After finishing the Champions League group stage against Prague Juniors, the Wolverine, who have won two consecutive Champions League games, have already secured their qualifying places, although they still have the second leg to meet.

Wrapping up this Champions League fixture, the Wolverines have only one away game left in their January schedule against the Elfs of Conlf.

Konglf is a small town in northern Sweden, the equivalent of China's northwestern mountains, so Kong Zhendong doesn't pay much attention to the table tennis team there.

During the more than week of preparation, he still has some personal matters to deal with, that is, this week happens to be the Chinese New Year holiday.

The Spring Festival in '93 came earlier than in previous years, and Sweden did not have a trace of the Spring Festival atmosphere because there were fewer Chinese.

Kong Zhendong and Zhang Lei, who almost broke their legs on Chinese New Year's Eve, finally found an authentic dumpling restaurant, got together, and felt the taste of the New Year.

The two don't talk about their respective leagues and teammates, but only about their relatives in the capital, and their aspirations for future life.

Zhang Lei's future is more certain, coming to Sweden was ready to play only one season, after a thorough understanding of the latest generation of European arc combined with fast attack technology, he will return to the capital team as a youth team coach, for the future national team to deliver advanced playing style of good seedlings.

Kong Zhendong's future is more uncertain, because he is too young, and it is okay to train in Europe for one year, two or three years, depending on his growth rate and the ideas of the domestic coaches.

Although Sweden does not have the concept of the Chinese New Year, Kong Zhendong still took the time to prepare New Year's gifts for his parents, Ye Xiaoya, Guo Bing, Liu Guobang, Li Jun, Coach Zheng and Zheng Zheng to mail them back.

93 is a year when the number of landline households in China has doubled, and her mother Su Xia has informed her phone number in a letter a few days ago. The mother said that although she knew that it was difficult for Kong Zhendong to talk to China in Sweden, she still asked Kong's father to open an international long-distance relationship, just so that she could hear the sound of her son crossing the ocean.

Between the lines, it shows that his mother Su Xia misses him, so Kong Zhen calculated the time difference and prepared to call his mother back to greet the New Year on the night of the Chinese New Year's Eve in the capital time.

Early in the morning of January 22, when Kong Zhendong got up early to exercise and returned to Sir Edward's house, he was taken aback.

Mr. and Mrs. Edward, Victoria, and Madeleine were all dressed and sitting at the table, and they used to get up early to prepare breakfast for everyone, but when they came back today, a hot breakfast was already prepared for him.

Sir Edward laughed, "Eat it while it's hot, and today we'll be a guest at a friend's house, and you can come with us." ”

Kong Zhendong was puzzled: "If it is a friend I haven't met, wouldn't it be good to visit me rashly?" ”

Mrs. Edward smiled: "You are here in Sweden except training and competing, life is too boring, you have to enjoy life here." ”

Victoria smiled and explained, "We are visiting Mrs. Linde's house today. Mrs. Linde has been very helpful in your visa to play in Sweden. It's been almost half a year since you arrived, and you haven't visited her. ”

As soon as Victoria said, Kong Zhendong suddenly remembered that he was accompanied by Mrs. Linde to Sweden, and after she helped herself complete the signing of the club, she did not contact her again because of the busy competition and training, which was indeed quite a failure.

Kong Zhendong ate breakfast and went to Mrs. Linde's house with Edward's family.

Mrs. Lind's home is in Stockholm's East End, which is much more prosperous and noisy than the West End.

The neighborhood is bustling, but the area around Mrs. Linde's villa is quiet.

When he arrived at the door of Mrs. Linde's house, Kong Zhendong was surprised to find that there were red Spring Festival couplets and big blessing characters on the door of Mrs. Linde's house.

Looking at the texture and workmanship, Kong Zhendong feels that there is an authentic Beijing flavor, not like the works of Swedish-Chinese.

Madeleine rang the doorbell first, then turned back to Kong Zhendong and grimaced: "I'll surprise you today, although this idea was originally thought of by my sister, but most of the ideas came up with me!" ”

Before Kong Zhendong could react, the door of the villa was opened.

A pair of five or six-year-old, blonde boys and girls, wearing Chinese horse coats and Tang costumes, ran out of the house happily, and said cheerfully in Chinese with a unique accent: "Wishing you prosperity!" Bring the red envelope! ”

Kong Zhendong felt very cordial, he happily and regretfully touched the heads of the two little guys, and said with a smile: "I learned quite authentically, you shouldn't hide it from me, I didn't prepare a red envelope!" ”

Victoria took out a few red envelopes, and said with a naughty expression: "I have prepared red envelopes, but I can't lend them to you, otherwise you will take away my fortune." ”

Have you even learned this? Kong Zhendong has a different view of Victoria's exquisite thoughts.

Mrs. Linde walked out in a brightly colored and well-cut Tang costume, holding her fists in both hands: "Zhendong, Happy New Year, everything goes well, Wishing you prosperity!" ”

Mrs. Lind had worked at the Swedish Embassy in China for several years, and with the natural linguistic talent of diplomats, she spoke her Chinese fluently.

