In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

Over the next two days, time seemed to be wound up faster by an invisible hand, flying by in a blur.

Yang Guangming began to carefully pack his luggage for his northward journey.

Autumn in Shanghai still retains a touch of mildness, with the autumn wind carrying the moist air from the Huangpu River, making it feel cool on the face.

But Yang Ming knew perfectly well that Kyoto's autumn and winter were completely different—a biting, dry cold belonging to the north, with winds that stung the face like knives.

Thick cotton-padded clothes and trousers are a must. The school will provide bedding, but Lin Jianyue insisted on preparing a thick quilt for him, made of freshly fluffed cotton from this year, with evenly quilted filling.

She said, "In the winter in the north, the rooms are much colder and damper than here. Every extra layer helps."

Most of the weight of the luggage was taken up by books and notes.

He stood in front of the bookshelf, his eyes scanning the shelves as he carefully selected books.

Several core computer science books are a must-have, as thick as bricks, along with several large notebooks he has compiled over the past few months. The handwriting is neat, the charts are clear, and they embody his hard work in reorganizing the knowledge system, so he can't leave them behind.

I also brought a few miscellaneous books to read in my spare time, mostly mathematical logic books or original English technical magazines, just to give my brain a break.

He kept his personal belongings to a minimum, and Lin Jianyue helped him check each item, including lunch boxes, towels, toothpaste, and toothbrushes, before carefully packing them into the worn canvas travel bag.

Lin Jianyue silently helped him tidy up, smoothing out the wrinkles and folding the clean clothes neatly one by one.

As Yang Guangming looked at her lowered eyes and long eyelashes casting a small shadow under her eyelids, a warm feeling and a sense of guilt welled up in his heart.

The night before their departure, Yang Guangming and Lin Jianyue took their two children back to their old Shikumen house.

This family reunion dinner is of extraordinary significance.

The mother, Zhang Xiuying, used every trick in the book to bring home almost every fresh commodity available at the market.

In the small kitchen, pots and pans clattered and the aroma of cooking oil filled the air.

The braised pork belly was glistening with oil and a deep reddish-brown color, trembling slightly, clearly cooked to perfection; the poached chicken had yellow skin and white meat, with a hint of bright red blood still lingering in the bone marrow, served alongside a small dish of carefully prepared ginger and garlic dipping sauce.
Steamed sea bass topped with shredded ginger and scallions symbolizes "abundance year after year"; golden egg dumplings symbolize gold ingots; and round meatballs represent family reunion. These are all children's favorites.

In the small living room, the old wooden table was filled to the brim, even more lavish and grand than during the Chinese New Year.

The eldest brother Yang Guanghui's family, the second brother Yang Guangyao's family, the eldest sister Yang Xianglan with Honghong and Amao, the second sister Yang Xiangmei with Xiaowen, plus the elderly couple Yang Yongkang and Zhang Xiuying, and the Yang Guangming family of four, the huge front building was packed with people, making it difficult to even turn around, but this also made it seem more lively and bustling.

The children paid no heed to the adults' sorrow at parting, darting around the table and among the people, chattering like a flock of happy sparrows, adding much liveliness to the farewell banquet.

Yang Yongkang specially opened a bottle of his treasured Moutai today. He is usually not talkative, and he was even more silent at this moment. He simply raised his glass, looked at his youngest son sitting opposite him with a deep gaze, his Adam's apple bobbed, and then said in a deep voice: "Go to school, study hard, and don't worry about home."

A simple and unpretentious sentence, like a stone falling to the ground, yet it contained all the old father's expectations and reluctance to let go.

Yang Guangming immediately held the cup with both hands and solemnly replied, "Dad, don't worry, I will."

After saying that, he drank the spicy liquid in the cup in one gulp. A surge of heat went straight from his throat to his stomach, and it also dispelled the slight sourness on the tip of his nose.

Zhang Xiuying kept piling food onto her son's plate, and soon Yang Guangming's bowl was piled high with food.

