Chapter 86 Romance Enters the Police Station: I Have Something to Say, But I Don't Know If I Should.
To be fair, the saying "everyone has their own expertise" is not an exaggeration.
Comrade Ivanov is indeed exceptionally gifted and quick in his pimping, no, matchmaking, oops, acting as an intermediary on dating platforms.
He made the promise to Wang Xiao on New Year's Eve. But on the second day of the Lunar New Year, he delivered the goods to her door—no, the young man came to her door himself.
Early in the morning, Ivanov said he would go with Wang Xiao to inspect the store in person so he could act as an intermediary.
Then he arranged for someone to accompany Dr. Chen, Comrade Wang Tiejun, and his uncle's family to see the big circus, filling the day with activities.
Turning back, he complained to Wang Xiao that the people in the Moscow city government were unreliable, that the shops weren't sorted out yet, and that they should wait.
Wang Xiao simply went to soak in a hot spring.
It's a pity that even though she lives in a hot spring sanatorium, she hasn't had a proper chance to soak in the hot springs because she's always running around.
Now that everyone in the family has gone out, she's all alone, so she can finally enjoy herself to the fullest.
Wang Xiao soaked in the hot spring pool, squinting her eyes to enjoy the warmth.
Less than five minutes later, she heard the sound of slippers and instinctively looked up.
This is the pool she booked; no one except the staff can come in.
When she saw the person's face clearly, she was overjoyed.
Hey, young man.
A beauty seen under the lamplight is even more captivating.
Especially since the young man was only wearing swim trunks, his V-line and abs were clearly defined, proving that he looks slim in clothes but muscular when undressed.
It must feel really good to touch.
Ivanov is great, he's definitely reliable!
Wang Xiao blinked hard twice, then rubbed his eyes.
Wu Haoyu was completely bewildered and subconsciously asked, "Don't rub it, did an eyelash get in your eye?"
"No." Wang Xiao lowered his hand but closed his eyes, and a cheesy pickup line came out of his mouth: "I'm afraid I'm dreaming. If I open my eyes, the dream will be over."
Wu Haoyu was amused by her, took off his shoes and stepped into the pool: "Open your eyes, if you get any in your eyelashes, I'll blow them out for you."
Wang Xiao opened her eyes as instructed, staring intently at him: "Little brother, you only have me in your eyes."
She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulled him down, and kissed him. "May we have a wonderful day in Moscow."
Great, no bad breath. The young man's lips are so soft, it feels so good to kiss him, it's truly captivating.
Soviet citizens were not allowed to bring family members to sanatoriums according to regulations. Therefore, sanatoriums were also popular places for Soviet citizens to have romantic encounters.
The two-week recuperation period, both short and long, was enough for countless Soviet versions of "The Bridges of Madison County" to be staged.
The hot spring water made a gurgling sound, and Wang Xiao's voice sounded soft as if it had been soaked in water: "I don't have the strength, carry me up."
While it would be nice to have a session in the pool, the staff might come in at any time.
Wang Xiao had absolutely no interest in letting others witness her live sex show.
Wu Haoyu smiled, reached out and carried her into the adjacent lounge, where he placed her on the bed.
Wang Xiao's eyes caught sight of the condoms on the cabinet, and he became even more satisfied with Ivanov.
She pulled the young man down onto the bed, then covered him and kissed his Adam's apple.
The way this young man tilts his head back is so sexy.
Wang Xiao savored the delicious food in her mouth little by little. It was not even 10 a.m. yet, and there was still at least half a day before her parents returned. She had plenty of time to enjoy it slowly.
However, just as the temperature in the lounge was rising and Wang Xiao felt she could comfortably stay warm, there was a knock on the door.
She was instantly furious. The arrow was already on the bowstring and had to be released, but now she was stuck in this predicament.
"Who is it? What is it?"
Although she hadn't expected such a romantic encounter to happen so quickly before soaking in the hot spring, she had told the staff that she wanted to be alone for a while.
The waiter outside said in a respectful but firm voice, "Excuse me, Miss Wang, it was Mr. Zhang who called you. He said it's urgent."
Mr. Wang is Zhang Kai, the person in charge of the Chinese staff at the commercial street.
He's not the type to be careless or irresponsible; he wouldn't lie about military matters unless it's something serious.
Wang Xiao quickly scrambled off the young man, and seeing his erection, she felt a rare sense of apology: "Excuse me, I need to take this call."
She had no intention of giving up halfway, so she simply wrapped herself in a blanket and went out to answer the phone.
On the other end of the phone, Zhang Kai was extremely anxious: "President Wang, something's happened! The family members of one of our employees have been arrested by the police."
Wang Xiao's vision went black. Damn it, she knew that organizing family trips abroad for team building was risky.
With a dark expression, she pressed, "What exactly happened?"
If any bastard dares to urinate in the streets of Moscow, he'd better be frozen solid.
