Chapter 343 You Can't Leave: What About Siberian Oil Company?

Since Wang Xiao had already decided to return to China, she naturally wouldn't drag her feet.

She briefly wrapped up her work for this phase, stayed in Moscow for only one more day, packed her bags, and prepared to fly back to Jiangdong.

On the morning of her departure, before dawn in Moscow, she and Ivanov sat at the table eating breakfast, confirming with each other one last time: "Are you alright on your own?"

Ivanov didn't sleep well that night.

The snow in Moscow falls layer upon layer, seemingly without ever stopping.

The snow was so bright that even through the thick velvet, he could still feel that he could see the snow outside the window while lying in bed.

Later, he finally couldn't resist, got up in the middle of the night, drew back the curtains, and saw the snow lotus blooming outside the courtyard. He stared blankly into space.

If it weren't for the housekeeper knocking on the door to ask if he wanted breakfast, he doubted he would have seen the world go by.

So sitting at the dining table, lacking sleep, he couldn't muster any energy and could only nod his big head up and down, reluctantly answering, "I can do it."

Wang Xiao moved closer: "Is it really okay?"

Ivanov took her hand, pressed it against his face, and nodded again: "Mmm."

Slavic beards grow exceptionally fast. He hadn't had time to shave that morning, and the stubble that had sprouted was like a brush, rubbing against Wang Xiao's palm.

It's a little itchy.

But that didn't stop Wang Xiao from reminding him to keep an eye on things at the TV station.

"Relying solely on talent shows and airing TV dramas is not enough; we need to get everyone involved and ignite everyone's enthusiasm for participation."

Wang Xiao put down his chopsticks and stretched out his hand.

The assistant immediately produced a stack of proposals, including song lyric memorization contests, poetry memorization contests, quiz shows, and dating programs.

Does it look familiar? That's right, Boss Wang adopted this approach.

These correspond to the hit shows "I Love Lyrics", "Chinese Poetry Competition" (I think that's what it's called), "Who's Still Standing" and "If You Are the One".

Turn them into Russian versions.

“These programs,” Wang Xiao said, not retracting her hand which Ivanov was holding, but instead using her free hand to open the project proposal. “They can all be recorded in a studio, so the cost is low and the barrier to entry is not high.”

She turned to the page about the selection methods, "You can participate in the selection by calling the hotline, you can participate in the preliminary selection, or you can be randomly selected on the street. If you answer the questions, you can participate in the competition."

She said with a hint of regret, "It's too cold now. When it gets warmer, we can do a challenge game."

Seriously, the Anhui TV show "Brave and Wise Challenge" (I think that's the name) is really fun.

Before she went through the challenge, she wanted to completely relax and not think, so she liked to watch "Brave and Smart Challenge" and became very engrossed in it, empathizing with the contestants.

It would be quite interesting to put on this show in the summer.

When Wang Xiao said something, Ivanov would nod his head obediently.

Wang Xiao had no choice but to coax him, "Okay, I've finished taking care of things, I'll be back soon."

What business does she need to handle? There's a huge mess back home; it's almost Chinese New Year, she should go back and check on things, right?

At the very least, how far have the chip and LCD screen factories progressed? We'll have to take a look.

And then there are lithium batteries. Now that they've been extracted from the lab, the next step is definitely commercialization.

Wang Xiao had already made up his mind.

"We can manufacture batteries for low-speed electric vehicles ourselves, and we can also sell them in China, specializing in electric bicycles. Further development will allow us to supply batteries for electric vehicles."

Ivanov's voice was muffled: "I know."

Wang Xiao was amused by his tone and comforted him, "Then you should stay at home and avoid going out unless necessary."

The people she offended can't find her in Moscow, and they might take their anger out on Ivanov.

In the dead of winter, it's best to avoid going out for walks if possible.

Before Ivanov could speak, a car horn sounded outside.

Despite the freezing weather, the housekeeper diligently went out to greet the guests.

