True Love Can Conquer All

By Fengqiongzi

In Ukraine, an accidental car loss prompted a romance between a young Chinese man and a beautiful Ukrainian girl.

A Car Lost

In January of 2011, it was blanketed with ice and snow in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. 24-year-old Li Wei found his car missing when he came out of the Summit Market at Gorky Avenue.

As a newcomer, Li was terribly desperate. He couldn’t explain himself very well in the Ukrainian language even if he did call the police, so he had to ask a local friend for help. His friend responded, “I know a Ukrainian girl named Anna who studies Chinese in China, and she happens to be on holiday back at home now. I will ask her to be your interpreter.” Li agreed to pay Anna 1000 Hryvnia (approximately 260 yuan) for a day’s work. When Anna showed up, he was shocked by her highvoltage beauty.

真爱无惧生死

文/风茕子

在乌克兰，一次偶然的丢车事故，成就了一个中国小伙与一位乌克兰美女的美好爱情。

丢车

2011年1月，乌克兰首都基辅冰天雪地。24岁的中国小伙李维从高尔基大街萨米特市场出来一看，车不见了。

李维心里沮丧，在人生地不熟的乌克兰，打电话报警他都说不清楚。他只得向一个当地朋友求助。朋友一拍脑袋：“我认识的一个在中国留学的女孩儿正好放寒假在家，我叫她来给你当翻译吧。”双方商定，李维付给那个名叫安娜的姑娘一天1000格里夫纳（约合人民币260元）。很快，安娜如约而至。李维愣住了，天哪，她真漂亮。

安娜一开口，李维更诧异：“你普通话比我还标准呢。”安娜笑了：“我16岁开始学汉语，今年被公派到上海留学，读对外汉语教学专业硕士。”有了这个沟通零障碍的乌克兰美女开路，接下来的事进行得十分顺利。安娜替他打电话报警，又和他一起到基辅警局做笔录，陪他四处奔波办理各种手续。当时，基辅市气温低到零下9℃，但李维心里暖洋洋的。

Li was also impressed by her Chinese, “You speak Chinese Putonghua better than me.” To which Anna replied with a smile, “I started learning Chinese at the age of 16, and this year I was sent to Shanghai by the Ukrainian government to continue my postgraduate program in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language.” With the assistance of this native Ukrainian girl, everything went smoothly. Anna helped him call the police, go to the Kiev police station to make a record and accompanied him to various offices to go through all necessary procedures. Although the temperature in Kiev dropped to -9 degrees Celsius, Li felt so warm in his heart.

That evening, Anna treated him to the well-known Ukrainian dish of borsch and Kiev meat pie. For the first time during his threemonth stay in Ukraine, Li felt as if he was an honored guest. Li also invited Anna to visit Hubei Province, his hometown, next time she was in China.

Li was from a small village in Hubei. After graduation from university, he joined his family in the lamp business. That year, his family business expanded into Ukraine, and he was sent to Kiev to handle the local market.

As they took a walk after coming out of the restaurant, Anna playfully trod on the ice along the road, which had mostly melted away from the sunlight. The thin ice collapsed easily, so that her shoes ended up wet with cold water. Li asked her, “Are you Ok? Wait a moment, and I will get you a pair of new shoes.” He rushed to the nearest store before he could finish his words.

After Anna put on the new shoes, she refused to accept Li’s payment for her interpretation. With the cash in hand, Li was really embarrassed. Then he asked Anna, “We’ll become friends if you don’t accept the money. In that case your boyfriend will be unhappy.” Anna replied with a smile, “I don’t have a boyfriend.” Li said jokingly, “Come on! You’re so beautiful, and you say you don’t have a boyfriend?” Anna just bit her lips, and Li forced a shy smile.