"Eat more, eat more."

She muttered, "Once you get to the North, it'll be hard to find such authentic local cuisine. I heard they eat mostly wheat-based foods there, like steamed buns and cornbread. You'd better get used to it soon."

It's cold there, unlike at home. Remember to wear more clothes. Don't try to tough it out just because you're young. You'll suffer if you catch a cold..."

Her voice choked with emotion, and her eyes welled up with tears. She quickly turned her face away, wiped her eyes with her sleeve, and then turned back, forcing a smile. "Look at me, why am I nagging like this? You're a grown woman, you can take care of yourself, can't you?"

The eldest brother, Yang Guanghui, and the second brother, Yang Guangyao, also raised their glasses, offering words of encouragement and blessings.

They looked at their youngest brother with a mixture of older brotherly concern and a hint of envy and pride.

They all understood that this step their younger brother had taken opened up vast possibilities for him, and his future achievements would likely be beyond their reach. In this day and age, even undergraduates like Yang Guangyao are rare; graduate students are practically the cream of the crop.

The eldest sister, Xianglan, looked at her younger brother with gratitude in her eyes. She stuffed the thick woolen gloves she had knitted all night into the lining of Yangguangming's luggage.

The second sister, Xiangmei, was more concerned about her younger brother's studies. As a senior who had been through it all, she carefully advised Yang Guangming on some things to pay attention to in university. Although the schools were different, the ways of doing things in university were generally the same.

She believed that with her younger brother's intelligence and hard work, he would surely stand out and distinguish himself in Tsinghua University, a place teeming with talent.

The meal was both warm and poignant, interspersed with laughter and brief silences. It contained heartfelt wishes for a bright future for Yang Guangming, as well as an overwhelming sense of parting.

After dinner, everyone moved their bowls and chopsticks aside and chatted around the table for a while. The adults talked about everyday things and their work experiences, while the children started rubbing their eyes and yawning. It wasn't until late at night that everyone gradually dispersed.

Yang Guangming and Lin Jianyue carried the already sleeping Jing Shu and Zhi Yuan back to their own dormitory.

After carefully settling the children in their cribs and covering them with warm blankets, the two tiptoed out of the bedroom and into the small living room.

Under the dim light, the couple sat facing each other in chairs, neither of them speaking for a moment.

The silence of midnight descended, broken only by the regular ticking of the old grandfather clock on the table, a clear reminder of the passage of time. The moment of parting drew ever closer, and a quiet, lingering sense of reluctance filled the air.

“Jianyue.” Yang Guangming broke the silence first, his voice sounding particularly clear and earnest in the quiet night. “After I leave, you’ll have to take care of everything at home, including the two children.”

Lin Jianyue raised her head, the light dancing in her clear eyes, reflecting a gentle yet firm halo.

She gently shook her head: "Don't worry about home, I'll take good care of it. Mom and Dad live nearby, and my older siblings will help out too. You don't need to think about anything, just focus on your studies."

She paused, her voice as soft as a whisper, "Just... be careful in everything you do when you're out there alone. Eat on time, and make sure to wear more clothes when it gets cold. Don't just focus on studying day and night; it's not worth ruining your health."

"I know." A warm feeling welled up in Yang Guangming's heart, and his throat tightened slightly. He gazed at his wife's profile, which appeared exceptionally gentle under the lamplight, and stood up. "Wait for me a moment."

He went into the bedroom, and a moment later came out with a palm-sized, slightly worn iron box in his hand.

The box looked quite old; the paint had worn off at the corners, revealing a dark iron blank inside, with a small brass lock hanging on it.

Yang Guangming gently placed the tin box on the table, making a soft "tap" sound. He then skillfully took a small brass key from the keychain and handed it to Lin Jianyue.

"This is..." Lin Jianyue looked at him with some confusion, then looked at the box.

"Open it and take a look," Yang Guangming gestured, his tone calm, but his eyes carrying a solemn entrustment.

