Chapter 304 Party Members

The day after returning to Beijing, Nan Zhiyi made a special trip to Peking University to see Zhang Yueran. Seeing that she was indeed settled in well and full of energy, spending her time in the library and laboratory, she finally felt relieved.

Seeing her sister arrive at the dormitory, Zhang Yueran handed her a large canvas bag. "Sis, you've come at the right time. I was just thinking of taking some time in a couple of days to bring it over to you."

Nan Zhiyi said, "Just give it to me directly. Are you so busy that you don't even have time to go home for a meal?"

"Yeah, I feel like I haven't read a lot of books yet. I get so nervous just thinking about the exam."

Zhang Yueran didn't stand on ceremony with her. After exchanging a few words, she said she had to go to the lab to do an experiment.

When Nan Zhiyi returned home, she found that Aunt Feng had prepared various gifts, such as pills, dried meat, small sweaters, and small shoes...

She also packed a package and sent it back to Aunt Feng as a token of her gratitude.

In the blink of an eye, nearly half a month has passed since the start of the spring semester of 1979.

After class that day, a serious-looking senior student, who was the party organization contact person for the three of them, found Nan Zhiyi, Shan Xiaoyan, and Yang Mei.

"Based on the organization's assessment last year and your individual performance, you are now officially designated as Party activists. Starting next week, you will participate in a six-month Party course, with intensive study sessions every two weeks in principle. Sometimes, additional courses may be added based on instructions from higher authorities or current events. Here are the study materials and schedule."

He handed them several booklets with red lettering on the covers and a mimeographed timetable.

The three of them quickly accepted it with both hands, their faces filled with barely concealed excitement.

The senior student then said seriously, "Becoming an activist means that the organization has higher expectations and requirements for you. I hope that you will not only actively align yourselves with the organization ideologically, but also strictly demand of yourselves the standards of a Party member in your daily life and even in your future work, and play an exemplary role."

"Yes, we understand, thank you!"

After the senior left, Shan Xiaoyan excitedly grabbed Nan Zhiyi and Yang Mei's arms: "Great! I didn't expect it to go so smoothly!"

Yang Mei smiled and nodded.

Nan Zhiyi felt the same way. She said softly, "Let's go to the library first. We still need to find materials for the short paper the teacher assigned."

They carried their books to the library.

At the entrance of the reading room, I happened to meet Gao Huiqin, who was organizing books.

When Gao Huiqin saw them, she smiled slightly, nodded in greeting, and then lowered her head to continue her work.

Nan Zhiyi said softly, "I remember submitting my application to join the Party last year with Huiqin. I wonder what she's like now..."

Dan Xiaoyan, quick to speak, picked up the conversation, "If it passes, the organization will definitely send someone to talk to her. But she is now... sigh, you're a day student, you don't know, she's so busy she's constantly on the go. Besides going to class, she's working. Even we dorm students rarely see her. She leaves before dawn and doesn't come back until lights out."

Yang Mei's eyes still held sympathy as she sighed softly, "It shows how much a family binds a woman. Huiqin is like a wick, burning herself to illuminate the hope of that family..."

These words caused everyone to fall silent for a moment, each with their own thoughts.

They didn't bother Gao Huiqin anymore, and dispersed to bury themselves among the bookshelves, searching for materials needed to write their short papers.

On the day of the first Party class, Nan Zhiyi walked into the designated classroom with a mix of curiosity and solemnity.

The lecturer was an elderly professor with gray hair. He did not simply read from the textbook, but started with the history of the Party and, in light of the current reality of the country being rebuilt from the ashes and rectifying past mistakes, explained in simple terms the Party's purpose, discipline, and the qualities and responsibilities that a qualified Party member should possess.

The old teacher was witty and humorous, and Nan Zhiyi listened with great interest.

Her application to join the Party was indeed a well-thought-out decision.

On the one hand, this is closely related to Gu Xiao's military status and the environment they are in, and is "necessary" in a certain sense.

On the other hand, she was also thinking about her future. If she could successfully join the Party, it would be an important consideration whether she wanted to stay at the university to teach or engage in other cultural promotion work.

Of course, this is just a preliminary idea, and how to proceed in the future will require time and opportunities.

After the Party class ended, Nan Zhiyi said goodbye to Shan Xiaoyan and Yang Mei and headed towards the Radio Engineering Department's laboratory building.

Zhang Yueran has now been admitted to Professor Chen's research group and spends all her time in the laboratory, making her even busier than before.

Upon finding the old building with the sign "Radio Technology Laboratory," Nan Zhiyi didn't rush in but instead peered out from downstairs.

Just then, a male student wearing blue overalls came out with a notebook.

Nan Zhiyi stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "Excuse me, do you know which lab Zhang Yueran is in? Is she available right now? I'm her sister, and I'm here to bring her something."

The male student nodded: "The innermost room is the signal processing lab. When I came out just now, I saw that she seemed to be recording data. She might not be too busy right now. I'll go and call her for you."

"Thank you so much!" Nan Zhiyi quickly expressed her gratitude.

Not long after the male student went in, he heard a series of hurried footsteps. Zhang Yueran rushed out of the laboratory building, wearing a large, dark-colored work uniform.

"sister!"

Nan Zhiyi scrutinized her carefully for a while before saying, "Why do you look like you've lost weight again? Have you been busy with experiments lately and haven't been eating properly?"

Zhang Yueran subconsciously touched her face, grinned, and said, "No way! I'm eating well; I haven't missed a single meal in the cafeteria."

Nan Zhiyi clearly didn't believe her, but she didn't say anything more. She handed over the net bag she was carrying, which contained two bags of milk powder and a bottle of malted milk powder: "I was just afraid you'd make do. Take these, make yourself a cup if you're up late doing experiments tonight, don't skimp on yourself."

Zhang Yueran quickly declined, saying, "Sister! This is too wasteful! Let Xiaoman drink it; he's still growing!"

“He has them, he keeps them at home. This is especially for you.”

Nan Zhiyi stuffed the net into her younger sister's hand.

"I came here mainly to ask you, didn't you say you wanted to attend Anping's son's 100-day celebration? It's this weekend. Can you still find the time right now? If your experiments are too demanding, then forget it."

Zhang Yueran took the item and hesitated for a moment.

The lab tasks were indeed piling up, but thinking of Xiaoman, whom I hadn't seen in a long time...

"Go! Experiments are never-ending, and it's good to have a proper balance between work and rest. I'll also take this opportunity to get some fresh air."

"Okay, it's settled then. Come to the compound on Saturday morning."

"Okay! Sis, I'll go back and get busy now?"

"Go quickly, remember to pack your things and drink on time!"

Nan Zhiyi gave her sister another word of advice, then turned and left after watching her sister rush back to the lab.