Reborn In 1983: Starting With Reclaiming My Birthright Chapter 517: First Impressions of the Soviets - Novel Cool

Chapter 517: First Impressions of the Soviets

Chapter 517: First Impressions of the Soviets

When Nie Zhan returned home, he found Lu Jiaxin with a smile on her face. "What's got you so happy? Share the news and let me rejoice with you."

Lu Jiaxin replied with a beaming smile, "The seal has arrived, and I've kept it in the bedroom. I hope it will bring me as much wealth as it did to its first owner."

Of course, it would be enough if it just attracted fortune; she didn't need to emulate Emperor Yongzheng's work ethic. With a daily work schedule of sixteen hours and only a little over two hours of sleep, it was no wonder he passed away at the age of fifty-eight from sheer exhaustion.

Nie Zhan wasn't well-versed in Chinese history, but seeing Lu Jiaxin's delight, he smiled and said, "Since you have such a fondness for antiques, we could open an antique shop in the Inner City to acquire and collect these rare treasures."

Lu Jiaxin shook her head and laughed. "He Bin has been helping me source rare antiques in the Inner City. However, there are many knowledgeable and discerning collectors, and most valuable items are passed down through generations. It's not easy to find someone willing to part with their treasures unless they're facing dire circumstances."

Take the seal, for example. The Sun family knew it was a priceless treasure, and under normal circumstances, they wouldn't have sold it. But with Sun Qi in trouble, they had to prioritize their son's life, and the seal became less important.

Nie Zhan agreed. "It's a shame you don't like Western antiques; otherwise, I could ask my friends to help acquire some for you."

Lu Jiaxin exclaimed in surprise, "When did I ever say I don't like Western antiques?"

"You never said you did, but you've never bought a single Western antique. Doesn't that imply a lack of interest?"

Lu Jiaxin couldn't help but be amused by his logic. "I haven't bought any because I haven't come across anything I truly liked. If I found a beautiful antique with an intriguing story, you can bet I'd snap it up."

Only then did Nie Zhan realize his mistake.

Seizing the opportunity, Lu Jiaxin brought up the topic of the Soviets. "I spoke to my fifth brother on the phone a few days ago, and he filled me in on the situation over there. Things aren't very peaceful at the moment."

Nie Zhan listened intently. "Since Brezhnev came to power, he has promoted a large number of his confidants, forming a privileged stratum within the Soviet political arena. Corruption, theft, and the appropriation of state property have become widespread, bribery is rampant, and productivity is low."

Lu Jiaxin was astonished. "You're surprisingly well-informed about the Soviet government."

Nie Zhan shook his head. "A classmate's father is a high-ranking official in the Soviet Union. According to him, before Brezhnev came to power, there weren't many privileged individuals in the Soviet system. But during his rule, the number of privileged strata grew to several hundred thousand, and if you include their confidants and relatives, it exceeds a million. These people have claimed a significant portion of the country's wealth for themselves, and it's no wonder the nation is in turmoil."

"The Soviet Union is a socialist country, and the prevalence of corruption and embezzlement not only inflicts enormous economic losses on the state but also has a profound impact on social morals."

"Gorbachev intends to implement reforms in various sectors, including the economy, politics, and military. But the problems are deeply entrenched, and his efforts are unlikely to succeed."

Lu Jiaxin added, "Not only are there severe domestic issues, but the West is also keeping a close eye on them. Especially the Americans; they will never allow the Soviet Union to successfully reform, and they will attack from all fronts."

Nie Zhan asked, seemingly out of curiosity, "In what ways do you think America will try to bring down the Soviet Union?"

Lu Jiaxin happened to know the date of the Soviet Union's dissolution, and coincidentally, it was the same day she was born. "First, they will infiltrate and influence the youth to accept their values and outlook on life. Second, they will bribe government officials to work for their interests. And third, they will employ financial tactics."