Lin Jianyue took the key, inserted it into the lock, and gently turned it. With a "click," the small lock opened.

She lifted the lid of the box and saw a layer of dark blue velvet cloth inside. On the cloth were several neatly folded bank deposit slips, the edges of which were slightly curled, indicating that they had been there for some time.

She picked up the deposit slips and unfolded them one by one to examine them. When she saw the amounts on them, her slender fingers trembled slightly, and an undisguised look of surprise appeared on her face.

The total amount on these deposit slips is almost 2,800 yuan!

In an era when the average worker earned only thirty or forty yuan a month, this was undoubtedly a staggering sum of money. Many families might not be able to accumulate that amount even after saving diligently for half their lives.

Lin Jianyue knew that Yang Guangming had a high salary; he was a section-level cadre and earned 110.5 yuan per month.

She knew that her family had some savings, and they had spent more than two thousand yuan to buy a house a while ago. But she never expected that, in addition to the money spent on the house, Yang Guangming had quietly saved up such a large sum of money.

She looked up at Yang Guangming, her eyes filled with a clear question and a hint of barely perceptible worry: "Guangming, how...how can there be so much money?"

She subconsciously started to calculate in her mind. Even if Yang Ming's salary was high, after all these years of marriage, raising two children, daily expenses, social obligations, plus the house they bought some time ago... no matter how carefully they planned, it seemed like they shouldn't have so much left.

Yang Guangming looked at the surprise and the hidden worry in his wife's eyes, but his expression remained calm. He had already expected Lin Jianyue to ask this question.

His true savings are far more than that.

Over the past decade, relying on the daily refresh of that magical refrigerator space, the majority of his accumulated wealth consists of those melted and cast, gleaming gold bars and collected lustrous pearls and precious medicinal herbs.

He still had nearly 30,000 yuan in cash savings after deducting the cost of buying a house. But he couldn't explain the true source of this large sum of money to Lin Jianyue or anyone else.

Rather than weaving lie after lie to deceive his wife, who had shared his life with him and trusted him wholeheartedly, he would rather keep some things to himself.

He reached out and gently pressed the back of Lin Jianyue's hand holding the deposit slip, looking at her calmly and confidently: "Jianyue, don't ask so many questions. You just need to know that this money came from honest and upright means. I've accumulated it little by little over the years by taking advantage of various opportunities. There's absolutely no problem with it."

His words carried a reassuring power, as if stating an undeniable fact.

“After I leave, the family will be supported by you alone. The two children are still young, and there are many expenses for food, clothing, and other necessities. Mom and Dad are also getting old, and they are bound to have headaches and fevers sometimes, so they will need money for emergencies.”

He paused, his tone softening yet firmer, and continued, "Keep this money safe, and keep the key yourself. If there's anything that needs to be spent at home, or if you or the children want to buy something, don't hesitate to use it. Only when you and the children are doing well can I truly feel at ease outside."

Lin Jianyue looked into her husband's eyes, which were filled with crystal-clear honesty and unfathomable trust.

The warmth of his palm dispelled the slight doubt that had just arisen in her heart.

She understands Yang Guangming better than she understands herself.

Lin Jianyue knew that he always acted with discretion and method, never doing anything without certainty. Since he so solemnly stated that the money was obtained legitimately, then it must be. He didn't want to elaborate on its source, perhaps because he had reasons and considerations he couldn't say.

Her question just now was merely a subconscious expression of surprise and an instinctive desire to protect her family; it wasn't that she truly doubted him. She had an unwavering, ingrained trust in Yang Guangming.

She didn't ask any more questions. She carefully folded the deposit slip again, placed it back into the metal box along the original creases, closed the lid, and locked it.

Then, she held the small but heavy brass key tightly in her hand, as if she were holding not only the family's emergency reserves, but also her husband's heavy trust and the responsibility of the whole family entrusted to her.

"Okay, I understand." Lin Jianyue nodded, her tone gentle yet firm. "Don't worry, I'll keep it safe."