Don't think these people are incapable of doing it.
Previously in Budapest, there was a Chinese vendor who brazenly stole birds' urination on the street, and was beaten bloody by angry locals.
If that's the case, then hitting him would be pointless. Wang Xiao would never make decisions for anyone. He should just apologize honestly and go back to China peacefully.
"They were robbed, and they're all at the police station now."
After hanging up the phone, Wang Xiao wrapped herself in a blanket and rushed back to the lounge.
"Excuse me, sir, I have an urgent matter to attend to and I have to go out right now."
As she spoke, she pulled the curtain shut and quickly changed her clothes.
Police stations in Moscow are not good places, especially now; if you go in, you might get a lot of trouble.
When Wang Xiao came out after changing her clothes, the lounge was already empty.
She casually put on her shoes and hurried out.
Two bodyguards were already waiting outside, reporting to her: "We've already called Attorney Vinnitskaya, and she's heading to the police station immediately."
Wang Xiao nodded: "Let's go, let's go too."
Now Ivanov is no longer a reliable candidate, because he's gone off to have fun too.
A voice sounded behind her: "I'll go with you."
Wang Xiao turned her head and was quite surprised to see Wu Haoyu, who had changed his clothes.
She thought he had left.
If it were her, it would be normal for her to leave.
Who would be happy to have someone ditch them halfway through a crucial moment? If it happened to her, she would absolutely curse the other person to be impotent.
"Okay." Wang Xiao didn't think much about it; having more people around would give them more presence.
It's really not their fault that their employees' family members were taken to the police station today.
They were enjoying themselves strolling the streets of Moscow when one of the women encountered a beggar begging.
They weren't the kind of poor beggars squatting on the street, their faces numb and trembling, but rather groups of beggars demanding money, directly snatching wallets, or even robbing the beggars of everything.
That woman had never seen anything like it before. Her wallet and necklace were snatched, and her handbag was also taken. She screamed in fright.
How could his fellow countrymen let these thugs succeed? Without saying a word, they rushed forward, each taking down one of the seven or eight thugs.
Now that things have developed to this point, everyone should applaud and cheer.
In fact, many of the foreign tourists watching around them whistled and cheered them on.
Because so many foreign tourists have been victimized on this street.
Especially solo backpackers, almost none of them were spared.
If that's the case, why did the police still arrest the Chinese tourists who performed the act of bravery and take them to the police station?
Could it be that the Moscow police also understand the true meaning of "any physical contact counts as mutual fighting"?
No, no, because these vicious people have rather unusual backgrounds. The youngest is only seven years old and just started elementary school this year. The oldest is no more than fifteen and hasn't even graduated from junior high school.
This is why they have succeeded multiple times and are still able to commit crimes here.
The issue of managing juvenile delinquency is a challenge worldwide, especially in Moscow, where things are currently in a state of chaos.
When Wang Xiao arrived at the police station, a heated argument was taking place inside.
The plump Russian woman demanded that the Chinese man take responsibility, emphasizing that her child had been badly injured.
The Chinese families on the other side refused to back down, continuing to shout, "Juvenile delinquent! Arrest him immediately and put him in a juvenile detention center!"
In fact, the two sides did not speak the same language at all. Without anyone to help translate, they could not understand what the other was saying at all, but this did not stop them from arguing loudly.
The police banged on the table several times, but failed to quiet both sides down.
Wang Xiao glanced at those bastards; indeed, they were all injured.
The tallest one was in the worst condition; his cheekbone was lacerated, and there was a dark brown stain on his philtrum, which was probably dried blood.
Wang Xiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief; at least no one had been killed.
As for medical expenses, although the Soviet Union has dissolved, Russia still maintains its free healthcare system. It's truly free.
This eliminates the possibility of patients treating the hospital as a medical check-up center and staying there indefinitely to extort money.
The focus of both sides is now on the issue of compensation.
The plump Russian woman insisted that compensation must be paid for nutritional expenses and the loss of her child's inability to attend school.
It's as if it's the weekend, and only kids on holiday would run out into the street to rob people during normal school hours.
The Chinese people, of course, are not willing to suffer this loss. The child may be ignorant, but the adults are not either.
You should pay me back!
Our man was robbed; his wallet contained 10,000 rubles. He was terrified and demanded compensation, immediate compensation!
These teenage robbers weren't a family. As their parents arrived at the police station one after another after receiving phone calls, the house became increasingly chaotic.
There was also an elderly woman who was holding her grandson and wailing loudly.
The police officer sitting behind his desk slammed his fist on the table and shouted, trying to quiet everyone down.
Attorney Vinnitskaya has arrived, and Wang Xiao inquires about her proposed course of action.
The middle-aged lawyer cautiously advised that it would be best to reach a settlement with the other party.
Because the situation at the police station is hard to predict, once someone is detained here, they won't be able to speak the language and will have a very difficult time.
