Rebirth 1977 Great Era

Chapter 1012 Reunion with Le Miao, "You actually brought a man home?" (Bonus chapter for 3 monthly votes)

Primary and secondary schools and universities in Hong Kong generally follow the model of "classes on Saturday mornings and rest in the afternoons and on Sundays," with some schools even having classes all day on Saturdays.

Le Miao studied at Hong Kong University. According to the information she received in the telegram, their teaching schedule, barring any unforeseen circumstances, included classes or administrative affairs on Saturday mornings.

It's Saturday morning today, I should be able to find her if I go to the school.

It's still early; class should have just started.

The taxi drove east along Pok Fu Lam Road, and the plane trees outside the window swayed in the morning breeze.

This is a local dialect and a unique regional style that few people have experienced.

Everyone was looking out.

There weren't many pedestrians on this road, with only the occasional car and bicycle passing by.

After driving for another minute or so, we could see the iconic building of Hong Kong University in the distance, Loke Yew Hall, which was completed in 1912. Its Gothic spire and red brick exterior were particularly eye-catching.

The campus is built on a hillside, with the main campus located on a gentle slope between Bonham Road and Pok Fu Lam Road. Stone steps connect the old buildings, making it look like a small European town at first glance.

The taxi stopped at the school gate on Pok Fu Lam Road.

The taxi fare here starts at HK$2 for the first two kilometers, and then increases by HK$0.2 for every 200 meters or every minute of waiting time. The driver charged them HK$5 for five kilometers.

Fang Yan took out the Hong Kong dollars that Mrs. Huo had prepared for him and gave her the money.

Then he got out of the car with a group of people.

"Five dollars for such a short time? The cost of living in Hong Kong is too high." Deng Cai couldn't help but complain as soon as the taxi drove away.

Wang Feng also said in a muffled voice:

"That's right. If you convert it to mainland currency, it would be at least 2.7 yuan, which is equivalent to two days' wages for a worker."

Li Chong cautiously looked around, and only after confirming that there was no danger did he speak:

"Don't forget that job posting from earlier, it offered two thousand yuan a month."

The other two suddenly realized:

"That's true..."

At this moment, Fang Yan saw:

The wrought iron gate bears the nameplate of Hong Kong University in traditional Chinese characters, and next to it stands a wooden sign that reads "Saturday Morning Classes: 9:00-12:30" in English.

Several bicycles were parked at the entrance, with canvas backpacks in the baskets, the backpacks embroidered with the words "HKU".

Several students wearing bell-bottoms and carrying lecture notes were walking briskly into the school gate. One of the girls was wearing a floral dress and had a school badge around her neck. The school badge was a shield-shaped emblem with a bauhinia flower and a book relief clearly visible in the center.

There is a newsstand to the right of the school gate, selling the Sing Tao Daily and the University Line weekly. The cover of the weekly features a photo of Hong Kong University students protesting against tuition fee increases.

The old lady at the newsstand would hold up a newspaper in one hand and pat the stall with the other, calling out in a slightly hoarse voice:

"Buy a copy of the Sing Tao Daily! The front page has news about Danny Chan's Hung Hom concert, plus exclusive photos!"

In 1978, shortly after Danny Chan debuted, on the eve of the golden age of Cantonese pop music in Hong Kong, such entertainment news often appeared next to the "horse racing" section of newspapers. It was part of the local culture and had a great market.

They were all very young, and it was obvious that the old woman considered them her students.

He waved his hand in a dialect, indicating that he didn't need it.

Next, Fang Yan led the way, and the four of them passed through the school gate and stepped onto the stone steps leading to the main teaching building.

In the square in front of the main teaching building, which is also the main campus building, several students were setting up posters for the calligraphy exhibition and guzheng concert of the "Third China Culture Week".

Beside the fountain in the center of the square stands a statue of Confucius, with the inscription "Learning without thinking is futile" on the base.

It seems that the teaching methods here are not entirely Westernized.

"Director Fang, where should we start looking?" Deng Cai lowered his voice, his gaze sweeping over the course schedules posted in the corridor.

In 1978, HKU course information was still posted by hand.

9:15-10:45英国文学导论（陆佑堂 201室）、10:00-11:30细胞生物学（医学院实验室）……

Fang Yan recalled that Le Miao had mentioned in the telegram that she had taken a public administration course in the Department of Social Sciences.

