72: Chapter 71: Reunion after a Long Separation 72: Chapter 71: Reunion after a Long Separation Gao Yang found a hotel and settled in for the time being, but he had to find a long-term place of refuge for Yelena and her daughter Natalia.
Glolov was bound to come to Johannesburg to see Natalia and her mother, but Gao Yang believed it was unlikely he would arrive anytime soon.
Libya had been completely subjected to a no-fly zone, and even the seas were blockaded.
For Glolov and Cui Bo to travel from war-torn Libya to South Africa, they must first get to another country, and then make their way to South Africa.
Gao Yang optimistically estimated that it would be good if Glolov could make it in ten days.
Gao Yang and Glolov both agreed that Natalia and her mother had nowhere to go and could only stay in Africa.
If that was the case, Johannesburg, where they were now, was undoubtedly the best choice.
At least compared to other cities in Africa, Johannesburg was the best in every respect.
Gao Yang could have waited for Glolov to arrive before having him take care of his wife and daughter, but now Gao Yang couldn’t wait any longer because he was running out of money.
Counting all the money from both Glolov and himself, Gao Yang had less than five thousand US dollars left.
The property prices in Johannesburg were not high, but the hotel prices were terrifyingly steep.
For four people staying in two rooms, it cost six hundred US dollars a day.
With Gao Yang’s current financial situation, in a few more days, they wouldn’t even have enough money for meals, and the hotel they were staying at was only three-star.
Of course, there were hotels with very low prices, but those hotels were not only in poor condition; the crucial issue was the lack of security.
Gao Yang’s most pressing task was to find a safe and reasonably priced residential area where he could rent a house for Natalia and Yelena to stay in long-term.
Leaving Natalia and Yelena waiting in the hotel, Gao Yang and Li Jinfang went out to search for a suitable house to rent.
Once known as the “America of Africa”, South Africa has seen economic decline and rising unemployment rates, especially prominent security issues, since the end of apartheid.
Johannesburg, as South Africa’s largest city, could no longer guarantee safety.
Life was not easy for white South Africans nowadays, with the majority of skilled and wealthy whites choosing to emigrate.
However, relative to others, the everyday life of South African whites was still decent.
In Johannesburg, the safest residential areas were still the high-end ones where whites congregated.
If Gao Yang wanted Natalia and Yelena to live safely, he had to look for a house in a high-end residential area.
Gao Yang didn’t care about the relations between South Africa’s whites and blacks, but what troubled him was that finding a residential area that could ensure safety was already difficult enough.
The trouble was Gao Yang also had to consider Yelena’s education.
He didn’t expect to find a school for Yelena, who, being on a tourist passport, was now illegal in South Africa, making schooling unrealistic.
Still, Gao Yang felt that at least he needed to find a place nearby where she could practice music and find a competent music teacher.
Under the guidance of a real estate agent, Gao Yang and Li Jinfang drove around for half a day.
Eventually, they chose a residential area and found a house similar to a standalone villa in China.
This residential area was mostly populated by high-income whites, as well as some blacks with respectable professions and income.
It was a neighborhood for upper-class residents, and the security was reasonably good.
The property prices in Johannesburg were not high, at least compared to China, and Gao Yang thought they were very cheap.
A standalone villa with a 1,500-square-meter court was selling for only 800,000 RMB.
For renting, it was just five hundred US dollars a month.
After prepaying four months’ rent, Gao Yang only spent two thousand US dollars to move into a big house with eight bedrooms.
After signing a contract with the house’s owner, Gao Yang immediately went back to the hotel to bring Natalia and her mother to their new home.
He then called Glolov to inform him of the new address, but to Gao Yang’s surprise, the call wouldn’t go through.
It wasn’t until the following day’s noon that Gao Yang finally got through, but what he least expected was that as soon as the call connected, Glolov urgently exclaimed, “Gao, where are you?
Rabbit and I are at the hotel you mentioned.”
Gao Yang was almost scared witless, and said, shocked, “Really?
I just called you the day before yesterday, and you’ve arrived today?
I thought it would be good if you could make it in ten days.”
“We arrived last night, just couldn’t get ahold of you.
Alright, tell me where you are, let’s talk when we meet.”
After Gao Yang gave them the address, in less than an hour, someone pressed the doorbell, and when Gao Yang opened the door, it was indeed Glolov and Cui Bo standing outside.
Glolov stood at the doorway, and upon seeing Natalia and her daughter in the living room behind Gao Yang, he didn’t say anything and tears started streaming down his face.
He then suddenly squeezed past Gao Yang, who was standing at the door, opened his arms, and ran towards Natalia.
Gao Yang completely understood Glolov’s actions, it was normal for him to lose composure after such a long separation, but what he didn’t expect was that Natalia, clearly also in tears, opened her arms as if she was going to embrace Glolov, and just as they seemed about to hug and have a family reunion after such a long time, things took an unexpected turn.
Natalia’s expression changed, and she fiercely slapped him, and after a crisp slap noise, Glolov was knocked to the ground by the slap on his face.
Natalia’s slap sent Glolov tumbling to the floor, then she started to scold him loudly while pointing at him.
Even though he couldn’t understand what she was saying, it looked like she was on the verge of stomping on him a few times.
Glolov was uniquely dramatic, startling Gao Yang.
He then realized the reason Glolov couldn’t withstand even a single slap from Natalia was not just because of her forceful blow, but mainly because Glolov had not yet recovered from serious injuries, and he had only just started to be able to walk.
He was still in a very frail state.
Gao Yang said urgently, “Let’s talk this out peacefully, no need for violence, Glolov is still injured.”
After Gao Yang finished speaking, he realized his words were in vain, as Glolov quickly scrambled up from the ground, a ingratiating smile on his face.
He faced Natalia’s pointing finger, grabbed her around the waist, and pulled Yelena, who was standing by the side, into his arms.
Without saying a word, he started to sob loudly.
When Glolov began to cry, Natalia finally stopped the scolding and rested her head on Glolov’s shoulder, crying out even louder than him.
Yelena was also sobbing silently, but her voice was completely drowned out by the wailing duet of Glolov and Natalia.
PS: Thanks to Daidai Hailang, Prototype Mark Rabbit, Xiansheng, ivwsa, Walking on the Road of Love, and other brothers for their rewards.
Due to space limitations, I cannot list the names of all the brothers who supported me here, but Ruxui sincerely appreciates your support from the bottom of my heart.
Thank you very much; your support is my greatest motivation.
I also want to say that the transitional chapters are finally coming to an end, and the war is about to start.
Haven’t kept you waiting too long, have I?