post cold war era

With Christmas approaching and Al receiving a lot of presents, he is happy this time of year - except for that one year.Al will never forget that Christmas is also the anniversary of that person's death.

The first gift was sent by Matthew. It was such a big package that Alchai could guess what was inside. He just opened it and took a quick look. As he expected, it was all beautifully packaged snacks and candies. .Al remembered that Honda Ju liked Matthew's maple syrup last time, so he repacked the package and sent it to Honda Ju. (Al, you bastard who borrowed flowers to offer Buddha! ×2)

The gift from Honda Chrysanthemum is always the happiest thing for Al, that little man knows Al's preferences better than anyone else, and what he sends is a box full of various Japanese and Japanese specialty entertainment products, with a tube to take away Japanese tea.Al took out the tea and looked at it. He didn't like this thing, but Arthur liked it very much, and it was just right to pass it on to the long-winded gentleman with strange eyebrows but beautiful eyes.Al suddenly remembered that Wang Yao also likes tea very much, maybe he likes it more than Arthur, but Wang Yao has a bad relationship with Honda Chrysanthemum, so he probably won't accept Japanese tea, not to mention, Christmas is not a statutory holiday in Wang Yao's house. holiday.

So the tube of Japanese tea was put into the package that Al was going to send to Arthur.

What Al cared most about was a gift that arrived on Christmas Day, and Ivan's name was written on the sender's location.

It's not vodka, is it?Al thought, and weighed the package, surprisingly light.Puzzled, he opened the package and found a small box inside. When he opened the box, a beautifully crafted Russian matryoshka appeared in front of him.

The nesting doll was made in Al's image, and he smiled smugly as he held a sign that said "Hero" to his chest.Al was very surprised, he unscrewed the doll, and inside was a smaller Al doll, with a wicked smile on his face.Al unscrewed the dolls one by one, and found that each had a different expression, and each was vivid.There are ten Al dolls in total, and the smallest one is only the size of Al's thumb. That miniature little Al has a happy smile on his face and holds a sunflower in his hand.Al turned the largest doll over—he remembered that the Russians would write on the bottom of the doll—and there was a small line on it: Complete Al. (This plot imitates the section in "Supernova Era" where the Russians give the American nesting dolls.)

Al looked at the row of little Als on the table and couldn't help laughing.Winter in Moscow is cold, right?He began to imagine the scene of that tall and straight figure standing on the snow-capped Red Square.Does Ivan remember that this is his worst day?Can he spend Christmas as happily as himself?Who can he receive gifts from?Al didn't think Torres and his gang would get together and celebrate the holiday with Ivan.

The night they spent together was so illusory, the autumn field, the Cossack-style tavern, the melodious accordion music, and the soulful singing...

The ringing of the phone unwittingly interrupted Al's memories. Al answered the phone unhappily, and a polite and soft voice came from the other side: "Al, Merry Christmas!"

Al's mood improved instantly: "Hey, happy Shengyan, Xiaoju!"

"Al, I got your gift, I love these sweets, thank you." Honda Ju's voice was always invariably educated.

Al smiled heartily and said, "I like your gift better! It's really great!"

"I'm glad you like it." Honda Ju said softly, "It's just that I want to ask you something, I wonder if it's a bit rude."

"Oh? What else can I not tell you!" Al didn't understand why Honda Ju hesitated.

"Maybe I made a mistake, but these foods should be given to you by Matthew?" Honda Ju said carefully, "Of course, I am very happy that you can give them to me, but if Matthew finds out, Is it not very good?"

Al was a little embarrassed, but still told the truth: "It was indeed Matthew who gave it to me, but I thought it would make you happy, so I gave it to you!"

"I see, I should thank you even more." Honda Ju's voice did not change.

"Why are you so polite to me?" Al laughed, "How do you know that Matthew sent me?"

"Just guessing, it's all made by Matthew's family." Honda Ju replied casually, "So, Al, Merry Christmas, once again."

