In late August 2009, Lin's supermarket posted a "temporary business" notice.
The reason for "temporarily suspending business" was that the owner wanted to send his daughter to college.
At first, Lin Zhixia planned to go to Beijing alone - this idea was unanimously opposed by the whole family, and Lin Zeqiu's attitude was the most intense.
Lin Zeqiu said in a very serious tone: "You are only fourteen years old, not yet an adult, you must let your parents send you."
Dad's attitude was much gentler: "Xia Xia, Mom and Dad have never been to Beijing. Dad would like to take this opportunity to bring your mom and brother to travel in Beijing."
After her father said this, Lin Zhixia happily agreed: "Great, we can finally travel!"
Dad bought four sleeper tickets for the train from the provincial capital to Beijing. This was the first time for the whole family to go on a group trip, and Lin Zhixia was so happy that it seemed like a holiday.
The train traveled from south to north, showing the unique rural scenes. Lin Zhixia looked out the window and saw endless rice fields and wheat fields, as well as lush reeds growing by the lake and swaying in the wind.
She couldn't wait to arrive in Beijing and start her university life.
She also thought that her brother would take the college entrance examination in June next year. Where would he go to study in college
Lin Zhixia simply asked him directly: "Brother, which is your ideal school?"
Lin Zeqiu evaded her casually: "I don't know."
Mom was peeling an apple when Dad interrupted her and said, "Don't worry, your brother will finish his exams and get his scores. You can choose a school later."
Lin Zeqiu revealed his thoughts: "I want to apply to a school in Beijing."
Lin Zhixia asked with a smile: "Can't you bear to leave me?"
Lin Zeqiu didn't reply. He sneered disapprovingly. As if all his choices had nothing to do with Lin Zhixia. His mother lectured him: "Qiuqiu, be gentle to your sister. We won't see her for several months."
Lin Zhixia echoed, "Several months."
Lin Zeqiu remained silent.
The family slept on the train for one night. The next morning, the train arrived at Beijing Station. Lin Zhixia found volunteers from the school at the exit. It turned out that the school had sent a bus to welcome this year's freshmen.
"How thoughtful!" Lin Zhixia commented.
She brought two suitcases. Her father carried one and her brother carried one. It was not Lin Zhixia's turn to help. She traveled lightly, carrying a backpack, and stepped into the university campus full of energy.
On the first day of freshman enrollment, Lin Zhixia received the dormitory key and life guide. She held the key tightly, skipped ahead, and led her parents and brother into the dormitory building.
However, when they stepped into Room 401, Lin Zeqiu was a little stunned. He put down the heavy suitcase, looked around, and asked in confusion: "Is there no bed or desk?"
No.
The accommodation conditions at Peking University are not as good as those at Tsinghua University next door, and the undergraduate dormitories still have bunk beds. But what does it matter? University is a place of freedom and a place for teaching and educating people. Lin Zhixia should pursue a spiritual realm.
Yes!
Spiritual realm!
Lin Zhixia happily welcomes her undergraduate life.
According to Lin Zhixia's observation, her roommates are all friendly. The classmate who occupies the upper bunk is named Feng Yuan. Lin Zhixia likes her name very much. Because "Feng Yuan" is a homophone of "逢缘" and "逢源", Lin Zhixia thinks this name is very clever.
She took the initiative to greet Feng Yuan: "Hello, my name is Lin Zhixia, Lin of the forest, Zhi of knowing, Xia of summer."
Feng Yuan knelt on the upper bunk and tilted his head to look at her: "Hello."
Lin Zhixia held onto the railing with both hands: "Excuse me, where are you from?"
Lin Zhixia hoped that she could meet her fellow countrymen. However, Feng Yuan claimed that she was seventeen years old, from a southern city, the top scorer in the science subject of the college entrance examination in a certain province, and also won the first prize in both mathematics and physics provincial competitions.
Feng Yuan's parents are both university professors. She grew up in a family environment full of mathematics and has an innate talent for mathematics.
Lin Zhixia and she hit it off right away. There were other students and parents in the dormitory, so Lin Zhixia started discussing number theory and dynamical systems with her. Feng Yuan praised Lin Zhixia: "You have read a lot of books, and you are so smart."
Lin Zhixia repeated: "Smart and obedient?"
"It's my hometown dialect," Feng Yuan explained. "It's a compliment to someone for being smart."
Lin Zhixia laughed.
Feng Yuan's parents had left earlier today. Now, she sat on the made bed, chatting with Lin Zhixia intermittently.
Lin Zhixia's father, mother, and brother were all helping her pack. She suddenly felt very embarrassed - usually at home, her mother helped her fold the quilt, and her brother helped her change the sheets, quilt covers, and pillowcases. She almost didn't care about anything.
Lin Zhixia decided that she wanted to train herself during her undergraduate studies.
That afternoon, Lin Zhixia sent her parents and brother away. They said goodbye at the school gate. Her mother also said that Lin Zhixia should call home every day, get along with her classmates at school, and take good care of herself. Her father, mother, and brother all missed her very much.
It was not until this time that Lin Zhixia realized that her parents and brother had no intention of traveling in Beijing. They just wanted to send her to school and then return to the provincial capital. The so-called "travel" was just an opportunity to see her one more time.
When mom and dad turned around, Lin Zhixia followed them for several steps. She silently said, "Mom, Mom..."
Mom didn't look back.
There was a hint of tears in Lin Zhixia's eyes.
