Chapter 83 Daughter, are you buying weapons? : That seems like a good idea.

Wang Xiao felt she should feign surprise, after all, tanks and armored vehicles were being presented to her...

Uh, what was that in front again? We should call Tang Yicheng over this time, at least he can help identify it.

Anyway, it's a big, black iron thing.

The colonel was still proudly introducing the steel: "I told you we had good steel, didn't I? This is good steel right here!"

No, brother, the problem is that this steel is too good.

Don't let their current dilapidated and unremarkable appearance fool you; with a little repair, they could probably be deployed right away for battle.

Good heavens, it's not called steel, it's called munitions!

Wang Xiao's throat was dry, and his voice was hoarse: "These are already ruined?"

That can't be right. In her memory, it would be two years after the collapse of the Soviet Union before the military had a clearance sale.

Russia's shock therapy has only just begun; the country hasn't collapsed enough yet, and neither has Ukraine. It's not time to destroy weapons on a large scale for foreign aid.

Of course, she knew that maintaining weapons was expensive, but all difficulties take time to accumulate.

The Soviet Union has only been gone for a month.

"Yes, they're all scrapped."

The colonel certainly knew that these weapons would still be usable after being repaired and maintained.

But who would bother with the thankless task of repairing them? The Soviet Union lacked everything except weapons.

Repairs require funding, but who will allocate funds to them?

We might as well just sell it.

Of course, the colonel definitely wanted to sell it as a weapon, which would have fetched a higher price.

It's not like you can just sell weapons whenever you want. You need connections and to find the right buyers.

After all, most people might buy scrap metal, but they would never buy weapons.

Moreover, socialist countries no longer export revolution, and the global revolutionary fervor has subsided, so they don't know where to find suitable buyers.

Forget it, I might as well sell it as scrap metal.

Sell ​​it early, before other units react, and you can at least get a decent price.

Once everyone came to their senses, they all went on a clearance sale.

They don't even need others to lower the price; they start fighting amongst themselves first.

Ivanov was much calmer than Wang Xiao, after all, in his view, it was commonplace for the military to sell weapons.

Ever since the start of the war in Afghanistan, the military has been selling weapons like hotcakes.

He patted the tank with great interest, then nodded to Wang Xiao, meaning that based on his feel, this was a real tank, not just a showpiece.

The colonel nodded and emphasized earnestly, "This is the best steel, top-grade, there is nothing better than it."

That's probably just bragging, since there are aircraft carriers and the like further up the hierarchy.

However, the steel used to make tanks must be at least of the finest grade.

"How about it?" The colonel patted the armored vehicle again. "Take all of these if you want."

Whether it's tanks or armored vehicles, they are all quite heavy; together, they weigh at least several thousand tons.

She gritted her teeth and finally asked, "How much?"

The colonel smiled, satisfied: "One hundred dollars a ton, this is the best steel."

However, Wang Xiao shook his head directly: "International scrap steel prices are falling. Right now, the FOB price of scrap steel in Pittsburgh, USA, is $86.5 per ton, while it was $96.5 at this time last year. This is because Asia has reduced its scrap steel imports, and domestic demand in countries like the US, UK, Japan, and even former Soviet republics is also decreasing."

Ivanov muttered to himself: Why don't you mention that the 3,500 tons of scrap steel Japan sold to Taiwan had a landed price of $130 per ton? That's H2 scrap steel.

However, he and Wang Xiao are now partners with shared interests, so of course he wouldn't undermine his partner.

He nodded in agreement with an air of seriousness: "That's right, scrap steel isn't in short supply now, and everyone's having a hard time."

The colonel, being a soldier, knew very little about the international steel market.

But he insisted that they were selling the best steel and that the price should not be lowered arbitrarily.

At least, it should be at least $96.50.

"Alright, alright, my friend, 11,000 rubles per ton, OK?" Ivanov gestured. "We can exchange it for supplies, discounted prices from what's available on the market. My dear friend, if it's inconvenient to pick up the supplies here, we can deliver them directly to your home in Russia, guaranteed to be door-to-door, and we'll make sure you're satisfied."

“No.” The colonel glanced at him and refused decisively. “My family can pick it up themselves.”

“OK, no problem.” Ivanov readily agreed. “You tell us where to send the goods, and we’ll send them there.”

The colonel finally smiled with satisfaction and hugged Ivanov as if they were long-lost brothers.

While the colonel was busy weighing the items, Ivanov suddenly remembered to ask, "Should we have someone from your father's factory come and take a look?"

Wang Xiao suddenly came to her senses. Good heavens, what on earth had she done?

She actually bought weapons, and not just small-scale purchases like guns, but tanks.

How is she going to explain this to Comrade Wang?

