Chapter 16: An Encounter on the Streets of America
One day in early October, a tall boy with a handsome face got off the plane. He was carrying a simple travel bag and walked slowly towards the exit of the airport.
And this handsome boy is Tang Qian.
Recalling the scenes a few days ago, Tang Qian felt extremely unreal, as if everything was a dream.
With Li Qiuping's help, Tang Qian boarded a flight to the United States before anyone from the Basketball Association arrived.
Li Qiuping has already told him the consequences of this move. If he can't make it in the United States, the possibility of returning to China to play will be completely blocked. Therefore, for Tang Qian's basketball career,
It's no different than a gamble.
But Tang Qian still accepted it.
Because in his heart, he is unwilling to compromise.
Since he doesn't want to, he can only follow what Li Qiuping said and go abroad to play ball.
After all, no matter how awesome "certain people" are, they can't reach the United States.
What's more, Tang Qian is not a player "within the system", so Li Qiuping's arrangement is undoubtedly extremely feasible.
"This is Los Angeles, the City of Angels, California, USA. Welcome ladies and gentlemen."
A series of English messages at the airport told Tang Qian that he had arrived in a new and completely unfamiliar country.
When Tang Qian got on the plane, he sent Tang's father a text message on his mobile phone. He knew that his family would know about such an uproarous matter sooner or later, so it was natural that he should let them know about his decision.
But he didn't dare to call.
"Once you've decided, go ahead and do it. Don't worry too much about family matters."
Tang's father's reply was very simple, neither sensational nor reluctant, as if he had just received an ordinary text message from Tang Qian.
But when Tang Qian received it, his heart still trembled violently.
However, he did not hesitate and still took one step at a time and boarded the flight to Los Angeles, USA.
No one came to pick him up. If he wanted to go to the place arranged for him by Li Qiuping, he had to get to the United States and then contact him on his own.
Most Americans are very independent, and of course, they are also very busy.
After walking out of Los Angeles Airport, Tang Qian touched his pockets and was stunned for a moment.
Missing?
The note Li Qiuping gave him was missing.
Tang Qian quickly searched all over his body, but still found nothing.
Lost it?
The note contained the address and number that Li Qiuping asked him to contact. When it suddenly disappeared, Tang Qian was stunned.
What should we do now?
Tang Qian was confused for a few seconds, and then he laughed at himself: "Is this the legendary 'bad start'? Is my character actually so bad?"
After laughing at himself, Tang Qian began to carefully recall the contents of the note.
I definitely can’t remember the phone number, but what about the other information?
Tang Qian walked aimlessly while thinking hard. He didn't know how long it took, but he finally remembered some content.
Like, Toyota Center? No, no, that's the home court of the Rockets. Huh? What is that? Toyota Center Sports?
Yes, yes! It’s Toyota Sports Center!
After remembering the approximate address, Tang Qian's heart finally settled. It didn't matter if he didn't have a number. As long as he could find the place, he could find the person Li Qiuping asked him to find.
Tang Qian only had a thousand dollars with him, which was given to him by Li Qiuping before he left. Li Qianping had served as an assistant coach and assistant to the president in the NBA for a period of time, so he still knew some "celebrities" in the basketball circle in the United States.
.
After Tang Qian remembered his destination, he was about to find a taxi to go there. However, he never thought that American drivers were also known to "rip off customers". Tang Qian had just asked about the distance, and the other party "exaggeratedly" said that the place was very far from Los Angeles Airport.
It cost Tang Qian several hundred dollars. Tang Qian was not a fool. Although he had never been to the United States, some of his classmates at school had traveled there. He remembered that it cost about US$2-3 to get in a taxi in Los Angeles, and then go back to the United States.
If you pay based on the ride time and mileage, why would you ask yourself a few hundred dollars at the beginning?
A few hundred dollars? Do you think I'm a fat sheep? I'm stupid enough to be slaughtered by you?
Tang Qian clearly remembered that Li Qiuping said before coming here that this place is not too far from Los Angeles Airport. Since it is not too far, why do you need hundreds of dollars? Tang Qian looked at the taxi driver with contempt and closed the door angrily.
car door.
