Chapter 333 Study Abroad
Imperial University of Peking has started school.
Song Yuanchao also began his junior year of college.
Everything seemed to be the same as before, but there were also slight differences.
The biggest change, of course, is that Lin Yan is no longer around, because before the summer vacation Lin Yan went to the Ministry of Foreign Trade for an internship, and naturally she would not return to school like Song Yuanchao after school starts.
Without Lin Yan's company, there was one less couple walking around on campus, which made Song Yuanchao a little uncomfortable at first, but as time went by he gradually accepted the fact that Lin Yan was no longer on campus.
The relationship between the brothers in the dormitory is still good. From the beginning of the more than two years of college life to now, everyone has become good friends.
Among them, the three people who have the best relationship with Song Yuanchao are Sun Yaoliang, Lu Jun and Cheng Mengshan. Sun Yaoliang, needless to say, not only has a very good relationship with Song Yuanchao, but also has a very close relationship with Li Xiaoyun, Luo Yang, Xiao Qiao and others.
As for Lu Jun, after Song Yuanchao helped him to resolve his worries last time, Lu Jun was particularly grateful to Song Yuanchao, and the relationship between the two naturally became closer.
Not to mention Cheng Mengshan, who has always had a good relationship with Song Yuanchao. After two years of college life, Cheng Mengshan has changed a lot from his initial appearance. Now Cheng Mengshan is not only a student union cadre, but is also said to be planning to compete for the position of committee member this year. With the upcoming graduation of seniors from the classes of 77 and 78, and Cheng Mengshan's good performance in the student union, it is said that there is a great possibility that he will successfully compete for the position of committee member.
Pan Xiangdong and Zhang Jian have always been the dormitory's funny people. These two guys are extroverts and get along well with everyone, especially their Trump-like voices, which often make everyone laugh when they quip and tell crosstalk.
On the contrary, Lu Hairong, the youngest one, is an outlier in the dormitory. Lu Hairong is a relatively introverted person. When everyone is playing and fighting in the dormitory, he usually just sits quietly and watches, smiling shyly.
Even during class, Lu Hairong was very low-key. He often sat alone in a corner listening to the teacher's lectures and taking notes in a thick notebook. After class, he would hang out in the library and often returned to the dormitory when the lights were about to go out.
But Song Yuanchao didn't expect that this usually shy boy would find him and ask him a question shortly after school started.
"Are you planning to study abroad?" Song Yuanchao looked at Lu Hairong in surprise. He never expected that Lu Hairong would ask him this.
Lu Hairong nodded, took something out of his pocket and handed it to Song Yuanchao. Song Yuanchao took it and looked at it carefully. It was an application form for Chinese citizens to go abroad, and Lu Hairong's information was already filled in on it.
"Study abroad at your own expense?" Song Yuanchao was stunned again. This application form was for studying abroad at your own expense. Since 1979, studying abroad, which had been interrupted for more than ten years, had resumed. In recent years, many people have gone abroad through public-funded study. At the same time, with the spring breeze of reform and opening up, the country has gradually begun to have a different view on going abroad.
In the mid-to-late 1980s, with the deepening of reform and opening up, a trend of studying abroad began. This trend did not gradually subside until the mid-1990s. During this period, quite a few people went abroad to study, some at public expense and some at their own expense. However, except for a very small number, the others simply went abroad to work illegally under the banner of studying abroad to make money.
There were two very famous books in the 1990s, one was "Shanghai People in Tokyo" and the other was "Yenching People in New York". These two books described the joys and hardships of students studying (working) abroad, and moved countless Chinese people who had similar experiences with their vivid characters and true plots.
Later, these two books were made into TV series, which caused a great sensation in the country after they were broadcast. This shows the impact of the trend of going abroad on people in this era.
But now, this trend of going abroad has not really taken off, and studying abroad has just begun. Moreover, most of the students studying abroad are still publicly funded, because those who study abroad publicly funded can retain their original positions, posts or student status.
When they return from overseas study, these students will basically be given important positions and promoted to a higher level. To put it bluntly, this is a layer of "gilding". Students who have been gilded are superior from the beginning, and their future is naturally brighter.
But in reality, the proportion of students who actually study abroad at public expense and return is not high. Most of them stay abroad for one reason or another and enjoy a better life abroad.
But no matter what, studying abroad at your own expense is different from studying abroad at public expense . The country does not provide a guarantee for studying abroad at your own expense. Not only do you have to bear all the expenses yourself, but once you go abroad, you will lose your position, job in your original unit, or your student status in school, and you will have to start all over again.
In addition, the requirements for applicants for self-funded study abroad are also very high. For example, people with family backgrounds or "problematic" relatives overseas will definitely not be able to pass the application, and the review is very strict.
"You're going to graduate in two years. Why do you suddenly want to go abroad now?" Song Yuanchao handed the application form in his hand back to Lu Hairong and asked in a low voice.
"Third brother, do you think what we learned in school is useful?" Lu Hairong carefully put the application form back into his pocket, looked up and asked Song Yuanchao.
