Chapter 266

Because Hou Yong and his companions wore their school badges while running their stalls, and because Reporter Qian had specifically highlighted their status as "university students," it did not take long for observant people to figure out they were from Jing University. In this day and age, any topic related to "university students" or "iron rice bowls" automatically generated immense traffic. Although later generations would joke that "those building missiles earn less than those selling tea eggs," the state’s policies on economic development had not yet fully opened up, and people remained deeply obsessed with the concept of the "iron rice bowl"—a sentiment that would persist well into the 90s. Furthermore, university students were considered the "pride of heaven." Many of their peers at school believed that Hou Yong and his friends were neglecting their proper duties by running stalls. They felt that university students should focus on their studies, and that engaging in such petty commerce was a total disgrace.