Chapter 44 The Awakening of the NEET Generation 2

At this point in time, it was right when the original Ren Xin had just started college. She saw that her roommates all had their parents accompany them, but her own parents, in order to save on train fare and put away a bit more money for her living expenses, had decided to let her come to school on her own.

That became the first straw that broke her.

But Ren Xin was always optimistic. Carrying big and small bags, she boldly pushed open the dormitory door, greeting the classmates who had already arrived with genuine warmth.

“Hello, everyone! I’m Ren Xin. You can call me Xinxin. I’m majoring in mathematics. It’s great to meet all of you~”

The others in the room responded enthusiastically and began introducing themselves.

Everyone got to know each other. Some parents took out local specialties to share, politely asking everyone to look after their child.

Ren Xin didn’t stand on ceremony, eating whatever was offered to her. She also took apples out of her own luggage bag.

“My family doesn't have any special local treats. These are apples from the tree in my yard, they’re especially tasty. Try them!”

Everyone was touched by Ren Xin’s simple and optimistic attitude. They cheerfully exchanged homemade gifts.

They noticed that the clothes Ren Xin wore were a little worn, and the things she took out weren’t fancy either. It seemed her family wasn’t well off. They made a mental note to look out for her more in the future.

After tidying up her luggage, Ren Xin called her parents on her phone.

“Mom, Dad, I’ve arrived. You don’t need to worry. The campus is beautiful—it’s a pity you couldn’t come and see it yourselves. I’ll try to take some photos and show you when I come home for the holidays…”

Her parents hurried to say yes, reminding her to take care of her health, not to focus only on her studies, and to get along well with her classmates…

They talked for a long time until her mom, worried about the phone bill, told her to hang up if there was nothing else.

The dormmates’ parents gradually left, and the six girls were left looking at one another until suddenly laughter broke out.

Having left their parents behind, it felt as though they had become adults. Now they could arrange their own lives, no longer having to listen to their parents’ nagging…

Orientation, military training, all manner of campus clubs…

Even with so many things going on, Ren Xin adapted well. Besides keeping up with her academics and managing various miscellaneous affairs, she also found herself a part-time job at a coffee shop, working by the hour.

The wages were settled daily, coworkers were easy to get along with, and the work wasn’t hard. When she’d saved a little, she found herself another part-time job at a cake shop.

Ren Xin was attractive, had a sweet smile, and spoke gently. Lots of aunties and kids liked her, and some people, even if they hadn’t planned on buying anything, would be tempted by Ren Xin’s enthusiastic recommendations and decide to buy a little something to try.

So the cake shop owner was especially fond of her, paying her a bit more than others.

With Ren Xin busy making money, she didn’t have much time to join in dorm activities, and over time, a bit of a distance grew between her and the others.

They didn’t have anything against Ren Xin, but they weren’t close to her either, that was all.

Ren Xin didn’t mind. She wasn’t there to make friends, anyway. She was here to make her parents happy.

After saving up for two months, Ren Xin bought her parents trendy, sturdy, good-looking clothes from the city, thick cotton shoes, and delicious foods they’d never tasted before.

After mailing everything home, she called her parents to tell them that once the parcel arrived, they could go to the township to pick it up.

“You spent money to buy us things again? Did you end up shortchanging yourself? If you have money, buy yourself some pretty clothes. You’re at the age to enjoy yourself, you should go out and have fun with your classmates…”

Ren Xin sweet-talked freely, as though kind words cost nothing. “Don’t worry, this is money I earned from my part-time jobs. I wanted to spend it on you, not myself. I treat myself well, and I’m keeping up with my studies too. When I get the chance, I’ll finish all the certificate exams I need—I’ll show you when they’re done. You both need to eat well too, don’t keep holding back. You’ve got to live long lives so you can enjoy the blessings of having me as your daughter.”

Her mom and dad kept agreeing, and after they hung up, both had tears in their eyes.

Father Ren smiled and said, “We have such a good daughter, truly a blessing…”

Mother Ren wiped her eyes and said nothing. Since their daughter was so sensible and told them to take care of themselves, tonight they would cut some meat and have something nice to eat.

When the package Ren Xin mailed arrived and Father Ren brought it home, the entire mountain village was abuzz. After all, Ren Xin was the first college student their village ever produced—she really had made something of herself.

“I heard that Ren Xin is amazing. She takes on part-time jobs to earn money and won’t spend it on herself. She bought good things for her parents—she’s truly filial. How did her parents raise her to be like this? Sensible, smart, so thrifty…”

— Translator's Notes —

– certificate exams: Refers to the 'certificate craze' (kǎozhèng rè) in Chinese higher education, where students pursue numerous professional and skill-based certifications (such as English CET-4/6, computer proficiency, or accounting licenses) to improve their resumes.

– military training: Mandatory military training (jūnxùn) is a standard requirement for all incoming university students in China. It typically lasts 2–4 weeks at the start of the first year and focuses on discipline, drills, and collective identity.