Wang Xiao quickly went to call his father.

Dad, I didn't mean to. But the cheap goods they offered, made of top-quality steel, were too tempting for me.

If I don't buy it, I won't be able to sleep well tonight.

Meanwhile, at the steel plant, Comrade Wang Tiejun was already dizzy from the noise. Upon hearing that it was his daughter calling, he quickly fled the meeting room.

If he stayed any longer, his head would explode.

But Wang Tiejun never expected that his daughter would give him even more explosive news.

Buying scrap steel is one thing, but we can always reprocess it later.

Now she simply bought all of their tanks.

"Dad, come and take a look. I think it's pretty good, but I don't really understand it."

No, honey, aren't you missing the point?

Is this a question of good or bad? This is a weapon, a real weapon.

The rifles and guns they used during my militia training were in a completely different league.

Wang Xiao bluntly stated, "I negotiated the price down. I quoted the factory 700 yuan per ton. You'll see when you see it; it's definitely good steel."

Wang Tiejun didn't dare to look at it now; he immediately called back to the factory to report to his superiors.

right.

Everyone knows that he has a capable daughter.

The problem is that his daughter is just too capable.

The phone lines at the Ukrainian steel mills can reach all over the world. The director of the Jiangdong Steel Mill was quite surprised when he received the international call.

Good heavens.

This is the wealth of the Soviet Union, the big brother.

In front of outsiders, Wang Tiejun enthusiastically praised his daughter, saying, "I've seen the steel here, and it's really good. To put it bluntly, they can't compare to others."

The factory manager calmed himself down and finally got his thoughts back on track. He started assigning tasks to his subordinates: "Go and take a look. If it's really good stuff, we'll buy it."

Special steel, 700 yuan per ton, is a great deal.

Without hesitation, Wang Tiejun, along with his purchasing team and the people arranged by Ivanov, rushed off to find his daughter.

When they saw the goods, the old steelman's eyes lit up like light bulbs.

My goodness, the eldest brother is indeed the eldest brother; even a broken ship has three thousand nails.

Look at the scrap metal they're selling; it's not something an ordinary steel mill could produce.

Wang Tiejun forced down his trembling hands and nodded nonchalantly, "Alright, it'll do."

Once the buyer had no objections, the seller quickly arranged for shipment.

This place is close to the port, so when we decided to source goods from the steel mill, we had already arranged for shipping.

We can go together then.

Ivanov pressed further, "What's the steel mill saying now?"

Wang Tiejun wanted to shrug and sigh: "What are you talking about? It's a complete mess, it's practically a grievance session."

To put it simply, Rybakov initially demanded to exercise his rights and convene a factory workers' congress to discuss whether or not to expand into the Chinese market and sell steel to the Chinese.

As the discussion veered off-topic, the employee representatives started by asking what goods could be exchanged for the sold steel, and then shifted the focus to who ultimately had the final say.

And then it turned into a grievance session.

Ukrainians accuse Russians of being too domineering and swaggering on their territory.

Along the way, the two factions also exchanged greetings regarding the Crimean issue and the fate of the Black Sea Fleet.

Russians feel wronged because many resources are transported from their country to various republics.

Then the Central Asians jumped out and said that neither of them was a good person, because Russia and Ukraine needed a lot of cotton, so they forced the water-scarce Central Asia to keep planting cotton, and the quotas were set higher and higher.

The Russians were the first to slam their fists on the table, accusing the Central Asians of being heartless. They argued that if it weren't for Russia sending people and providing resources, Central Asia would still be in a primitive and backward state, with no industry to speak of.

These words stirred up a hornet's nest.

Kyrgyzstans angrily clenched their fists, saying that the Soviet Union's forced decision to name their capital after Mikhail Frunze was a great insult and trampling on their dignity.

Because it was this very devil who led the Red Army to conquer their country. He was an aggressor!

Fortunately, bystanders intervened and a fight didn't break out.

However, complaints grew louder, with Moldovans blaming Russia and Ukraine, saying they occupied key positions in Moldovan factories and that Moldovans would never be able to rise to prominence.

Then the Russians and Ukrainians briefly banded together against external forces, as the Moldovans themselves lacked skilled workers and had to rely on the Soviet Union to recruit them throughout the Soviet Union.

These Russians and Ukrainians left their homes with a spirit of dedication, traveling thousands of miles to Moldova to carry out construction.

The Moldovans retorted, "Then why didn't you leave when we trained our own technical school students? The people we trained are perfectly capable of doing the jobs."

How did Comrade Wang Tiejun know the content of their argument?

Even if a backup translator were temporarily assigned to him, the translator probably wouldn't be too happy to have outsiders making fun of them.

