In an ordinary residential area in Almaty, a Khrushchev building that has been around for some years has been bought in its entirety, and then many Chinese of all kinds have lived in one after another.

Some of them are fluent in Russian, others are not even fluent in Mandarin, but each has one thing in common: a pair of shrewd and eager eyes on their faces.

However, among these "gold diggers" who came either actively or passively, there was one room in which the occupants behaved quite abnormally, and it can even be said that they were completely blind to those opportunities to make a fortune, and even "stayed" in a foreign country.

The one who took the idea was a young man who listened and spoke with a Northeast accent. He was flanked by two rather skilled assistants, one of whom was quite proficient in Russian. It's just that they don't go to get in touch with Kazakh officials, and they don't look for ways to sell their goods.

The young man either stayed in his room all day without seeing anyone, or wandered around the market in Almaty with his assistant. Over time, all sorts of gossip came out. Some people even fell in love with the assistant who was quite fluent in Russian, and wanted to pay a lot of money to poach people.

Who would have thought that when the Soviet Union was still there, the Russian translator was just a bite of a public meal. On the contrary, Su Dongpo has become a talent, and those who can shout two sentences of "Hara whistle" have become talents?

Like this assistant, you would be mistaken for a native Kazakh's master of Russian, but there is no price in the market today.

"This is the most famous Gint on Navoi Street in Almaty, Mr. Hu come and try it!"

Kakkel, who has a slightly Central Asian character and deep facial features, skillfully slices a sausage with a knife and places it on a plate full of Beshbalmak.

Beshbarmak is the Kazakh version of finger lamb, while Günter is a horse sausage with cream mixed with lamb and calf, which has an exotic taste after getting used to this Central Asian diet.

Navoi Street is the most well-known food street in Almaty, and after Hu Wenhai is familiar with Kazakh food, he has some taste of three of them.

After only a few bites, he put the spoon down with a little frown.

Russian translator Kakel was a little stunned, and slowed down his hand to chop vegetables: "What, isn't today's dish the same as Mr. Hu's appetite?"

"No, don't get me wrong, Brother Karkel. ”

Hu Wenhai hurriedly shook his head, but he couldn't help but take a breath: "I've eaten beef and mutton for almost half a month, and I have a bit of a mouth ulcer......"

Although Northeast people are also big meat eaters, the amount and taste of Northeast cuisine are also very distinctive. However, after eating Kazakhstani dishes with beef and mutton for half a month, there were still some problems with my body.

The fire and bad breath really made Hu Wenhai a little overwhelmed.

"There's no shortage of arable land around Almaty, isn't it? Why is it so difficult to supply vegetables?"

Hu Wenhai also visited a lot of places in Almaty during this time, and the Grand Bazaar was of course the focus of the investigation. In the Grand Bazaar of Almaty, the food supply is not a serious problem for the time being. All kinds of beef and mutton and even pork can be bought.

In addition to meat, a variety of pickles, dried fruits, and fruits are also available. However, only fresh and varied vegetables have become a very precious food here.

Kazakhs and Europeans are similar in that fresh vegetables are quite expensive, and they can't afford to eat meat. However, Europeans cannot afford to eat vegetables, which is artificially expensive and the land is used to grow cash crops, which is a disease of happiness and wealth. But the land area of Kazakhstan is at least 30,000 mu per capita, and the labor after Su Dongpo is extremely cheap, so why can't you eat vegetables?

Kaker, a Kazakh from Qinghe, returned to his hometown after being discharged from the army, and was one of the first local cadres to come into contact with Kazakhstan. Of course, he knows Hu Wenhai's problem.

"Almaty is surrounded by traditional farming and pastoral areas, and of course there is no shortage of arable land. Kakel smiled bitterly, nodded and said, "However, the total population of the entire Almaty, including the surrounding jurisdictions, is less than two million. ”

"Unlike Europe, which is too expensive to eat vegetables, Kazakhstan is so small that not only is there a problem with the supply of vegetables, but in fact in the economic structure of the Soviet Union it cannot meet all the products except livestock and oil. ”

"Hmmm......"

Hu Wenhai touched his chin, which was already a little stubble, and nodded clearly.

If he hadn't seen Almaty up close with his own eyes, he wouldn't have believed it was the truth.

I have long heard of the obsession with the industrial division of labor within the Soviet Union, but after all, there is no accurate understanding. It was only during this time of living in Almaty that Hu Wenhai really realized what the collapse of the Soviet Union meant for Kazakhstan.

The Chinese railway to Alashankou was only opened in 1990, and trade between China and Kazakhstan has only just begun. Kazakhstan's entire national survival needs are inseparable from the supply of industrial products from the USSR - or rather, Russia.

