Chapter 261 The Secret of Winter (Bug Fix): Let's bury it in winter.
Spring will always come, but some people will remain forever in winter, and some secrets will be buried forever in winter.
Ivanov burst into the house, panting, and downed the glass of honey lemonade in one gulp. The sourness made his brow furrow, but it didn't dampen his excitement in the slightest: "Wang, you guessed right, Neriel and Peter were both party members!"
This was extremely common in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Before and after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the dramatic changes in Eastern Europe, a large number of party members left the party; it didn't seem particularly unusual.
But this also brought two seemingly unrelated people together.
Oh, I forgot to mention, Peter is the dispatcher who tricked Ivanov and then disappeared without a trace.
“OK!” Wang Xiao put down the proposal in his hand, picked up another pen and paper, and drew a circle on it. “I guess there’s an organization among them.”
Ivanov became even more excited, his Marxist blood burning: "It's the Party organization!"
God, he should have thought of this sooner. Besides the Party organization, who else could bring so many people together to do such a righteous thing?
Wang Xiao glanced at him, suspecting that the guy had gone mad, but didn't try to discourage him. Instead, he vaguely said, "Not necessarily. There shouldn't be any party organization that can command the obedience of party members from Bucharest to Siberia."
Ivanov had to admit this.
Putting everything else aside, the Romanian Communist Party alone, and the Romanian government under Ceaușescu, pursued an independent foreign policy and insisted on maintaining distance from the Soviet Union. They were simply not on the same side.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, party members were scattered in different countries and did not have a unified organization.
"Therefore, I personally tend to think that this is an organization based on a shared belief and held together by personal relationships."
"Although relations between Romania and Romania are strained, it does not mean that the party members of both countries have no personal connections. A former Romanian diplomat to the Soviet Union may have made acquaintances with various people in Moscow. Or an engineer, worker, or other individual who was sent to Siberia to participate in joint projects during the Ceaușescu era. These personal connections can transcend national conflicts and become the glue that binds them together in their transnational actions."
She drew another circle on the paper, and then extended two lines, ending at Neril in Bucharest and Peter in Siberia.
“Let’s start with Bucharest. Romania is an outlier in Eastern Europe. In the post-communist era, many former communists transitioned to social democratic parties or similar parties and regained power through elections, such as in Hungary and Poland. But Romania is different.”
"After the collapse of Ceaușescu's regime at the end of 1989, the National Salvation Front (FSN) was initially composed of former Romanian Communist Party leaders. However, by 1992, due to significant internal conflicts, the FSN split into the more moderate Democratic National Salvation Front. The original members who truly upheld communist beliefs were marginalized."
"This incident has caused an internal division. Party members who maintain their original beliefs or are more idealistic cannot accept the current government, nor can they agree with the original party that has changed its appearance and color."
"Idealism gave them the driving force to act."
Wang Xiao drew a line between Neriel and Peter: "And what connects all of this is the railway line."
“I heard from my landlady that Ceaușescu had an underground railway network built for the secret police, which could very well have been used to transport drugs and children. And the former party members probably know more about these railway networks than the new regime does.”
"In the CIS countries, former CPSU members formed an underground network through the railway system, such as dispatchers and freight managers on the Trans-Siberian Railway. This was theoretically entirely possible. They controlled the transportation lifeline, and the railway system, which was a highly militarized sector in the Soviet era, was naturally suited to play the role of building a secret organization."
Ivanov couldn't help but interject, "I've been thinking about something: in Romania, they can transmit information through their own means, whether it's the secret police's codes or old-fashioned surveillance methods. But what about outside of Romania?"
“Railway telegrams and international long-distance calls are expensive and easily monitored. They should have better ways to communicate.”
Wang Xiao nodded: "That's right, I guess it might be encrypted information. The railway system still retains the dispatch codes and signalman system from the Soviet era. They can transmit encrypted information through freight trains, for example, using numbers on coal or other transport documents to encode communication."
Ivanov let out a groan.
Although he was a Marxist, he understood their resistance. However, as the one being used, he still felt a subtle unease.
After howling twice, he suddenly remembered the key point: "Wang, doesn't that mean that nothing on the railway can escape their eyes?"
Good heavens, his Marxist fervor vanished instantly, and his businessman instincts kicked in immediately.
That feeling of having eyes watching him from behind returned.
Wang Xiao nodded: "Yes, you are right! Their ambitions are quite large."
Without a doubt, after this incident, the Romanian Deputy Minister of the Interior—oh right, what was his name again? Sorry, I forgot—is considered a dead high-ranking official worse than a dog; if you can't remember his name, you can't remember it.
Yes, the control that he and his faction have over the railway will be greatly reduced, and the vacant positions will naturally be filled.
