Chapter 71 You guys aren't going to disintegrate? : What am I supposed to do then?
Of the $2,638,700, $2,500 was used to buy an airplane, and Wang Xiao didn't plan to take the remaining $138,700 out of Budapest.
She used the money to buy a computer, which she obtained from Mr. Fang.
Mr. Fang's main business now is selling computers. He collaborates with a local factory in Budapest, doing processing work on supplied materials.
To be more specific, it's American software, Taiwanese shell, Japanese experience, Korean materials, Western European models, Eastern European prices, and mainland Chinese talent and money.
That's right, his products are mainly sold in mainland China.
In 1991, computers made with American chips were clearly of higher quality.
Thirteen hundred and thirty-eight thousand seven hundred US dollars, enough to buy a hundred computers, which can be flown back on the plane, perfect.
Of course, she's still using the computer from Mr. Fang's villa.
Wang Xiao made each of her customers check the order slips one by one before they signed and sealed them.
Both parties must sign their names and affix their fingerprints. If one party cannot write, they can simply press a palm print, and then two intermediaries must sign.
Wang Xiao reminded them, "This is the delivery receipt. You can pick up the goods with this receipt. I only recognize the goods, not the person."
Everyone quickly put the order slip away.
They spent tens of thousands of US dollars to buy this. Whether they can do well in Romania later will depend on the goods they sell.
While wiping his hands, Wang Xiao said half-jokingly and half-seriously, "You are my big customers. I'm counting on you to sell all over Romania and come back to me for more goods in the future."
Everyone quickly replied politely, "Then we'll have to ask Mr. Wang to take good care of us and give us more good and rare goods, instead of just giving us shoes for a week."
What does "one-week shoes" mean? It means that the shoes are of poor quality and the soles fall off after only one week of wear.
Wang Xiao smiled and said, "I dare not speak for other things, but you can rest assured about this. My goods come with a three-guarantee policy, so the quality is definitely not a problem. They're not from some shady little factory."
The big guy who brought in $50,000 in one go nodded in agreement: "We really need goods from big factories, like those duck down jackets from the Gongqingcheng Farm in Jiangxi. I'm not just bragging, but the quality is really good. I bought them in Beijing for $15 and sold them for $80. Not a single buyer has said anything bad about them."
The person next to me burst out laughing: "15 US dollars! I bought it for 12 US dollars and sold it for 100 US dollars. I regret not buying more."
The big guy was furious with him, but he still stubbornly insisted to Wang Xiao, "I only recognize this duck down jacket. If you don't have it this time, I want it next time."
Wang Xiao readily agreed: "No problem, I'll contact the supplier as soon as I get back to China."
As she spoke, she turned her gaze to the crowd and said, "Since we all want to work hard and make more money in Romania, I'll say a few more words."
"Go on, go on," Xiaoyue said enthusiastically, a perfect straight man. "Teacher Wang, you tell us, you know so much."
"I wouldn't say I know a lot, but I enjoy listening to people talk, so I overheard a few things. First of all, when we sell things, if we want to make more money, we can't just think about making a quick buck. If we do that, we'll ruin our reputation, and people won't buy our products anymore. All that hard work to open up the market will be for nothing."
Several older people in the crowd nodded in agreement, while others said indignantly, "That's right, those messy, disorganized things have ruined the reputation of the place."
Wang Xiao pressed on, saying, "So from the very beginning, we need to establish the rules so that the Romanians know that our products are of high quality and low price."
Everyone laughed.
Good quality is still possible, but cheap is simply impossible.
Dare to imagine it?
Many of them traded a pair of jeans for a refrigerator, or a box of bubble gum for a marmot hat.
As for things like exchanging a leather jacket for two military overcoats, or getting a genuine gold ring from a pearl necklace that costs a dozen yuan, those are commonplace.
It wasn't them who were scamming people; the Russians begged them to buy it.
Seriously, when they were on the train, the Russians would throw rolled-up rubles onto the train through the window, begging them to sell their goods.
The buyer is begging the seller, what kind of low price is that?
But compared to foreign goods in other stores, they are indeed cheaper, which is why they are popular.
Wang Xiao laughed and said, "Secondly, when you're on someone else's turf, you have to follow their rules. Our uncles, aunts, brothers, and sisters are all known for their hard work. They get up before dawn and drag their carts to the free market to set up their stalls."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Of course, you have to arrive early to get a good spot.
The same free market, but different locations can lead to vastly different business results.
"But while everyone is working so hard, they might have forgotten one thing: it doesn't match the locals' schedules. For example, in Budapest, Hungarians usually don't start work until 8:30 or 9:00. At 5:00 AM, when they're sound asleep, the rumbling of your trailer wakes them up. Do you think they'll complain after a while?"
The crowd exchanged bewildered glances. Was it wrong for them to be diligent? Hungarians are just lazy, isn't that how people live?
“They’re not doing badly,” Wang Xiao said earnestly. “We have to respect what’s appropriate for them. Besides, when we were in the village production team, we worked from dawn till dusk every day and never received a penny. Did we live better than the factory workers?”