As for how to reconcile? Spend a little money.
Five thousand rubles should be enough to solve the problem.
The police officer standing nearby ignored the arguing parties and gave Wang Xiao the same advice.
Such civil disputes can drag on forever if they get carried away.
If you don't want to waste time, it's better to pay up and solve the problem sooner rather than later.
He added meaningfully, "It's just a small amount of money. Anyway, you Chinese are rich."
These words immediately angered Wang Xiao.
That's right, most Chinese people in Moscow are quite wealthy. But that money didn't come from thin air.
Besides, why should Chinese people be extorted just because they have money?
Do Americans have money?
The United States is so rich. If your country has any guts, try extorting the United States!
Damn it, she won't pay a single cent of this money.
Wang Xiao was already furious, and now she couldn't contain herself any longer. She angrily shouted at the juvenile delinquents and their parents: "Aren't you ashamed? Lenin is right there watching you! Heroic Moscow, the Moscow that gave birth to countless human role models, the Moscow full of glory, the Moscow that the whole world admires, the Moscow that countless people regard as a holy place, when did it become a paradise for thieves and robbers?"
Her voice rose eight octaves, so loud that no one could ignore it; it was deafening.
For a moment, everyone in the police station, from the crying juvenile delinquents to their complaining parents, fell silent as if a switch had been flipped.
Wang Xiao showed no intention of letting them off the hook, and continued yelling at the parents: "If a child is not taught, it is the father's fault! They are now taking advantage of their young age to do whatever they want, thinking that the police can't do anything to them. But they will grow up eventually. He who steals a needle when young will steal gold when old. Do you only feel happy when you see your children hanging from the gallows? As parents, shouldn't you tell them what is right and wrong, and educate them properly?"
"I don't know what's right or wrong, and how to educate my child."
The old woman who had been crying while holding her grandson suddenly spoke up, “The Soviet Union is gone, Lenin is gone. Swindlers and thieves are high and mighty, living the high life. Hardworking ordinary people can’t even afford to eat. Can anyone tell me how I’m supposed to support myself and my child when I don’t even earn four hundred rubles a month?”
The old woman, wearing a faded floral headscarf, had tears in her eyes and sobbed softly, "The Soviet Union is gone!"
Wang Xiao opened his mouth, but couldn't find the words to answer.
The female lawyer also turned her head away, her eyes red.
Even the police officers who had been watching from the sidelines, impatiently observing the spectacle, lowered their heads and turned their faces away forcefully.
Standing next to Wang Xiao, a petite but wiry elderly woman asked curiously, "Hey, why is she crying again?"
Sigh, you're acting all wronged now.
This is utterly baffling!
Wang Xiao had no choice but to translate the other person's sorrow.
As a result, her fellow elderly woman didn't feel that the other woman had anything to sympathize with.
Oh, so you think you don't have enough money, so you let your grandson rob people?
Is 400 rubles a small amount?
Yes, a kilogram of pork costs 50 rubles, and a kilogram of sausage costs over 100 rubles, but does your family have to eat them every day?
Aren't big loaves of bread quite cheap? Only three rubles for a 500-gram loaf.
The store doesn't have much stock, so why don't you get up early and queue up? You can buy more and resell it.
You're complaining about this? You've never experienced hardship before.
Back then, I only made 28 yuan a month, but I had to raise three children, and the children also needed tuition fees. I still managed to raise them all.
You guys are still eating rye bread? That's all refined grain. Back in our day, we ate everything, even tree leaves. We lived clean lives, we didn't steal or rob.
Well, you've come all this way. We haven't even run out of food yet, and you're already eager to become bandits.
How dare you complain about being poor!
The old woman with the floral headscarf defended herself and her family: "We have no milk, no eggs, nothing at all, not even vegetables. We can't live on bread alone."
"Oh, milk and eggs, huh?" The shrewd old Chinese woman scoffed. "We hardly ever drink milk these days. And eggs? When my children were this age, when did we ever eat eggs except for holidays? You think you're so precious? We can endure hardship, but you can't?"
The plump Russian woman retorted, "Do you only eat staple foods and nothing else? How do you ensure you get protein and fat? Don't you need nutrition?"
Wang Xiao translated it again.
The Chinese people present rolled their eyes.
It also contains protein and fat.
Ten or twenty years ago, no one used oil when cooking. They would simply rub the pan with pork skin or a cloth soaked in oil before cooking.
Chicken, duck, fish, and meat are things that most Chinese families can't even dream of.
Those of them, who come from urban working-class families, are already considered to be living a good life.
Ultimately, the issue that both sides were arguing about boiled down to the vegetables. Everyone needs vegetables, right? What if there aren't any?
The Chinese people were all talking at once.
Some people say that their family makes soy sauce soup, which is made by simply adding boiling water to soy sauce and then adding some chopped garlic leaves.