Punonin, dressed in a thick military overcoat, wearing gloves, a military cap that looked like a Lei Feng hat, and leather boots, strode into the house with an imposing air.

He was accompanied by guards.

Wang Xiao nodded to him and showed the hospitality of a host: "Flamikil, would you like to eat with us? Today we have braised noodles."

The housekeeper was very dedicated and responsible.

Since her family gained another member, she has thoroughly studied Chinese customs, even learning the etiquette of welcoming guests with dumplings and farewell noodles. She also learned how to make braised noodles from the head chef at the container market canteen.

Punonin nodded: "Please give me a bowl too."

As he spoke, his gaze fell on Wang Xiao's hand, which Ivanov was holding.

The person being watched showed no sign of letting go, only frowning slightly as she looked at him: "Why did you come so early? Are you seeing the king off?"

That's a bit of an exaggeration; it doesn't fit Vladimir's personality.

“Sending off the king? Why send off the king?” Punoning sat down opposite them with an air of authority and slowly took off his gloves.

Under the light, the scars on his arm twisted like a coiled snake.

Ivanov was slightly surprised: "The king is going back to Jinning to celebrate the New Year."

"Oh? Is that so?" Punonin took the bowl of noodles with gravy that the housekeeper had brought to the table, reached for a fork, and then casually said, "I'm afraid that won't work, Miss Wang. I'm afraid you can't leave Moscow."

Ivanov's face instantly darkened. He released Wang Xiao's hand and stared intently at the tax police major general who had come to his door: "Vlamikil, what do you mean? Wang is free to come and go as she pleases. She is not your subordinate."

Punoning took the silver fork and stirred the noodles.

The crystal chandelier shone on the silver fork, as cold and dazzling as the snow outside the window.

He calmly began, "Because they know state secrets, they cannot leave for the time being for the sake of Russia's national security."

Ivanov abruptly stood up, snatched the silver fork from his hand, and nearly stabbed it directly into his eye: "What nonsense are you spouting? The situation in Chechnya is broadcast on NTV every day, what kind of state secret is that?"

Punonin was suddenly attacked and dropped the fork in his hand. He only glared at Ivanov but did not reach out to snatch it back.

Instead, he reached behind him, took a map from the guard, placed it on the empty space on the dining table, spread it out, and then looked up at the Chinese bodyguards, "Mr. Gao, Mr. Zhao, please come and take a look at this map."

Both Xiao Gao and Xiao Zhao felt a chill run down their spines, sensing something was wrong.

However, the boss's friends, high-ranking Russian officials, did not make any excessive demands; their outright refusal would have seemed even stranger.

So the two of them had no choice but to bite the bullet and step forward, looking up at the unfolded map.

Upon seeing the map, both of them froze. Xiao Gao instinctively asked, "Is there a problem? Isn't this the game map?"

Punoning frowned: "What game?"

Xiao Zhao hurriedly explained, "They said they wanted to make a war game and asked how to deploy defenses and how to fight on this map in accordance with common military knowledge?"

"Who asked you?" Wang Xiao pinched the bridge of his nose.

"The engineers at the Red Revolutionary Machine Tool Factory are making computer games."

The Red Revolutionary Machine Tool Factory also produced computers in the 1980s, but now it has switched to making games. With its global reputation for Russian hacking skills, as long as you have a good idea, the technology is indeed not a problem.

Wang Xiao chuckled and gave Punoning a thumbs up: "You've certainly planted your fair share of mines at the Red Revolutionary Machine Tool Factory."

When Secretary Fang came to Moscow to sign the contract and reached a cooperation agreement with Mayor Luzhkov, the Red Revolutionary Machine Tool Factory staged a protest, and Wang Xiao even received the treatment of having eggs thrown at his head.

Those eggs were all sold at the container market and the vegetable market.

Punoning smirked, ignoring her mockery, and asked her in return, "Aren't you curious about what kind of map this is?"

"Not curious at all," Wang Xiao said irritably. "What's so curious about a map of Grozny?"

Pronin's eyes gleamed with admiration. See, this is what a smart person is. She understands perfectly well, without any hints.

