War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 167 Twenty Rings of the Potbellied Box (20-in-[-] Update)

The week before Christmas, the travel agency closely guarding the Mamayev Hill had already started a ten-day holiday, but the studio next door was getting busier every day.

Not to mention the few reporters who followed suit and wanted to interview Wei Ran, Wei Ran was overwhelmed by the public relations personnel sent by various museums who wanted to exhibit that photo.

But fortunately, he still remembered the advice Nicola gave him in the text message.He insisted that Sui Sui use the excuse of "Victor has returned to China for the New Year" to push those museum staff who wanted to be authorized to two months later.And those reporters who wanted to interview Wei Ran pushed it to mid-March.

Unexpectedly, almost on the day the news was released, Alexander, who had been authorized for the photo exhibition, immediately sent a special gift.

This is a Mauser M712 submachine gun. If you change the name that Chinese people are more familiar with, the 20-ring belly box is undoubtedly the most accurate name.

What is quite special is that at the bottom of the wooden handle of this potbellied box, there is also a piece of red and white cloth, which looks like used aunt's paper.There is no need to untie it, Wei Ran knows that if there is no accident, it should be half a plaster flag.

And on the left side of this pot-bellied box, there is also engraved with 28 vigorous small characters: "The rivers and mountains are humiliated by the beacon smoke and blood.

It was this special pistol and various other expensive gifts sent by Federer's manager that Wei Ran belatedly realized the benefits of postponing these visitors for a period of time.

Among other things, Alexander, who could at least exhibit that photo two months earlier than other private museums, owed him a huge favor.

On the other hand, when Hou Ran authorizes other museums to exhibit photos again two months later, if he takes the opportunity to accept a wave of interviews, his popularity will undoubtedly continue for a while.

Of course, Alexander was far from the only one who sent him gifts. If one by one, the first gifts were from Mr. Akim and Aunt Chris from Finland, they sent a gift before the New Year. The whole set of ski equipment does not look cheap.

A little later than them, the "Jewish idiot" Mario in Berlin also sent someone to personally deliver a large box of egg tarts at noon today.

What made Wei Ran dumbfounded was that, according to the staff who delivered the egg tarts all the way, these egg tarts were freshly baked by Moura and her daughter Anna in Kiev this morning.

In addition to these former benefactors, Misha who was far away in Inta also sent two snow-white fox fur coats this afternoon, but this time they were not for Wei Ran, but for Sui. Sui and her mother Zhou Shujin.

In addition to the furs sent by someone, Misha also talked with Suisui over the phone about the reception of the second batch of tourists after Christmas and the third batch of tourists sent by Zhou Shujin.By the way, Wei Ran also got news about Jima from her.

It’s just that what makes everyone laugh is that almost on the second night that Jima and Alili landed on the abandoned military base with Dr. Galkin, Alili accidentally lost the cabin key of the An-2 plane .

It was precisely because of this small mistake that the three unlucky ghosts had to rely on the little supplies left over from last time, and persisted in the military base for nearly a week before finally finding the missing items last night. key, and flew back to Inta smoothly.

Fortunately, it was precisely by looking for the key that Dr. Galkin found a well-hidden safe in the observatory, and bought a fist-sized piece of it at a high price of 8 US dollars. black stones.

This windfall money directly wiped out all the dissatisfaction of Jima and Alili, so that when Misha called, those two bastards were booking a place in the best bar in Inta, inviting all the cooperative hunters to drink together and prepare to greet them. What about Christmas?

Not to mention Inta, which is thousands of kilometers away, as night fell, the gifts on Suisui's table were replaced by sumptuous meals.And beside Professor Alexey's tableware, there was even a bottle of high-end schnapps.

When Suisui filled everyone's wine glasses with clear liquid, Zhou Shujin, who is the head of the family in essence, was the first to raise the clear glass, "Tomorrow is Christmas, I wish the travel agency all the best in the new year! Weaving. I wish Time Studio will make a lot of money every day, and I also wish the girl Sui Sui success in her studies, cheers!"

"Cheers!" The other three immediately responded enthusiastically, and raised their heads to drink all the wine in their glasses amidst cheers.

Before putting down the cup, Zhou Shujin smiled and asked her daughter sitting opposite, "Suisui, when are you going back to school?"

Sui Sui, who had just picked up the wine bottle, flashed a trace of panic on her face, and poured the wine for Professor Alexei while answering, "The day after tomorrow, I will go back to prepare for the exam the day after tomorrow, and the air ticket is already bought .”

"Then there's nothing you can do. It seems that you can't catch up." Professor Alexey said with fake regret on his face.

"Can't catch up with what?" Sui Sui asked blankly.

"Tomorrow morning, your dad and I will go to Finland for vacation, and we won't be back until a week later." Zhou Shujin said with a normal expression, "Since you will go back the day after tomorrow, it seems that there is no way to take you with you, let alone take you to the airport .”

"I actually"

"Study is important, let Victor see you off then."

