Chapter 539 Power and Wealth (Bug Fix): Winter is Coming
Once Mr. Wang understood the whole story, he felt relieved.
That's impossible; she still wants to play with crickets.
She was very unhappy that he was using her data for free.
So, Mr. Wang muttered to Ivan in a rather unrefined manner, "I really didn't realize he was a college student. I would believe it if you told me he was a college student's father."
Ivan was about to blow-dry her hair, but it was too late, and the hair drying cap alone wouldn't be enough to dry it.
Upon hearing the sound, he subconsciously looked up at his glasses.
Wang Xiao stared at him in the mirror, and instantly realized, oh, Caucasians tend to grow older faster.
So she felt incredibly smooth and reached back to touch Ivan's face: "Why are you growing so slowly? Are you 30 minus 10?"
Ivan knew perfectly well that she was trying to coax him, but she only coaxed him, not others, and he just couldn't suppress the smile on his face.
After my hair was almost blown dry and left to air dry for a while, he smiled and said, "You did a great job putting the face mask on me."
Wang Xiao immediately became smug, pulled the person down to sit, and said she wanted to give him a lip mask, making sure it made his lips look pink and tender.
How to make a lip mask? Mix 1 drop of vitamin E capsule liquid with 2 drops of coconut oil and apply it to your lips.
What makes it better than honey, or yogurt and oatmeal? Well, it doesn't taste good, so you don't have to worry about it being stolen, and it doesn't interfere with your conversation.
Ivan leaned back in his armchair and sincerely praised him, "He's quite shrewd; he's found a way out for himself."
Wang Xiao started peeling off the face masks so he could put them on himself and Ivan: "Yeah, he monetized his traffic first."
According to her original design, the internet celebrities that appeared on I.net were meant to be part of the internet celebrity economy, and their existence was the foundation for I.net's subsequent expansion of functions and even its transformation.
But as it turns out, humans possess strong agency; no one is an NPC. Once the platform is built, they have their own ideas and won't wait for the website to make further arrangements for them.
The face mask was applied to Ivan's face; it was a little cool, but it felt quite comfortable in the warm room.
He affirmed once again: "George Bull has taken this step into a new phase."
If this Harvard graduate hadn't come to Davos and had continued down his usual path as an internet celebrity, he might have attracted more followers, or he might have been gradually replaced by newcomers.
After all, his methods for attracting fans are quite simple if you analyze them carefully.
Moreover, no matter how popular he becomes, his influence is limited to the internet, and he is a typical example of a small circle of self-indulgent individuals.
But he came to Davos, moving from online to offline, and he spoke with bigwigs in politics and business—because the forum was accused of being a club for the rich, it was forced to add more open dialogue sessions, inviting representatives of civil society to participate. George Bull, through his series of unconventional actions, successfully became one of these representatives.
A person whose name is associated with an important figure is automatically assumed to be one of those important figures. The more frequently and for the longer this association occurs, the more firmly this social status is established.
Because it is inherently a manifestation of the influence of important figures.
Ivan reached out and, while adjusting the face mask to fit more snugly, remarked, "Perhaps he'll soon have a political godfather."
Because he came into the sights of important people.
For ordinary people who lack connections and want to enter politics, the very act of finding a political godfather could potentially consume half their lives.
George Bull, on the other hand, directly obtained this ticket by using an online platform and a timely show in Davos.
What a great temptation!
The internet is changing the world—this is not just empty talk, but a real, unfolding fairy tale of the new century.
However, fairy tales usually end with the prince and princess living happily ever after, and they never depict their married life.
The same goes for George Bull. Once he caught the eye of the bigwigs, would he soar to great heights, or become a tool or a scapegoat? Only God knows.
"I wish him good luck!" Wang Xiao said sincerely.
Because George Bull really rose to prominence, it was free advertising for INet.
Yes, that's exactly how Boss Wang is—double-standard. She's unhappy when others try to ride on her coattails. But when it comes to riding on other people's coattails, she'll show absolutely no mercy.