She watched her parents and brother walk towards the Dongmen subway station. The endless stream of vehicles brought noisy sounds, but she consciously blocked out the noise. She seemed to be able to hear the light footsteps of her parents, gently evoking her longing for "home".
Lin Zhixia spent some time getting to know the girls living next door to dormitory 401.
The dormitory next door is full of hidden talents. There are the top 200 students in the college entrance examination in each province, gold and silver medal winners in various competitions, and Lin Zhixia’s alumni of the Provincial No. 1 Middle School.
The alumni of the Provincial No. 1 Middle School set up a QQ group, and senior sister Luo Ying is also in this group.
Luo Ying is a sophomore student in the School of Mathematics of our university. She and Lin Zhixia have a deep friendship. Back then, they lived in the same room in the national training team, and later they formed a team to go abroad to participate in the 2007 Romanian Mathematics Masters Competition. Luo Ying has always taken good care of Lin Zhixia.
Hearing that Lin Zhixia had registered at the university, Luo Ying bought some fruits to visit her.
After not seeing each other for a whole year, Senior Sister Luo Ying is still the same as before. She is slim, with fair skin and a natural fragrance when she walks. Whenever she holds Lin Zhixia's wrist, Lin Zhixia will think of her brother. She can feel the care that Senior Sister gives her, which is full of the care that a brother or sister has for a younger sister.
Lin Zhixia wanted to share everything she saw and heard with Jiang Yubai.
Jiang Yubai and she had a tacit understanding. On the afternoon of the day she officially moved into dormitory 401, Jiang Yubai called her and asked her out for dinner that evening. She agreed without hesitation and even put on her favorite skirt.
It was an evening in late summer and early autumn, and the streets were already a little chilly. Jiang Yubai stood outside the university gate, patiently waiting for Lin Zhixia to show up.
At that time, the sun was setting, and the sunset glow dyed the sky, illuminating the colors like a brocade.
The golden clouds were like a backdrop between heaven and earth. Jiang Yubai looked into the distance and saw Lin Zhixia running towards him. She was wearing a dress and a thin coat, and her hair was slightly messed up by the night wind.
Her eyes were surprisingly bright, especially when she saw him. She did not hide her joy and started to circle around him: "Jiang Yubai, I am a college student now, a college student in the School of Mathematics..."
Jiang Yubai described it truthfully: "A college student who has published two papers."
Lin Zhixia stopped and stood in front of him: "Did you just get out of school?"
That’s right, Jiang Yubai had just finished school.
Lin Zhixia is already an undergraduate student, while Jiang Yubai is still working hard to learn high school knowledge. However, Jiang Yubai believes that as long as he works hard enough, maybe... he can complete his undergraduate studies before Lin Zhixia graduates with a doctorate.
He took Lin Zhixia to the parking area. He stood beside a car and opened the door for Lin Zhixia himself.
Lin Zhixia hesitated a little: "Where are we going?"
"My home in Beijing." Jiang Yubai said.
Lin Zhixia was carrying a small leather bag across her body, which contained only her cell phone, keys, cash, and campus card. She took out a hundred-yuan note and suggested, "I want to treat you to a meal at a nearby restaurant."
Jiang Yubai always remembered the day when Lin Zhixia went to his house to visit his private collection. She left early and he didn't have time to celebrate for her.
Now, Lin Zhixia was admitted to the top university in the country. Jiang Yubai thought that as Lin Zhixia's best friend, he should take the initiative to treat her with a sumptuous meal.
Jiang Yubai held the car door with one hand and announced the names of the dishes: "Tonight we have Peking duck, pearl shrimp balls, blue crab stuffed with orange..." He had only said half of it when Lin Zhixia got into his car.
He sat with her in the back seat.
The driver drove quietly, taking them on the highway. The tall buildings receded rapidly, and the street lights formed a long golden line, each of which emitted a fleeting stream of light.
To Lin Zhixia, this city was completely unfamiliar. Jiang Yubai was the only person she was most familiar with, a good friend she had known for five years. She relaxed and asked casually, "I haven't eaten Beijing roast duck yet. Is there any difference between it and the roast duck we have back home?"
Jiang Yubai only said: "You will soon be able to experience it yourself."
Lin Zhixia asked again: "Jiang Yubai, your second year of high school has started. Is there any difference compared to last semester?"
Jiang Yubai unzipped his schoolbag. He took out a notebook with a "September Tutoring Schedule" and an IELTS exam notice on it. Jiang Yubai told Lin Zhixia, "I signed up for the IELTS next month."
Lin Zhixia picked up the paper, read it over and over again, and then said: "In the IELTS test, 9 is the highest score. I hope you can get 9."
"Yeah." Jiang Yubai agreed with a hint of confidence.
Lin Zhixia stared at him for a long time, and suddenly asked: "Do you remember my cell phone number?"
After Lin Zhixia entered university, she had her own mobile phone and phone number. She sent the number to Jiang Yubai via QQ, and that night, Jiang Yubai memorized the string of numbers.
At this moment, she emphasized: "My mobile phone number has your birthday on it. I chose it on purpose. I chose the number closest to your birthday from among the numbers provided by China Unicom, China Mobile and China Telecom."
Jiang Yubai was originally leaning back in his chair calmly. After Lin Zhixia said that, his heartstrings tightened unconsciously. He put his fingers together, sat up straight, and asked her in a low voice: "Why did you choose this?"
Lin Zhixia said: "I am always happy when I play with you. I have always believed that a good mood will bring good luck. I use your birthday as my phone number because I hope I will always have good luck."