Seeing that everyone was silent again, she used an analogy: "Different ethnic groups have different daily routines. What we get up at five o'clock is the middle of the night for them. Who can stand it if they don't sleep and make a ruckus all night? What should you do if you want to get up early? Don't make any noise, be quiet. Especially don't call your friends and family first thing in the morning. If you make a ruckus on their turf, we'll be the ones who suffer in the end."
Mr. Fang chimed in, "That's the truth. Actually, the Hungarians used to treat us quite well. It's just that over time, friction increased, and that's why they became unhappy."
Of course, the specific reasons are more complex.
Wang Xiao nodded: "That's the point. When you're a guest, follow the host's lead. Don't always try to be the host's boss. Nobody will feel comfortable that way. Also, be careful about hygiene. Don't urinate or defecate anywhere. That's too embarrassing."
Those present quickly emphasized, "No, no, that's not true. It's not like there aren't public restrooms here."
Wang Xiao laughed and said, "That's why we say their construction is good. We can't look down on them just because we've made some money. They're only facing temporary difficulties. If it weren't good, we wouldn't be here to make money, right?"
We must always remember this: never let yourself become arrogant and look down on others just because you've made a lot of money. If you're an outsider earning a month's salary in a day and still look down on everyone, won't you just attract resentment?
An old saying goes, "Harmony brings wealth." Foreigners say, "The customer is king." We have a proverb, "Our parents provide our food and clothing." Those who give us money are like our parents. We can't be unfilial sons or daughters.
The people inside laughed again, and the atmosphere was incredibly joyful.
Wang Xiao laughed along, "Sure, everyone knows that China and Romania have a good relationship. If anything happens, just go to the embassy. Let's try to avoid using force if we can sit down and talk things out. Like I said, we're not afraid of trouble, but we won't cause trouble either."
Tang Yicheng watched from the side, and Wang Xiao seemed to wish he could go to Romania to do business for them.
He was right.
Wang Xiao genuinely had high expectations for this group of uncles, aunts, older brothers, older sisters, younger brothers, and younger sisters.
She went on and on about emphasizing a whole bunch of things.
For example, it's unacceptable for people to fight each other, with two groups maliciously lowering prices.
We need to bring everyone together to create a clustering effect. We need to ensure that Romanians know where to go when they want to buy shoes, clothes, or daily necessities.
By establishing this routine, business can remain consistently successful.
By the end, her throat was dry, and she regretted not being able to do it herself.
Oh well, never mind.
We should have faith in the wisdom of the first generation of speculators; they were people who were capable of making a name for themselves.
Finally, just like a principal giving instructions to test-takers, Wang Xiao couldn't help but add, "Since you've made up your mind, pack up and go to Romania as soon as possible. Otherwise, the Hungarian police might stamp your documents and ban you from entering Hungary for a year, affecting your procurement."
The so-called "black stamp" is a mark on your passport stating "Leave the country within 48 hours." Once you have this stamp, if you don't leave, they can arrest you.
Where will they be taken if they're caught? Places similar to detention centers in China, only more brutal, definitely not with any compassion.
With the plane and flight route finalized, Wang Xiao now had to hurry back to complete the follow-up work.
Before leaving Budapest, Wang Xiao called Xiang Dong again to inquire about the preparations for the production of sexy lingerie.
Xiang Dong was a little embarrassed: "Workers in one factory have objections, saying it's a decadent thing of capitalism, too vulgar, and they refuse to work there."
Actually, those few Christmas outfits didn't matter, because the workers didn't know what they were for and thought they were just for foreign children to wear and play with.
However, the workers recognized the design of one of the remaining two garments, which made them very unhappy.
Xiang Dong assured them, "I'm working on their mindset. We'll start production as soon as the samples arrive."
Wang Xiao refused outright: "No need. Return the order and take the raw materials away. Also, look for Wugang Village in Xiaozhou. Feng Zhonglin knows where it is."
Wugang Village and Airport Village are separated by a large ditch, and it is this ditch that caused them to lose the opportunity for immense wealth.
But the people of Wugang Village were quick-witted. After their attempts to envy and resent each other proved fruitless, they took the initiative and began looking for opportunities to make money around the International Trade City.
Some set up food stalls, some worked odd jobs on construction sites, and one auntie was even more outrageous—she actually introduced the arm sleeves to resellers.
Yes, it's the simplest kind of sleeve protector, not the sun protection kind, but the kind used to protect the sleeves.
Although the auntie couldn't speak a word of foreign language, it didn't stop her from using rich body language to explain the ingenuity of the arm protectors to the middlemen.
It can protect the elbows and cuffs where clothing is prone to wear and tear, extending the lifespan of clothing, especially large garments like down jackets.
Although down jackets are currently very popular in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, with sales basically selling out in seconds and even customers bidding on them at street stalls, their prices are actually quite astonishing for ordinary people in those areas.
Many people buy a down jacket hoping to wear it for a very long time.
The presence of arm protectors is absolutely necessary.
So this elderly woman from the countryside, who couldn't speak a single foreign language, managed to secure the order through her courage and wisdom.
