Chapter 143 Five years of studying abroad, nearing its end...

Chapter 143

Upon hearing Commander Fang's words, Meng Yingying was suddenly taken aback. She accepted the consent form with both hands and said to Commander Fang, "Thank you."

Commander Fang shook his head, took Meng Yingying's hand, and said softly, "Yingying, no matter how far you go in the future, I hope you will not forget the Harbin garrison, nor will you forget Commander Qi."

Meng Yingying nodded, "I will."

*

In Commander Chen's office, it was already late afternoon, close to the end of the workday, when Commander Chen received the message. He immediately had his bodyguard summon Qi Donghan to his office.

As soon as Qi Donghan arrived, he handed over the application and consent form, "Xiao Meng is going to Moscow for five years?"

Clearly, his application and consent form came from Commander Fang.

Qi Donghan hadn't expected the news to reach Commander Chen so quickly. However, since Yingying was going to Moscow and would be leaving through her work unit, the matter couldn't be kept secret any longer.

He paused for a moment, then nodded, "Yes."

"You agree?"

Commander Chen stared intently at him, not missing a single expression on Qi Donghan's face.

Qi Donghan nodded in agreement.

"You agree!?" This time it was a statement of fact.

Commander Chen was somewhat shocked. He suddenly threw the application and consent form on the table, slamming his left hand on the table with a loud thud. "Qi Donghan, do you even know what you're doing?"

The first time, he called me by my full name.

Clearly, Commander Chen was genuinely angry, and of course, he truly considered Qi Donghan one of his own.

Qi Donghan clenched his fists, and after a long while, he said, "Uncle Chen, I know what I'm doing."

"You knew that, yet you still did it?"

Commander Chen looked at him in disbelief. "Five years of advanced studies in Moscow. Do you know what five years means? The world abroad is so beautiful. Will Xiao Meng still want to come back to this poor, remote place by then?"

Commander Chen is a leader, a man, and an elder.

He has seen the outside world, which is why he has this worry.

Qi Donghan looked up, his eyes serious. "Uncle Chen, Yingying will come back in five years."

No one believed that.

Commander Chen himself didn't believe it. He sneered, "You can spoil him all you want. When Xiao Meng doesn't come back and you lose your wife, let's see where you go to cry."

Qi Dong remained silent.

Commander Chen was annoyed by what he saw, so he threw an enamel mug at it, saying, "Get out, get out, you really have no self-awareness at all."

After Qi Donghan left, Commander Chen became worried about him. He paced back and forth for a while before finally making a phone call to the Central Ballet of the Capital.

And it was Yang Jie's phone call.

The call was answered, and Commander Chen went straight to the point, "Comrade Yang Jie, did you propose that Comrade Meng Yingying go abroad for five years of further study?"

Upon receiving this call, Yang Jie knew that Meng Yingying had agreed; otherwise, Commander Chen would not have made the call.

Yang Jie answered crisply, "Yes, Commander Chen, I know your concerns, but I only have one question in return: if Regiment Commander Qi needs to go on a mission for five years and cannot return, would you agree to let him go?"

Commander Chen asked instinctively, "How can they be the same?"

"How are they different?"

Yang Jie calmly said, "They are all shining brightly for their own careers. Commander Chen, it's not just men's careers that matter, but women's careers are too."

"If Meng Yingying misses this opportunity, she will never be able to reach the top again in her life."

“You know better than anyone that real opportunities are rare and hard to come by; once you miss them, they’re gone forever.”

"You should not look at this issue from the perspective of Commander Qi's elders, but from the perspective of Meng Yingying's father."

"I ask you, if you were Meng Yingying's father, her biological father, and your daughter had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go abroad for further studies, reach the pinnacle of her career, retire gracefully, and lead the domestic ballet troupe to even greater heights, perhaps even becoming the leading figure in the domestic and international ballet industry, would you, as her father, agree to let Meng Yingying go abroad for further studies?"

Commander Chen had no answer to this question.

As a father, he would definitely support his daughter's career pursuits unconditionally.

