Frankfurt University, one of Germany's top ten universities, established in 1914, boasts nearly 40,000 registered students. With no tuition fees for public universities in Germany, students benefit from discounts on work and travel. Frankfurt, often called "Manhattan on the Rhine," is a financial empire with a cosmopolitan allure that attracts students from over a hundred countries, making it the German university with the highest proportion of international students.
The biggest expenses for students in Germany are rent and food. Rui Xiaodan, however, would save on both by staying at her family's hotel and working there, naturally spending time with her mother. Thus, studying at Frankfurt University was the most cost-effective and sensible choice.
Driving to the study abroad office at Frankfurt University, Xiaodan parked her car and took her application materials into the large office filled with staff and prospective students, some being attended to while others waited their turn.
After waiting for about 20 minutes, a staff member checked her registration number and application record, then asked for her documents. Xiaodan submitted her files, including the Chinese Police University admission certificate, university diploma, German language course certificate, passport and permanent residence visa copies, tax certificate, social insurance certificate, personal resume, Frankfurt City Hall notarized copy, lawyer's license, and application forms for the university and desired program.
The staff reviewed the documents and asked, "You've chosen the winter semester of October 1998 for enrollment. Are you sure the date is correct? Is it October 1997 or 1998?"
Xiaodan confirmed, "Yes, it's for the winter semester of October 1998, next year."
The staff said, "Alright, you can leave your application materials here. We'll send a response to your address within 30 days. If accepted, we'll send you an admission notice two months before your start date."
Xiaodan thanked them and left.
Outside, she felt a sense of vast freedom and contentment, her eyes reflecting warmth and satisfaction. Although confident in meeting the study abroad criteria, she was unsure if the university would accept her deferred enrollment application. If they didn't, she'd have to reapply next year, a tedious process. This way, she gained another year with Ding Yuanying, another year of happiness.
Driving through the streets of Frankfurt, the cool breeze tousling her hair, she headed towards one of Frankfurt's larger music stores, the Idan Music Supermarket.
At the Idan Music Supermarket, she found a parking spot and entered the multi-story store filled with music products from famous labels worldwide. The well-designed layout and clear signage provided a comfortable shopping experience. For any music enthusiast, this place was akin to paradise.
She quickly located a two-part documentary on the history of the Berlin Wall. Although possibly pricier than those sold at the Berlin Wall tourist site, this version was likely of the best quality. The documentary, narrated in German, was no issue for her or Ding Yuanying.
After purchasing the VCDs, Xiaodan continued browsing the store. The top-tier shopping environment and premium records came with top-tier prices, each album costing over 150 RMB. Despite her interest, she found nothing else she particularly wanted.
Leaving the store, she drove for about half an hour to a flea market. Open only once a week, this otherwise quiet street bustled with activity on market day. Finding no parking inside, she parked nearby and walked a few minutes to the market.
Familiar with this market from previous visits, Xiaodan enjoyed browsing without a specific goal. The low prices, reputedly for smuggled goods or unique items brought by students and workers from their home countries, added to the charm. Many stalls were simple setups with a cloth on the ground displaying a few items.
At one stall, she found a dark yellow casual men's jacket with a simple design and thick fabric, priced at 35 Marks. She felt the color, style, and material were nearly perfect. After trying on the smallest size, which was slightly big but acceptable, she negotiated with the vendor and bought two for 50 Marks.
Wandering into the market's cultural section, she perused old record players, records, posters, and magazines. She stopped at a record stall, looking for interesting old records.
The vendor, a German youth with a distinctive appearance—long hair, glasses, a small sleeveless denim jacket, and oversized pants—noticed her interest and asked, "Miss, what kind of music do you like? I can recommend something."
Spotting a well-known LD video disc nicknamed "Black Old Man," she saw it was priced at 170 Marks and decided against it despite its fame and rarity.
The vendor then offered her an LD titled "The Bleeding Wall," featuring a live performance by the Midnight Brothers on the ruins of the Berlin Wall, calling it a collectible.
Xiaodan, uninterested, said, "Maybe it's great, but it's not for me."
The vendor, confident, insisted, "How do you know it's not good if you haven't watched it? These are all treasures."
Xiaodan explained, "I've listened to their live concert CD."
Surprised, the vendor asked, "What's wrong with it?"
Xiaodan clarified, "I didn't say it was bad. I just said it might be good, but I don't appreciate it. I can't tell if the Berlin Wall benefits from the Midnight Brothers or vice versa."
Realizing she was knowledgeable, the vendor hesitated, then pulled out a CD titled "Unforgettable Day," featuring five instrumental and seven vocal tracks, all variations of the song "Gloomy Sunday." It felt substantial and well-crafted, originally priced at 35 Marks in 1994.
Recognizing the rarity, Xiaodan mentioned, "I've heard several versions online."
The vendor, dismissive of MP3 quality, boasted, "MP3s can't capture the soul-stirring essence. This CD features the most classic renditions of 'Gloomy Sunday,' a globally limited release of 200,000 copies. You won't find it in any store. It's soul-shaking, and I even considered if selling it to you would endanger your life."
Xiaodan asked, "Have you listened to it?"
The vendor affirmed, "Of course."
Xiaodan, assured, said, "Then there's no problem." She inspected the disc for scratches, found none, and handed the vendor 35 Marks, saying, "I'll buy it."
The vendor shook his head, "I can't even get it for that price. It's at least 70 Marks."
Despite the doubled price, equating to over 300 RMB, Xiaodan hesitated but ultimately bought it.