Chapter 67: Who can save Northern Russia?

Cherv is a famous market in Krisko, the capital of the North Russian Republic. Anyone who has lived in Krisko for more than a month knows about it. Not only is it the most famous Chinatown in Krisko, it also has a different architectural and decorative style from the rest of North Russia. More importantly, it is the largest commodity distribution market in the whole of Krisko, supporting the city's trade.

However, on 15 August 2012, a team of North Russian law enforcement vehicles drove here and forcibly shut down the Chinatown.

'Due to a temporary health inspection, the Chelf Market needs to be temporarily closed. We hope that the majority of businesses will end their business immediately and cooperate with the relevant departments in their law enforcement inspections.'

The law enforcement vehicles from Northern Russia drove into the market with swagger, and the broadcast on the roof of the car kept repeating the shouts. As the broadcast played, one by one the Chinese merchants also walked out of their shops. They looked at these Northern Russian law enforcement officers with confusion, and asked, 'Comrade Director, you must be mistaken, right? Our market didn't just have a health inspection last month, and everything met the standards? Why do you want to close it down for a special inspection now?'

In response to the Chinese merchants' questions, the director of the market department replied disdainfully: 'Who told you that you had passed the inspection? I say that if you have not passed the inspection, then you have not passed it. I say that if I want to close the inspection, then I will close it. Now I give you one hour to close down and finish your business, otherwise we will have to take coercive measures.'

From his words, all the Chinese businessmen heard the problem. The chairman of the leading chamber of commerce said, 'I'm sorry, but this is a regular place of business. You can't just ask us to stop business. This is not in accordance with the regulations. I need to communicate with your superiors.'

The director looked at him with a smile, saying, 'It seems that you are not prepared to cooperate with our law enforcement. Then don't blame me for being rude. I will take coercive action.'

After saying this, he waved his hand at the director, and the law enforcement officers from Northern Russia who had followed him immediately charged up angrily, each one holding a seal and about to seal the shop's door. But these Chinese businessmen would never let them seal up the shop like this, as it was their livelihood. So naturally they had to resist. The director spoke again when he saw that they were resisting: 'How dare you resist violently? Then don't blame me for ordering you all to be detained.'

The chairman of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, who was leading the way, also said with righteous indignation: 'We are not resisting the law violently, it's just that there are problems with your law enforcement methods and reasons. We need an explanation!'

'Explain what? Let me tell you, my words are the explanation. I said it will be sealed today, and if you dare to block again, you will all be arrested and detained!'

The words of the director made the chairman of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce understand that the senior management of Northern Russia had deliberately done this today, with the aim of using administrative means to shut down the market and then give it to the Northern Russians.

Once they understood this, the Chinese businessmen were afraid to move, because these Northern Russians were clearly bullying them. What was there to resist? Isn't this what happens when you're in a foreign land? All the Chinese businessmen were at a loss. They were even more unwilling to accept that the shops they had worked so hard to set up over the past few years, and the market they had built up, would be forcibly closed down for no reason.

But there was nothing they could do. Were they really going to just stand by and watch these despicable Northern Russian officials close down the market like that?

Just as all the Chinese merchants were thinking this, suddenly a lot of cars drove up from a distance. The sound of the roaring engines attracted attention, and the cars drove unstoppably into the market, stopping in front of the North Russian law enforcement officers and Chinese merchants.

An old man about sixty years old got out of the car and shouted into a loudspeaker at all the North Russian law enforcement officers, 'I am Konon from the securities union, and I demand that you immediately stop this illegal closure of the Cherv market!'

Behind this old man, others also got out of the car one after the other. These people were all North Russians, and they all had one thing in common: they were all over 40 years old, and they all stood firmly in front of the Chinese businessmen. One after the other, they said to the North Russian law enforcement officers, 'This Cherv Market must not be closed! You law enforcement bureau scum, get out of here quickly!'

Seeing so many elderly Northern Russians, the law enforcement chief was confused. He had no idea why so many elderly Northern Russians had come, and even less why they were blocking the way between him and the Chinese merchants.

'What are you doing? We are here by order of our superiors to close the market because the hygiene standards here are not up to scratch. Are you trying to help the Chinese merchants? This is violent resistance to the law!'