Some said they didn't even have soy sauce at home, so they ate rice soaked in salt water, and their mouths cracked and bled from it.
I doubt even the Russians would dare to imagine it.
The shrewd old lady rolled her eyes upwards again and instantly found several dishes: "Sprouting beans, right? You grow soybeans, right? Soybeans sprout beans. Grind soybeans to make tofu, and tofu can be used in dishes. Soybean pulp can also be stir-fried."
As she spoke, she meticulously taught people how to sprout beans and make tofu.
Oh dear, she was really worried about these Russians; she had never seen such people who didn't know how to manage a household.
Wang Xiao was completely numb.
The building is so crooked that she can't even translate it properly.
It was Wu Haoyu who spoke up and helped convey the message.
Wang Xiao was quite surprised; she hadn't expected this person to speak Russian.
Yes, intelligence can also add to sex appeal.
He probably had never sprouted bean sprouts or made tofu before, so as he translated, he hesitated and looked at Wang Xiao.
What could Wang Xiao do? Besides stubbornly continuing to work as a translator, she had no other options.
"Oh, and peanuts too." The old lady was very kind. "Peanuts can be sprouted, or you can just stir-fry them and eat them as a dish."
In her opinion, the Muscovites were still a long way from being completely out of options.
These old Russians have had it too easy in the past and don't know how the real proletariat lives, which is why they're so fussy.
To this day, she still doesn't understand what the old Russian was thinking that made him insist on separating the family.
The dispute ended rather haphazardly during the old lady's cooking class.
Someone actually asked Wang Xiao to write down the steps for sprouting bean sprouts because their family couldn't afford vegetables anymore and couldn't eat pickled cucumbers every day.
The older Chinese couldn't help but wink at each other, "Well, at least we have pickled cucumbers. Is this what you call no vegetables?"
Those are really high standards.
But everyone was perceptive enough to know that when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. At this point, they couldn't afford to start any new disputes, so no one said anything.
Just then, the shopping street staff came to deliver food to them.
The Moscow police department is unlikely to provide meals.
Since the shopping street didn't know how long they would stay, they simply delivered their lunch first.
The lunchbox was packed in a foam insulated box and covered with a military overcoat.
It was unloaded from the van and taken into the police station; it was still steaming hot.
It's quite a coincidence that today's lunchbox included Mapo Tofu, and the grilled carp also had bean sprouts as a side dish.
Yes, the soybean pulp was mixed with minced meat and fried in oil, then stewed with potatoes until very soft.
The shrewd old lady immediately launched into enthusiastic sales pitch, insisting that the old lady in the floral headscarf try some: "These are bean sprouts, aren't they delicious? And this Mapo Tofu is best with rice. This bean dregs is also good."
Wang Xiao was a little afraid that things would become awkward again between the two sides.
Russians are used to eating separately and may not be willing to accept food from someone else's lunchbox.
Fortunately, the old lady in the floral headscarf didn't refuse on the spot. Instead, she finished the bean sprouts and even praised them, saying, "They're delicious."
The capable-looking old Chinese woman immediately beamed with joy: "I knew it! As long as you're willing to put in the effort, you'll always find something to eat."
She kept talking to people about how to live frugally.
What if you don't have money to buy new clothes? How can you refurbish old clothes?
What if we don't have enough food? How can we find more food around us?
Not only her, but all the older Chinese people present here have a wealth of life experience.
Those who had been sent to the countryside in Northeast China during the Cultural Revolution, and had experience living in frigid regions, were particularly talkative.
What should we do when we can't even afford rye bread anymore?
Oak trees, acorns can be ground into flour and eaten. Add a third of flour and you can make delicious flatbread.
Moscow is covered in forests, so if you look carefully, you'll find plenty of food.
Wang Xiao acted as a translator while distributing lunch to everyone.
The shopping street offers two types of lunch: a rice set meal and a pizza.
Young people prefer pizza, but older Chinese people think this foreign-style flatbread doesn't taste good and prefer rice.
Those few juvenile delinquents were peeking around, the youngest of them was drooling, their eyes fixed on the pizza.
Since the opening of the world's largest Pizza Hut in Moscow in 1990, eating pizza has become an extremely fashionable thing in the city.
Of course, given the current rate of price increases in Moscow, most people can no longer afford pizza.
Wang Xiao's eyes scanned from left to right, then from right to left, and finally only gave pizzas to children under ten years old.
As for the older children, she said bluntly, "You didn't set a good example, you set a bad example, so you'll go hungry today. This is your punishment."
Their parents looked at it, but didn't say anything.
Some children lowered their heads in shame, while others held their heads high, completely disdainful.
Wang Xiao was too lazy to care about them; they weren't her children, so it was none of her business.
She turned her head and handed a pizza to the policeman.
The latter's expression was subtle, and after a long while, he finally uttered, "You Chinese are really amazing."
