Chapter 518 Running wildly
Time strides forward in the wind and frost!
The winter solstice is far away, this is the Lesser Cold of 1996.

At this time, the land of China was cold and harsh. The southern and northern borders were covered with ice and snow. However, the economic heat wave had already pierced the ice of policy. As dreams that were better year by year came into reality, all aspects of society had achieved leapfrog development. GDP continued to maintain a strong growth momentum of nearly 10%. The per capita income of urban residents reached 4377 yuan, a real increase of 3.3%; the per capita net income of rural residents was 1926 yuan, a real increase of 9%. The Lunar New Year is approaching. For hundreds of millions of ordinary people, this will probably be a full and rich year.

In 1996, the commercial real estate and property industries, which had a profound impact on China's economic system in later generations, also ushered in an era of wild growth. A large number of real estate speculators swept across the coastal areas, and the construction of new urban and rural housing nationwide reached 11 billion square meters. The prosperity of the real estate market was soon transmitted to the upstream and downstream industries. The supply of consumer goods was abundant, and prices were rising. The total retail sales of consumer goods in the whole society reached 24614 trillion yuan, and the actual growth rate of 12.5% ​​made a group of foreign researchers dumbfounded. A large number of foreign brands rushed into this gold-digging hot land. Foreign cars were everywhere, Isuzu was running rampant, Coca-Cola and Pepsi had already become popular all over the country, and the Chinese who used to wear all "blue, black and white" now wore jeans, suits and cashmere sweaters in large numbers, and foreign-sized ties and leather shoes shone in major department stores.

Everything is in line with the world trend! China is running forward, because the most fundamental reason is that the social structure that started in the 1980s has ushered in a huge change in silence!
This is the largest-scale collective differentiation action in the history of the Chinese nation. It is like a fast-forwarded Qingming Shanghe Tu, where class division was completed suddenly. Those old people who cling to the old times feel deeply uncomfortable and even disillusioned, and they feel that the world is going downhill. However, the cruel reality is that the society with "only different identities but no wealth accumulation" is gone forever.

In any case, China has completed the journey of the Western world in 300 years in a very short time. This process is compressed, hasty, conflicting and fascinating. The reason why China can achieve this achievement is probably because of the hardworking and wealthy qualities of the hundreds of millions of working people of the Chinese nation. As a result, American columnist Paul Mooney exclaimed that almost every Chinese he knows - students, farmers, employees, CEOs, scholars, scientists, have an incredibly strong enterprising spirit!
In the year of 1996, in addition to the hardworking Chinese people who deserve praise and these grand narratives that make us proud, the most noteworthy thing is that since the reform and opening up in 1978, my country's poverty alleviation and development work has made rapid progress, and a series of national key projects targeting poor rural areas are being vigorously promoted.

救助贫困母亲的“幸福工程”、救助贫困失学儿童的“希望工程”、救助贫困失学女童的“春蕾计划”、提高贫困儿童医疗条件的“博爱工程”……在这一系列脱贫工程的推动下，中国贫困人口以平均每年1000万的速度锐减！到了1996年开端，全国农村贫困人口已经从1978年的2.5亿减少至5800万。

In the past 2 years, we have lifted nearly million people out of poverty!
We looked up at the sky.

We are down to earth.

In many cases, ordinary people of the Chinese nation have always been able to create many extraordinary things in their ordinary lives, such as the Great Wall, the ancient mausoleum of the Qin Emperor, the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, the Three Gorges Dam... However, in today's upward social structure, the greatest extraordinary thing for ordinary people is to run upward with all their strength and live an ordinary life richly enough, just as Lu Yao said in his million-word masterpiece "Ordinary World" in 1991: "In fact, the life of each of us is a world. Even the most ordinary people must fight for the world they live in!"

Zhang Yunqi struggled for a whole year.

He wants to have a good rest this New Year's Day.

After returning to Jiangchuan, Zhang Yunqi met many friends. Many of his high school classmates were studying at Jiangchuan Teachers College, such as Liu Zicheng and Xiao Qianmei. Although they had not seen each other for more than half a year, they seemed to be as funny as before. There were also some who dropped out of school to work. When they saw him, they would inevitably ask him to arrange a job for them. It was not a big deal, and he would agree.

On the day after New Year's Day, Zhang Yunqi took time out to accompany Chu Jian to visit his alma mater, Jiangchuan No. 1 Middle School.

