Chapter Nine: Unspoken Difficulties

He skillfully ordered two large cans of beer and a bottle of pickled cucumbers, and Wang Ye carried them back to the dormitory

Before coming here, I vowed that if I did not make something of myself, I would not return to see him

Wang Ye smiled and shook his head, responding: "You must have your own reasons for this. It is evident that you are not a timid person; otherwise, you would not have delivered those last two slaps."

Certainly, one cannot blame Wang Ye for not extending a helping hand; he is merely a recent high school graduate, inexperienced in the ways of the world, and does not know how to handle such matters

Wang Ye did not pay him any mind, opened a jar of pickled cucumbers, and the two of them each took a can of cold beer, drinking while enjoying the pickled cucumbers

Now, with nearly twenty years of social experience, he naturally handles such "small situations" with ease and proficiency

However, during these ten days or so, they cannot remain idle; they need to complete enrollment procedures, pay tuition fees, health insurance, accommodation fees, and also familiarize themselves with the surrounding environment

In order to secure my future, my father took out all the savings from our family and sought help from others to borrow some money, sending me abroad to study

Wang Ye and the others will also have to wait until after the 10th to attend class

Wang Ye smiled but said nothing, only raising his beer can, "Come, let us drink! Once we finish, we can sleep. When we wake up, everything will be over."

It doesn't matter if I get hit a few times, but if the situation escalates and the school expels me, how can I face my father when I return home

Upon arriving in Moscow, I encountered such a troublesome matter

In a previous life, Wang Ye encountered the same situation as just now

Indeed, if Song Xiaogang is truly a coward, then he would not have dared to strike the long-haired short individual when Wang Ye ordered him to do so.

Now he looks at Wang Ye with eyes full of admiration, clearly convinced and submissive.

By helping Song Xiaogang, he offended the short-haired, short-statured boy, effectively making an enemy, which left Wang Ye feeling quite helpless

Class monitor Zhou Yuan and Song Xiaogang were among the first group to arrive, having been here for several months. Wang Ye and his group are the second and also the final group.

Taking a bite of half a sour cucumber and downing a large gulp of beer, Song Xiaogang let out a sigh and said with a smile: "You might think I'm a coward, right? Getting beaten like that and not daring to retaliate."

This is also Russia's "New Year," which is their most grand festival, with holidays extending from the 1st to the 10th.

Sometimes, you only see the surface of things, but you do not know the reasons behind them; everyone has their own story

Xiao Hei has already lain down, wearing a pair of headphones and listening to music, though it is unclear whether he has fallen asleep or not

Due to this matter, Song Xiaogang became quite sullen for a considerable period, rarely displaying a smile on his face

... ...

However, it is not without gains; at least now, Song Xiaogang has a great deal of respect for him and is even more grateful.

So, just now they hit me, and I couldn't retaliate

However, Song Xiaogang decisively struck out!

Therefore, Zhou Yuan and Song Xiaogang will study for one year in the preparatory program, while Wang Ye and his group only need to study for half a year

The dormitory provides hot water, after all, in this kind of dreadful weather, washing one's face and brushing teeth with cold water is truly a torment

Just after getting dressed and washing up, the class monitor, Zhou Yuan, walked in and greeted with a smile: "Did you rest well last night? We matched the pictures with the books. There will be a gathering at noon, the teacher in charge is treating us, at the Chinese restaurant downstairs! This can be considered a welcome for you. It's just right that we have a holiday these two days, so there are no classes."

Even if there is Wang Ye tonight intimidating everyone, the short-haired, short-statured boy may not dare to say anything, but he will definitely harbor resentment in his heart, and in the future, he might cause some trouble.

Moreover, having just arrived in Moscow and being unfamiliar with the surroundings, he was completely disoriented and dared not meddle in others' affairs

Today is still during the New Year's holiday, so Yuan and the others do not have to attend classes

At that time, he did not dare to take action; he merely hid in the corridor like Xiao Hei, observing. It was only after Song Xiaogang had been beaten and the three arrogant guys, tall and short, had left that he returned to the room to comfort Song Xiaogang

When I was very young, my mother fell ill and passed away, and my father raised me alone

Indeed, Song Xiaogang's refusal to retaliate when beaten stems from a deep-seated anguish that he cannot articulate

Closing the door, Wang Ye picked up a can of beer, with a "bang" he pulled the tab open, handed it to Song Xiaogang, and said with a smile: "Here, have a can and let's chat, I also bought some pickles."

... ...

I know that my father has had a difficult life. He is only in his forties this year, yet his hair has turned completely white, making him look like someone in their sixties or seventies

Upon arriving at the convenience store on the first floor, although it was already late at night, the store remained open, operating twenty-four hours a day

This year, the number of students coming to study abroad at Youda University has reached more than 30

As soon as he entered, Song Xiaogang also returned from the bathroom, applying a hot towel to his face.

Wang Ye nodded, reached out to pat Song Xiaogang's broad shoulder, and advised, "I understand, but you must know that when dealing with situations abroad, it is not always wise to endure and retreat. Such behavior will only lead others to perceive you as easy to bully, and they will take advantage of you. The same principle applies whether you are dealing with your fellow countrymen or foreigners"

Song Xiaogang nodded repeatedly, saying, "Hmm, I understand now. Wang Ye, you are really impressive, your Russian is so good, and your handling of matters is so... so skillful. I will have to learn more from you in the future."

Of course, during the preparatory graduation examination, the difficulty will not be reduced for Wang Ye and the others because of this; the examination will proceed as it should.

Wang Ye came to study abroad, and it was arranged through an intermediary company. This company, hetushu.com, specializes in studying in Russia and is quite well-known in the industry

This can also be seen as having gained a capable assistant for oneself

This indicates that he has already let go of his mental burdens and is no longer hesitant or fearful of challenges

After a moment of contemplation, he began to recount his story

After a moment of surprise, Song Xiaogang took the beer, clearly unable to sleep at this time, with a belly full of words he wanted to share with someone

After finishing their beers, the two of them went to bed. Wang Ye also stopped his wandering thoughts; having spent an entire day on a plane, he was already quite fatigued and soon fell into a deep sleep

In the future, if there is anything that requires Song Xiaogang's assistance, he will undoubtedly not refuse

The next day, upon opening my eyes, it was already past ten in the morning

After all, everyone understands that delivering these two slaps will result in a lasting enmity

Alas, I am also disappointing; my studies are not good, and I did not get into a good university in this year's college entrance examination

For at least the next four and a half years, and possibly even longer, they will have to live here

Upon hearing Wang Ye's words, Song Xiaogang felt that he had found a "soulmate," because Wang Ye understood him

This is just one university, Youda; the agency also handles other universities, such as Moscow State University and Saint Petersburg University