Chapter 517: Heading North

Translator: Henyee Translations       Editor: Henyee Translations

Yu Bing and the others embarked on the journey north.

It took two days and two nights for them to take the train to the capital from Jiang Province. Fortunately, Xiao Sheng used his connections to buy four sleeper spots. After he left the capital train station, he found two tricycle buses and took them to the guest house near the capital university to temporarily settle down.

Xiao Sheng booked two rooms. After putting the things away, Yu Bing suggested finding a place to stay first. After all, the guest house was too expensive. The less time they stayed there, the better.

The school was in the downtown area of the capital and there were many houses of local residents nearby. Most of them had been requisitioned by the state after the new regime was established. The landlord would usually be able to have a few more houses. Many people were willing to squeeze their entire family into one single house to subsidize their families.

Due to her status as a university student in the capital university, Yu Bing successfully rented a two-room courtyard house. The big room was 15 square meters, which Yu Bing and Xiao Li would stay in, and the small one was 10 square meters, which was for Xiao Lin to stay in. The kitchen was near the door and between the two rooms.

Most importantly, there was a bathroom in the courtyard. Although there were more than twenty families living in the neighborhood, there was no need to run to the alley outside the courtyard to use a public bathroom. Moreover, it was only a ten-minute walk to the capital university, so Yu Bing was very satisfied.

However, the consumer prices in the capital were extraordinarily high. The rent of the two rooms added up to 22 yuan a month.

After paying the rent, the four of them cleaned up the room on the same day. There was only one bed in each room. Everyone only brought blankets and clothes to the capital, so the remaining items had to be bought.

After waking up the next day, the few of them decided to move their luggage over first. Xiao Lin and Xiao Li were in charge of watching the house. Xiao Sheng borrowed a tricycle bus from the landlord and brought Yu Bing to the waste station to find two cabinets. They spent 30 yuan buying stoves, pots, bowls, and other daily necessities at the supply company. Then, they piled them all on the tricycle and brought them back to the courtyard.

After bringing the things home, Xiao Sheng carried the heavy things in alone while Yu Bing, Xiao Lin, and Xiao Li were in charge of moving the light things.

With everything they needed, their life in the capital officially began. This was because Xiao Sheng had to report the arrival the day after tomorrow. Everyone decided to watch the flag-raising ceremony and climb the Great Wall together tomorrow. These were two things that out of town people had to do after arriving in the capital.

Then, the four of them went to the photo studio to take two photos to commemorate their arrival in the capital.

Blissful times were always short. In the blink of an eye, it was time for Xiao Sheng to go to the army. Thinking about how the two of them wouldn’t see each other for at least half a year or even a year, Yu Bing felt sad.

Bus station

When Xiao Sheng saw that Yu Bings eyes were a little red, he felt dejected as well and he hugged Yu Bing reluctantly as he said, “I’ll work hard in the army. I’ll strive to get a residence as soon as possible and bring you guys over.”

Yu Bing nodded in Xiao Shengs arms and reminded him worriedly, “No matter what you do, remember to protect yourself. Xiao Li, Xiao Lin, and I are waiting for you at home.”

In the past, without Yu Bing, Xiao Sheng would also be worried about his siblings when he went out. However, now that there was Yu Bing, he felt very at ease.

Xiao Sheng kissed the top of Yu Bings head softly and rubbed his siblings’ hair as he said gently, “The two of you should study hard and help Sister Yu Bing do housework after school.”

Sad expressions appeared on Xiao Li and Xiao Lin’s faces. Then, they nodded and hugged Xiao Shengs waist reluctantly.

The loudspeaker at the entrance kept playing the bus countdown, so the two of them let go of Xiao Sheng and let him enter the station. Yu Bing looked at Xiao Shengs back as he left and suddenly felt a little dejected. They had never been apart for so long after they met.

The three of them returned home listlessly, but there were many children of the same age in the courtyard, so they quickly forgot about their sadness. On the other hand, Yu Bing was in low spirits for a few days before she finally recovered.

Soon, school started. Xiao Li and Xiao Lin were also arranged to go to the primary school affiliated with the capital university. The primary school was beside the capital university. At first, Yu Bing sent them back and forth. It was only when the two of them found an alley to go to and from school that she felt at ease and let them commute themselves.

In 1978, the country had just opened the market, but many people still treated business as speculation. Some government officials were also a little ambivalent about entrepreneurship.

Yu Bing was one of the first batch of university students and received quite a lot of attention, so if Yu Bing went to do business as a university student, she would most likely be reported.

Now, most people were still thinking about the Cultural Revolution. Even if the school didn’t expel her, she would still be publicly criticized, so she wasn’t in a hurry to do business..