Yang PeiMin finished packing her belongings and went to pay, "Sister-in-law, take another look, I’ll be leaving first."
Just leaving like that? Not even asking what she was doing in the city?
Gao Hong hurriedly called out to her, "Um, sister-in-law, wait a moment, what bus are you taking back?"
Yang PeiMin glanced at her, "I haven’t left yet."
"Then when are you leaving?"
"It’s uncertain, I still have some things to do."
Yang PeiMin pretended not to notice the disappointment on her face. Ever since last time when she insisted on a promise, her sympathy for this person had completely vanished, only seeing her pitifulness intertwined with loathsome traits. Thus, Yang PeiMin decided to keep her distance from such people.
Gao Hong’s disappointment stemmed from her belief that Yang PeiMin had a private car pick-up and was not disclosing when she would return, clearly afraid that Gao Hong would hitch a ride. It wasn’t like there wasn’t room in the car; how petty.
Shen’s men held higher positions than her own husband, surrounded by servants and having access to private vehicles, and also had good relationships with higher-ups. Why was Mrs. Shen so fortunate?
Yang PeiMin went to the counter to settle the payment for the pile of items, spending over forty yuan. This money came from the skirts she had sold the past few days, but she had earned more than two hundred yuan from the subsequent collaboration, so it felt like money well spent.
Gao Hong stealthily followed a few steps behind. Watching Yang PeiMin completing the transaction without even blinking, Gao Hong felt even more unpleasant inside; this amount was equivalent to her husband’s monthly salary.
Yang PeiMin didn’t look back, carrying her items out of the store entrance.
She planned to bring these items back to the university first because classes would start the day after tomorrow. The university had opened its doors early due to some preparatory work, considering students traveling from afar, who mostly arrived in advance. Bringing her items over now was appropriate; taking some now and the rest during the move-in would avoid carrying too much at once.
Having a bus connection to the university gate was convenient for transporting her belongings; she wouldn’t have to carry them all the way.
After presenting her admission notification and a letter of introduction at the registration desk, she collected her keys and headed to the dormitory.
Her dorm was in room 204 on the second floor, quite different from any dorm she had stayed in before, with its sheer simplicity and numerous beds—eight bunk beds, to be exact, making up to sixteen people sharing one room if fully occupied.
When Yang PeiMin entered, four people were already there.
"Hello, fellow student, did you move in today too?" A square-faced, spirited girl greeted Yang PeiMin warmly.
Yang PeiMin smiled back, "Just moving some stuff over, you all are early as well."
The four had already picked their beds, all lower bunks, apparently having arrived not long ago, either cleaning or organizing their belongings. Yang PeiMin chose an upper bunk by the window.
The girl who greeted her asked, "Why not choose a lower bunk? It’s easier than climbing up and down."
Because the upper bunk offers more privacy
Yang PeiMin replied with a smile, "I don’t sleep prettily."
The girl burst into laughter, "You really are straightforward."
Then, during their conversation, this enthusiastic student introduced herself and her roommates, "I’m Feng Erxi from the Chinese department. This is Tan Yan, Liu Yilan, and Ge Sanni."
"My name is Yang PeiMin."
After introductions, she realized that the other three were from the Chinese department, while she was the only one from the biology department.
They also seemed surprised, "Not many people opt for this major."
"How old are you, PeiMin? You look the youngest among us," Feng Erxi asked.
"It does seem so. We were just discussing our ages, and you really are the youngest. I’ve become the oldest sister here."
Feng Erxi looked to be about thirty years old, but she was actually only twenty-six. She was willing to make fun of herself, which made her seem more approachable.
The other three were between twenty to twenty-eight years old, only the youngest, Liu Yilan at twenty, was unmarried. The others, including Yang PeiMin, were married.
Liu Yilan looked at her and said, "It really doesn’t show." Because Yang PeiMin’s outfit did not resemble that of a married woman at all—it wasn’t plain, and she was even wearing pink, which was more typical for unmarried girls.
"She’s young after all," laughed Feng Erxi.
Liu Yilan asked Yang PeiMin, "Are you from a rural area or a city?"
"Rural area." Yang PeiMin had been asked this kind of question more than once since arriving here. Many city people here displayed a kind of inexplicable superiority when facing rural people, as if they were better than others. It was clear from the question that Liu Yilan, being from the city, felt superior.
True enough, after she spoke, Liu Yilan immediately said, "I have a city household registration." She slightly lifted her chin and glanced lightly at the others present, "What about you?"
But the other three, though dressed unremarkably, were all city dwellers.
On deeper reflection, it was rare for a girl like Yang PeiMin, who had the support of her family to go to university, to come from a rural area, given the barriers not just of educational resources and financial issues, but also the mindset that a woman ’belongs’ to the family she marries into which often prevented girls from continuing their education.
In the city, though the same mindset might exist, typically part of the families who are better off, or those with a longer-term vision and love for their daughters, would enable them to pursue further education.
Liu Yilan paused, glanced at the outfits of the four in front of her, and slightly furrowed her brows—it was a disappointment. This girl from the countryside was too ostentatious, dressed like she was going to a wedding party. This was a university where simplicity and diligence were valued.
Being roommates with her, and feeling a sort of responsibility, Liu Yilan then said, "PeiMin, you really shouldn’t wear such clothes to the university. Look at us, would any of us wear something ? Simplicity is valued here at university. If you have the energy to dress up, you should put it into your studies instead."
Yang PeiMin knew she might have been a bit over the top. As Liu Yilan said, the majority of university students were simple and diligent, but she felt comfortable in what she wore and saw no need to pay too much attention to others’ opinions.
She was just such a willful person.
"Thanks for your reminder, but I made these clothes myself. It’s not about dressing up but feeling comfortable."
"I just thought I’d mention it. If you don’t listen, that’s fine."
"I still appreciate your concern."
Seeing that Yang PeiMin was still unrepentant, Liu Yilan looked somewhat displeased and turned back to her bed.
The atmosphere became a bit tense, and only Feng Erxi gave Yang PeiMin a smile before starting to tidy up her things.
Yang PeiMin returned the smile, not bothered by Liu Yilan’s attitude, and placed her belongings aside, intending to clean up the bed before putting everything away.