Everyone has a sense of national pride.

The problem is that the factory's employee representatives are arguing fiercely, each side has its own reasons, and neither can convince the other.

Finally, someone actually suggested letting comrades from China (yes, that's right, that's the word. No one objected when it was said) judge the matter.

China is thriving now, and they see things much more clearly than they do.

So Comrade Wang Tiejun inexplicably became the referee.

One moment he felt this country was being wronged, and the next he felt that that country was also having a hard time.

In the end, he couldn't help but agree on one point: back then, the older brother was indeed a bit... something.

Well, how should I put it?

Let's take the industrial layout of the Soviet Union as an example.

Generally, for the sake of industrial efficiency, the normal practice is to follow the principle of proximity.

For example, if there are mines here, metals will definitely be smelted nearby, as long as conditions permit.

But the Soviet Union did it differently; it completely dispersed its entire industrial system, placing it in different republics and regions.

None of the factories could operate independently; they had to follow orders from Moscow. Otherwise, they would either lack raw materials or fuel, making it impossible for the factories to operate.

According to accusations from Ukrainian steelworkers, this was a Moscow conspiracy.

It wanted to make everyone realize that they simply could not survive without Moscow's meticulous control.

Wang Tiejun listened, feeling particularly distressed. How could his older brother have accumulated so much resentment?

The steel plant here is clearly much better built than the Jiangdong Steel Plant; it's larger in scale and has stronger production capacity.

The factory's various ancillary facilities are truly outstanding.

The procurement team members all said that if their Jiangdong Steel Plant could be built like this in the future, they would be content for the rest of their lives.

Ironically, the person enjoying all of this is not happy at all.

Ivanov was even more upset than he was, and finally could only ask again, "What did they say about selling steel?"

Huh? They didn't say.

Everyone was so busy arguing that no one paid attention to this matter.

Ivanov finally found an outlet for his anger and instantly flew into a rage: "No way! The contract has already been signed, and the promised steel must be given to us."

"Hey, hey, stop arguing," Wang Tiejun urged him. "Let's talk about your friend first. Comrade Rybakov, I think he's very capable. How about you help me ask him if he's interested in working in China?"

Ivanov was shocked. He hadn't expected that this old comrade's trip to the steel plant would lead to him already undermining their business.

Wang Tiejun explained, "Oh my, you didn't see their attitude. They acted like mortal enemies. If your friend continues to stay at the steel plant in Ukraine, I reckon he won't be able to keep up his position as the manager."

“He can go back to Russia.” Ivanov instinctively refused. “Russia is his home.”

Wang Tiejun smiled kindly: "Comrade Ivanov, this matter isn't that simple. If he returns to Russia, will he have a place there?"

He has been to Russia before. Many factories in Russia are currently shut down, and the existing workforce is sufficient.

If Rybakov were just an ordinary engineer or something, things would be easier. With his connections in the industry, finding a job wouldn't be difficult.

But he was the head of a large steel plant. After returning to Russia, which plant would give him the same position?

Moreover, if even Russians can't stay in the top positions of Ukrainian state-owned enterprises, the situation in the other Soviet republics is likely even worse.

When a large number of Russians return home, dozens of people will be vying for a single spot, and it might be impossible to get one even if you fight tooth and nail.

well--

Wang Tiejun wanted to sigh again.

People in these places don't seem to realize that while they're happy to have driven the Russians away, they wonder if their own countrymen can take over the jobs.

Technology is a combination of learning and doing; it is the result of an accumulation of experience that is difficult to describe.

Just because you've attended a class in a classroom doesn't mean you can immediately start doing it.

Oh dear, things have turned out like this. Everyone has suffered losses, and no one is a winner.

Ivanov showed no sign of backing down: "Do you think he can become a factory director just by going to China?"

That's absolutely not allowed.

Even if Wang Xiao had the money to set up a steel factory for her father to play with, she wouldn't do it.

This is completely out of step with her business plan.

Wang Tiejun immediately shook his head: "No, I can only try to get him the position of chief engineer for the foreign party. However—"

He emphasized, "The salary is negotiable. I'll talk to the factory and say I'll get 5,000 yuan a month, plus accommodation in the expert building. Other things like family members are also negotiable."

A year ago, he wouldn't have dared to say that even if he had ten times the courage.

But now the ruble has depreciated so much that 5,000 Chinese yuan has more purchasing power than 50,000 rubles.

Currently, among the money changers in Moscow, the Chinese yuan is also a circulating currency; people recognize it and accept it.

Moreover, the Chinese yuan is relatively easier to obtain than the US dollar and is quite popular in the free market.

Therefore, he believed that a salary of 5,000 Chinese yuan was attractive to Rybakov.