Wang Xiao never believed that pure idealism could sustain an organization, even a loosely organized one.
Interests are more likely to bring people together.
“Ci Ocescu once used the railway system to monitor the whole country. In a sense, the railway symbolized the old regime’s absolute control over the country. Moreover, now, whoever controls the railway is like a bandit who occupies a mountain in ancient Chinese novels, able to have a continuous stream of toll money.”
“Any organization needs funding to operate. Railways are undoubtedly a very good source of funds.”
Ivanov blinked twice quickly, his eyes clearing instantly: "So, this needs to be brought to Punonin's attention!"
God, yes, this is the most effective method.
They are in the open, while the others are in the shadows; they can't defend themselves against them.
Since that's the case, why not introduce another pair of eyes to keep an eye on the pair of eyes behind us?
As for Punoning's concern that the railway line would pose a threat to their gray market trade...
Sigh, he had his eye on me for a while now.
Ivanov had another headache, like all lazy underachievers, unwilling to use his brain. He really couldn't think of any way to drag Punonin into this mess.
He swore to God that, apart from the king, Punonin was the most determined person he knew.
No, to be more precise, Wang was still able to be flexible and roundabout, while Punonin even abandoned flexibility.
He wanted to complain to Wang Xiao and try to take the opportunity to copy the answers, but Wang Xiao had already put away the diagram he had drawn and threw it directly into the fire pit, watching the ink on the paper turn to ashes.
He had no choice but to change the subject abruptly, trying to console himself: "Perhaps they can keep Punonin in check. The party members from Bucharest to Siberia, the real party members, what a powerful force they are."
Wang Xiao stirred the ashes with the fire tongs before slowly wiping her hands, preparing to continue reading the financing plan in her hand.
She shook her head upon hearing this: "On the contrary, precisely because they are real party members, I feel that the so-called organization has a hard time controlling them."
"Because, at least until now, I haven't seen an organization that can truly solve the real predicament of Eastern Europe and the CIS countries, um."
Xiao Gao couldn't help but blurt out, "If it really exists, it's a ghost that makes all of Europe tremble."
Ivanov laughed out loud: "That's truly a miracle of humankind."
Look, organizations that wave the banner of communism are still vying for fame and profit.
Seeing him start to space out again, Wang Xiao reached out and patted his shoulder: "This is all just my guess. The truth might be completely different. I've been reading detective novels since I was a child, and I've rarely been able to guess the murderer correctly."
To find out the truth of the matter, we can only ask the parties involved.
But she didn't know where Nellie and Peter had gone.
In February, Siberia is a world sealed by ice and snow, silent as if it were dead.
The coniferous forest was weighed down by the snow, revealing a skeletal outline. Only the thin white smoke rising from the dilapidated tin roof of the forest ranger station hinted at the presence of human life.
"God, why did you come here?" A timber merchant wearing an Italian brown bear fur coat pushed open the door of the tin shack and complained impatiently, "This is no place for a human to live."
Look, outside it's freezing cold, inside the house it's a mess, and the banner of commendation from the Soviet Forestry Bureau that hangs on the wall has faded. The logging axe in the corner is also rusted.
The only thing that could brighten the timber merchant's mood was the stew pot on the stove, a mixed stew of large chunks of potatoes and venison, emitting a rich aroma.
He swallowed subconsciously, then asked evasively, "You haven't eaten yet, Comrade Peter? Perfect timing, I brought some drinks, we can have a good drink. You really..."
The forest ranger, who was wiping his rifle, refused without looking up: "No need, Victor, not in the future."
“Hey! My friend.” Victor looked surprised. “You did a great job. Listen, this proves that we have the ability, that we can do a lot of things.”
Peter remained indifferent: "It's you, it has nothing to do with me."
Viktor jumped to his feet, knocking over the simple wooden stool in the process. He angrily waved his fist: "How could you say such a thing? Have you forgotten communism? We came together for the ideals of communism."
Peter shook his head, finally putting down his shotgun and calmly looking at his former friend.
They had fought side by side on the Trans-Siberian Railway.
“Listen, Viktor, I’m not interested in your organization, I’m not interested in any organization. Communism is my belief, but it’s absolutely not a tool you can use to control me.”
Timber merchant Victor stared in astonishment, instinctively retorting, "How could you think that? Peter, my comrade, my friend, you've got it wrong. There's no control..."
“No!” Peter interrupted him urgently. “Any belief, as long as it is organized, will become a tool for a small group to profit from. Religion is like that, and so is communism. Organizations that divide people into different classes are themselves a betrayal of communism.”
Victor's face was flushed, whether from the smoke from the fire, anxiety, or anger, it was hard to tell.
“Peter, my dear friend, you cannot have such a wrong idea. We should continue to fight side by side until…”
“No.” Peter refused firmly once again. “I have been deceived for many years. For the rest of my life, I just want to live consciously.”