He had handled many such civil disputes, and none of them had ever ended in this way.
Wang Xiao earnestly emphasized, "Because we genuinely hope that you can all be well."
Moscow, a former revolutionary holy site, holds extraordinary significance for the Chinese people.
Even at the height of tensions between the two countries, the Chinese people were educated to oppose Soviet revisionism, not to hate the Soviet people.
Wu Haoyu reminded her, "Let's eat, the food is getting cold."
Actually, the police station is quite warm, so the food doesn't get cold very easily.
Wang Xiao followed her heart and grabbed a boxed lunch, wolfing it down as she ate. While eating, she assured Wu Haoyu, "Tonight, I'll definitely treat you to something delicious."
Wu Haoyu didn't complain and even praised it, saying, "The taste is quite good, no worse than the restaurants in Beijing, that's enough."
But how could Wang Xiao agree to that?
The guy she asked out to was eating a boxed lunch at the Moscow police station? If word gets out, will she still be able to work?
I'm a woman who cares about her reputation.
“No way,” Wang Xiao emphasized seriously, “I have to treat you to a big meal.”
Wu Haoyu smiled, his eyes crinkling slightly, his mouth opening and closing: "Okay, I'll be waiting."
Oh my god.
Fortunately, Wang Xiao's hands were both occupied, otherwise she would have had to cover her chest in public.
Because she felt as if a bullet had pierced her heart.
Tsk tsk tsk, beauty really does lead to ruin.
She once again gave those little brats a vicious glare.
If it weren't for their meddling, I would have already swallowed them whole.
You should be sent to a juvenile detention center for proper labor reform.
Even if they become part of the mafia after the transformation, they brought it on themselves.
Wang Xiao quickly finished his lunchbox, then covered his mouth and whispered in someone's ear, "Little brother, I'm so sleepy, shall we go back and take a nap?"
As for how to sleep, well, you can sleep however you feel happy.
I don't know if it was because of the hot breath from her mouth, but the young man's ears turned red.
Oh, I really want to take a bite.
Wang Xiao urged the employees' family members who had finished eating impatiently, "Let's go, let's go back quickly."
While the atmosphere is good now, people should leave.
To avoid the heartwarming moment lasting less than half an hour before the two sides start arguing again.
Everyone started to leave, and they were all at the police station entrance. Wang Xiao was about to get into the car when two more policemen arrived and escorted someone inside.
This had absolutely nothing to do with her; isn't it a matter of course for the police to arrest criminals?
She didn't even glance at it twice.
But the criminal being held captive shouted, "Mr. Wang, Mr. Wang, help me!"
Wang Xiao was instantly speechless.
I'll save you my foot! Do I even know you? Who are you?
Uh, this is a little embarrassing, but we actually know each other.
On the eve of the Lunar New Year, everyone drank at the same table in the Beijing Hotel.
We're not that close, but we can't just say we don't know each other.
I can't remember his name, but everyone calls him Qiangqiang.
Wang Xiao could only ask, "What happened?"
She was speaking Russian, and the person she was asking was naturally the police.
The two policemen were very impatient: "Hiding drugs, this kid is hiding heroin."
Good heavens! The commercial street employees who understood the explanation turned pale.
Drug dealers, huh!
They immediately began whispering among themselves.
The scalper was still shouting at the top of his lungs, "Mr. Wang, please save me! I haven't done anything wrong!"
Wang Xiao frowned, but still told the employees, "You should all go back now."
Tuck your neck in, what are you watching?
It's not uncommon for overseas Chinese businessmen to be involved in drugs and gambling. Wang Xiao, not wanting to say anything more, sent the main group away and went up with his lawyer and bodyguards to ask, "You're hiding drugs? You're asking for death."
"I didn't, I really didn't! How could I possibly touch opium?"
The scalper struggled desperately, crying, "Mr. Wang, please save me! I've been framed!"
The police officer yelled, "Behave yourself!" and then forcefully dragged him into the police station.
He struggled so hard that his shoes even fell off to the ground.
Wang Xiao hesitated for a moment, but still went over to pick up the shoes.
Wu Haoyu was a step ahead of her and picked up the shoes.
“Let’s go, Attorney Vinnitskaya, let’s go ask her. Something seems off.”
Wang Xiao lifted her foot and walked inside.
When they went in, Qiangqiang was already handcuffed to a chair.
The two policemen were holding a box of pizza that Wang Xiao had left behind, and they were loudly mocking Qiangqiang while sharing the pizza.
Wang Xiao pressed Qiangqiang, asking, "What exactly happened?"
Qiangqiang, with snot and tears streaming down his face, said, "They just suddenly came over and went through my things, and then dragged me here."
Wang Xiao looked up at the two policemen who were eating pizza with gusto: "But this gentleman said he didn't do anything and didn't know what the so-called heroin was all about."
