My hometown is far away in Moscow.

Chapter 241 Abalensk's Good Friend

With everything settled, the residents' doubts were completely dispelled. Hu Yi, holding Officer Andrei's hand, repeatedly expressed his gratitude on behalf of Xiao Linzi: "Thank you so much! Without you, my friend might already be frozen to death by the edge of the woods!"

"Well... it's nothing. I'm a policeman, no need to be so polite." Andrei sobered up a bit and, swaying slightly, put his arm around Hu Yi's shoulder, insisting on seeing him out of the police station.

Xiao Linzi was so drunk he was like a rag doll, unable to lift his head or move his legs. It was Yabalov and another man named Bacha who helped carry him to the door. Hu Yi turned to the driver and said, "He can't walk anymore, could you please drive the car here?"

The driver agreed, and several young men led the way to the car. Everyone waited at the police station entrance. Round-faced Andrei returned their daggers and still-dry clothes, then sent for some drinks: "Friends in Moscow, many wonderful things have happened tonight—unexpected and very interesting. Come, let me toast you on behalf of everyone, wishing you a safe journey!"

"That's right, dear Andrei. We've all had a great time tonight!" Hu Yi was very relaxed at the moment, and he and Yabalov and the others took their glasses and drank them down in one gulp.

"Wait, I'll have a drink with you guys too." The fat man, Andrei, raised his glass and slapped the tall one on the shoulder. "Hey, you still owe me a punishment. When I get to Moscow, I'll definitely throw you into the river next to the Kremlin!"

Everyone burst into laughter. Hu Yi raised a glass of fresh wine: "Farewell, my dear... and Andrei too, welcome to visit us in Moscow!"

The glass had barely been set down when Officer Andrei swayed closer, adding, "And... me too, have a safe trip!"

Hu Yi rubbed his stomach and let out a burp: "Yes, thank you for being another dear Andrei, we must... burp, have a drink!"

After three drinks, a car headlight flashed in the distance, and the minivan turned around.

Hu Yi's last memory of that night was being illuminated by car headlights. Everything that followed was hazy and confused. When he opened his eyes again, it was already noon the next day.

"Ugh? Hmm?" He felt a splitting headache, a dry mouth, and his throat felt like it was on fire. He turned over slightly and found himself lying in Natasha's room, with a glass of water on the small bedside table next to him.

He grabbed the cup and gulped it down, then wiped his mouth in confusion, saying, "What...when did this happen...?"

Several new clothes were draped on the bedside table, probably taken from his own bedroom. Hu Yi rubbed his head, swayed, and got up to get dressed. Just as he was about to go outside to check, Natasha came out of the bathroom: "Darling! You're awake!"

"Just woke up." Hu Yiqing's voice was hoarse as she sat back on the bed, bewildered. "How...how did I end up sleeping here?"

"You don't remember anything at all?" Natasha chuckled. "Two policemen had to carry you back."

"Police?" Hu Yi scratched his head in confusion. "How could that be? What time did I get back?"

"Around 3:30 a.m., you called me on your cell phone, but you couldn't speak anymore." Natasha smiled and patted his head. "A policeman asked you which room you were staying in on the phone, so I asked them to bring you here."

"Oh...I have absolutely no recollection of it..." Hu Yi banged his head hard, then suddenly jumped out of bed: "Ah, right, wait for me!"

He ran back into the house to find the birthday present he had prepared for Natasha, then dashed back in a flash: "Darling, a belated gift, happy birthday!"

"A gift? Thank you!" Natasha happily unwrapped the package, her eyes lighting up immediately. "Wow... this is... when... did you buy this?!"

"It's the one we bought in Switzerland that day, when you weren't looking." Hu Yi said triumphantly, giving her a big kiss on the forehead. "Do you like it?"

"I love it! I love it so much!" Natasha stroked the watch carefully, then suddenly choked up and covered her mouth with her hand: "Anton, you know what? I don't need any gifts, I just want you to be safe. Last night... I was really scared."

"Don't worry, look at me, I'm back safe and sound, aren't I?" Hu Yi smiled and pulled her into his arms. "Last night was a false alarm, nothing dangerous happened at all, I just drank quite a bit. But... I seem to have some things I can't remember."

"Yes," Natasha sniffled, then looked up and smiled through her tears, "You came back last night wearing other people's clothes, you know that?"

"Oh, I do remember." Hu Yi paused for a moment, glancing sideways at the watch in her hand. "Oh dear, I have to go to work. Take the clothes I wore back yesterday to the laundry room, and I'll contact them to send them back after they're washed."

After all that commotion last night, Hu Yi still felt weak and dizzy, so he took a taxi to the market.

Xiao Linzi was vividly describing his experience yesterday to others by the box. When Hu Yi asked about what happened in the latter half of the night, he didn't have much of an impression. He only remembered that after being lifted into the car, everything was quiet. He slept on and off for a few moments before he felt the car start. He was still in a daze the whole way and was sent home in a half-dream, half-awake state.

Both of them were in a daze until they met Yabalov in the afternoon, when he told them what he had done during his blackout.

It turned out that Hu Yi had been very nervous all night, and his mood fluctuated several times when he arrived in town to look for Xiao Linzi, until he finally relaxed completely. Then, after three glasses of wine, he got drunk in no time.

Once he got drunk, he suddenly became excited, frequently raising his glass to those around him and showering Abarensk with praise, which made everyone's goodwill towards him soar, and they surrounded him, singing and dancing.

The drunken police officer Andrei added fuel to the fire by going back into the house and bringing out half a bottle of his own strong liquor, insisting that Hu Yi taste it.

Hu Yi was almost unconscious at that time. He tilted his head back and gulped down half a glass. Then he grabbed the arm of the round-faced man and started singing and dancing. He also pestered him to go and pay respects to Andrei, the World War II hero in the town.

Round-faced and the others stood in solemn respect, practically carrying him to the monument to the hero Andrei. Hu Yi touched the monument, sometimes muttering to himself, sometimes wailing. The surrounding residents, though bewildered, were also deeply moved and shed tears along with him.

He cried and made a scene until after 2 a.m., showing no intention of going home. Yabarov and the others were exhausted from waiting and finally managed to persuade Round Face and the others to help him back to the car.

This minivan can only seat eight people, and with the seven of them plus Xiao Linzi, it was exactly full. Xiao Linzi and Hu Yi could barely sit up straight, and the other Bachas were all towering figures, making the vehicle feel extremely crowded.

Upon seeing this, the heavily intoxicated Deputy Chief Andrei gave an order, calling two young policemen out of bed and demanding that they make sure "Abalensk's good friend" was safely returned to Moscow.

The two policemen had only attended the first half of the celebration last night and had slept for a few hours at home, so they were mostly sober. They didn't know who Hu Yi was, but since the deputy director had given the order, they naturally didn't dare to neglect it. They quickly washed their faces and ran out the door.

The crowd huddled together and shoved Hu Yi into the town's only police car, which was driven by two policemen straight to Moscow.

Knowing the roads well, they sped along, delivering Hu Yi to the Friendship University in less than an hour. Yabalov and his group followed closely behind in their van, quickly returning to the market as well.

(End of this chapter)