Victor blushed and said, "You're the one who's being foolish!"
However, no matter how much he pleaded and tried to persuade him, the stubborn former train dispatcher ignored him.
Damn Peter, he'd rather spend the rest of his life in the deep mountains and forests.
The frustrated timber merchant could only dejectedly board the train back home; he had another troublesome matter to deal with, namely Neriel.
“Comrade, my comrade,” Victor said, his head spinning. “Why did you kill Michael? We could have used him much better.”
“What use is it?” Neriel gave a mocking smile. “A bargaining chip for you big shots to sit at the table and negotiate? So you can laugh off your grudges?”
Victor looked embarrassed: "You can't say that, you know..."
"I don't know. All I know is that Adrian is dead, killed by his own gun."
His friend Adrian, an upright narcotics officer, was forced to commit suicide.
Because the drugs he had confiscated had disappeared, and he couldn't explain what had happened, he had no choice but to prove his innocence with his death.
Even after his death, they did not clear his name.
The real culprits were high-ranking officials in their Ministry of the Interior who resold the drugs seized by the police to Japan and South Korea via train.
On the very night he went to adjudicate Michael's case, the murderer brazenly declared, "I did all this for Romania. How much wealth have those Asian thieves from China, Japan, and South Korea stolen from Romania? Daewoo Group even tried to steal our car factory. I'm selling drugs there to make money and save Romania. Isn't that patriotism?"
Nellie had never seen such a shameless person, and implicating the innocent was something a communist would never do. So, without hesitation, he injected Michael with an overdose of drugs.
Ha, a heart attack? Good heavens, the new regime really can't afford to lose face like this.
Victor felt a chill run down his spine and tried to persuade Neri: "My comrade, please don't be so reckless. Listen, we're carrying out a massive plan, a plan that can save the entire country..."
However, those with a rebellious streak seem to speak in the same tone: "Sir, your plans have nothing to do with me."
Victor was taken aback. How could one or two of them be like this?
“I have no interest in your plans. All I know is that evildoers should be punished and pay the price. Your meticulously planned deals only disgust me.”
Nellie made no attempt to hide his disgust. "I have no intention of working with you. The only reason I cooperated was that I couldn't stand by and watch the murderer swagger in front of me. Now, it's time for me to say goodbye."
Victor was shocked: "Comrade Neri, what strange things are you saying? How could you betray communism?"
Neriel gave a disdainful smirk: "You should be asking yourselves that. Communism, what is communism? Can you give me an answer?"
He stood up and gave his former comrades a final warning, "Don't mess with the Chinese, especially that Miss Wang. I'm sure you're already feeling the pressure."
Victor's expression involuntarily turned serious.
It's more than just feeling the pressure.
It's everywhere, it's all-pervasive, it's almost overwhelming.
Neri really had to sympathize with his former comrades; how stupid they must have been to provoke the Russian government.
What kind of government is this? The president openly attacked the government of Congress. They fear red more than Americans do.
Thieves are always afraid of the real owner returning.
They will spare no effort to strangle the ghosts that haunt the skies over Moscow.
Coincidentally, he had learned an old Chinese saying: "Even a starved camel is bigger than a horse."
Viktor and his team will have a very difficult time dealing with the Russian KGB.
But so what? What does it have to do with him? He's just fed up with it all now.
He's getting ready to go to Africa.
In Bucharest, he met many African businessmen and wanted to try his luck in Africa.
However, before that, he has to buy one get one free.
The following day, the Romanian newspaper Libertarian broke the news that the former Minister of Culture had committed suicide out of guilt.
This time, not only was Victor's head blown up, but the whole of Romania was in an uproar.
Everyone is talking about this, and there are all sorts of opinions.
Some people even came up with the wild idea that he was silenced by the British because he touched a nerve with them.
The Guardian has really targeted the wrong target; the problems in British welfare homes are clearly much bigger.
In fact, investigators unearthed children's remains at the site of a former welfare home that had been closed in 1987.
Good heavens, this has caused quite a stir; everyone is talking about the children's tragic plight.
The revised version of "Escape from Deadly Island" was released amidst this atmosphere of nationwide attention. The director was quite stubborn and deliberately added a voice-over from the hero at the end: "No buying, no harm."
The main point is that since things are already like this, why not ride the wave of popularity?
Amidst the clamor of voices, fewer people were discussing the Minister of Culture's suicide. After all, Romania has no shortage of officials; if one dies, another will take his place.
“But I heard that—” Ruan Xiaomei couldn’t help but gossip while reporting to her boss, “that minister is an extreme nationalist. He believes that only smart and beautiful children deserve to live in Romania, and those he deems defective do not deserve to live and are only fit to be sold abroad for money. Only in this way can Romania develop well.”