She organized the women in the village to work using their sewing machines.
Now that she has more orders, villagers from several nearby villages have become her workers.
Wang Xiao dared to have them make sexy lingerie because the rural areas of this era were truly closed off, with a whole host of rules.
But if you were to say they're bold, they'd say they're incredibly fearless. When it comes to telling dirty jokes, neither men nor women care at all.
For them, the biggest rule boils down to two words—making money.
To make money, they are willing to do anything without any psychological burden.
With such capable migrant workers, why would Wang Xiao still try to get Xiang Dong to do ideological work among the garment factory workers?
Wasting time.
This isn't Budapest, where she only has Ruan Xiaomei to help with sample making.
If that were the case, she would definitely use every trick in the book to persuade her to agree.
For now, never mind.
Since people think this is forcing a good woman into prostitution, she can't very well become a brothel madam.
However, since the factory failed to properly address the workers' concerns, why not avoid trouble by having her find another factory for the next order?
Tang Yicheng, who was listening nearby, felt like he should silently light a candle for the factory.
He was now completely convinced that Wang Xiao was determined to sell that sexy lingerie all over Europe and the Soviet Union, because she was already preparing to investigate the sex toy production line in Poland and directly import it.
What should I do if I don't know where there are sex toy manufacturers in Poland?
Fly to Moscow to buy other people's goods, ask pharmacies where they get their products from, and find out the manufacturers' addresses.
Just find a Polish middleman you know and ask him directly.
She'd already had the aircraft factory repaint the plane, so of course she had to go all out and get things done.
Without a doubt, the aircraft factory wouldn't work for free, and Wang Xiao didn't let anyone work for nothing either.
The reward she gave was supplies.
What kind of supplies?
The Chinese traders who had made up their minds to leave Hungary still had a lot of goods they hadn't had time to sell. Apart from the ones they managed to take on the train, they gave the rest to local friends they knew, and some even gave them to Wang Xiao as a token of their gratitude.
Wang Xiao certainly couldn't take it with him, so he simply gave it to the aircraft factory as payment for having them paint it.
As a result, the aircraft manufacturer sent them a bunch of spare parts, saving them the trouble of buying them separately for future maintenance and repairs.
Ivanov also needs to get back to Moscow as soon as possible.
Their purchase of the plane in Hungary was purely impromptu; they hadn't made any prior arrangements.
Yes, that's how extravagant it is.
For ordinary wealthy people, a luxury car is a small purchase; but for those at their level, buying an airplane is a no-brainer.
If sea freight weren't so slow and didn't meet the needs of impatient people, they would definitely have gotten a seagoing vessel.
Forget about it now. The important thing is to arrange pilots as soon as possible; without pilots, no one can fly the planes.
So Wang Xiao and his group, as if going into battle, departed from Budapest's Frihij International Airport (which later became Ferenc Liszt International Airport) and flew directly to Moscow.
They would meet up with the main force from the steel plant here, and then Wang Xiao and Ivanov would each take charge of their own tasks before proceeding to the next step.
Flying is indeed much faster than taking the train; they left the airport smoothly in just three hours.
But when they got out onto the street, all three of them were taken aback.
Good heavens, there are so many people! It feels like everyone in Moscow has come out of their homes. The whole street is completely packed.
Wang Xiao instantly became extremely nervous. Had it already disintegrated?
No way, she hasn't finished her preparations yet.
It should at least hold on a little longer.
Ivanov looked completely bewildered. He had called Ivan before boarding the plane, but hadn't heard anything about anything serious happening.
In the end, it was Tang Yicheng who was the first to react: "Oh, today is November 7th."
Ivanov snapped out of his daze and said in a relaxed tone, "That's normal. When the Nazis were at the gates of the city, our October Revolution military parade was still held."
Wang Xiao and Tang Yicheng exchanged a glance, unable to understand his relaxed demeanor.
Brother, have you forgotten? After the failed August coup, the Central Committee of the CPSU was dissolved. Are you still celebrating the victory of the October Revolution?
Please, if we're talking about victory now, whose face are we slapping?
The crowds waving Soviet flags on the street would have been normal a year ago, but now it felt like an absurd time travel.
Just yesterday, the current Russian president announced the cessation of all activities of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Communist Party of the Russian Federation in Russia.
Ivanov's mind finally cleared up, and he began looking around, asking people, "Hey, what's going on? I just finished a mission and returned home."
The middle-aged man waving the flag was furious: "Traitors! They are shameless traitors! We must never forget the October Revolution!"
But his words were meaningless; the three of them were still completely confused.
An elderly woman wearing a headscarf looked worried: "Next month, bread will also be rationed with coupons. When will things get better?"
The three of them were so confused by what they heard that they could only follow the parade forward.
People kept calling out, "Go to Lenin's Mausoleum, Lenin's Mausoleum—"
People walked forward waving Soviet flags and holding up banners and slogans.