晚上，安娜带他去吃了基辅最有名的乌克兰红菜汤和基辅肉饼。到乌克兰3个月，李维第一次有了做客的感觉。他盛情邀请安娜下次到中国时去他的故乡湖北游玩。李维来自湖北一个小乡村，大学毕业后跟随亲戚做灯具生意。今年，亲戚的生意做到了乌克兰，他过来开拓基辅的市场。

从饭馆出来，俏皮的安娜去踩马路上的冰，不料冰已经在阳光下融化，安娜一脚踏破薄冰，鞋子进了水。李维紧张地问：“冷不冷？在这儿等着，我去给你买双新鞋。”说完他向商场飞奔而去。

安娜换上新鞋，死活不肯收他的“翻译费”。李维的钱拿在手里，给也不是，收也不是。他拐着弯问：“你不收钱我们不就成了朋友关系了？这样让你男朋友知道会不会不好？”安娜笑：“我没有男朋友。”李维开玩笑说：“不会吧，你这么漂亮，怎么可能没有男朋友？”看着安娜撇撇嘴，李维腼腆地笑了。

美好的爱情一发而不可收。安娜一开学，李维就追随她回中国，带她游历家乡。

休学

安娜的母亲突然病重。她不得不休学3年，回到基辅照顾家人。

李维更加勤奋地工作，开始在中国、乌克兰两头奔波。

2013年11月30日上午，安娜忽然打来电话，说基辅市情有点乱。身在武汉的李维一听，脑子一下懵了。他持的是一年多次商务签证，但必须在上次离境期满90天后方可再次入境，现在还差50多天。安娜安慰他：“别担心我，我会照顾好自己。”

李维如坐针毡，对安娜千叮万嘱：“所有的抗议、游行你都不要参加。我爱你，你不能出一丁点事，等我过去接你。”安娜答应了。

除了每天和安娜通电话，李维无时无刻不在紧张地关注局势。2014年2月中旬，李维重新办理了商务签证，在全家人的强烈反对下从广州飞往基辅。在过海关时却被拦了下来，因为李维邀请函出具单位的老板已变卖公司回到中国。海关联系不上公司负责人，决定遣返李维。

李维急了，连说带比画，表示自己是来乌克兰探亲。海关人员不由分说，将他原机遣返。

飞机在广州一落地，李维就接到安娜电话，她在电话里焦急地问：“你没事吧？”李维的眼泪一下子奔涌而出：“快回家！哪儿也别去，我一定想办法把你接过来。”

Their love budded and blossomed. When Anna returned back to China, Li Wei followed her back to China to show her around his hometown.

A Break from School

As Anna’s mother was seriously ill, she had to stop her schooling for three years to take care of her family in Kiev.

Li worked even harder than before and began shuttling between China and Ukraine.

On November 30, 2013, Li received an emergency call from Anna who told him about the unrest in Kiev. Anna’s words dealt a blow to him. Although Li had a multiple-entry business visa he was only allowed to re-enter Ukraine after 90 days from his last departure, which was still over 50 days away. Anna assured him, “No worries, I will take care of myself.”

Li was concerned about her and advised her repeatedly, “Stay away from any protests or demonstrations. I love you, my dear. You cannot expose yourself to any dangers. Wait for my return.” Anna followed his advice.

Apart from calling Anna every day, Li kept updated with the situation in Ukraine. In mid-February 2014, He applied for a new business visa and, against his family’s opposition, flew from Guangzhou to Kiev. However, he was held at Customs in Kiev, for the boss who offered Li the invitation letter had sold his company and already returned to China. Unable to get in touch with the head of the company, the Customs agent had to repatriate Li.

At this critical moment, Li became agitated and explained with gestures that he came to visit his relatives. The Customs officers, however, denied his entry.

The moment his returning flight landed, Li received the call from Anna who anxiously asked, “Is everything alright with you?” His eyes glistening, Li replied, “My dear, no matter what, I’ll try my best to bring you back to China.”

On February 22, Anna told Li that she took risks taking her mother to the local poorlyconditioned No.12 Hospital because of a serious relapse of her bronchitis. In such an emergency, Li asked one of his business partners in Kiev to help Anna’s family. Unfortunately, his partner told him that he was about to return to China because business was hard to sustain in such a chaotic environment.

Getting Married

In March, Li eventually received the materials needed to apply for a visa from Anna in Ukraine. He immediately submitted all the documents to the Ukrainian Embassy and anxiously waited for the results. On April 29, as his flight landed in Kiev, he saw Anna awaiting him at the exit. When their eyes met, Li dropped his baggage and gave Anna a big hug, unable to hold back his tears.

