Chapter 69: Peanuts and melon seeds for sale at the front

'Peanuts and melon seeds for sale at the front, as well as various drinks!'

This is the first sentence all Northern Russians hear when they arrive at the Chelf market. They stare blankly at the Chinese man on the high platform shouting into a megaphone, not knowing what to say.

Of course, next to the Chinese man stood a very beautiful and charming Northern Russian girl. At this time, the Northern Russian girl was also holding a megaphone and speaking to the people below, just like the Chinese man. Everyone understood that the Northern Russian girl was translating for the Chinese man.

They were not transfixed by the beauty of the Russian girl, and it was not that they did not have a sense of beauty, but they really were not in the mood at that time. These Northern Russians had come from places like securities companies and the White House, because just an hour ago, several propaganda vehicles drove up Grosse Strasse, repeatedly broadcasting the radio broadcast that the Telfs market was a beacon of hope.

In normal times, such broadcasts would have been ignored, and they might even have been taken as a joke. But now, when all the North Russians were at their most desperate, such broadcasts became the sound of Buddha's words, the last straw they wanted to grasp in the depths of their hearts, even though they didn't understand why the Chelf Market would be their last hope.

Many Křižík residents are no strangers to the place of Cherv, because since the reform and opening up of China and the Soviet Union, commercial exchanges have been very frequent. Many Chinese businessmen have come to Křižík to do business, and the Chinese have a habit of clustering together. It is not known who took the lead. Anyway, over the years, Cherv has gradually developed into a Chinatown.

Due to political factors and many other reasons, in the eyes of most foreigners, China is synonymous with poverty, backwardness and barbarism. It is for this reason that the Chelf market is also the messiest and dirtiest place in the eyes of the people of Kriesko. Usually, except for some poor people who really have no other choice, no decent Kriesko people would ever set foot here. However, today, they are all here.

Isn't this the last hope? Why is there only one Chinese person shouting about selling peanuts and melon seeds?

This question popped up in the minds of all the North Russians. At this time, the Chinese man standing on the high platform seemed to be able to read their minds, and directly asked them back, 'Why am I selling peanuts, melon seeds, and eight-treasure porridge here? Don't ask me this question, I'm just a Chinese businessman. You have to ask yourselves, please think about it for yourselves, why did you come here?'

This question immediately confused everyone. It wasn't that the question was complicated or philosophical, but they themselves didn't understand.

Because these northern Russians had just followed the broadcast from the propaganda truck on Gorodskaya Street and followed the people in front of them, and they themselves did not understand why.

The Chinese man did not really expect them to answer, and he answered for them: 'It's very simple. It's because now the whole of Krisko, when your officials collude with Western capitalists to drive you to the wall, only I am your last hope!'

His words were like a bolt from the blue, and they suddenly woke everyone up.

All the North Russians nodded in unison, and it suddenly dawned on them: yes, they had come here looking for hope to continue living.

But now the question arose: how was this a place of hope?

At this point, the Chinese man spoke again: 'What exactly is hope? There is no standard answer to this question, but I believe that for you now, being able to eat and wear warm clothes is your hope. With me, you have everything you need! The reason why I am selling peanuts, melons and various drinks here in the front row is to prove to you stupid Northern Russians that I am not deceiving you!'

People are really cheap. If a Chinese person dared to speak to a Northern Russian like this in normal times, they definitely wouldn't be able to tolerate his hot temper. But now, when he says this, it only makes these Northern Russians more convinced.

The Chinese man took out a bottle of Coke while he was talking, and said to the Northern Russians below, 'I believe everyone is familiar with the Coke in my hand. Perhaps to you Northern men who drink vodka, this is just a sugary drink for women and children, but I'm afraid you can't even drink this sugary drink now. First, it's very expensive, and second, there are not many places selling it in the whole of Krisco.'

He then changed the subject sharply: 'But I have it here for sale, as much as you want! Not only cola, but also your favourite black bread and caviar. In the Cherniv market behind me, there are also many clothes, shoes and socks, as well as daily necessities that you can no longer find in other markets. There is nothing I don't have that you can't think of!'

These words shocked them, and the crowd below was in an uproar, because to these Northern Russians, who had become very desperate, this was the best piece of news.

But someone still reacted and asked him, 'So the things here are very expensive, right?'

