That year the flowers bloomed 1981

Chapter 1324 What is she after?

"Sofia, are you still in contact with that Sergei? If you are, I'll invite him out for a good drink sometime, and then I'll have a good talk with him. Back in school, he always looked down on us, saying that our China was a second-rate country."

Sofia's high praise for China made her old classmate Sun Xianjin very happy. He then became somewhat carried away and asked Sofia to help him find people to avenge the humiliation of the past.

Looking at Sun Xianjin's somewhat excited eyes, Li Ye could understand the hardships he had endured when he came to Moscow to study. After all, Sun Xianjin was not a big guy, and his country was not strong, so it was normal for him to be looked down upon.

However, Sun Xianjin had a fierce "if you're not convinced, fight" spirit, and his small fists were surprisingly powerful, which is why he wasn't bullied into becoming an outsider and even made friends with people like Sofia and Seryozha.

If you were to be humble and polite to them in such a harsh and cold place, you would be making a mess of things!

After listening to Sun Xianjin's words, Sofia said calmly, "Sergei went to Eastern Europe after graduation and has been out of contact for nearly half a year. I heard from some friends who returned from Eastern Europe that his situation was not very good six months ago."

Sun Xianjin paused, then said worriedly, "Oh, that's really terrible. That guy isn't a bad person, he just has a foul mouth."

"Hehehe, Sun, you're still so kind. If it were me, I'd open a bottle of red wine to celebrate."

"No, no, I'll teach you a Chinese idiom—'to gloat over someone's misfortune,' which means to feel very comfortable when others are in trouble."

"Oh? Isn't what you're saying quite right? I feel good when I see people I dislike suffer."

"Oh dear, Sophia, that's not how it works."

"."

Seeing his two old classmates chattering on and on, Li Ye almost said to Sun Xianjin, "We're going to see Bian Jingjing today! What nonsense are you spouting?"

But Li Ye still politely said, "Ms. Sophia, you just said that we solved your urgent problem. Is the matter of the Kamaz car factory really that urgent? If so, can we discuss it?"

"."

Sun Xianjin and Sophia, who were having a lively conversation, both looked at Li Ye, and Sun Xianjin even exchanged meaningful glances with Li Ye.

Li Ye understood that it would be impolite for him to interrupt the two people who were having a pleasant conversation, especially since he had directly asked Kamaz Automobile Factory what problems they had.

That day, Li Ye said he was interested in Kamas, and Kamas immediately agreed to a visit and inspection. Coincidentally, Kamas also had an acquisition of shares, and now you say it's an urgent matter.
So Li Ye's question was practically a direct challenge to Sofia, asking, "How exactly do you intend to use us?"

But after staring at Li Ye for a while, Sophia suddenly said very seriously, "Actually, you can call me Comrade Sophia. Like you and Sun, I am also worried and anxious about the predicament of our country."
As you may have learned when you visited the Kamaz automobile factory, someone is buying up the shares held by the workers. And I can tell you, the British are the ones behind it all.
You may not know the history between the British and us Slavs, but let me put it this way: he's a troublemaker; wherever they appear, there is suffering.”

"So, my friends, for our class brothers, for those workers who are anxiously waiting for hope in the cold, dark night, I hope you can give them a little warmth, even if it's just a kind promise, it can help them get through this cold winter."

"."

As Li Ye listened to Sun Xianjin's poetic translation, he couldn't help but slightly raise his head and look at the ceiling of Sofia's living room.

Looking at the luxurious decorations on the ceiling, listening to the emotional words spoken by Sofia, and then thinking about the apathetic workers he saw at the Kamaz car factory today, Li Ye suddenly felt a wave of irony.

Class brothers?

If we can only share hardship and not wealth, are we still brothers?

But just as Li Ye sensed the irony, Sophia suddenly asked, "Don't you find it ironic? I'm living in the most luxurious room, yet I'm telling you about the workers' suffering?"

"."

Now it was Li Ye's turn to be embarrassed. He spoke to Sophia in an unconventional way, and she did the same in an unpredictable manner.

Fortunately, Sophia didn't insist on waiting for Li Ye's answer. Instead, she thoughtfully explained, "This building belonged to a marshal a few months ago. I moved here because it's safe enough."

"Safe enough?"

Sun Xianjin asked in surprise, "Sophia, are you in danger?" Sophia replied calmly, "In such complicated and chaotic times, there are always some people who want to seek their own selfish interests. I'm in their way, so of course I'm in some danger."
"But don't worry, this danger won't affect you. China is now the most powerful force in the Red camp. No matter how arrogant they are, they won't dare do anything to you. So you can cooperate with Kamas without worry."

"I'm not afraid of danger, I'm just worried about you."

"Oh, Sun, don't assume I'm weak just because I'm a woman."

"."

Sun Xianjin paused for a moment, then said with concern, "I just want to say that you must be careful about your safety."

Sofia smiled and then took out a list.

"This is some information I've compiled regarding the Kamaz car factory; it should be helpful to you."

Li Ye and Sun Xianjin exchanged a glance and took the list.

Then the two were surprised to find that the list included "high-value technologies" from the Kamaz automobile plant, as well as a list of personnel.

For example, the transmission used in Kamaz cars is based on technology from a world-renowned company in West Germany, and its technology is among the world's best. Kamaz's multi-axle drive technology also has two versions, high and low. If Li Ye and others hadn't been careful and had introduced the older version, they would have suffered a huge loss.

The names on those lists were marked with labels, such as the factory director Lomonkov and some worker representatives being "red faction" while others were "capitalist faction" bought off by Kosh Company.

What Li Ye envied even more were certain "technical managers." In Li Ye's eyes, as the factory director in charge of technology and operations, these were treasures even more precious than the technology itself.

But if selling technology can be explained by "starving to death," what is the point of highlighting these technical leaders separately?

Li Ye couldn't help but ask, "Comrade Sophia, why are you giving us these things?"

"Because of your sincerity, the Kamaz automobile plant was one of the important tasks I received. I had to stop the capitalist group from maliciously acquiring our state-owned assets without violating existing policies. When I received this task, I had no idea where to start, but at that moment, you appeared like saviors."

Sofia said frankly, "I know what you need is technology, not our factory, so helping you is helping myself. And since you've helped me, I naturally want you to get real benefits. Moreover, I believe we will be the most steadfast partners for a long time to come, so we have a long road ahead of us."

"."

It must be said that Sofia has a good talent for languages; she used these idioms quite well.

But Li Ye felt something was off.

Is she a guide for foreigners? It doesn't seem like it! Are there any guides who aren't greedy for money?

If this list of personnel is genuine, it will be of great use to the Chinese delegation. Li Ye and others can then target "red" factions for negotiations while remaining wary of those "capitalists" who are close to the West.

But what benefits does Sofia get?

What is she planning?

Is it really about "helping our class brothers in distress"?

After the two left Sophia's residence, Li Ye asked Sun Xianjin, "Xianjin, how much of the truth do you think Sophia told today? How much of it was a lie?"

Sun Xianjin also became extremely calm at this moment. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I can't tell, but with her insight, she should be able to see their current situation. Joining forces with our China is a safe way out."

Li Ye took a breath and asked again, "Sir, if we put ourselves in her shoes and follow the customs of our country, what exactly is her intention?"

Sun Xianjin thought for a moment and said helplessly, "She must be caught up in factional infighting. Her attempt to use us is like inviting trouble, using one enemy to devour another. It's not a free lunch."

(End of this chapter)