War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 1707 The Other Side of Mr. Hans

The next morning after Channing and Hans sent invitations, Wei Ran, Su Su and the Kajianka sisters brought by Su Su, boarded a flight to Madrid with Channing, with the farewell of the Makar and his two families.

Originally, Sui Sui was planning to stay and entertain Makar and the others, but at the dinner table last night, Makar and the others strongly expressed their desire to go to Moscow and other places on their own, and agreed to come back at the end of the month to celebrate the New Year together.

When her attempt to persuade them to stay failed, Sui Sui could only arrange an English-speaking tour guide to accompany the two families.

"How much is the flag you are going to take a picture of worth?" While waiting for takeoff, Sui Sui, who was sitting on the outermost side, asked curiously.

When Wei Ran translated this question to Channing who was sitting at the innermost side, the latter thought for a moment and replied, "The value of the flag depends on the buyer invited by the auctioneer. It may be sold for 10 Euros or Euros."

At this point, Channing said, "This auction includes more than just the flag. There are many unexpected things."

"Is there a brochure for the auction items?" Sui Sui asked after Wei Ran finished translating.

"Ms. Aurora, this is not a formal auction."

Channing explained with a smile, "So there won't be any brochures, but there are always a lot of interesting things at their auctions."

"From what you said, the other party often organizes auctions?" Wei Ran keenly heard the hidden meaning in the words.

"I went there several times with Mr. Henry when he was alive."

"That gentleman has a lot of oddities," Channing explained. "He also organizes semi-legal underground auctions."

"Underground auction?"

Wei Ran asked with interest, "What kind of things would that usually be?"

“Very mixed”

Channing explained with full knowledge, "Military collections are just one of them. There are more antique furniture and artworks, as well as some things from Africa. Of course, there are also fighting bulls. He raises a lot of fighting bulls."

"What? Bullfight?"

Wei Ran was stunned for a moment, "The bullfighter in Spanish bullfighting?"

"Yes, that bullfight."

Channing waited patiently for Wei Ran to finish translating for Sui Sui before he continued to explain with a smile, "He's also a wrestler, a... well... I can only say that he's too big and strong."

"What a unique description," Wei Ran couldn't help but say.

"You'll know when you meet him, my description is very appropriate," Channing said with a smile.

Having said that, Channing, Wei Ran and Sui Sui also started talking about Spanish ear bullfighting and wrestling, and of course, the unique female gang thugs.

Generally speaking, Channing is a person who is very good at finding topics to talk about, so although the journey was tiring, we still had a pleasant conversation.

However, when they left the airport and drove into the city of Madrid in the car that Channing had rented in advance, they saw from afar a large group of women holding sticks and shouting and fighting each other on the roadside.

"This is."

"This is the female gang thug I told you about."

Channing, who was driving himself, sneered, "Thanks to the founder of the We Can Party, no, to be more precise, thanks to his wife's judicial interference, now even the police dare not deal with these crazy women.

Local gangs have taken advantage of this loophole and now rely on these female fighters to resolve their gang conflicts.”

"The Queen is interfering in government affairs," Sui Sui said sarcastically in her native language after hearing Anfisa's translation.

"So we're just going to let them fight like this?" Wei Ran asked in surprise.

"This is a right they fought for themselves," Channing shrugged, turned the steering wheel and drove the car onto another street.

After going around for a long time, the car finally stopped at the hotel address that Wei Ran got from Mr. Hans before leaving the airport.

At this time, Mr. Hans was actually waiting for them in the hotel lobby, and accompanying him was Ms. Diane, the head of the Edelweiss Organization.

"Victor, we haven't seen each other for a long time."

When Mr. Hans saw Wei Ran and others coming in, he immediately greeted them warmly and stood up with the help of Diane.

“It’s been a long time since we last met.”

Wei Ran took two quick steps and shook hands with the other party and Diane, and introduced the person he had never met to the other party.

