War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 1670 The Queen's Five-Year Plan

In the heart of Lake Onega, at the edge of a small fishing village on a peninsula deep in the center of the lake, the setting sun dyed the ground covered with a layer of first snow into a dazzling golden color.

Amid the laughter of many young people, Belia, a dog with shiny fur, was the first to run out of the forest.

Behind it, Ninel's snowmobile slowly came out, pulling a sled loaded with prey.

Following closely behind, Chen Luoxiang also drove a snowmobile and slowly followed with Sui Xin sitting behind him. There were several pairs of beautiful deer antlers on the bucket towed behind the motorcycle.

Behind the first two sleds, a few girls were walking and chatting with various hunting rifles on their backs. Behind them, Wei Ran was driving another borrowed snowmobile, dragging a bucket of various camping equipment and following slowly.

This was already their fifth day as guests at Ivan's home. On the day they arrived here, they all rested for a night at Ivan's home.

For the next two days, Olena took them on a fishing boat driven by Wei Ran to the border town of Petrozavodsk, where a historian once helped sell fish. They had a good stroll and a meal there, and then picked up Olga, Sui Xin and Chen Luoxiang who had returned by train and returned to the small fishing village.

This is not the end. Yesterday evening, these energetic young people each took their hunting rifles, brought enough camping equipment, drove the snowmobiles that Ivan helped to borrow, and went to a beautiful red maple forest deep in the forest to camp for a night. They also shot a lot of prey.

There are wild rabbits that make the Kajianka sisters salivate, wild boars that the dog Belia will not let go after biting them, various deer antlers that Chen Luoxiang loves to pick up, and a large piece of so-called "lightning-struck wood" that he personally cut down from an unknown dead tree.

This slightly introverted young man has already made up his mind. When he returns, he will find a way to use this piece of wood to carve two guqins by himself, and give them as gifts to his senior brother Wei Ran, who has taken good care of him, and to Sui Sui, who is like a matchmaker.

Even Lola, who had been following Sui Sui to eat and drink, was extremely happy, because her genius sister Korava had been talking a lot in the past few days, and even recited a complete poem "Ploughing in the Noon Sun" to everyone.

Correspondingly, Lu Xinda, who had been procrastinating on learning Russian, was not so happy. After all, even Korava surpassed her, which made this young girl, who had just come of age, somewhat embarrassed.

But overall, it was a very enjoyable vacation for everyone.

As the car drove into Ivan's yard, Sui Sui handed the shotgun to Marta to hold, and then winked at Wei Ran who had just parked the car.

After getting the hint, the two of them walked towards the lighthouse at the pier of the small fishing village tacitly.

"Have you thought it through? We should go back early tomorrow morning." Sui Sui asked as they walked.

"Think about it"

Wei Ran nodded, "Let's go back and visit the island on the way back."

Hearing this, Sui Sui nodded and said, "No matter what the investigation reveals, I will find a way to have the authorities publicize it vigorously."

"You won't show up this time?"

Wei Ran asked with a smile. During these few days, he finally decided to help investigate what happened on the island.

Objectively speaking, he really needs to appear in this foreign country with a positive and active image.

Subjectively, he was indeed looking forward to having the opportunity to see those brave young people again, no, brave children.

"I won't show up. I'm a businessman."

Sui Sui said very soberly, "When a businessman like me appears in this kind of news, it will change the taste of many things."

“It would be a shame if you don’t take the civil service exam with your sensitivity,” Wei Ran teased with a smile.

“I have no interest in being an official.”

Sui Sui snorted, then said firmly, "No matter what you investigate this time, you will become an honorary consultant of the Road of Life Museum."

"Honorary advisor?"

Wei Ran raised his eyebrows, "Is this Teacher Dalia's promise?"

“This is my promise”

Sui Sui answered confidently, "This can only be considered a small guarantee. If something extraordinary is found, there may be other honorary titles."

"You and the official"

"That's right"

Sui Sui nodded, "I have already expressed my position, they should at least give me a satisfactory attitude."

"When did you, a small businessman, become so tough?" Wei Ran teased with a smile.

"My mother said it"

Sui Sui became more confident. "At worst, we can withdraw all our investments. Even that crappy toy drone factory is out of stock. Let's all return to China to develop our business.

Besides, what's wrong with small businessmen?
There are at least thousands of people depending on me for food. If I can’t even guarantee the safety of my own man, don’t blame me for smashing the pot and letting everyone starve together!”

Hearing this, Wei Ran could only give a thumbs up in admiration. Over the years, the little girl Sui Sui has grown into a strong woman, even better than a certain strong woman of the previous generation.

"There's one more thing you should know."

Sui Sui stopped and lowered her voice, "The business in Russia is the biggest, but our business in Koko is not small either."

"What do you mean?" Wei Ran became interested, and at the other party's signal with his little hand, he lowered his head slightly and put his ear closer.

"The castle hotel and ski resort in Austria make as much money as Inta"

Sui Sui almost whispered in Wei Ran's ear, "When things are bright in the east, they are also bright in the west. Koko and I have been thinking about making money together. How can the Russian leeks be as profitable as the bulk European leeks? Just wait and see. In two years, that's where the big money will be made."

"What about this side?" Wei Ran asked curiously.

