Chapter 153: A Great Variable

"What can't be bypassed?" Just then, Tan Limin came out from the kitchen.

Zhao Lichun snapped out of his thoughts and laughed, "Nothing, I was just chatting with Weidong."

Tan Limin said, "Let's chat later, let's eat first."

Ning Weidong stood up with a smile and said, "Sister-in-law, I've been waiting for those words. I heard from Ruyi long ago that your cooking skills are comparable to a master chef."

Tan Limin said, "It's not that exaggerated, just home-cooked meals. Go wash your hands."

Ning Weidong nimbly stepped forward: "Sister-in-law, let me serve the dishes."

But he was glared at by Zhao Ruyi behind him: "You're only good with your mouth; I didn't see you come over to help earlier." As she spoke, she brought out a basin of soup.

Ning Weidong said, "I was just saving the chance to perform for you~"

Zhao Ruyi said, "Should I thank you then~"

Ning Weidong went to the kitchen and brought out a plate of scrambled eggs with chives: "That won't be necessary; we do good deeds without leaving our names."

Zhao Ruyi said, "You're just glib~"

The two bickered as they helped bring the bowls and chopsticks to the table.

You have to admit, Tan Limin's cooking skills were truly good; while calling her a master chef was an exaggeration, it was definitely above standard.

Especially the stir-fried dishes; the heat control was quite excellent.

Take the scrambled eggs with chives, for instance—being able to stir-fry chives without them releasing water is quite difficult. Most families' stir-fried chives end up as a watery mess the moment they are served, making one lose their appetite just looking at them.

Several people took their seats. Zhao Xiaoxian was given a bottle of Northern Ice Ocean Soda, and for the remaining four, Zhao Lichun brought out a bottle of Moutai that looked quite aged.

"Weidong, this was stored when Limin and I got married. Let's drink it today." Zhao Lichun said while peeling off the kraft paper already stuck to the wine bottle.

Ning Weidong said, "Then I'm in for a treat today."

The two ladies were not pretentious either.

Zhao Ruyi was naturally a "female bandit" who drank from big bowls and ate meat in big mouthfuls, and Tan Limin frequently attended foreign affairs banquets, so neither of them had a low tolerance for alcohol.

Let alone just sipping a bottle among four people, even one bottle each might not have been a problem.

At the dinner table, eating and talking, the atmosphere was quite good.

Zhao Xiaoxian listened quietly from the side, stealing glances at Ning Weidong from time to time, scrutinizing this uncle-in-law who had appeared in her home for the first time; she didn't look like a mindless child at all.

Tan Limin shared quite a bit about what she had seen and heard abroad.

Her overseas postings were mainly in the Central and Eastern European regions, so she naturally had many unusual local customs to share, which left Zhao Lichun and Zhao Ruyi amazed.

But for Ning Weidong, some of the anecdotes from this era seemed too ordinary.

Yet, one couldn't let the conversation die at this moment; that would be too low in emotional intelligence.

Unexpectedly, just at this moment, Zhao Lichun suddenly threw out a question: "By the way, Weidong, last time you suggested I go work at the local level; now your sister-in-law is in a similar situation, why don't you give some advice too~"

Ning Weidong was stunned and couldn't help but look at Tan Limin, wondering what this couple meant. He had come for a normal gathering today; why was such a question being kept for him? Ning Weidong smiled and said, "Big Brother, how could my words carry that much weight? Actually, you and Uncle Zhao have likely already made up your minds; I'm just voicing what you were already thinking."

At this point, Tan Limin interjected: "Weidong, you don't need to have any concerns. We are just family chatting; let's say what's on our minds." As she spoke, she deliberately put on a stern face: "What, are you afraid that I, your sister-in-law, will blame you for what you say?"

Ning Weidong hurriedly said, "I didn't mean that; I'm just afraid of showing off my meager skills and making a fool of myself. Sister-in-law, since you've said so, I'll speak my mind."

Seeing him relent, Tan Limin said with a smile, "That's right..."

Subsequently, Tan Limin roughly explained her situation.

Currently, Tan Limin is in the Foreign Affairs Department, mainly responsible for Central and Eastern European work, but because relations with the Soviet Union had been interrupted many years ago, it made China's foreign affairs work in this direction very difficult to advance.

Coupled with the current shift in direction toward the West, there would inevitably be a qualitative improvement in foreign affairs activities toward America, Europe, and even Japan in the future.

And now, Tan Limin had an opportunity to transfer from the Eastern Europe Department to the Americas Department.

After listening, Ning Weidong fell into silent contemplation.