After all, only men understand men.

At no time is marriage or a lover more real than one's own career.

“You see, you can’t answer that either,” Yang Jie smiled. “So let Meng Yingying give it a try. Leader, our domestic ballet is really too backward. We need someone to go out and then come back to support and lead us.”

—The phrase "going international" was ultimately left unsaid.

That is absolutely outrageous.

Commander Chen sighed deeply, "Do as you please, I can't control it anyway."

"But I'm worried that once Xiao Meng leaves, she won't come back."

Yang Jie denied it outright, "No, I know Meng Yingying's character. She wouldn't just leave and not come back. This is her home, she will definitely come back."

Meng Yingying is nostalgic; her lover, relatives, friends, and teachers are all here.

Therefore, the future Meng Yingying will definitely come back.

*

Meng Yingying stayed at home for thirteen days. During those thirteen days, she neither went to the performing arts troupe nor went outside.

She stayed home with Qi Donghan, cooking all sorts of delicious food for him.

During the day, when Qi Donghan was not at home, she went to Zhao Yueru's place to help Zhao Yueru take care of the children and keep Zhao Yueru company.

That night, she became Qi Donghan's woman.

The two met for the past two weeks, and spent almost all of it in bed.

Moreover, they were extremely shameless.

Qi Donghan was almost frantic, wishing he could finish all the love he would have for the next five years at once.

As the time of parting drew closer, Qi Donghan grew increasingly somber, to the point that every night in bed, the two would engage in an intense and intimate embrace.

Even though I am extremely reluctant to part with it.

The day of parting finally arrived.

On February 1, 1973 (lunar calendar), Meng Yingying still set off from the team stationed in Harbin to the capital to meet up with Jian and the others.

On the day Meng Yingying left, Qi Donghan specially requested three days of annual leave from the stationed team.

He personally escorted her to the capital.

This trip marked the last time the two would see each other in the past five years.

Upon arriving in the capital and reaching the Central Ballet Company, Qi Donghan and Meng Yingying remained unusually silent throughout the journey.

Neither of them spoke.

I met Yang Jie and Jane.

Yang Jie looked at the young couple and asked Meng Yingying, "Have you decided?"

Meng Yingying nodded, "It's decided."

"No regrets?"

Meng Yingying did not answer; she simply turned around and hugged Qi Donghan.

Qi Donghan did not move.

He let Meng Yingying hold him for a while before raising his hand to hug her back, then pulling away after a brief touch.

No matter how reluctant we were to part, everything fell silent at this moment.

Qi Donghan led Meng Yingying to Jian and said to him, "Jian, I'm entrusting our Yingying to your care."

Jian nodded, expressing herself in a very solemn manner, "Don't worry, I will definitely take good care of Meng."

"She will not only be Yang's student, but also my student."

Qi Donghan hummed in agreement, then looked down at Meng Yingying. Though he had a thousand words to say, in the end they all boiled down to a few words: “Take care of yourself when you go abroad.”

"Take good care of yourself."

Meng Yingying lowered her head, not daring to look into Qi Donghan's eyes, afraid that if she met his gaze, tears would fall.

She looked at her toes, her voice thick with a nasal tone, "I know."

"You're doing well at home."

She finally dared to raise her head and hugged him again in public, saying, "Qi Donghan, wait for me to come back."

Meng Yingying left after all.

Yang Jie completed the formalities for her, and she took the documents and her luggage, then boarded the train to Moscow again with Jane.

Qi Donghan saw her off outside the train station, along with Yang Jie.

"Commander Qi, thank you."

As for what they should thank each other for, only the two of them know.

Qi Donghan shook his head. "She is not only your student, but also my lover."

He watched the train depart, and even though Yingying had only just left, he already missed her.

*

Meng Yingying traveled for nine days and finally arrived in Moscow. Although it was the year before, she felt as if she had been in another world.

As soon as she stepped off the platform, the cold wind felt like knives piercing her neck, but she didn't bother to shrink back; she just stared wide-eyed at the onion-shaped church spires in the distance.

