Past events in Beicheng

Chapter 11

On September 27, [-], news about Berlin came from the radio—on this day the "Japan-Germany-Italy Triple Alliance" was signed, and Japan announced that it would establish a new order in Asia.

"Do you know about fascism?" Wang Yao turned up the volume of the radio.

"I don't know very well." Ivan has only heard of a few.

"Germany is already doing genocide against Jews, and the Japanese joining fascism means that they will also accept this theory, which is not exactly the same as massacre, they will carry out genocide."

Genocide, this is the new Asian order.

This is the most stressful news I have heard since the school started two months ago. Japan is really not satisfied with the current results. They not only want to destroy China, they also want to destroy the Chinese.

The action in Japan started. From that day on, apart from studying, Wang Yao would spend more time listening to the radio or reading newspapers.The situation in Europe is dismal, as is Southeast Asia.

On November 29, [-], Japan and Wang Jingwei's government formally signed the "Basic Relations Treaty between Japan and China," but this treaty that reduced China to a colony only drew verbal protests from the Kuomintang government.

Ivan turned his head to look at the silent Wang Yao, and turned off the radio.

"It seems that the results of the German army this year have greatly stimulated Japan. Except that they did not challenge the Soviet Union, they captured most of the British and French colonies this year." Ivan poured a cup of hot water for Wang Yao: "China's military strength can compete with Japan. Is it?"

Wang Yao shook his head: "It's hard to say. Judging from the news a few days ago, the Burma Road has been occupied by the Japanese army. In this case, it is difficult for the British war aid supplies to reach China. China's military imitation technology is still very primitive. Germany and Japan have already Form an alliance and will no longer provide material transactions, the current situation is very difficult to talk about."

"Do you think the Soviet Union will enter the war?"

"I don't think so."

"Why?" Ivan looked at the dark sky outside the window: "Germany has been fighting fiercely with Britain and France for a long time. Will the Soviet Union wait until the whole of Europe falls before sending troops?"

"The Soviet Union is still maintaining trade with Germany." Wang Yao handed the newspaper to Ivan. "I speculate that the Soviet leaders think that they are not ready, or that the time has not come yet."

How long can a strait keep Britain going?

Similarly, how long can a strait keep China going?

Ivan looked at the varicose veins in Wang Yao's hand from holding the teacup tightly: "Is your stomach hurting again?"

Wang Yao took a sip of hot water and nodded.

"You're under too much pressure, I'll get you medicine." Ivan opened the drawer beside his bed and started looking for medicine.

The pain of continuous convulsions forced him to lean against the head of the bed for the time being. It was pitch black outside the room, and the sound of heavy snow hitting the window reminded him of that night on Nevsky Prospekt. Those cute little snowflakes quietly fell on him. Fingertips, cute and gentle.

"What are you laughing at?" Ivan took the medicine and handed it to him.

"Me?" Wang Yao stuffed the medicine into his mouth and took a sip of water: "You said I'm under a lot of pressure, so I want to think of something happy to adjust."

"You can rest for a while." Ivan helped him pull back the quilt.

Wang Yao didn't object, took off his coat, and curled up under the quilt.The dazzling light was turned off, and through the light from the desk lamp, Wang Yao saw Ivan's back lying in front of the desk - he opened his book and opened a notebook.

"Thank you."

Ivan didn't look back: "You don't need to thank me, it's because Russian is too difficult."

"Wake me up in half an hour, okay?"

"Okay." Ivan glanced at the clock in front of him.

In the dream, Wang Yao knew it was a dream, because he was sitting in the cafe, looking out the window, his body was light, without pain or burden.The cafe was empty, and the street was empty, and he just looked out the window, as if expecting something.

But the street has been so empty, no one came over.

Finally, he felt cold and a little lonely.

It turned out that this is loneliness.

"Wang Yao?"

"Huh?" Wang Yao opened his eyes and saw Ivan sitting beside his bed: "Is it half an hour?"

"You don't need to get up, I've already finished reading for you. Although it's in German, you can read it slowly after you return to China." Ivan helped him tighten the corner of the quilt: "Go to sleep."

Wang Yao saw him standing up, turned off the desk lamp, and walked to the bathroom.

The clock is still ticking, the dark ceiling is the only scenery.There was the sound of water in the bathroom, and then the sound of water disappeared. After a short sound of footsteps, the weak light in the bathroom also disappeared, and it is now completely dark.Wang Yao tried hard to hear the sound of the other party's breathing, but the wind and snow were too loud, covering everything.

Am I complaining?Wang Yao questioned himself.

He felt that the effect of the medicine had taken effect, and the unbearable pain gradually disappeared, replaced by depression and exhaustion.

In the dark, he raised his wrist to look at his watch, but couldn't tell the time, so he had to retract his hand under the quilt again and change his posture.How to fall asleep?Weary man.Wang Yao sighed, he remembered a poem he saw in the corner of the newspaper:

'Are you going on a long journey?

A traveler, a lonely traveler.

Why did you choose to run around?

Is it because of love or because the dream is on the other side?

I ask you, traveler,

lonely traveler,

Why do you have a sad face?