Wang Xiao struggled to decipher the Russian text above: "Lenin's name and cause live on forever," "The October Revolution is our festival," "Lenin is the most humane man," "Ilyich Gorbachev betrayed you and your cause, but we will never change our hearts," "Nail the traitors of October to the pillar of historical shame," "Gorbachev, step down! The most hypocritical man, step down!" "Popov (the mayor of Moscow) eats delicacies, while the people need ration coupons for bread"... Note: ①
Wang Xiao wasn't initially surprised, because to her, these slogans were simply people taking the opportunity to vent their dissatisfaction with the status quo and their hatred for the incompetent government.
But she quickly changed her mind.
Because these slogans also included phrases like "Privatization can only lead to chaos, no capitalism or market economy" and "Down with the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie."
This is different from the history she knows.
Wasn't it supposed to be that the Soviet Union dissolved peacefully, a result of the collective choice of the Soviet people?
Why is this happening?
Red Square, which is 695 meters long from north to south and 130 meters wide from east to west, was packed with people, and the area in front of Lenin's Mausoleum was especially crowded.
People held up portraits of Lenin and Stalin, and the person at the front of the procession was giving a passionate speech, criticizing "democracy peddlers" for rewriting Soviet history and attempting to remove Lenin's body from Lenin's Mausoleum.
They demanded that Gorbachev be tried, emphasizing that capitalism must never be allowed.
The surging crowds came in waves, even reminding Wang Xiao of the May Fourth Movement.
In November, Moscow is freezing cold, yet the entire Red Square is like a burning flame.
Wang Xiao felt as if he were being roasted in a fire.
Oh no! Could it be that the book she transmigrated into isn't the real world? Has the Soviet Union not collapsed? Do the Soviet people just want to restore their former glory?
Damn it! What kind of lousy book is this?!
Wasn't it supposed to be that transmigrating into a book = time travel + rebirth, a double halo?
It's definitely not her responsibility.
She didn't go into politics, and she didn't cause any trouble, so how could she possibly rewrite history?
Ivanov was first terrified, then excited; he even trembled uncontrollably: "Get the damned Go-Ye reactionary alliance to the ground! We want the glory of the October Revolution! Glory!"
Wang Xiao directly retorted, "So, when you're cleaning, are you going to the gallows or the guillotine?"
Ivanov was instantly doused with a bucket of ice water.
Indeed, after such intense political struggles, a major purge is sure to follow.
If the Communist Party of the Soviet Union were to regain power, it would certainly have to exterminate all capitalists in order to maintain the stability of the regime.
A big-time speculator like him is definitely the perfect target for crackdown.
Ivanov was instantly plunged into pain and confusion. As a citizen who had experienced the prosperity of the Soviet Union during his youth, he naturally longed for the glory of the past.
But he also prefers the good life he has now, where he can make a lot of money and do whatever he wants.
His brief surge of patriotism was defeated by his individualism, and he sadly discovered that he lacked the spirit of sacrifice and was unwilling to harm his own interests.
Thus, the flames of revolution burning in Red Square turned into charcoal fires for roasting pigs.
Unfortunately, he was that pig that was tied up and roasted.
Wang Xiao's face turned ashen: "Let's go, let's take another look."
She searched for the police in the crowd, wanting to see their reaction.
Unfortunately, she couldn't see the police officers' faces. There might have been many plainclothes officers in the crowd, but none of them were wearing police uniforms.
On November 7, 1991, Soviet Constitutional Law Day, people spontaneously took to the streets, but the officials mysteriously disappeared and the government made no statement.
The leader was still giving a passionate speech: "They intend to have the American army occupy our country under the guise of humanitarian aid..."
The crowd cheered and echoed from time to time.
Then they linked arms and began to sing "The Internationale" at the top of their lungs: "Вставай, проклятьемзаклеймённый..."
Wang Xiao's arm was tugged, and when she turned around, she saw Dr. Chen's excited face: "Oh my, you've come to the street too!"
According to the original plan, Wang Xiao and his group were supposed to arrive in Moscow on the evening of the 6th, spend the night at a sanatorium, and then watch the military parade in Moscow before returning to Jiangzhimen.
However, because they bought a plane with cash in Budapest at the last minute, they were delayed and did not arrive in Moscow until nearly noon on the 7th.
They completely forgot about the military parade on November 7th.
Dr. Chen doesn't care about these things now; she's more excited about the spontaneous gathering of the people of Moscow than about the military parade.
"So many people want Yegor to be ousted." Dr. Chen's eyes gleamed. "Wisdom belongs to the people. The common people see things most clearly. Those who can't do a good job should get out. How could our Soviet big brother ever go to such lengths?"
To what extent? It made her feel ashamed to even talk about it.
The people at the sanatorium knew they were from China, and everyone wanted to buy things from them. There were sanatorium staff members and people who had come for treatment.
They carried large bags and small packages filled with rubles, surrounding the steelworkers and asking to buy things.
But since everyone comes here for vacation and recuperation, they have no intention of becoming resellers, so naturally they are not prepared.
Even those two down jackets had long been given to Ivanov as payment, and in return they were exchanged for two fur coats.
In the end, they could only sell the wool sweaters they were wearing, the pearl necklaces around their necks, and some even sold Big Bubble Gum.
