My girlfriend is from 1949

We are now in the Cold War era, and relations between the United States and the Soviet Union have reached a freezing point.

They also formed alliances, creating two opposing camps.

This is also why Big Brother is trying to win us over to fight against the West together.

Therefore, when the delegation requested that the crude oil be transported as soon as possible, the project was given the green light and shipped from the nearest location.

They also promised that as long as there were enough supplies, the exchange could continue.

This way, we can not only win over this little brother, but also solve the problem of insufficient light industrial products, which is killing two birds with one stone.

After all, in 1949, China's annual oil production was only 12 tons.

The older brother's oil production in the same year was 40 million tons.

Moreover, considering that China doesn't have many aircraft, tanks, or warships, the consumption is definitely not large.

Only then did he pat his chest and assure them that the supply would be absolutely unrestricted.

If Big Brother knew that the total annual oil production wasn't even one-tenth of what actual buyers import in a year, I wonder how embarrassed he would be?

The new China's plan was also very clear: all the oil it bought would be resold to the future world, and it would have enough to sustain itself with the two large oil fields it was developing, with a surplus for reserves!

The Daqing Oilfield alone is projected to produce 3000 million tons annually by 2025.

In the early stages of development, an annual output of 100 million tons is not difficult.

Three years later, production will easily exceed 400 million tons.

But the older brother is unaware of this, so he will continue to cooperate.

Why not take advantage of the freebies if you can keep getting them?

Victor, being a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Commerce, was naturally aware of this deal.

Therefore, the relationship between China and the Soviet Union was extremely friendly.

Exchanging small gifts is not a big deal.

Moreover, during this period, institutionalized privileges and the beginnings of "compensatory" corruption at the grassroots level had already emerged.

Overall, the situation is under control due to severe penalties, but potential risks are accumulating.

For these people, accepting gifts and seeking personal gain is commonplace.

Strive, strive

If the gift is something from China, such as expensive Moutai liquor, they will accept it without any hesitation.

However, since it originated in the West, I couldn't help but be a little more cautious.

Victor felt the expectant gazes of his subordinates and knew that refusing them would disappoint these trusted men.

As the saying goes, "a single tree cannot support a forest." If he becomes disloyal to his subordinates, even if he becomes the second-in-command of the Ministry of Commerce, he will be a figurehead with no real power.

Therefore, when making decisions, it is essential to consider the feelings of these subordinates.

Besides, he himself is not a clean person and has become accustomed to such things.

After a moment's thought, he smiled and said, "This is a token of our Chinese brothers' goodwill!"

He deliberately avoided mentioning the place of origin, instead emphasizing that it came from China.

That has nothing to do with the United States, but is an expression of sincerity from a brotherly country, which is hard to refuse.

Victor picked up the box, took out the watch, and examined it carefully.

I must say, this watch is very beautiful and stylish.

I fell in love with it at first sight.

However, to be fair, this watch would be considered an outdated retro style in modern times.

But wasn't the design style of the 1960s and 70s fashionable to people in 1949?

What surprised Victor even more was that the watch was made in Sweden.

Although Sweden is located in Central Europe and is considered a cultural hub of Europe, it is a member of the Western countries.

But it is just one of them, not the United States.

Moreover, even the British Empire, which was on par with the United States, was now engaged in trade with the Soviet Union.

The two sides did not sever economic and trade ties due to the Cold War.

The exchange and settlement of goods were maintained through bilateral agreements, barter trade, and third-party financial channels, with the Moscow People's Bank in London serving as the guarantor.

So as long as it's not something directly produced in the US, there shouldn't be a big problem in principle.

When the others saw their superior accept the gift, they quickly and happily put it away as well.

Due to the imbalance between supply and demand, national resources are tilted towards heavy industry, while investment in light industry accounts for a very low proportion.

It accounts for only 4% of the total investment in the national economy, resulting in a long-term shortage of consumer goods. Watches, as durable consumer goods, often need to be rationed.

Although everyone present already owns a watch, a watch with a unique design can still tempt them.

Moreover, watches are also collectibles.

Du Hengtai's lips curled up as he smiled and glanced around.

He took in everyone's reactions.

I deliberately confused the concepts just now, implying that the West was the US, just to see everyone's reaction.

Only then can we determine the true intentions and whether to continue the assessment.

Seeing everyone's reaction, he realized this loophole.

Once it's sent out through China, it has nothing to do with the United States.

In reality, under normal circumstances, how could a poor and backward China possibly have these things?

Moreover, there are various concerns, so even if there are, it cannot be sent.

So I never expected that I would be giving things to the United States.

Just like Ding Wei in the TV series "Bright Sword," he was in trouble because a paper would affect his relationship with his older brother.

But when the data from the future arrived, the situation changed.

Things that were impossible in the original trajectory can now be done.

Of course, it can't be done openly; it has to be done secretly.

This is why Du Hengtai came under the guise of seeking medical treatment and visiting friends, rather than accompanying the delegation.

It's about avoiding some sensitive issues.

Because the mission he was assigned to this time was very sensitive!

Victor accepted the gift, and his smile grew even brighter.

He's a sensible person; he knows when to pay the price for accepting gifts from others.

He asked, "Old friend, what mission have you come here for this time?"

Du Hengtai smiled and countered, "You know Coca-Cola, right?"

Victor nodded: "I know. They contacted me a few months ago to discuss entering our market! But how can we allow this kind of decadent capitalist beverage to enter the market? So I refused!"

Due to the Cold War, Coca-Cola was banned from import.

It was even dubbed a "decadent drink".

Although there are no explicit legal penalties, drinking it in public can raise political risks.

Victor frowned and pondered, "Old friend, you want to help the Americans...?"

"No, no, no, you've misunderstood!" Du Hengtai hurriedly waved his hand to prevent the other party from misunderstanding.

If this is mistakenly interpreted as an attempt to act as a go-between for the US, it could damage our relationship.

The other party has already said they rejected the Coca-Cola company's offer, and now they're acting as a go-between, which would hurt feelings.

To avoid any misunderstanding, Du Hengtai stated directly, "Our country has purchased a cola production line, which is currently undergoing intensive testing. Soon, we will be able to produce cola with the same flavor as that in the West. We want to do cola business with our big brother!"

To put it bluntly, we're here to do business!

Victor frowned, and said thoughtfully, "This matter... is not easy to handle!"

Du Hengtai lowered his voice and said, "There's a high-ranking commander who really likes drinking Coca-Cola. You could try talking to him; maybe you can even curry favor with him!"

Victor narrowed his eyes, eagerly pressing for an answer: "Who?!"