Chapter 92: Don't believe it? Follow me

'Hey, weren't you going to tell us about the old ruble? Why is there no news afterwards? Are you mugging us here?'

Under the raised platform, the crowd gathered below were becoming dissatisfied with Konon's silence. Someone shouted a question at Konon on stage. Konon looked at the crowd below and could see their impatience and annoyance. Konon was very anxious. He wanted to say something, but when he opened his mouth, he couldn't say a single word, as if he had never had the talent or skill to speak.

'Are you going to speak or not? If not, get the hell out of here and stop wasting our time! Assholes like you should be thrown into the river to feed the fish!'

Someone yelled from below, and the words stabbed Konon's heart like knives. For some reason, he suddenly remembered how Zhou Ming had spoken to him yesterday, and the painful expression on his sister's face when she followed that foreign peddler onto the boat.

Mr. Zhou Ming trusted me so much that he put such an important matter in my hands. And what he did was that of a great hero and saviour. I, a real bastard, absolutely cannot let down the trust of such a person! And my sister, she had to go abroad because she couldn't live in this damned country. She knew very well that life would be even more miserable after she went abroad, but at least she might have a way out!

Konon, Konon, didn't you swear in front of Mr. Zhou Ming yesterday that you would do a good job? Didn't you say that you must help your fellow countrymen? Why can't you say anything now? You mustn't be so useless!

Konon shouted in his heart, remembering the way Mr. Zhou Ming had inspired him when they met yesterday. This gave Konon unlimited confidence. He took the megaphone and put it to his mouth, saying, 'I do want to tell you about the old ruble, because the old ruble can still be used.'

On hearing Konon's first words, Zhou Ming also spoke again from the Volga car opposite the high platform: 'Okay, let's go back to the Chelf market first.'

Tong Hua felt a little surprised: 'Mr Zhou Ming, why is that? Do you think this Konon is no good and we need to replace him?'

'On the contrary, I think Mr. Kernon is fine,' Zhou Ming explained to Tong Hua, "because at the beginning he was just a little nervous because he had no experience speaking in front of so many people. But as long as he spoke, no matter what he said, the point is that he finally spoke. Once you break through this barrier, things will go smoothly afterwards, so we don't need to keep watching here.'

Tong Hua was dumbfounded by Zhou Ming's explanation: "Mr. Zhou Ming, is this really okay?'

'What's not to like? As you said before, if this Mr. Kernon doesn't work out, we can just replace him, right?' Zhou Ming asked in return, 'And more importantly, there's a lot of work for us to do, so there's no point wasting time on this. Since someone can do it, then we have to trust them, whether they can do a good job or not. Otherwise, worrying about this and worrying about that will only result in not being able to do anything well, and we'll just get tired ourselves.'

Facing Zhou Ming's explanation, Tong Hua fell silent. Zhou Ming's words were not profound truths, but they were simple truths that anyone could say, and yet not everyone could do them. However, those who could do them were all great people.

Zhou Ming smiled and told the driver in front to start the car and drive back to the Chelf market. At that moment, there was a burst of laughter from the high platform over there.

'You say that old rubles are still usable? Are you sleep-deprived or have you drunk too much river water and your brain is confused? These days, the radio in the streets and alleys has been broadcasting the news that old rubles are completely invalid, and even banks have stopped recycling old rubles. The law enforcement bureau has also stipulated that anyone who uses old rubles indiscriminately will be detained.'

'Okay, since you say it works with old rubles, let's use it at your place. I see that the clothes on your back are not bad, so I'll buy them all with old rubles, and you can go home wearing the old rubles I gave you!'

As he listened to the jeers and taunts from the audience, the originally anxious and nervous Konon, on the contrary, calmed down. He was not without anger or dissatisfaction, but he felt even more that these people were so miserable. Everyone was obviously being oppressed by the government, but they were not motivated to improve their situation. Instead, they were laughing at each other. Could this make their lives any better?

It was clear that the old rubles could still be used and were their last hope, but now someone had placed this hope in front of them, and yet they were still laughing at it? Why?

Konon is not a psychologist, so naturally he cannot answer this question. However, he is very grateful that he met Mr Zhou Ming, because if he had not met Mr Zhou Ming, then he would have been one of these ignorant people.

With this thought in mind, Konon looked at the crowd below and said, 'Do you all think this is funny? In fact, if I heard it for the first time, I would find it funny too, but unfortunately what I said is the truth, because at the Chelf Market, you can still use the old ruble.'