The two of them were riding on the bus, perhaps because it was their first meeting and they wanted to experience what it was like in high school.

The school was on vacation at this time, and the snow-covered campus was particularly deserted, but every tree, every road, and every building here could evoke those high school memories.

The two of them carried some fruits and first went to sit for a while with teacher's wife Lin Yunying. Teacher Wang Mingzhen had passed away half a year ago, and her daughter had already married. Teacher's wife lived alone, but she did not seem lonely. The three-bedroom apartment that Zhang Yunqi paid for to renovate was spotlessly clean, and the bookshelves on the walls were filled with teacher Wang Mingzhen's books.

After leaving the teacher's wife's house, the two stopped for a while at the school motto "Study Hard and Practice Hard" and then walked around the classroom that had accompanied them for three years. However, the door was locked and they couldn't get in. Standing outside the window, a stale smell from the classroom hit them in the face.

On the desk was a pile of course exercises. The sun shone through the camphor leaves, and Zhang Yunqi stared at his desk in a trance. On the wall next to him hung a famous quote: "Study for the rise of China." Below the quote, there was a row of crooked words written by Wang Xiaokai: "Study to seduce all the beauties in the world."

When they came down from the teaching building, they talked about many things in the past in a very emotional way, such as when Zhang Yunqi ran on the football field every morning and she read the news in front of the newspaper rack with a cup of hot milk, and when there was one time when Zhang Yunqi was too busy to do his homework, she secretly helped Zhang Yunqi do it, but was discovered by the teacher, and then both of them were criticized by the teacher.

In fact, these are all ordinary little things. At that time, I didn’t realize that this was an important aesthetic moment in life. As time passed, it left a deep mark in my heart.

Traces of youth.

On the way home, the two still took the bus. Zhang Yunqi looked at the girl next to him. She had a ponytail, and was wearing a white shirt, a cotton jacket, jeans, and white canvas shoes. She looked young, clean, and tidy, fitting all the words of youth and beauty.

When I first saw him staring at me in a daze, I leaned my head on his shoulder, put my hand in his palm, smiled, and let time flow quietly in the light and shadow that kept receding outside the car window.

After New Year’s Day, Chu Jian flew to Peking University.

Zhang Yunqi and Ji Ling returned to Lijin to take the exam.

The final exams at Shonan University are no different from those at other universities. They are held every two to three days, and are intermittent, just like taking a constipated stool. The less time you have, the better. The biggest advantage is that you have plenty of time to prepare for the exam.

There are many top students in Hunan University. Many of them think that the world is theirs and they let themselves go after entering university. There are even more students whose textbooks are still brand new after a semester. Ma Rulong and Song Junxian are two such students in dormitory 213 where Zhang Yunqi lives. However, exams are no problem for this group of top students.

When the exams started, we stayed up all night, squeezing a semester's worth of homework into half a month. It was a bit choking, but we could still eat. Then we went to the exam room to poop every three days, and then again after three days. When only the last piece of shit was left, the guys in dormitory 213 were ready to rush out of the toilet and go to Fallen Street to celebrate.

The last section was "International Finance and Trade". The only difficulty for Zhang Yun was that it was all in English. He was sure to get a passing score. He handed in the paper early. When he walked out of the classroom, he turned on his silent cell phone and a missed call popped up. It was from Li Yufei.

Zhang Yunqi thought for a moment and called: "I was taking an exam just now and didn't answer the call. Is there anything wrong?"

Li Yufei didn't answer: "Have you finished the exam?"

Zhang Yunqi said, "It just ended today, how about you guys?"

Li Yufei said: "We are late, and we have to go to the art training class later. By the way, when will you return to Jiangchuan?"

Zhang Yunqi said, "I'll be back tomorrow."

Li Yufei said: "Well, do you want to have dinner together tonight?"

Zhang Yunqi thought for a moment and said, "Okay, where shall I pick you up?"

Li Yufei said: "Yuminglou Arts Training Center."

Zhang Yunqi nodded and said yes.

The ice and snow had melted that day, and the winter day was sunny.

Zhang Yunqi didn't want to waste time going back to the South Gate Villa to pick up the car, so he hailed a taxi on the side of the road and went directly to the Art Student Training Center in Yuming Building of Xiangnan Normal University. When getting off the taxi at Yuming Building, Zhang Yunqi saw a BMW 740i turning around. Like his Mercedes-Benz, if it was purchased through formal channels, this BMW 740i would cost about one million yuan, which is an absolute luxury car and status symbol in this era.

