Chapter 259 The Strongest Old Man Tour in History
Due to special circumstances, the relevant departments gave the green light this time, and obtained everyone's passports for going abroad overnight, and then booked three planes to fly directly to Moscow.
Before leaving, Jiang Lue asked Fan Wubing why he didn't fly directly to Ukraine. Fan Wubing replied naturally, "Low key! Be low key!"
"Can you so many old men come together to go out to fool you? Can you tell me the word "low-key"? " Jiang Lue was speechless.
In fact, Fan Wubing's high-profile is just low-key, which seems contradictory, but things are often so funny. Doing something with great fanfare is the best cover for small actions.
But he could not put the first stop of his action in Ukraine. After all, the guise he used to travel this time was nostalgic. So many old men were old men who had contact and had stories with the Soviets. How could he not go to Moscow, the holy land in his heart, to take a look? Go to the Winter Palace, go to Red Square, and look at the remains of the great mentor Lenin?
Otherwise, it would be unreasonable.
Domestic side even greeted Russia, saying that an old man had a tour group here, hoping that Russia could take care of it and send instructions to the embassy to say hello to the tour group through normal diplomatic channels to ensure the safety of the tour group.
At this time, Russia had just been independent. In order to transform socialism into capitalism as soon as possible, President Yeltsin implemented a fierce shock therapy. After the price was relaxed, there was no result of the president's promise to people, and the price stability. What Russians still saw was inflation, rising prices, increasing unemployment, rising crimes, and social unrest. People not only failed to get happiness from democracy, but also failed to gain benefits from the market economy.
So they took to the streets to protest to the Yeltsin government. Among these were former Communists, Soviet soldiers, emerging national separatists, and even loyal supporters of Yeltsin.
At this time, within the Russian supreme authority, the debate over the two major issues of economic reform and who has supreme power has caused Yeltsin to differentiate with his former allies. This differentiation led to a battle between the authority and the legislature.
Shortly after the implementation of the shock therapy, the vice president publicly announced his break with the president, advocating an economic emergency to curb the continuous rise in prices. Speaker Hasratov, who had a friendship with Yeltsin, constantly criticized the president-supported government for weakening the parliament and demanded that the government be placed under parliament's supervision. At the same time, the speaker as an economist, demanded that the government be braked on the basis of a lot of investigation and research.
Faced with such a complex situation, Yeltsin's life was very difficult. He was famous for his anti-corruption in the Soviet Union, but now he is powerless or blind to serious corruption in the country, which greatly affects his popularity.
When the news of the old Chinese tour group going to Moscow reached his ears, Yeltsin felt profitable. This matter can be understood as the traditional friendship between the Chinese and Russian people is recovering! If joining China-Russia trade can be restored as soon as possible, his own oil and energy can be easily replaced with hard currency. China's large consumer market is jealous of even Americans. Why can't Russians get stuck?
Therefore, major newspapers and media in Moscow were using large-format layouts to promote the arrival of the Chinese old man tour group in Moscow, and declared with confidence that the arrival of the old man tour group was just like the American table tennis team visiting China and using a small ball to open the national doors of the two countries to interact with each other, which was of great significance.
Many newspapers recalled the period when the two countries had close relations before the 1960s, and published pictures of a generation of leaders visiting Russia to exaggerate various signs of normalization of relations between the two countries.
The Moscow Municipal Government has dispatched some personnel to provide high-quality services to these old Chinese men who have been to Russia or have had contact with Russians.
This signal also brought some ideas to the domestic leaders, so the embassy held a high-profile cocktail party and hosted a banquet for the important members of Moscow, probably to send a signal to the outside world that the Chinese are willing to accept the Russians' goodwill expression.
At the same time, Fan Wubing's first chartered flight also landed at Moscow Airport. Then within half an hour, two other flights also landed on time.
The huge tour group with more than 600 people was warmly welcomed by people from all walks of life in Moscow.
Before getting off the plane, Fan Wubing said to the old men, "Dear uncles and uncles, you are the treasures of our factory and the treasures of our country! This time your mission is to consume, recall the past, and relive the traditional friendship between the peoples of China and Russia! I only have one expectation for you, don't be afraid of spending money! Each person's consumption amount of 20,000 US dollars, if you don't spend it here, it will save me!"
