Chapter 178: A Network of Connections Others Can Only Dream Of
Five days later.
Deng Shirong and his son arrived at BJ Station, looking exhausted, and boarded the Peking University school bus.
Several people were already seated inside—freshmen from Peking University and their parents.
When Deng Shirong and his son got on, everyone exchanged greetings before falling silent.
The other parents were clearly from rural backgrounds. Seeing Deng Yunheng carrying valuables like a wristwatch and a suitcase, and noticing that Deng Shirong carried himself with an air of authority more akin to a high-ranking cadre than a simple farmer, they instinctively assumed he held some official position. As a result, they remained somewhat reserved.
But Deng Shirong had no energy for conversation. The four-day, three-night journey on the slow green train had been utterly exhausting.
In later years, the high-speed train from Nanning to BJ would take less than thirteen hours. But in the present, the train crawled along at a snail's pace. Sitting for four days and three nights was unbearable—even in a soft sleeper, let alone with only a seat ticket.
It was only thanks to their good physical condition that Deng Shirong and his son made it through. If the author were in their shoes, they would probably have to be carried off the train.
It wasn't that Deng Shirong was unwilling to buy a sleeper ticket; it was simply that in this era, even having money didn't guarantee you could get one.
Once the bus was full, it departed for the university.
On the way, it sped past Tiananmen Square, Xidan, Fuxingmen, Xizhimen, and Baiyi Road. Rows of locust trees flashed past the windows, while endless streams of bicycles flowed through the streets. For Deng Yunheng and the other rural students, this was their first glimpse of the capital's grandeur.
Even the parents were awestruck.
Previously, when Deng Yunheng visited the county town with his father, he had thought it was already quite prosperous.
Then, when they arrived in Nanning, he was even more impressed—after all, as the provincial capital, it was far more developed than Bobai County.
But comparing Bobai or even Nanning to the capital was like comparing the light of a firefly to the brilliance of the moon. The difference was immeasurable, akin to comparing Thatchfield Village to Nanning itself.
Even Deng Shirong was captivated.
Despite having lived two lives, this was his first time in Beijing.
The capital did not disappoint. Though it lacked the towering skyscrapers of future decades, it still exuded an undeniable majesty.
When they finally arrived at Peking University, the sight of its historic gate filled the rural students with excitement. This would be their home for the next four years, or perhaps even longer.
Since the official registration day had yet to arrive, the school arranged temporary accommodations for both students and their accompanying parents—a thoughtful gesture.
After enduring days of travel with poor food and sleep, exhaustion had set in. Once they had a place to stay, Deng Shirong and his son grabbed a quick meal of wontons, took a shower, and went straight to bed.
Since he was already in the capital, Deng Shirong had no intention of rushing home immediately. With nothing urgent awaiting him back in the village, he decided to stay a few days, explore the city, and check out courtyard houses—he planned to buy a few once he had the money.
Although he had no ambitions of entering the business world in this life, he certainly wasn't going to pass up wealth that was practically lying there for the taking.
So, he spent his days exploring, and after some time, he got a good grasp of property prices. The findings were beyond satisfying. Courtyard houses that would be worth millions in future decades were now selling for just tens of thousands of yuan.
For the most basic ones, the price wasn't even in the tens of thousands—it was only a few thousand yuan.
In short, they were absurdly cheap. Once he had more money, he would buy several. Even if all seven of his children failed to make something of themselves, these properties alone would ensure they lived wealthy lives.
Meanwhile, Deng Yunheng successfully completed his registration and made a few new friends from different provinces.
With his business wrapped up and no reason to travel alone, Deng Shirong decided it was time to head home.
Before leaving, he handed his son a thick stack of cash. "Here's 500 yuan—your living expenses for the year."
Deng Yunheng was surprised. "Dad, why are you giving me a whole year's worth of expenses at once?"
"The original plan was to give you enough for one semester and send more when you came home for New Year's," Deng Shirong explained. "But after experiencing that train ride, I changed my mind."
He sighed at the memory of those miserable days and nights. "Trains are packed on regular days, but during the Spring Festival, it'll be even worse. You won't even be able to go to the bathroom easily, and with no one to help look after your luggage, it'll be a nightmare traveling alone.
"So, I figured—just don't come back this year. If you want to go home, wait until next summer."
The mere thought of the crowded train, the lack of decent food and sleep, and the overwhelming stench in the carriage made Deng Yunheng nauseous. He nodded. "Alright, I'll go back next summer."
Deng Shirong advised, "Keep this money well hidden. As the saying goes, 'money shouldn't be flaunted.' Whether you're out in public or among your classmates, be mindful of this. Never use money to test human nature.
"That said, you don't need to be overly paranoid. This is Peking University, after all—it's a safe place. The students here have bright futures ahead of them; they aren't short-sighted.
"As long as you're careful and don't openly display your cash, you'll be fine."
"I understand," Deng Yunheng replied. "I'll be careful."
"Good. Stay here and study hard. And under the condition that it doesn't interfere with your studies, try to make as many like-minded friends as possible."
Speaking earnestly, Deng Shirong continued, "The students at Peking University are truly the elite—each one is destined for success. When you step into society in the future, these classmates will be connections that others can only dream of having.
"No matter if you enter politics or business, leveraging these relationships well will bring you immense benefits."
Deng Yunheng listened thoughtfully. Having not yet entered society, he didn't fully grasp the weight of his father's words. But he could sense the logic behind them.
It seemed that for the next four years, he couldn't just focus on studying—he needed to build strong friendships as well.
(End of Chapter)