"Did you ask me to call home just to talk about money?" After a moment of silence, Father Dong spoke first.
"It's about school. Don't you already know that German universities have started to require AP certificates? I have already sent two application materials. I want you to send another (application material) from Beijing. Isn't this more convenient? Is it safer? The AP review department is over at Liangmaqiao. I have sent the address to your email. I also left some personal materials for applying to German universities at home. They are in the third or fourth drawer on the left side of my desk. inside……"
Dong Qiangqiang suddenly remembered that his parents had moved, and he didn't know if his old desk was still there. He stopped unconsciously mid-sentence.
"So just send your materials to the AP review department? Do you need me to do anything else? Then will they ask you to come back for an interview or will they send you the review certificate?" Father Dong asked a barrage of questions. was thrown over.
"I don't know now whether the other party will let me go back for an interview or send me the audit certificate," Dong Qiangqiang said honestly, "I can only send the materials first. By the way, you can indicate in the materials that I am already here Overseas, I wonder if writing like this would be useful.”
"Then when is the best time for me to send it?" Dong's father was afraid of delaying Dong Qiangqiang's affairs, so he couldn't wait to ask, "Today?"
"According to its notice, it will only officially open for business on July 1, so you can send it on the 28th or 29th. Anyway, it is fast to send a few materials to the same city in Beijing."
"Then I won't send it. If it gets lost, things will be delayed." Father Dong was impatient and immediately came up with his own solution. "Didn't you give me the address? I'll send the materials directly and ask him in person. How do they deal with a situation like yours?"
Dong Qiangqiang felt that his father's idea was indeed more stable and immediately agreed. But after agreeing, the two fell into silence at the same time.
Time passed by minute by second. Dong Qiangqiang didn't want to continue wasting phone bills, so he mustered up the courage to ask: "Dad, I want to ask you something."
Father Dong gave a noncommittal "hmm".
"Did you and mom... move?"
Father Dong seemed to have expected that Dong Qiangqiang would ask this question. He replied lightly: "This matter... we thought about it before talking to you for a while."
Seeing that his father neither scolded him nor denied or covered up, Dong Qiangqiang was slightly surprised and continued to ask: "Last time you said that all the family's debts were paid off? Is there any connection between these two things?"
"After I discussed it with your mother," Father Dong said calmly, "I sold the old house."
What he was most worried about finally happened. Dong Qiangqiang took a deep breath and asked anxiously: "Why did you sell the house? Then where do you and your mother live now?"
"Part of the money from selling the house is used to pay back the money you borrowed from relatives and friends when you went abroad, part is used to pay the down payment for the second-hand house, and part is used to pay for your mother's medical treatment."
"Mom is hospitalized?" Dong Qiangqiang was shocked again and blurted out, "What happened to her? What disease? When? Is it serious? Which hospital is she in? How is she doing now?"
"Don't be impatient, listen to me." Father Dong comforted her with kind words, "Your mother's illness is not serious, but during the physical examination, it was found that her heart may not be in good condition. Just in case, I will have her hospitalized for a thorough examination." It gives me peace of mind. Besides, there are so many good hospitals in Beijing, so we chose one that is close to home and is very convenient to move around."
"Then..." Dong Qiangqiang's mind went blank, "Should I go back to see you and mom now? It's very cost-effective for me to buy air tickets here..."
"Nonsense!" Dong's father suddenly yelled on the phone, causing the receiver to buzz. "Can you be more mature like an adult?"
"When I go back, I can not only see you and mom, but also go to the AP review department." Dong Qiangqiang mustered up the courage to say, "It's like killing two birds with one stone. How can it be considered nonsense?"
Dong's father immediately interrupted Dong Qiangqiang's words and said in a stern tone: "Listen to me, your task now is to concentrate on preparing to keep up with university-related matters. Don't worry about other things. Do you understand?"
"But..." Dong Qiangqiang couldn't help but want to defend himself.
"There are no 'buts'. Remember, you are an adult now, and you should think more carefully about things. Have you forgotten what I told you before going abroad? Be calm when facing big events. Don't rush into something. My son is frizzy, and that won't make a big deal." Dong's father said coldly, "You don't need to come back, your mother and I don't need it now, we can take care of ourselves. Study hard, live a good life, and work hard to graduate. This is what we do. Something you should do.”
Listening to Dong's father's tone, he seemed to want to hang up the phone right away. Dong Qiangqiang hurriedly shouted: "If you don't let me go back, then you must at least tell me the contact information at home? Just in case... in case the AP has the result or at home If there is anything else, I can contact you and Mom."
Father Dong thought for a while and said: "The landline has not been installed in our new home yet. I will send my mobile phone number to your email later. But remember, only call if you have something important to do. Don't keep calling if you have nothing to do. It's just wasting your time. !”
Dong Qiangqiang thought that it would be easier if he had a mobile phone. He could always find a reason to call home. He didn't insist on it at the moment and changed his words: "Then you go to the AP and give me a call after asking."
"Let me say it one last time: Don't send money to your family anymore. You have many places to use money, and your mother and I have enough money." Although Dong's father was strict, the concern behind his words made Dong Qiangqiang. I couldn't help but have a sore nose.
"That's it, take care of yourself." After teaching Dong Qiangqiang a lesson, Dong's father didn't even exchange greetings for a second and hung up the phone.
After Dong Qiangqiang calmed down a little, he called Lu Wei's parents.
An old female voice with a Sichuan accent asked: "Is it Xiaowei?"
"Hello, aunt, I am Lu Wei's classmate in Germany. My name is Dong Qiangqiang." Dong Qiangqiang replied hurriedly, "She asked me to call you."
"Who are you?" A crackling noise came from the phone. Mother Lu's ear was not good, so she could hear it intermittently.
"I am Lu Wei's classmate in Germany," Dong Qiangqiang repeated slowly, word by word, "My name is Dong Qiangqiang."
"Oh, a classmate from Germany, but I've never heard Xiaowei mention you." Mother Lu asked carefully, "What's the matter with you?"
"That's it," Dong Qiangqiang said out the words he had thought of, "Lu Wei started an internship in a well-known German company this week. Because the position was obtained suddenly, she didn't have time to call you and uncle, and she might also She won't be able to call home for a long time."
"Internship? Where do you think she is going to intern?" Mother Lu seemed to doubt Dong Qiangqiang's words, "Why don't they let her make phone calls?"
Dong Qiangqiang was afraid of saying too much, so he quickly changed the subject: "Have you received the money she asked me to remit to you? The payee should be your name, right, Aunt Fu?"
"Oh, I got it, I got it, was it you who remitted the money?" Mother Lu muttered in a low voice, "I also said that I don't know the person who sent the money."
"Well, just get it." Dong Qiangqiang breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that the other party had received the money, and wanted to end the conversation as soon as possible, "Then you and your uncle should take care of your health. I'll call you next time."
"Hey, young man, please wait a moment." Mother Lu hurriedly stopped Dong Qiangqiang, "I have something to ask you."
