After completing the formalities, Xie Yuyao received her newly issued dormitory key and asked Ye Xiaohong, "By the way, does our school allow students to commute from home?"
Ye Xiaohong replied, "Freshmen cannot commute, but sophomores and above can. In special circumstances, you can apply to stay overnight off-campus."
"What are the special circumstances?"
"They are already married and live with their families. This is also to take care of some students who are married or even have children."
Xie Yuyao smiled: "It just so happens that I am married, so I will rent an apartment nearby."
"You're already married?" Ye Xiaohong was extremely surprised. "Is your spouse also in Beijing?"
Xie Yuyao replied vaguely, "Yes, he's at another university."
"That's great!" Ye Xiaohong assumed that her lover was also a candidate in the same year and had been admitted to another university.
She was a worker-peasant-soldier student who was admitted to Kyoto University two years ago through a recommendation.
The college entrance examination was reinstated at the end of last year, with more than five million candidates taking the exam. The university admission rate in Kyoto was very low.
The fact that the couple worked together to change their fate is truly a heartwarming story.
After a moment of reflection, Ye Xiaohong went to greet the other new students.
Xie Yuyao arrived at the dormitory building, found her room according to the door number, and was stunned as soon as she entered.
There were already three people inside the house. The two people closest to the door had weathered faces and looked to be in their thirties or forties. They were cleaning the house.
Ten years have left a deep mark on them.
Xie Yuyao nodded to them and went into the dormitory.
This dormitory room is about 20 square meters. There are three bunk beds on each side, with a bed on top and a table below. There is only a narrow aisle in the middle.
Xie Yuyao's bed was at the far end, near the window, where the third person in the room was standing.
It was a pretty girl who was tidying up her luggage.
She met Xie Yuyao's gaze and greeted her with a smile: "Hello, my name is Wang Min, I'm from Kyoto, and I arrived a little earlier than you."
"I am Xie Yuyao, and I am also from Kyoto," Xie Yuyao replied with a smile.
Wang Min looked pleasantly surprised: "I was wondering why you came empty-handed. Turns out you came to scout out the place first."
"You were absolutely right."
At this moment, the other two also came over to introduce themselves. They were both from out of town, already married with children, and now studying in Beijing alone. They had arrived at the school a few days earlier than planned.
Everyone took out the local specialties they had brought, such as peanuts and hazelnuts, and placed them on Xie Yuyao's table, inviting everyone to taste them.
The reason was that Xie Yuyao's table was completely empty, making it convenient to put things on it.
Xie Yuyao was prepared; she took out a box of chocolates and a bag of rabbit-shaped milk candies from her handbag and let them share them.
As the four chatted, several more roommates entered the room and joined in the conversation.
By noon, everyone in the dormitory had arrived.
Everyone invited her to eat at the cafeteria together, but Xie Yuyao said, "You guys go ahead, I have plans with my friends, so I won't be joining you."
After her roommate left, she estimated the time and arrived at the place she had agreed to meet Yang Shumei. The two had lunch together in the cafeteria and then went to look for a house nearby.
Guided and introduced by their agent, Xie Yuyao and Yang Shumei viewed several rental properties, but were not satisfied with any of them.
The nearby buildings are all tenement buildings, with a long corridor connecting many units. Shoes, stoves and other items are placed at the entrance of each unit, making it a messy place.
Xie Yuyao felt a sense of rejection at first glance.
Upon opening the door, one would find the room cramped, poorly decorated, and poorly lit, a stark contrast to later generations.
The single-story houses were all large courtyards where people lived together with others and had no private space whatsoever.
Emerging from the crowded courtyard once again, Xie Yuyao said with a hint of helplessness, "Are there really no detached courtyard houses?"
The agent apologized, "I'm so sorry, there really isn't one. I did just receive a commission for a courtyard house for sale, but it's quite expensive. You're just going to university here, so it's not really necessary for you to buy one, is it?"
"Where is it? Take us to see it!" Xie Yuyao and Yang Shumei exchanged a glance, their spirits visibly lifted.
“Okay, it’s over there, let’s go.” The agent chuckled, pointed in the direction, and diligently led the way.
He didn't actually expect to sell the house to a college student; he just wanted to satisfy Xie Yuyao and the others' curiosity.
It would be best if they had their families buy it after they got home.
"That house is a traditional courtyard house with three courtyards. It was once in the hands of a committee member and was only recently returned to its rightful owner. The owner is terrified and just wants to convert his money into cash and go abroad to avoid suffering the same fate again someday."
Hey, let's not talk about that, let's just talk about houses.
This house is the owner's ancestral home, full of historical weight, and it's well-maintained...
With the agent's help, the three quickly arrived at their destination.
He knocked on the door, and soon a weathered old man came to open it and welcomed them inside.
The agent's words were true; the huge courtyard had a new view every three steps and a pavilion every five steps, with lifelike carved beams and painted rafters, vaguely showing the former wealth and prosperity.
After inspecting the entire courtyard house, Xie Yuyao immediately began negotiating the price with the old man.
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