After washing up and having a sumptuous breakfast prepared by the landlord himself, Dong Qiangqiang thanked the landlord and went out to the university.
There are also advanced master's level classes in the morning. The reason why Dong Qiangqiang doesn't skip class is not only because he has become accustomed to and accepts that there will be a lot of content he doesn't understand every time, but also because he vaguely feels that the content he can understand seems to be better than when he first enrolled. He needs more time, and at least after class he knows which tutorial book to read to get the corresponding chapter. He feels that this can be regarded as a happy and gratifying progress for him.
The snowflakes that were still floating in the morning did not turn into the moderate snow he expected. Instead, they disappeared from the sky, and the sky seemed brighter than in the morning.
Before entering the classroom, he called Lao Bai. Lao Bai and others had already passed Cologne and were heading to Koblenz, known as the "German Corner". If there were no accidents, they would be able to reach Trier soon. . Dong Qiangqiang was really happy thinking about seeing all his old friends soon. Yesterday, Du Lan regretfully told him that she had to use the Christmas vacation to prepare for an exam at the end of January. She was not sure, so she could not come to Trier to spend Christmas with Dong Qiangqiang. Dong Qiangqiang sympathized with her state of mind and decision, and deliberately teased her: She had just left Trier not long ago, but he could still remember her appearance for at least half a year. These words provoked Du Lan to utter some Northeastern dialect, and then the two reluctantly hung up the phone.
As Dong Qiangqiang expected, the classroom was deserted. There were only less than 10 people in the amphitheatre, which could usually be filled with 200 people.
The gray-haired professor was obviously not surprised by this situation (perhaps he had a similar tradition when he was still a student). He still taught the only students conscientiously and meticulously, and did not give any lectures just because it was Christmas Eve and there were not many people. The lecture content is watered down.
I don’t know whether it was the effect of the preview or the fact that he had listened to too much content. Dong Qiangqiang’s listening effect today was particularly good. He consciously understood 80% of the lectures, which was far better than the previous two months. Just when he was secretly amazed, someone sat not far behind him. The five foreigners suddenly stood up and sang Christmas carols with broken gongs, stiff necks, tone-deaf but great devotion.
The eloquent professor on the podium stopped suddenly, put the chalk back into the chalk box, and started playing time with a smile. However, it seemed that he was dissatisfied with the students' out-of-tune style of music. The professor actually started singing along with the students, raising his hands. There seemed to be an air of opera in the room, which made Dong Qiangqiang in the audience almost laugh out loud.
After singing the last line, the students threw the brightly colored confetti in their hands into the air of the lecture theater and ran out of the classroom shouting "Merry Christmas". The professor gave a helpless smile, picked up the chalk again, and continued teaching. In the end, the get out of class lasted ten minutes before the class ended. Before get out of class ended, he kindly wished the few students in the classroom a Merry Christmas.
After walking out of the classroom, Dong Qiangqiang went to the library to apply for the New Year's renewal of reference books. There was not a single person in the library, which was usually overcrowded and people had to fight for seats. The huge university was empty, like a ghost town.
The time agreed with the landlord was coming soon, and Dong Qiangqiang drove towards home. When he was still three hills away from home, he saw from a distance a tall and thick German blue-collar worker unloading a Christmas tree with gauze on it to the door of the old lady's house.
By the time his car stopped, the other person's car had already driven down the hill.
Naturally, Dong Qiangqiang would not let the landlord do anything. He carefully moved the two-meter-high Christmas pine into the living room.
"This tree needs to be far away from the fireplace." The old lady directed from the side, "Just stand in the middle."
The moment the gauze hanging around the tree was removed, the fluffy pine branches immediately spread out in all directions, making the usually empty room feel like it was filled.
"Just leave the rest to me." The landlord reminded with a smile, "By the way, don't forget that there is a Christmas market in the city today, and there is a branch market next to it. You can go and learn about Germany's Christmas and New Year traditions. , this is also a good opportunity for you to get close to God and listen to God’s voice.”
Dong Qiangqiang couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart: The landlord's brainwashing was really trying to find every opportunity, but it was the other person's belief and there was no malice, so he didn't bother to explain and changed the subject: "Ms. Yulia, I have a date with my friend tonight. I’m going to the Christmas market and won’t be back tonight. I wish you a happy Christmas Eve in advance! Merry Christmas! Smoothly slide into the new year!”
"Smoothly enter the new year" is a standard German New Year greeting that Dong Qiangqiang just learned from a German professor in the classroom during the day. He learned it and sold it to his landlord.
"Thank you, and I wish you and your friends a happy Christmas Eve! Merry Christmas!" The landlord said with a smile and turned his attention to the empty Christmas pine.
By the time the landlord finished his work, it was almost time. It was estimated that Old Ding would be arriving soon. Dong Qiangqiang did not dare to delay and went straight to the train station.