The policeman swallowed the pizza in his mouth, took out a bag, and pointed to the white powder inside, saying, "This is the heroin he hid, high-purity heroin, and it even has his fingerprints on it. With witnesses and physical evidence, what else is there to argue about?"
Wang Xiao acted as the translator again, and Qiangqiang almost exploded on the spot, shouting hoarsely, "It's not me, it's really not mine. They showed it to me and asked me what it was. I thought it was baking soda for steamed buns, so I wanted to see it clearly and explain it to them."
Well, this is entrapment.
Wang Xiao believed Qiangqiang's statement almost immediately.
Because the Moscow police are capable of doing this.
The Russian Federation has a notoriously bad business environment, especially in the 1990s, when the police were synonymous with extortion.
She went straight to the two smug policemen and asked, "How do you know there are his fingerprints on this? Have you already completed the fingerprint identification process? As far as I know, this should be done by professional forensic technicians."
The policeman's expression changed, and he said menacingly, "We saw it with our own eyes, he was holding white powder."
Wang Xiao bluntly stated, "But he said you forced it on him. He only accepted it because he trusted the Moscow police."
The police officer said impatiently, "Ma'am, he's lying. This has nothing to do with you."
Vinnitskaya's lawyer emphasized: "The principle of innocence applies. You accuse him of drug possession, but you currently have no evidence to prove that you did not force the drugs on him."
Although the Soviet Union's lawyer system had been in place for decades, for a long time, lawyers were more of a symbol, not engaging with law enforcement agencies on an equal footing, but rather looking up to them.
Therefore, even though the Russian Federation claims to be a democratic and free country, the police don't take lawyers seriously.
No matter how much Vinnitskaya's lawyer cited legal provisions to defend Qiangqiang, the police remained unmoved and insisted on detaining him.
The policeman who had spoken earlier probably didn't want Wang Xiao to pressure him into making excuses, so he secretly slipped away while the two sides were arguing.
Pah!
Looking at the empty pizza box, Wang Xiao thought, "It's true what they say, 'If you feed a dog, it'll wag its tail.'"
Lawyer Vinnitskaya was furious, partly because she had been treated with contempt, and partly because of her strong sense of national pride.
This is her homeland, yet the police, who should have upheld the dignity of the law, openly trampled on it right in front of foreigners.
Finally, Venitskaya, the lawyer, could no longer tolerate it and called a journalist she knew: "Our judicial system needs oversight; it needs the entire society to keep an eye on it."
Wang Xiao asked Qiangqiang, "Have you eaten or drunk anything they gave you?"
Qiangqiang was only in his early twenties, and he was already so frightened that he was completely at a loss. He shook his head tremblingly and said, "No, no."
His mouth was incredibly dry, but he had absolutely no desire to drink water.
In early 1992, drugs in China were mainly concentrated in coastal areas, and most Chinese people knew very little about them, let alone what a urine test was.
Vinnitskaya's lawyer friend, a journalist working for Pravda, rushed over, bringing with her another friend, a reporter for a major Indonesian newspaper based in Moscow.
The police officer looked extremely grim and refused to conduct a urine test on Qiangqiang under the supervision of reporters.
An Indonesian newspaper correspondent, clutching a recording pen, emphasized: "Okay, I understand what you mean, officer. You have to do drug tests behind people's backs, right?"
The police were eager to kick the reporters out, but were ultimately forced to agree to conduct the tests immediately.
The research and development of drug detection technology began in the 1950s and 1960s.
Although in people's traditional impression, the Soviet Union, like China before the reform and opening up, had no trace of drugs.
In reality, drug abuse already existed in the Soviet Union by the late 1960s. However, the authorities were reluctant to acknowledge this fact and avoided addressing the issue.
By the 1970s and 80s, the problem of drug abuse had become increasingly serious. Especially after the war in Afghanistan, a large number of soldiers picked up drug addiction in the "graveyard of the empire" and brought this bad habit back to the Soviet Union.
According to statistics from the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs, the number of officially registered drug users in the country was 75,000 in 1984. By 1988, this number had risen to 131,000.
According to conventional theory, each officially registered drug user would have twelve to fifteen unregistered like-minded people around them. In other words, a few years ago, there were already 1.5 million to 2 million drug addicts in the Soviet Union.
Of course, this is only the statistics from the Ministry of the Interior.
According to some surveys, the actual number of drug users in the Soviet Union exceeded five million.
The Moscow police department's attempt to deny having drug testing technology is simply untenable.
As a result, after several hours of fuss, the police finally had to admit that there was no evidence that Qiangqiang had used drugs.
Wang Xiao then took the scissors and cut off a tuft of Qiangqiang's hair. She emphasized to the reporter's camera that she would find a professional testing agency to test Qiangqiang's hair to completely prove his innocence.
Even after all this, the police still refused to release him.