Nie Zhan listened to her analysis, realizing that she had put in considerable effort to gain such deep insights. "What financial tactics do you think they will use?"

Lu Jiaxin shook her head. "It's not clear yet, but the fox will eventually show its tail."

The Americans, those vampires, didn't even spare their allies, let alone the SL. She wasn't sure about the specifics, as she was young then and hadn't paid much attention later on. However, one thing she knew for sure was that after the SL's dissolution, the currency underwent a cliff-like devaluation, comparable to the latter days of the Republic of China when people had to carry bags of cash to buy rice. That vampire nation was indeed formidable; before its dissolution, the ruble had always been one of the most influential currencies in the world.

Thinking about the impending devaluation of the ruble, Lu Jiaxin felt they should seize the opportunity. "Ah Zhan, you mentioned investing in the SL. What kind of projects do you think would be good for investment?"

Nie Zhan was caught off guard by the question. "Didn't you say the SL is in turmoil? Why would you want to invest there? With the country in such chaos, any investment would be like throwing money into the water."

Lu Jiaxin smiled and said, "We can put up a portion of the money, and for the rest, we can take out a loan from their banks. However, I'm not very familiar with the situation in the SL, so you'll have to fill me in."

Nie Zhan shook his head. "The SL focuses heavily on heavy industry, and they've invested a lot in that sector, so their heavy industry is very developed. On the other hand, their light industry isn't doing so well. Many technologies in heavy industry are confidential and not shared with outsiders, so collaboration is out of the question. As for light industry, it's controlled by the privileged class, leaving no room for outsiders."

He had analyzed various countries, and the SL was never on his investment radar.

Lu Jiaxin thought about it and felt that she should study the SL's economy further. Once she had a thorough understanding, she could discuss it with Nie Zhan again, and if he still refused, she would have to partner with Su Heyuan. But before that, she needed to make more money so that she could seize any lucrative opportunities that came her way. Otherwise, without sufficient capital, she wouldn't be able to take advantage of those opportunities even if they presented themselves.

Nie Zhan inquired about Lu Jiajie's well-being and, upon hearing that he was doing well, reminded her, "Usually, people who have gone through such an experience would have some sort of after-effects. He may seem fine, but that might not be the whole truth."

Lu Jiaxin said, "There was once a prisoner who tried to escape and was caught. The mine supervisor took the other prisoners to witness his punishment. After that, he had nightmares for a whole month, but he gradually adapted."

"It's impossible for him not to have any after-effects. However, with two children by his side, those wounds and painful memories will slowly heal."

Even if there were after-effects, she would overcome them, and if she couldn't, she would bear it!

Seeing that she had considered these possibilities, Nie Zhan didn't pursue the topic further. "Su Heyuan's engagement banquet is coming up soon. What do you plan to give them as a gift?"

Engagement gifts didn't usually involve money; a present was sufficient. Since he had a good relationship with Hu Zhifeng, he intended to give Hu Huihui a set of gold ornaments symbolizing good luck and well-wishes.

Lu Jiaxin smiled and said, "I was thinking of giving them a pair of dragon and phoenix jade pendants. He Bin acquired them in Jinshi, and they're truly exquisite. Miss Hu will definitely love them."

Upon hearing the name of the ornaments, Nie Zhan hesitated. "I'd rather we keep such precious antiques for ourselves. Hmm, how about we go to a gold shop and get a pair of golden 'Ruyi,' symbolizing a smooth and fortunate married life?"

He wanted to keep the dragon and phoenix symbols for himself and Lu Jiaxin; he couldn't bear to part with them for Su Heyuan!

Lu Jiaxin laughed. "It's alright. Master Li, the shop owner, recently acquired a pair of dragon and phoenix jade pendants crafted by court artisans, which are truly rare. The ones He Bin obtained are relatively inferior in comparison."

Only then did Nie Zhan drop his objection.

(End of Chapter)

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