Should foreign demands be met first, or domestic needs? The question raised by Comrade Shevalyov might trouble mid-level leadership, but before the high-level leadership of the Soviet Central Committee, this was not a problem at all.

Thus, Comrade Shevalyov was quickly subjected to severe criticism, and an explanation was provided to him.

"Comrade Shevalyov, the international trade conducted by the Soviet is not snatching life-saving supplies from the hands of the Russian people to sell abroad. At this stage, we are importing food and medicine from Northeast China. Do you think these will cause people to lose their lives, or allow them to survive?"

This single response left Shevalyov unable to answer. The cadre who had received instructions from the Central Committee continued in a severe tone, listing Shevalyov's derelictions of duty. "Ore needs to be smelted to become usable metal. The Soviet currently lacks metal smelting capacity. Therefore, by exporting ore in exchange for smelted metal, we can quickly resolve domestic shortages. According to the meeting records, you had a strong resistance to this trade, demanding lower prices for imported metal and higher prices for exported ore, which led to the suspension of negotiations. The Party Committee requires you to explain these actions."

Shevalyov felt aggrieved for a moment, but facing the harsh accusation, he used his last bit of stubbornness to stiffly reply, "I hoped to earn more profit for the Soviet."

Having said this, Shevalyov realized from the leader's expression that his thoughts had completely failed to move him. He simply spoke his mind: "Comrade, I loathe capitalists and merchants. They are insatiably greedy and know only how to make money. The people have suffered enough. Why, after the victory of the revolution, must we continue to be exploited by foreign capitalists and merchants! Is this the purpose of our revolution?"

From the perspective of political propaganda, this accusation had some logic and a certain degree of sincerity. However, it could not shake the leader's thinking. Moscow had already decided to trade with the Northeast to fill the gap in domestic needs as soon as possible.

Whether it was agricultural products or industrial goods, the level of scarcity within Russia had reached a dangerous point. After Comrade Shevalyov finished speaking, the leader informed him of the handling decision already determined by superiors. "Comrade Shevalyov, in view of your work results, the organization has decided to remove you from all posts. Effective immediately."

In addition to Comrade Shevalyov, the entire negotiation team was dismissed. A negotiation team composed of a group of new comrades set off immediately to continue negotiations with the Northeast Government.

The Northeast Government had long been prepared for such an outcome. The External Affairs Bureau had received materials collected from Germany and from Chinese diplomatic personnel stationed in Russia over the years. Comparing the two, the Northeast External Affairs Bureau and the statistics department found that the data on Russia's historical export commodity prices provided by the German side was more abundant and accurate.

With these materials, the pricing of commodities in Sino-Russian trade became more actionable. Director Han Haitao of the Price Bureau had originally completed the Price Bureau's initial work by collecting old data. Now, the work of the Northeast Price Bureau had entered a new stage: determining the reasonable range of prices through various production, transportation, and storage costs.

Seeing this large amount of translated data, Director Han Haitao, although knowing he would need quite a few sleepless nights to organize and analyze it, felt his confidence rise significantly.

The work was not yet finished when his youngest son came to the Price Bureau to ask if Han Haitao was coming home for dinner. Han Haitao thought something might have happened at home and asked, "Is something wrong with your mother?"

"Dad, Mom said today is your 41st birthday and she wants to have a meal with you," the youngest son replied.

"...Oh, it's my birthday." Han Haitao felt a warmth in his heart. As it happened, today's work schedule had been completed smoothly. Han Haitao told his son to go home, and he took out his wallet, emptying all the money inside to give to his son. "Tell your mother not to go to the trouble of cooking. Buy some dishes outside and have her make a soup."

After getting off work, Han Haitao headed straight home. It had been a long time since he had returned home so early, and Han Haitao suddenly felt an arrow-like urgency to return. Passing a pastry shop and smelling the aroma from inside, he couldn't help but go in. He had already picked out the pastries, but when he took out his wallet to look, there wasn't even a copper coin left inside. Only then did he remember he had given all the money to his son.

Han Haitao said somewhat awkwardly to the shop assistant, "Sorry, I don't want the pastries anymore. I made you work for nothing."

Just as he was about to leave, the pastry shop owner came out from the back carrying a large tray of freshly made pastries. The owner had known Han Haitao several years ago when Han Haitao had just become a temporary tax commissioner. Later, because his children were going to school, he moved from Siping to Shenyang. Continuing his pastry business in Shenyang, seeing Han Haitao about to leave, the owner hurriedly put down the tray. "Brother Han, don't go. What's wrong? Are the pastries not good?"