After a brief greeting, Mr. Hans said, "Let Diane take you to check in. I have already booked a room for you."

"Sorry to trouble you," Wei Ran thanked him politely and pulled Sui Sui to the front desk.

"Mr. Victor, do you need me to share some information about the auction in three days?" Diane asked directly in Russian as she led them to the bar.

"Of course if it's convenient," Wei Ran answered in the same straightforward manner.

“The flag being auctioned this time is not the main item”

Diane obviously knew more inside information than Channing, "so there shouldn't be too many people interested in that flag."

"Can you tell me what the highlight items are?" Sui Sui asked curiously.

"It is said to be an oil painting left by Juan Gris." Diane lowered her voice slightly, "Mr. Hans came here just for that painting."

"Mr. Hans has this hobby?" Wei Ran said casually.

"Like he was going to give you that flag"

Diane also explained seemingly unintentionally, "Mr. Hans has no interest in oil paintings. He plans to buy the painting and give it away as a gift."

"Thank you for the key information you provided," Wei Ran said seriously.

"We are friends"

Diane smiled, and after Wei Ran checked in and got the room card, she said, "Mr. Victor, Mr. Hans wants to talk to you alone."

"Now?" Wei Ran asked.

"It won't take too long," Diane said with a smile.

"You guys go upstairs first."

Wei Ran turned his head and spoke to Sui Sui, the Kajianka sisters and Channing, while looking at Anfisa meaningfully.

The latter nodded imperceptibly and touched her handbag inconspicuously, in which were the weapons that Wei Ran gave to her sisters before leaving the airport - the two PSS pistols.

"Should we take a break first?"

"If Miss Aurora is not too tired, you can go change your clothes first."

Diane answered the question on behalf of Wei Ran, "Mr. Hans has already booked a restaurant. We can go there to fill our stomachs later."

"In that case, let's go upstairs and change clothes."

After saying this, Susu looked at her man, then pushed the luggage, took the Kajianka sisters, and Channing to the elevator.

"Don't be nervous. I'm just taking you to see someone." Hans said with a smile after Wei Ran came over. "He's a Jewish friend of mine."

"I'm sorry to trouble you," Wei Ran said apologetically.

"No, no, no, it's not a problem."

Hans smiled, refused Diane's help, stood up with the help of his cane, and asked as he walked out, "Victor, you know everything about my parents and what they went through during World War II, so I want to ask you a question."

"What's the problem?" Wei Ran asked as he followed the other party out.

"Do you think I am a descendant of Nacui or a Wartie?" Hans asked casually with a smiling tone.

"You are Mr. Hans"

Wei Ran gave the answer without much thought, "I am a Chinese. I don't have the habit of labeling people by skin color, race, or ethnicity."

"How about recruiting nuclear personnel?"

Hans asked with a smile as if he was embarrassing Wei Ran, "Will you treat nuclear recruits equally?"

“I am a Chinese”

Wei Ran spread his hands as a matter of course, "This reason is enough for me to provide any form of special care to any nuclear recruit."

"The reason why I like you"

Hans laughed and said, "Victor, most of the young people I have met will become more and more introverted as time goes by, but you are an exception."

"You are also different from most of the Germans I have come into contact with." Wei Ran replied with a smile.

"I like your answer too, and yes, I am just Mr. Hans."

As Hans spoke, he had already walked out of the hotel door and said calmly, "After you meet my friend, no more shabby merchants in Europe will covet your wealth and the girl beside you."

"It seems that you have also received the reward for me?" Wei Ran asked casually.

"In the eyes of others, I am just a poor, wealthy Jewish man."

Hans's tone was filled with undisguised sarcasm. "I should lock those people up and let you tell them the story of my parents."

"If your parents' story could move some people, maybe not during World War II"

Wei Ran smiled halfway through his sentence and abruptly changed the second half of his sentence to "it wouldn't have started." "Although I'm not a historian, war is inevitable."

