Chapter 1712 Drinking so early?

Xiao Peng's biggest impression of Russia since arriving there was that people didn't play by logic. Entering the parking lot reaffirmed his thoughts.

His first reaction when he saw Zhenya, the parking lot manager, was: Drinking so early?

It's no wonder Xiao Peng thought so. When they came in, Zhenya was standing shirtless in the snow, reciting poetry passionately...

Snowflakes were floating in the icy sky, and a muscular man was reciting poetry with his bare chest. The scene was as weird as it could be.

What’s even more infuriating is that when the muscular man saw Xiao Peng and the other two, they just glanced at him and continued reciting poetry.

Kasim handed Xiao Peng a cigarette, and Xiao Peng waved his hand.

Speaking of which, this place is a perfect place to quit smoking in the winter. Smoking outdoors in the snow? It's absolutely torture.

First, the question was whether the lighter could actually light a fire. Gas-filled lighters were difficult to light because the butane gas inside would turn into a liquid at such low temperatures, leaving no pressure and preventing ignition. The Zippo lighter Kashin had prepared also had to be kept close to him, otherwise the fuse would freeze and prevent him from lighting.

Even if you light a cigarette, you dare not take a big puff. The result is that your lungs cannot bear it. If a person who is not used to it comes here and takes a big puff of cigarette, he will probably cough so hard that he will want to spit out his lungs.

Seeing Xiao Peng reject him, Kaxin took out his experienced lighter and quickly lit a cigarette while it was still warm. He took a puff and said, "Actually, it's not a problem once you get used to it."

Xiao Peng asked in confusion, "Kasin, I see you know Siberia very well."

Kashin explained, "Boss, this isn't surprising, especially since I came from the Vostok Battalion. So, after returning to Russia, I was first thrown into Siberia for three years. It's pretty much like the political investigations during the Soviet era."

"Is there such a thing?" Xiao Peng was stunned after hearing this. "Is Russia so cautious about the people coming out of the 'Eastern Battalion'?"

Kasim smiled wryly and said, "Actually... I stayed at Kadyrovsky for two years."

Xiao Peng blinked after hearing this: "So you're considered an elite among elites. I never realized that..."

Chechnya's two elite armed forces are the Vostok Battalion and the Kadyrovsky Guard, also known as the Presidential Guard. Joining the Kadyrovsky Guard requires a variety of screening procedures, making it even more challenging than joining the Vostok Battalion.

The history of Kashin's family is quite confusing. During the first war, his mother took up arms and became a "white sock" to fight against the Russian army. In the second war, she fought alongside the Russians. When Kashin grew up, he joined the army. With his excellent military qualities, he first served in the "Eastern Battalion" and then in the "Kadyrovsky" and later left there and returned to Russia.

If Xiao Peng were a troll, he'd mock Kasin as a "traitor," but this is also easy to understand. As the saying goes, people seek higher ground, just as water flows higher. Someone who has lived in peace for a long time can never comprehend the devastation caused by war.

For ordinary people, there is nothing better than peace in the world. The people of Daxia, who are now far away from war, are the happiest people in the world.

After hearing this, Kaxin looked resentful: "Boss, your swearing is getting more and more dirty now."

Xiao Peng was stunned: "Why did I scold you?"

Kassin said, "Boss, Khedira, Bruch, and I. When we were bodyguards, we were paid more than our competitors because we were the so-called 'elite of the elite.' Honestly, the four of us were proud, but from the day we met you, our pride was crushed to the ground."

"How can it be so exaggerated?" Xiao Peng was puzzled.

Kassin said, "When we first met, I was secretly following you and was discovered by that bastard Hua Chong. We could comfort ourselves by saying we were 'careless', but the longer we're with you, the more we realize that the things we're good at are not worth mentioning in your eyes. You're better at fighting, you're better at shooting, you're more knowledgeable, uh...it's just that you're not interested in computers, otherwise Khedira would be useless. But if you want to learn, you'll definitely be much better than him - this is what Khedira said himself. Look, now the boss is training dogs with peace of mind, Khedira is studying design seriously, and Bruch and I are almost becoming playboys. Anyway, we don't treat ourselves as bodyguards anymore."

Xiao Peng grinned after hearing this: "That's right! I want to see that you all have goals to strive for. But Bruch and you still need to work hard to find a direction to move forward. Even if it's just raising a dog for fun like Walter did."

After hearing what Xiao Peng said, Kasin shook his head. "Boss, do you think Bruch has nowhere to go? During the floods, he and the boss went to Germany and the Netherlands to provide disaster relief, and they've gained a lot of reputation among the people. Now Germany has been trying to invite them back to politics, and the Netherlands wants them to serve their citizens—isn't the mayor of Rotterdam a dual-national mayor? Bruch's door is almost being trampled down. Plus, with that 'journalist fiancée' thing, everyone just wants to stay by your side. Everyone has a choice."

After hearing this, Xiao Peng was silent for a while before asking curiously, "What about you? What's your choice?"

Kaxin didn't answer Xiao Peng, but turned around and asked, "Boss, do you know whose poem he is reciting?"

Xiao Peng looked at Kashin as if he were an idiot. "Kashin, do you really think I read all those books for nothing? That's Tsvetaeva's poem, an excerpt from her second collection, 'The Magic Streetlight.'"

Arriving in Russia, you'll discover that many things here are different from what you might imagine. While often portrayed as a rugged, combative nation, many actually enjoy chess and literature. There's a strong cult of literature here.

In almost every Russian city, you'll find monuments, most of which are dedicated to literary figures. Moscow alone boasts over a thousand monuments to poets and writers. Books are a common gift given to friends and family, or at gatherings. They're a symbol of sophistication, and at Russian tourist attractions, the most common merchandise is dedicated to great writers, such as T-shirts, mugs, and keychains emblazoned with the portraits of various writers. Poetry readings are held virtually daily in Russia—a beloved pastime for the Russians.

Kashin gave a thumbs-up. "Even Tsvetaeva knows about this? Then whose poem is he reciting now?"

After listening for a moment, Xiao Peng said disdainfully, "Are you scolding me? Isn't that the poem by 'Duel Maniac'?"