As Yang Guangming watched her carefully put the keys into her inner pocket, a great weight was lifted from his heart.

Giving this portion of the savings to Lin Jianyue relieved her financial worries, allowing him to travel more without distractions.

After discussing the savings, Yang Guangming's expression became even more serious, even showing a rare hint of solemnity. He took Lin Jianyue's hand, walked to the bedroom door, and pointed to a dark corner under the bed.

"Jianyue, there's one more thing. I've mentioned it to you before, and I want to remind you again now." His voice was lowered, sounding particularly solemn in the quiet night.

Lin Jianyue followed his gaze and saw two rather heavy-looking old camphor wood chests placed side by side under the bed. The dark lacquer surface gleamed in the dim light, and both chests were secured with sturdy brass locks.

These two boxes had been under the bed since they got married, almost blending in with the dust.

Lin Jianyue remembered that when they first got married, she asked curiously what was inside. Yang Guangming told her seriously that it contained some important items that he was keeping for a few friends. It involved other people's privacy and entrustment, so she should not touch them or mention them to outsiders.

She has always adhered to this statement, and over the years she has never tried to touch or move them, and has almost forgotten their existence.

Seeing that Yang Guangming brought it up again with such a solemn expression, she knew that this thing was probably more important than she had imagined.

"Are these the two boxes?" Lin Jianyue asked to confirm, her voice unconsciously softening.

"Correct."

Yang Guangming nodded, his gaze fixed on the two boxes. "The contents are very important. They are... something I'm temporarily holding for a few close friends. You don't need to know the specifics; the less you know, the better."

Just remember to keep an eye on them, and never open them out of curiosity, nor let anyone touch them, including the children and occasional guests. Act as if they never existed.

His gaze shifted from the box to Lin Jianyue's face, staring intently into her eyes to make sure she fully understood the weight of his words.

“This is very important,” he emphasized, emphasizing each word.

Lin Jianyue could clearly sense the weight of this matter from his unusually serious tone and solemn gaze.

Although a gentle ripple of curiosity still stirred within her, she knew her limits and understood that her husband's actions must have a deeper meaning. She would never, and could not, disobey this weighty entrustment.

She nodded solemnly and promised, "Okay, I remember. I will keep a close eye on them and not let anyone touch them, just pretend I didn't see them." Her gaze was equally firm, giving Yang Guangming the response he needed most.

Looking into her clear, unwavering eyes, Yang Guangming finally felt completely at ease.

These two camphor wood chests, along with several small, specially made moisture-proof and insect-proof wooden boxes inside, contain precious medicinal materials that have been added to the refrigerator space every day over the years—rhinoceros horn slices, natural bezoar, wild ginseng, deer antler, and so on.

The amount of medicinal herbs refreshed daily in the space is not large, but after nearly ten years of accumulation, the quantity of various medicinal herbs has become quite considerable.

Now that social attitudes have become more relaxed, it is not illegal to privately collect some medicinal herbs. As long as they are not sold for profit, they will not get into trouble for "profiteering".

However, these items are valuable and numerous, and if discovered by outsiders, they would inevitably attract unnecessary attention and speculation, and could even lead to trouble. Therefore, keeping them hidden and discreet is the safest course of action.

As for the 100 grams of edible gold leaf and two pearls that were refreshed daily in the refrigerator, he kept them inside the refrigerator and never took them out.

The original packaging of the edible gold leaf took up too much space, so he had already removed the packaging and managed to obtain a small set of smelting tools through special channels. He then remelted these paper-thin gold leaves and finally cast them into standard 340-gram gold bars.

Over the past decade, the total amount of gold accumulated has reached a staggering figure if revealed—340 kilograms!
Fortunately, gold has a high density and a small volume. These 300-plus kilograms of gold only occupy a dozen liters of space. When neatly stacked together, they only take up a corner of the refrigerator's interior.

And those pearls, totaling more than 6,800, were also an astonishing fortune!