The latter was food she carried with her because she was afraid of getting carsick.
That's not the point. This isn't Dr. Chen's first time in Moscow; she's already witnessed the Russians' frenzy to buy Chinese goods.
They themselves joked that they were like peddlers, and the kind of peddlers who only ventured deep into the mountain villages once in a long while, the kind of peddlers that the mountain people had been longing for.
Seeing the Russians' behavior, Dr. Chen could understand why so many people were so fond of reselling goods.
It's not just about making money; more importantly, it's about genuinely feeling needed and desired.
Especially small vendors, who used to be constantly chased by the police and the joint defense team all over the streets, and had no dignity whatsoever; how could they not feel comfortable being treated with such care and expectation?
She even thinks she's a hero.
But this time, Dr. Chen was truly shocked and felt uneasy at all.
Because when doing business with the Russians at the sanatorium, they are often soaking their feet or doing other health treatments, and the people who come to buy things have nowhere to sit.
These Russians could only squat or kneel on the ground to count the bags of banknotes, and then reverently hand them over with both hands.
The sight at that time left the steelworkers speechless with shock.
After they left, the young man from the propaganda department blurted out, "Our Soviet big brother has become our subject."
The leaders were so frightened that they quickly scolded him: "Don't talk nonsense."
But what did everyone really think? Nobody really thought his description was wrong.
At least that scene looked very, very similar.
Dr. Chen should be proud, but her compassionate heart only felt sorrow.
So today they didn't see the military parade, but they were happy to see the people's spontaneous resistance.
Their generation's feelings for their Soviet big brother were far deeper than later generations imagined.
Wang Xiao remained expressionless; her emotions were extremely complex, and her mind was racing.
What would she do if the Soviet Union hadn't collapsed?
Just as Ivanov had predicted, once the Communist Party of the Soviet Union returned to power, their business in the Soviet Union would most likely be completely wiped out.
Can the business in the two international trade cities be supported by the Eastern European business that has not yet officially started?
How should she adjust?
One was to quickly launch a business selling erotic lingerie and adult sex toys, opening specialty stores all over Europe.
Another is to develop new routes as soon as possible and expand the business scope.
When she was in college before she entered the book, the Black international students at the school were doing very well in their international trading business.
Now, is there a market in Africa as well? How will she investigate?
She has to win this market; once she withdraws from the Soviet Union, she needs a replacement.
Wang Xiao was lost in thought when his arm was tugged again.
Chen Yanqiu, still wanting more, said, "Let's go, let's go back after we finish eating."
Wang Xiao looked closely and realized that the crowd was gradually dispersing.
She turned to the departing Soviet man beside her and asked, "What happened?"
"It's over. The rally ends at one o'clock."
The person who spoke left in a hurry.
Wang Xiao was truly bewildered; she couldn't understand the real situation in Moscow.
Many people were still on the street, gathered together, still passionately discussing the need to try the damned president. They were a bunch of drunkards and liars who had deceived the people.
Wang Xiao's gaze moved forward and landed in front of Lenin's Mausoleum, where six flower baskets were neatly arranged, and the steps of Dali City were covered with bunches of flowers.
In this cold winter, flowers bloom with the final glory of life.
"Let's eat."
The steel plant workers greeted them.
They were so excited that they gathered at 9 a.m. with the aunties from the sanatorium under the huge Lenin statue in October Square, marched with more than 10,000 people to Red Square, and then joined more than 20,000 people at Lenin's Mausoleum. They forgot about hunger and thirst.
Now that the crowds have dispersed, my stomach is rumbling in protest.
Ivanov was distraught, but Ivan remained calm and arranged for everyone to go to a nearby restaurant.
The restaurant is neither too big nor too small, just enough to accommodate a little over a hundred Chinese guests.
Perhaps those who are willing to spend money on dining out are less inclined to go out today, while the protesters want to save money to buy more daily necessities. In short, at this mealtime, the restaurant only had this group of customers.
Thank goodness, although the Moscow market has announced that bread will be supplied in limited quantities, customers are not having a problem getting food for now.
Everyone ordered the communist dish—beef stew with potatoes—and the local specialty, sour cream rice.
Is it delicious? Wang Xiao didn't know, because she couldn't taste anything.
The steelworkers, however, ate with great relish, occasionally discussing the grand occasion of the Red Square rally that day.
After everyone finished eating and wiped their mouths, Wang Xiao finally made up his mind: "Mom, you all go back first today. I still need to investigate the market in Moscow."
Suddenly, everyone's eyes were on her face.
Chen Yanqiu instinctively objected: "No, you go with Mom."
After saying that, she felt it was inappropriate and changed her mind, saying, "Why don't you stay, Mom? It'll be perfect for picking up the next batch of employees."
Oh dear, to be honest, she really thought the sanatorium in Moscow was very comfortable.
Unexpectedly, after working for half her life, she actually enjoyed a workers' sanatorium abroad.
The Soviet Union really knew how to live frugally.
Wang Xiao shook his head and whispered to his mother, "Mom, you have to go back. You have to help me bring the samples to Xiang Dong. This is a business worth 300,000 US dollars."
