Chen Lan watched Xu Mingxuan nod again, then let out a long sigh. "Oh my god! It's so hard to give something away for free! I'm truly working hard for nothing!"
Xu Mingxuan looked at Chen Lan's exaggerated and playful expression, and asked in a low voice, "Lan'er, do we really need to do this?"
Xiang Xi also chimed in softly, "Yeah! Xiao Lan Zi, it's not that serious, is it? It's not as complicated as you think! We're giving it to them for free, so why go through all this trouble? Is it really necessary?"
Chen Lan listened to their words and looked at their indifferent faces with a serious expression. "Brother Mingxuan, Watermelon Xi, it's absolutely necessary! Father-in-law said that once the disaster is over and our country hasn't recovered, major events will happen. Someone might use this incident to target Brother Mingxuan, possibly even accuse you of colluding with the enemy and betraying the country. We can't afford to be careless."
As soon as Chen Lan finished speaking, Xu Mingxuan and Xiang Xi involuntarily straightened up. Xiang Xi, unwilling to give up, continued to ask, "Xiao Lan Zi, will there really be people that twisted, insane, and shameless at that time?"
Chen Lan nodded very solemnly. "There will be many more outrageous and unbelievable things than this. For example, children reporting their parents! Spouses reporting each other! Students reporting their teachers! Subordinates reporting their superiors! And most of the accusations will be for fabricated crimes. I'm not exaggerating; it will be a complete mess, with everyone living in fear, not knowing when disaster might strike them."
She then looked at Xiang Xi seriously and said, "Watermelon Xi, father-in-law also told us not to go anywhere during those years. We are to stay put in the valley and wait another seven or eight years until the country is peaceful. Only after that period will our country truly be prosperous and strong."
Chen Lan then turned to Xu Mingxuan with a serious face. "Brother Mingxuan, father-in-law repeatedly emphasized this: a receipt is absolutely necessary for this shipment of supplies! As for the supplies previously sent to the camp, I've already had Zheng Sanpao issue receipts!"
Finishing, Chen Lan pointed to the paper in Xu Mingxuan's hand. "Brother Mingxuan, you must keep this paper safe! And you must distance yourself from this matter, proving that you had no knowledge of it. Let those with ill intentions and ulterior motives guess and speculate as much as they want! Let's see if I can't scare them to death!"
After thinking for a moment, she still felt uneasy. "Forget it, Brother Mingxuan. Give me the original, and I'll make several copies in the same style." She then took out the gloves, carbon black pen, and A4 paper she had just put into the system's storage, and replicated the process five times. She gave Xu Mingxuan three copies, kept three for herself, and stored them all in the system's warehouse along with the gloves and pen.
After Chen Lan said and did so much, Xu Mingxuan couldn't help but believe her, because everything Chen Lan had said had come true.
Xu Mingxuan pondered for a while with his head down, then said with a serious expression, "Lan'er, to ensure there are no loopholes in this matter, I'm afraid you'll have to bear some extra expense this time."
Chen Lan looked at Xu Mingxuan with some confusion, and Xiang Xi also looked at him with a puzzled expression, both waiting for his explanation.
Xu Mingxuan cleared his throat and said in a low voice, "You two should know the idiom: 'It is not poverty that is feared, but inequality.'"
Chen Lan thought for a moment and murmured, "We shouldn't worry about not having enough wealth, but only about unequal distribution of wealth. Brother Mingxuan is right. Everyone is enduring the same harsh environment guarding the border and going hungry. This way, everyone will be more united. If, one day, your side can eat well and have plenty, unequal distribution of wealth will create conflict."
Xiang Xi nodded in agreement. "That makes sense. I'm just afraid that someone might become jealous and cause trouble. If everyone has it, this situation won't happen. This is what they call equality."
Chen Lan then asked, "Brother Mingxuan, how much more supplies do you estimate your outposts need to safely get through the winter? If it's a lot, we'll have to go to the Russians next door."
Xu Mingxuan asked with surprise, "Lan'er, do you really have a way to get grain from the other side?"
Chen Lan nodded very seriously. "As long as I can get to the other side, I have a way to get grain back." Su Dan Novel Network
At this moment, Xiang Xi interjected, "Xiao Lan Zi, do you speak Russian?"
Chen Lan froze. That's right! She didn't speak Russian. Even if she went to the Russians, how could she do business and buy grain if she couldn't understand Russian?
However, this didn't trouble Chen Lan. With the almighty system, she could simply order a simultaneous interpreter from it. So, without a word, Chen Lan immediately opened the system with her thoughts and ordered the best-rated simultaneous interpreter. This device was proficient in dozens of languages, translating accurately and efficiently. Most importantly, it had an offline translation function, making it a portable "translator."
Chen Lan immediately took it out of the system's warehouse, brought it under the torchlight, and adjusted it according to the instructions, ready to test it on the spot.
She then looked at Xu Mingxuan and Xiang Xi and asked, "Which of you speaks Russian? Say a few words to test it."
Seeing Xiang Xi eager to try, she said, "Watermelon Xi, you go first."
Xiang Xi, uncharacteristically shy, touched his nose and said, "I don't know much, just some simple spoken phrases. Xiao Lan Zi, don't laugh at me."
Chen Lan suppressed a smile and nodded seriously. "Okay, I won't laugh. Watermelon Xi, hurry up and say something."
Xiang Xi cleared his throat and began to speak softly: "Lyebba," and the translator immediately displayed "bread, grain, cereals." He continued, "Bladi," and the translator immediately displayed "dress."
Xu Mingxuan found it magical and also said, "Madam," and the translator immediately displayed: "woman, lady, wife"; "Videro" translated to "bucket"; "Suhari" translated to "rusks"; "Bazars" translated to "market."
Hearing this, Chen Lan felt she absolutely had to remember "Bazars" so she could ask for directions when she got to the Russians.
At this thought, she couldn't help but recall a jingle that used to circulate in Harbin in her previous life: "As soon as you reach China Street, the whole street is full of Russian accents, shaking hands, grabbing, touching, all with a good spirit. Holding a madam, drinking vodka. Butter and smetana, lyebba and big bread. Bucket videro, bulb lamp."
The three of them were chatting enthusiastically when Er Zhuang arrived with the ox cart.