Wang Tiejun further emphasized, "You know the cost of living in China, right? Their family lives in the steel factory's residential area, so their expenses are actually very low. A maximum of a thousand yuan a month is more than enough to cover food and drink. The remaining four thousand yuan can be spent however they like in Jiangdong."

5,000 yuan, that's more than half a year's salary for him.

Ivanov still wanted to refuse.

He felt uneasy, and his mind was uneasy.

Wang Xiao advised him, "Why don't you ask Comrade Rybakov for his opinion? Actually, the most important point my dad didn't mention is that if he came to our Jiangdong Steel Plant, the workers there would definitely respect him a lot. He would have a strong sense of professional pride and would feel the importance of his existence."

Humans are highly intelligent beings, so their emotional needs are naturally higher.

The loss of feeling needed can drive many people to despair.

Since her father, Comrade Wang Tiejun, wants to poach her, she, as his daughter, must give her full support.

If the factory thinks the 5,000 yuan salary is too high and is unwilling to pay it, she has ways to subsidize it from other places.

Ivanov nodded reluctantly: "Alright, I'll ask."

He said this insincerely, because he was frantically searching his connections to find a leadership position for Rybakov.

Wang Tiejun, however, was not offended and said cheerfully, "Okay, then I'll wait for your good news. He's really talented, I admire him very much."

Ivanov replied dismissively, "The important thing is to get our hands on the steel first."

The weapons sold by the military—or rather, the scrap steel—totaled to just over six thousand tons.

Of the 12,000 tons of steel demand, half must be supplied by steel mills.

Ivanov stormed back to the steel mill and started arguing with the workers, slamming his fist on the table and roaring. He finally threatened that if they didn't get the steel, they shouldn't blame him for being ruthless.

Natural gas can be supplied from Russia, or it can be cut off.

Such cheap natural gas is entirely a fake subsidy from Russia to Ukraine; there are plenty of buyers on the international market who want it.

For example, they could use pipelines in the Far East to sell natural gas directly to China and get a good price for it.

If you don't believe me, just wait and see if he can actually accomplish this.

Even if it doesn't work in a day or a year, there are still two, three, five, or ten years. Anyway, once he's committed to this, he will never give up.

He is not without capable leaders in the Russian Federation.

It's a bit ridiculous, but although everyone talks about democracy and freedom all the time, nobody really believes in it.

Ivanov's threat really made the people at the Ukrainian steel plant a little panicked.

Because they came from the Soviet era, they know all too well that some decisions don't need any reason; all it takes is a word from the leader.

For example, Crimea was simply given to Ukraine by Khrushchev, and that was it.

This statement sparked another debate.

Ukrainians emphasize that Crimea's economy was entirely built by Ukraine and should therefore belong entirely to Ukraine.

The Russians, on the other hand, argued that the Soviet Union had no right to give away land that belonged to Russia as a gift.

The steel mill workers had another argument, and finally reluctantly agreed to provide half of the steel stipulated in the contract, which was 6,000 tons.

Wang Xiao and his team had already met their targets this time, and they were too lazy to argue any further.

Because these people started arguing and went off-topic.

Arguing with them is just too exhausting.

They have absolutely no respect for their argumentative opponents.

Rybakov looked at his colleagues, who were arguing heatedly, and said in a low voice, "You will regret this. We could have secured more supplies for the factory."

"No need, we Ukrainians don't need it. As long as you don't leech off us, we in Ukraine have more than enough supplies!"

Wang Xiao really wanted to facepalm.

If the president of Ukraine knew that his people had such confidence in his government, wouldn't he feel guilty, as if this was a burden too heavy for him to bear?

Rybakov smirked, "Then I wish you good luck."

The meeting ended unhappily again.

During the meal, only Rybakov served the Chinese clients at the table.

His human ETC assistant disappeared, which made it easier for everyone to talk.

Ivanov had reluctantly told his friend about the invitation the Chinese steel mill wanted to give him, and he didn't know if Ivanov would be interested.

Rybakov did not provide an answer; such a big matter was probably beyond the capacity of anyone to make a decision on the spot.

He earnestly asked Wang Tiejun, "My comrades, I want to ask you, do you think our Soviet Union's economic reforms will succeed?"

The word "Soviet Union" came out of his mouth without hesitation.

In fact, the older people from former Soviet countries that Wang Xiao has met, especially Russians, still habitually mention the Soviet Union.

Wang Tiejun was bewildered.

He doesn't understand any of this. His biggest takeaway from economic reform is that agricultural reform can be seen in Xiaogang and industrial reform can be seen in Shougang.

