Although Ligachev's staff officer Valery was reluctant, he had to take the initiative to contact Yegor Gaidar according to Ligachev's wishes.

Speaking of which, the two didn't actually know each other when they were in school, but they only got to know each other a little later after joining the work. Among the graduates of Moscow State University, the 29-year-old senior adviser to the State Commission for Economic Restructuring was naturally a successful among his classmates, but the opportunity to work next to Ligachev was clearly more promising than that of a consultant.

But now, Valery is going to personally send his old classmate to the position of deputy editor-in-chief of the newspaper Izvestia.

Valery flipped through his alumni directory, which he hadn't opened for a long time, and found Gaidar's personal phone. Then one Friday night he called Gaidar's home.

"Valery? I'm sorry, but which Valery are you? Gaidar, who received the call, heard the other party report his home, but he couldn't remember who Valery was.

"Huh? I am from the Faculty of Economics of Moscow State University, and when you were a graduate student, I also studied for a PhD degree at the university. After graduating, I was assigned to work in the Secretariat of the Central Committee! Valery hurriedly reminded. Although he was extremely angry in his heart, his tone remained calm.

"Ah~~! I remember, it's Valery senpai! Look at my brain, how did I forget you, I'm really obsessed. Senior Valery, long time no see, how are you doing? Gaidar said with a sudden realization.

"I'm not like that, but you, now you are the chief economist of the Foreign Trade Bank, and you are the best among my graduates!" Valery complimented Gaidar.

"Senior Valery, you're not right! It's not me who mixes the best, it's my boss, Minister Ulyanov, have you forgotten that Minister Ulyanov is from the chemistry department of our school? Gaidar modestly corrected.

"Alright, you're not bad either! Chief Economist, if you have time on the weekend, I would like you to give a lecture to the staff of the General Office of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee on the problems of the Western economic system. Everyone knows that your Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation is an expert in this field! ”

"No problem!" Gaidar simply agreed. The two agreed to meet the next afternoon. Valery will personally drive to pick up Gaidar and wait until the end of the course before going for a drink together. Valery put down the phone and sat down in his chair in pain.

In the afternoon of the next day, Valery took Gaidar to the Supreme Soviet, and the two-hour course was simply stress-free for Gaidar. After the course, it was already about six o'clock in the afternoon, Valery booked a room at the Moscow hotel, and drove straight to the hotel with Gaidar.

"Come on, come on, we haven't seen each other for a long time, we must have a good drink tonight, don't worry, even if you are drunk, just open a room in the hotel and rest for a while!" Valery was hospitable.

This big meal is reimbursed by the Secretariat, and Valery will naturally not be stingy. Although there are not many kinds of dishes, the ingredients are all imported top ingredients. Gaidar was naturally satisfied with Valery's hospitality, and the two of them drank for a long time, each feeling a little drunk. Valery saw the opportunity and suddenly said to Gaidar: "Senior Brother Yegor, how are you doing in the Foreign Trade Bank, you will be able to become a vice president in a few years, right?" ”

"How...... How can it be? Vice President? Now I'm not even as good as Ulyanov's secretary, he just asks me to help him draft some articles and plans every day, it's all a pen-and-stick job. His number one secretary, Nastya, was sent to the United Kingdom to take charge of the business of the Foreign Trade Bank in the United Kingdom, and I can't compare with others! Gaidar replied drunkenly.

"Junior brother, since you are so unhappy, do you plan to change places?" Valery asked, following Gaidar's meaning.

"Huh, change places, change places?" Gaidar asked disdainfully, although he complained that he was not being reused, but the treatment of the Foreign Trade Bank was notoriously good.

"What do you think of going to Izvestia as deputy editor-in-chief?" Valery asked suddenly.

"Ahh Are you kidding me? Gaidar was stunned for a moment, and suddenly realized who the other party was, and suddenly half of the wine was sober.

"No, no kidding! I'll be honest with you, that's what Secretary Ligachev meant! He cherishes you as a talent, and did you know that the deputy editor-in-chief of Izvestia is at the level of deputy minister, and your boss Ulyanov is now an official at this level! Valery said in a deep voice.

"On what terms?" Gaidar was tempted, and he couldn't wait to ask.

"Secretary Ligachev wants to know why VTB is doing everything possible to obstruct our audit work! After the deed, the deputy editor-in-chief of Izvestia will be you! Valery replied.

"Let me think about it!" Gaidar felt that he had drunk alcohol today, and it was not suitable for him to think about such a big issue, so he did not agree immediately, but hoped to think about it when he was sober.

"It's okay, contact me again when you have a decision, this kind of opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and smart people know how to choose! You're just here to take a break tonight, and the room is already booked anyway! Valery agreed.

The meal was not interesting after eating, and the two of them drank a few more glasses of wine and went back to rest. As soon as he returned to the room, Gaidar filled the bathtub with cold water, and then a fierce man sat inside.

The cold water brought Gaidar to his senses, and he lit a cigarette and sat down in the bathtub, pondering and thinking until dawn.

Early the next morning, Gaidar, who had been thinking all night, had already made a decision. He arrived at the unit on time and changed into a brand new shirt and suit. Then he walked straight to the door of Minister Ulyanov's office and knocked lightly.

"Please come in!" Seryosha replied.

Gaidar pushed open the door and walked inside. Seryosha was a little surprised to see that it was Gaidar, and he motioned for Gaidar to sit on the sofa, and then asked the outside staff to bring something to drink. Then he asked: "Comrade Gaidar, is there anything going on?" ”

"Minister Ulyanov, last night Ligachev's senior adviser and my old classmate Valery invited me to dinner, and they wanted me to inquire about the foreign exchange of the Foreign Trade Bank, and promised me that once something was found out, they would arrange for me to be the deputy editor-in-chief of Izvestia...... Gaidar said to Seryosha in 1510, and the more Seryosha listened, the more confused he became, and he couldn't understand why Gaidar was so loyal to him.