That is the direction of the Vaganova Academy, which appears countless times in textbooks.

Jane carried her wicker trunk and said something in Russian with a smile. She didn't understand, but guessed, "Welcome to the temple of ballet."

Jane didn't even rest before taking Meng Yingying directly to the Vaganova Academy, just before they parted.

Arkhipova and Ekaterina both looked at Meng Yingying with envy, "Meng, we hope you can pass the exam on your first try."

Meng Yingying nodded, but she asked with some doubt, "Aren't you going?"

Arkhipova shook her head. "I can't go now. I have to graduate from Moba School with honors before I'll be eligible to take the entrance exam for Vaganova Academy." She paused, somewhat disappointed. "But it's too difficult. Before you came, I never thought I'd go to Vaganova Academy."

The Vaganova Academy is a mecca for ballet, a gathering place for geniuses. Although Arsipova was a genius at the Moba School, it was still quite difficult for her to get into the Vaganova Academy.

"However, Meng."

Arkhipova smiled and said, "You go take the exam first, and I'll take it later."

"You wait for me."

Meng Yingying nodded.

Even Jane thought it was just a joke from Alshippova, after all, her strength was still some distance from that of the Vaganova Academy.

But none of them expected that in the fourth year after Meng Yingying was admitted to the Vaganova Academy, Arkhipova also came.

She actually got into Vaganova College before Ekaterina.

This surprised everyone.

So much so that when Arsipova was admitted to the Vaganova Academy, Meng Yingying personally came to the door to greet her.

This caused quite a stir at the Vaganova Academy.

After all, when Meng Yingying was admitted to the Vaganova Academy, many people in the academy were initially somewhat unconvinced of her.

She had yellow skin and black hair, which made her completely out of place at the Vaganova Academy.

But after countless lessons and competitions, everyone was convinced.

It turns out that some people really are born to crush them.

As a result, Meng Yingying became a legend at Vaganova Academy. Unfortunately, she was a quiet person and rarely interacted with others in the academy.

As a result, even though she has been here for four years, no one is familiar with her.

It's no wonder people are surprised to see her going out of class.

What is Meng going to do?

"have no idea."

"Is she going to challenge someone again? That's terrifying. With her talent, she could easily crush all of us."

"Go and see for yourself."

"No, I wouldn't dare. Meng is too mysterious. I'm always worried that she might know Eastern witchcraft and turn us into rats."

"That's not Eastern witchcraft, that's Western magic that turns people into rats."

"It's okay, it's all the same anyway. I feel Meng is amazing, I don't dare to follow him."

"Then I'll go take a look."

The other person followed Meng Yingying cautiously, as if afraid that Meng Yingying would discover her.

Meng Yingying saw it but ignored it; she was practically a celebrity at the Vaganova Academy now.

Every time she appears, she attracts a lot of attention.

Meng Yingying went straight to the entrance of the Vaganova Academy, where Arkhipova was waiting for her, looking around.

October in Moscow carried a hint of autumn chill. Arsipova wore a gray wool coat, her hair pulled back, revealing a sharply defined face.

Upon seeing Meng Yingying, her eyes immediately lit up, and she waved at Meng Yingying, "Meng!"

Meng Yingying nodded and ran towards her with quick steps, giving Arkhipova a big hug.

“Bova.” She took a step back, beaming. “Congratulations on getting into Vaganova Academy.”

Arkhipova was also excited. She held Meng Yingying's hand and said, "Meng, it's you. If it weren't for you, I would never have been able to get in."

She felt that Meng was the carrot in front of her, and she was the little donkey.

If the radish hadn't been so tempting, she would never have met Meng at Vaganova Academy.

Meng Yingying smiled and said, "That's because you're excellent."

She turned to look at Jane and said, "Hello, Jane."

When Jian saw Meng Yingying again, he was also somewhat dazed. "Meng, congratulations."

He sent Meng to the Vaganova Academy four years ago, and at the time he only knew that Meng had been successfully admitted.