After the bus ran through the tumultuous city center, they reached Anna’s home in fear. They discussed with Anna’s mother that Anna’s father working in Donetsk, east Ukraine, should come back to Kiev to join them in their trip to China. Li had prepared the forms and materials associated with the application for a marriage to foreigners, and an invitation letter from his family to Anna and her parents. Apparently, Li planned to marry Anna right there.

2月22日，安娜告诉李维，母亲支气管炎复发，她冒险带母亲来到基辅市第12医院，医疗条件不太好。情急之下，李维打电话给基辅的一个生意伙伴，请他关照女友一家。生意伙伴无奈地告诉他，生意难做，准备回国了。

成婚

3月，李维终于收到安娜从乌克兰快递过来的办理探亲访友签证的材料，立刻递交大使馆办理签证。4月29日，他心急火燎地飞赴基辅。一下飞机，他就看到望眼欲穿的安娜站在出口。四目相对，李维扔下行李紧紧拥抱住女友，泪水滚滚而下。

巴士穿过骚乱的市区，李维和安娜心惊胆战地回到家中，同安娜的母亲商量：将安娜在顿涅茨克的父亲叫回基辅，一家人一起去中国。这次李维有备而来，带来了申请涉外婚姻的表格和资料、亲属向安娜及其父母发出的邀请函，他准备就在这里和安娜结婚。

安娜泪如雨下：“中国有句老话，‘夫妻本是同林鸟，大难来时各自飞’，真没想到你这么有情有义。”

没有婚礼，没有仪式，屋外一片嘈杂，李维将一枚简单的钻戒戴在安娜的无名指上：“我爱你，什么都不会将我们分开。”

涉外婚姻登记办好后，送到中国驻乌克兰大使馆办理签证，大家就可以一起走了。但这时岳母面露难色，安娜的父亲没法回来。

李维和安娜一夜未眠，商量着对策。“不能落下爸爸。”李维坚定地对安娜说，“你在家里照看妈妈，我去接他。”安娜欲言又止，万分纠结。

团圆

李维坐了13个小时火车到顿涅茨克。同车的一个顿涅茨克人会讲英语，他让朋友开车来接他回顿涅茨克，顺便捎上李维。

火车走到第聂伯罗彼得罗夫斯克，被流弹破坏严重，不再向前行驶了。李维只得和在火车上结识的朋友一起下车，在第聂伯罗彼得罗夫斯克找地方住下。

这一住就是20多天，李维心急如焚。5月26日，李维终于搭上朋友的便车，来到顿涅茨克。街上人烟稀少，飞机轰隆隆地在天空盘旋。好心的顿涅茨克朋友将他送到岳父的住所楼下，李维狂奔上楼。

“你不该来。”岳父泪眼迷离。生死线上，两人再也说不出一句话。

李维一面在网上宽慰妻子，一面留言安慰远在中国的父母。他心里明白，必须活着，必须成功把安娜一家人带回中国。

火车站离岳父的住所不远，李维想看看它到底被破坏成什么样子。深夜趁岳父熟睡，李维悄悄出门了。他一路摸索着来到火车站，见大楼安然无恙地立在那里，只是少了几块玻璃。售票大厅已经恢复售票。

Anna was deeply stirred, “I know an old Chinese saying which goes, ‘Husband and wife are birds in the woods; when a disaster happens they fly their separate ways,’ but you are such an honest and trustworthy man.”

There was no wedding ceremony, and Li, against the chaos outside, put a diamond ring on Anna’s finger. “I love you, Anna,” Li proposed, “I promise that nothing will part us!”

The marriage registration, along with other materials, had to be sent to the Chinese Embassy in Ukraine to apply for the visa. Then the whole family could set out for China. Now Anna’s mother, however, showed her hesitance because Anna’s father was unable to come back to join them.

Li and Anna exchanged their ideas about what to do next for a whole night. “We cannot leave our father alone here.” Li said firmly. “You stay at home to take care of Mom,” Li added, “I’ll go to Donetsk to bring him back.” Anna’s words rose to her throat but she checked herself and kept silent, for she had mixed feelings about his decision.

