Back in 1978, I was admitted to Northwestern Polytechnical University.

Chapter 3, Sections 3-7: Northwestern Polytechnical University in the Farmland

Chang'an, a famous historical city, served as the capital of thirteen dynasties. It exudes an ancient atmosphere. Terracotta Warriors, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, and other structures showcase Chang'an's profound history and cultural heritage. The densely packed arrow towers are ancient and weathered.

In later generations, Qin Liang would always be troubled by the traffic jams whenever he came here. He could tolerate the traffic jams on the road, but what was with queuing for half an hour to get into the subway station? Perhaps it was because he always came on holidays?

It's summer vacation now, but there's no traffic congestion in Chang'an City. On the roads, there's a huge army of bicycles, most of them wearing white shirts and black pants. You can rarely see bright colors, but it's already much better than a sea of ​​military uniform green.

Occasionally, the 212 and the old Jiefang would drive by, leaving behind plumes of black smoke, their engines roaring laboriously as if they were using up all their strength.

The bus with its long, slender legs pulled out of the train station, stopping at each station. People got on and off, and the number of passengers dwindled until finally, only Qin Liang and Niu Guishan remained!

In July and August, the sorghum in the fields was growing well, and it already looked as tall as a person.

A few little kids on the roadside, wearing open-crotch pants, were singing folk songs.

"It's the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, and I'm going to visit relatives... We ended up in a sorghum field..."

"Teacher Niu, did we sit in the wrong seats?"

"No, we're almost there!"

Crunch!

"Northwestern Polytechnical University has arrived, this is the final stop. All passengers, please proceed to the rear door!"

Qin Liang, carrying his canvas bag, got off the bus with Niu Guishan and looked at the Northwestern Polytechnical University Friendship Road Campus, which was just a stone's throw away.

This university wasn't even in the city! It was surrounded by farmland and villages. Only after the city expanded in later years did skyscrapers appear here!
No wonder it took so long to ride the long-distance train after leaving the train station!
"Come on, Qin Liang, I'll take you in through the south gate. Our campus is so beautiful, with shady trees and a simple, elegant atmosphere... Qin Liang, look, that's Building No. 1 ahead. We'll mainly have classes here. Sometimes when we have large lectures, we'll go east. There are two classrooms, the West Classroom and the East Classroom, which can accommodate over a hundred people."

Qin Liang knew that the Northwestern Polytechnical University Friendship Road Campus that he visited in his future life was very different from the school in front of him!

When people came from later generations, Building No. 1 at the South Gate was still there, but it had been transformed into the "Gong" building. The library was still there, but the rest should be gone. A series of tall buildings stood proudly. The Xiping classrooms were probably the West Graduate Building, and the Dongping classrooms were the East Graduate Building. Between the two, there was a research building that was more than ten stories high, also called the "Yong" building.

Behind it are the Materials Science Building, the Aeronautics Building, the new library...

Fortunately, the school grounds are large enough to accommodate future construction projects.

"Let's walk to the back; that's the dormitory area. After getting off the train, I called the logistics department, and they told us to go directly to Dormitory 13..."

Qin Liang followed Niu Guishan forward and finally saw several students along the way. They were wearing white shirts and black pants, carrying books in their arms, and walking in a hurry.

Ahead stood a row of four-story buildings with blue brick exteriors and no load-bearing beams; they were simply made of bricks. Red slogans were written on them, but they had faded under the rain.

The people sent me to university; I will always remember the trust placed in me by my class!
Study diligently for the revolution!
When Qin Liang arrived at Dormitory 13, he finally saw a slogan that looked good to him.

"Master math, physics, and chemistry, and you'll be able to go anywhere in the world without fear!" Qin Liang couldn't help but recite. "That's right, the spring of science has arrived, and the era of respecting knowledge has arrived. Young man, as the top student in the province, you've come to our Northwestern Polytechnical University, so you must study hard. You'll definitely become a pillar of the nation in the future!"

Just then, a logistics teacher came out of Dormitory 13. She was in her forties and had braids on both sides. Her dark eyes were looking Qin Liang up and down.

"Hello teacher, my name is Qin Liang. I'm a top student, but that's only because education is lagging behind in our province. If it were a province with a strong education system, I'm afraid I wouldn't even be in the top ten..."

"Hmm, young man, you're quite modest. Old Niu, where's the boy's luggage?"

"The luggage and everything else will be taken care of at our school. We'll go to the logistics department later..."

Teacher Niu had visited Qin Liang's home and knew that Qin Liang's family was poor and had very few bedding. Qin Liang traveled light so that he could leave the bedding at home.

In addition to providing freshmen with bed sheets, duvet covers, and pillowcases sprayed with codes, the university also provides bedding. Those from well-off families can buy it at the university, while those from poorer families either bring their own or go naked. There are actually some students who have slept on bare beds for four years.

"Okay, Qin Liang, I'll take you upstairs to see the dorm first, then I'll take you to the logistics department to get your bedding!"

"The dorms for other grades are not open right now. Only the senior dorms are available. I'll arrange for you to stay in the senior dorms for now. You can move to the freshman dorms after the new students register! Come on, let's go up to the third floor, room 308!"

In fact, during the era of worker-peasant-soldier universities, many were two-year programs, and some were even one-year programs. Entering university was really just a formality; you didn't learn much at all. Northwestern Polytechnical University's four-year university program only started in recent years.

The dormitory was small, with four bunk beds. Only one of the upper bunks by the window was empty. There was a table in the aisle in the middle of the beds, just as I had expected.

Just as Qin Liang was looking around at his living environment, Niu Guishan was chatting with the logistics staff at the door.

"This child comes from a remote mountain village. His family is very poor. He became the top scorer in the province, and the government gave him some money, but it was stolen by someone from the neighboring village. When he gets bedding and stuff later, put it on his tab first. After he starts school, try to reimburse him. If you can't reimburse him, deduct it from my salary! Later, I need to take him to the cafeteria. Oh, and I also need to get him some meal tickets in advance..."

A wave of emotion washed over Qin Liang. These university teachers of this era were the most genuine and down-to-earth!
canteen.

This is a large, single-story building with blue brick walls and somewhat mottled wooden windows. Inside, there are rows of large tables, glistening with oil, and the aroma of food wafts from the canteen window.

"The food at our school is very cheap. Meat dishes are two cents each, and vegetable dishes are one cent each. Qin Liang, you're at the age where you're growing, so don't just eat pickled vegetables that cost one cent a serving. The school gives you twelve yuan and fifty cents a month for living expenses. If you don't have enough, just tell me..."

Niu Guishan kept talking as he led Qin Liang forward. Just as they passed a table, Qin Liang saw a middle-aged man who was busy at work.

He held a steamed bun in his left hand, which was torn in half and filled with a few pieces of pickled vegetables, forming an oriental hamburger. He didn't even look at it; he just subconsciously put the bun in his mouth and started eating.

He was holding a model airplane in his right hand. It had an air intake in the nose, a delta wing, a single engine, and a single vertical tail. It was clearly a J-7 fighter jet.

"High-altitude, high-speed operation is outdated; now the focus is on maneuverability. How can this aircraft be modified to improve its maneuverability? The leading-edge extension wing is too technically challenging and difficult to modify..."

"Old Sha, studying your model again?" Niu Guishan asked, looking at the professor who was eating and pondering as if he were possessed.

(End of this chapter)