While the three were exchanging pleasantries, Chen Lan and Xiang Xi stood aside and waited. Chen Lan did not understand Russian and had not turned on her simultaneous interpreter, so she looked up at the tall man named Kovaly. Chen Lan guessed that he must not be young, perhaps around forty years old. His face had a pair of deep, sharp eyes, which, despite his weathered features, made him look full of vitality. His full beard was interspersed with a few gray hairs, making them particularly conspicuous and also revealing his approximate age. Kovaly spoke slowly, as if considering every word he said. Although his face showed no emotion and gave off an aura of aloofness and seriousness, a subtle hint of a smile occasionally flickered at the corners of his mouth. If one didn't observe closely, this slight smile would go unnoticed.
Chen Lan thought to herself that Kovaly was a man who appeared cold but had a warm heart.
After a short conversation, Kovaly climbed into the back of the old Jiefang truck with Xu Mingxuan, while Andrei waited for them by the car. Not long after, Xu Mingxuan and Kovaly got out of the Jiefang truck, and then the three walked towards the cooperative.
Chen Lan quickly told Xiang Xi to follow them to experience what a Soviet rural cooperative was like during this period, while she herself got into the driver's seat to wait for them to finalize the deal and for the goods to be shipped.
Before long, Xiang Xi ran out excitedly. He opened the car door and was about to say something when he suddenly seemed to remember something and closed his mouth. After closing the door, he glanced around and then whispered, "Little Lan, no, Mira, this cooperative wants a lot of our goods. I only remember a few. I'll go with you to load the goods later and cover for you. Remember to replenish your stock in time, understand? Don't forget!"
Chen Lan smiled and nodded, then quickly put on her headphones and turned on the simultaneous interpreter in her thick cotton jacket pocket. She then got out of the Jiefang truck with Xiang Xi and went to the back. Just as they climbed onto the back, Xu Mingxuan, Andrei, and Kovaly came out from the main entrance of the cooperative.
As they had arranged beforehand, Chen Lan and Xiang Xi were responsible for shipping the goods, Kovaly for inspecting them, and Xu Mingxuan and Andrei for carrying them into the cooperative. The few of them cooperated very well, and the transaction was quickly completed. Kovaly also readily settled the payment with Xu Mingxuan.
With Andrei's mediation and assistance, Xu Mingxuan managed to purchase 150 Vika sausages, 300 boxes of various meat canned goods, 1500 catties of corn flour, and 500 catties of wheat flour from the cooperative.
Kovaly and Andrei also helped Xu Mingxuan and Xiang Xi load the exchanged goods, little by little, onto the back of the Jiefang truck.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, they waved goodbye to Kovaly. Before leaving, Kovaly invited Andrei to his home for a drink before heading back. Andrei happily accepted.
Xu Mingxuan looked at his watch and saw that there were still over two hours until dark. He discussed with Andrei the plan to visit the next rural cooperative to exchange goods before returning to their hotel in Ussuriysk for dinner and lodging. Andrei readily agreed.
Indeed, with the help of acquaintances, things moved much faster. As soon as they arrived at the next cooperative, Andrei introduced everyone to his friend, the purchasing agent. Then they proceeded to inspect the goods, load them onto the cooperative, complete the transaction and payment, and finally Xu Mingxuan purchased the supplies he needed.
The group drove back in two trucks, aiming to reach Ussuriysk before dark. In the car, Chen Lan told Xu Mingxuan and Xiang Xi, "Brother Mingxuan, Little Watermelon, when we get to the hotel room later, don't mention anything about domestic matters. If you need to talk, speak in Russian. Absolutely do not speak Chinese, so as not to expose ourselves."
Xiang Xi asked in surprise, "Little Lan, why? Can't we even talk in the hotel?"
Chen Lan whispered, "Little Watermelon, because Father-in-law said that the Soviet KGB has installed listening devices in many hotels."
Xiang Xi said indignantly, "How can they do that!"
This was not Chen Lan being alarmist; it was a real concern. It was said that at that time in the Soviet Union, any place frequented by foreigners, including hotels, hotel Russian baths, and inns, could potentially have listening devices installed.
Chen Lan and the others finally returned to Ussuriysk before dark. As soon as the cars stopped, Andrei led Xu Mingxuan and his wife, along with Xiang Xi, to a typical Soviet-style building. It was a four-story building, symmetrical on its central axis, with the middle section higher and the sides slightly lower. The central main building towered, giving the entire structure a three-part layout. Upon entering the hotel, a long, wide, and gently sloping corridor extended forward.
According to Andrei, this was a decent small hotel with single rooms, double rooms, and dormitory-style rooms. The largest room was a six-bed room, which also accommodated both men and women.
Xu Mingxuan quickly paid at the front desk and asked Andrei to book three rooms: two single rooms and one double room. The hotel included three meals a day, and it was dinner time. Afterward, they had dinner in the hotel restaurant. The food was neither good nor bad, but it was enough to fill their stomachs, which was the main thing. Chen Lan and the other two were not accustomed to eating bread.
After dinner, they were led by a staff member to their rooms. As soon as the couple entered their room and the staff member left, Chen Lan eagerly purchased some of her favorite braised dishes from the system and began to eat. Before she had finished a chicken wing, she heard a knock at the door.
Xu Mingxuan opened the door to find Xiang Xi. Without a word, Xu Mingxuan opened the room door and let Xiang Xi in. As soon as Xiang Xi entered, he saw Chen Lan sitting on the bed gnawing on a chicken wing. Xiang Xi also remained silent, but without hesitation, he took a bag of braised food from Chen Lan's hand, opened it, and started eating. Sudang Library.
Chen Lan ordered another bottle of yogurt and two bottles of beer from the system, handing one bottle of beer to Xu Mingxuan and the other to Xiang Xi. The three of them quietly ate their late-night snacks.
After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Xiang Xi said goodbye to the couple and returned to his room to rest. The night passed uneventfully. The next morning, Chen Lan tidied up the room thoroughly before leaving with Xu Mingxuan.
After a simple breakfast in the dining room, the four of them set off early in their two cars.