Song Yuanchao frowned slightly, looked around and pointed in one direction: "Let's go over there and talk."
Lu Hairong nodded and followed Song Yuanchao to walk away. When they reached a secluded place with few people, they found a stone chair and sat down.
After sitting down, Song Yuanchao took out a cigarette from his pocket and handed it to Lu Hairong. After lighting it, Song Yuanchao took a puff and said, "Tell me what you think."
Lu Hairong thought for a moment and said, "We are studying economics, but during our two years of college, both the textbooks and the tutoring materials are outdated. Many of the contents are still in the 1950s and 1960s of capitalist countries, but now it is the 1980s. During the years when we were stagnant, foreign countries have developed extremely rapidly, especially in the economic field. It is not an exaggeration to say that it is changing with each passing day."
"Under such circumstances, the knowledge we have learned is already outdated. No matter how well we learn, how much use can it have when facing reality? Third brother, we have learned the basic knowledge of economics in our freshman year, but apart from the basics, many aspects of economics are not static. Many things are constantly changing and developing. What do you think of this view ?"
Song Yuanchao nodded silently. He admitted that what Lu Hairong said made sense. Many of the things they were learning now were indeed outdated knowledge. Although the basics were the same, as the years of their college life passed, they had become out of touch with advanced countries in many subsequent aspects.
There is no way around it. The period from the 20th century to the beginning of the 21st century was an era of rapid development. Especially with the coming of the 21st century, changes in many aspects, including the economy, have been even greater.
The asymmetry of information and knowledge has led to the lag of school textbooks, which is unavoidable. Moreover, there is no information explosion like the 21st century. Although reform and opening up have begun, the relatively closed domestic channels for obtaining the latest information are very limited, even for college students at Beijing University.
Among the students in the dormitory, Lu Hairong can be said to be the most diligent student and also has the best grades.
Song Yuanchao's grades were considered good in his class and even in his grade, but they were still a little worse than Lu Hairong's. Moreover, the real reason why Song Yuanchao went to college was just to fulfill his wish. He did not pay too much attention to studying. In his opinion, a college diploma was not of much use to him. Besides Lin Yan, the reason he came to college was because of the expectations of his parents and elders, as well as the regrets in his previous life.
"I admit that what you said makes sense, but your choice is risky." Song Yuanchao sighed and at the same time tactfully advised Lu Hairong.
Lu Hairong said solemnly: "Of course I understand the risks, because once I make this decision, everything I have now will be gone. When I get out, I will start all over again, from scratch."
"Yes, if you can complete the last two years of study safely, at least you will get a diploma from the Imperial University. If you want to continue your studies, you can also apply for government-funded study abroad. Wouldn't that achieve your goal?"
"Third brother, I've thought about what you said, but I think it's difficult." Lu Hairong laughed self-deprecatingly: "You know my personality very well. Do you think someone like me can successfully apply for a government-funded study abroad? If it's you or Boss Cheng, they are more confident than me. Even the second, fourth, and fifth brothers have this possibility, but I..."
At this point, Lu Hairong shook his head. His words made Song Yuanchao sigh inwardly. It was true that although Lu Hairong was introverted, he was a very smart person. If he was not a smart person, how could he have been admitted to the Imperial University?
Anyone who can get into Imperial University of Peking has a high IQ, not to mention that Lu Hairong's grades are so good and he studies so hard.
But his personality was a big problem. He was introverted and shy, and had a natural weakness in dealing with strangers, which doomed Lu Hairong to be not good at socializing. Because of this, the possibility of him applying for a government-funded study abroad after graduation was extremely slim, and Lu Hairong himself understood this truth very well.
"Why are you telling me this?" Song Yuanchao suddenly asked.
"Because I think you, Third Brother, are different from others." Lu Hairong replied.
"Different?" Song Yuanchao was stunned, looking a little confused.
Lu Hairong nodded seriously: "Compared to other people, there is a feeling about you that I can't explain. It's as if you have a pair of eyes that can see through the reality and the future. I have never felt this feeling from anyone else."
Song Yuanchao's hand holding the cigarette trembled slightly. Although he appeared calm on the surface, he couldn't help but become alert in his heart. He never thought that Lu Hairong, who had little presence in normal times, actually had such delicate observation skills.
"Also, Third Brother, your attitude towards life is different from others, especially your starting point and thinking when considering problems are very different. Of course, I'm not saying that these are bad. In fact, I admire you very much, and I think that if anyone would agree with my decision, you would probably be the first one."
"This decision was not made on a whim. In fact, I had been thinking about this issue half a year ago. It was not until the new semester started a few days ago that I flipped through the newly distributed textbooks and became more determined."
Lu Hairong raised his head and looked at Song Yuanchao: "Third brother, you know I am not good at talking, and I am not sure whether my decision is really correct, but I believe in you, and I think you will give me a correct answer, so I came to you to ask you for advice. Ask you, third brother, do you think I should choose this way?"