Compared to her, the two bodyguards, with their four wide-open eyes, looked utterly foolish.

They even exclaimed in surprise: "A map of Grozny? No, it wasn't mentioned, it really wasn't mentioned!"

Puno had no patience to waste time on them: "Sir, you've already seen the map. It's a military secret; you can't leave Moscow."

The bodyguards tried to emphasize that they had been wronged, but Wang Xiao gave them a single glance, and they obediently lowered their heads, wishing they could find a hole to crawl into.

They've fallen for it.

Those damn Russians, all they have in common is a pittance, and instead of using it on the Chechen front, they've wasted it all on them.

What a despicable, smoking piece of trash!

Ivanov stood up abruptly, reached for Wang Xiao's suitcase, and said, "Let's go, let's go. I'll see who stops us. I'll go to China with you too."

He'd had enough. That Vladimir guy had no respect for people at all.

The tax police major general's face darkened, and he spread his arms to stop him: "Ivan, don't be reckless. This concerns Russia's national security."

"Security my ass! You're the secret police, all you do is label people!" Ivanov roared. "Go ahead and shoot me, then take them away over my dead body!"

His face was flushed, and the veins on his forehead were throbbing, which startled Wang Xiao.

“It’s alright, it’s alright.” She raised her arm and patted his back to comfort him. “Vlamikil has no right to stop us from leaving. We didn’t see any military map.”

She reminded the tax police major general, "Don't try to frame us; we have surveillance cameras installed in our home."

Punoning was speechless for a moment, then instinctively looked for hostages, pointing at Xiao Gao and Xiao Zhao, his eyes fixed on Wang Xiao: "Miss Wang, aren't you going to abandon them?"

The two bodyguards were already wishing they could die to atone for their actions. They had been fooled and were now dragging their boss down with them. How could they have the nerve to do this?

The two immediately said, "Boss, don't worry about us."

Wang Xiao looked at them coolly: "Don't worry, I won't stand in the way of your bright future."

The two bodyguards were dumbfounded. They were being cornered by the secret police, so how did their promising future get involved?

"Major General, didn't you seek them out to have them as your strategists and teach you how to fight?" Wang Xiao spread his hands. "Thank you for recognizing their talent and hiring them as military advisors. Rest assured, Wuzhou Company is reasonable, and we will absolutely not hinder the bright future of any employee."

She smiled and reminded them, "Don't forget to pay salaries. Just pay them according to the standards the federal government pays to American economic reform advisors."

Punoning's refusal, which was about to burst out of his throat, was blocked by these words.

Yes, your Russian government can't even manage its own economic reforms, so it hires experts from the United States as consultants.

If you're not doing well in battle, why can't you hire retired Chinese soldiers as military advisors?

"Do a good job." Wang Xiao encouraged the bodyguards, "If you help us win, your resumes will be shining brightly."

But the bodyguard who heard this could only tremble with fear.

Why let them be so eager to teach others, and why do they have to point out other people's maps?

Punoning was also overwhelmed by her relentless teasing and had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "Miss Wang, we don't need to talk like that."

Ivanov murmured from the side, "No wonder NTV's Gusinsky said you guys forced him to this point."

When faced with something that doesn't go their way, they will never try to discuss it properly, never speak politely, and will only resort to threats and coercion until things get out of control. Only then will they reluctantly make a show of bowing down and start begging.

To put it bluntly, the core of this approach is not treating the other person as an equal, but always using a self-righteous, superior attitude to try to dictate their actions.

This is probably the real reason for the collapse of the Soviet Union; it fundamentally violated the basic principles of equality for all under socialism and communism.

But Punonin didn't have time to appease his angry friend; he needed to get to the point.

His current focus is on Wang Xiao, who is preparing to leave Russia.

"Miss Wang, you can't leave now, I need your help."

Wang Xiao shook his head: "I've already taught Yura, he knows how to do public relations."

“He can’t do it,” Punonin said sincerely. “Your Majesty, you know his abilities.”