Dr. Chen suddenly shuddered.
Forgive the old lady for having suffered so much; even today, she still trembles when she hears about tens of thousands of US dollars.
"The order is urgent; we need to start production as soon as the samples arrive. Delivery will be in 10 days, via air freight. If this order is done well, it won't be a problem to support two or three factories on its own."
Haha, Dr. Chen is already numb.
Overwhelmed by the immense sense of honor in generating foreign exchange for the country's exports, she put the greater good before her own family, immediately grabbing her bag and leading the group away.
Asking someone else to take it back is not an option. Faced with $300,000, she can't trust any of her colleagues.
Ivanov, who had been in a daze, was surprised at this moment: "Your Majesty, aren't you leaving?"
Wang Xiao smiled and punched his shoulder: "You forgot? We still have things to do."
Ivanov nodded hastily, like an old bureaucrat bewildered and at a loss when a new regime was about to be established.
As everyone exited the restaurant, the two comrades from the steel plant's publicity department who spoke Russian suddenly pointed ahead in surprise and exclaimed, "Oh, they're selling everything here?"
Wang Xiao's gaze swept over, and it was indeed so.
This should be the closest commercial street to Red Square, but not many shops are open, and those that are are locked have "For Sale" signs hanging on them.
I don't know if it's because of the collapse of the Soviet Union that people feel Red Square has become a thing of the past and no longer has commercial value, but the asking price is shockingly low.
After all, a shop of nearly 200 square meters only costs four thousand seven hundred US dollars.
When the publicity department colleague mentioned it, the steel plant workers were all excited.
It's only four thousand seven hundred US dollars. If they put together all the money they earned from selling sweaters and bubble gum, they could buy several stores.
Goodness gracious, this is Moscow! Red Square in Moscow is like Tiananmen Square in Beijing! How can such a huge store sell things so cheaply?
Of course, this price is relative.
$4,700 is a sum that ordinary Moscow residents can only dream of.
After all, in the Soviet Union at that time, the starting point for wage tax was 160 rubles per month, and the starting point for high progressive wage tax was 1,000 rubles.
This figure was just adjusted this year; previously, the figures were 100 rubles and 700 rubles respectively.
If you still don't have a concept of this, let's take two typical professions as examples: doctors' monthly salaries increased from 140-220 rubles to 250-470 rubles, while teachers' salaries increased from 140-170 rubles to 250-350 rubles.
As for the exchange rate between the ruble and the dollar, one dollar can now be exchanged for eighty rubles in the market.
Therefore, a doctor with the highest income level would have to work for 800 months without eating or drinking, equivalent to 67 years, to buy this $4,700 store.
It wasn't that people didn't see its development potential; rather, the Soviet people could only look at it as if it were another world.
Wang Xiao made up his mind instantly, and pulled Ivanov aside, saying, "Let's go, let's buy this whole area. We'll buy whatever they're selling it for."
Ivanov, however, was flustered, looking around cautiously like a traitor afraid of being discovered by the anti-traitor squad, and hesitantly asked: "What if my land is confiscated after I buy it? The Red Army will confiscate the landlords' land."
Wang Xiao was utterly speechless. "Brother, you've already decided you're on the White Army? You're really self-assured."
She comforted the other party, "What are you afraid of? Buy it in the company's name. If they dare to confiscate it, I'll sue your government. Don't forget, we Chinese are not afraid."
“Yes!” Ivanov puffed out his chest again. “You Chinese are heroes who fought against the Soviet Union.”
Tang Yicheng felt as if he had neither eyes to see nor ears to hear.
This is a perfect example of what it means to have a tiger father and a dog son.
Ivanov's ancestors were Soviet war heroes.
He even made a last-minute decision to give each of the steelworkers two more fur coats in order to build good relationships with them.
If it weren't for the tight schedule and the lack of time to arrange for goods, he could have ensured that the steelworkers left with more luggage than they had arrived.
Even after letting the person board the plane, Ivanov was still muttering, "Deer antlers, deer antlers, I forgot about the deer antlers."
The gift was far too insignificant and unacceptable.
Seeing his drunken reaction, Wang Xiao couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him.
Anyone can experience an emotional breakdown when going through a major personal change.
She wasn't much better off; she was also emotionally devastated, but she had to stay to experience firsthand the political changes in Moscow and be ready to adjust her career path at any time.
"Come on, let's buy all the shops." Wang Xiao forcefully pulled Ivanov along. "We don't want to miss a single one in this area."
Tang Yicheng asked in surprise, "What? Do we need so many stores?"
Would the Soviet Communist Party allow her to sell lingerie and those kinds of toys?
They'll definitely shut it down.
This is a decadent capitalist way of life.
Wang Xiao turned her head and glared at him fiercely: "Can't we just change the whole day to Huaxia Trade City and sell only Chinese goods?"
As the saying goes, spilled water cannot be gathered up again. Regardless of whether the Soviet Union could withstand the pressure, Eastern Europe, having already changed the colors of its national flag, was unlikely to turn back.