The group walked down the corridor looking for the social sciences department office. As they passed the classroom, they could see through the wooden windows that the professor was standing on the podium writing with chalk, and the students were copying it into their notebooks. Above the blackboard hung a portrait of the Queen of Little Britain, who had been around for so long.

At the entrance of the Social Sciences Department building, Fang Yan was drawn to a notice board:

The posters displayed included a student council election poster, a lost and found notice that read "Looking for a black fountain pen? Finder please come to Room 302," and a yellowed piece of paper... "Instructions for New Students of the Master of Public Administration Program."

On the wooden shelf next to the bulletin board, there is a free copy of the "HKU Alumni Newsletter," with the cover featuring Samuel C.C. Ting, the Chinese physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1976.

"Hey classmate, need some help?"

A short-haired girl wearing black-rimmed glasses struck up a conversation with me. She was wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt and a knee-length skirt, with her school badge pinned to her chest.

Fang Yan glanced at the other person and tentatively spoke in Mandarin with a slight Southeast Asian accent:

"We're looking for Le Miao, do you know her?"

The other person looked enlightened and said in Mandarin:

"Hey, Yue! I know her. She's having class in Room 403 of the Loke Yew Hall. It's Professor Zhang Wuchang's 'Analysis of Hong Kong's Economic Policies.' But class should be ending soon. You can wait for her outside the classroom."

Fang Yan was surprised that his casual question had led him to the right person, and thanked her profusely.

"Thank you."

The latter smiled and waved his hand, saying:

"It's alright, I'll just take you there!"

"Well... thank you," Fang Yan said to the girl.

"Then follow me!" The girl took the lead, and the four of them quickly followed, walking together toward Lu Youtang.

We soon arrived at our destination. The wooden door to room 403 was ajar, and we could hear the sound of a lecture being given inside.

Fang Yan looked through the window and immediately spotted Le Miao.

She had changed her clothes and put on makeup.

She sat in the second row from the front, and her appearance was quite outstanding among the girls in the classroom.

At this moment, Le Miao also saw Fang Yan outside the window, but she didn't recognize Fang Yan's current appearance.

The girl who had led the way looked at Fang Yan and the people around him, and asked curiously:

"Where are you from?"

He casually said in his dialect:

"Singapore."

The girl nodded and said:

"Oh, I guess so."

She didn't seem to be planning to leave, and asked Fang Yan curiously:

"What do you call it?"

"He Fang," Fang Yan made up a name.

"What a Buddhist-sounding name! Does your family believe in Buddhism?"

Fang Yan was speechless, wondering what this woman meant. Did she have nothing better to do?
As she spoke, she stretched out her hand towards Fang Yan and said:

"My name is Guo Zhen, let's get acquainted!"

Fang Yan shook hands with the other person:
"Nice to meet you, Guo."

Then he said to her:
"Thank you for showing us the way. We'll just wait here until get out of class is over. You can go about your business."

Guo Zhen said:

"It's okay, I'll wait for my friend here too."

Fang Yan was speechless, but he was certain that the woman did not recognize him.

Perhaps they were just waiting for someone here.

At this moment, Guo Zhen asked Fang Yan, "Are you studying in Singapore?"

"Yes." Fang Yan nodded.

She asked again:

"What major should you study?"

“Traditional Chinese medicine,” Fang Yan replied.

Upon hearing this, Guo Zhen was surprised:
"Huh? I didn't realize that!"

"I thought you studied finance."

After thinking for a moment, she said:

"No wonder you're looking for Le Miao, your family must have some business dealings with hers, right?"

Fang Yan, feeling helpless, responded:
"That's it."

Guo Zhen smiled and said to Fang Yan:

"Haha, don't be shy, you're not the only one looking for her lately."

Fang Yan frowned slightly and asked:

"What do you mean?"

Guo Zhen said:

"Tongrentang's medicines are now advertised everywhere, and they sell very well in the market. The supply can't keep up with the demand. Many people see the potential and want to cooperate with them to expand the market in other places."

"Many people from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore... are looking for her."

Fang Yan was slightly surprised upon hearing this and asked:
"How do you know so much?"