Family Reunion

It took 13 hours for Li to go from Kiev to Donetsk by train. Luckily, he happened to meet a Donetsk native who spoke English, and the man had asked one of his friends to offer Li a free ride.

When the train reached Dnipropetrovsk, it was forced to a halt because it was badly damaged by bullets. Li and the man had to get off the train and attempt to find a local place to stay.

During his 20-day stay in Dnipropetrovsk, Li was tortured with anxiety. On May 26, Li eventually arrived in Donetsk with the help of his friend. There were hardly any people on the road, but there were bombers droning overhead. Li’s friend was so kind as to drop him right at the foot of the apartment of Li’s father-in-law and Li rushed upstairs to meet him.

“You shouldn’t have come here.” Li’s father-in-law said, misty-eyed. Without further words, both of them understood each other in speechlessness at this life-and-death moment.

Li consoled his wife online; in the meantime, he left messages to his parents in China to report his safety. He knew that he must stay alive so that Anna’s whole family could come to China, safe and sound.

Since the railway station was located not far away from the apartment, Li wanted to check if it was ruined. At midnight when his father-in-law was sound asleep, Li snuck out of the room and went to the railway station. There stood the building, quite intact, with only several windows lost. The ticket hall had resumed service. Li bought two train tickets so that they could go back to Kiev the following day.

At about 4 pm local time on May 26, as Li and his fatherin-law left the apartment, two bombs from a low-hovering bomber exploded only 20 meters away from them. Li instinctively yanked his father-in-law down to lie on the ground. A volley of gunshots followed, with some bullets whizzing over Li’s head, piercing holes in the walls. They retreated back to their room. At 6 pm, they set out again in panic when it became quiet outside. On the way, most convenience stores were closed, and even in the open shops food and water were unavailable. Pushed by hunger and thirst, they reached the railway station. After 4 hours’ delay, the train finally started moving.

As the train wheeled out of the station, they left the war zone behind. The anxious passengers on board were all relieved. Li’s father-in-law talked gratefully to Li, but Li only understood one sentence, “You are risking your life to save me.” With tears welling up in his eyes, Li replied, “You and Anna’s mom are my family as well.”

When they returned home in Kiev, the whole family wept for their reunion. A short while later, Anna approached Li and said, “My parents say it was my greatest luck to meet you.” Much to his relief, Li just smiled.

In mid-June of 2014, Anna’s family and Li returned back to China. Anna participated in the public welfare program of Sino-Ukraine medical techniques and technologies, setting up a medical exchange between China and Ukraine.

In January of 2017, their second beautiful daughter was born. The whole family lives a happy life together.

(From Past lovers, Present Strangers, Time Literature and Art Press. Translation: Wang Wen)

李维购买了第二天回基辅的火车票。

当地时间28日下午4点多钟，李维和岳父刚下楼，忽然，低空盘旋的飞机投下两颗炸弹，就在离两人不到20米远的地方爆炸了。李维本能地将岳父一拉，就地趴下。紧接着一阵“嗒嗒嗒嗒”的枪声，子弹擦着李维的耳朵飞过，打得对面的墙壁石屑四溅。两人只得狼狈地逃回房间。到晚上6点，外面终于安静下来。他们战战兢兢地重新出发。一路上，一大半便利店都没有开门，余下的店铺也买不到水和食品。两人饥寒交迫，赶到火车站。在晚点4个小时后，火车终于出发了……

看着战区逐渐远去，火车上忧心忡忡的乘客们这才如释重负。岳父感动地用俄语、乌克兰语和李维交流，李维只听明白一句：“你父母把你养这么大也不容易。”他不禁眼眶湿润：“您和妈妈也是我的家人。”

回到基辅家中，一家人抱头痛哭。过了一会儿，安娜走过来，含泪对李维说：“爸妈说，我认识你是这辈子最棒的事。”李维宽厚地笑了。

6月中旬，他和安娜一家安全地回到中国。安娜加入中乌医疗技术交换公益项目团队，义务为中国与乌克兰医疗事业发展架起沟通的桥梁。

2017年1月，安娜和李维的第二个女儿诞生了，很漂亮。一家人幸福地生活在一起。

（摘自《多少黑名单 曾互道晚安》时代文艺出版社）