Professor Alexey didn't wait for his daughter to finish speaking, and completely killed the topic with a smile, while Wei Ran, who was sitting next to Sui Sui, tried his best to hold back his almost unbearable smile.

Speaking of which, Sui Sui has been back for less than half a month even if the days of playing in Inta are not counted.After all three members of the family had passed the novelty, her treatment also plummeted like a cliff.

And obviously, both my aunt Zhou Shujin and Professor Alexei couldn't wait to send away this annoying spirit they raised and continue to live their two-person world.

"Then I'm done"

"Go directly to your grandma's house after the exam!"

Zhou Shujin couldn't help but make a decision for her daughter, "At the end of the month, your dad and I plan to go back to celebrate the New Year, so don't run back and forth, the air tickets are quite expensive."

Sui Sui cried and looked at Wei Ran sitting next to him as if asking for help, but found that his attention seemed to be all on the piece of braised pig's trotter.

Before Sui Sui could speak, Professor Alexei asked first, "Speaking of which, Victor, when do you plan to return to China?"

"I guess it will be the end of the month." Wei Ran, who was full of food, replied without raising his head, making it clear that he didn't want to get involved in the topic of their family so as not to get burned.

Professor Alexey continued to ask, "In this case, would you like to go to Finland with us for a few days? Akim and Chris have been calling me these days and asked me to take you there to go skiing together." .”

"I'll let it go"

At this time, Wei Ran didn't want to help the couple attract firepower, so he simply shook his head and refused, "I have to be busy with other things these two days."

"Look at how sensible your brother is!" Zhou Shujin pointed the finger at her disgruntled daughter without warning, "Look at you, you want to play every day!"

"You wait!" Sui Sui secretly kicked Wei Ran hard, the threat in his tone almost overflowing.

"How about I go back later?" Wei Ran asked with a smile.

"Drink! Drink! I toast you!" Sui Sui, who was still gnashing her teeth just now, quickly changed into a smiling face, and politely picked up the wine bottle and poured Wei Ran a large glass full of wine.

A Maozi version of the New Year's Eve dinner, amidst laughter and Sui Sui's sad eyes, lasted until 12 o'clock in the middle of the night before it was officially over.

After taking a shower and returning to the room, Wei Ran was not in a hurry to rest. Instead, he took out the 20-ring bell box sent by Alexander again, fumbled for the writing on it, and fell into deep thought.

This was the first time he was so eager to know the story behind the owner of this pistol, what happened that year, and whether that person survived the war.If he survived, how well did he live?If not alive. At least know where he was buried.

Breathing heavily, Wei Ran, who smelled of alcohol, hesitated for a moment, and finally placed the pistol lightly on the table beside the bed.

It's not that he's scared, but he doesn't want to make a rash decision. After all, this is a professor's home, not a studio where the rolling doors can be locked at any time.And I drank a lot of wine just now, who knows if the state will be affected after being sent over by the cowhide notebook.

But the most important thing is that most Chinese people are very familiar with that pistol thanks to various Chinese war-themed TVs, movies, and even sketches.But in fact, there are not many people who have actually used it. If you need to use this pistol to fight, at least you have to get familiar with it in advance.

The thoughts in his head continued, and this night of tossing and turning seemed extraordinarily long.Before dawn the next morning, Zhou Shujin and Professor Alexei got up quietly, placed a beautifully wrapped gift at the door of Wei Ran and Sui Sui's bedrooms respectively, and then left the room with their suitcases.

Almost at the same time as the anti-theft door was locked, the sleepy Sui Sui also opened the door, sat cross-legged on the floor and tore open the wrapping of the gift box.

Looking at the latest Huaxia mobile phone with satisfaction, Sui Sui glanced at the gift at Wei Ran's door, tiptoed over, picked up the box, and rushed into her room.

Carefully unpacking the package, seeing that it contained the same mobile phone, Sui Sui was satisfied to re-stick the package indiscriminately with tape, and knocked on the door of Wei Ran's room together with the gifts she had prepared. .

The knock on the door immediately woke up Wei Ran, who had only been asleep for less than two hours, and at the same time, a black matte pistol appeared in his hand.After he was fully awake, he put away his pistol and opened the door sleepily.

"Bang bang bang! Merry Christmas!"

Before Wei Ran could react, Sui Sui, who came with the soundtrack, stuffed the two gifts in his hands into his arms, then stretched out his hand and said, "The one below is from my parents, and the one on top is from me. Yes, now I will give you a present!"

"Why did you get up so early?" Wei Ran yawned and put the two gifts on the bed, pointed to the backpack that was still on the sofa in the living room, "Your gift is in the bag, go and see for yourself!"

"What gift did you prepare for me?" Sui Sui asked while running to the sofa, but what responded to her was the sound of the door closing behind her.

"This bastard!"

Sui Sui gritted her teeth and opened Wei Ran's backpack, and after she took out a SLR lens that she had long admired from the torn gift box, she immediately cheered and yelled and slammed Wei Ran's backpack again. door.