In fact, Zhao Lichun and Tan Limin had discussed this issue more than once, but they had never reached a clear conclusion.

Today, Ning Weidong happened to be over.

Tan Limin had heard Zhao Lichun mention before that this new brother-in-law was very thoughtful.

Tan Limin just wanted to hear what he had to say.

While Ning Weidong was thinking, the others didn't disturb him. Zhao Ruyi kept watching, feeling more and more pleased the more she looked.

It wasn't until a few minutes later that Ning Weidong collected his thoughts, but instead of answering, he asked: "Sister-in-law, let me ask one thing first: is your desire to leave your current department based on your own subjective will, or are there other objective reasons?"

Tan Limin said, "Both, I suppose~ After all, people are always inclined to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages."

Ning Weidong nodded: "Looking at the big picture, going to Western Europe or America is indeed more promising, but I believe there may still be opportunities in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union in the next few years."

Tan Limin raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Tell me more."

Ning Weidong said, "Sister-in-law, do you think our future foreign policy will be more aggressive or tend toward being conservative?"

Tan Limin was a professional in this field and said without thinking: "Our main energy in the future will be concentrated on economic construction, and we need a more stable external environment; this is beyond doubt..."

Ning Weidong said, "Therefore, we cannot allow the stalemate with the Soviet Union to continue like this."

Zhao Lichun and Tan Limin were startled: "You mean... we might seek reconciliation with the Soviet Union?"

Ning Weidong said, "This is inevitable. Unless we are willing to be the sharp blade for America, we must find a way to ease relations. The situation now is different from when we were just liberated. Back then, we had to implement a 'leaning to one side' policy to gain full support from the Soviet Union, to get the 156 Projects, and to get billions in investment. But now..."

Speaking of this, Ning Weidong chuckled: "What chips has America put on the table that are worth us 'leaning to one side'? They can't bring them out, and even if they could, they wouldn't give them to us. So... in the end, we must return to a policy of balancing both sides. To achieve balanced engagement, restoring relations with the Soviet Union will be necessary, and it will be a card we must have in the future for our dealings with America."

Tan Limin frowned slightly in thought.

Coming from a family of foreign affairs and having worked in the Foreign Affairs Department for over a decade, Tan Limin's reaction was very sharp: "You think... it will happen soon?"

Ning Weidong thought for a moment and said, "It won't be immediate, but there will certainly be progress in the next three to five years."

There was a reason for Ning Weidong to say this.

In fact, in the world before he transmigrated, in the later years of Brezhnev, the intention for reconciliation had already been shown.

It was just that his physical condition at the time did not allow him to make major policy adjustments.

Later on, Andropov also expressed the willingness to adjust relations, but due to health reasons, he didn't have time to implement it before the leadership changed again.

It wasn't until the end, after dragging on for several years, that the normalization of relations was finally achieved in the late eighties.

Unfortunately, not long after, the Soviet Union collapsed with a roar. But if one sets aside those uncertain factors, in reality, at this point in time, whether it was China or the Soviet Union, both held a common desire.

And from Ning Weidong's perspective, he actually hoped more that Tan Limin could remain in Central and Eastern Europe.

Because his next step in his plan was precisely to latch onto the body of this massive giant, the Soviet Union, and suck its blood.

It was just that this blood was not so easy to suck; it wasn't as if one could just go up and take a drink of anything.

As for finding a way to change the fate of the Soviet Union, Ning Weidong had never thought about it from the very beginning.

Let alone that he was in China, even if he had truly transmigrated to the Soviet Union, the situation was too deeply entrenched to be reversed, and there would be no way to turn the tide.

What's more, from our perspective, a weak Soviet Union is a good neighbor.

Zhao Lichun frowned and said, "Weidong, listening to what you mean, it seems you want your sister-in-law to stay in the Eastern Europe Department?"

Ning Weidong looked at Tan Limin and said, "That depends on what sister-in-law thinks. If she follows the crowd, going to America is certainly good, but if... I mean, to personally witness history, staying in her current department might not be a bad idea."

"Witness history?" Zhao Lichun pondered Ning Weidong's meaning: "Are you saying that the Soviet side might... might experience a major variable?"

Tan Limin also looked at Ning Weidong with a profound gaze, a flash of sharpness appearing in her eyes.

At the same time, the couple both realized that the greater the variable, the more it contained huge opportunities; once grasped, it would yield inestimable benefits.

The two could not help but look at each other.

Ning Weidong stopped at that point and did not continue.

As for how Tan Limin would choose, although he had a preference, it was not something he absolutely insisted upon.