Hans smiled and said, "What you mean is that maybe not so many Warts died during World War II, right?"

"Do you want to hear the truth?" Wei Ran helped the other party open the door of a commercial van.

“It seems I guessed wrong.”

Hans said, bending down and getting into the carriage, "Young man, come sit in the back. What did you want to say?"

Hearing this, Wei Ran got into the car and closed the door. "What I originally wanted to say was that maybe there wouldn't be so many people dying in the concentration camps during World War II."

"Does it make any difference?" Diane, who had been listening, asked curiously as she closed the driver's door.

“There is a difference, a big difference.”

Hans let Wei Ran help him fasten his seat belt, "Diane, drive, we should go meet that friend."

"Please hold on tight," Diane said, slowly stepped on the accelerator, and drove the car out of the hotel.

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

However, contrary to Wei Ran's expectations, although the car left the hotel, it did not go far. It just passed an intersection and stopped at the door of another hotel.

"Come with me, it won't waste much time." Hans said as he opened the car door.

Although he didn't understand what he meant, Wei Ran still followed the other party out of the car, and walked slowly into the hotel with him, took the elevator to a certain floor, and finally walked into a meeting room filled with the aroma of coffee, cigars and wine.

At this time, there were about 20 men and women sitting in groups of three or four in the conference room, and the youngest of them was probably around 40 years old.

Almost as soon as Wei Ran walked into the conference room, everyone looked over at once, and seemed to notice him at first sight, and then saw Mr. Hans.

"friends"

Hans walked slowly to a seat with his cane and sat down. He motioned Wei Ran to sit next to him and said casually, "He is Victor, the Chinese historian who tore off the pink lace underwear that was soaked with shit and urine from the United States and the chair."

After this unique introduction, Hans waved his hand and Diane immediately took out a few photos and distributed them to everyone.

"This is the flag of the Spanish International Brigade that will appear at the little auction in three days."

Hans tapped the table with his cane a little roughly. "I plan to buy it and give it to my friend Victor, but my pension is only 365 euros a year, so friends, I hope you can lend me some money so that I can successfully take the picture of the flag."

After that, Hans put away his cane again, and started to call the roll with a smile, "Do you have any objections? Ms. Alona, ​​how much money are you willing to lend me?"

"No matter what the total price is, I am willing to pay 10 euros." Ms. Alona, ​​who looked to be around 50 years old, quickly stood up and said.

"Rabbi Roitz"

Hans raised his hand and patted a peer sitting on the other side, who had two braids and a black hat, and said, "Are you willing to lend me money? I forgot that Rabbi Roytz doesn't seem to have much savings."

“I’m just a rabbi”

The old man said quickly, "But I am willing to buy the flag for you and give it to Mr. Victor."

"Then you should come forward."

Hans said with satisfaction, "What about you?"

"We are also willing to lend you 10 euros," the other dozen or so people said quickly.

"In that case, let's go to the auction together in three days."

Hans said with a smile, "Rabbi Royce, you will help buy it when the time comes."

"It's my honor," the old man in the top hat said quickly.

"Then one last question"

Hans tapped the table with his cane rudely again and asked directly, "Is there anyone else who is interested in Victor's business or women? I will ask this young man if he is willing to share."

"Mr. Hans, we were talking about that as a joke."

An old man in his fifties sitting diagonally opposite said quickly, "We all have our own businesses, and..."

"And your business can be managed by someone else at any time," Mr. Hans said with a smile, "Is this just a joke?"

"Please give them a chance to repent," Rabbi Roytz said apologetically.

"I am not God, and I do not sell indulgences."

Hans tapped the table with his cane again, "Well ladies and gentlemen, I wish you a pleasant holiday in Spain."

"I wish you and Mr. Victor a happy holiday as well," Royce said, standing up.

"See you at the wrestling ring in three days"

As Hans spoke, he stood up with a smile and asked Wei Ran and Diane to leave the meeting room.

"I didn't expect you to have this side of you," Wei Ran exclaimed with a smile.