Already chosen but sad?

give me your hand

traveller

Why do you bother to answer?

i give you a flower

if it withers

You have been forgotten by me. '

He recited it once in the dark, and recited it again in his heart, feeling the pain in his stomach gradually moving upwards.After another change of position, the drowsiness of drowsiness finally overwhelmed everything.

So tired, so tired, I have to go to sleep, to sleep.

When I woke up, it was another day, and [-] was almost over.

Christmas is approaching, and the festive atmosphere has not been affected by the war. Leningrad is filled with cheerful emotions. Wang Yao even received a Christmas card from Professor Belyayev.

Ivan was going back to Moscow this year. Before he left, he went to the school hospital to get a pack of stomach medicine and put it on the desk. He pressed a small note to remind Wang Yao not to forget to eat.

Holding the small note, Wang Yao glanced at the calendar next to him. Today is December [-]th, so he left without saying goodbye.

Wang Yao put away his stomach medicine and took out his Christmas card. He needed to write a word of blessing, but what should he write?Been thinking about it for a long time – Merry Christmas?

So be it.

Torres came to invite Wang Yao to the Christmas party on behalf of their class, because this year is their last year in school, and everyone will graduate next summer, so this Christmas is very important.

"Come to our New Year's party, Comrade Wang Yao," Torres also brought his greeting card: "January [-]st is already a holiday, you will not have classes, right? There will be a small reception in the auditorium in the evening, Several female students from Leningrad University will attend."

"But I can't dance."

"Come on! Come on! Comrade Wang Yao! You are the only teacher we want to invite! You must come!" Torres stuffed the invitation card into Wang Yao's hand: "You must come."

Torres ran away, still waving.

Wang Yao put the invitation card in the book and waved to him: "Okay, thank you."

Back in the dormitory, Wang Yao had to shovel the snow clean first. The single-person dormitory building is indeed inconvenient, and that's it.Wang Yao patiently cleaned the gate bit by bit.

"Hello! Comrade Wang Yao?"

Wang Yao turned his head and saw a blonde girl: "Hello, I am."

"Hello, do you remember me?" The blonde girl blushed.

"you are?"

"I'm the nurse who gave you cold medicine."

Ah, Comrade Aspirin, Wang Yao remembered, he stretched out his hand and shook the nurse girl: "Sorry, I remembered, what can I do for you?"

The nurse's face became even redder, and she paused for a moment: "Can you come to our school hospital's Christmas ball?"

"Oh," looking at the invitation card in her hand, Wang Yao understood: "Well, I'm sorry, another class invited me to their reception before, and I have already agreed."

The disappointed expression of the nurse girl made Wang Yao very embarrassed: "Well, you, this is, haven't you found a dance partner yet? Hehe, I can't dance well. Chinese people are not very good at dancing, and the place where I studied abroad was not How, how do you think of me?"

I did not deliberately think of you, Chinese comrades, the nurse girl was not very happy to hear this sentence: "That day your friend came to help you get the medicine, I asked him, he said that you have no dance partner, and told me your address."

"I'm sorry, that's the first class I teach, so I've already promised them." Wang Yao was thinking about apologizing, but the disappointed expression of the nurse girl was too guilty, so he had to change his words: "Look at this Is it okay? After your party is over, I will pick you up and take you home?"

The nurse girl weighed it over and over again, so she nodded: "Then you must remember to come."

Seeing the back of the nurse girl going away, Wang Yao hurried back to the dormitory and closed the door. Looking at the second invitation card in his hand, he couldn't help complaining—Ivan, what have you done! ?

The New Year is coming as scheduled.

The receptions in the Soviet Union were much more noisy than those in Germany. Maybe after just a few drinks, the officers and boys jumped up happily.I have to say that the reception that Wang Yao participated in was probably the best reception in the whole school. Although this is a school without girls, basically all the girls from the literature department of Leningrad University were present.

Wang Yao sat by the Christmas tree, hoping to find some non-alcoholic drinks to drink.

At the end of the song, Nicholas ran over: "Teacher Wang Yao, don't you have a partner? There happened to be a girl over there who asked me about you."

Wang Yao saw that there was indeed a girl at the other end of the dance floor, holding a wine glass, and gestured gracefully to him.

"Sorry, Nicholas, I have a dance partner, but she is in another venue, please help me refuse, thank you, it's getting late, I may have to pick her up."

Nicholas opened his mouth wide in surprise: "Teacher Wang Yao! You are so amazing!"

"Well, I'm very good!" Wang Yao smiled secretly: "Come on, help me hold the wine, don't worry about me."

Wang Yao stood up, ready to squeeze out of the venue.

It was January again, and Wang Yao listened to the creaking sound of the snow beside his feet.The street lights were a bit dim, because it was still early, and there were almost no people on the road. Wang Yao recalled the location of the nurse girl's meeting place for a while, and decided to go there first and wait.

The two venues were not far away, Wang Yao found a seat with street lights and sat down.I have to say that his behavior was a little weird. Except for a few people who were rushing to the banquet on the road, no one would choose to sit in the ice and snow.

Wang Yao pushed away the snow on the bench and sat down decisively. He began to stare at the white snow in front of him in a daze, as if this was a meaningful thing.