Han Haitao gave a dry laugh. "No, I have something urgent."

The owner didn't know what the matter was, but he grabbed a bag of already wrapped pastries and tried to stuff them into Han Haitao's hands. "Brother Han, for so many years, you've always looked after my business. Take the pastries, they're on the house."

How could Han Haitao accept? He could only darken his face. "Brother, I know you mean well. But you also know our government's rules. It's not appropriate."

The owner certainly knew the Northeast Government's rules and naturally agreed with them immensely. Precisely because of this, he truly wanted to be closer to Han Haitao. Grabbing Han Haitao's arm, the owner sighed, "Brother Han, what exactly is going on? If my pastries don't suit your taste, just say it clearly."

Han Haitao had to explain. "I forgot to bring money today."

Hearing this, the owner laughed out loud. "Brother Han, you call this a problem? Just send the money over whenever you have time."

"Not appropriate, not appropriate." Han Haitao hurriedly refused. Having worked his way up to Director of the Price Bureau, doing so would really not be good for him.

Seeing Han Haitao like this, the owner didn't insist. He just praised, "Brother Han, the current government is truly good. I won't say more. How about this, I'll send someone to deliver it to your home."

After being told this, Han Haitao just smiled and took his leave. After stepping out the door, he suddenly remembered something. Recently, the delivery profession had appeared in Shenyang, which indeed relieved many people of their worries. However, there were always people with unclean hands, and quite a few incidents had occurred. With many people reporting crimes, the Public Security Bureau was very annoyed. He wondered how this matter would be handled.

If these matters were allowed to pop up every day, the masses would have significant complaints. But if they really arrested people like that, the pressure on the public security system would explode. It was truly difficult.

Walking home empty-handed, he smelled the aroma of stir-fry as soon as he entered the door. His wife had not bought a table of food but had cooked personally.

Sure enough, half a table of dishes was already set, and the children were taking advantage of their mother's absence to steal bites. Seeing Han Haitao return, they all hurriedly pretended they hadn't been stealing food.

Although Han Haitao knew that according to the old rules, what the children were doing was wrong, he felt absolutely no anger in his heart.

Calling his children together, he had them stand in a row. As their father, Han Haitao began to lecture them. "If you want to eat, sit down and eat. Don't steal food. Understand?! You want to eat because you are hungry. Being hungry is not shameful. Stealing food is shameful. Don't do shameful things!"

The children could accept such a reprimand, but the eldest still said, "Dad, Mom will scold us."

"Just start eating, I'll talk to your mother in a bit," Han Haitao said, leading the children to their seats and watching the starving kids eat.

It was truly a case of 'half-grown lads eat a father out of house and home.' The kids swept through the food on the table like a gust of wind. Watching them, Han Haitao felt both joy and a bit of sadness.

Speaking of which, Han Haitao couldn't be considered a poor man back in Siping. But feeding the children was truly a huge pressure. Back then, it wasn't his wife's turn to scold the children; Han Haitao would scold them himself. Thinking back now, Han Haitao only felt he had let his children down.

As for the reason, Han Haitao had studied it in party classes over the past few years. This was the benefit of party classes: they would discuss problems encountered in life and provide answers.

Take Han Haitao as an example. Back then, it wasn't that he lacked the ability to let his children eat their fill. But in a situation of social turmoil and chaotic order, letting children eat their fill every day would easily attract the attention of others. Attracting attention would trigger jealousy and malice, and all sorts of trouble would follow.

In the ideology of the Civilization Party, there was a clear division between New China and Old China. New China is an industrial country; politics, economy, and culture all operate based on an industrialized New China. Naturally, adjustments, innovations, and even revolutions must be carried out. Characters from the culture of Old China, which represented the agricultural economic model, could not be directly used for analogy.

However, Han Haitao still agreed with Guan Zhong's words: 'When the granaries are full, the people know propriety and etiquette; when food and clothing are sufficient, they know honor and shame.' Only those who have experienced eras of scarcity and turmoil possess the tolerance that people in eras of abundance and affluence have.

While he was watching the children gorge themselves, Han Haitao's wife brought out another dish. Seeing that the children had already started shoveling rice, she immediately became unhappy.

