Chapter 83: Old rubles are still accepted

'Old rubles are still accepted at the Chernivsk Market! Old rubles can still be used to buy Chinese goods at the Chernivsk Market!'

These short, clear words were broadcast over the loudspeaker in the market, and they made everyone who heard them widen their eyes.

Everyone in the Griboedov Street market looked at each other in disbelief. They had just heard the radio announce that the President had issued an order to abolish the old ruble, and now the market was advertising that it would continue to accept the old ruble. Were the Chinese crazy? Wouldn't this mean giving away goods for free?

'Whether this is true or not, I have to go and check it out. I can't let these useless old rubles pile up in my hands. I need to buy my grandson a new coat!'

Suddenly someone shouted, and it was the same old woman from the North who had just sold the cans. She packed up her stall and ran towards the Cherv market, but in fact she hadn't brought anything with her today, so she quickly finished packing up and left.

Seeing that the old woman had taken the lead, the others reacted, and someone else said, 'Yes, since the Cherniv Market has advertised this, whether it's true or not we have to go and have a look, otherwise all these old rubles we have will really become worthless paper. It's better to exchange them for something tangible while they're still usable, and right now the only people in the whole of Krivoi Rog selling anything are the Chinese at the Cherniv Market!'

Led by these people, many people followed them to the Cherniv Market, and when they arrived, the Cherniv Market was already full of people.

The old woman from Northern Russia stood in the doorway for a while, and then immediately grabbed a passer-by and asked him, 'Can I really buy things here with old rubles? I thought they were going to be abolished?'

'Of course you can buy things here with old rubles. I just bought something. Don't hold me back, I have to go back and tell my friends,'

The man left immediately after saying this to the old woman. The old woman from Northern Russia looked at his departing back, as if she still couldn't quite believe it. But just then, the voice of the broadcast with its echo sounded again. She looked over in confusion and saw that there was a stage set up at the entrance to the market, and a few Chinese people were standing on it, saying something to the crowd below.

These Chinese people were naturally Zhou Ming, Li Chengtonghua and their interpreter, Katerina.

Zhou Ming stood on the stage, took a megaphone and shouted down to the crowd: 'Hello, friends from Northern Russia, I am Zhou Ming. Many of you may have heard of me, I am the Chinese businessman who shipped 10,000 tons of daily necessities to the Cherv market to sell.'

At this point, someone immediately shouted from below, 'Of course I know you, but now the president has issued an order to abolish the old ruble, but you say that the old ruble can still be used to buy things here, right?'

'Of course it can!' Zhou Ming replied loudly.

The crowd below suddenly erupted into an uproar, and everyone had an expression of surprise and disbelief. Everyone was discussing why Zhou Ming would do this. Obviously, the old ruble is no longer useful, so why is it still used here? Their discussion was doomed to be fruitless.

At this time, Zhou Ming spoke again from the stage. He first made a gesture to ask everyone to be quiet. After the crowd below quietened down, Zhou Ming continued, 'Superpower, what a resounding name. There was a time when all of you were the envy of the world, because you were all masters of a superpower. You dominated everything in this country. You created the prosperity of this country with your own hands. You are the proudest people in the world!'

Zhou Ming's words attracted everyone's attention, but the following Northern Russians all recalled their former pride and glory because of Zhou Ming's words.

However, Zhou Ming then changed the subject and continued, 'But now, as some people have given up their original beliefs, this country has become worse and worse. Even the rubles you used to use are about to be abolished. This is a betrayal, a betrayal of your country and nation!'

Zhou Ming raised his fist and shouted to the crowd below, and the Northern Russians below followed Zhou Ming and shouted loudly together.

After arousing the emotions of these Northern Russians, Zhou Ming changed the subject again and said, 'Although some people have betrayed you, we are still here and we will help you!'

'You may have forgotten, but we haven't. Once upon a time, we were all in the same red camp. Once upon a time, you supported the construction of our motherland. So now we're back. In your hour of greatest need, when your leaders have all abandoned you, we have not left. We are still proving with our actions that we Chinese people all have a conscience!'

Zhou Ming paused for a moment after finishing speaking, and then continued, 'I know you will doubt our motives, but that doesn't matter, because true gold fears no fire. As long as we have a clear conscience, as long as we do what we say, and as long as we are sincere with you, there is nothing to fear!'