If Konon had just shouted in disbelief, it would have only provoked even more ridicule and booing, but Konon's calm words made everyone in the audience look at each other, and they were a little at a loss, not knowing whether to believe it or not.

'I know about the Cherv Market. It's where the Chinese merchants are. Those Chinese merchants are greedy and stingy, so how could they allow the use of old rubles...'

Someone in the audience questioned this, but before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by a furious Konon: 'Fuck you! You son of a bitch, shut the fuck up and listen to me! These Chinese people are very cultured and caring people. This nation is hardworking, brave and responsible, and is completely different from the shit in the Kremlin!'

Everyone present was stunned. No one expected that Konon would suddenly burst out with such foul language. No one reacted immediately. No one spoke. They just looked up at Konon, who was raging on the platform.

It was normal for Konon to react this way. After all, Zhou Ming had given him such a shock yesterday. He admired Zhou Ming so much, so how could he allow these people to question and even abuse his life idol like this?

Then Konon calmed down a little before saying, 'I know you don't believe me, because the Kremlin has already announced the abolition of the old ruble. But isn't this precisely a reflection of the sincere feelings that the Chinese have for our Northern Russia? But the filth in your heads makes you not believe it, and you even insult them. I really feel sorry for the Chinese. Look at who they are really helping!'

In the face of Konon's accusations, someone below said unconvinced, 'The Chinese have been in our North Russia for more than a day or two. Can we know if the Cherv Market can use old rubles or not?'

'Of course you don't know if you don't go. Only those who have been there know,' Konon said. 'Now I'm going to the Cherv Market. If you want to go, you can follow me.'

After saying this, Konon jumped off the high platform, and the people below very consciously made way for him. Konon carried the loudspeaker and looked around at the confused and doubtful looks in the eyes of the people around him. He felt a sense of great pride in his heart, and he puffed out his chest and said, 'I know that each of you has a lot of old rubles in your hands that you haven't had time to exchange yet. I also have a lot of them in my hands, and I know that you all want to spend the old rubles you have. Then come with me.'

Konon said this and walked forward with his head held high. The crowd in front of him parted automatically to either side. These people looked at Konon's back and then, as if attracted by a magnet, they followed Konon.

So on Gele Street, a mighty procession soon appeared, which surprised many people. Even the police station on Gele Street became nervous, because although the situation in Krisco had been chaotic since the economic collapse in Northern Russia, processions like this were still rare. After all, group activities are very sensitive in any country.

'What kind of procession are you? Are you going to the Hippodrome to gather and petition?'

People kept approaching and asking, and they all got the same answer: 'I heard that you can still spend old roubles at the Tsaritsyno Market. We're all going to go and see what's going on, and if it's true, we're going to spend all the old roubles we have.'

This answer made everyone who heard it lose their composure, because, as Konon said, everyone still had quite a few old roubles in their hands. Since the decree issued by the Kremlin had abolished the old rouble, they were all very eager to spend them but couldn't.

Now that they suddenly heard this answer, these later people also joined the ranks one after the other, and so inadvertently, the ranks grew larger and larger.

Konon walked proudly at the front of the ranks. He turned his head to look at the ranks behind him, and the more he did so, the calmer he became, and the more determined his gaze became.

After about half an hour, Kernong, with this huge crowd of thousands of people, finally arrived at the entrance to the Cherv Market. At the entrance, a very ordinary Volga car was parked there, and two young Chinese people and a very beautiful Northern Russian woman were standing in front of the car. Kernong subconsciously stopped in his tracks, because he had seen these two Chinese people before. One of them was Mr. Zhou Ming, whom he greatly respected and admired.

Konon stopped, and the line behind him subconsciously stopped as well. No one dared to go ahead.

Amidst the puzzled stares of the thousands of people, Konon walked forward to Zhou Ming, bowed deeply to him with great respect, and said, 'Mr. Zhou Ming, I have not let you down. I have brought everyone.'

Zhou Ming smiled, patted Konon on the shoulder and said, 'You've worked hard.' Then he looked up at the huge crowd of thousands behind Konon, took the megaphone from Konon and handed it to the translator, Katerina, saying, 'The Cherv Market welcomes everyone. I know that the abolition of the old ruble has made everyone feel desperate, but you don't have to be like this, because the world has not abandoned you, because at least here at the Cherv Market, the old ruble can still be used!'

As Katerina translated the last word, the crowd of thousands erupted into a loud cheer that reached the heavens.