Back then, I Buy leeched off President Bill Gates and garnered a lot of attention.
Who knows if George Bull will have the honor of giving back to INet?
She casually picked up the remote, turned on the TV, and pulled Ivan to watch it with her.
When you're wearing a face mask, this is how you should watch TV to truly appreciate the experience.
Tsk, it's a plasma TV.
One day, she will make sure that the TVs in the Davos Hotel use LCD screens from Wuzhou.
Ivan was delighted. The queen was always ambitious, and he loved her ambition.
Wang Xiao grabbed him and said righteously, "Don't laugh, your face mask is going to fall off."
The next second, he wanted to laugh even more, because after the TV commercial came the news, which featured footage of him being interviewed.
There was this inexplicable sense of shame. Watching him on TV with Wang felt so strange; I always felt like I wasn't handsome enough on camera.
Wang Xiao gave him full affirmation: "Where isn't he handsome? He's incredibly handsome! Look, even the reporters are starry-eyed at you."
Ivanov frankly stated, "That's because they want to get me to tell them who the next Russian president is. I'm trying to attract investment to Russia; they don't care at all."
Sure enough, the reporter on the television screen had already shoved the microphone to Ivan's mouth, pressing him for an answer: "Sir, will you run in this year's Russian election? My friends and I support you. You are so kind and upright, a reasonable person."
On television, Ivan smiled broadly and answered flawlessly: "It is an honor for me, my colleagues, and the Russian government to receive your and your friends' approval. I will not run for office."
The reporter thrust the microphone forward even further: "So, who do you think will be elected? Who do you support as the next president of Russia?"
Ivan's smile remained unchanged: "The Russian people will elect the best and most suitable leader for the country, and I will always stand with the Russian people."
Tsk, perfect answer, but actually didn't answer anything.
Ivan, half-reclining on the bed, sighed: "People are far more concerned about Russian politics than the economy."
Wang Xiao was also curious: "Who are the people who have signed up to run for office?"
After 96 years of elections, everyone must have accumulated experience and knows to plan ahead.
Ivan counted on his fingers: "There's the head of the security bureau, the chairman of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, and Mr. Luzhkov, the mayor of Moscow..."
He rattled off several names in a row. Wang Xiao recognized some of them, had dealt with some before, and was hearing some names for the first time.
After listening, she casually remarked, "Mr. Luzhkov has a good chance."
Ivan instinctively wanted to laugh but held it back, afraid that the face mask would fall off. He only opened his mouth slightly and said, "Why? If Mr. Luzhkov heard you say that, he would be overjoyed."
Wang Xiao pressed down on his face mask and said casually, "Because what the Director of the Security Bureau did? Only the President knows, only you know, only a very few high-ranking officials know. Ordinary people simply cannot know, and naturally cannot recognize his contributions."
The person who shorted US stocks and exposed the financial fraud scandals of major US corporations was the National Security Agency Director.
But I can't talk about this.
For the general public, doing it is the same as not doing it at all.
"Moreover, the Kremlin can't easily promote the idea that Russia needs a strong president, a president who dares to fight, and a president who is assertive in foreign affairs. If anyone dared to promote such a statement, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation would definitely have the upper hand. When it comes to being tough on foreign affairs, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation naturally has a stronger stance than the Kremlin."
Wang Xiao also felt that the security bureau chief had been taken advantage of.
The Chechen war, which could have been used to gain military merit and win public support, was resolved by her ahead of schedule.
It makes it difficult for people who want to earn credit to find a suitable angle to start.
To rise to a higher position and sit in the Kremlin, one still needs the strong support of the current president.
But since she had already done it, she didn't think she had done anything wrong, and she would do it again if she had to do it again.
Everyone looks out for themselves. She'll definitely try to protect her own interests to the greatest extent possible.
“Mr. Luzhkov is different. He has served as mayor of Moscow for so many years, and the achievements of Moscow’s development are obvious to all. The label of ‘builder’ has already been attached to him. Now everyone is more eager to develop the economy and make their home better and better. He is running for election with this label, and he has a good chance of winning.”
