Colorful years

Surprisingly, both Zhang Cong and Zhang Ying were admitted to the same prestigious university, Central South University of Science and Technology, and both chose mathematics as their major! It was as if fate had already bound them together.

However, they were from different years. Zhang Ying was in the class of '78, while Zhang Cong was in the class of '79. In this sense, Zhang Ying was the senior.

Given the coincidence, the two naturally agreed to set off on the same day, traveling together to school to begin their new academic journey. After all, having a familiar companion to look after each other would add a lot of fun and a sense of security to the journey.

That era was a time of relative scarcity of talent, and the country provided extremely generous treatment to college students: not only were they provided with free room and board so that they could focus on their studies, but the government also took the lead in assigning them jobs after graduation.

This policy has undoubtedly brought tremendous benefits to the vast number of students, making them feel incredibly excited and satisfied.

For new students, only three important items are needed when enrolling. First, bedding for sleeping at night to ensure good sleep quality; second, three months' worth of food rations to resolve conflicts between household registration and planned food supply; and finally, the crucial household registration transfer certificate, which relates to various rights and management in the school's location.

On September 2nd, Zhang Cong prepared all the necessary items according to the enrollment requirements early in the morning. After everything was ready, he happily met up with Zhang Ying, and together they embarked on their anticipated journey to enrollment.

At first, they traveled to the county town by car. Along the way, the scenery outside the car window kept changing, and the two of them enjoyed the beautiful scenery with great interest, while also exchanging their hopes and dreams for university life.

Upon arriving in the county town, they rushed to the train station and boarded a train bound for Central South University of Science and Technology. As the train slowly started moving, the wheels clattering rhythmically, they drew closer and closer to their dream campus…

As the train slowly pulled into Jiangzhou Railway Station, Zhang Cong and Zhang Ying's hearts began to race.

Jiangzhou, a city brimming with academic atmosphere and cultural charm, is the very place where they dream of attending Central South University of Science and Technology.

On the platform, the bustling crowd included many freshmen of similar age, harboring the same dreams. Each face beamed with anticipation and excitement, as if they were about to step into a completely new world.

As soon as they got off the train, they noticed the welcoming team specially sent by the school. These senior students were dressed in the same school uniform, with "Welcoming Volunteer" signs on their chests and holding up the flag of Central South University of Science and Technology, making them particularly eye-catching.

They warmly greeted each new student and guided them to the designated reception point.

Zhang Cong and Zhang Ying exchanged a glance and, without tacitly following a smiling senior student, arrived at the school's reception area. The senior student, named Li Mei, was a third-year mathematics major and was responsible for welcoming their group of new students.

Li Mei's enthusiasm and patience made them feel very welcome, as if they had met long-lost relatives in a foreign land.

"Welcome to Central South University of Science and Technology! I am your senior, Li Mei, and I will guide you through the enrollment procedures."

Li Mei's voice was gentle and clear. As she spoke, she handed them two detailed enrollment guides. "This guide contains all the information that new students need to know, including dormitory assignments, course schedules, campus maps, and so on. Be sure to read it carefully."

Zhang Cong took the guide and carefully flipped through it. He noticed that every page of the guide was designed to be both beautiful and practical, with illustrations and text introducing every corner of the school.

He couldn't help but feel even more respect and anticipation for Central South University of Science and Technology.

After entering the campus, Zhang Ying said goodbye to Zhang Cong and went straight to her dormitory.

Led by Li Mei, Zhang Cong first went to the school's administration building to complete the enrollment registration procedures.

The administration building was bustling with people, yet orderly. The staff were friendly and patiently answered the new students' various questions.

Under the guidance of staff, Zhang Cong filled out the relevant forms and submitted documents such as household registration transfer certificate and grain quota.

After completing the formalities, Zhang Cong, led by Li Mei, went to the dormitory area.

The dormitories at Central South University of Science and Technology are excellent, with each room equipped with modern facilities such as air conditioning and water heaters.

The dormitory room has four bunk beds, accommodating eight people. Zhang Cong was assigned a lower bunk by the window.

After settling Zhang Cong into his dormitory, Li Mei led him on a tour of the entire campus.

The campus of Central South University of Science and Technology is vast, shaded by trees, and filled with the sounds of birds and the fragrance of flowers. The teaching buildings, library, gymnasium, and other structures are arranged in a harmonious and orderly fashion, showcasing the university's strength and profound heritage. Strolling along the tree-lined paths, they felt the tranquility and beauty of the campus, their hearts filled with anticipation for the future.

During his visit to the library, Zhang Cong was deeply impressed by what he saw. The library had a rich and diverse collection of books, ranging from classical literature to modern science and technology.

In the spacious and bright reading room, rows of neat bookshelves were filled with students engrossed in their studies. Zhang Cong couldn't resist entering the reading room, selecting a few books that interested him, and sitting down at the desk to quietly browse through them.

"There are so many books here, and the atmosphere is great too. I have plenty to read," Zhang Cong exclaimed.

“Yes, our school library has millions of books of all kinds!” Li Mei added excitedly.

Finally, the senior student took Zhang Cong to the school cafeteria. The cafeteria at Central South University of Science and Technology was equally impressive, offering a wide variety of dishes that smelled delicious.

It was dinnertime, so Zhang Cong took out a meal ticket, ordered a student meal, and started eating.

"The food here is really good, even better than what we eat at home!" Zhang Cong couldn't help but mutter to himself.

The prices are also affordable; vegetables are only five cents a serving, and meat is only two cents. Six cents is enough for three meals a day.