But after watching the taxi leave, he began to regret it again.
The United States is not like China, where taxis are everywhere. Most people here book a taxi in advance or charter it, so after waiting for the taxi to leave, Tang Qian waited for half an hour and didn't see it again.
Next car.
At this time, the benefits of domestic characteristics were highlighted. Tang Qian was walking on the streets of Los Angeles and saw that it was getting later and later, but there was no way. He also thought about taking a ride, but he didn't know if it was Tang Qian.
Qian was very unlucky today, he blocked several cars in a row, and everyone said they were unavailable and couldn't help him.
This is so funny!
You're a big living person, but when you come to Los Angeles, it's hard for you to move around?
And soon, God told Tang Qian with the cruel truth that this was really the case.
It was already dusk, and Tang Qian still had not found a way to reach his destination.
He didn't know how long he had been walking, but Tang Qian, who was physically and mentally exhausted, suddenly heard a crisp guitar sound. By some strange coincidence, he dragged his feet and followed the music and walked slowly over.
The sound of the guitar is irregular and incomplete, as if it was intentional by the person playing it.
"Oh~no~no, no, this doesn't feel right, this is not what I want."
On a small piece of grass, a young woman's voice suddenly reached Tang Qian's ears.
Tang Qian did not disturb the woman. He just put down his travel bag, sat aside slowly, and listened quietly.
After playing alone for a few minutes, the young woman suddenly spoke softly:
When I wake up in the morning, I know.
Now I know some things I didn't know before.
It’s been 18 hours.
Your emerald eyes and bright smile always appear in my mind, which makes me feel...
Now I just want to know you better.
……………………
I found out yesterday and everything changed.
"Pap-pap-pap-pap."
A burst of lonely applause woke up the young woman who had been lowering her head and moaning softly. She looked in the direction of Tang Qian and said alertly: "Who are you? Are you following me?"
Stalking you?
Tang Qian looked at the young woman and said, "No, I was just attracted by your music."
"Really?" The young woman still seemed uneasy. She turned around and looked around like a ghost. After realizing that it really didn't look like someone, she said, "Thank you for your compliment. It's me who can be recognized by strangers."
Musical pleasure.”
"Haha, I'm just a layman, I can't say I'm honored or not."
The two of them sat side by side, and after an awkward silence, the young woman took the lead and said, "Looking at you, are you Korean or Japanese?"
Tang Qian frowned and said, "I am Chinese."
"Oh? Chinese? Sorry, sorry, you Chinese don't seem to like being admitted wrong," the young woman said.
"Yeah." Tang Qian replied simply. He seemed unwilling to explain more on this kind of thing.
Seeing Tang Qian's unenthusiastic expression, the young woman became a little curious and said, "Are you just from China? Judging from your appearance, you must have just gotten off the plane."
"No, I came from Lithuania." Tang Qian said calmly.
"Lithuania? Then why did you come to the United States? To travel?" the young woman asked.
"No, I'm here to find a job." Tang Qian obviously didn't want to mention this matter more.
"So have you found a job?"
"Well, that's right, but I lost my contact information and couldn't find my way there for a while."
"Then where are you going?"
"Toyota Sports Center."
"Toyota Sports Center?" The woman was stunned. She obviously didn't have much impression of this place, but soon she thought of a way. She took out her mobile phone, fiddled with it a few times, and instantly smiled.
It bloomed on her face: "It turns out to be the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo. This place is not bad. It's not far from Los Angeles Airport."
"Do you know how to get there?" Tang Qian said with a smile on his face.
"I don't know, but you can use road navigation." The young woman said.
"Do you have a car?" Tang Qian reacted quickly and asked urgently.
"Of course. If you don't rent a car in the United States, it would be a disaster." The young woman said with a somewhat exaggerated expression.
"A car? I want one too, but I'm not old enough to get a driver's license in China." Tang Qian heard that the young woman had a car, and he immediately felt better and answered casually.
"Oh, mygod! You're not an adult yet, are you?" the young woman said, covering her mouth in surprise.
"Well, I won't turn eighteen until the 11th of next month." Tang Qian replied.
