Chapter 19

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Chapter 19: Welcome Dinner for Newcomers

The entire school was vast, featuring a small airport just outside the suburbs of Changchun City. If it weren’t for the airline’s dedicated vehicle, Lin Mo would have spent quite a bit of time finding this place.

With his registration notice, Lin Mo took nearly twenty minutes to walk around the large campus before arriving at the registration point, after his luggage was carefully checked by the gatekeeper.

“Lin Mo, here’s your dormitory number and meal card. Over the next week, you’ll undergo a psychological assessment and a physical fitness test. If you don’t pass, you might still be sent back,” a Mediterranean-style, slightly balding man in his fifties confirmed Lin Mo’s information while reviewing it.

“Understood!” Lin Mo felt as if he had returned to the moment he was selected for the Dragon Knight preparatory team.

“Go out, turn right for a hundred meters, then left at the intersection, and you’ll find building 15,” the older man noted, sensing that this young man was unusually calm and hesitant to speak, unlike others who were brimming with excitement during registrations.

“Thank you!” Lin Mo kept his words to a minimum, carrying half a box of luggage and half a box of books. He knew it was good to be cautious until he fully adapted to this new world.

Navigating the labyrinth-like campus again, Lin Mo found his dorm room on the top floor of building 15, room 722. As he opened the door with his key, a wave of warmth hit him, far more comfortable than the southern regions, thanks to the northern heating system.

“Hi! Hello! Welcome, welcome!” A young man, about Lin Mo’s age, with dark skin, wearing a basketball jersey and shorts, was juggling a basketball in the room. The only other bed in the room had a basketball hoop hanging on the wall, and a laptop was blasting energetic rock music.

Seeing Lin Mo enter, the young man immediately dropped the basketball, rushed over, and grabbed Lin Mo’s luggage to help him settle in while chattering away: “I’m Lei Dong! I’m from Qinhuangdao and just arrived a few days ago. This dorm only has two people, so that means it’s just you and me. My friends call me Dongzi; you can call me that too! If I didn’t know anyone here, I would be so lonely! I love rock music and basketball—do you like them too? It would be awesome if you do! But if you don’t, I hope I won’t disturb you too much. I promise I won’t be annoying. Don’t let my look fool you; I’m not a bad person. I mean, how could I be a pilot if I was involved in something shady? I have a clean background!”

The young man, with his tanned skin and large, bright eyes, spoke rapidly without pausing, giving himself a good-character card in the process.

“Hello, I’m Lin Mo!” Lin Mo smiled at the young man. Feeling the lively and friendly nature of Lei Dong, he figured he wouldn’t be too lonely here.

“I hope I’m not taking too much space; my luggage is just so much. My dad made me bring all of it, and I couldn’t leave my beloved basketball behind either. I even brought it inflated because losing the feel, it’s just not the same!” Lei Dong, chatterbox that he was, promptly cleared some space on another desk for Lin Mo.

“Thank you! I can manage!” Lin Mo had a good first impression of this cheerful peer and began to unpack and set up his bed.

The room might not have been large, but it certainly felt spacious enough for both Lei Dong and Lin Mo. The warm radiator by the window continually provided heat, and even the bathrooms had radiators beneath the windows. It was so warm that they could comfortably wear summer clothes inside.

Knock, knock, knock! Someone knocked on the door.

“722! Dongzi, I heard we have a newcomer. Let’s all have dinner tonight and get to know each other!” came a voice from outside.

“Coming, coming! Wow, Ma Chen doesn’t come without a reason!” Lei Dong nimbly skipped over obstacles like a monkey, then opened the door. He turned and said to Lin Mo, “Lin Mo! This is our dorm leader, Chen Haiqing. He’s a great guy; you can ask him about any little problems. We all call him Ma Chen!”

“Hello! I’m Lin Mo!” Lin Mo set down his belongings and moved to stand next to Lei Dong, spotting a fair-skinned young man outside who was smiling while observing him. Lin Mo continued, “I’ll take the lead in organizing dinner tonight. I’m not familiar with nearby places, so I’ll ask Brother Chen to help choose a restaurant.” He understood that having solid social connections was essential in this world.

