Chapter 82 (Thirty Years Ago)

The former master and disciple met again at an unexpected time and place.

Old Ivan's eyes sharpened instantly.

"I remember you worked at the National Defense Research Institute in Zhongguo. Why are you here?"

Professor Liu then remembered that this trip was confidential, and he was speechless. He hurriedly looked to He Changyi and Professor Huang for help.

Before Professor Huang could explain anything, He Changyi spoke first.

“He was the technical expert I hired,” she said casually. “He was laid off, and I gave him a new job.”

Professor Liu was stunned for a moment, then, after realizing what he meant, said with some difficulty, "The research institute's designation is no longer in use..."

He cited examples of some domestic research institutes that were shut down or merged, where some employees stayed, but many more lost their jobs.

Old Ivan showed no expression after hearing this, making it impossible to tell whether he believed it or not.

"I know, I saw it on the news about the collapse of state-owned enterprises and the wave of layoffs. It's terrible. You're in the same boat as us; the country is losing control of state-owned assets. Maybe before long, the last red flag in the world will fall. Capitalism will rule the world, hurrah!"

Professor Liu smiled awkwardly and didn't reply.

He Changyi then extended an olive branch to old Ivan.

"Since you're Professor Liu's teacher, you must be very outstanding. Would you be interested in joining my company? The monthly salary is three thousand US dollars."

The contact person glared enviously at the lucky old man!

Why him? Just because he happens to have a student from Jong-kook University?!

He is not convinced!

However, to everyone's surprise, old Ivan refused.

No, I want to stay here.

Before He Changyi could speak, the contact person excitedly exclaimed, "That's three thousand US dollars!"

Old Ivan retorted irritably, "Shut up! We all know that's three thousand dollars, not three thousand rubles or three thousand kopeks. I've dedicated forty years of my life to the military factory; I deserve to enjoy my retirement benefits here!"

He nodded to Professor Liu, picked up the wrench, turned and left, muttering:

"My work isn't finished yet... Please feel free to tour around. You have the future; our future is over..."

Yan Zhengchuan looked at He Changyi questioningly, and she gently shook her head.

The visit to the tank repair workshop ended hastily, and before leaving, the person in charge was still trying to promote himself to He Changyi.

He's actually pretty good. Although he might not be as skilled as a top craftsman like Old Ivan, he's cheap!

And it can be even cheaper!

They cut salaries without hesitation!

He Changyi casually brushed him off, neither agreeing nor refusing. She only said that when he mentioned the pay cut, the three thousand US dollars in salary would not be reduced by a single penny, and that she would not mistreat her own people.

The person in charge was even more excited!

He even hinted to He Changyi that if he were to accept him, he would be willing to offer up the complete set of T-80 tank blueprints.

He Changyi laughed instead.

"I sell scrap steel, why would I need blueprints?"

The contact person slyly glanced at Professors Liu and Huang standing to the side.

"I have never heard of an ordinary company paying such high prices to hire technical experts from a defense research institute..."

He Changyi remained calm and said without changing his expression, "Maybe it's because I'm too rich."

The contact person was taken aback, but before parting ways, He Changyi still hinted that there might be a secret interview. She never minded having too many talented people, especially outstanding people with "special" skills.

Only after the chaperone's ecstatic figure was left far behind by the jeep did Yan Zhengchuan ask He Changyi, "Why did you hire him? This guy isn't an honest man; he's very cunning. Be careful he doesn't turn around and bite you."

He Changyi looked out the window and said lightly, "Because he's selfish."

She turned around and leaned against the back of the chair. "A selfish guy like that only loves himself. He can be bought off as long as there's enough benefit."

Yan Zhengchuan disagreed, saying, "If you can bribe him, so can anyone else."

He Changyi leaned closer to Yan Zhengchuan and whispered in his ear, "If he wants to live, he won't betray me; if he wants to die, I'll grant his wish."

Yan Zhengchuan glared at her sternly and said in a deep voice, "You shouldn't have said those words! You especially shouldn't have said them to me!"

He Changyi shrugged indifferently, "Alright, I understand, respected police officer, please pretend you didn't hear anything."

Yan Zhengchuan took a deep breath.

His sister has really picked up a lot of bad habits from being out in the world!

The atmosphere inside the car became somewhat tense until Professor Liu broke the silence.

"Miss He, have I caused you any trouble today...?"

Oh! How could he have been so bewitched as to call out "Teacher Ivan"?

Before He Changyi could answer, Yan Zhengchuan, still with a dark expression, interrupted.

"It was my oversight; I should have disguised myself for everyone before going out."

He took the initiative to take responsibility and clear He Changyi of any involvement, since it was He Changyi who arranged the extra trip to the military factory, but she hadn't considered that there would be Alliance experts who had known Professor Liu for thirty years in the factory.

Professor Liu hurriedly said, "No, no, no, it's all my fault. It's all my fault. I called for help without thinking it through, causing trouble for everyone!"

