and a large archway in the middle.

Runye and Liu Xuehong were in room 206 on the second floor, south side.

At this time, the female dormitory was not yet closed off, and males were allowed inside, as it was the start of a new semester, and many family members and friends would help carry bags and luggage.

Zhao Dongchuan walked into the dormitory carrying several large bags; a few people had already arrived.

The dormitory was an eight-person room, with two bunk beds on each side.

Zhao Dongchuan saw that the lower bunk on the window side was still empty, so he took the bag and occupied that bunk.

Bunks were first-come, first-served like this.

"Hello, my name is Zha Jianying... Chinese Department, Literature major..." a tall, oval-faced woman in a gray long gown greeted them.

"Hello, my name is Tian Runye... Chinese Department, Journalism major..."

"Hello, my name is Liu Xuehong... Chinese Department, Journalism major..."

"..."

At this moment, another woman with neat short hair finished making her bed and also smiled as she greeted them.

"Hahaha, hello everyone, my name is Liu Hong... I'm also a Journalism major... It seems most of us in this dorm are Journalism majors!"

This woman appeared experienced; she was very enthusiastic in greeting people and spoke smoothly, clearly someone who had been through things, not a young girl.

Zhao Dongchuan made Tian Runye's bed, then told Runye to come and sit down to rest.

He pulled out a bag of White Rabbit candy from his pocket and smiled as he distributed some to everyone present.

"Hello everyone, my name is Zhao Dongchuan, and I'm also a new student at Peking University, in the History Department... Runye is my wife, and she became pregnant late last year, so I hope all you older and younger sisters can help take care of her..."

Everyone had initially wondered who this young man was to Runye, and why he was even giving out candy... they only understood after hearing what he said.

"Hahaha, congratulations!"

"That's incredible, you both got into Peking University together! Sister Runye, congratulations!"

"Sister, your husband is not only talented but also very thoughtful... truly a good man, a good husband..."

"..."

Liu Hong laughed heartily and said, "Classmate Zhao, don't worry, I've been through this before, I'll definitely take good care of your Runye..."

"Oh... Sister Liu, how old is your child...?" Liu Xuehong asked in surprise.

"Hahaha, I'm twenty-eight this year, and my child is already five years old..."

"Looking at it this way, I should be the youngest here... I'm only eighteen this year..." Zha Jianying said softly.

"Students in our cohort are of all ages... However, I heard from Teacher Qin in the admissions office that there's an unwritten requirement of being under thirty years old..."

"I also got in because the Journalism major expanded its enrollment... otherwise, I probably wouldn't have been able to attend university..." Liu Hong said with a hearty, carefree laugh.

Zhao Dongchuan saw that they were chatting quite well and secretly nodded; at this time, female dormitories didn't have as much scheming, everyone was very simple, and relatively speaking, getting along was much easier.

He gave Runye a few instructions, telling her to be careful...

"Don't worry, we'll take good care of your Runye..." Liu Xuehong said with a cheerful laugh, making everyone present laugh along.

"Thank you all. Once we're settled, I'll treat all of you to a meal at a restaurant..."

...Zhao Dongchuan picked up his bag and quickly went downstairs.

The stairwell was full of people, all family and friends helping the incoming female students move into the dorms; it seemed that the Peking University female dorms had never been so lively in eleven years.

He quickly left, heading towards his own dormitory building.

Arriving at Building 32, Zhao Dongchuan, based on the information he had learned earlier, came to the front of his dormitory building. It was a two-story building with a Chinese architectural style.

His dorm room was 210... Since Zhao Dongchuan had helped Runye make her bed first, he arrived relatively late, and by this time, many people had already arrived in the dorm room... naturally, all the lower bunks were taken.

Dorm 210 was also an eight-person room, and the upper bunk near the door was still empty. Zhao Dongchuan didn't mind and began to tidy up...