As a worker representative, he was supposed to visit and learn from Shougang Steel, but due to unforeseen circumstances, he didn't make it and only remembered the slogans that other comrades brought back.

All employees are contracted out, with a fixed base amount, ensuring payment, and retaining all over-contracted amounts, with any shortfall to be made up by the employee.

He tried to explain it to Rybakov, but it's unclear whether it was due to his own lack of understanding or Wang Xiao's poor translation skills.

Rybakov seemed even more confused, and in the end he only asked one question: "Then why didn't you try shock therapy? It created a miracle of economic reform in Bolivia."

Wang Tiejun simply waved his hand, saying that his wife was a doctor and of course he knew what shock meant.

Anyway, he doesn't like that word. Shock means being about to die. Why would you kill a perfectly healthy person?

Only a fool would do something like that.

Wang Xiao muttered to himself, "Actually, China has also used shock therapy."

If you look closely, you'll find that the state-owned enterprise reforms of the late 1990s were a typical example of shock therapy.

What are the consequences of shock? Just look at Northeast China.

Why do other places seem to have been less affected?

When the state-owned enterprise reform plan was launched in 1998, China's industrialization level was actually still very low.

Many regions operate under a typical household-based agricultural economy, and shock therapy had virtually no impact on these areas.

In the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta regions where factories are concentrated, well, sorry, the influence of state-owned enterprises has declined significantly. Instead, foreign-invested joint ventures and private enterprises, represented by township enterprises, have a stronger presence.

Therefore, when state-owned enterprises are shut down and disappear, workers who lose their jobs can still find work in other types of enterprises.

What, you're saying workers will refuse to work?

Sorry, that's fine.

China's real demographic dividend actually comes from migrant workers.

Migrant workers are incredibly useful because they don't need housing, healthcare, or their children's education. Labor-intensive industries generally don't require very high levels of technical skills.

In this context, migrant workers are the type of worker most welcomed by capitalists.

But these are all things for the future.

If Wang Xiao had to answer now, she would still say, "Because the situation is different in each country, the choices are different too."

Rybakov seemed somewhat disappointed, sighing, "The Soviet reforms failed, and the Soviet Union disappeared. If Russia's reforms also fail, what will become of Russia's future?"

Ivanov grew impatient; he was now very resistant to such topics and even bluntly told his friend, "Go to China; you can showcase your talents there."

Rybakov fell silent.

Taking the opportunity, Wang Tiejun encouraged him: "Why don't you come and take a look at our steel plant and give us some guidance?"

The Chinese language is profound and extensive; the word "we" includes the audience as well as our own people.

Wang Xiao was at a loss for words and could only vaguely express that the steel plant sincerely invited Mr. Rybakov to come and provide guidance.

Rybakov shook his head, looking dejected. "I have nothing to instruct others on. Who else can we instruct?"

Wang Xiao felt a headache coming on.

One thing at a time.

It's one thing if those who should reflect on their actions don't, since things have already come to this point.

Those who are not willing to reflect on their actions shouldn't bother with pointless self-reflection; they should just focus on their own careers.

Don't burden yourself with such a heavy load for no reason.

"Don't underestimate yourself. Your strength is your expertise. No matter what, you'll always make a living based on your professional skills."

Ivanov also suggested, "Go take a look around, it's quite interesting."

However, when they finally took their leave, Rybakov did not say whether he agreed or disagreed.

Wang Tiejun was truly exasperated; this Russian was incredibly stubborn. Not going to check on him wouldn't cost him a thing.

Wang Xiao remained indifferent. Disappointment and even despair accumulate gradually; it's just not time for that yet.

The steel and scrap steel totaled 12,000 tons, which were then shipped directly by sea.

When checking in the shipment, Wang Xiao was a little flustered, afraid that he would be mistaken for an arms smuggler and made an example of someone to scare others.

However, it's unclear whether it's because everything is in such a mess right now, with so many other things going on, that people simply don't have time to deal with these trivial matters; or perhaps these things are just insignificant to them, since the shipping procedures were completed quite smoothly and they watched the ship set sail.

Wang Tiejun almost considered going with the ship. He was terrified that such good steel would be intercepted halfway through the journey.

Wang Xiao comforted him, "If pirates really rob us midway, there's nothing you can do even if you're on the ship."

Only then did Wang Tiejun feel relieved and return to Moscow with his daughter.

Wang Xiao's attention had shifted away from the ship. She turned to Ivanov and said, "I'm thinking, could we find another way to buy airplanes, through the military garrisons in various places?"

The Soviet Union no longer exists, but its massive army remains.

In fact, by the end of the Soviet Union, it was already struggling to maintain its army. Now that it has dissolved, it's estimated that not many of the constituent republics can afford to support their troops.