Luxury cars of this level are indeed rare in Lizhen. Zhang Yunqi couldn't help but take a few more glances. The man in the BMW was not very old, about 20 years old, wearing a well-tailored high-end black suit, with a high nose bridge, sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes. He was not only handsome but also quite elegant. However, he did not look like a student of Xiangnan Normal University. Most likely, he was here to pick up a girl like him. The strange thing was that the passenger seat of the BMW was empty, but he was about to leave at this time.

When Zhang Yunqi was looking at the other person, the BMW owner seemed to notice his gaze. The car window was open, and the two of them made eye contact. The young man actually smiled slightly, which was quite polite.

Zhang Yunqi nodded in return.

After the BMW left, he stood on the roadside and called Li Yufei.

Soon, Li Yufei came down from upstairs.

Today she wore a sky blue dress with a woolen coat on top. The sunset at this moment was particularly warm, pouring on her black hair like a waterfall, making her little face look as flawless as porcelain.

The get out of class is over.

Beside her were her two roommates, Zhu Li and Liao Lingling, who were holding textbooks. Zhang Yunqi had met them several times and was quite familiar with them. These two girls were also very pretty, with pretty faces and tall heights, but when they stood next to Li Yufei, it was difficult for them to attract the attention of male animals.

Zhang Yunqi waved his hand: "Yufei, here."

Li Yufei saw Zhang Yunqi and walked over with her bag: "So fast."

Before Zhang Yunqi opened his mouth to speak, Julie, who had followed him, had already started to tease him with a smile: "Boss Zhang is eager to see our beauty, can't you hurry up?"

Zhang Yunqi was speechless.

Li Yufei smiled slightly: "Stop fooling around, let's go eat."

Zhu Li said "Yo Yo" twice: "We really want to eat, but we are embarrassed to be the light bulb. Boss Zhang, please remember to treat me and Lingling to a big dinner after school starts next year."

Zhang Yunqi said: "This has nothing to do with the light bulb, but I will definitely treat you to a feast."

"Then I take it seriously. I'll look for you next time school starts. It's getting late. You guys go eat. We're leaving now." Julie and Liao Lingling winked at Zhang Yunqi mischievously, which seemed quite meaningful. Then they smiled, waved their hands, and turned away.

Li Yufei looked at the two girls' backs and said, "My two roommates are quite cheerful."

Zhang Yunqi nodded: "I see, let's go."

Li Yufei agreed.

Just then, Lin Lin walked out of the training center with her long legs twisted. Lin Lin saw Zhang Yunqi and smiled as a greeting, but she glanced at Li Yufei next to her and did not come over. She just walked away with the textbook in her arms.

Li Yufei saw the whole scene and said nothing.

The two left Yuming Building, hailed a taxi on the side of the road near Normal University, and went to Lushanyin Restaurant.

Zhang Yun has been to this place many times. The food is good, the environment is good, and the scenery is good. You can see the Xiangjiang River and the Orange Island Bridge in the snow from afar.

After ordering, Zhang Yunqi asked, "Will you go back to Jiangchuan to celebrate the New Year during this winter vacation?"

Li Yufei smiled faintly: "No reply."

Zhang Yunqi was a little surprised: "So straightforward."

Li Yufei said: "My parents are here in Lijin to celebrate the New Year."

Zhang Yunqi nodded, and he remembered the report that Ma Shi had given him: "I heard that on Christmas Day, Zhao Chengming had a conflict with outsiders because of you?"

Li Yufei rested her chin on her hand and smiled at Zhang Yunqi who was sitting opposite her: "You know everything, but how can I answer your words 'for me'? If I say it was for me, would it seem too proud and rude?"

Zhang Yunqi smiled: "No matter what, you have something to be proud of. By the way, did the guy who had a conflict with Zhao Chengming that day drive a BMW 740i?"

Li Yufei nodded: "Did you meet him just now?"

Zhang Yunqi spoke truthfully: "Yes. He seems to be a pretty good person."

Li Yufei asked: "What do you mean?"

Zhang Yunqi laughed: "He's chasing you?"

Li Yufei said nothing. She reached out and opened a magazine beside the dining table. She saw the following words on the cover: "The sun will go out in 150 billion years. The earth said goodbye to the moon billion years ago. We have met again after a long separation. We once ran wildly in the debris of the continuous explosion. After billion years of collision, I am still waiting for you here."

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