Wang Xiao remained unmoved: "All abilities are cultivated. Major General, you should not hinder the children's growth. They need to go through trials and tribulations to stand tall and upright."

How can you grow if you don't let go? Are you going to end up like a clinging tree? Then there's no hope at all.

Punonin shook his head: "Not now. Chechnya cannot be used as a whetstone or as a testing ground."

Wow, you've really studied China in depth; even the words you're using are in the Chinese style.

Wang Xiao crossed his arms and frowned: "Vlamik, with your abilities, you should know my life trajectory better than anything written in my file. I've never been a soldier, I don't understand military affairs, and I can't help you in any way on the Chechen battlefield. Leaving me in Moscow is pointless."

Punonin, however, remained adamant: "Madam, don't underestimate yourself. You are far more capable than you claim."

He made a gesture, "I understand your concerns about your personal safety. Don't worry, your security will be absolutely guaranteed."

Seeing that Wang Xiao remained unmoved, and with Ivanov's face full of impatience and indifference, the tax police major general had no choice but to resort to his ultimate weapon: "Then what about oil? You're not interested in the Siberian oil companies either?"

Ivanov preemptively said, "Our Sakhalin project has only just begun."

“Not enough.” Punoning took out a cigarette, which immediately drew a protest from the housekeeper.

"Sir, if you want to smoke, go outside!"

Punonin made a gesture resembling surrender, merely holding a cigarette between his fingers: "Not enough, Ivan, Wang. I know perfectly well that one Sakhalin project cannot satisfy you. Siberian Oil Company, oil and gas export rights, are you really not interested?"

Wang Xiao shook his head: "I have no interest in empty promises; they only annoy me."

“But this will be your reward.” Punonin toyed with the cigarette in his hand. “The rewards the Kremlin can offer are always the same. Why does Berezovsky wait outside the presidential office before dawn? It’s all he’s eyeing. Even the presidential guards, they still want the same things.”

Punonin put the cigarette back into the pack and pointed to the cigarettes in the pack: "Our president is so careful. The heads of the Department of Defense, the Department of the Interior, the Border Patrol, the Federal Security Service, and the Foreign Intelligence Service, and so on, are only accountable to the president."

He made a handshake gesture, "Our president holds all the power in his own hands and does not allow any interaction between them."

Wang Xiao listened without expression.

This is perfectly normal; any person in power would worry about others following in their footsteps.

Back then, Zhao Kuangyin had barely been crowned emperor when he hastily used a banquet to release his generals from their power.

The current president of the Russian Federation is the same.

Whether it was the August 19 Incident in 1991 or the presidential-parliamentary struggle in 1993, the core factor that enabled him to hold onto power was that, at crucial moments, the leaders of the powerful departments stood by his side.

They were able to put him in power, and they certainly have the ability to bring him down.

If the president doesn't want to lose, he will inevitably suppress the power of these powerful department leaders.

Punonin sighed: "But our president is not a military man."

Suppressing law enforcement agencies and preventing them from communicating or interacting with each other is not a big deal in peacetime; it may even help maintain social stability.

Unfortunately, once war breaks out, these powerful departments, which normally have no concept of cooperation, have no idea what teamwork is. They all look out for themselves, which would be a huge disaster.

Punoning felt as if he had been sucked into a black hole, a bottomless black hole. Countless loose threads were tangled up, and he didn't even know where to begin.

The situation in Chechnya was far more complicated than he had imagined, so complicated that he was willing to use Siberian Oil Company as bait.

Because Russia cannot afford to lose.

The world's major powers are recognized because of their economic strength. For example, Germany and Japan, which were defeated in World War II, relied on their rapidly developing economies to make them impossible for the world to ignore.

Alternatively, they can rely on military strength and a powerful military deterrent to prevent other countries from taking any rash actions.

Russia’s economic reforms have been a complete mess, and Punonin no longer has any hope that the economy can recover and develop in the short term.

So, all that Russia has left to hold as a trump card is its military.

