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Chapter 179: University Stipend
Chapter 179: University Stipend
Peking University.
In a dorm room.
Taking advantage of his roommates' absence, Deng Yunheng opened his suitcase and carefully hid the substantial sum of 550 yuan in the pocket of a piece of clothing at the very bottom.
Of this 550 yuan, 500 yuan was the annual living expenses provided by his father.
In reality, during this era, university students not only had all their fees waived but also received a significant amount of meal tickets and cash stipends each month. For instance, after successfully registering, Deng Yunheng had already collected his meal tickets for the month from the department office, which included 9 pounds of coarse grains, 7 pounds of rice, and 20 pounds of flour, totaling 36 pounds.
Although the cash stipend had not yet been distributed, Deng Yunheng had found out that it would be 21.5 yuan per month.
This generous treatment clearly demonstrated how valuable university students were during this time. Even in the city, newly employed young people rarely earned more than 20 yuan a month, let alone 36 pounds of meal tickets.
Deng Yunheng had also heard that some senior students from poorer families would send the entire cash stipend back home. With the meal tickets, they wouldn’t go hungry, and as for vegetables, it was a matter of luck—sometimes they could scavenge leftovers from others, and sometimes they had none.
With the stipend, life could be quite comfortable, yet his father still provided him with a generous allowance.
On one hand, it was to fulfill the promise he had made to Deng Yunheng. Back then, to encourage him to study hard, his father had promised that if he could get into any university, he would give him 50 yuan per month as living expenses.
On the other hand, before leaving, his father had advised him to make friends with like-minded people during his university years and, when necessary, to extend small favors to help those from poorer families. These small investments would yield unimaginable returns in the future.
Hearing his father’s wise words, Deng Yunheng felt a sense of clarity. He admired his father’s foresight and had a clear direction for what to do next. He was determined not to let his father down.
The additional 50 yuan came from a red envelope given by his sister-in-law, which contained a total of 88 yuan. She was quite generous. He placed 50 yuan with the 500 yuan from his father in the suitcase and kept the rest for daily expenses.
Now, with the stage set at Peking University and the support from his father, it was time for him to shine!
...
Compared to the discomfort of his journey to the capital, Deng Shirong’s return trip was much more comfortable.
Although he still had a seat and still had to endure a few days and nights on the train, with the same unpleasant smells in the carriage, there was one significant advantage: he could use his system space. He could eat whatever he wanted without having to explain where it came from.
Of course, if he ate a meal, he tried to do so on the platform rather than in his seat.
Four days later, Deng Shirong arrived in Nanning, spent the night there, and then took another bus to Tanlian. By the time he walked back to Naye Village, it was already past three in the afternoon.
This trip to the capital had taken more than ten days for the journey alone, plus several days in the city, totaling over half a month.
"Uncle Jiu, you’re back! How big is Beijing? Are the buildings tall?"
"Uncle Jiu, did you go to Tiananmen Square?"
"Uncle Jiu, did you see the Great Wall?"
"..."
Seeing Deng Shirong return, the villagers gathered around, curious and eager to ask questions.
The capital city held a status in the hearts of the people that no other place could match. Even in later times, if an old man or woman from the village managed to visit the capital, they would brag about it for months, if not longer. In the present era, the opportunity to visit the capital was even more precious. Anyone who managed to go would undoubtedly become the envy of the entire village.
Naturally, when such a person returned, the villagers would gather around, asking questions and expressing their curiosity. Although Deng Shirong didn’t want to show off, he couldn’t ignore the inquiries of his nephews and grandnephews. He stopped to answer their questions, and as he did, the villagers marveled at his tales of the bustling capital, filled with admiration and longing.
“Ah, if I could only visit the capital and see the world, I wouldn’t regret a single day of my life!”
“Yes, I’d love to see the capital’s splendor, but unfortunately, we don’t have the means!”
“I’m so envious of Grandpa Jiu. Uncle Yunheng is studying in the capital now, and after he graduates, he might stay there to work. If that happens, Grandpa Jiu will be able to live in the capital without any problems!”
“…”
Seeing the envious looks in the villagers’ eyes, Deng Shirong smiled and said, “You don’t have to envy me. Focus on your children’s education. When they get accepted into the universities in the capital, you’ll have your chance to visit too!”
The villagers all smiled bitterly. Everyone wanted their children to attend university, but unfortunately, their kids weren’t cut out for it. Nine out of ten times, they failed their exams. Hoping they would get into university was like hoping for a miracle.
After chatting with the villagers for a few minutes, Deng Shirong walked back home. Inside, his younger children hadn’t returned from school yet, but Liu Huakang, the family tutor, was helping his eldest daughter with her studies, while his eldest son was assisting his daughter-in-law. They were all working hard.
Hearing the footsteps, they looked up and greeted him with surprise and joy.
“Dad!”
“Daddy!”
“Grandpa Jiu!”
Deng Shirong nodded at his children and daughter-in-law, then turned to Liu Huakang and asked, “Teacher Liu, thank you for your hard work. How is Ahzhen doing with her studies?”
Liu Huakang waved his hand and replied, “It’s no trouble at all. Ahzhen is doing very well. She’s already finished the first semester of high school, and once she solidifies her knowledge, she can move on to the second semester!”
Deng Shirong nodded, then turned to his daughter-in-law and said, “Ahping, don’t overwork yourself. Make sure to rest. Studying can be done at your own pace, and you have plenty of time ahead.”
Zhang Xiuping smiled and said, “I understand, Dad. I only study when I feel energetic and won’t push myself too hard.”
Deng Yuntao asked, “Dad, is the capital really that bustling? Where did you go? Tell us about it!”
Deng Shirong smiled and said, “The capital is indeed very bustling, but I didn’t visit many places. You might think I was there for a long time, but most of it was spent traveling. The train ride alone took four days and three nights. Add the time it took to travel from here to Nanning, and the entire trip took over ten days.”
Deng Yuzhen was shocked. “Good heavens, it takes over ten days just for the round trip? That’s so far!”
Deng Yuntao and the others were equally amazed. They all knew the capital was very far away, but they had no real concept of just how far. Now, hearing that the round trip took over ten days by train, they were naturally stunned.
(End of Chapter)
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