Sir Edward patted Kong Zhendong on the shoulder, rejuvenating him from his surprise, and several people entered the villa accompanied by Mrs. Linde.

Mrs. Lind explained: "After a few years in China, I found that the Chinese New Year is the most affectionate holiday, but unfortunately Eric spent more time in Conf and did not have time to come over for the holiday this week, but luckily I received a call from Victoria. ”

Kong Zhendong looked at Victoria curiously, all this was prepared by her?

Victoria was shy at this time, and did not explain.

Madeleine couldn't stand it, she rushed to show her credit: "It was my sister who told me that you Chinese attach great importance to the Spring Festival, and I hope that Mrs. Edward will decorate the house, and we will accompany you for a Chinese Spring Festival." But my aunt wouldn't do it, so I came up with the idea to call Mrs. Linde, who was a China expert. ”

Mrs. Lind laughed, "As soon as Victoria told me that I had thought about this festival too, it would be better for me to organize it and bring you all over as a guest." Victoria has been asking me to prepare it for a long time, and she has been hiding it from you in order to surprise you. Suddenly you feel the festive spirit. I came back from China this time, lanterns, Spring Festival couplets, door gods, Chinese knots, I have prepared, of course, except for firecrackers, then I can't bring them on the plane. ”

Mrs. Lind said it funny, and made everyone laugh.

Mrs. Linde arranged Kong Zhendong and the others to sit down in the living room, and then went to the kitchen to prepare food.

The Swedish hostess prepares the meal and will never ask the guests to help, but Mrs. Edward said with a smile that today is the day of the reunion of Chinese relatives, and we prepare meals together like Chinese relatives and celebrate the New Year together.

Mrs. Lind smiled and agreed, and went to the kitchen with Mrs. Edward.

Kong Zhendong was not idle, he taught Victoria, Madeleine, and Mrs. Linde's children to make dumplings at the table in the dining room.

Mrs. Linde was able to buy dumpling skins, and Kong Zhendong was quite moved, which was a waste of thought.

However, the filling still has to be prepared by Kong Zhendong's magical knife work.

After showing off his knife skills and taking Mrs. Linde's children as little fans, he put the kitchen knives back in place and taught a few people to make dumplings.

Kong Zhendong asked while mixing the filling: "I only know that Mrs. Linde's husband is Eric Linde of the Swedish national team, but I don't know which team he plays for!" ”

Victoria and Madeleine looked at each other, both showing embarrassed expressions, and Victoria said in disbelief: "You really don't know? Mr. Linde is so good that many big city teams want to sign him, but he insists on returning to his hometown of Conlf and he is the main player you will be challenging on the road next week. ”

Madeleine shook her head funny and said: "How sad are the fans of the Wolverine team, is this how Kong Zhendong, whom they like, prepares for the game?" ”

Kong Zhendong was suddenly embarrassed. He said embarrassedly: "After the Champions League group stage a few days ago, I asked the coaching staff for a few days off, this is the first time I have taken leave in this half a year, and I am ready to prepare for the next game as soon as the holiday is over, but I really didn't pay attention to it, the next opponent will be Mr. Linde." ”

Victoria, who had the most contact with Mrs. Lind during her internship at the Chinese Embassy, knew Eric Linde better than others.

"Mr. Lind is a year older than Waldner, and he showed his talent for table tennis earlier than Waldner when he was younger. At the age of fourteen, he won the European Junior Championship and thus entered the national team. ”

Kong Zhendong's previous understanding of the Swedish dynasty was Bengersen and Apealen, and Waldner and Persson in the back.

As for Linde, as well as the Karlsson brothers, who take turns to enter the national team, Kong Zhendong knew less information before, so he asked Victoria to elaborate.

Victoria can't talk about Linde's technical skills, she can only talk about her own sensibility, she said: "He was the absolute main force of the team against the Chinese table tennis dynasty in the 80s, until Persson grew up and replaced him two years ago. But even now, he is no longer the three main players of the Swedish national team, but his singles world ranking is still in the top 10 in the world. ”

Kong Zhendong secretly spoke. In the early 90s, the international table tennis scene, especially in the men's field, was definitely called a group of champions.

Every time there is an international competition, at least a dozen people are eligible to win the championship, and even Waldner, who is the absolute top five greatest players in table tennis history, can hardly say that he has absolute dominance at this time.

In the world ranking of this era, there are only two or three strong countries like Sweden and China that can rank among the top ten, and at this level, every time it comes to the Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, and Professional Tour Finals, almost all of the top ten players in the world have the strength to impact the championship.

Linde is only 28 years old this year, and for European table tennis players, he is not a veteran, and his speed and reaction may be slightly inferior to his peak, but his grasp of experience and timing is definitely a level stronger, such an opponent, I am afraid that the next game will not be as easy as he expected.