Unlike the medicinal herbs stored in camphor wood chests, gold and pearls were extremely sensitive items in this era. Once exposed, their origins would be impossible to explain, and the consequences would be unimaginable.

Only by storing it in this absolutely safe refrigerator space, where no one could access it, could he truly rest easy. After explaining the two most important things—the savings and the box—Yang Guangming finally felt relieved.

The couple talked intimately about their child's education, their parents' health, and how to take care of each other, until the clock struck twelve. Then, each with their own worries, they embraced and fell asleep.

The next morning, the sky was just beginning to lighten, and a thin layer of light gray mist still shrouded the alley.

Because it was a workday, Yang Guangming insisted that his family, especially his elderly parents, not go to the train station to see him off. He didn't want to experience that tearful, attention-grabbing scene on the platform.

"It's not like I'm not coming back. We can see each other during summer and winter vacations. You guys go to work or school, there's no need to make a big fuss about seeing me off."

Last night, he said this to his family in a light tone, trying to ease the sadness of parting.

At that time, although Zhang Xiuying's eyes were still red and swollen, she knew that her son was right and she resisted the urge to insist on seeing him off.

Lin Jianyue held Zhiyuan, who was still half asleep and rubbing his sleepy eyes, and held the equally tired Jingshu in her other hand, escorting Yang Guangming to the entrance of the family area.

In the soft light of dawn, early risers were already busy in the courtyard, and the crisp sound of bicycle bells rang out, signaling the start of a new day.

"Be careful on the road, the train is crowded, watch your luggage. Once you get to school and settle in, write back as soon as possible." Lin Jianyue gently instructed him, handing him a net bag she was carrying, which contained a few still-warm tea eggs and some scallion pancakes she had made that morning. "These are for the journey, take them."

Yang Guangming took the net bag, then squatted down, first kissing his daughter Jing Shu's soft, warm face, then leaning over to press his cheek against his son Zhi Yuan's chubby, milky-scented little hand.

"Listen to your mother at home, study hard, and wait for your father to come back from his vacation," he said to Jing Shu.

Jing Shu seemed to sense the atmosphere of parting; her little mouth twitched slightly, but she still nodded obediently. Zhi Yuan, on the other hand, just babbled and waved his little hands, trying to grab his father's nose.

Yang Guangming stood up and his gaze fell on Lin Jianyue's face again.

In the morning light, her face was clear and gentle, her eyes held a thousand words, yet they were simply transformed into a faint, encouraging smile.

Yang Guangming looked at his wife deeply, as if he wanted to etch this moment into his mind.

Then, he picked up the heavy canvas travel bag and the net bag filled with food, turned around, strode off, and disappeared into the bustling morning crowd without looking back.

Lin Jianyue held the child and stood on the cold ground at the door, watching his tall, straight back appear and disappear in the crowd until it finally vanished completely from the street corner shrouded in morning mist.

She sighed softly, a feeling of emptiness instantly filling her chest.

Yang Guangming took the bus alone, and after a bumpy ride, he arrived at Shanghai Railway Station.

The plaza in front of the station was bustling with people, with travelers of all kinds of accents and carrying all sorts of luggage moving about like a chaotic yet vibrant tide.

After having my ticket checked and entering the station, I followed the signs and found my train bound for Kyoto on the crowded platform.

The dark green train lay quietly on the long tracks, and train attendants were already busy at the junction of the carriages.

Since the train ticket didn't need to be reimbursed, Yang Guangming didn't need to worry about the impact. In order to avoid suffering, he specifically bought a hard sleeper ticket.

After finding his bunk and putting away his luggage, Yang Guangming finally had some free time.

The carriage was filled with the mixed smells of tobacco and various foods. The passengers sitting next to me, who looked like officials on business, were already chatting enthusiastically and offering each other cigarettes.

"Woo——"

The steam whistle blared, its sound carrying far and wide.

The train started slowly, the wheels and axles rubbing against the rails, making a heavy clanging sound, and then gradually accelerated.