After suffering such a major blow, even if the Communist Party of the Soviet Union regained power, it would still have to maintain a peaceful relationship with China in order to survive.
Given this fundamental premise, it would be absolutely impossible for it to prohibit Chinese goods from entering the Soviet Union.
Because it has come to this point, it is now irreconcilably at odds with the United States.
Every country needs allies; no one can truly fight alone.
Ivanov became a signing robot, can you believe it? They bought thirteen shops in one go, on the afternoon of November 7, 1991.
Yes, in less than three hours, a whole bunch of stamps were done.
Some people even took them to get the stamps, they were incredibly enthusiastic.
Even Ivanov himself couldn't help but sarcastically remark: "If they could be this efficient at doing other things, how could the Central Committee of the CPSU have been dissolved? How could the CPSU have become like a stray dog, reduced to such a state?"
When he wanted to make another appearance, government officials enthusiastically invited him to have his picture taken and be interviewed, hoping to attract more wealthy people to buy shops on the street every day. Russia now needs a large amount of US dollars to solve its foreign debt.
Poor Ivanov was terrified again, shaking his head desperately, saying he would rather die than do such a thing.
Those who stick their necks out never have a good ending. He was just an ordinary black marketeer, and he didn't want to be the first target of the Red Army to be eliminated.
He refused to cooperate with the publicity, citing his dislike of being in the limelight.
The city government officials were very disappointed, and only after he repeatedly assured them that he would invite more friends to buy the store did they agree to let him go.
Before Mrs. Ivano had even left the city hall, he began to feel anxious again, even asking Wang Xiao for his opinion: "Wang, do you think I should buy a villa in America?"
Oh, so they feel they've made enough money and are preparing to run away?
However, Wang Xiao bluntly criticized him: "Have you forgotten that the United States confiscated the property of Japanese people in the US during World War II?"
Fearing the knife hadn't gone deep enough, she added another stab, saying, "Don't worry, on that day, the Soviet people will celebrate with drums and firecrackers."
Seriously, before she transmigrated into the book, when news spread online that the US was going to release the assets of high-ranking Chinese officials in the US, everyone was very welcoming.
Public opinion generally believes that the United States has finally done something good.
Ivanov immediately deflated; it seems even the United States isn't safe.
But where could he go? Eastern Europe hates the Soviets so much. Western Europe probably won't work either, since it's all aligned with the United States.
Japan? Sigh, it also has US military bases, making it even less reliable.
During the era of the US-Soviet rivalry, half of the world's population were US allies and half were Soviet allies.
After thinking it over, he felt increasingly lost about his future.
Wang Xiao comforted him, "It's alright, Ivanov, I'm your most loyal friend. If things really don't work out, come with me to China, and don't forget the business we've been doing together."
Ivanov's eyes lit up again.
Oh, and there are pilots too. They just bought another plane, so they need to get a pilot on board.
When it comes to pilots, there's no shortage of them now. Whether it's retired Chinese air force personnel or Soviet air force personnel, sixty-odd aircraft are more than enough.
The real problem that troubled them was how to ensure the loyalty of the pilots.
That's right, who hasn't heard stories of pilots defecting these days?
Even if they buy their planes cheaply, each one will still cost at least a million US dollars.
If they were tempted by the money and simply flew away in their plane, clearing out the stock and reselling the plane and cargo for hundreds of thousands of US dollars, then Wuzhou Company would definitely be in deep trouble.
What should the company do to prevent such a tragedy from happening?
First, the pilots on each plane had to be split equally between China and the Soviet Union, and the same applied to the other crew members.
This way, everyone can both cooperate and supervise each other.
Of course, the second thing is the key.
Crew members are allowed to carry goods for sale, with a weight limit of five kilograms per person. A single round trip like this can earn each of them at least a hundred US dollars. With no wind or rain to their name, earning a thousand or so US dollars a month is commonplace.
This can be seen as the company trying every means to promote integrity through high salaries.
When people don't take on any risks, a consistently high and stable income makes it easier for them to be content with the status quo.
The pilots were arranged in the same way this time.
Having found his own value, Ivanov felt he could stand tall again.
Even if he has to rely on Wang Xiao to live off her, he has no qualms about it.
Exactly, what will happen to all those planes if the trade between China and the Soviet Union stops? Eastern Europe is too small, with too few people; the market might not be able to handle it all.
Wang Xiao exhaled, and it instantly turned into white mist.
Moscow in November is really cold; she felt that even spraying water could turn it into ice.
"It's alright, the passenger plane can be leased to China's civil aviation."
Before high-speed rail became ubiquitous across the country, China's transportation infrastructure determined that there was a market for airplanes.
After all, building roads or railways takes time, but business people's time is very valuable.
This determines that airlines need a large number of aircraft.
Purchasing aircraft through legitimate channels costs tens of millions of US dollars, which is simply unaffordable for domestic civil aviation.
Renting a plane from them at this time would be a very good option.
Ivanov's mind was completely at ease.
Okay, there's nothing to be afraid of anymore. As long as there's money to be made, that's all that matters.