The cheerful music from various venues mixed together, noisy but not annoying, very interesting, Wang Yao said to himself.

"Comrade Wang Yao! Is that you?"

It might be a coincidence, the nurse girl just came out to see her girlfriend, but unexpectedly she saw Wang Yao sitting under the street lamp.

"Ah, yes." Wang Yao stood up.

"You came too early," the nurse girl was a little surprised: "How long have you been waiting?"

As she spoke, a group of girls of her age rushed over.

"Lisa, he is the Chinese you mentioned."

"Not bad, it looks good."

"It's much better than the one just now..."

The little girls started booing, and the girl named Lisa blushed immediately: "Okay, okay, I have to go back first."

Everyone roared with laughter, and someone who was interested had already passed on her coat.

What could be more satisfying than showing off your male companion in front of your girlfriend, Wang Yao took Lisa's hand wittily and put it in his arms: "Then ladies, we'll be leaving first, excuse me."

Lisa grabbed the sleeve of his coat, her heart was pounding, she felt that the progress was a bit fast, a bit unexpected to her.

"Thank you." At this moment, Lisa regretted that her home was too close to the school: "My house lives on the third floor, thank you."

"No, it's my honor to see you off." Wang Yao shook hands with her to say goodbye.

"Then, are you free tomorrow?" Lisa asked bravely.

"It's like this," Wang Yao said with an unchanged smile on his face, "I'm sorry, Lisa, you are a very beautiful girl, very beautiful, but I'm sorry, I already have a fiancée in China. Today's A very pleasant evening, thank you for your kindness, and good night."

Lisa froze, staring blankly at each other.

Wang Yao patted her shoulder lightly: "Lisa, it's okay, go upstairs, it's cold, go up, I'll watch you go up, okay?"

"I..." Lisa thought for a while, "Thank you."

After Lisa said this, she ran upstairs quickly. She wanted to shed tears a little bit, but she didn't in the end. She just felt a little regretful. She stood in the corridor and watched the man downstairs waving to her. Gradually go away, I really feel a little regretful.

The snow is gradually falling, and the school dance is still going on. Wang Yao walks slowly back to the dormitory through the snow. Leningrad is brightly lit, and the crowd cheers from time to time on the street. Wang Yao looks at his watch—ten o'clock, early morning There may be fireworks - just remember to draw the curtains before going to sleep.

When he walked downstairs, he glanced upstairs, it was pitch black, of course it was pitch black.

After opening the big iron gate, Wang Yao shook the snow off his body, walked into the dormitory building, touched the handrail of the stairs, and began to walk up slowly.The circular staircase made people dizzy, so when he walked to the door of the dormitory, Wang Yao narrowed his eyes carefully to confirm the door number.

With a click, the lock opened, and Wang Yao pushed the door and walked in.

"Ah?" In the dark room, a person suddenly stood up: "So early? You're back?"

"Ivan?" Wang Yao pulled the light on: "You? Why are you back? Why don't you turn on the light?"

"I, that," Ivan waved his hand casually: "I just bought a train ticket and came back. What about you, didn't you go to the dance?"

"Well, well, I went for a while."

"Abandoned by a dance partner?"

"Yes, I was abandoned by my partner." Wang Yao put down his hat, and suddenly laughed at himself.

"She's still chasing after me to ask," Ivan also began to laugh at him: "I thought she had been paying attention to you for a long time."

"Maybe it's because you don't have a dance partner temporarily that you think of me?"

"Then why didn't she invite me?"

"What are you holding?" Wang Yao didn't answer him, just pointed to the envelope in his hand and asked.

"Oh?" Ivan remembered what was in his hand: "Isn't this the greeting card you gave me?"

"Do you like it? Torres and the others helped me choose together."

"I like it, but why didn't you send it to me?" Ivan pointed to the stamp on the envelope.

"I don't know your address in Moscow."

"..."

"..."

"It's so late, what time do you go to bed?" Wang Yao felt that it was a bit wrong for the two of them to stand together like this.

"Me? Me, you go wash first." Ivan sat back in front of the desk and stuffed his greeting card into the book.

"Okay." Wang Yao took off his coat and walked into the bathroom.

After the bathroom door was closed, Ivan took out the card again and pulled it out of the envelope. He knew there was only one sentence in it, and he had read it for two hours, but he opened it anyway. .

"Merry Christmas," Ivan repeated.

He read it 96 more times before the sound of water in the bathroom disappeared.

"It's your turn." Wang Yao wiped his hair and pushed open the bathroom door.

"Hmm." Ivan bypassed Wang Yao and walked in quickly.

Ivan washed quickly. Before he went to bed and turned off the light, he glanced at Wang Yao—the man with his back turned to him seemed to have fallen asleep.

Well, Ivan also got under the quilt and lay face down. He looked at the wall and counted the number of radiators, over and over again.

I don't know how long the night has passed.

A scream suddenly pierced the sky, and the gorgeous fire light came in through the window!

Fireworks!

New Year's fireworks!

Ivan didn't dare to move, he just looked at the brilliant colors on the window glass, changing, one, one, and another.