Before the head of law enforcement could finish his sentence, Konong immediately said, 'What substandard hygiene? I, Konong, have been buying things here all my life, and I have never felt any hygiene problems here. On the contrary, in those markets you have set up, I see filth and disorder everywhere. This place cannot be closed, and we are not allowed to close it!'

Konong became increasingly agitated, and finally roared, and under his leadership, the others also raised their arms and shouted at the law enforcement officers, so much so that these officers were afraid to make any sudden movements.

Seeing that the situation had come to a standstill, the chairman of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce immediately went over and shook Konong's hand, saying, 'Thank you very much, Mr. Konong, for your help. If it weren't for you...'

Before he could finish his sentence, Konon interrupted him, saying, 'When it comes to gratitude, it is we Northern Russians who should be thanking you Chinese businessmen. This Chelf market is not just a market for you Chinese businessmen, it is also a memory for all of us Northern Russians. If it weren't for you Chinese businessmen and this Chelf market, I believe that we Krieskers and even the entire Northern Russia would not be as happy as we are today!'

Konong's words stunned everyone. All the Chinese merchants looked at him in awe. He was very moved and said, 'No matter how old I get, I will always remember that it was you Chinese merchants who changed and saved us North Russians 23 years ago on this very day!'

Not only Konong, but after he finished speaking, the other North Russians who had followed him also said, 'Yes, it's not you who should thank me, but we North Russians who should thank you. This Cherniv Market is also a precious asset that we must protect!'

Amidst the commotion, Konon looked up at the sky, and his thoughts turned back to that year, to the things that he would never forget...

Rewind to 12 June 1989. The ruble sell-off had been going on for nearly a week, and the value of the ruble had fallen by more than 50% compared to a week earlier. The whole of Krško was in a panic.

Konon walked aimlessly down Glazovskaya Street, which had once been the busiest street in Krisko. Although many North Russians had since taken to the streets to sell their belongings, the street still managed to look prosperous, despite the chaos and traffic jams. But now, it was a hellish mess.

On both sides of the street, there are many North Russians walking or sitting. Some are crying with their faces covered, while others are blankly staring with faces ashen, looking completely lost and without confidence in the future.

'Why is this happening? What use is the North Russian ruble now? In just a few days, it is no better than waste paper. I can't even pay the rent now. Even if I sell everything in my house, I still can't afford even a piece of black bread. Why? Is God forcing us to a dead end, so that we can offer our souls to the devil?

Konon heard this murmur, but he did not turn to look at him. This was just an ordinary man among the many people on Gorlitzer Strasse.

Opposite Konon, there was a couple, the woman was crying in the man's arms, 'I beg you, sell me, even for a dollar! I can't really live in this Kriesko, I don't want to sleep on the street with you every day, I just want a house, I just want to eat hot meals every day, but these things are simply not available in North Russia!'

This made Konon feel extremely sad. How had women in his country become so cheap?

But one thing that made Konon feel relieved was that his wife had not yet demanded that he sell her for a dollar. He could still eat black bread, and sometimes even add a glass of vodka.

But that was all there was, a kind of bitter joy, because he had only just agreed to help Mr. Ilbedov manage his money. His supervisor had given him a large sum of money, still in strong US dollars, so that he would not end up like these people. But Konon also understood that this was the difference between laughing at one, two, and three.

According to the situation that day, if the Chinese man changed his mind, he would immediately be unable to survive.

This situation made Konon feel desperate from the bottom of his heart. He couldn't understand how this otherwise fine country had become like this.

Konon was born after the war had ended. Since his birth, he had always known that he was a citizen of a world superpower, and that he had a fairly high status in the world. Despite the recent economic problems in the country, this country was comparable to the United States, and it would be able to overcome the difficulties no matter what. He just had to endure a little.

But now more than a month has passed, and the situation in the country is getting worse and worse. The ruble is depreciating every day, but no one believes that it can still buy anything. Everyone would rather believe that it is toilet paper for wiping their bottoms.

Both Western countries and the Chinese can do whatever they like in Krisko, but they alone cannot make ends meet. Even a piece of black bread has become priceless. Everyone in Krisko has become a walking corpse. Konon really wants to ask, at this point in time, who can actually save Northern Russia?

Just then, a broadcast caught Konon's attention.

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