"Merry Christmas!" Al said briskly.

Putting down the phone, Honda Ju turned his eyes to the card in his hand again, on which two cute little boys who looked exactly the same were drawn with charcoal pens, and there was a line of small words below: To Al——your eternal brother Matthew.Honda Ju thought for a while, and put the card into his drawer.

Wang Yao walked quickly on Chang'an Avenue. Christmas is not a Chinese holiday, but young people are looking forward to the arrival of this western festival. After all, no one will refuse happiness, and young people are more likely and willing to accept new things. Things, compared to Chinese New Year, Christmas is more gorgeous, more exotic, and always considered more romantic.

Beijing is already wrapped in silver makeup. Although Wang Yao doesn't like the cold in winter, he often goes to Harbin to enjoy the magnificent scenery of the northern country, and he can also feel the breath he used to be familiar with—the breath of that person.He also wandered on the border line in the extreme north, facing only a wilderness, so desolate that no sign of life could be seen.

In many shops, fake Christmas trees are placed, and pictures and the words "MerryChristmas" are spray-painted on the windows. Young lovers walk together, and the cold air cannot freeze the warmth in their hearts.Many young people have dyed their hair yellow, and Wang Yao has always disliked it. He doesn't want to see his family look like Westerners, especially this kind of hair color reminds him of that bastard Al.

Wang Yao never celebrates Christmas. Whenever this time comes, he will rush home as soon as possible, close the door, and shut out the atmosphere of Christmas. Just like now, he will feel much more relaxed.

This is just an ordinary day, Wang Yao said to himself in his heart, I will not be disturbed, I have more important things to do.He wants to devote himself fully to his work. His boss has indeed put a lot of pressure on him recently, making him unable to distract, but it does not mean that he cannot be distracted.His mood has never been calm, and there is always some kind of restlessness that makes him irritable.

What's going on?

Wang Yao walked into the study involuntarily, opened the bottom drawer on the left hand side, and found something from under a pile of old things.

It was a Soviet-style military dagger in a military-green canvas case.Wang Yao drew out the dagger, and the three Chinese characters shone under the light: Vanya.

Wang Yao remembered that he carved it with his own hands.Back then, he still called him "Vanya".

It was a rare calm in the war. Wang Yao and Ivan sat face to face in the trench. Ivan pulled out his dagger to open the can, and complained while prying: "Those soldiers without brains are really annoying! Every time I take my wrong dagger!"

Wang Yao asked curiously: "So what if you take the wrong word? It's the same thing anyway!"

"It's different, Xiao Yao." Ivan bit the dagger in his mouth, approached Wang Yao, and suddenly pulled out the dagger from his mouth and pressed it against Wang Yao's neck. "My dagger is carefully polished by me. It is easy to take life!"

"Vanya, don't make such a joke!" Wang Yao felt very uncomfortable when the sharp dagger was attached to his skin.

"Oh, I won't really cut it off!" Ivan took away the dagger and went back to the work of opening the can, "Anyway, I can't lose this thing, it will cause me trouble at a critical moment. "

"So, how about engraving your name on it?" Wang Yao suggested.

"My name? There are too many duplicate names!" Ivan had an idea, "Xiaoyao, can you write my name in Chinese characters?"

"Of course." Wang Yao wrote the word "Ivan" on the ground with his fingers, "This is 'Ivan'."

"Hey, this is not pretty!" Ivan shook his head, "Let's write 'Vanya'!"

Wang Yao wrote the word "Vanya" on the ground again.

"Well, this one looks much better, and besides, Xiaoyao also likes to call me that." Ivan smiled and handed the dagger to Wang Yao, "Help me engrave it on it!"

Wang Yao took the dagger with a smile and concentrated on this delicate work.

Putting away his thoughts, Wang Yao caressed the scarred dagger, brushing the three Chinese characters on it with his fingers.

Today is the anniversary of that person's death.