Chapter 7: A Casual Estrangement

  Whether it's the Soviets now or the Russians later, they like black bread and caviar and vodka, which are things that can never be missing from their table. At this point, Chusinan has a deep understanding of this.

  Sitting at the dinner table, Chu Si Nan faced the old fox Belial, whom he didn't like, and this table of Soviet-style cuisine that made him even more uncomfortable. He still had to wear a smile on his face, showing his affection for Belial, and for him, it seemed like there was nothing more unbearable in this world.

  "Ah, Comrade Chusunnan," said Beria, swallowing the food in his mouth with a sip of warm water, then wiping the corners of his mouth with a napkin placed on his knees. "I have decided to recommend you to Comrade Stalin as an operations staff officer for the Supreme Command Headquarters. What do you think?"

  "Oh? What, you're not afraid that one day I'll become your competitor?" Chu Si Nan said with a mocking tone, using the dinner knife in his hand to stir the unnameable black cubes on the plate in front of him.

  "What's the big deal, we're all just trying to contribute to the Soviet revolutionary cause," Beria said with a sly smile, hypocritically saying, "Moreover, in the current situation, your talents will inevitably be recognized by Comrade Stalin, and as a Chinese person, you can easily gain his trust. I firmly believe this. And me? I'm just a small figure who can slightly gain Comrade Stalin's trust. How could there possibly be any competition between us?"

  Chu Si Nan smiled coldly, he could naturally hear the implied meaning in Bellia's words, this old fox was reminding him indirectly that as a Chinese, even if he temporarily gained Stalin's trust during these turbulent times, it was unlikely he would have any great accomplishments. On the contrary, it was Bellia, as one of the people trusted by Stalin, who had an extremely high possibility of succeeding Stalin and becoming the highest ruler in the Soviet Union.

  As for Baili's hint, Chusnan didn't take it to heart, but he couldn't just laugh it off on the surface either. He still can't leave without the support of this old fox in front of him, and his help will play a crucial role in his future plans.

  "Hehe, you're right, I, Chu Si Nan, am absolutely not a person who doesn't know the times," Chu Si Nan put down the knife in his hand and said with a smile, "I'm willing to stand in the same trench as you and dedicate all my strength to the Soviet revolutionary cause."

  "Just...," Chu Si Nan said up to here, paused for a moment, and revealed a hesitant look.

  "What's that?" Belial said with a smile, although he didn't like clever people, but being able to talk to clever people who didn't threaten him made him feel happy.

  "It's just that I've only recently joined the revolution and don't have much experience fighting against class enemies," Chu Si Nan said with a pretentious tone, "I'm worried that in the future there will be some problems, or maybe I won't be able to find my own target to deal with."

  "Oh, that's no problem." Belya's smile grew even brighter as he chuckled and said, "I can arrange for a comrade with rich fighting experience to help you. I have many experienced comrades here who will be of great assistance to you, and it will also make it easier for us to get in touch with each other."

  "Oh, who is it? Let me take a look first." Chu Si Nan leaned back lazily and said.

  "Come on!" Beriah shouted with obvious enthusiasm.

  "Comrade Belya." The door opened and a young soldier came in saying.

  "Have someone go get Glinnev and the others, everyone, and tell them I have something to discuss." Belya said without turning around.

  "Yes." The soldier responded and walked out.

  Chu Si Nan looked at the old fox with a faint gaze, he naturally knew why this guy was so enthusiastic, he just wanted to arrange an informant by his side. Chu Si Nan wasn't worried about it, what's the big deal about having an informant?

  After a few minutes, someone knocked on the door.

  "Come in," said Bellairs.

  As the voice fell, several people walked in from front to back. Chu Si Nan took a look and found that the first person was an old acquaintance, Glinka, who had put him here more than a month ago. Thinking about it, Chu Si Nan felt that he should thank him properly. If not for him, how could he have had a month of military training and even met Belia, and even entered the Kremlin Palace to get close to Stalin? This time when Glinka saw Chu Si Nan, his expression was somewhat unnatural, even worried, fearing that Chu Si Nan would take revenge on him.

  Among these people, Chu Si Nan also saw Klyuchkov walking at the end. This young and extremely ambitious guy was now signaling to himself with Belia, but he didn't know what it meant.

  "Comrade Chu Si Nan, you see, these are the most capable comrades under my command at present," said Beilia with a smile after everyone stood along the long dining table.

  "Hmm, not bad, not bad," Chu Si Nan nodded and said with a fake smile, "Actually, you didn't need to alarm everyone, just calling Comrade Greenov would have been enough. I've taken a liking to him, and from now on, he can be the one to guide me."

  After saying this, Chu Si Nan seemed to glance over carelessly, but happened to catch the joyful expression on Gulinayev's face and the disappointment on Klyuchkov's.

  "Ah, you have a good eye for talent," Belia smiled, "Comrade Grennev is one of the most clever and resourceful under my command, very capable and cautious, just right for this job."

  "Oh, really?" Chu Si Nan said with a seemingly surprised tone, "I just thought Glinkov had an impressive air about him, the kind of person who has big ambitions in his heart, so I chose him. I didn't expect him to be so capable. It seems that from now on, I'll have to rely on him even more. I dare say that in the not-too-distant future, Comrade Glinkov will... Oh, never mind, never mind. Let's just decide it like this: from now on, let Comrade Glinkov assist me."

  Chu Si Nan finished speaking, and with a gaze full of admiration, he looked at Glinka, nodding slightly. Looking at Glinka's expression again, the joy that was there at the beginning had completely disappeared, on the contrary, his usually radiant old face turned pale as if he had lost too much blood. As for Belyaev, the flash of murderous intent in his eyes almost escaped no one's notice.

  "Alright, everything has been decided," Chu Si Nan was very satisfied with the effect he had created. He stood up from his chair, wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin and said, "I think I'll go back and rest first. If Comrade Bellia decides to send me off at any time, just have Comrade Grinev come find me."

  "Oh, all right, I'll arrange it as soon as possible." Belyaeva said absent-mindedly. "Kryuchkov, go and arrange a more comfortable room for Comrade Chusunan."

  Kryuchkov nodded and then opened the door for Chuslanov who had walked up to it.

  "Comrade Chusin, that was a nice move. This time, even if Comrade Belyaev didn't entirely believe what you said, Glinkin won't have any good days either." Kryuchkov said sincerely as they walked down the empty corridor.