Especially in terms of military equipment maintenance, it's an absolute money pit. I reckon not many companies can afford it.

Given the wavering sentiments of troops stationed in various regions, it's likely that there are quite a few like the colonel who want to cash in on the military supplies they have.

They reached out and accepted it; if there were airplanes, they would build airplanes; if there were no airplanes, this high-quality scrap steel could also be recycled.

Wang Xiao was ambitious: "I'll rent the steel mill's storage yard and stockpile some steel too."

If China engages in large-scale construction, it can supply goods to the entire world.

In 1988, the price of steel in China soared from 1,200 yuan per ton to 2,400 yuan. After policy adjustments in 1989, it fell back to 1,500 yuan.

Steel prices have been relatively sluggish for the past two years, but she believes that as long as the policy is adjusted, prices will immediately soar.

Then the high-quality scrap steel they get from the military will definitely be a market favorite.

Ivanov also felt it was worth taking a gamble.

What do speculators do? They buy low and sell high.

The same applies to the steel business now.

Yes, it would be best to get two more planes, so that it would be easier for the families of soldiers to retrieve supplies.

The group then headed to the airport and flew directly back to Moscow.

To get these things done, we still need to go to Moscow and smooth things over.

When they got off the plane, it was snowing heavily in Moscow.

Seriously, the sight of the heavy snow, like goose feathers, was breathtaking. The whole world was a vast expanse of white, as if it were about to be swallowed up by the snow.

Wang Xiao stood at the doorway, staring blankly at the snow outside, and couldn't help but space out for a while.

Ivanov and his bodyguards were so used to this kind of scene that they didn't react at all.

They were puzzled when they saw Wang Xiao stop: Is there something wrong?

Wang Xiao shook his head and pointed to the hurried crowd in the airport: "They've gone back to China."

With the Spring Festival just around the corner, and Moscow freezing cold right now, the Chinese traders who have worked hard all year are rushing home for the holidays to get some rest.

The bodyguard sighed, "They should go back and rest."

Honestly, even among people from socialist countries, including the Soviet Union, he had never seen anyone more hardworking than a small Chinese merchant.

They are often the first to arrive at the free market and the last to pack up and leave.

They seemed to have no idea what the word "tired" meant, and they found it unbelievable that Soviet workers would spend two weeks a year in sanatoriums.

Workers already have a hard time getting to and from get off work at fixed times every day, yet they still have to be given extra days off.

Some small vendors confidently told customers that the reason they couldn't continue operating was because the work was too easy for the Soviets.

The response was that people in Europe and America work shorter hours and have more holidays, and therefore live better lives.

Unfortunately, the small Chinese merchants were not persuaded and instead remained stubborn: "Everyone has their own destiny. Enjoying life is not the destiny that socialism should have. It is capitalism that is decadent and indulgent."

The bodyguard couldn't help but laugh when he talked about these things.

How did he know all this?

Hey, do you think the work of a secret agent is that thrilling?

No, no, most of the time they wandered around the streets of Moscow, listening to everyone's voices, and then organizing and archiving them.

Wang Xiao found it very strange and couldn't help but ask, "Do you still need so many people? Will you lay off any staff?"

She remembered that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Great Emperor also struggled to make ends meet and, according to him, became a Didi driver.

The bodyguard shrugged: "Who knows? They'll probably lay off people if they run out of money."

God knows what will happen after the layoffs. Prices are going crazy right now, and even if we pay everyone's full salary, it won't be enough for everyone to support their families.

Wang Xiao, with a vivid imagination and the mindset of a bystander, actively encouraged them: "Why don't you write memoirs? Something like 'My Secret Life as a Spy,' it's guaranteed to be a hit in the market."

The two bodyguards instinctively refused: "We're not celebrities, who would read this?"

"No, no, no, you've misunderstood," Wang Xiao emphasized. "Your work is very famous; people all over the world are interested in it. Really, if you were to write it, it would be more appealing than fists and pillows. Don't worry about publishing it; I can find a publishing house in China for you."

The more she talked about it, the more reliable she felt it was.

Now that the Soviet Union has just collapsed, people all over the world are full of curiosity about it, especially the mysterious and infamous KGB, which is a natural selling point.

"No, no, no, not just the Chinese version, we can also translate it into English, Japanese, French, and German, sell it all over the world, and make it a bestseller."

The two bodyguards were captivated by her words.

In the Soviet era, intellectuals had respectable and elegant jobs, and highly educated intellectuals were definitely among the high-income earners.

As for writers, there is no doubt that popular writers live very well and have high social status.

Writing a memoir sounds like a great idea.

However, none of them could be considered literary figures; they simply lacked any literary talent. Writing an article was difficult enough, let alone writing a book.