"By the way, since you have a car, can you drive me there? I can pay you."
"Ah ha? You want me to be your driver?" the young woman said in surprise.
"What's wrong? Is it inconvenient for you?"
"No, that's not the reason."
"Then it's over? Send me there and I'll pay you a hundred dollars, no, how about two hundred dollars?" Tang Qian looked at the young woman with some anxiety because he didn't know the price he was offering.
, is it reasonable?
"Haha, two hundred dollars won't do. You have to pay me five hundred dollars." The young woman deliberately "teased" Tang Qian.
"What? Five hundred? You're even worse than that guy just now! Three hundred dollars, no more!" Tang Qian said with wide eyes. He really didn't expect that a girl who looked so "gentle and polite" could actually
The asking price is so dark.
"Okay, okay, three hundred dollars, just three hundred dollars. You know, if other people know your price, they will definitely be jealous and go crazy."
Who else would be jealous of a driver who charges $300? Unless the American people have their heads kicked by donkeys, that's not much of a problem!
Tang Qian secretly cursed, but he didn't show it openly, otherwise if the woman in front of him got "angry", he might not be able to get to Toyota Sports Center today.
Alas, I am a stranger in a foreign land, so bear with it.
The young woman put away the guitar, walked up to Tang Qian and said, "Let's go, Chinese boy."
"Well, I hope you don't take any detours, otherwise I won't pay a penny more for the agreed price." After Tang Qian finished speaking, he stood up and said.
"Detour? I said do you know who I am... eh? You, you are so tall, are you over seven feet?" The young woman just wanted to retort to Tang Qian, but after Tang Qian stood up
, her attention was immediately attracted by Tang Qian's height.
"Well, let's go quickly, I'm in a hurry." Tang Qian replied perfunctorily.
"Who is taller, you or Yao Ming? Are you Chinese all this tall?" The young woman continued to ask while leading the way.
"Yao Minggao." In order to reach the destination as quickly as possible, Tang Qian could only deal with it casually.
Along the way, this American woman didn't know what was causing her madness, but she kept talking. The more Tang Qian listened, the more he felt his head hurt.
"Hey, big man, are you a basketball player?" She finally said something that interested Tang Qian.
"um, yes."
"Then you came to the United States for the draft? Do you want to enter the NBA?"
"No, that's not the case. I just went to NBDL for trial training."
"NBDL? What is that?"
"A secondary league affiliated with the NBA."
"Oh, I only know the NBA. I thought you came to the NBA to participate in the draft."
"NBA? I think so too, but my ability is not yet up to the level to enter it."
"Haha..." Seeing that the conversation was a little awkward, the young woman deliberately changed the subject and said, "Do you usually like listening to music?"
"Fortunately, I listen to all kinds of music except Japanese and Korean music." Tang Qian replied.
"Then do you have any songs you want to listen to?"
"It doesn't matter, just let it go, I can do it."
The young woman glanced at Tang Qian. For some reason, she secretly pulled out a CD from the bottom and put it into the car player. The soothing music immediately reverberated in the car.
The young woman asked after a few minutes: "How is it? What do you think of this song?"
"Not bad, not bad."
Tang Qian's words almost made her so angry that she vomited blood, but it also further convinced her that the Chinese in front of her really didn't know her.
Somewhat relieved.
And a little bit disappointed.
"Hey, big man, how long will you stay in the United States?" the young woman asked.
"I don't know, it may be a long time, it may not be long," Tang Qian said.
"Are you afraid that you won't be able to pass the trial?"
"Well, maybe, I can't tell."
Tang Qian simply ended the topic.
There was another dull moment, and except for the sound of CD music, there was no movement in the whole car.
Pa pa pa pa pa pa pa……
Outside the car window, at some point, it suddenly started to rain.
"Have you ever been confused?" Tang Qian suddenly opened his mouth and asked.
This was the first time Tang Qian took the initiative to talk after getting in the car.
"Confused? What do you mean?" the young woman turned and asked.
"Let me ask you, what would you do if something you loved the most might be difficult to continue?"
She frowned and looked at Tang Qian. Although the other person's spoken language had an "oriental" flavor, she still heard a hint of nervousness and a touch of fear.
