Battle of the Rhine

After July 1969, Michael behaved "much more presumptuously" than before.He couldn't help touching Quincy's hand in public, especially around the girls and wives in church, and he was particularly restless.

"They keep staring at you," Michael explained. "You should put the ring on."

"At least half of the people in this church know that Emma has died long ago." Quincy snapped. "Watch your words and deeds! Also, they are not only looking at me, but also looking at you, Mr. Marlon Brando."

Michael didn't think that the women who insisted on wearing skirts in winter would be interested in looking at him.He felt that he was becoming more and more like Old Mike. For example, he always liked to lie on the sofa; another example, he didn't smoke, and he was reluctant to buy cigarettes for entertainment. "I'm a miser," he lamented to Quincy. "I knew the Fiennes didn't produce generosity, and that wasn't to be expected."

"It's good that you know." Quincy was noncommittal.

"I've been good to you," Michael said. "I've been nicer to you than I was to you... Won't you praise me?"

Quincy gave him a quick slap across the head.

Michael was indeed stingy with himself, but he was willing to spend money on Quincy, as the college student admitted.Once, when Quincy went to buy Wenhao commemorative coins, Michael insisted on going with him.At the door of the bookstore, looking at the long queue, Michael said, "You can wait for me while drinking coffee."

"I'll just buy it myself."

"No, let's go get some coffee."

Michael bought Quincy a cup of coffee and a cake and sat under the umbrella. "Thanks," Quincy patted him on the arm, "I want Kafka's."

"Who is Kafka?"

"...a human being."

"Forget it, you're mocking me." Michael snorted, pressed Quincy's head and rubbed it.This is his newly learned method of expressing intimacy. Holding hands is not allowed, but touching hair is always okay, right?Then he went to line up.After Quincy finished his coffee, ate the cake, and counted the pigeons idly for a while, Michael came out and threw a heavy bag on the table with a clatter.

"I really can't remember anything... Kafka?" He sat down, sweating profusely, "I bought them all."

"It's expensive." Quincy said in surprise, "One coin is enough."

"Okay, okay, take it." Michael snorted, with a satisfied expression on his face.

In 1970, Michael returned to the United States for a vacation.This is the first time in ten years.When he returned home this time, he tried his best to convince Quincy to come with him.Quincy doesn't like to travel far, although he also accompanied Michael to England, visited Piccadilly, and took silly tourist photos in front of the Tower of London, but Britain was still a European country after all.U.S!He hadn't looked very good since he got on the plane, and when he got to Kennedy Airport, Quincy's dissatisfaction was comparable to the thick cloud over New York City.

"I don't understand why I'm here." He passed through the customs gloomyly, glaring at the beaming Michael, "I regret it."

Michael raised his left hand, wishing he could show his ring to the world, a perfect, sparkling wedding ring!Embedded with diamonds!It was put on by Quinnessy the night before his departure.He told Quincy that this time he returned to China for vacation just to attend a gathering of comrades-in-arms, so Quincy gave him the ring and solemnly warned him not to lose it.

"No, I swear." Michael was so sweet that he almost fainted, "Oh! I'm so happy...so happy..."

"Good job, watch your blood pressure!"

Now Michael is in high spirits and his blood pressure is stable.After not breathing the air of America for a long time, he actually felt a little strange.There was a lot of traffic in the center of New York, and they booked a room in a very high-end hotel.Michael contacted "Big Girl", and when he was on the phone, he could clearly feel Quincy's eyes staring hard at his back, as if he had done something outrageous on the phone.

"Oh, 'Big Girl,'" said Quincy smugly, "your dear old friend."

Michael still couldn't figure out why his college students insisted that he had "improper relationships" with those buddies in the army, Tim, "Big Girl", Oliver... Fortunately, he only knew these guys indivual.Michael and "Big Girl" agreed on the time and place of the party, and when he turned around, Quincy had already sat on a recliner, opened the map, and seemed to be looking it up seriously.

"I want to go to Stonewall," said Quincy. "Well, you go to the party, I've got nothing to do by myself anyway—"

"No." Michael didn't even think about it, "there's no door."

"Speak politely." Quincy's blue eyes looked reproachfully from above the map. "You're allowed to have fun, can't I?"

"I can go to the bar, but you can't." Michael took the map, "No, no."

"why?"

"They'll eat you."