Ivan wanted to sigh when he heard this: "The Klimnin Palace will not allow it."
Although Luzhkov and the president were allies during the 1996 election.
But times have changed, and the two sides are no longer on the same side. Simply put, without a common enemy, conflicts naturally arise.
Last month, Mayor Luzhkov publicly stated that Russia needs a healthy president—a clear allusion to the Kremlin's current occupant being frail and deserving to leave sooner.
Wang Xiao, always eager for a good show, said, "Let's see them each display their unique abilities."
Ivan pursed his lips, lacking confidence in his compatriots: "Don't overestimate their strength."
If an election really starts, it'll probably be a case of one candidate taking turns, one laughing and the other taking the stage, and we'll see who makes the most of the jokes.
Wang Xiao recalled the incredible actions of these sixth-ranking officials during the 1996 election, and felt a strange burning sensation in his eyes.
Forget it, let's not raise our expectations too high.
The phone in the room suddenly rang, startling Wang Xiao.
Ivan put one arm around her and patted her back gently, while reaching for the phone receiver with his other hand.
He also hates receiving sudden, thunderous phone calls late at night, feeling his heart rate spike to 180 every time.
The problem is that those who can get through on the phone are not ordinary people. This also means that you have to answer the phone in his room.
Sure enough, the person on the other end of the phone was a big shot—Chubasi.
Ivanov gritted his teeth: "Anatoli, you'd better have something on your mind, it's so late at night."
Chubais pleaded repeatedly, "God, I don't want to do such a despicable thing either, but Berezovsky is acting strangely and insists that I act as a middleman for him. Can he call me?"
Wang Xiao was baffled.
Although she and Berezovsky haven't had much contact in the past two years, they know each other and aren't completely without each other's contact information.
Why would you need to use Chubais to relay a message and contact her so late at night?
Ivan said impatiently, "What is it that you have to say now?"
Chubais cunningly evaded the question: "He wants to speak to the king himself."
Wang Xiao just wanted to get this over with as soon as possible. The face mask was almost worn out, so she needed to take it off quickly, wash her face, and then go to sleep.
So she nodded directly: "Speak quickly if you have something to say."
A short while later, Nikolai came in carrying Ivan's phone.
Berezovsky's voice sounded anxious and uneasy: "Dear Miss Wang, can you give me a guarantee? You will not help Luzhkov run for office no matter what."
Wang Xiao sneered directly: "Dear Boris, are you asking me for a guarantee? Or are you saying you miss me so much and hope to see me in Moscow this winter?"
Berezovsky's momentum immediately softened: "Oh no! Miss Wang, Moscow winters are too cold, you can't see the sun. You should be basking in the sunshine and enjoying the warm climate. I just hope..."
“Listen, sir,” Wang Xiao interrupted him. “I don’t want anything to go wrong in Moscow. I have a lot of work to do, but if you really want me to go to Moscow, I’ll certainly give you face, sir.”
Berezovsky immediately declined, saying, "No, no, no, you are so busy, how could I trouble you? No need, please enjoy the beautiful sunshine."
After the call ended, Ivan realized, without Wang Xiao saying anything, that Berezovsky was probably going to make a move against Luzhkov.
Wang Xiao sighed, having to admire Berezovsky's tenacity.
This guy persisted for years, despite countless setbacks and constant ridicule and mockery, he still wanted to become the godfather of the Kremlin.
Ironically, this time he might actually succeed.
Because the Kremlin's nominee for the next president, who is now the head of the National Security Agency, another Vladimir, lacks extensive political experience.
He was too mysterious, always doing secret work, rarely interacting with the public, and didn't even know how to run for office.
Berezovsky naturally found a place to use his skills.
Ivan laughed as he peeled off the face mask, then sighed, "They call him a hyena, a hyena with a keen sense of smell."