The familiar platform of Shanghai Railway Station began to recede smoothly into the distance, becoming smaller and smaller, more and more blurred, until it was finally replaced by the ever-extending railway tracks, utility poles, and then suburban farmland and villages.

Yang Guangming withdrew his gaze and began to carefully plan his arrangements after arriving in Kyoto: registration, accommodation, familiarizing himself with the campus environment, understanding the curriculum, meeting his professors... a thousand things to do, yet everything was in a clear and organized manner.

The journey was long and tedious, the monotonous clanging of the wheels repeating itself endlessly, like a never-ending lullaby.

He would occasionally take out his professional books and flip through a few pages, or gaze at the scenery rushing past the window: the vast North China Plain, scattered villages, and the undulating mountain ranges in the distance. Sometimes he would chat with the passengers next to him, listening to their stories from all over the country, or discussing the latest national policies.

When hungry, I would peel open a tea egg prepared by Lin Jianyue. The eggshell was stained brown and smelled of tea and soy sauce. It was simple yet satisfying to eat with a crispy scallion pancake.

The more than twenty-hour drive passed quietly in this state of mixed anticipation, novelty, and slight physical fatigue.

The next morning, as the scenery outside the window gradually became denser, with more low-rise buildings and factory chimneys appearing, the train conductor's friendly voice came over the train's loudspeaker: "Passengers, our next stop is Kyoto Station, the capital of our great motherland..."

A commotion broke out in the carriage as people began to stand up, taking their bags from the luggage racks, their faces showing excitement and eagerness at their destination.

The train finally pulled into Kyoto Station and came to a steady stop beside the platform.

As Yang Guangming carried his luggage out of the train carriage with the crowd, a dry and noticeably cool northern air immediately hit him, a stark contrast to the humid, almost humid air of Shanghai.

He involuntarily took a deep breath, feeling his lungs become much clearer.

The plaza at Kyoto Station is more open, and the sky appears higher and farther away, a pale grayish-blue.

The crowds were dense, with people speaking various accents and wearing clothes from different regions mixed together, carrying, carrying, and shouldering all kinds of luggage. Amid the noise, there was a sense of busyness, grandeur, and inclusiveness unique to the capital city.

He had no time to savor the atmosphere of Kyoto in the late 1970s. Carrying his heavy luggage, he squeezed onto the bus heading to the western suburbs, following the route he had researched beforehand.

The bus swayed and rattled as it passed through the wide Chang'an Avenue, heading towards the HD district.

The architectural style outside the window, the clothing of pedestrians, and even the shape of the trees on both sides of the street are all significantly different from those in Shanghai.

After a long and winding journey, when the bus finally came to a stop at a certain station, Yang Guangming got off with his luggage. Not far away, the ancient and solemn Tsinghua University gate, steeped in history, came into view.

Especially when he saw those four familiar, powerful, and seemingly infinitely strong Mao-style characters "Tsinghua University," Yang Guangming's heartbeat quickened involuntarily.

In his past life, he had stood outside the school gate countless times as a tourist or passerby, looking up at it as if it were another world, unreachable and filled with awe.

In this life, he will finally be able to walk into the gate of one of China's top universities with dignity as a student.

He paused for a moment at the school gate, tilted his head slightly, gazed at the four large characters, and calmed his excited emotions.

Then, he straightened his back and walked with steady and firm steps into this academic mecca in the hearts of countless students.

The campus is shaded by green trees. Although it is late autumn and many trees have lost their leaves, the vigorous pines and cypresses still stand tall, showing a kind of resilience that is not afraid of wind and frost.

The roads are wide and straight, and buildings, some ancient and dignified, others simple and new, are nestled among the trees. Red brick walls and gray tile roofs exude a tranquil and profound academic atmosphere.

Students carrying books and dressed simply hurried by, their faces mostly radiating a thirst for knowledge and the vigor of youth.