Wang Xiao listened half-heartedly; she didn't really care about other people's suffering.
She even drifted off into thought for a moment, imagining that Romanian people would also be unwilling to have children in the future, and that the fastest-growing population in Romania was the Gypsies. She guessed that the minister would be devastated if he found out.
Ruan Xiaomei heard from the phone that her boss didn't seem to care much, so she quickly changed the subject to work.
"We've partnered with the Children's Palace and hired teachers to specifically teach children like Anna how to make desserts and crafts. Once the training is complete and she passes the assessment, she'll come work at the shop. If we turn it into a demonstration base, I reckon business will be pretty good. Hmm, the Bucharest government has said it's tax-free. I think Anna will be able to support herself in the future."
Ruan Xiaomei truly felt sorry for this unfortunate girl.
Can you believe it? After she was rescued from the orphanage, things didn't become peaceful.
It wasn't that her sister Laura sent her to the orphanage again; rather, she mysteriously disappeared on her way to school.
Because Anna knew how to take the bus by herself, she had always gone to school independently since middle school.
Her classmates didn't see her and assumed she was sick from the cold and was resting at home, so they didn't pay much attention.
It wasn't until Laura got home from get off work and didn't see her sister that she realized something had happened.
Then they searched the world for the person, but how could they possibly find them?
By then, Anna had already left Romania.
That's right, isn't it a coincidence? The drugged girl that Major General Punonin found under the sleeper berth on the train was Anna.
Perhaps because she had already undergone a physical examination and been matched with a donor at the orphanage, those people still dared to abduct Anna despite the attention from reporters.
If Punonin hadn't happened to be in that carriage, noticed something was wrong, and saved the unfortunate girl...
Perhaps right now, she's lying on some ghost ship in the high seas, serving as a donor.
After all, there will always be people who don't believe that "life is only given to each person once," and who always think they have the right to steal other people's lives.
Ruan Xiaomei couldn't help but sigh: "Laura aged 10 years overnight, kept slapping herself, and was extremely regretful."
Wang Xiao didn't feel anything; she wasn't the type of person who easily empathized with others.
Furthermore, the real reason for Laura's pain is that she clearly understands that, for whatever reason, she once truly wanted to abandon her sister.
Don't say she didn't know the dangers of the welfare home; it's common knowledge that the conditions in Romanian welfare homes are terrible.
For a 30-year-old to insist that she thinks the welfare home is good is simply too hypocritical.
All I can say is that now that she's lived this long, she should learn to be self-consistent.
What's wrong with people loving themselves the most?
Only when she understands this can she truly move on and stop tormenting herself.
Although Ruan Xiaomei didn't have children either, she was clearly more compassionate than her boss. She was quite worried: "I'm afraid those people will come and kidnap Anna again."
Wang Xiao finally managed to reassure his subordinate, "There's no need to worry too much, someone will be keeping an eye on her."
They all realized that Anna had become the target donor; if Punonin couldn't, he shouldn't be in Moscow's political arena.
Anna's security detail might be even stronger than that of her, the big boss.
But Wang Xiao didn't want to discuss this in detail and skipped the topic: "How's the bond issue going?"
Ruan Xiaomei secretly told herself that she was confused and couldn't distinguish between what was important and what wasn't.
She quickly reported: "We are listing through the Bucharest Stock Exchange's over-the-counter trading system to circumvent the Foreign Securities Law."
Wang Xiao agreed: "You should put more effort into sales."
There's really no other way; she has very few, or practically none, financial professionals at her disposal, especially in international finance. So, she, as the boss, has to take matters into her own hands.
In order to issue these US$80 million bonds, she specifically set up an offshore company, and then declared it to the State Administration of Foreign Exchange in China under the name of a "Sino-foreign cooperative joint venture". Then, she took advantage of the loopholes in the current "Foreign Exchange Settlement and Sale System" to record the funds as "prepayment for equipment purchase".
It really proves the saying that in an era of unbridled growth, nothing can be investigated in detail, otherwise you will find that it is just like a triangular debt that cannot be cleared up at all.
She hung up the international call from Bucharest, and then the call from Beijing came in.
Yang Tao's voice couldn't hide her excitement: "Boss, we have 200 acres of land, and four factories that have moved out want to give us their old factory buildings. They want the same standards as the ribbon factory!"
Tsk, it's finally here.
She'd better hurry to Beijing to have a proper talk and see how she can negotiate for the maximum possible building height.
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I originally planned to write a side story to conclude the Romanian incident, but the social situation at the time was quite complex. If I wrote the side story directly from the perspective of those involved, it would probably be difficult to explain their actions clearly. So after thinking for a long time, I decided to present the case through Wang Xiao's reasoning.
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