Lao Ding's train was 10 minutes later than expected, but Dong Qiangqiang finally picked him up successfully.
Ding Haifeng's brows no longer looked as sad as before, but his face has become much thinner and his legs have become thinner. The large down jacket looked like he was wearing someone else's clothes. It didn't fit him. He must have suffered a lot in the past few months.
When acquaintances meet, it is inevitable to reminisce about old times.
"Haifeng, I forgot to ask last time, are your ribs feeling better?"
"Thank you Brother Dong for your concern. I had another check-up last month. He should be completely healed." Ding Haifeng was afraid that Dong Qiangqiang wouldn't believe it, so he proudly patted his ribs several times to show that what he said was true.
"Be careful in the future." Dong Qiangqiang warned, "We have to protect ourselves outside. Money is not the first priority."
"Brother Bai and Brother Lei often reminded me of this, and I became very careful afterwards." Ding Haifeng's tone when he spoke made it easy to believe his sincerity, "I was very careful after that time."
Dong Qiangqiang opened the back door and watched Ding Haifeng stuff the heavy suitcase in. He couldn't help but asked curiously: "You brought so many things here, are you planning to stay here permanently?"
"Ah? I'm not here permanently. I'll leave tomorrow." Ding Haifeng smiled and closed the rear door. "You mean that box? There are food in there for you and everyone else."
"Leaving tomorrow?" Dong Qiangqiang thought everyone could stay until after New Year's Day this time, "Is it in such a hurry?"
"Well, there are exams in January and February, so I have to go back and study. Brother Bai and Sister Le seem to be going to Northern Europe. Brother Lei may be on a tour. I don't know about the others."
Dong Qiangqiang sighed: "Okay, I got it. Get in the car."
"Where are we going now?" Ding Haifeng asked while fastening his seat belt, "To greet Brother Bai and the others?"
"They won't arrive for a while," Dong Qiangqiang opened the navigation and began to enter the address, "Please accompany me to the customs first."
"Customs?" Ding Haifeng was stunned, "You want to pick someone up? What, if you want to take a group today, I can wait for you at the train station."
"It's not the airport customs, it's the import and export goods customs." Dong Qiangqiang explained, "I'll explain it to you on the way."
Just as he was about to put down the handbrake, Ding Haifeng suddenly took out an envelope from his inner pocket and handed it to him: "Brother Dong, you lent me this before. Thank you for helping me last time. Now it has returned to its original owner. Please order." one time."
"Hey, what are you..." Dong Qiangqiang was a little surprised by the other party's abruptness, and a little embarrassed, as if it was him who owed money instead of Ding Haifeng, "Didn't you say it's not easy to find a job in Göttingen? You stay first Come on, I'm not in a hurry."
"Brother Dong is a good person, so I can't be ignorant." Ding Haifeng smiled naturally, "Now we all follow Brother Bai to enjoy the hot and spicy food, so don't worry."
"Then I didn't bring an IOU."
"It's okay, you can just tear it up (IOU) later." Seeing that Dong Qiangqiang still didn't want to accept it, Ding Haifeng simply opened the envelope, took out a pile of old banknotes from it, and began to count it seriously in front of Dong Qiangqiang.
Only then did Dong Qiangqiang notice that Ding Haifeng's hands were terribly chapped, with several dark red blood channels crisscrossing the back of his hands. The back of his hands was the same color as old banknotes, which made him feel sad.
After counting the money, Ding Haifeng looked very calm and happy, and his tone also showed relief: "Brother Dong, please order again."
"No need to click, there will be no shortage." Dong Qiangqiang turned his head to the other side and pretended to look at the left rearview mirror, "Sit tight! We're leaving now."
After communicating with the customs police yesterday, the facts turned out to be exactly as Lao Bai analyzed: the problem lies with the medicine sent by Dong's father to Dong Qiangqiang.
Dong Qiangqiang knew very little about chemistry words. The other party explained to him for a long time before he understood what the other party meant: in the medicine sent by Dong's father, there was a certain chemical component in the sugar coating of a certain medicine, and this chemical component It is contraband in Germany, so the customs police believed that he was suspected of smuggling contraband. However, after verifying his identity and background, the police found it strange and summoned him for questioning.
If he hadn't called Lao Bai in advance, Dong Qiangqiang felt that he would have been stunned on the spot. It was completely unimaginable for him that such an incredible thing could happen. He was glad that he did not run away directly after answering the phone, but took the initiative to communicate with the police. Otherwise, if he was labeled as a fugitive in fear of crime, he would no longer have to think about continuing his studies and could just pack up and go to jail.
