Chapter 51

Sometimes, when a friend remains silent when you are being bullied, it's not that they don't want to help you, but rather that they lack the ability to do so, or they might not even know about it.

A true friend will never forget the humiliation their brother has endured!

These words were something Xu Junran heard personally from his adoptive father's roommates when they accompanied his adoptive father to his grave in his previous life.

Therefore, he harbors no resentment towards these people, only gratitude.

Because Xu Junran understands the helplessness of being in the system. He understands that facing a powerful political family, without the right time and opportunity, it takes immense courage and determination to try to shake a red family with just a group of students.

"Let's go, Sister Yuting."

Xu Junran let out a long breath, pointed to the bus in the distance, and said to Lin Yuting.

Lin Yuting nodded, and the two of them got on the bus. After handing the fare to the conductor, Xu Junran and Lin Yuting sat at the back of the bus.

On the way, Lin Yuting's stunning beauty attracted many people's gazes. A face like hers would be directly discovered by talent scouts in the future, and in the capital at that time, it naturally made people unable to resist taking a second look.

Sitting on the bus, Lin Yuting curiously observed the surroundings, while Xu Junran also looked around, but his mind was thinking about the changes in the city over the next few years.

Even in the capital, a prosperous place in today's China, it was not so wealthy. People's incomes were low, and there were no entertainment options. However, the prices of food, clothing, and daily necessities were very cheap. Although material enjoyment was still quite limited, it was enough. Having a color TV and a dual-cassette recorder was already considered a face-saving matter. If you had a motorcycle, you were considered wealthy.

"Junran, there are so many people riding bikes on this road," Lin Yuting's voice sounded in his ear, and because she was so close, Xu Junran could even feel her body brushing against his arm, making his ear itch. The feeling of a beautiful woman whispering in his ear made Xu Junran's body tense up.

Moving his body slightly to the side without showing any emotion, Xu Junran nodded: "The capital is always more prosperous than our small town of Quanzhou."

What he said was true. At this time, the main mode of transportation in the capital was still bicycles. The roads were filled with bicycles, and motorcycles were more common than cars. The motorcycle brands were all products of the four major Japanese manufacturers, as well as some East and West German brands, with prices generally under ten thousand yuan. Having a private car was considered very wealthy. Although the 1980s seemed poor by today's standards, most people lived at this level. Wealthy households with incomes of ten thousand yuan were rare, and due to the small wealth gap, there was no discrimination based on material possessions. Everyone was equally poor, and most people had jobs, whether they were workers or intellectuals. Medical care was guaranteed, and unlike today, all medical expenses were fully reimbursed by the workplace.

Moreover, Xu Junran knew that at this time, the capital was similar to the small county of Wude. Being an individual entrepreneur was not a respectable job; most individual entrepreneurs were people who had been fired from their workplaces or had no economic means and were forced to make a living, and they were often discriminated against.

However, it was precisely because of this environment that there were more opportunities to get rich.

Xu Junran turned his head and said to Lin Yuting, "Sister Yuting, I'll have a classmate arrange for you to stay in the girls' dormitory. Wait for me there while I visit my university teacher with my classmates."

Lin Yuting nodded obediently, "I understand, don't worry."

She knew very well that Xu Junran had come to the capital for important matters and couldn't afford to be held back by her.

The bus soon arrived at Jinghua University. Looking at the towering school gate, Xu Junran suddenly felt a sense of coming home.

"Sister Yuting, wait for me here, I'll go to the guardhouse."

After instructing Lin Yuting, Xu Junran walked into the guardhouse. At this time, universities were not easily accessible; one needed an introduction letter and had to specify who they were visiting. Only after receiving notification could they enter. The ivory tower was truly a sanctuary untouched by the outside world.

Lin Yuting stood quietly at the entrance, still wearing her dress. It was very hot in mid-July in the capital, and from time to time, other female students in dresses walked by. Lin Yuting curiously observed everything around her and suddenly felt a longing for the night school that Xu Junran had mentioned.

"Screech..." A Lada car stopped in front of Lin Yuting, and a man's head poked out. He looked to be in his twenties, with long hair, bell-bottom pants, and sunglasses, looking like an artist.

"Hey, beautiful, waiting for someone?"

The man's voice was somewhat frivolous.

Lin Yuting, unsure of what to do, looked at the man in the car. She wanted to say something but was intimidated by the fact that he was driving a car.

In the 1980s, private cars were rare, mostly Eastern European brands like the Polonez and Lada, priced at two to three ten-thousand yuan. High-end models like the Crown and the Duke were out of reach for private individuals. Due to the low number of cars, being a driver was a prestigious job, and driving was a skill envied by others. Driving a small car would attract many people's flattery, and taxi drivers were even more respected, driving models like the Crown, Duke, and Bluebird, with good business and high income. A man like the one in front of Lin Yuting, driving a small car, was a target of women's pursuit and admired by others.

Of course, this was only in the eyes of some people who were vain.

In Lin Yuting's eyes, this man's frivolous behavior made him seem like a bad person.

It must be admitted that women in the 1980s were much more innocent than in later times. Due to the small wealth gap, women's criteria for choosing a partner were simple: tall and handsome, with a stable job, preferably an intellectual. Having a motorcycle to ride was already very satisfying, and after marriage, they would live with the husband's parents. Just like when Xu Junran and Lin Yuting were on the bus, they saw many beautiful women who would have become instant stars in the future. These beautiful women, regardless of the weather, squeezed together with the people around them, their eyes filled with innocence. Unlike later beautiful women who were materialistic and could only be seen in luxury cars or taxis, taking pride in being a mistress. Women in the 1980s dressed simply, wearing shirts and dresses in summer, and leather shoes and down jackets in winter. Wearing a green military overcoat didn't make anyone think she was unsophisticated, a stark contrast to later times.

"I, I'm waiting for my boyfriend," Lin Yuting mustered the courage to say, her face turning red immediately.

The man was taken aback, then laughed, "Boyfriend? Haha, I wonder what kind of lucky guy can be the boyfriend of such a beautiful girl."

At that moment, a voice sounded, "What kind of person her boyfriend is has nothing to do with you. But I know you're about to get a beating!"

Turning her head, Lin Yuting saw Xu Junran walking over calmly, while the frivolous man's face turned pale.