"The federal government is implementing a stock-for-loan program, and Siberian Oil Company is among those companies involved."

He looked up at the two young men opposite him and said, “Now you need to demonstrate your abilities, the abilities that the president can see. Only then can I fight for you and get shares in Siberian Oil Company.”

Fearing that the two might become arrogant, he emphasized, "Berezovsky has worked hard on the president's family, and our daughter is his supporter. Don't underestimate the influence of these whispers."

He frowned and said, "Our president can be surprisingly soft-hearted at times."

In a sense, this soft-heartedness is a blessing for Russia.

He at least didn't go to extremes and plunge Russia into a bloodbath after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

But at the same time, Russia is also dying silently in this languid silence, like a long, quiet winter.

Punonin rubbed his nose, temporarily setting aside his strong sense of pride: "I need your help, my friends, Russia needs your help."

He thought he should be able to move them.

Just like that Chinese leader who, during his visit to Japan, made a request to Japanese businessman Konosuke Matsushita: "Mr. Matsushita, please help us."

Once he succeeds, who will laugh at his humble attitude? Everyone will only praise his forbearance and resilience.

Wang Xiao feigned a troubled expression: "You know, Vladimir, I will always do my best to help my friends as long as it is within my power. But I can't do anything about the situation on the Chechen battlefield."

“You don’t need to think about that,” Punonin interrupted him. “You just need to stay in Moscow.”

Even truly intelligent people cannot predict their own actions before things happen.

But when it comes to crucial moments, they always find a way to solve all the problems they face.

“We must ensure the restoration of peace in Chechnya,” Punonin emphasized. “Only when Chechnya’s oil pipelines are secure can the oil be transported smoothly to Europe and exported to make money. Just as you said, Chechnya is of paramount importance.”

Wang Xiao couldn't deny it, but frowned and said, "But this time when I go back, I need to go to the factory..."

"Alright!" Punonin interrupted him impatiently. "As long as it's within my capabilities, I'll get you the technical information you need."

Grozny's situation is worse than he anticipated, and he is now very worried that Chechnya will actually become independent, and then Russia will be torn apart like Yugoslavia.

Yes, yes, yes, by then, the people who should be having a headache will be China.

But before that, Russia was the first to die.

Punonin said, as if speaking to himself, "Chechch must restore the rule of law and peace."

Nikolai and his bodyguards exchanged bewildered glances. How ironic! It was as if Russia had the rule of law.

Wang Xiao took the silver fork from Ivanov's hand and placed it in the bowl of braised noodles in front of Punonin.

The latter hesitated for a moment before reluctantly frowning, picking up the silver fork to stir the clumps of noodles, and putting them into his mouth.

He dared not refuse to eat, for if he dared to show even the slightest disgust, he suspected the two people opposite him would roast him to death: "Can't you eat this? Why don't you think about what the soldiers on the battlefield eat?"

Wang Xiao pretended not to notice the pain he was in while eating, and continued drinking his noodle soup, gesturing for Ivanov to drink as well.

After finishing the noodle soup, she wiped her mouth and looked at Punonin, who hadn't finished his noodles: "If you really hope that Chechnya can be restored to peace from now on, instead of simply suppressing it with a military action only to have it reignite later, then I suggest you read 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms.' There's a story in it called 'Seven Captures of Meng Huo.'"

Wang Xiao sighed, "When I was little, reading this story, I just thought Zhuge Liang was being indecisive, going back and forth endlessly. If it were me, I would have killed the person the first time I captured them, to save him from having to come back six more times. But—"

She put down the tissue in her hand. "When I grew up, I realized what true wisdom is. The Prime Minister's wisdom in handling ethnic issues is still relevant even after thousands of years. It can be said that if we could learn even a tenth of what he did, we wouldn't have so many ethnic conflicts."

————————

[Disappeared] Actually, I'm still not satisfied and want to rewrite it. But I'm afraid that if I rewrite it again, I'll get tired of writing and want to take a break. [Cracked] Let's just write it like this for now.