Having such a keen sense of power and maintaining ambition at all times is extremely energy-consuming, and it's not easy for ordinary people to stick to it.
Wang Xiao also removed her face mask and pulled Ivan to wash his face, saying with great interest, "I'm quite curious about how he plans to make his move? Actually, instead of asking me for a guarantee, he might as well go to Gusinski."
Berezovsky's best weapon for attacking the mayor of Moscow was Channel One, which was under his control.
But Gusinsky also had NTV, and Gusinsky was a long-time ally of Mayor Luzhkov.
Think back to the summer of 1997 when Berezovsky and Gusinsky came to her together, hoping to gain her support.
Now they're on opposite sides again. Indeed, in the world of politics, there are no eternal friendships, only eternal interests.
Ivan laughed and said, "I guess Berezovsky is self-aware enough to know that you could crush them with a flick of your little finger. So he had to convince you first."
Wang Xiao looked up at the ceiling and her reaction was summed up in two words: "Keep bragging! It's like a peddler praising his own wares."
Ivan chuckled and sidled up to him: "Then you should compliment me too."
He didn't think he was exaggerating; he knew the king's fighting prowess.
Wang Xiao cupped his face, gave him a kiss, and praised, "It's glossy, moist, and elastic, as smooth as jelly."
Oh dear, I really need to take better care of myself.
Ivan grinned, picked her up, and carried her back to the room, quickly getting into bed.
Sometimes, he felt that Wang was like a doll, the kind of doll that a little girl always wanted to hold in her arms and could never let go of. She loved to adorn him, dress him up, and transform him into whatever she liked.
Look how much she loves him.
The following evening, news arrived from Moscow that Berezovsky had indeed taken action.
His method of attacking Luzhkov was to do a special television program about the murder of Paul Tatum.
Who is Paul Tatum? He is an American and one of the first foreign businessmen to invest in Moscow.
His investment was in the Radisson Blu Hotel Slavyanskaya, a top-tier Western-style hotel in Moscow. His company owned 40% of the shares, the Luzhkov government owned 50%, and the hotel was managed with the help of Tatum.
The person who directly clashed with Tatum was Yumar Dzabrailov, the government representative of the joint-venture hotel. Tatum accused Dzabrailov of being a member of the mafia and wanted to kick him out of the hotel. Dzabrailov, in turn, accused Tatum of defaulting on his debts.
Then in November 1996, Tatum was shot and killed. Who was the killer? To this day, there is still no conclusion.
Despite being considered a prime suspect, Dzhabraylov remains in high spirits, managing more of Moscow's assets for Luzhkov.
When the case broke, Mayor Luzhkov did not receive much criticism from the media.
On the one hand, as a rare pragmatist in Russia, his achievements in building Moscow have impressed many. On the other hand, he has consistently provided financial support to television stations, newspapers, and radio stations through rent subsidies.
As the saying goes, "He who eats another's food is bound to him; he who takes another's money is bound to him." Just as journalists generally don't criticize Ivanov for providing them with cheap apartments, the press has been quite mild towards Luzhkov.
But this time, that gentleness has clearly been broken.
Berezovsky chose to use this case, through a television program, to attack Luzhkov. The angle was undeniably cunning.
When the topic came up during a late-night snack, Ivan shook his head: "Luzhkov is going to get into big trouble."
As we all know, it's very easy to spread rumors and smear someone, but it's extremely difficult to prove one's innocence.
They would even cut open the goose's belly to prove that what they had eaten was snails, not goose meat. (Note ①)
Wang Xiao smiled and popped a rose shortbread into her mouth. Thank goodness, this Swiss pastry at least met the highest praise Chinese people have for desserts—not too sweet.
The powdered sugar is used sparingly, so the main flavor is a subtle buttery aroma.
After eating a piece, Wang Xiao casually remarked, "Since proving one's innocence is so difficult, then don't bother trying."
If you say I'm involved in a murder case, then produce the evidence. If you don't have evidence, then shut up.
Ivanov shook his head: "Mr. Luzhkov probably isn't that carefree."