Their reasoning was that even if Qiangqiang didn't use drugs, it didn't prove he wasn't hiding or dealing drugs.
So they had to keep him at the police station for further investigation.
Wang Xiao was fed up with these guys, so he called the Chinese Embassy and asked them to step in and protect the rights of its citizens.
However, even after embassy staff showed up and expressed their position, Moscow police remained adamant and insisted on detaining the person for further investigation.
After arguing for a long time, Qiangqiang still had to stay at the police station for 24 hours.
He was terrified and kept assuring Wang Xiao, "Mr. Wang, don't worry, I won't eat anything from them."
They're framing these Russian policemen. They couldn't extort him, so they're trying to frame him.
Once he falls into the trap, his life is completely ruined.
Looking at his chapped lips, Wang Xiao couldn't bear it and gave him her own bottled water to drink.
The reporter went to the street and bought a large loaf of bread for five rubles to feed Qiangqiang.
Without a doubt, they didn't even bother to hide their attitude; they simply distrusted the police.
After watching Qiangqiang finish most of the bread, Wang Xiao and the others said goodbye and left.
Once outside the police station, she hailed a taxi on the street and told Wu Haoyu, "Excuse me, you can go back now, I have things to do."
As she spoke, she took out fifty rubles and handed them to the driver, saying, "Follow this gentleman's instructions."
Wu Haoyu refused: "I'll go with you."
Wang Xiao shook his head: "No, you're not suitable. You're a public official, and it's easy for this to cause unnecessary misunderstandings."
Theoretically, this matter is almost over, but in reality, it's just a matter of time.
She can stay out of it; she doesn't like meddling in other people's business anyway.
But all Chinese people in Moscow share a common interest.
Today it could be Qiangqiang, tomorrow it could be Wang Xiao.
If there is any difference between the two, it is that her sheep is fatter.
Wang Xiao went to the restaurant.
It's not mealtime now, but the traders in the free market, who can't understand what people are saying elsewhere, gather at the restaurant after selling their goods to chat, drink some wine, and exchange market information.
Moscow is currently a seller's market; as much as you have, you can sell. There is little competitive pressure among Chinese merchants, so their relationships are generally quite good.
Before heading to the restaurant, Wang Xiao used a public phone to contact several wholesalers and resellers. By the time she arrived, it was basically New Year's Eve, and the Beijing Hotel was bustling with activity.
Almost everyone who came that day did.
"I'll make this short."
Wang Xiao briefly described her experience at the police station that day.
The black marketeers present were all terrified, and some even jumped up, exclaiming, "My God, they're heartless and rotten! How can the Moscow police be even more corrupt than our Chinese police?"
The Chinese officials just want money, but the Moscow police are after lives!
What kind of mortal enemy could force-feed someone heroin? It's enough to send chills down your spine.
Qiangqiang was lucky to run into President Wang, so at least he could find someone to speak on his behalf.
But if we hadn't met Mr. Wang, he couldn't even speak Russian properly, no matter how many mouths he had.
Look at the Russian policeman's arrogant attitude; he had no intention of giving him a chance to speak.
Damn it, those Russians are so poor they've gone crazy. It's clearly extortion.
Wang Xiao originally wanted to hear everyone finish cursing before speaking.
As a result, their insults escalated, and the topic veered towards the direction of a roast show.
The core idea is that before the collapse of the Soviet Union, at least the police still had some dignity. Now, that's completely gone; all they think about is how to extort people.
They originally thought all crows were black, but they never expected that this mountain was even blacker than that mountain.
Wang Xiao had to tap the table to remind everyone: "Let's get to the point. Qiangqiang's situation is just the beginning. If we don't handle this well, any one of us could end up like Qiangqiang!"
The people who were originally hurling insults at each other looked at each other blankly, their faces showing confusion. What else could they do? They weren't anyone to Qiangqiang.
Speaking of which, the earliest group of people who became traders in Moscow were government-sponsored students.
However, most of them work part-time, only able to trade goods in their spare time, and cannot be considered mainstream.
Nowadays, more than two-thirds of the middlemen and middlemen are those who are not doing well in China, and many of them are street urchins.
They're not that bad, but if there's a crackdown, they'll most likely be targeted.
Back in China, they had to avoid the police, let alone in Russia.
Still need to deal with it? How can we possibly deal with this?
Wang Xiao warned everyone: "If the police can successfully control Qiangqiang today, they can control any one of us at will tomorrow. People will be locked up in jail, and all their property will be confiscated. We'll end up losing both our money and our lives."
No one who is away from home, venturing into a foreign land, would be so naive as to shout, "Does the law still apply?"
It was the third sister who spoke on behalf of everyone: "Oh, Mr. Wang, just tell us straight, what should we do?"
Wang Xiao said seriously, "We need to let the Moscow police know that we Chinese are not to be trifled with. They'll have to think twice before targeting us again!"
Everyone fell silent; they knew perfectly well that they weren't actually of high status.
