Chapter 41 : Departing, University Enrollment
Chapter 41: Departing, University Enrollment
The long vacation finally came to an end.
August 30th, the day for new students to enroll at Yunhai University.
Early in the morning, Li Jinqiu got up to help her son pack his luggage.
As the saying goes, "dumplings when boarding, noodles when disembarking," the dumplings were wrapped last night by the elderly couple.
The filling was the son's favorite pork and green onion filling.
To send his son to university, Chen Jianye had specially swapped shifts with a colleague today.
Seeing his wife wrapping dumplings alone in the kitchen and shedding tears from time to time, Chen Jianye couldn't help but reprimand her in a low voice.
"Why are you crying? This is a great thing, our son has made it, you should be smiling."
Li Jinqiu wiped the corners of her eyes.
"Our son has never been far away from home before..."
"Enough, enough, our son is all grown up now, we should have learned to let go long ago."
"With a mother who spoils him like you do, our son would never have achieved anything."
Li Jinqiu glared fiercely at her husband.
"You don't spoil him? Who was it last night that kept worrying about our son's safety on the road and insisted on going with him?"
Chen Jianye's face turned red when his wife exposed him, and he glared back at her.
"Alright. Our son is up, hurry up and wipe your tears, don't let him see."
During the meal, Li Jinqiu sat by the side, unable to eat, and kept nagging her son about various issues.
"I've sewn your tuition fees into the lining of your clothes, you must carry them with you at all times."
"Keep your tuition and living expenses separate. On the bus, you must hold your bag in your arms and not talk to strangers..."
"The weather will soon turn cooler, be sure to remember to wear long underwear..."
"And, you must get along well with your classmates at school."
"Especially your roommates. Don't fight at all costs..."
Li Jinqiu nagged on and on, while Chen Fan just nodded and responded with "uh-huh" while eating with his head down.
To be honest, if this were his previous life, Chen Fan would have found his mother's nagging boring and annoying.
But after experiencing the separation and loss of a loved one, at this moment, Chen Fan only felt immense happiness.
"Alright, alright!" Chen Jianye couldn't help but frown.
"You've nagged for half a day, our son must be full from your words. Can't you say something important?"
Li Jinqiu glared at her husband.
"Well, you say something important then."
Chen Jianye looked at his son and advised him.
"If your living expenses are not enough, be sure to let us know at home."
Li Jinqiu immediately responded.
"Yes, yes, yes."
"If your living expenses are not enough, just tell your mother, and I'll wire you money at the post office."
"If anything comes up, call your aunt directly. Your father has already called to have a landline installed. Once our home phone is set up, I'll have your aunt give you the number..."
"Mm-hmm, Mom and Dad, I've got it all written down."
Chen Fan smiled and looked up at his parents.
"You can rest assured, my living expenses will definitely be enough."
"And I've already made plans, once I've settled into university life, I'll find a part-time job to support myself while studying."
Li Jinqiu was a bit worried: "Part-time job? Just be careful not to get scammed..."
Chen Jianye glared at his wife again.
"Enough. Can't you say something positive?"
Then he looked at his son again.
"Consider the part-time job idea, although we're poor, we still have the means to support you through university."
"Your task now is to study hard."
Chen Fan smiled wryly but also knew not to argue about this.
So he nodded vaguely, indicating that he understood.
The elderly couple continued to nag about a few more things.
Finally, after Chen Fan had finished two plates of dumplings, it was time to depart.
Li Jinqiu was a bit worried.
"Xiao Fan, are you sure you don't need your dad to go with you?"
Chen Fan smiled and shook his head.
"Really, it's not necessary."
"Mom and Dad, look how grown up I am now. If I need parental accompaniment even for university enrollment, how can I ever achieve anything in this life?"
"University is where I should become independent and self-reliant. I've decided to start training myself from now on."
Seeing that his mother was still a bit worried, Chen Fan could only smile and reassure her.
"Mom, it's not like I'll be alone. There's still Guo Shuai, right?"
"He's also attending Yunhai University, we're going together as travel companions."
"Our son is right," Chen Jianye said, looking at his son with approval, almost feeling like his son had finally grown up.
However, he still couldn't help but secretly remind Chen Fan to be careful on the road.
Chen Fan didn't have much luggage, just a large suitcase and a backpack.
Apart from a set of bedding, Chen Fan didn't bring any other living supplies.
When they left, Father Chen Jianye carried the suitcase, and Mother Li Jinqiu carried the backpack.
Chen Fan followed behind, locking the courtyard gate.
They walked along the road until they reached the bus stop on the village road.
Along the way, they encountered many familiar neighbors.
"Xiao Fan is going to school?"
"A university student now, I heard it's even a prestigious university..."
The villagers would always greet them warmly, and at such times, Chen Jianye would smile and chat with everyone for a bit.
"Sending our son off to university."
"Yes, yes, university is starting, I'm just seeing him off..."
Although his words sounded casual, one could sense that this might be one of the proudest moments in Father's life.
The bus to the county town arrived, Chen Jianye loaded the suitcase onto the bus, and Li Jinqiu handed the backpack to her son.
Chen Fan hugged the backpack and waved at his parents.
"Mom and Dad, you can go back now. I'm leaving."
Li Jinqiu's eyes turned red.
"Be careful on the road, and give your aunt a call when you arrive."
"Alright, I know."
As the bus started moving, Chen Fan could see his parents still standing by the road, waving their hands.
Chen Fan's eyes turned red, and tears almost welled up.
His mother's hair had already turned gray, and his father's back had become bent...
Their son had grown up, but time had bent the bodies of his elderly parents.
Watching their gradually receding figures, Chen Fan silently recited in his heart,
"Mom and Dad, don't worry, in this life, I will definitely let you live the happiest lives."
In his previous life, his parents passed away too early, unable to enjoy their son's success, which had always been one of Chen Fan's regrets.
In this life, he would not allow such regrets to happen again.
With a lingering melancholy, he arrived at the county town's bus terminal.
Guo Shuai had already been waiting there.
This guy had been driven here by his dad.
In order to go for enrollment together with Chen Fan, this kid had directly refused his parents' offer to drive him to Yunhai.
"Hey, Brother Fan, you're so slow. I've almost smoked a whole pack of cigarettes waiting."
This guy, once in university, he could finally smoke openly without hiding.
His whole face was full of excitement, like a little bird released from its cage.
"Hurry up, I've already bought the tickets. Get on the bus quickly."
Guo Shuai rushed over to help Chen Fan with his suitcase.
Chen Fan looked at him in puzzlement.
"Where's your luggage? Just a backpack?"
Guo Shuai grinned.
"Ah, you just don't get it, your brother has this."
He patted his backpack.
"I have enough money with me, I'll buy everything new once we get to the university."
Chen Fan smiled wryly and shook his head speechlessly.
"I hope you like the bedding provided by the school..."
"What?"
"Nothing, let's just get on the bus."
Guo Shuai looked around.
"Where's Su Ruochu?"
"Sister-in-law hasn't arrived yet?"
He turned to Chen Fan, "Didn't we agree to leave together?"
"I even bought her ticket already."
Chen Fan's expression wavered slightly as he sighed.
"Let's go. She's probably being sent to university by her family."
"She's not coming with us?"
Guo Shuai looked dumbfounded, staring at Chen Fan in surprise.
"No, no, no..."
"Your expression is really off."
Guo Shuai caught up to him.
"Hey, what's going on? Come on, tell me..."