Back to 1984: Earning Money, Raising Kids, and Keeping the Household Busy

Bai Junjun joked, "If you're so envious, you can find a partner at school too. Didn't Sister Qin just say that university is the perfect time to study and date?"

Lin Qin was startled and quickly tried to smooth things over, "That's true, but the chairman said that dating without the intention of marriage is just playing around. Unless you can find someone who shares your interests and will be in the same place in the future, it would be so painful to part ways after graduation!"

"That's true." The group nodded in agreement with Lin Qin's statement.

Lin Qin stopped bothering them once she saw that they were listening.

I went to the counselor to get my application for day student status, picked up a course schedule, and left.

No sooner had she left than several senior female students went to dormitory 301.

"Club activities, freshmen, check them out! You can meet lots of upperclassmen and new classmates."

A group of girls were drawn to the club and started discussing it animatedly.

One of the senior students counted them, then frowned, "Why is one person missing from your dorm?"

It's already dark, and unless there's something unusual, everyone should be staying in their dorms.

Ge Qiuyue quickly explained, "That student is a local, married with children, and applied to be a day student, which the counselor approved."

Upon hearing this, the senior student instantly lost interest in Lin Qin. "Oh, is that so? Then we'll be going now."

After handing out club flyers, the group gathered downstairs at the girls' dormitory.

Wang Xinyuan asked, "Have all the freshmen in Chinese Language and Literature received their applications? We are the Classical Poetry Club, and I believe they will all be interested in joining."

Li Xiaomei nodded, blushing and avoiding Wang Xinyuan's gaze. "Wang, has the announcement been made in the boys' dormitory as well?"

Wang Xinyuan smiled wryly, “The number of male freshmen in this year’s Chinese Language and Literature major is one-third that of females. I’ve done all the publicity I could, but they don’t seem to be very interested in classical poetry. Several of them are planning to join sports clubs.”

Zhuang Fangfang, who was next to Li Xiaomei, was extremely disappointed. "President, you need to work harder. The club needs to be balanced between men and women. It's not appropriate to let all the physical work be done by the girls."

"In that case, I will do my best, and you will do your best too, to try to recruit freshmen with good looks and temperament to our club. We can also get good rankings in the National Day and school anniversary performances, which will all add points."

After Wang Xinyuan finished speaking, he parted ways with Li Xiaomei and the others.

Zhuang Fangfang turned around and saw that Li Xiaomei looked unhappy. Confused, she asked, "What's wrong?"

Li Xiaomei bit her lower lip and shook her head. After holding it in for a long time, she finally asked the question that had been bothering her, "Why do you think the club president recruits so many beautiful freshmen?"

"It's definitely for academic credits! Need I say more?" Zhuang Fangfang answered without hesitation.

Li Xiaomei felt heavy-hearted. "What if a lot of pretty girls come to the club? Will the president forget about us?"

Zhuang Fangfang was a little confused. "No, no, why are you worried about these things? Could it be that you've fallen for the club president?"

Under Zhuang Fangfang's incredulous gaze, Li Xiaomei blushed and did not refute.

They were in their second year of college. She had a crush on Wang Xinyuan when she joined the club in her first year, but unfortunately, everyone was a freshman at that time, and Wang Xinyuan was focused on his work, so she didn't know how to express her feelings. Now that Wang Xinyuan has become the club president, she is worried that if she doesn't express her feelings soon, someone else will beat her to it.

Zhuang Fangfang snapped out of her daze and patted Li Xiaomei's shoulder hard. "Girl! If you like her, just confess! Maybe the club president likes you too. I think he takes the best care of you. You must be special to him."

Li Xiaomei thought the same way. Encouraged by Zhuang Fangfang, she also made up her mind. Military training was the first thing to do at the start of the semester, as was customary.

It's a good opportunity for everyone to discuss which club to join during military training.

Lin Qin rode her bicycle to school early in the morning. Before everyone else had eaten breakfast, she had already warmed up and brought a large watermelon to her dormitory.

Everyone greeted her when they saw her.

Lin Qin laughed and said, "Look how excited you all are! Are you really looking forward to military training?"

Bai Junjun immediately shook her head and denied it, "I'm not looking forward to military training, I'm looking forward to club activities. Sister Qin, last night the senior students from the Ancient Poetry Club came to our dormitory to promote it. I went out and asked around, and the president of the Ancient Poetry Club is Senior Wang Xinyuan, who was in charge of receiving the new students on the day of freshman registration."

He seems like a mild-mannered and upright gentleman. We all want to apply for reimbursement; would you like to apply with us too?

Lin Qin took the flyer, looked at it carefully, and pondered, "There should be quite a few clubs at school. Why don't you take a look? What if there are some more fun ones? Besides, with so many people applying, they must have to do an interview and selection process! Are you really so sure you can all get in?"

Everyone looked at each other blankly, as if they had been doused with a bucket of cold water.

Du Juanhua became anxious. "Sister Qin, I really want to join the Classical Poetry Club. Is there anything I need to do?"

Lin Qin smiled wryly, "I don't live on campus, and I got the information from you guys. How would I know what to do? But improving myself and asking a member of the classical poetry club for details will definitely be helpful."

The azaleas seemed somewhat disappointed, but the others weren't as enthusiastic.

Bai Junjun said, "Then I'll think about it some more. If I don't go to the Classical Poetry Club, I'll try other clubs. Zhou Xue, what about you?"

Zhou Xue had made thorough preparations for today's military training. With a solemn expression and a straight back, she smiled and said, "I'm going to the Taekwondo club."

Everyone stared in surprise, then quickly expressed their understanding.

Lin Qin looked at Ge Qiuyue, "Sister Ge, what about you?"

Ge Qiuyue shook her head without even thinking, "I'd rather not join in the fun. If all else fails, I'll find a quieter club to hang out with."

She wouldn't want to waste any time on clubs if it weren't for the academic credits they offer.

Lin Qin understood her thoughts very well; in essence, their situations were the same.

As they were talking, everyone had finished packing up. Lin Qin soaked the watermelon in a bucket and placed it in a shady spot, just waiting to quench their thirst after returning from military training.

The girls, full of anticipation, arrived at the playground chattering excitedly. Half an hour later, their smiles disappeared. An hour later, everyone looked serious. After half a day, they all looked like wilted eggplants, listless and even losing their appetite.

At this moment, Ge Qiuyue played the role of the eldest sister, dragging everyone into the cafeteria without saying a word and forcing them to eat lunch.

Bai Junjun was on the verge of tears. She glanced at the energetic Zhou Xue beside her, then slumped onto the table without a care for her image. "Xiao Xue, are you even human? I'm exhausted, and you're perfectly fine?"

Lin Qin laughed, "Those military dependents have all had some experience, do you think everyone is like you!"

Of the six girls in their dormitory, Bai Junjun probably came from the wealthiest family; she was clearly a pampered young lady. Zhou Xue's situation was likely similarly privileged; she was the daughter of a high-ranking military officer, and her family had high hopes for her—she was exceptionally ambitious. (End of Chapter)