I farmed in military academy and crushed the entire intergalactic world.

Chapter 594 A Banging Fist
"What? Sobchak lost the election?"

The news quickly spread throughout the leadership of Liaoyang Province. Ordinary staff members probably just joined in the fun, treating it as a minor piece of foreign news.

The members of the enterprise reform team in Liaoyang Province felt as if they had been hit by a flying punch from the sky, and were extremely disheartened.

The secretaries carried the food from the cafeteria, walking quietly, to the smoke-filled conference room.

The provincial enterprise reform task force holds a meeting every month. Last month, the enterprise reform in Tienan District made progress, and the atmosphere at the meeting was particularly harmonious.

This time, the air in the conference room seemed to freeze, making it hard to breathe.

Vice Governor An stood up irritably, opened a window to let in some fresh air, and said to himself or others, "Enterprise reform is a long-term task. We can't rush it; we need patience."

The director of the provincial finance bureau, his brows furrowed like a caterpillar, puffed on a cigarette at his desk.

The good news is that the enterprise reform process in Tienan District is progressing steadily, which proves that the organization's decision to give Lin Xiaohe important responsibilities was correct and has achieved results far exceeding expectations.

The bad news is that St. Petersburg Mayor Sobchak lost the election, and the new mayor invited Putin to continue serving as deputy mayor, but Putin refused.

Because Sobchak was Putin's mentor, Putin was unwilling to serve his mentor's mortal enemy.

The touching teacher-student relationship demonstrates Putin's loyalty.

But not a single person present could smile and praise him!

Vice Governor An took a deep breath and returned to his seat: "Comrade Lin Xiaohe proposed a three-step approach to enterprise reform in the Tienan District. The first two are progressing steadily, but the most crucial one has run into trouble. What do you all think we should do?"

In Lin Xiaohe's plan, the third step is also the most crucial step.

According to Lin Xiaohe's plan, initially, companies such as Shenyang Blower Works Group would be the vanguard, and through Putin's connections, they would secure the technology improvement contract from the St. Petersburg refinery.

After laying the foundation through 1-2 years of cooperation, we aim to capture a large portion of the service market for Russian oil refineries.

Lin Xiaohe is very optimistic about Putin's political career and firmly believes that he can enter the power center of the Russian state.

Therefore, Lin Xiaohe had already made grand promises to the leaders well in advance.

Once Putin took a high position, Lin Xiaohe integrated the scattered state-owned enterprises in the Tienan District into a unified negotiating entity against the Russian bear.

Everyone in the conference room looked down at the last item on the agenda, which was Lin Xiaohe's newly submitted proposal.

Lin Xiaohe applied to the provincial government for approval to establish a Sino-Malaysian Energy Equipment Cooperation Leading Group in the Tienan District, and invited the heads of CNPC Liaoning Sales Company and Liaoyang Petrochemical to serve as advisors.

Attached to the proposal was a "White Paper on the Oil and Gas Equipment Supply Capacity of the Russian Bear Country," which included a capacity survey of regional enterprises such as Shenyang Blower Works Group and a roadmap for technological improvement. The data was detailed, and it was almost as if you could just follow it.

This demonstrates the importance Lin Xiaohe placed on securing the oil and gas supply project with Russia, and the efforts he made.

The fans on the roof of the conference room whirred. The summer in the provincial capital was exceptionally hot. Their white shirts were soaked with sweat and clung to their skin. The leaders, however, paid no attention to the sticky discomfort. After frowning and pondering for a moment, they began to speak.

"The international situation is changing rapidly. The United States has imposed sanctions on Russia. If we insist on doing so, it may cause a diplomatic dispute."

If there are not enough benefits and there is no guarantee that the deal will be reached, then there is no need to waste time and energy pushing this project forward.

"I agree. Our reform efforts have only just begun to make some progress; there's no need to take such a big risk."

Lin Xiaohe's pancakes were big, round, and delicious, but the key was that one main ingredient was missing.

Instead of forcing yourself to make pancakes, you might as well use the flour meant for pancakes to make steamed buns or mantou.

Steamed buns and mantou aren't as big as flatbreads, but they can still fill you up.

Let's vote.

Swish, swish, swish, unanimously approved.

……

In St. Petersburg, after Mayor Sobchak's defeat in the re-election election, the power structure of the entire city was redrawn overnight. In the mayor's office at the Smolny Institute, Sobchak signed the last document and placed his pen on the table.

Putin across from him remained expressionless, but his fingers trembled slightly.

The people outside seemed impatient and brought in the new mayor's office supplies before Sobnik had completely left the office.

The table, chairs, and filing cabinets were all left behind; Putin only took a group photo.

That was a candid photo of them and Lin Xiaohe at the port.

The two walked out of the building in silence and looked at each other at the door.

Sobchak: "You should have stayed."

Putin lowered his eyes: "I'm sorry, I can't do it."

Sobchak sighed, "Good luck, son."

Immediately after Sobchak officially stepped down as mayor, he faced accusations and a criminal investigation from the new mayor regarding his abuse of power.

All Sobchak could do was push Putin far away from this vortex.

Putin clenched his fists tightly and watched silently as Sobchak was led away by the police.

When the tide of power recedes, what remains is often not sand, but reefs.

Unable to stay in St. Petersburg, Putin moved with his family to an old villa in the suburbs.

The yard was overgrown with weeds, and the roof leaked in several places. Lyudmila, the wife, silently caught water in a plastic basin, the sound of dripping water echoing in the empty room like a slow and heavy countdown.

Things seemed to get worse, worse than before he entered politics.

Those subordinates who once flattered him and pledged their loyalty now avoid him like the plague.

What was even more embarrassing was the financial straits. The deputy mayor's savings quickly ran out.

He went to the market to buy vegetables, and the old lady selling vegetables recognized him and muttered, "Isn't he quite the talker on TV?"

He didn't say anything back, and walked away with the potatoes. The neighbor's child watched him from the fence, his eyes bright. He smiled at the child, but the child ran away.

One by one, the people I trusted most came to my door.

Dmitry, the personal translator, carried a bag of bread. Behind him stood Victor, the head of security, silently in the doorway, like a silent wall.

The old advisor, Igor, brought a few books and a pot of tea. The three of them sat around the table, and no one mentioned the future.

His wife and children couldn't sleep well at night and would often cry secretly. The huge change in their lives was unbearable for them.

His wife complained to him, asking why he had refused the new mayor's invitation.
Like a lone traveler in the dark, Putin silently persists in his choices; perhaps, he will continue to live like this for the rest of his life.

What changed everything was a phone call late at night.

Lin Xiaohe called from the East, her voice full of energy: "Hey, my dear friend, how about being the head of the trading company in the Bear Country?"

Putin was slightly taken aback: "I'm no longer the deputy mayor, so I can't help you."

"Huh?!" Lin Xiaohe exclaimed in surprise. "Oh, my friend, I've always believed that power is just the least significant shining point you have. Your ability and character are your greatest strengths."

The voice on the other end of the phone carried a certain warmth characteristic of Northeast China.

Putin looked out at the birch forest, a hint of tenderness in his eyes: "Thank you for your invitation, but I'm sorry, I cannot accept your kindness."

The political turmoil has not yet subsided, and his appointment as the person in charge will only bring trouble to Lin Xiaohe.

"Alright, alright," Lin Xiaohe said helplessly. "As a friend, I'm inviting you to come to Dongguo to relax, is that alright? Bring your family and brothers and experience a different kind of Eastern charm."