Guo Zhen smiled and pointed inside:
"Haha, of course I know, because she's her friend!"

"You're also a friend of Le Miao?" Fang Yan looked at Guo Zhen.

The other party nodded.

"Jingle Bell……"

Just then, the bell rang to signal the end of get out of class.

People gradually came out of the classroom.

Le Miao was no exception.

Guo Zhen greeted Le Miao:

"Miaomiao, there's a Mr. He Fang from Singapore here looking for you. He's probably here to discuss business cooperation."

After hearing this, Le Miao said to Fang Yan:

"I'm sorry, Mr. He, I don't have the authority over Tongrentang. You've come to the wrong person."

As he was about to leave, Fang Yan said loudly:
"You've come to the right place, this is the one I'm looking for."

"Huh?" Le Miao was taken aback.

She found the voice to be very familiar.

Fang Yan said to her:
"Long time no see! You don't even remember me? I sent you a telegram just a few days ago!"

Le Miao's eyes widened:

"You...you are...Fang."

"Where is it!" Fang Yan corrected.

Le Miao opened her mouth:

"You! I...I!"

Then he said:
"long time no see!"

Guo Zhen asked curiously:
"Do you know?"

Le Miao snapped out of her daze and quickly said:

"I know him, I know him, it's been so long since I've seen him, he looks so different."

After saying that, she immediately said to Fang Yan:

"Wait a moment, I'll go ask for leave!"

Guo Zhen said:

"So urgent? I'll go get it for you!"

Le Miao nodded:

"Okay! Then I'll leave it to you!"

After saying that, he turned to the dialect and said:

"Let's go then. I'll go get the car and go to my house."

Nodding in dialect:

"it is good!"

Guo Zhen said in surprise:
"Wow, really? Who is he? You brought him home?"

Le Miao said:

"Oh, never mind that. Just remember to ask for leave for me, and I'll treat you to a meal another day!"

After saying that, he called Fang Yan and they went to get the car together.

Guo Zhen was left with an incredulous look on his face.

Le Miao drove out of the campus parking lot in a dark green Mercedes-Benz 280S. The car had smooth lines and the chrome bumper gleamed coldly in the sunlight.

Fang Yan recalls that this was a luxury sports car launched by Mercedes-Benz in the 1970s, equipped with a V8 engine as standard. Although it was not as luxurious as the Mercedes-Benz W116 450SE that Fang Yan drives now, it was still an absolute symbol of wealth on the streets of Hong Kong.

The car window rolled down, and Le Miao beckoned Fang Yan and the others to get in.

She didn't ask about the other three people's situation and just told them to get in the car and talk about it later.

After the car started and drove off the school, she asked:
"What's going on? Why are you wearing makeup?"

Fang Yan said with a smile:
"There's no way around it. I heard before I came that the black market is offering high prices for me, so I have to be careful."

Le Miao was taken aback for a moment, then quickly realized what was happening.

I couldn't help but laugh.

At this moment, Fang Yan asked her:
"By the way, where do you live?"

Le Miao pointed to the villa on the mountainside and said:
"It's just a few kilometers up the mountainside. I usually stay there to go to school, and I only go home during holidays."

That was a villa area on Pok Fu Lam Road built by the British, and Lok Miu lived there all by herself.

It seems like they're living a pretty good life.

At this moment, Le Miao suddenly said to Fang Yan:

"You've come at the right time. I haven't been feeling well for the past month. I got some medicine myself, but it didn't help. Now that you're here, you can help me figure out what's wrong."

Fang Yan was taken aback and asked:
"He's been sick for a month? Why wasn't that mentioned in the telegram?"

Le Miao shook her head and said:
"I have quite a few symptoms. I have a sore throat, and sometimes I get a fever in the morning, but it gets better after an hour or two. I also have mouth ulcers recently, and my vision is a bit blurry. I don't know what's causing them. I only realized after treating myself that I didn't study enough and my diagnosis was completely inaccurate. I think you should come and diagnose me in person later!"

Fang Yan glanced at her complexion and saw that something did seem off, so he nodded and said:
"Okay, I'll take a look for you later."

PS: After finishing this chapter, I still owe everyone 102000 words.

That's all for today, please come early tomorrow.

Lao Feng is working hard to write tomorrow's code.

(End of this chapter)