Don't be fooled by the fact that the Russians say they admire China's achievements in reform and opening up; in reality, they are still following the West.
To give a simple example, it's the same down jacket, worn on a train platform leading to Moscow to show it off to the Russians.
The clothes worn by Chinese people are priced like that.
If a European or American wore it, the price would increase by a thousand rubles, and it would still sell like hotcakes, with extremely fast turnover.
Several Swiss university students who had traveled to Beijing for tourism came to Moscow on the same train as them. By working as models for them for several days on the train, each of them earned 20,000 to 30,000 rubles.
That's enough to keep these students living it up in Moscow for a long time.
When setting up stalls in a free market, with foreigners and Russians sharing the market equally, the Chinese and Vietnamese are the most likely to be targeted by the police.
Hmph! In the end, the Russians still think that China and Vietnam are inferior to them.
Try replacing them with Western Europeans, and see if they still have the guts.
Following up on everyone's complaints, Wang Xiao continued, "Therefore, we must take a firm stance."
In this era of soaring prices and a depreciating ruble, expecting Moscow police officers, who struggle to support their families on their salaries, to be law-abiding and incorruptible is a pipe dream; even a god wouldn't dare to dream of it.
She certainly didn't expect the Moscow police force to be completely transformed.
You can contact whomever you want, just don't mess with us.
She wanted to make a big scene about this, so that the Moscow police would remember it and know that not everyone can be messed with.
In the absence of violent confrontation, the only thing that can rival tyranny is public opinion.
Simply put, the goal is to use the power of public opinion to force the Moscow police to back down.
To achieve this, we must first win the battle of public opinion.
Wang Xiao asked the traders present, "Who's close to Qiangqiang? How's he doing here?"
A young man with curly hair raised his hand: "Me, I came to Moscow with you, Qiangqiang."
Then he couldn't provide much useful information either.
Qiangqiang is a well-known honest man who doesn't like to play games. Every day, he diligently pulls his cart back and forth between the free market and his rented room.
Wang Xiao's eyes lit up immediately upon hearing this.
Because many traders live in hotels, they stick together and don't have much interaction with the locals in Moscow.
If Qiangqiang rents a place, it means he has close relationships with people in Muscovites.
When locals speak out, the effect is much better than when outsiders do.
Unfortunately, the curly-haired young man shook his head: "He doesn't associate with the landlord's family, so you can't say they have a good relationship."
Wang Xiao was not discouraged, but continued to ask, "What is the situation with his landlord's family?"
Nothing special, just ordinary Moscow families.
The matriarch of the family is the grandmother. She has a daughter, a grandson, and a granddaughter. Both children seem to be in high school.
"Their family isn't well-off, is that right?" Wang Xiao pressed.
Generally, families with this kind of structure are unwilling to take in single male tenants unless they urgently need money.
The curly-haired young man nodded: "Yes, the old lady's monthly pension is only about 300 rubles. Her daughter works at a museum, and her salary is even lower, only 280 rubles. It's a lot of pressure to support two children."
Wang Xiao clapped his hands: "Alright, Qiangqiang wants to buy a shop in Moscow and needs to hire people, right? We can have this old lady help out at the shop during the week, and her daughter can also help out part-time at the shop after she gets off work at the museum. The shop gets the most customers after get off work."
Those present looked at each other in bewilderment.
The curly-haired young man was still confused. Had Qiangqiang mentioned taking over the store? He had no recollection of it at all.
The person next to him gave him a hard elbow. "Idiot, listen to what I'm saying, understand? Don't just have a pig's brain."
Qiangqiang has already set up shop in Moscow. What does that mean? It means he wants to be a legitimate businessman, not some shady guerrilla.
What does opening a shop and hiring people mean? It means that he can tie the landlord's family to his boat, and they are all a community of interests.
How can people who are already strangers in a foreign country build a closer relationship? Of course, they have to rely on mutual benefits.
Interests are the most crucial bond that connects everyone.
Wang Xiao made a decision: "Let's go visit Qiangqiang's landlord."
————————
It's not that Akin deliberately smeared the Moscow police; similar tactics were quite common in Moscow in the 1990s.
At the time, Moscow was notoriously bad at business relations. Drug-related crimes were also a real problem in the Soviet Union. In the mid-to-late 1980s, Soviet media, including the renowned TASS news agency, reported on these issues.
It's not that various problems only emerged after the collapse of the Soviet Union; rather, these problems existed before the collapse. The collapse simply didn't solve the problems; instead, it exacerbated them.
In the words of Dr. Bogomonov, then director of the Russian Institute of Political Economy, during an interview with the deputy editor-in-chief of Wenhui Daily, "Here, economic destruction accelerated the disintegration of the Union, and the disintegration of the Union further aggravated economic destruction, leading to serious consequences such as economic crisis, production decline, and inflation..."
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