"That's easy." Sui Sui became interested and asked Wei Ran to sit down on a step on the roadside. "In two years, I plan to hand over all the work in the studio to Marta, and all the tourist business to Lola and Lu Xinda."

"They? Can they do it?"

"What's wrong with that?"

Sui Sui said confidently, "Now all three of them are my assistants, and I throw a lot of work to them. Anyway, no matter what, I don't want to be Zhuge Liang.

Once we train them, the bulk business in Europe will probably be almost done. By then, I think Koko will have been brought out as well, and then we will return to China."

"What are you going back to do?" Wei Ran asked with great joy.

"Farming! Raising pigs!"

Sui Sui confidently stretched out her palm and gestured, "I have set a five-year plan. Within five years, they must all stand up. If they can't stand up, won't I be exhausted to death?"

"So, we will return to China in five years?" When Wei Ran asked this question, his attitude became more serious.

“At least that’s what I plan to do for now.”

Sui Sui nodded, and after a moment's hesitation, she said, "Let me make it clear first, I don't plan to get married. Also, the previous sentence was my mother's idea."

"Why is that?" Wei Ran was stunned for a moment. To be honest, the two of them had never discussed this topic before.

"Does it matter whether or not you tie the knot?"

"No difference?" Wei Ran thought for a moment, "It seems there is no difference."

“It’s a little different actually”

Sui Sui patted her chest and said, "Without that certificate, you are Chinese and I am Russian in the legal sense. No one should find fault with our relationship. Legally, we are at most close business partners, which makes many things much easier to do."

"Is this your plan to keep a bunch of beautiful girls around me?" Wei Ran asked helplessly.

"Hehe! Anyway, just listen to me. I'm playing a big game!"

Sui Sui patted Wei Ran's shoulder proudly, "Let's go, let's go back! Also, don't tell anyone about what just happened."

"Don't worry, I'll keep my mouth shut." Wei Ran patted his chest and made the assurance.

Back at Ivan's home, the Kajianka sisters, Marta who was a field doctor, Lucinda who was a nurse, even Ivan who was also a field medic, his wife Yana and son-in-law Ninel, were already using various knives to cut up the prey they had brought back.

Thanks to the eating habits they developed from living with Wei Ran and Sui Sui for a long time, these girls have a special liking for various animal organs.

So without any instructions, they skillfully cleaned out the various large and small intestines and internal organs into different categories.

Sui Xin, in particular, asked Chen Luoxiang for help, and she took out two large bags full of hot pot bases of various flavors from the suitcase.

It is gratifying to say that during the time she lived with Chen Luoxiang after returning to China, Sui Xin, who usually works for Sui Sui, and Korava, who she took care of, both insisted on rehabilitation training.

Now, not only can Korava speak many complete sentences and has learned several ancient Chinese poems from Chen Guangling and his wife, even Sui Xin's legs have regained some strength.

According to Chen Luoxiang, she might have a chance to stand up again in a few years.

While everyone was busy, stoves were set up in Ivan's yard. All kinds of professionally cut game were sent to the oven or the frying pan, and all kinds of skewers of internal organs were also thrown into the spicy and fragrant soup pot.

Even the deer hooves, pork legs, rabbit heads, pig tails, etc., which Ivan's family rarely ate, were thrown into the broth that Wei Ran had prepared in advance and stewed in a large pressure cooker that he had found from somewhere.

On this beautiful night when only wild animals were injured, the room full of men, women, young and old were all having a great time.

In the blink of an eye, at dawn the next morning, Ivan confidently handed the starting key of the fishing boat to Wei Ran, and watched him drive the fishing boat, taking the girls led by Sui Sui, as well as Daria and Olena, away from the dock in the falling snow.

With its engine roaring, this Soviet-era patrol boat left Lake Onega, crossed the canal that was about to freeze completely, and returned to the surface of Lake Ladoga amid the increasingly heavy snow.

"I'll go take a look at the island later and come back soon." Wei Ran, who was in charge of the boat, said loudly, "You just wait on the boat when the time comes."

"Don't you want us to accompany you?" Sui Sui responded loudly.

"Need not"

Wei Ran waved his hand. "I'm just going to confirm the details and take a few photos. I'll be back in ten minutes at most."

“Don’t go to that cemetery”

Teacher Dalia warned, "There may be a lot of explosives in there."

"I just went to check out the anti-aircraft gun"

As Wei Ran spoke, he slowed down the boat and circled around the island's temporary dock before slowly stopping. "Just wait on the boat."

After saying that, he got out of the cab, put up the gangplank by himself, tied the cable with the help of Olena, and then ran quickly towards the tent that could be seen at a glance.

Before entering the tent, Wei Ran looked back in the direction of the temporary dock, waved to Sui Sui who came out of the cabin in the wind and snow, and waited until the other party waved back before turning around and entering the tent.

In the tent that could only block the wind and snow but provided no warmth, Wei Ran once again looked at the tattered anti-aircraft gun, the red five-pointed stars painted on the gun shield, and the Russian version of the phrase "inspecting the troops and generals" that was born in the flames of war.

“So is there still a chance for us to meet?”

Wei Ran murmured in his heart, and at the same time, he carefully checked every part of the tent with extreme caution.

Only after he was sure that there was no surveillance equipment did he pull out a pre-written note from his pocket and stick it on his arm. Then he took a deep breath, gritted his teeth and took out the metal notebook.