Oh dear, just thinking about it makes me realize how difficult it is to earn this money.

Wang Xiao enthusiastically encouraged, "It's okay, I can find an editor to help you polish it. The key is the content; writing style and such are completely unimportant. You just need to provide the materials."

Hey, it seems like this thing actually has some merit.

Ivanov finally lost his temper: "Heh heh heh, my buddies, wake up! Do you think there's any fundamental difference between Moscow now and Moscow before?"

Well, the two of them finally calmed down from their frenzied emotions.

Indeed, even at this moment, the number of secret police on the streets shows no sign of decreasing.

If they were to actually write a memoir, they would most likely break a taboo and face serious consequences.

Unless they never return to this land.

Wang Xiao said regretfully, "Why don't you ask around? Everyone's making a living these days, it's not a big deal. Hey, Ivanov, there's a market for these kinds of memoirs in the Soviet Union. Once they're written, these will be sales points. Could you help me find someone in the publishing industry?"

Ivanov refused outright: "I don't know them, I'm uneducated, I don't know any educated people."

Unfortunately, as soon as they got back to the commercial street, he was slapped in the face.

How could he not know people in the industry? They came directly to him.

A deputy director of TASS accompanied his wife and daughter to make purchases.

Recently, they have become very interested in Chinese brocade scarves, and even though a small piece of silk could buy several wool scarves, they are still very enthusiastic about buying them.

Ivanov smiled and praised him, "You are such a good husband and father."

Unfortunately, the vice president was worried: "I'm afraid I'll soon be unable to continue playing this role."

Why? Because TASS is having a tough time right now.

On January 25, the Russian federal government signed an order to remove the TASS sign and dismiss its staff. Russia is reorganizing its own news agencies.

Ivanov burst out laughing and waved his hand repeatedly at him: "Don't listen to their nonsense, TASS's reputation will not be ruined."

Wang Xiao also agreed with him. Because TASS would still be around thirty years from now.

Unlike them, the deputy director was not full of confidence. Instead, he sighed and said, "How many times have they gone mad? They've gone mad even more than the Soviet Union."

Ivanov tried to comfort his friend from a different angle: "No, no, no, they can go crazy, but they need the means to do so. The contract—don't forget, if they want to change the signboard, they have to sign new contracts. New contracts with every country in the world. That'll be a huge expense, tens of millions of dollars. Do you think the Russian Federation government can afford that?"

I can definitely afford it, but there's no need to. There are plenty of other things to spend money on; tens of millions of dollars could accomplish a lot.

Let alone the Russian government, don't all the various units in Ukraine want to change all their Russian-language signs? But they don't have the money, so they can only change them slowly, little by little.

The vice president instantly perked up and nodded happily, "Yes, yes, they can't afford that."

Wang Xiao, who was listening from the side, was utterly speechless.

What's this called? Men become bad when they have money, and governments are only honest when they don't have money?

The deputy director then began to criticize the government: "Actually, we don't need them. We can't support ourselves at all with the government. We've already written to the government, saying we want to implement a shareholding system, accept foreign investment, and take the path of self-reliance. We've secured investment from an American company; they're going to invest $100 million to buy the latest electronic communication equipment. We plan to build a communications center 120 kilometers away from Moscow, using satellite. Then, our TASS news agency's information will only take 40 seconds to reach New York."

Ivanov patted the other man on the shoulder with a serious expression: "Don't worry, my dear friend, the Russian Federation government will definitely not dissolve you."

That's insane! If this were a real shareholding system, this investment from an American company... TASS's equipment is comparable to that of the most advanced defense departments.

what does that mean?

The two bodyguards, both former special agents, shuddered.

This isn't an investment from an American company; it's practically CIA infiltration.

If the Russian Federation government has even a shred of common sense, it absolutely cannot approve the so-called shareholding system.

Do the new government want to repeat the mistakes the Soviet Union made in news propaganda a thousand times over?

The vice president happily accompanied his wife and daughter as they continued to select various beautiful brocade scarves.

Ivanov, on the other hand, was in a daze.

Wang Xiao ignored him and went directly to the Chinese and Russian representatives of the commercial street.

It just so happens to be lunchtime, and the two of them and their team members are eating.

Interestingly, the person in charge of China was eating a sandwich. He now particularly likes sandwiches with sour cream in the middle, thinking it tastes amazing.

The Russian girl, on the other hand, became obsessed with rice. She especially loved stewed potatoes and various minced meats until very soft, then mixed into the rice. If there was a cold dish on the side, it would be even better.

When Wang Xiao arrived, they all put down their cutlery.