The old man laughed and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Fan, it's not easy to deal with when spending money? It's still 20,000 yuan!"
Moscow has a high green area, and is known as the capital of the forest. There are also many cultural classics in the city. The Kremlin is the palace of Russian tsars, with majestic momentum. The former Soviet Supreme Soviet Congress and the former Soviet Communist Party Congress were both held in the Kremlin. There are exquisite churches, palaces, bell towers, towers, and buildings. They are majestic and famous all over the world.
In the central church square of the Kremlin, there is the majestic and spectacular Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, the solemn Annunciation Church, and the Angel Cathedral that houses the cemeteries of emperors of Moscow before Peter the Great. On the east side is Red Square, there is Lenin's Tomb in Red Square, and at the south side is Pokrovsky Church.
As a representative area of ​​Russia, Red Square, the Tiananmen Square in the minds of Russians, is not only the center of Russian countries for holding various large-scale celebrations and military parades, but also the most famous historical landscape in Moscow. Entering Red Square is like entering Russia's spiritual home.
Therefore, the first stop of the old man's tour group was to visit Red Square.
In order to show their importance to the old man's tour group, the Red Square Management Office specially held a military parade of 500 people. Soldiers wearing traditional Russian armed forces costumes, as well as a Red Army array composed of Soviet veteran volunteers, and various flags passed through the Red Square, fully demonstrating the pride of the Russians. Local residents presented bread and salt to the old men as gifts.
"The Russians are so stingy, why do you give us some salt?" Fan Wubing complained to a staff member in charge of contact with great depression.
"This is not that people are stingy, but that it is traditional." The staff explained with a smile. "In the past, when in ancient Moscow, salt was very precious and was only used when entertaining guests. Bread represented wealth and status at that time. Generally, bread was placed on a tray with exquisite embroidered scarves and presented to distinguished guests by the owner. Guests should first kiss the bread, then break a small piece, sprinkle some salt, taste it, and express their gratitude."
Oh, so that's it.
Fan Wubing looked carefully and found that many old men knew this kind of etiquette. Their approach was exactly the same as the staff described. It seemed that these people really knew the Russians better.
"What gift should we give back?" Fan Wubing suddenly remembered this question and asked.
"It depends on you. Moscow people seem to be in a difficult situation now. They should be short of money." The staff member replied.
In fact, Russians are not only short of money now, they lack everything, everyday daily necessities, department stores, and food.
"Well, I understand." Fan Wubing nodded, and then said to the team leader's staff, "Contact the embassy and say that we sympathize with the difficulties the Russian people are currently facing. What, empathize with it, and are willing to donate five million US dollars to the municipal government to express their feelings to improve public living conditions. Although the money is a little small, it is still a big deal!"
"They will be very happy-" the staff nodded.
Fan Wubing suddenly regretted that if he brought an extra chartered plane over and the full planes were filled with small Chinese goods, it would be even more popular. In fact, those things are much more affordable than giving money to himself.
In Russia, the best hotels are provided for the old man tour group, and the service is amazing.
However, when Fan Wubing got off the plane and arrived at the hotel, he found a blond middle-aged man outside the hotel, who was 40 years old and looked very capable, and was directing security personnel to inspect the scene.
"Mr. Fan, this is a better hotel in Moscow. Most important foreign guests come here and stay here-" The staff sent by the accompanying embassy introduced Fan Wubing, but found that Mr. Fan's eyes seemed to have floated to somewhere. After a closer look, he found that Mr. Fan was staring at a tall security officer.
Putin?! Fan Wubing looked at the blonde middle-aged man and breathed a breath of turbid air in a little depressed state. He thought to himself that the second Russian president, who was appointed as the successor after Yeltsin, was still doing safety work now?
It is said that Putin has been working for the KGB since he graduated from university, but he has been working overseas and later returned to Russia. He should have been valued by Yeltsin now, but now he suddenly appears here and turns into an ordinary security officer. It seems that Yeltsin is still a little worried about his old man's tour group.
Chapter completed!