Zhou Ming's words shocked all the Northern Russians below. They really didn't expect it to be like this. Someone cried out on the spot, 'Chinese people, you are our eternal friends and our greatest benefactors. We cannot forget your kindness!'

The excitement of these Northern Russians was understandable, because they had just heard the broadcast that had been playing throughout the entire time, saying that the old ruble would be invalidated. This news had simply made every Northern Russian despair, because despite the depreciation of the ruble before, it was still the domestic currency, and every household would have some. But now, with an order to invalidate it, how could they not feel despair?

But now, they suddenly heard Zhou Ming say that they would support the old ruble. How could they not feel a glimmer of hope?

In their eyes, Zhou Ming and the Chinese at this market in Chernivtsi were their saviours from Northern Russia, here to save them. Naturally, they were excited at this emotional transition from extreme sadness to extreme happiness.

Facing the excited crowd below, Zhou Ming finally said, 'If everyone trusts me, then please take your old rubles and go into the market and buy what you need!'

Zhou Ming's words were like the sound of a starting gun, causing everyone to rush into the market at once.

Seeing this scene, Zhou Ming also let out a sigh of relief. He looked in the direction of the Kremlin, and naturally the news had also reached there by this time.

'Mr. President, there's trouble! There's been new movement in the Cherniv Market!'

Kasia, the director of the president's office, hurriedly ran into Nikolajevich's office to report the news to him. After listening to Kasia's report, Nikolajevich was stunned for the first time, obviously a little unable to believe it. He even subconsciously glanced at his desk. If it weren't for the order he had just signed today, he would really doubt whether he had really issued an order to force the issuance of the new ruble.

But since he had already issued an order saying that the old ruble was invalid, what did the Chinese want with the old ruble? Could it be that they still think that holding those invalid old rubles can threaten Northern Russia?

If it were anyone else, Nikolayevich would really think that the other person must be out of their mind, but this person is that Zhou Ming, and Nikolayevich can't think that way. From the contact over this period of time, Zhou Ming is a very capable person, especially his way of thinking, which always surprises everyone. Even Mr. Meta, who presided over the Dota project, didn't he suffer at his hands?

It is precisely for this reason that Nikolajevich wonders if Zhou Ming is doing this for ulterior motives, if he is planning something again.

But the key to the problem now is that the old ruble has been abolished, and he himself has also placed restrictions on the exchange of the new ruble. Without breaking this restriction, Zhou Ming, even if he has supernatural abilities, cannot turn decay into magic!

After much thought, Nikolajevich can only ask his chief of staff exasperatedly, 'Old man, where did you get your information?'

Kasyan, of course, understood the intention behind Nikolaevich's question, and he replied, 'Mr President, as long as we walk out of the Mulin Palace, we can hear the propaganda vehicles sent by the Chinese broadcasting back and forth on Gele Street. Many people have also gone to the Cherv Market to do some last-minute shopping, just to spend the old rubles they have.

'According to the Chelf Market Law Enforcement Bureau, the flow of people at Chelf Market is expected to exceed 30,000 today alone. The security situation there is very serious, and the city has been asked to deploy additional personnel,' said Kasia. 'Not only are these people going to Chelf Market to spend their old rubles, but many of them have even set up stalls right outside the market entrance, and they use old rubles for their transactions as well.'

Kasia glanced at Nikolic warily before saying, 'From these circumstances, there is no doubt that the Cherv Market is trading in old rubles.'

Nikolic frowned immediately after hearing this: 'What are these Chinese people trying to do? Do they think that by using old rubles, they can replace the new rubles that the North Russian government has forced them to change?'

Kasia had no answer to Nikolaevich's question, and didn't know how to answer it. But at that moment, the office door suddenly opened, and Nikolaevich's communications secretary rushed in to report to him: 'Mr. President, there's a phone call for you. It's from Mr. Maita. He says it's very important, and it's about the Cherv Market. He insists on speaking to you.'

Nikolaevich immediately made a decision and instructed his secretary: 'Connect the call immediately.'

The secretary nodded and hurriedly ran out. Nikolaevich sat back in his office chair. In a moment, the phone on his desk rang. He picked it up and connected it. After listening for a moment, he immediately stood up in surprise and said, 'What? Mr. Maita, is what you said true? If that's the case, that's going to be a problem!'

Looking at Nikolic's surprised expression, Kasia, who was still there, suddenly widened her eyes. He knew it must be about the Chinese continuing to trade in old roubles, but what method had they come up with?