He immediately explained to the police that he had been suffering from gastrointestinal discomfort and diarrhea since the beginning of December. He had consulted at different clinics, and more than one German doctor had prescribed him medicine to treat diarrhea. After taking it, it had no effect, and it even escalated from diarrhea to dehydration. Despite this, he chose to continue seeing doctors, but as Christmas approached, most doctors in the city were on vacation, and the doctors outside the city prescribed the same medicines as those in the city. He was about to take his final exams, and he didn't want to delay his studies and exams because of his illness, so he asked his family to send him medicine from China that he had taken since childhood and was very effective in treating diarrhea.
But firstly, he didn't know that there was something wrong with the sugar coating of this medicine, and secondly, Dong's father was allowed to buy, sell and mail those medicines in China. Dong Qiangqiang believes that if drugs are contraband in Germany, there should be clear regulations between the domestic post office and the German post office prohibiting mailing. However, it is obvious that there is no such regulation between the post offices of the two parties, so this situation occurred. And he is just an ordinary international student, and he does not have any legal knowledge in this area, so he hopes that the customs police can give him a fair opportunity to correct his mistakes after investigating in many aspects. His evidence is the fee receipt he paid for medical treatment and the German A medical diagnosis issued by a doctor.
After listening to Dong Qiangqiang's statement, the customs police said that Dong Qiangqiang must submit evidence as soon as possible and cooperate with the police investigation, so Dong Qiangqiang made a second visit to the customs.
After submitting all the materials to the police, Dong Qiangqiang took back other mail items except medicines from the police. Before leaving, he asked the policeman who received him how long the investigation was expected to take. The other party gave him a letter of explanation: After receiving the evidence he submitted, the police would conduct an in-depth investigation on him, which could take as little as 1 month and as long as 3-6 months. For months, until the police investigated clearly, he was a suspect. He was not allowed to leave Trier without permission and had to be on call. He also had to go to an institution designated by the police for blood and urine tests from time to time within six months.
When he walked out of the gate of the Customs Police Station, Dong Qiangqiang saw Ding Haifeng sitting in the car waving to him. He guessed that Lao Bai and others had arrived in Trier, and hurriedly walked towards his pickup truck.
"Are they all here?" Dong Qiangqiang asked impatiently as he opened the car door.
"Yes, at the exit of Highway 38, I looked and it seems to be next to the Moselle River." Ding Haifeng pointed on the map with his hand, "Here, it's right here."
Dong Qiangqiang called Lao Bai while looking at the location. As soon as the call was connected, Lao Bai asked: "How is the situation?"
Dong Qiangqiang knew that Lao Bai was asking about customs matters, so he replied: "I gave all the materials to the police and am waiting for the investigation results."
"Relax, it's definitely fine." Lao Bai reassured him with assurance, "The police will know as soon as they investigate that you are stupid. Otherwise, they would have arrested you long ago, and how can they let you out?"
"Well, I think it's okay." Dong Qiangqiang looked at his watch, "Why didn't you go into the city? Put your things at the B&B before going out. By the way, the supermarkets closed early today, so I have to buy something for dinner now. , I didn’t buy it in advance because I don’t know what you want to eat. There are still almost two hours (supermarkets are closed), so it should be too late to buy it now. You ask everyone what they want to eat at night.”
"Everyone said that we should first see the Moselle River before putting anything away," Lao Bai paused. "Everyone wants to see the tourist attractions here, which may be useful in the future."
"How many people are there in total? Du Lan can't come here today, and I can't contact Duanmu."
"I, Lele, Mr. and Mrs. Lei Lanting, sister and brother Lu Wei and Lu Shan, including Lao Ding, there are seven in total."
"Lei Lanting and his wife?" Dong Qiangqiang asked curiously, "Is it the girl named Zhang? They got back together? Is she here too?"
"It's Xiao He." Lao Bai pouted and simply said it bluntly.
"Are they two okay?" Dong Qiangqiang exclaimed, "What about Dong Yiqing? Didn't she say she would come?"
"She was taken away by her classmates to go skiing. She asked me to bring you a gift. By the way, you are the landlord, you decide what to eat at night."
"It's okay to eat hot pot or dumplings if there are more people." Dong Qiangqiang was in a good mood after solving the customs troubles. "Hot pot is simple and fast, and dumplings are lively. Each has its own advantages. I can do both, it depends on everyone."
"We are guests and hosts as you please. We can have anything for a meal. We haven't seen each other for a long time. The main purpose is to get together and talk. We are happy no matter what we eat. Besides, we also brought a lot of things. Everyone will leave tomorrow, so you don’t need to buy too much to avoid wasting it.”
Lao Bai's statement was the same as Ding Haifeng's. Dong Qiangqiang knew that he had already made a plan, so he stopped giving in and said, "Let's have dumplings. Anyway, dumplings are eaten at the beginning of winter, the winter solstice, and the Great Cold and Xiaohan. Lao Ding and I are here Together, let’s go shopping now, you hang out by the river first, and then we’ll meet in front of the big black gate in the city center?”
"Okay. See you later. Don't buy too much to avoid waste." Lao Bai emphasized again.