She gestured: "It's alright, you can continue eating. I just came to tell you about the arrangements for the Spring Festival. First of all, it's a big holiday, and everyone will receive a holiday allowance of 20,000 rubles."

Everyone present immediately beamed with joy. Twenty thousand rubles! That's more than a year's salary.

Wang Xiao explained, "We gave out 10,000 rubles as a holiday allowance on the 7th of last month. It's not that we disregard Russian holidays. It's just that prices in Moscow have risen too much in the past month. So, the holiday allowance is necessary."

In fact, the salaries of all employees in the commercial district were also adjusted in February, from 500 rubles to 1,000 rubles, with bonuses and commissions calculated separately.

The Russian young men and women immediately smiled and repeatedly assured each other that they had absolutely no other intentions.

The Russian representative even joked, "We welcome all Chinese festivals; we are happy to celebrate them."

Wang Xiao laughed and said, "Don't worry, don't worry, we'll definitely give you holiday bonuses."

Giving roses to others leaves a lingering fragrance on your own hands.

Giving brings more joy than receiving.

The workers in the commercial district were happy to spend over 30 million rubles, as it helped them spend some of their rubles. Why not?

Since the topic of the Spring Festival came up, Wang Xiao naturally had to mention the holiday arrangements: "Those who want to go home for the New Year can go back; the company will cover your round-trip airfare. But if you don't want to go back, you can spend the New Year in Russia. You'll receive triple pay for working, and your family can come to Moscow to celebrate the New Year with you."

The eyes of the Chinese employees lit up so brightly they could practically ignite a fire.

Oh my god, can my family come to Moscow too?

Wang Xiao had already made arrangements for them: "Similarly, round-trip airfare is all-inclusive. As for accommodation, the commercial street can help arrange for you to stay in a sanatorium, or you can have other ideas if you wish."

Many people nodded vigorously, saying yes, yes, they had no other thoughts.

The sanatorium is a great place; not only is the accommodation comfortable, but the food is also delicious.

Despite the current shortage of supplies and frequent stockouts in stores throughout Moscow, sanatoriums have access to special supply channels. The residents there have no worries about food or drink.

The accommodation cost of just ten dollars a day is too expensive for Moscow residents.

Otherwise, given the current situation, the nursing home would definitely be packed with locals.

Wang Xiao nodded and instructed the person in charge: "Quickly compile the list so that the unit can arrange for them to apply for passports immediately, so that they can fly over before the Spring Festival."

Well, strictly speaking, this was a mistake in her work arrangement. She should have planned it earlier, instead of hastily providing a solution right before the New Year.

But she was so busy, so incredibly busy. She got so caught up in her work that she completely forgot about it.

The key issue is that before she transmigrated into the book, she never thought getting a passport was a big deal. If she wanted to go abroad, she could just grab her passport and buy a plane ticket, right? Why make things so complicated?

Fortunately, their company does this kind of thing a lot these days, and passports are approved quickly. With some effort, they can still arrange for their employees' family members to come over.

After everyone had been overjoyed, they cautiously asked the boss, "How many family members can each person bring?"

It doesn't matter, they can bring as much as they want.

The middlemen and women in China are all busy going home for the Chinese New Year, so the market share vacated by them, the China Commercial Street, must fill the gap.

The more people come, the more people will help sell the goods, and naturally, the more the merrier for her.

However, she couldn't say it directly, so she changed her approach: "Theoretically speaking, it's direct relatives and collateral relatives within three generations. Very close friends are also acceptable. But let me be clear from the start, don't bring in random people. If they cause trouble, you'll be the ones who suffer. You can decide who to invite yourselves, and give me the headcount as soon as possible."

The person in charge from Huaxia nodded repeatedly, assuring everyone that the list would be submitted today.

This is something that would bring honor to one's ancestors!

Bringing your parents, your whole family, and your entire extended family to a foreign country for the Lunar New Year is such a prestigious thing.

Without a doubt, his grandparents will be bragging about it for at least three years after they go home.

The Russian staff laughed along, sharing in their partners' joy.

Sigh, I wonder when they'll have the chance to take their families on a trip to China.

Wang Xiao readily agreed: "No problem. We'll arrange the schedule and take you on trips in turn."

Everyone was overjoyed.

Someone even asked Wang Xiao, "Miss Wang, are you also spending the Spring Festival in Moscow?"

Wang Xiao asked her if she wanted to spend the Spring Festival in Moscow.

That seems like a good idea.

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Note: The scrap steel prices mentioned in the article are real, and the reference is the fourth issue of "China Materials Recycling" magazine in 1992.

It's true that an American company wanted to fund TASS, but the Russian federal government ultimately rejected the offer. Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants between 2023-12-12 06:57:59 and 2023-12-13 06:56:41!

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