Chapter 591: Chapter 591
Tsinghua University is vast, covering over 4,000 acres. It’s beautiful, but just how beautiful?
It’s the Royal Garden located in the northwest suburbs of Beijing, and the mere mention of "Tsinghua Garden" is already indicative of class and prestige.
So, relying solely on walking isn’t practical, especially for newcomers who can be easily overwhelmed by the place.
Bicycles are an integral part of Tsinghua University’s culture and a beautiful part of the landscape because they are ubiquitous. The essentials of Tsinghua’s campus life—clothing, food, housing, and transportation—all revolve around these two wheels.
Tsinghua’s campus isn’t just well-greened; even the roads are notably spacious. The sight of colorful bicycles zipping by is a fundamental aspect of every top student’s race against time.
Every new student receives a bicycle from the student union, previously used by their seniors. Thus, as soon as Yiyi descended the stairs, she suggested they go and get a bicycle. Having one would mean a quicker commute to dorms and classrooms, and with such a prevalence of bicycles, there are designated parking spots outside every academic building and dormitory.
"No need, that one’s not good to ride. I’ve tried it already. Let’s go buy one later; one will be enough," Yiyi reasoned.
Being in the same department and major, attending classes and returning to the dorm together, she thought there seemed little need for two bicycles. Plus, if they purchased a really good bike, it would be cost-effective even after several years of use.
To better understand the place they’d be living in for the near future, Zhou Yi and Zhou Mo went straight to the commercial street within Tsinghua Park. It had everything, including bicycle shops. Zhou Mo chose a mountain bike that could carry a passenger, which would cost one to two thousand yuan. Yiyi thought it was a bit expensive, but Zhou Mo, who prioritized quality, left her with no real say in the decision, so she agreed.
If Yiyi had made the choice, a few hundred yuan would have sufficed, but Zhou Mo opted for a high-end model from Giant. Choosing such an expensive bike in 2003 was quite a statement of wealth. Looking at his bike, Yiyi felt uneasy. "Aren’t you worried about it getting stolen?"
Zhou Mo responded with a helpless look as the service staff finished assembling the bike and she secured the complimentary lock and the receipt. Zhou Mo swung his long legs over the bike.
"Let’s go for a spin around the campus."
August in Tsinghua is arguably its most beautiful month. Tsinghua University of 2003, though not as sophisticated as in later years, was still the NO.1 institution in Hua Country—a blend of strength and capability, the premier university.
Sitting on the back of Zhou Mo’s bike, wrapping her arms around his waist (something she had gotten used to), and weaving through various tree-lined avenues, Yiyi felt this moment made her whole life worthwhile.
The pride and confidence she felt was like a gentle breeze, easing her restless heart.
The journey through the campus made her realize why Tsinghua was first in Hua Country. Even a quick tour by bike, lasting over two hours, gave her a sense of where the university’s reputation stemmed from.
After their tour, Yiyi patted her buddy’s shoulder, deeply concerned, "Zhou Mo, whether I can graduate depends on your help. I suddenly feel like it’s a fluke that I got in. Every student I see here makes me feel like I’m about to be crushed. I think the next four years will be very tough for me!"
In fact, Zhou Yi wasn’t the only one with this feeling; even Zhou Mo himself felt a bit like Granny Liu entering the Imperial Garden.
They had come from a tier-four or tier-five city, their breadth of experience admittedly lacking compared to those from first-tier cities. Nevertheless, Zhou Mo didn’t believe he couldn’t adapt to this new environment because knowledge could change one’s destiny. He could now partake in competitions he had never entered before, strive harder, and possibly he and Yiyi had already become immersed in the unique educational environment of Tsinghua without even realizing it upon setting foot there.
After their excursion, they returned to the commercial street to buy all kinds of necessities, noticing that the sky was gradually darkening.
"Let’s go back to the dorm first, sort out these things, and then you can meet me downstairs at 7 with your campus card."
Every year, Tsinghua admits around 3,400 students, including 3,000 from the mainland and 400 from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and foreign countries.
There are 23 dormitory buildings in Tsinghua, some high-rise with elevators and access cards, and they’ve been given a lovely name—Zijing Apartments.
The Zijing Apartments offer both quadruple and double rooms (for doctoral students), all with private bathrooms and air conditioning, and every two rooms share a common area, facilitating daily interactions among students. It’s incredibly humanized. Moreover, the dormitory management is extremely strict; after all, Tsinghua is the pinnacle of academic institutions, a hub for talent. Hence, they employ 24-hour security and surveillance systems, providing some of the highest safety measures in the country. The most expensive lodging costs up to 1,200 yuan per month, which truly is a paradise on earth.
The tuition fee at Tsinghua is five thousand yuan, with fine arts and design departments possibly costing slightly more. Therefore, attending Tsinghua is a legitimate way to benefit from the country’s resources.
When Yiyi returned to her dorm, her roommates were there chatting. As she entered, they instinctively stood up, greeting her with friendly smiles. Yiyi’s response was equally cordial, but slightly reserved.
"Hi, I’m Qiao Shan, 18 years old, from Shanghai, and in the Computer Science and Technology Department. I’ve heard that among our department’s 27 people, there are only four girls this year."
With her sweet appearance and the soft charm characteristic of Southerners, petite and delicate Qiao Shan stood at about 1.5 meters tall. Her melodic voice was a clear sign of a city-bred child familiar with the world. Yiyi realized that among all the freshmen, only Qiao Shan knew about the shortage of girls in their department.
"Hello, I’m Zou Wenqing, 18 years old from Qingdao, Shandong, also in the Science and Technology Department."
Although Zou Wenqing had an average look, her height of 1.7 meters and her robust appearance exuded the temperament of a sturdy Shandong woman. She had an air of authority, her words carried weight, and it was no surprise she had been class president throughout her school life. The source of thɪs content is noveⅼfire.net
"Nice to meet you all. My name is Wen Ya, and I come from Hengshui, Hebei. I’m also 18 years old. Please take good care of me," said Wen Ya, who was of similar height to Yiyi, about 1.6 meters. She wore thick glasses that had clearly molded to her face over the years, significantly affecting the alignment of her features. Though not unattractive, she had a rather plain look.