"Stop that bullshit," Quincy smirks, "I'm at my fucking age, and people have long since lost interest in me—I'm just curious—"

"You're just bullshit," Michael said, throwing away the map, rubbing Quincy's hair, then pinching his face, leaning over and kissing him loudly, "You are mine, my college student. Please remember this point, you can't talk to people, men or women, or go to bars without my permission - one moment a row over one thing, one moment a protest over another, and what the hell are you hippies. New York is too dangerous, and you It’s too conspicuous. Honestly, sleep in the hotel, get rid of the jet lag, and wait for me to take you around. The United States is so big, it’s bigger than you can imagine.”

"Your shamelessness is beyond my imagination." Quincy looked out the window, and several police cars and fire trucks roared past downstairs, "...you also have jet lag."

"I don't need it." Michael puffed out his chest as a matter of course, "Did you forget? I'm an American!"

"Fuck you!" Quincy grabbed the pillow and beat him. "Fuck you, you bastard, I have a hunch that I'm going to be tricked by you!"

Michael thought Quincy was being vexatious.Quincy claimed to be apolitical, but he hated America and its policy toward Germany.In his heart, there must be no good things associated with the United States, and complete moral corruption.Take Michael as an example, he loves Quincy so much, how could he cheat him?Not to mention miserable.

On the third day after arriving in New York, Michael quickly adapted to the time difference in the United States.Before going to the party, Quincy huddled under the sheets, sleepily directing Michael to change, smoothing the folds of his shirt.Finally he called Michael over and tied him a beautiful Windsor knot. "I'll show everyone the ring," Michael kissed Quincy's face, sniffing the warmth of his neck and hair, "sleep, I'll be back when you wake up."

"Don't go to the bar." Quincy closed his eyes, "Don't strike up a conversation with anyone who doesn't understand."

"You too," Michael touched the loose blond hair on the pillow, "I informed the waiter and the lobby, and if you dare to sneak out, they will tell me. I will sell you to the Arizona countryside to graze cattle." The poor boy who became a daughter-in-law will spend her whole life bare buttless and without pants.”

"Fuck you, Mike," Quincy murmured, "Go away."

Michael is gone.The party was very happy, and the comrades greeted each other with fists when they met. "Big girl" screamed, "Look! Old Mike! Oliver is right, you are a fucking German from the inside out!"

"German sauerkraut is actually quite delicious." Michael pretended to be sincere, "If you don't believe me, you can try it."

He showed everyone his ring and proudly announced that he had married in Germany and brought his wife back to the United States this time. "Big Girl" nearly broke Michael's ribs, yelling at him for not bringing "Mrs. Fiennes." "She's shy," Michael said, blushing. "She's got a big temper . . . she just scolded me before she went out."

Of course, Michael didn't dare and couldn't mess with personal pronouns, and carefully replaced "he" with "she" - which was sad, Michael sat in a taxi after the party, the joy was fading, he looked at the Ring Thoughts: He lied yet again, to his comrades, because he couldn't tell - Michael Fiennes was a disgusting homosexual who fell in love with a German, and he even I swear before God...

"But what's wrong with love?" Michael muttered. "Love is divine."

There is nothing wrong with love, love is supreme.Michael loves Quincy, but he never expected that he really cheated Quincy.The day after the comrades party, Michael took Quincy to the Metropolitan Museum.Quincy commented, "New York is about here."

"New York is fine." Michael panted.They walked around the museum for hours, "I'm hungry—"

"Go out and wait for me." Quincy studied a tapestry with his hands behind his back, "You can buy a few of your favorite burgers."

Michael bought a hot dog and ate while he waited for Quincy.After another hour or so, Quincy came out slowly.The two then went to dinner at a famous restaurant, and Michael made a reservation, only to have Quincy say, "The food here is rough."

"It's delicious." Michael cut the steak, "You're too picky, dear Carl—even if you're a college student, you can't be so picky—"

Before he finished speaking, a person patted his shoulder heavily.Michael raised his head in surprise, and saw "Big Girl" with a look of astonishment and anger, "Oh, you cunning old bastard...it's really you! Didn't you say you took your wife back to your hometown?"

Michael had to give a reasonable explanation, but his mind went blank, and he made the worst mistake in the next second—he subconsciously looked at Quincy, and "Big Girl" followed his line of sight, suddenly confused untie.

"You are..." "Big Girl" blinked hard, "Wait! You are...I remember you...yes, I remember you...I must know you...you are...oh God ! You're the German second lieutenant! The one on the Rhine!"