Following the roadside signs, Yang Guangming quickly found the place where graduate students registered.

It was an old-fashioned two-story building with a simple sign hanging at the entrance.

The procedures went surprisingly smoothly, and the staff were very efficient. They verified the admission notice, transferred the household registration and food ration, and I received my dormitory key, school badge, meal tickets, and other items.

Yang Guangming was assigned to a six-person dormitory room, which was a dormitory building built in the 1950s.

The building is somewhat old, with exposed red brick walls, and the hallways are dimly lit, but they are fairly clean.

I found my room, pushed open the faded wooden door with a soft creak, and saw two classmates who had arrived earlier, busy making their beds.

We introduced ourselves briefly.

One was tall and had a loud voice; he came from a major industrial city in Northeast China and his name was Zhao Jianguo. The other was shorter, wore black-rimmed glasses, and appeared refined and composed; he came from a mountain city in Southwest China and his name was Li Weidong.

Like Yang Guangming, they are both newly enrolled graduate students in the Department of Computer Engineering this year.

At their first meeting, both sides were somewhat polite and tentative, but their eyes revealed their anticipation for the future and their respect for each other.

Yang Guangming chose a lower bunk by the window, where the light was good, the ventilation was good, and it was convenient to get up at night.

He put down his luggage and began to calmly tidy up his bed and belongings.

He categorized his books and notes and neatly arranged them on a simple bookshelf; his personal belongings, such as a washbasin, thermos, lunchbox, and towel, were placed in his own small cabinet behind the door, according to dormitory regulations.

After everything was tidied up, he sat on the edge of the bed, slightly out of breath, looking around the dormitory where he was about to begin his long-term life.

The room was small, with three bunk beds made of iron frames, and in the middle was a long wooden table with a badly worn paint finish, along with a few square stools.

The furnishings were simple, even rudimentary, and the air was filled with the distinctive smell of old buildings, a mixture of dust and disinfectant.

But this simple space was instantly filled with vibrant energy because a few young people with dreams moved in.

Yang Guangming knew that Tsinghua University's Department of Computer Engineering had only admitted eleven graduate students in the seventh and eighth graduating classes, including himself, two of whom were female.

In this era when computer science is just beginning and there is a severe shortage of talent, these students are truly the chosen ones, each one an elite among elites.

Those who stand out from tens of thousands of candidates across the country and ultimately gather here are all exceptionally talented and resilient individuals.

After the start of the school year, the intense and fulfilling study life immediately sped up like a wound-up spring.

The schedule was packed, leaving almost no time to breathe.

Computer organization principles, data structures, operating systems, compiler principles, algorithm design and analysis, digital logic, introduction to artificial intelligence... a series of highly specialized courses that can be described as "advanced and sophisticated" in this era are coming one after another, with their difficulty, depth and breadth far exceeding those of undergraduate courses.

Most of the teaching materials were lecture notes compiled by the teachers themselves, or some photocopied foreign language books. The paper was rough and the printing was not very clear, but this did not diminish everyone's enthusiasm for learning.

The instructors are pioneers or early trailblazers in the field of computer science in China, such as Jin Lan, Wang Erqian, Tang Zesheng, and Zhang Bo, all academic giants.

They are erudite, rigorous in their scholarship, and have extremely high expectations for their students. They not only impart knowledge, but also convey a scientific spirit and a sense of national responsibility.

Yang Guangming quickly immersed himself in this vast and profound ocean of knowledge.

Although he possessed the computer science foundation from his previous life and had a broader perspective, the computer science of this era was more focused on underlying hardware, basic theories, and systematic construction. For him, much of the knowledge was not only a review and verification of his memories from his previous life, but also a relearning and deeper understanding from a perspective that was closer to the essence of machines and emphasized logical rigor.

He did not become complacent because he "knew" the material; on the contrary, he approached each class and each experiment with even greater humility and seriousness.

