Chapter Fifty-Four: Not Letting Down

After a two-hour flight, Wu Tong arrived safely at the Capital International Airport in Shangjing at four thirty in the afternoon. After sending her family a message to let them know she had landed, she exited Terminal 3 and immediately saw Professor Li waiting for her.

“Professor Li!” Wu Tong waved with a bright smile, pushing her suitcase quickly toward him. “Happy New Year! I’m sorry to trouble you, coming to pick me up during the holiday!”

“Happy New Year to you too, Wu Tong! It’s great to see you again,” Li Yisheng greeted her with a hearty laugh, taking one of her suitcases. “It’s no trouble at all. In a few years, I might not even get the chance to pick you up—people will be lining up to do it!”

It was a well-wishing remark, hoping Wu Tong would become so accomplished that many would vie for the chance to welcome her.

“Thank you for your kind words, Professor Li. No matter what, I’ll always be your student!”

As they chatted, Li Yisheng led Wu Tong to his car—a dignified black Volkswagen, though she couldn’t quite tell the model, as her knowledge of cars was limited to a few common logos.

“I’ll take you to the university first so you can get familiar with it, then we’ll have dinner,” Li Yisheng said as they drove.

During the holiday, the capital's usually congested roads were refreshingly clear. The drive of more than thirty kilometers took just over half an hour.

“This is the main gate of Jingda,” Li Yisheng pointed out as he deliberately entered through the front entrance. “The original plaque here was inscribed by Mr. Yuanpei. After our university moved to Yanyuan, in ’52, at the request of the student union, the Chairman himself wrote the words ‘Shangjing University.’ The enlarged inscription became the plaque you see today.”

The illustrious history of Shangjing University began at this very gate—a brilliance that could not be recounted in a short time. Come September, Wu Tong would become a member of Jingda, and her sense of belonging and identity would start to grow from this moment.

She gazed out the car window at the grand three-arched vermilion gate, its classical architecture facing west, exuding a sense of solemnity, elegance, and a rich national character.

Wu Tong especially liked the story from two years ago, after a unique incident, when the university president declared, “If you’re a Jingda student and you see an elderly person fall, you go and help them up. If they falsely accuse you, the Jingda Law Department will offer you legal support. If you lose the case, Jingda will compensate you!”

Such resolve and support moved her deeply. She imagined how reassuring it must be to study at such a school. Now, she was about to officially join this institution she had long admired, stepping into the sacred halls she once dreamed of.

Looking at the four large gold-outlined characters "BJ University" on a blue background, a gentle smile touched her lips. Her efforts had paid off; entering Jingda marked the first small step in awakening her memories of a previous life and beginning to change her destiny.

Truly walking into a university she had never dared to imagine attending, Wu Tong felt a genuine happiness. Li Yisheng took her to Shaoyuan, the graduate student residence. “Professor Zhou helped you with this—a doctoral student dormitory in Shaoyuan!”

Though the university term had not yet begun, Wu Tong had made arrangements in advance, and before the holidays the school had already secured her accommodation. Professor Zhou from the admissions office, who regarded Wu Tong as his most promising recruit of the year, had specially applied for this excellent living space for her.

The doctoral student dormitory was considered the best accommodation in Jingda. This area housed single rooms for outstanding direct-entry doctoral students. The rooms, though not large, were equipped with private bathrooms and all the necessary amenities.

The communal kitchen was stocked with a refrigerator and microwave, along with other simple appliances. It was not easy for most graduate students to secure such a spot.

“Thank you so much for all your efforts!” Wu Tong said gratefully.

She understood now how much her professors had quietly done for her—what a great deal of trouble on her behalf!

“Haha, it’s your own excellence that moved Professor Zhou. You should be thanking yourself for choosing Jingda. As your predecessors, we have to make sure you truly feel the university’s spirit!” Li Yisheng, seeing that Wu Tong might feel burdened, explained with a smile, “Otherwise, even if Professor Zhou wanted to help, he wouldn’t have had the chance!”

Though a student’s admission might be guaranteed, sincere identification with Jingda and mere acquiescence led to very different outcomes—something university professors understood all too well.

For a student like Wu Tong, they certainly hoped she would develop a strong sense of belonging to Jingda.

Inside the dormitory, there was a single bed against the wall, a bookshelf and desk beside it, and standard bedding. Wu Tong glanced around—the living conditions were more than adequate, and she saw nothing she needed to add.

After making sure Wu Tong was settled and her luggage stowed, Li Yisheng took her to eat. There was no special destination—just the Shaoyuan cafeteria, so Wu Tong could get familiar with her daily dining spot.

“Jingda hasn’t officially started the semester yet; most staff and students are still on holiday. But to accommodate those staying on campus, most cafeterias only close or rotate shifts during the few days of Spring Festival. Right now, almost all are open, providing meals for staff and students, so don’t worry about food. We’ll go to the Shaoyuan restaurant—it’s a great place to treat yourself and is closest to your dormitory.”

Jingda’s cafeterias were reliable—not gourmet by world standards, but excellent for a university. The Shaoyuan dining hall, in particular, was a favorite spot for graduates to gather and hold thank-you banquets. It could rightfully be called delicious.

After the meal, Wu Tong took out two boxes of tea her family had prepared and offered them with a smile.

“Professor Li, this is Shenzhou Maojian tea, a specialty from our province. The tea is grown near my hometown, in the neighboring city of Shenzhou. My uncle went to the origin specially to get it for you—please try it and see how it compares with the tea here in Shangjing.”

Shenzhou Maojian was well known in Central Plains Province. In her area, guests were usually served Maojian, though the quality varied from house to house.

Her father, who had many friends and longstanding clients, would always buy a good stock of premium Maojian during the harvest season. He had even befriended a grower from the Shi River area where the tea gardens were located.

“Try it when you have time. Next time I go home, I’ll bring more for you. My uncle visits the tea plantations every year, so the source and quality are guaranteed authentic!”

Knowing Wu Tong was heading to Shangjing and that Professor Li would be looking after her, the family was grateful—especially with the holiday approaching. They chose tea as a New Year’s gift for her teachers, both elegant and fitting. Wu Tong, new to the city and unfamiliar with the customs, decided not to make a formal visit to Professor Li’s home and instead offered the gift directly.

“I appreciate the thought, but next time, you mustn’t be so formal!” Li Yisheng chided gently but accepted the present. With the holiday upon them and seeing the student’s heartfelt gesture, he planned to have his wife prepare some convenient snacks to send over—something Wu Tong could eat if she got hungry while studying. After all, at this age, young people were still growing.

His own son, just two or three years younger than Wu Tong, had recently hit a growth spurt and came home ravenous, eager to eat anything in sight.