Wang Xiao sighed: "He's just being unreasonable. In fact, how many Russians really care who killed that American? Why get hung up on something like that?"
"Russia doesn't need a saintly president. What the people want is for their income to keep rising and their lives to be secure. Looking across Russia, where is the most enviable place? Of course, it's Moscow. Everyone wants to be a Muscovite."
"So he doesn't need to get entangled with Channel One at all. He just needs to go deep into Siberia, to the Far East, and tell everyone, 'Hey! My dear compatriots, wouldn't you like to live like Moscow?'"
"Now the opportunity has come, because I am a builder of Moscow, so Moscow has been transformed. So if I am a builder of Russia, Russia will also become a huge, brand new, modern, and beautiful Moscow."
Wang Xiao paused for a moment, took a sip of water, and stopped eating the rose shortbread. "Although we all know that Moscow is what it is today because of its special status, most people don't understand, or rather, don't have the energy to understand, these things. What they see is that Moscow is thriving under Luzhkov's rule. So why don't they give this mayor more opportunities and let him become the head of state? They also want to be Muscovites."
Chubais swore he didn't come to eavesdrop on purpose; he just wanted to confirm tomorrow's itinerary with Ivan.
The Davos Forum, which started on the 27th and continued until today, has finally come to an end. Tomorrow at noon, they will have to take a plane back to Moscow.
Upon hearing Wang Xiao's words, his first thought was that it was fortunate she was far from Moscow; otherwise, what if she had become itchy to help Luzhkov?
That's a sure thing, every shot is accurate.
After rambling on for a while, Wang Xiao sighed and said, "But I think it will be difficult for Mr. Luzhkov to do that, because he is a builder of Moscow. A person who considers himself upright will definitely want to clarify right and wrong and seek justice for himself."
Whether he is truly upright or not is not so important.
He will do so as long as he believes himself to be one.
She joked, "If this were the President of the United States, it wouldn't be a problem at all."
Speaking of this US president, he was quite prominent at this year's Davos Forum. On January 29, he delivered a speech focusing on globalization and related development issues, which attracted a lot of attention and was met with thunderous applause.
But soon, embarrassment ensued.
When he shook hands with the audience, women from human rights and environmental groups collectively pulled their hands back and publicly and loudly declared that they refused any physical contact with the sexual harasser.
This left the president in a very awkward position, unable to save face on the spot.
This is also one of the breaking news stories of this year's Davos Forum.
But the US president held on, and then things went back to normal.
That's how the head of state of a great nation should be; there's no need for him to explain everything to others.
Wang Xiao sighed, "It's such a pity about Mr. Luzhkov; the minimum standard didn't have to be so high."
Chubais's forehead veins were practically throbbing with rage. "God help me, Miss Wang, you don't have to rush back to Moscow."
Her decision not to interfere in the presidential election is truly a strong support for the Kremlin.
Chubais stepped forward, stood directly beside the table, and assured Wang Xiao with a beaming smile, "Miss Wang, don't worry, we will definitely take good care of Ivan when we return to Moscow."
Wang Xiao looked him up and down, her face full of suspicion, and finally snorted: "Don't exploit him every day, just make him work overtime all the time."
Chubais couldn't guarantee that, so he just smiled and remained silent.
Wang Xiao was also at a loss.
If Ivan doesn't want to continue working in the White House, then he will definitely try to wrap up his work before his term ends.
Wang Xiao was powerless to help, as she herself had a lot on her plate.
She needs to keep an eye on the cooperation with the shipping group and its subsequent progress, otherwise she won't feel at ease.
She also has to keep an eye on the projects at the Hong Kong Microelectronics Centre, the Shanghai chip factory, and the progress of the lithography machine factory.
She definitely needs to keep an eye on the website's direction.
No matter how busy she is, she doesn't miss out on the gossip about Moscow politics.
Just as she predicted, Luzhkov indeed found himself mired in the quagmire of self-justification in the face of attacks from the television station.