Yang Guangming absorbed new knowledge with great eagerness, listened attentively in class, thought actively, and dared to ask questions;

After class, he spent most of his time in the library's reading room, which was filled with the smell of books and old paper, or in the relatively rudimentary laboratory with constant machine noise, researching the latest technical information and papers from home and abroad, writing programs, and debugging circuit boards, transforming theoretical knowledge into practical experience.

Among the eleven students, Yang Guangming quickly stood out.

This is not only because he was the undisputed number one in both the preliminary and final exams, but also because of the solid, seemingly flawless foundation of his basic knowledge, his clear, rigorous, and interconnected logical thinking ability, and the unique insights he occasionally offered on certain key technical issues that were both grounded in reality and highly forward-looking and inspiring.

Professor Jin Lan, a highly respected figure in the department, paid special attention to and appreciated Yang Guangming almost from the very first class of the semester.

During a class discussion on "future development trends of computers," students spoke enthusiastically, some envisioning improvements in computing speed, others discussing the expansion of applications.

When it was Yang Guangming's turn, he didn't aim too high and talk at length about concepts that were too advanced for the present, such as the Internet and mobile communication, which only became widespread in later generations.
Instead, it examines aspects such as the physical bottlenecks that may be encountered in improving computer performance, the application potential and design challenges of large-scale and very large-scale integrated circuits, the importance of software engineering standardization and systematization, and the possibility of improving human-computer interaction methods from punched paper tape command lines to more user-friendly interfaces.

It presents some viewpoints that strictly follow the current technological development path and conform to the existing theoretical framework, while also slightly exceeding current common understanding and showing a bit of foresight.

His speech was clear, well-supported by evidence, and logically coherent. It captivated the students, drawing them into deep thought, and even Professor Jin Lan, sitting below the podium, nodded frequently, her eyes filled with increasing admiration.

After class, Professor Jin specially called Yang Guangming to his office and discussed at length the topics he had mentioned, such as the "software crisis" and "automation of integrated circuit design." The two had a very pleasant conversation.

As they spent more time together, Professor Jinlan increasingly felt that this young student was no ordinary person.

His knowledge system is so complete and his foundation so solid that it seems like he is not a first-year graduate student. His thinking is so active and his vision so broad that he can often think outside the box. His self-learning ability and hands-on skills are far superior to those of other outstanding students in the same year. In some aspects, he is even more outstanding and composed than some of the young teaching assistants and lecturers in the department.

He gives the impression of not being a learner who comes to passively receive knowledge, but rather a fellow traveler who comes to engage in equal exchanges and intellectual collisions with teachers and classmates.

Sometimes, during discussions with Professor Jin, he would casually bring up ideas about computer architecture optimization or algorithm efficiency improvement. These ideas were so unique and novel that even Professor Jin himself often found them very inspiring and beneficial.

Privately, Professor Jin Lan once remarked to several other familiar teachers and department leaders: "With the professional level and comprehensive ability that Yang Guangming has demonstrated, I think he is more than qualified to be a lecturer in the department."

What a rare talent! A rough gem, unpolished. No, I see him more as a beautiful jade already showing its warm luster; with a little polishing and time, he's sure to achieve great things!

Yang Guangming also keenly sensed the teachers', especially Professor Jinlan's, undisguised appreciation and expectations for him.

This is precisely the result of his deliberate efforts and guidance after entering Tsinghua University, in addition to learning knowledge.

Yang Guangming clearly knew that during this special historical period when everything was in ruins and the country was just beginning to open its doors, the country began to systematically send students to study abroad in developed Western countries.

For him, studying abroad on a government scholarship is the only way to go abroad smoothly at present!

To secure a government-sponsored study abroad spot, which is extremely scarce and fiercely competitive, in addition to a strong political background and good physical condition, one's professional skills, research potential, and foreign language proficiency are the most important evaluation criteria, and even the decisive factors.

He must demonstrate an absolute, overwhelming advantage in his studies to gain the most significant edge in this silent competition and seize that fleeting opportunity. (End of Chapter)