“Don’t be polite; just call me Haiqing! Tonight, I’ll treat you; I’m the dorm leader, so I can’t let you pay. Think of it as the group welcoming you! There’s a great Korean dog meat restaurant nearby; I’ll arrange everything! I came a few days earlier, so I know the area quite well,” said Chen Haiqing, whose sharp eyes complemented his handsome features. He exuded a charming aura and seemed like a natural organizer.

Lin Mo was surprised to receive such a warm welcome so soon after arriving. Being chosen as the dorm leader among 47 specially recruited pilots suggested that Chen Haiqing was quite exceptional himself.

“Lin Mo! Don’t be shy! Our Ma Chen is quite a character—a typical rich second-generation guy, extravagantly rich! His dad is the chairman and president of a huge conglomerate. When he came to school for registration, he rolled in with a Maserati parked just behind the dorm. He’s incredibly generous—big banquets every three days and small ones every two. I haven’t even had to use my meal card that much! Everyone jokes that Ma Chen is fattening us up before winter, so we can expect to be trimmed down come spring!” Lei Dong, sounding like he had attended many such welcome dinners before, chuckled without hesitation, eagerly anticipating the restaurant Chen Haiqing had suggested.

“Thanks for treating us, dorm leader Chen!” Upon hearing Lei Dong’s introduction and understanding the type of person Chen Haiqing was, Lin Mo decided that he couldn’t refuse the offer. Rejecting someone’s kindness would likely hurt their feelings, so he accepted graciously: “I’ll leave it all to you, dorm leader Chen.”

“Great! Brother Lin is such a straightforward person; I like that!” Chen Haiqing smiled, showing approval as he patted Lin Mo’s shoulder. “Just wait. I’ll come to get you all around five. I’m in room 701; feel free to find me anytime.”

Just two blocks from the aviation university’s main gate, there was a small Korean restaurant that was open for business when more than forty young people poured in, filling the restaurant to capacity. The owner, dressed in traditional attire, hurriedly instructed his staff to clear space for four low tables on the tatami mats.

“Boss, let’s order!” Since they couldn’t find enough room on the bus or get enough taxis, Chen Haiqing, the dorm leader, led the way for a two-block walk, switched to slippers, and stepped onto the Korean tatami, quickly filling four tables with returning diners.

Menus adorned with colorful pictures were brought in. Chen Haiqing distributed them, cheerfully announcing, “Come on, take a look, choose what you like! This place has some special dishes, and it’s the closest we’ve got since the larger restaurants are far away. Just feel free to order!” He snapped his fingers and added, “Oh, and make sure to start with four pots of dog meat—super large portions! Count the number of people at the table.”

The young waitress hurriedly set up bowls and chopsticks and brought out boiled peanuts to help with the initial hunger.

Everyone ordered freely and eagerly, as the menu not only featured Korean dishes but also regular home-style meals and northeast specialties, like chicken stewed with mushrooms, northeast-style cold noodles, and pickled cabbage.

After ordering, Chen Haiqing stood up to announce, “Now let’s welcome our new student, Lin Mo! Come on, let’s see a show of hands! You’ll all be flying together in the skies from now on!” His gaze swept toward Lin Mo, who was sitting nearby.

“Hello everyone! I’m Lin Mo, from Hangzhou, and I love the sky! Especially the feeling of freely chasing the wind and clouds,” Lin Mo spoke briefly, sparking a round of applause from the group, as every aspiring pilot shared the dream of soaring through the blue skies.

“Well said! That really hits home! Everyone, let’s introduce ourselves to Lin Mo and get to know him!” Chen Haiqing skillfully managed the atmosphere, recognizing that even the school leaders at the aviation university would have never expected such a unique and organized individual to emerge from this group of students. In only a few days, he had already brought the forty new students together, and no one showed any signs of feeling out of place. It was as if everyone was already familiar with each other, seamlessly integrating into the new community.

Chen Haiqing nodded to a young man beside Lin Mo, who grinned and stood up, “I’m Fang Weitao, from Taizhou, Zhejiang! Welcome, Lin Mo!”

“I’m Ma Yan, from Xi’an Jiaotong University in Shaanxi!” the next person chimed in, waving. Then another person stood slightly, “I’m Chen Shanshan, from Hainan University.”

One by one, each student introduced themselves in a clockwise manner, and even a few female students joined in amongst the crowd. After several gatherings like this, everyone became familiar enough to recognize each other’s names, and soon the atmosphere was lively and filled with laughter.