That year the flowers bloomed 1981

Chapter 1341 Born at the Wrong Time
February 3rd was the eve of the Lunar New Year in the Xinwei year of the Chinese New Year. Since the first satellite TV station in China had not yet appeared, people could not watch the live Spring Festival Gala. However, this did not prevent Li Ye and his friends from putting on their own gala.

Then Li Ye was scolded by several of the older women in the inspection team.

"Li Ye, you absolutely have to put on a show tonight! You almost fooled me, and you even claimed you didn't understand art."

"Well, I really don't understand art."

"You don't understand art? Can't you breakdance? You're so young and you've already learned to lie?"

How did you know?

"How would I know? Someone in your unit gave feedback to the higher-ups, saying that you were neglecting your duties by teaching workers to dance during work hours. Do you think no one knew?"

"."

Upon hearing this, Li Ye immediately knew who was behind it; it could only be Niu Hongzhang.

So he could only awkwardly say, "We have guests coming today, it wouldn't be proper for me to go up there jumping around like that."

"Young people are full of energy, they're always jumping around! Besides, they're guests from the Industry Bureau, you're all familiar with them, what's there to be embarrassed about? You have to go today, or I'll go talk to your wife."

"."

Li Ye was truly helpless.

I don’t know when it started, but the “elder sisters” in various collectives in China have automatically gained a lot of say in these collective activities, and their style is very domineering. Their arrangements are like imperial edicts that cannot be opposed.

In fact, Li Ye didn't feel embarrassed about performing on stage; it was just that the news Zelyushinko brought him had put him in a low mood these past few days.

Despite widespread worker opposition, the restructuring of the Kamaz automobile plant was forcibly pushed forward. However, due to deliberate misleading propaganda by certain individuals, the Kamaz workers ultimately turned their anger towards the delegation led by Li Ye.
They believed that it was because of Li Ye and others' deception that they missed a good opportunity with British Cosh Company and failed to sell their shares at a good price.

After all, at the beginning, Zelyuchenko encouraged everyone to sell their shares to Kosh Company, but then suddenly supported cooperating with Li Ye's side. However, Li Ye's side "went back on his word" in the end. Zelyuchenko was caught in the middle, and Li Ye's side was even more of a loser.

You know, Sophia and the others are coming over to visit later, and Li Ye has to go on stage to dance for them. No wonder he's in a good mood!

But when Sophia arrived, everyone gave her a warm welcome. Even her young wife, Wen Leyu, was very close to her, and the two of them were as affectionate as best friends who had known each other for many years.

Because the contract between the delegation and the metal smelter had been formally drafted, the smelter had transferred its core technology and also provided a batch of materials, equipment and technical guidance. The whole project was practically a "sale and giveaway".

In this deal, Sophia played a crucial role. From a purely business perspective, Li Ye had to admit that Sophia truly gave him "what he wanted."

Therefore, in the eyes of Director Liang and others, Sofia was everyone's good friend, and as for the workers at the Kamaz automobile factory, outsiders really couldn't help them.

When Li Ye returned from the market, he confided this issue to Wen Leyu, who then asked him a very direct question.

[If this happened in China, would you allow a foreigner to interfere in your company's affairs?]

Yes! The Kamaz car factory belongs to them. They can do whatever they want with it. Is it any of your business, a Chinese person, to interfere?

You should mind your own business.

However, shortly after Sophia arrived, before she could even enjoy Li Ye's breakdancing, she quietly went aside for a private talk with Deputy Director Liang.

After a long while, Liang Furu, with a stern expression, summoned Li Ye and several engineers.

"Kamaz Automobile Plant has agreed to transfer a batch of technical data to us. You will now accompany the comrades from the Industry Bureau to transport the data and equipment to the storage warehouse for the cooperative project at the metal smelter."

"Now?"

Li Ye was surprised. "It's New Year's Eve! You still want us to work overtime?"

But the others had no objections and immediately accepted the mission, so Li Ye had no choice but to set off as well.

It was already dark outside. The group arrived at the Kamaz automobile factory in complete darkness. Seeing the eerily quiet surroundings, they couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.

[Are they here to transfer technology, or to steal something?]

Because the scene was just too bizarre.

Shouldn't the handover of such a collaborative project be accompanied by a grand celebration with drums and colorful flags, and the leaders of both sides shaking hands warmly and taking photos together?
Why does it seem like the scene is under special lockdown?

But when everyone saw the factory director, Sumonkov, and tons of blueprints, already bundled and loaded onto the trucks, like beautiful, alluring girls waiting for you to choose them, all their worries and doubts vanished. The girls have come to you, all clean and dressed in veils, and you're trying to play the virtuous gentleman?

Let's do it first and then talk about it.

Sofia glanced at Sumonkov and said calmly, "Are the technical data for the gearbox and multi-axle drive technology included?"

Sumonkov replied respectfully, "They're already inside, in cars number four and six."

Sophia waved to Li Ye's group: "You can drive off now."

"."

What else is there to say? It would be impolite to refuse, so I can only accept it with a smile!

The delegation hadn't expected so much data and mold equipment, so they didn't have enough truck drivers to accompany them, and Li Ye had to fill in as a truck driver.

Then, Sophia got into Li Ye's car.

Li Ye was somewhat surprised, but he didn't say anything. He simply followed the car in front of him towards the cooperative warehouse of the Tula Metal Smelting Plant.
But after a moment of silence, Sofia asked Li Ye, "Have you seen Zelyushinko recently?"

Li Ye turned to look at her and calmly asked, "How do you know I've seen him? You're not spying on me, are you?"

What Li Ye actually wanted to ask was, "Are you a secret agent?" After all, Sumonkov's attitude towards her just now didn't seem like that of an official from the Industrial Bureau.

"Ha~"

Sofia smiled and said, "I'm your wife's good friend, why would I spy on you? Don't doubt me."

Of course I'd suspect you!

Li Ye said calmly, "I have indeed met Zeliu Shenko. Do you have any advice for me?"

"Li, you are really smart."

Sofia praised Li Ye and then said, "Zellyushinko may have said some bad things about me to you, but I have now proven my sincerity with my actions, so you should understand now who you are on your side, right?"

Should I stand with you?

Li Ye suddenly felt a sense of bewilderment.

He came here to buy low and get a bargain, and now Sophia has helped him get what he wanted.
As for the workers who suffer, should they take responsibility for it themselves?

Li Ye sighed and said helplessly, "After these technical documents are transferred to us, how much of the supplies we pay for will actually reach the workers?"

Sophia watched Li Ye quietly, as focused as an artist admiring a masterpiece.

Li Ye remained unmoved by her eyes, which shone brightly even in the darkness, and continued driving steadily forward.

After a long silence, Sofia said calmly, "Li, you are a true communist fighter, but unfortunately, like a Chinese idiom says, you were born in the wrong era."

"Hehe~, are you talking about being born at the wrong time?"

"Yes, it's just bad timing. Li, you're really smart!"

"."

Li Ye suddenly laughed.

He felt that Sofia was clearly mocking him for "wanting both ways."

"Sophia, you're right. I was indeed born in the wrong era."

Li Ye felt relieved.

He was born in a harmonious and stable era decades later, and the society shaped him into a way of thinking different from that of today. This way of thinking made Wen Leyu and his classmates feel very kind and comfortable.

However, when he was in the chaotic environment of Sue's collapse, he lacked a bit of "ruthlessness".

(End of this chapter)