This division of labor is also reflected in the fact that Kazakhs rely mainly on canned food for their daily diet of green vegetables, and there is very little local supply of fresh vegetables. In the past, of course, there was no problem when the Soviet Union was still able to play a role, but now that Russia is too busy to take care of itself, the Kazakhs will suddenly have no way to continue on the dinner table.

Nazarbayev's all-round fall towards Russia is both a political calculation and a helpless move.

If not, with the current situation of Kazakhstan's three north-south directions and the lack of east-west railways, I am afraid that canned peas will not be able to afford to eat sooner or later.

Thinking of this, Hu Wenhai vaguely had a little idea in his mind. He simply threw down the spoon in his hand, then picked up the pen and quickly wrote down the fleeting thoughts on the tablecloth.

……

It wasn't until the summer temperature in Almaty began to cool down that Hu Wenhai finally waited for the news he had been waiting for for a long time.

At the 14th congress just held in China, a figure that can be said to be "very young" appeared in the front row of the conference.

China is not without a 54-year-old ministerial-level leading cadre, but Fu Zhihuan is still too dazzling to serve as the head of such an important department as the Ministry of Railways at such an age.

But for such an outcome, in fact, it can be said that there is no suspense.

From Zhuzhou Institute to Chief Engineer, a series of railway speed-up technologies have been solved all the way, from electric locomotives, 10,000-ton heavy loads to railway communications. Then go down to the Shengjing Bureau to engage in business to promote the reform of railway freight, and finally pull a ticket to the section bureau to engage in large loans and heavy-load transformation, Fu Zhihuan's resume can be said to be quite satisfactory. From the day the Daqin line was officially opened to traffic, anyone who was a little sensitive to the situation knew that this position was already in his pocket.

The difference is just that when will this position be sat on the bottom of Fu Zhihuan's buttocks.

However, in the past few years, with the huge profitability of the white embroidery thread and the comprehensive integration of the entire Bohai Rim Railway section with the Dongfeng Express system, the expected date for Fu Zhihuan to take this step has been continuously advanced.

In September of this year, the old leaders of the Ministry of Railways took the initiative to retire due to physical reasons. So it is not surprising that there is finally a young figure in the first three rows of this conference.

Well, 54 years old in this position is really very young.

With Fu Zhihuan's age, if he can't take a step forward, it is entirely possible to sit in this position for ten years. And if he can maintain the current growth rate of railway development during his tenure, it is not impossible to take another step.

Age not only means years of service, but also authority at work. Fu Zhihuan took this step, and as a close partner all along, Hu Wenhai's pattern here suddenly reached a new level.

A lot of work and planning can finally be really started.

By the end of October, the autumn wind had brought news of winter, and Hu Wenhai had lived in Kazakhstan for more than half a year, and finally welcomed a long-awaited guest.

This is Comrade Liu Shuguang, who is ready to serve as the general manager of the newly established China Railway Northwest Bureau Group. ”

"Manager Liu doesn't need to be introduced, I've admired my name for a long time!"

Hu Wenhai looked at the familiar face of the visitor with some surprise, and asked with some confusion: "Shouldn't Manager Liu take over the position of Shengjing Bureau this year? Why did you come to Kazakhstan?"

"I won't talk in secret, and Secretary Fu personally ordered my general. Liu Shuguang didn't seem to have much baggage, and said calmly: "The conditions here in Almaty are much worse than Shengjing, but I am confident that I can get it up, so I came!"

"Okay, good!" Hu Wenhai looked Liu Shuguang up and down and understood the subtext of his words.

The Shengjing Bureau is step-by-step, although the conditions are good, but it doesn't show his ability to do it. Since he, Liu Shuguang, has confidence in himself, as long as the situation is opened up on the Kazakh side, of course he will get far more than step-by-step treatment when he goes back.

It is definitely not possible to take root in Kazakhstan for a short time, this is the advantage brought by Fu Zhihuan's age. Replaced by an old man who can't stay for a few years, how dare Liu Shuguang dare to bet on this vote?

"Since you're here, I'll give you a brief introduction first. ”

Hu Wenhai is very satisfied with the person arranged by Fu Zhihuan, Liu Shuguang, whether it is his resume, ability or personality, is simply tailored to open up the railway artery of Kazakhstan. With such an iron-fisted person pushing this plan, he was somewhat relieved.

"The next step for us is likely to be very difficult, the situation in Kazakhstan is extremely complex, and we may have to engage in a full-scale confrontation with the upper echelons of the entire country. ”