Humming "Young Friends Meet," He Lijuan walked briskly back to her dormitory and began packing.
Her roommate Xu Hongxia, who had returned after class, watched her pack and asked in surprise:
"Lijuan, have you really decided to go?"
"Yes, I have." He Lijuan smiled. "We're leaving tomorrow. Come on, help me pack."
He Lijuan came from a well-off family, but she was neither spoiled nor arrogant, and she never acted superior around her roommates. She was warm, generous, and fond of helping others. Of them all, Xu Hongxia had received the most help from her.
Xu Hongxia came from a rural family in the Neighboring Province. She had only managed to attend university here largely because she had a maternal uncle working in a county government office in Northern Xinjiang. The preference for sons over daughters was particularly severe where she came from. Under ordinary circumstances, she would never have been able to attend university. Her parents had planned to keep her home working after primary school, then marry her off when she was older and get some bride price in return.
When her uncle returned to visit his family, he persuaded her parents and paid for her to attend secondary school-there had been no nine-year compulsory education then. Later, he supported her in taking the university entrance exam and paid her university tuition as well.
Her uncle's family was not well-off either, so Xu Hongxia scrimped and saved at school. He Lijuan's family was comfortably situated, and she often helped He Hongxia out. The two were very close.
That was why He Lijuan had not hidden it from Xu Hongxia when she decided to go to a village in Ma County to conduct research with Professor Luo.
Xu Hongxia earnestly tried to persuade He Lijuan:
"Lijuan, I really think