“It’s just to keep some dignity for each other.”

Hans answered as he walked out, "We have been friends for many years. They will give me respect, so next time when others are in trouble, I will also give them respect."

"So this is what decency is," Wei Ran made a little joke.

“You don’t have to be so respectable.”

Hans took Wei Ran into the elevator and said with nostalgia, "I dealt with them when I was as young as you. At that time, they were still called Zionism."

"Wasn't it as respectable as it is now?" Wei Ran asked with interest.

“It wouldn’t have been so decent back then.”

Hans shook his head. "At that time, they would just knock on the door and collect donations for the restoration of the country. If you were not willing to give money, they would not even mind kidnapping."

"So you"

"My father is a very mild-tempered man, but my mother, Ms. Mora, is not."

Hans couldn't help but reveal a nostalgic look on his face. "I still remember it now. She asked the nurses of the clinic to arrest all the people who came to raise money, and asked them to generously donate 450CC of blood. She also stuffed them with marks equivalent to the blood before letting them go. All the blood was used by the clinic to rescue the injured.

Because of this incident, my mother, Ms. Mora, was given the title of Vampire Mora by some people."

At this point, Hans walked out of the elevator and said casually and matter-of-factly, "Although I learned about my parents' experience in the war very late, I inherited my mother's nickname very early."

"I got it," Wei Ran said with conviction. He had even considered giving it a try.

"Okay, let's go back."

Hans took the initiative to end the conversation in the elevator, walked out of the hotel slowly, and got back into the business van.

Taking Wei Ran back to the previous hotel, Mr. Hans used the excuse of being tired and confidently handed over the task of entertaining Wei Ran and others to Ms. Diane.

"Diane, I have a question."

While waiting for Sui Sui and the others to come downstairs, Wei Ran asked curiously, "Mr. Hans's business should be more than just a dentist's clinic, right?"

"certainly"

Diane brought Wei Ran a cup of coffee, "Mr. Hans' dental clinic has almost always been losing money."

"so."

"He also runs a medical blood business," Diane lowered her voice slightly, "Vampire Hans, that's the impression others have of him. Even though it's not a nice one, it's a very accurate description."

"Isn't this good? This sounds much better than being a veterinarian."

Wei Ran grinned secretly and wisely did not continue this topic. What he had just heard was enough. If he wanted to satisfy his curiosity, he could just go and ask Anfia.

As for whether the "dignity" that Mr. Hans found for him was decent enough, although favors are favors, Wei Ran never pins his hopes on others.

Shortly after tacitly shifting the topic to the auction three days later, Sui Sui, the Kajianka sisters, and Channing, who had received the news, took two elevators downstairs respectively and met Wei Ran and Ms. Diane who were waiting for them.

"Sister Diane, what delicious food are you going to take us to eat?"

Sui Sui asked in an especially sweet tone, because she and Diane were already very familiar with each other from the previous movies they had filmed. It could even be said that they had met more times than Wei Ran had seen Diane.

As expected, Diane, who is probably 20 years older than Sui Sui, was particularly satisfied with this title. She immediately and enthusiastically led everyone out while introducing, "Spanish paella, Madrid tripe stew and stew, and of course, the indispensable Iberian ham and sangria.

Tomorrow I will take you to eat roast suckling pig. In short, I have arranged all the meals for the next few days to ensure that you have an unforgettable holiday. "

"Looks like I can save some money," Channing said with a smile after listening to Anfia's translation.

"Comrade Chanin"

Wei Ran lagged behind a few steps and asked, "Besides the flag, is there anything else you plan to take pictures of this time?"

“We’ll see what happens then.”

Channing said with a confident look, "Of course, it also depends on how much money I have left after I take the picture of the flag."

"If you could have taken a picture of that flag this time, you wouldn't have to force us to sit in economy class."

Wei Ran muttered something to himself, but all kinds of sincere blessings came out of his mouth.