After Wei Ran changed into his clothes and opened the door again, Sui Sui asked excitedly holding the lens, "How did you know I wanted to buy this lens?"

Wei Ran yawned, and said angrily, "You still have the nerve to ask? Last time in that abandoned military base, I don't know who and I drank too much, and talked nonsense all night begging my aunt to buy a new one." lens."

"Shut up! Act like I didn't ask!" Sui Sui threatened viciously, "Don't mention this matter in the future!"

"You asked yourself." Wei Ran, who had not washed his face or brushed his teeth, said as he walked out, "You find a way to solve the breakfast yourself, and I will go out."

"Where are you going?" Sui Sui, who had already run back to the room and was busy changing the camera, asked.

Wei Ran shook the object in his hand, "Go and try this pistol that Mr. Alexander sent."

"Wait! I'll go with you! Don't leave! Give me 5 minutes to change!" Before the words finished, Sui Sui closed the door with a bang, leaving only Wei Ran helpless who had touched the doorknob shook his head.

After waiting patiently for seven or eight five minutes, Sui Sui finally walked out of the bedroom wearing the fox fur coat she got yesterday.Taking advantage of this opportunity, Wei Ran not only finished washing and made breakfast, but also almost digested his portion.

Leaving home with this follower holding a camera, Wei Ran drove a big and somewhat exaggerated off-road vehicle, stopped by the studio on the way, and finally stopped at the edge of a snow-covered forest on the east bank.

"It's just a test of a gun. As for running so far?" Sui Sui asked puzzledly at the door of the car.

"What if I get recognized when I go to the shooting range?" Wei Ran, who considers himself to be a bit of an idol, replied naturally, "It's a big holiday, I don't want to be blocked by reporters again."

"Take yourself seriously"

Sui Sui muttered to himself, and helped Wei Ran fix the steel plates in the carriage to several birch trees that had lost their leaves, and then took out a sound-absorbing VSS sniper rifle from the trunk of the off-road vehicle .

This gun was borrowed by Wei Ran from Nicholas at the beginning, and it has been kept in the studio since then. Just when they went to get the steel plate and matching bullets used as the target, it was put into the car by Sui Sui inside.

After receiving the noise-cancelling earphones from Wei Ran, Sui Sui lay down directly in the spacious compartment of the off-road vehicle, walked along the open trunk door, aimed at a target [-] meters away, and pulled the trigger.

But soon, the weak sound of the gun and the crisp sound of the bullet hitting the steel plate were completely covered by the 20-ring potbellied box in Wei Ran's hand.

I have to admit that this pistol has a firepower density comparable to that of a submachine gun, but because of its weird structure and excessive weight, it also feels extremely awkward in the hand.

Especially when it was adjusted to the burst mode, under the normal posture of holding the gun, the bullets flying from the heavily raised muzzle had even hit the crowns of the few birch trees in the distance.

"This gun has to be used by Chinese people."

Wei Ran muttered and moved his numb wrist, took out a slightly rusty magazine clip from his pocket, and pressed the bullets on it into the magazine that had just been removed.

When he got up to pick up the pistol again, he had already turned his wrist and turned it horizontally.However, what made him quite uncomfortable was that with the gun in this way, he couldn't aim at all.

Tried shooting a round of bullets again, this time it was indeed a lot easier than before. After the muzzle of the gun that jumped up turned [-] degrees, it really shot a dense fan horizontally as in the legend.As for aiming, the suppression of firepower like a submachine gun fire, as long as the general direction is correct.

Reloading the bullet, Wei Ran switched the speed switch to single-shot mode, constantly changing the position and pulling the trigger, getting familiar with this heavy weapon that is not easy to use.

It wasn't until he finished firing all the bullets that he drove back to the direction of the city of Volgograd with his henchman Sui Sui.

"Where are we going to play in the afternoon?" On the way back, Sui Sui, whose face was flushed from the cold, asked impatiently.

"With this time, you might as well think about how to deal with the remaining exams."

Wei Ran, who was in charge of driving, glanced at Sui Sui who was sitting behind him with the help of the rearview mirror, and continued without a pause, "Today's German?"

"No, I won't take the test until tomorrow morning." Sui Sui accidentally let go, and hurriedly changed the subject, "Well, how about treating you to dinner at noon?"

"There's no need to be courteous." Wei Ran shook his head helplessly, "I'm going to practice piano in the studio later, so hurry up and review those exams that you can catch up with."

"Today is Christmas!" Sui Sui begged with a sad face, "And I'm leaving tomorrow, so can't I have a good rest?"

"What about the rest of your exams?" Wei Ran asked as he slightly slowed down the car.

Sui Sui immediately regained her confidence when she heard the words, and patted her chest to make a promise, "Don't worry, the remaining few subjects are absolutely fine!"

"Just don't overturn the car." After all, Wei Ran didn't say much, the other party was an adult after all, so it was his turn to nag.

(End of this chapter)