As dusk falls, the streets of Moscow lose their daytime bustle, replaced by the stark chill of a winter night.
The stars in the sky emitted a cold light, like pairs of eyes staring at people, making them feel uneasy.
The car drove all the way back to the suburban villa.
It was already late, but the plump cook and the pretty housekeeper hadn't left the villa; they were having a heated debate.
Even after the host entered the house, they only hurriedly served boiled beef dumplings for dinner, while they continued arguing in the kitchen.
The cook was agitated: "Your democracy is useless, in fact, it's getting worse and worse, Yego should be fired! Tell me, what problems can democracy solve? Food or clothes?"
The waitress was blunt: "The task of democracy is not to solve problems. Its task is to allow people from all walks of life and their representatives to compete fairly on the public platform of parliament, according to fair rules. Everyone is in the open, not engaging in secret politics."
"It's useless, it's useless. What's the point of being under the sun?"
"Sunlight is the best disinfectant; only God knows what kind of things will grow in a sunless corner!"
"What we need is bread and milk; sunshine and democracy can't fill our stomachs! How are we going to get through this winter?"
Ivanov couldn't take it anymore; he couldn't even eat dumplings dipped in sour cream.
But he couldn't yell at the lady, so he had to endure it.
Moreover, he was still feeling guilty. His fear of the Red Army made him belatedly realize that hiring cooks and waiters was an act of exploitation.
God, may they remember His gentleness and not come forward to accuse Him of his crimes.
He believed he hadn't done anything to wrong them.
Even if he were to hire me, the salary he would pay wouldn't be low.
Wang Xiao devoured three dumplings in one go, tapped the newspaper on the table, and began to get down to business: "We need to pull off something big."
Ivanov perked up: "What do you mean?"
"It means a buying frenzy is coming." Wang Xiao pointed seriously to the news in the newspaper, "Starting December 1st, five kinds of food, including bread, will be subject to rationing, and prices will be liberalized. What will be the consequences?"
Tang Yicheng had been in a state of shock and hadn't said much from beginning to end, but suddenly interrupted: "Just like when we broke through the price barrier in 1988, people would desperately grab everything they could buy."
People are afraid that money will lose its value, so they only feel at ease when they exchange it for something else.
Ivanov, a son of an official, had never lacked food or clothing since childhood, and was still somewhat hesitant: "Will there really be panic buying? The grain production has only decreased by 20%."
Frankly, he was terrified that if he exchanged a large sum of US dollars for supplies and brought them to Moscow, they would all be confiscated by the Red Army.
Seriously, it's much easier to run away with money than with goods.
"Trust me," Wang Xiao said earnestly, "The elderly who have experienced hunger are still here; they will lead everyone in a buying frenzy."
For a while, Wang Xiao couldn't understand why grain could be harvested year after year, regardless of whether it was a flood or a drought, when natural disasters were happening all over the country, yet there were still bumper harvests.
Isn't this just fooling ghosts?
In the end, it was her grandmother who answered her questions.
Oh dear, grain production has decreased? Quickly go and stock up on rice, salt, and everything else you can.
Those who have never experienced hunger or cold can never understand their fear of material deprivation.
Ivanov was finally persuaded and nodded in agreement: "Okay, we'll ship more goods over."
The newspapers said that this year would be the most difficult winter for the Soviet Union.
Let's assume it's true for now.
"Once the goods are sold, either convert them into US dollars or quickly buy shops and factories. In short, rubles cannot be kept in hand indefinitely."
Arguments between chefs and waiters could be heard from the kitchen from time to time, about the relationship between democracy and bread.
Meanwhile, at the dining table, the host and guests were eating dumplings and discussing how much cargo they would transport and what goods they would exchange the Luhu for.
Tang Yicheng was instantly bewildered.
Human joys and sorrows are indeed not shared.
Are the flowers laid at Lenin's Mausoleum still there?
After the parade dispersed, were there any more secret operations taking place in the corners of the city?
Tang Yicheng desperately tried to recall the Soviet films he had watched, and secretly made up his mind.
In any case, if a major change occurs, he must bring Wang Xiao out of the Soviet Union.
Sigh, they shouldn't have gone back to the villa; they should have gone to the airport.
If that doesn't work, he'll fly a plane and take everyone away.
Seriously, even though he never formally studied or obtained any licenses, he really knows how to fly a plane.
When the floodwaters surrounded Jiangzhimen, he traveled between Jiangzhimen and Xiaozhou by plane, and he already knew how to operate the plane.
Sigh, it's too late to say all this now.
Hopefully, they will still have time to escape Moscow by then.
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Note ①: The information comes from Xinhua News Agency reports and online video footage at the time. On November 7, 1991, there was no military parade on Red Square; it is said that a million Moscow residents spontaneously took to the streets to celebrate.
Yes, happy first day of December, everyone!
Also, it's true that Yaya down jackets were popular with resellers in the early 1990s, as mentioned in the article; this isn't an advertisement. Haha.
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 2023-11-29 17:43:31 and 2023-11-30 18:44:31!
Thank you to the little angel who threw the landmine: Gothic Bermuda 1;
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