Logically speaking, it is almost impossible for two strangers who have never met to discuss this kind of issue, but when Tang Qian asked, she did not feel strange at all, as if the two had known each other for a long time.
She thought carefully for a while, and then said slowly: "My favorite thing is music. If it is difficult to continue... I will probably continue."
"Why?"
"Why? Because you like it the most. Is there any reason why it is stronger than this one?"
"But...I am sometimes afraid of some of the effects it will have on me...and these effects are things I have never thought of before..."
"Big man, have you heard a story?"
"story?"
"There once was a little boy living in the forest. He was very envious of the magic and wings of the elves, so he made a wish that it would be great if he could also have magic and wings. One day, his wish came true, and he discovered
He finally had the magic and wings of the elf, so he was full of hope and wanted to go out and share it with his friends. But as a result, he found that his friends were afraid of him, even afraid of him, and everyone stayed away when they saw him.
Far away, slowly, he began to be isolated, and people did not want to see him anymore. The little boy was very sad, and he asked the elves why people did this to him? The elves said, as long as you give up magic and wings
, everything will return to normal. The little boy listened to the elf and finally gave up his magic and wings. Gradually, those friends came back and people no longer alienated him." The young woman stopped here.
Huatou.
"What does this story mean? Does it mean that humans don't like 'heresy' things?" Tang Qian thought for a while and said.
"Haha, your thoughts are really 'dark'." The young woman shook her head and said: "This story is that if you want to get something, you have to take corresponding risks. For example, if I like music, then the accompanying
Everything, whether good or bad, I have to accept happily. Because I choose to like it, then because of everything that 'comes with it', I must also accept it. This is the price of 'liking'.
"
There was another silent silence, and Tang Qian opened his mouth after a while: "Yes, since I like it, no matter whether it is good or bad, I have the responsibility to bear it. Otherwise... it is not an insult.
Does it exist in my heart?"
"Thank you. Although you look very young, you are more mature and braver than me." Tang Qian looked at her and said sincerely.
"Big man, my mother also told me this truth. How could I have thought so clearly on my own! Huh? Wait?" The young woman seemed to have noticed something, and suddenly changed the subject and said: "What do you mean I see?"
Look very young? I am already very young, okay? I am only 21 years old this year!!!"
"Okay, okay, I made a mistake. I'll treat you to dinner another day to express my apology." Tang Qian, who was very understanding, also showed a smile.
"Hey, big man, I didn't expect you to look quite handsome when you smile."
"You're not bad either, you're quite beautiful."
"Hey, hey, hey, what does it mean to be pretty? I'm a big beauty, okay? Believe it or not, if I take a photo of you, countless people will drive over to kill you tomorrow?"
"You are so confident. Who do you think you are? Emma Watson?"
"Do you Chinese only know Emma Watson? Don't you know anyone else besides her?"
"Of course I know other people, but these 'other people' definitely do not include you."
"you!!!"
In this rainy Los Angeles, Tang Qian met a woman who would play an important role in his life in the future.
She is...
PS: Xiaozi is here to talk about the taxi charging rules in Los Angeles. The minimum charge is US$2.85 (1/9 mile), US$0.30 per 1/9 mile (US$2.70 per mile), and US$0.30 per 37 seconds of waiting (US$29.19 per hour).
), the fixed fee from Los Angeles Airport to downtown Los Angeles is US$46.50, the additional fee for departure from Los Angeles Airport is US$2.50, and the minimum fee for departure from Los Angeles Airport is US$15.00 (but does not include the above additional fee of US$2.50). And there is basically no sightseeing in Los Angeles.
Most of the taxis that stop at a moment's notice in China require calling to make a reservation.
Hehe, thank you all for leaving your messages in the book review area. Xiao Zi has read them one by one. Thank you for your valuable opinions. Xiao Zi will summarize them carefully! The transitional chapter is over, and Tang Qian’s monster-fighting upgrade will be started next...
Oh no, I made a mistake, it was Tang Qian who fought alone in the United States! The plot slowly unfolds, everyone comes to collect and vote for it!!!