This question immediately resonated with the others, because during this time, the prices in Krisco had skyrocketed. They were now so poor, and in addition to the devaluation of the ruble, it was largely due to the scarcity of these daily necessities. After all, only the scarcity of things will lead to rising prices, and rising prices naturally drive the continued devaluation of the ruble. It can be said that this is a vicious cycle.

So when there was a shortage of goods throughout Krisko, how could this sudden big business here not be expensive? You have to understand that during this period of time, there were quite a few cases of businesses hoarding goods.

But the Chinese man laughed at this, saying, 'Expensive? That depends on how you look at it. And what you hear is not as good as what you see. Just look at this bottle of Coke in my hand. If you want to buy it, it only costs 400 roubles!'

This comment made all the North Russians below him boil with excitement, not because the price was so high and outrageous, but because the price was really fair.

You have to understand that since the financial crisis and the devaluation of the rouble, the rouble has gone from being as strong as the US dollar to being worthless. In the past, the exchange rate between the rouble and the US dollar was one to one, or even a little higher for the rouble. But now, in the securities company, I'm afraid that 500 roubles may not be able to get one US dollar, because no one is optimistic about the rouble and no one wants to exchange it.

But now at the Cherniv market, you can buy a bottle of Coke for 400 roubles. Although it's just a bottle of Coke, it's a sign. At these prices, what about the other goods inside?

This idea made all the Northern Russians ecstatic, but the Chinese man's next sentence surprised everyone.

Because a Northern Russian suddenly asked, 'Doesn't that mean you can buy this bottle of Coke for just 80 cents? That's even lower than the price in the United States!'

The Chinese man said, 'My Russian friend, I think you seem to have misunderstood something. I said 400 roubles, not 80 cents.'

'What's the difference? Isn't the rouble to dollar exchange rate 500 now?'

Someone below said curiously. At this time, the Chinese man said, "The exchange rate is unreliable, and I don't believe in it either. I only believe in the money in my hands, so I can only trade in roubles here.'

'Why?" The Russian man below was very surprised, and many people asked out of turn.

Facing this question, Zhou Ming smiled and then asked something that made all the Northern Russians feel ashamed to death: 'Why? Isn't this North Russia? Isn't your official currency the ruble? So if I ask you to use rubles here, is there a problem?'

All the Northern Russians lowered their heads. They were ashamed to look at Zhou Ming, because they had all given up the ruble as Northern Russians, but this Chinese person was still insisting on using it. How could they not feel ashamed?

And while the Northern Russians were ashamed of their actions, bursts of laughter could be heard coming from the Cherv Market: 'Great, this Cherv Market is truly our hope for Northern Russia! I'm going to the securities company to buy rubles, and I'm going to come here and buy more things with them!'

These Northern Russians subconsciously looked up and looked in the direction the voice came from. They saw a few Northern Russians dragging a small trailer out of the market. When he saw the dark crowd of Northern Russians outside, he immediately panicked and said, 'Everything I have here is bought from the market inside. It's all very cheap, there's everything, and you can buy it for rubles. You can go in and buy it if you want!'

After saying this, the North Russian dragged his small trailer and ran out of the market, obviously afraid that he would be treated roughly. At a time when the ruble was depreciating wildly, there were quite a few such things.

However, his fear was not entirely unfounded, because the North Russians at the door all focused their attention on his small trailer.

Of course, this gaze was not a gaze of intent to take illegal measures, but the things on the trailer were the most scarce and wanted by everyone.

The trailer was not full of jewellery or diamonds, nor was it full of famous wines, paintings or other luxury goods. It was just full of the simplest and most common clothes, shoes and daily necessities, but these were exactly what all the Northern Russians wanted most. It can be said that the Soviet Union used to be a superpower on a par with the United States, but now its citizens have been reduced to a state where even the simplest daily necessities have become a luxury. It is hard not to say that this is ironic.

However, regardless of the situation, when this North Russian said this, it immediately ignited the enthusiasm of all North Russians. They let out a howl and immediately rushed into the Chelf market.

At this time, the Chinese man on the stage looked at the situation below and silently turned off the loudspeaker in his hand, saying, 'As long as we get through today, the Cherv Market will be the market with the greatest influence of Northern Russia, not only today, but also in the future.'

The beautiful Northern Russian woman next to him nodded firmly. The reason she believed so much was because the Chinese man's name was Zhou Ming.

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