After this meal was finished, Zhao Ruyi helped Tan Limin clean up before she and Ning Weidong said their goodbyes together.

Once outside, the weather was nice, and the two were in no rush to ride their bicycles.

Zhao Ruyi held it in for a long time.

Don't look at her as usually being reckless; at critical moments, she was not without a sense of propriety.

Only then, with just the two of them, did she ask: "Weidong, what did you mean just now when you said there would be a major variable on the Soviet side?"

Ning Weidong pushed his bicycle and said: "I meant exactly what I said."

Zhao Ruyi teased: "You're still talking in riddles with me."

Ning Weidong whispered: "Have you noticed that the current Brezhnev's health is getting worse and worse? Sometimes when he attends public events, he even has to have someone specifically assigned to wipe his drool."

Zhao Ruyi was stunned for a moment: "Is it as exaggerated as you say?"

Ning Weidong said: "Don't believe me if you don't want to. If you really want to be serious, go find the videotapes and watch them yourself."

Ordinary people couldn't see these tapes, but if Zhao Ruyi wanted to find them, she really could.

Zhao Ruyi couldn't help but frown and say: "But even so, that doesn't count as a 'major variable', right~"

Ning Weidong said: "But what if his successor, that Comrade Andropov, suffers from severe kidney disease and heart disease~"

Zhao Ruyi's reaction was not slow; she immediately understood Ning Weidong's meaning: "You mean, after Brezhnev, the Soviet Union might lose two leaders in a short period of time?"

Ning Weidong shook his head slightly: "Maybe even more. Who will it be after Andropov? I guess Chernenko, but his age is even older than Andropov's..."

Ning Weidong acted as a charlatan without any pressure and began to cast his prophecy.

It left Zhao Ruyi completely bewildered: "This... this can't be, right~"

The possibility Ning Weidong mentioned couldn't help but surface in her mind, and her heart trembled.

Losing three leaders in a row—even the Soviet Union would be severely wounded, right~ If this doesn't count as a major variable, what does?

But she still couldn't imagine what Ning Weidong's so-called 'major change' actually was.

Or rather, people nowadays simply cannot imagine that such a powerful Soviet Union would collapse overnight; even America, which later considered itself the victor, could not imagine it at this time.

Ning Weidong did not explain the misunderstanding to Zhao Ruyi.

The two quickly switched to other topics.

Meanwhile, Zhao Lichun and Tan Limin were sitting on the sofa, still discussing what Ning Weidong had just said.

"Lichun, what do you think?" Tan Limin asked, unable to help but rub the bridge of her nose.

Zhao Lichun said: "This kid, he really is one to say something shocking!"

"Is it just shocking?" Tan Limin said: "You are in the country, so you might not understand the situation outside."

Zhao Lichun asked in surprise: "Listening to you, the situation in the Soviet Union is not good?"

Tan Limin said: "It looks okay, but various problems are constantly being exposed, especially in the economy..."

Zhao Lichun frowned: "I heard they have been developing well these past few years, pushing America and Europe into a tight spot."

Tan Limin pursed her lips and said: "If you insist on saying it that way, it's not false, but... how should I put it~ those are all at the macro level, while what I see is realistic, micro-level... In recent years, thanks to rising oil prices, the Soviet Union's Financial Administration looks very wealthy, but... this wealth has not trickled down..."

Zhao Lichun said: "Even so, there shouldn't be any major problems, right~"

Tan Limin said: "Who can say for sure~ But according to current signs, they seem to have made up their minds to take strong measures against Afghanistan."

Zhao Lichun said: "Afghanistan? The heart of the Eurasian Mainland. What is our attitude?"

Regarding such questions, Zhao Lichun's rank did not allow him to get first-hand news, whereas Tan Limin had a professional advantage and knew more.

Tan Limin said: "What else could the attitude be? Of course, it's to take the opportunity to ask America for money and technology. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Zhao Lichun smiled; he was quite happy to see them fleece America.

He then asked: "Then about your work..."

Tan Limin thought for a moment, sighed, and said: "Forget it, let's wait and see~ If there is a chance to participate in important negotiations with the Soviet Union, it's not necessarily a must to go to America. You know, I don't like it there."

Zhao Lichun was silent; he knew Tan Limin's past.

Because of her parents' work, she had been fostered at her uncle's house for a long time when she was a child, and both her uncle and aunt were assassinated by CIA Special Agents.

Zhao Lichun reached out and put his arm around his wife's shoulder, saying softly: "Then we won't go."

(End of this chapter)