This is actually inevitable. As the de facto monarch of Moscow, Luzhkov has lived in an environment surrounded by praise for years, as if everyone likes him.
Now that the king has been offended, he is naturally furious and wants to sue the TV program host, accusing him of defamation.
But this only made things worse, drawing everyone's attention to the murder case. One witness after another came forward, and one accusation after another against Luzhkov emerged.
It seems that in just over a month, Luzhkov went from being a builder of Moscow to the mastermind behind the murders.
When people talk about him, they no longer discuss the construction of Moscow, but rather the corruption surrounding him. How much money did he and his cronies embezzle from Moscow's municipal construction projects? And how many people did he order assassins to shoot in the back?
Amidst this massive wave of discussion, Luzhkov's approval ratings plummeted in the polls.
Midway through, Gusinsky did call Wang Xiao once, asking her cryptically if she had any plans to return to Moscow.
Wang Xiao laughed: "Sir, is that how you and Mr. Berezovsky think of me?"
Gusinski choked, then stammered, "I mean, I want to talk to you. You know, you've always been able to guide me."
Wang Xiao felt a chill run down her spine. She wasn't some kind of spiritual mentor, yet she was offering guidance.
She refused without hesitation: "I'm sorry, my friend, I'm not a career planner and it's impossible for me to do any career planning for a real journalist. And you, my friend, as a journalist, do you really need other people's advice? Journalism just needs to remain neutral at all times."
Mr. Wang swore that her words were entirely objective analysis, without any subjective bias.
But whether Gusinsky over-interpreted it or not, in any case, he did not use NTV to advocate for Luzhkov in the following period.
Ms. Wang felt a little disappointed about this. She had thought there would be a major media frenzy, but it all fizzled out.
However, by March 12th, Wang Xiao had no time to follow the political gossip in Moscow.
Because another message came from the United States, across the ocean.
The Nasdaq index fell.
After the composite index reached an all-time high of 5048.62 on March 9 (March 10 Beijing time, when it had previously reached 5132.52), it began to fall after a short weekend before anyone could even exclaim in surprise.
The market was in an uproar, and everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.
The super bull market that has lasted from the summer of 1998 to the present has finally reached its peak. Is it about to start declining?
Will it continue to rebound?
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Note ①: In *The Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain*, the local bully Feng Tiannan, in order to seize the vegetable garden of farmer Zhong Asi (to build a house for his seventh concubine), falsely accused Zhong's four-year-old son, Xiao San, of stealing geese. He misinterpreted the child's unclear pronunciation of "eating snails" as "eating geese," and even bribed officials to severely torture Zhong Asi. Zhong Asi's wife, unable to find justice, took her child to the Beidi statue at the Foshan Ancestral Temple in grief and anger. She cut open her son's stomach, finding only undigested snail meat inside, thus proving his innocence. Ultimately, Zhong Asi's wife went mad, and Zhong Asi's entire family died tragically at the hands of Feng Tiannan.
Jin Yong explicitly noted that this story was based on a real event, and the "Bloodstained Stone" at the Foshan Ancestral Temple was a testament to the tragedy that year (he himself had witnessed it). Only the names and some details were fictional.
Ivan said this because he also watched martial arts dramas with Wang Xiao.
In addition, in actual history, Yeltsin resigned at the end of 1999.
Luzhkov had expressed his dissatisfaction with Yeltsin even earlier, and their relationship had essentially broken down by the spring of 1999. In the fall of 1999, Berezovsky began attacking Luzhkov using Channel One programming, a move that backfired spectacularly and dashed Luzhkov's hopes of becoming president.
However, all of this occurred on the premise of the ruble's default on its government bonds in August 1998, which led to the collapse of the Russian economy.
However, as we know from the novel, Wang Xiao turned the tide, preventing a ruble debt default and the collapse of the Russian economy. Therefore, Luzhkov will certainly be more cautious about running for president and won't reveal his true intentions too early. Consequently, Berezovsky's targeting of him will also come later.
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