But he never expected that four years later, Meng would become the nightmare of all the students at Vaganova Academy.

So much so that he had heard of Meng's reputation even at Moba Affiliated School.

Meng Yingying was a little confused. "Jian, what are you congratulating me on?"

Jane smiled. "Congratulations on reaching the top of the ballet school and becoming the nightmare of all the students."

Meng Yingying smiled, pursing her lips, "Jian, I don't know if you're praising me or insulting me with what you're saying."

Jane: "Of course it's a compliment."

The students who had secretly followed them realized, "Meng seems to have come to pick up new students."

Every February and October, their college always welcomes new students.

"Oh no, the student that Meng personally came to pick up, could he be another big devil?"

"Meng has suppressed us for four years, which is already difficult enough."

"If another great demon king comes along and oppresses us for another four years, we simply won't be able to live like this."

Listening to the whispers around me.

Arsipova's lips twitched. She couldn't believe how much psychological trauma Meng Lai had inflicted on these students over the past four years.

Meng Yingying remained unfazed and led the way, saying, "Let's go, I'll take you inside."

Jane and Arkhipova followed behind.

Meng Yingying's four years at Vaganova Academy have made her much more familiar with the place than Jane is now.

"I'll take you to the registration area first. After the registration is over, Bova can come back to the dormitory with me."

It's clear that this young girl, who was once a complete stranger in this place while studying abroad, has now firmly established herself.

Jane felt a sense of pride and honor because it was he who had brought this little girl to the Vaganova Academy.

We also witnessed her creating one brilliant achievement after another.

Meng Yingying had gone through the enrollment procedures four years ago, which were quite tedious. However, after four years of study, she now has no problem communicating in Russian in daily life.

Moreover, it's not limited to ballet terminology.

"Professor Ivanov, this is my junior. She has also been admitted to the Vaganova Academy. Could you please help her with her enrollment procedures?"

Ivanov glanced at Arsipova, then at Jane.

"Moba Affiliated School is indeed a place that produces many talented people."

First came Meng Yingying, then came Arkhipova.

Jane was also very proud, saying, "It's because the students themselves are so hardworking."

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Meng Yingying was a student at Moba Affiliated School. She studied there and received a certificate of completion.

"alright."

Out of consideration for Meng Yingying and Jane, Inov quickly processed Arkhipova's enrollment procedures.

There was absolutely no difficulty involved.

Seeing that Meng Yingying was about to leave with Arsipova.

Inov called out to her, "Meng, please wait a moment."

His tone was very polite.

Meng Yingying was somewhat puzzled. She left Arkhipova and Jane at the door while she went back in, asking with some confusion, "Teacher?"

"You've been here for four years now," Inov said.

Meng Yingying nodded, "Yes."

"You can graduate by the end of the year."

This means graduating a year early.

Meng Yingying was somewhat surprised and delighted. "Thank you, teacher."

Because it means that she will be able to return to China by the end of the year.

"Don't get too excited yet." Inov handed her a competition invitation.

Meng Yingying was somewhat puzzled, but Inov explained, "This is the International Ballet League. The venue for the competition was decided after much negotiation, and it was finally set in your country's capital—the Central Ballet Company."

Upon hearing this, Meng Yingying looked up abruptly. "What did you say?"

Inov repeated it again.

Meng Yingying suppressed her excitement, "So, in early 1978, you'll all be going back to China with me for the competition?"

"That's the current schedule."

"Meng." Inov took out his calendar and looked at it. "There are still two months left. You not only have to take your graduation exam, but also participate in the International Ballet League. I hope you can make one more effort during these two months."

"Meng—"

Inov looked at her and said, “This is the first time your country has held such an international ballet competition. I hope you can stand at the top and look down on us.”

"Instead of us looking down on you."

Meng Yingying's eyes were firm as she promised, "Teacher, I will definitely win!"

-----------------------

Author's Note: Almost finished! Just one last competition~ In the next chapter, Yingying will be returning home~