Back in 1978, I was admitted to Northwestern Polytechnical University.

Chapter 2: I won't go to Tsinghua or Peking University, I'll go to Northwestern Polytechnical University!
The small mountain village is unusually lively today!
Aunt Wang from next door arrived late and had already squeezed to the back of the crowd.

"What's going on? What's happening inside?"

Just then, a voice came from the side: "Excuse me, is this Qin Liang's home?"

Aunt Wang turned her head and saw two people wearing Zhongshan suits with four pockets and carrying imitation leather handbags.

"You are?"

"We are from Northwestern Polytechnical University, and we want to see if Qin Liang is interested in applying to our university."

"Another school has arrived!" Some people in the crowd turned to look back, filled with envy: "A golden phoenix has flown out of our remote mountain village! Qin Liang is truly living the dream of a government job!"

As everyone spoke, they made way; the villagers still respected these intellectuals.

The two walked in and overheard Qin Liang's question, and were instantly overjoyed.

"Qin Liang, our Northwestern Polytechnical University can build airplanes! I'm Teacher Niu from Northwestern Polytechnical University's admissions office. Our university is all about building airplanes!"

Luo Guangming and Wang Yongyi were both furious.

"Old Niu, what are you doing here? Northwestern Polytechnical University is just a second-rate university in China! What makes you think you can compete with Tsinghua and Peking University for talent!"

Niu Guishan's face was full of pride: "So what if it's a second-rate university? Qin Liang's dream is to build airplanes. Our Northwestern Polytechnical University specializes in building airplanes. If..."

Niu Guishan almost mentioned Beihang University, which is also a professional aircraft manufacturer and has a reputation similar to Tsinghua and Peking Universities. He couldn't say it, absolutely couldn't say it!
Qin Liang's eyes lit up when he heard about Northwestern Polytechnical University.

Northwestern Polytechnical University is a long-established university. Its predecessor can be traced back to the National Northwest Institute of Technology, founded in 1938. After various relocations and mergers, it was finally established in Xianyang in 1957. Its long-established aeronautical major can be traced back to the East China Aeronautical Institute...

This university has a long history, but many people outside the university don't know about it. Northwest China? Could it be in Xinjiang? What tier of university is it?
The excellence of Northwestern Polytechnical University is known only to Northwestern Polytechnical University itself, the country, the military, and... the Pentagon!
It is one of the seven national defense universities, and it is also the only university in the country that simultaneously possesses aviation, aerospace and maritime disciplines!
The first drone, the first underwater intelligent navigation machine, the first airborne computer... Most of the equipment displayed in the National Day parade was developed by engineers from Northwestern Polytechnical University! Because of its strength, it even made it onto the US sanctions list!

This list is a source of pride!
Moreover, Northwestern Polytechnical University is a university that produces many chief designers of aircraft. The chief designers of the J-20, Y-20, J-16 and other equipment that are familiar to military enthusiasts in later generations all came from Northwestern Polytechnical University!

Qin Liang later joined the aviation industry system, where he met many top technical experts, almost all of whom were graduates of Northwestern Polytechnical University!
Now that I've been reborn and have a second chance, it goes without saying that I should live a different life!
Moreover, many of those arrogant chief engineers came from the same class! What grade was it again? Could they be in the same grade as me?

Thinking about this, Qin Liang became even more determined to achieve his goal!
"Qin Liang, you'd better keep your eyes open and not let a second-rate university lure you in!"

"That's right, Qin Liang. You're stuck in this remote mountain village, so you probably don't know what the outside world is like. If you go to a good university, your classmates will all have bright futures. When you start working, you'll rely on your classmates..."

"Thank you for your kindness, teachers. I know Tsinghua and Peking University are good, but we can't build airplanes!"

They're bringing this up again!

Tsinghua University actually had an aeronautical engineering department before liberation, which was capable of building airplanes. Unfortunately, in the 1950s, because the country urgently needed to establish an aviation university, the aeronautical departments of several universities were transferred to form the Capital Aviation Academy!
It wasn't until 2004, when Tsinghua University established the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering based on the Department of Mechanics and the Department of Thermal Engineering, that it regained the ability to build airplanes.

Capital University is similar; it had aircraft engine design courses as early as the 1940s, but it was a subordinate discipline of the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering, and there wasn't a dedicated aerospace engineering department until 2008 when it established an aerospace engineering major, and later formed a dedicated aerospace engineering department. When it comes to professional aircraft manufacturing, besides Beihang University, Northwestern Polytechnical University is the best!

"Qin Liang, many majors can contribute to the country. For example, computer science, you know? Our Tsinghua University's computer science major was established in 1958. It ranks first among universities in the country and is among the top ten in the world..." Luo Guangming was still not giving up.

"Qin Liang, with such excellent science grades, you can go to the Mathematics Department, Physics Department... you can choose any of these departments at our Capital University. Our Mathematics Department is the best in the country!" Wang Yongyi began to persuade him patiently.

The mathematics department at the capital university is truly outstanding. The later-famous Wei Shen alone is enough to make the mathematics department of the capital university shine brightly. It's a bit of a pity that another genius became a monk...

Qin Liang was merely thinking about his memories of his past life, but to others, it appeared as if he were actually considering something.

Now it was Niu Guishan's turn to get anxious. He said, "Qin Liang, you must stick to your dream, go to Northwestern Polytechnical University, and build airplanes!"

The three began another round of scrambling. Local leaders Zhang Xiangyang and Liu Jinquan exchanged a complicated glance.

The spring of science has arrived. Knowledge is now highly valued, and good grades mean you can stand out from the crowd!

"Dear teachers, thank you for your support. I have decided to attend Northwestern Polytechnical University!"

“Okay, I’ll go to the county town to get the paperwork done for you right away!” Niu Guishan said excitedly.

That night, Qin Liang and his father squeezed onto the kang (a heated brick bed), tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

The next morning, Niu Guishan came to Qin Liang's house again. All the procedures were completed, and it was time for him to go to school!

Qin Liang didn't bring any bedding. He had so little stuff, so he decided to leave it all to his father. Winters in Bashang are very cold, so his father should have more blankets at night.

As for a change of clothes... of course, he didn't have any. He only had the clothes he was wearing. So his luggage was pitifully little. He only had a canvas bag containing cornbread that his father had baked for him to eat on the road, as well as a few books with various school enrollment documents tucked inside.

Qin Liang's behavior didn't resemble a long trip at all; it was more like he was visiting a neighbor in the next village!
The villagers saw them off all the way to the village entrance, watching as Niu Guishan, with Qin Liang, boarded the 212 bus sent by the county, intending to take them all the way to the city to catch a train.

"Liangzi, study hard at school! Don't worry about home!"

"Yes, Father, folks, you should all go back now!"

As the car started, Qin Liang waved to the back, and the melody of a song popped into his head.

I was born in a small mountain village, where my elders and fellow villagers live. Their beards are full of stories, and their simple smiles are filled with their local accents...

Qin Baomin stood at the village entrance for a long time, until the sun set, before slowly walking back. He was filled with mixed feelings. His son had gone to university and wouldn't be back for another six months. He was indeed a little reluctant to let him go, but... his son going to university was a great honor for the family, and he was very happy and proud.

(End of this chapter)