Professor Huang advised, "Nobody is at fault. This is an unexpected event that no one could have predicted. It has nothing to do with anyone else. If anyone is to blame, it's just that we were unlucky today."

As several people vied to take responsibility, He Changyi suddenly asked, "Professor Liu, is that Mr. Ivan very capable?"

Professor Liu was lost in memories, "Professor Ivan was the youngest and most outstanding technical expert that the Alliance sent to China back then..."

More than 30 years ago, the still young Ivan was dispatched to work at a military research institute in China as a military expert, responsible for training Chinese technicians specializing in tank engines.

At that time, King Sujong had just ascended the throne. As a leading figure in the comprehensive opposition to the "Iron Father," he almost overturned all the policies of the "Iron Father" era, including the foreign policy towards Jong-guk.

Previously, although the alliance had sent many experts, it was relatively reserved in terms of the technology it provided, mainly focusing on basic industries. However, during the reign of Emperor Suizong, the style changed drastically. Not only were there massive aid projects, but the alliance also took the initiative to propose adding military technology production projects, which was so generous that it left people speechless.

Old Ivan was sent to Zhongguo during this period.

Professor Liu said, "At that time, most students could not speak Emei language, and there were very few translators. Sometimes we communicated with Professor Ivan by gesturing and demonstrating... Back then, time was tight and tasks were heavy, so we learned while doing. During the day, we improved the process in the workshop, and at night we had three hours of theoretical classes. Professor Ivan was afraid that we hadn't learned it, so he would ask for our notebooks and carefully copy the operating procedures into them—I still keep that notebook at home to this day."

He Changyi and Yan Zhengchuan listened intently, while Professor Huang, who had also experienced the Alliance's expert aid to China, added:

"Some of the alliance experts were true idealists. To be honest, we students had a very weak foundation and a low level of education at the time, but the teachers were very enthusiastic and patient. If we didn't understand, they would explain it again and again through translation. In just a few years, they cultivated a group of technical talents and established standardized procedures and systems, which put our makeshift team on the right track."

When the two experts talked about things from more than 30 years ago, it was as if they had returned to their youthful days of studying. They talked back and forth, looking as if they had become 10 years younger.

Professor Liu mentioned that Professor Ivan, seeing that he was a thin, single man, often invited him to dinner. Back then, when Chinese people treated Alliance experts to meals, the expenses were reimbursed with public funds, while the experts paid for their own meals. Professor Liu, unaware of the situation, assumed that Professor Ivan's invitations were also reimbursed, and he always ate heartily, consuming buttered bread and milk, quickly becoming as fat as if he were inflated.

Professor Huang recounted that when he got married, the wife of an expert from the Alliance took the initiative to organize an Emei-style wedding for the newlyweds, with Western food and wedding dresses. To liven up the atmosphere, she even had the guests shout "горький" (Gorky). At this point, the students from Zhongguo, who had only learned a little bit of Emei, were collectively shocked. Why would they shout "苦" (bitter) on such a joyous occasion?

They later learned that "crying bitterly" in the league meant egging the newcomers on to kiss.

He Changyi listened with great interest and asked, "What happened next?"

She recalled that in the 1960s, relations between the two countries soured, and China refused to give up its sovereignty and obediently act as a subordinate. The alliance was furious and directly withdrew all its experts, leaving behind a mess.

Professor Liu sighed: "And then..."

The decision to withdraw the alliance experts was sudden.

Not only did many within the alliance oppose Sui Zong's decision, but many alliance experts in China were also very dissatisfied, believing it to be a treacherous act, and some even cursed Sui Zong after drinking.

However, Sui Zong was always stubborn and self-willed, with extreme likes and dislikes, especially in the latter aspect, which could rival Yongzheng. He was like someone who "loves and hates." Zhong Guo did not follow his wishes to blindly follow the alliance. Not only did he refuse to establish a long-wave radio station and a joint fleet, he also dared to have his own political views, which was simply jumping on his sore spot.

Amidst fierce opposition, the alliance experts were collectively withdrawn, along with all the drawings and documents for the unfinished project.

Professor Liu said dejectedly, "Before leaving, Professor Ivan secretly called us to his office and asked us to copy down the drawings and materials, saying to keep as much as we could and remember as much as we could, because he didn't want to take them away like that."

Professor Huang also sighed.

"Later, my mentor told me that an expert from the alliance he knew slipped a crumpled piece of paper into his hand when no one was looking before he got on the bus. The paper contained top-secret data on a key technology."

More than thirty years have passed in the blink of an eye, and those figures who once bid farewell in front of the train station have gradually faded away.

Only the yellowed notebooks, the childish Emei handwriting, and the crumpled and unfolded strips of paper silently record all of this.

Professor Liu said, "When I was organizing the files later, I found that Professor Ivan had left a sentence on the title page of his notebook—"

Please regard it as a lasting memorial to the friendship between our two countries.

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Author's note: Some plot details are based on memoirs of those who experienced them firsthand.

It's hard not to have mixed feelings of love and hate towards one's older brother (...)