Han Haitao immediately applied his work methods, first inviting his wife to sit down, then bringing a basin of water for her to wash her hands. Realizing he hadn't brought a towel, he ran to get one for her to wipe her hands. Now his wife couldn't just keep losing her temper and could only scold the children for their lack of manners with the air of a matriarch.

Han Haitao sat down and persuaded, "I haven't eaten, just waiting to eat with you. Come, Madam, have a drink."

Although his wife was not so angry anymore, her anger had not fully dissipated. "You've been more and more indulgent with them these past two years. With such table manners, how can they sit at a table when they go out in the future?"

Han Haitao laughed. "A while ago, I had a meal with Chairman He and the others. We ate mutton hot pot. At the time, I couldn't hold back and started showing off the rule of 'Seven Up Eight Down'. Someone saw that Chairman He actually didn't appreciate this rule and asked him why he didn't like it."

Han Haitao's wife was startled and asked carefully, "How did you make Chairman He unhappy?"

Han Haitao waved his hand. "Let me finish. Chairman He isn't as petty as you."

Han Haitao's wife rolled her eyes at him. Although He Rui held high power and authority, being snubbed by her husband right in front of her made Mrs. Han unhappy.

However, Han Haitao's children, having eaten for a while and having some food in their bellies, slowed down their eating speed upon hearing the adults discuss what had happened, listening seriously.

Han Haitao also felt deeply. Everyone in the government knew that He Rui did not tolerate sand in his eyes, yet he was extremely easygoing. Even if there were things He Rui didn't like, he wouldn't be without a proper reason. Moreover, He Rui's views were always very grounded.

"Sigh..." With a sigh, Han Haitao continued, "Chairman He said that the rule of 'Seven Up Eight Down' is 'poverty etiquette' (fussy particularities of the poor). For us normal humans, putting a whole plate of meat into the pot and eating it however we want—that is true refreshment. Poverty etiquette wasn't wrong in an era of material scarcity, but refreshment is what we truly like. Eating meat in large mouthfuls, drinking wine from large bowls—this is refreshment. If someone objects, I also hope the reason for their objection is that they don't particularly like eating meat and drinking wine. Not because of poverty etiquette."

Mrs. Han didn't quite understand the meaning of these words for a moment, frowning slightly in thought. But she couldn't figure out what He Rui meant.

Han Haitao's children, on the other hand, understood. The second child praised, "I just like eating meat."

Mrs. Han scolded almost instinctively, "Eat! Eat! You only know how to eat!"

Han Haitao not only understood his wife's reaction very well but had also attended a study session on this issue. The study session had proposed the concept of the 'Living Coefficient'.

One part of it concerned the proportion of residents' expenditure on food, clothing, and housing relative to their income. The proportion for food is currently high, really high. According to the lectures, this is because China's level of industrialization is too low. The higher the level of industrialization, the monetary payment for food, especially for protein intake like meat, will increase, but its share in income will decrease.

If the proportion of spending on a normal, nutritious diet drops below 20%, it proves that the country has entered a high level of industrialization.

In the current figures, let alone eating meat fully, even at a level of simply not going hungry, household food expenditure accounts for more than 50% of income.

Han Haitao hadn't expected a meal to trigger such emotion in himself, but on second thought, it wasn't strange. Recently, Han Haitao had been busy with these matters every day, especially stimulated by the Soviet trade representatives.

Downing his cup of wine in one gulp, the alcohol went to his head, and Han Haitao couldn't help but outburst a little. "What is dignity? Dignity is being open and aboveboard, straight and direct. Not deceiving others, not deceiving oneself. Treating others well, treating oneself well! Poverty etiquette, indeed, wasn't wrong back then. Because if some things were said plainly, it would still hurt one's face! Right, what was that saying again? Something about 'Tao'... Number Two, go to the study and bring out the *Analects*."

Mrs. Han knew her husband's alcohol tolerance was just like this; two cups and he'd be tipsy. Seeing him like this, she couldn't say much. The second child, no longer hungry, ran excitedly to the study and quickly brought out the *Analects*.

Han Haitao flipped through it noisily for a moment, found the passage, and read aloud: "'When a country is well-governed, poverty and a mean condition are things to be ashamed of. When a country is ill-governed, riches and honor are things to be ashamed of.'"

After finishing, he slapped the book onto the table and continued loudly, "This means that if the national system is very good, and one still ends up poor and lowly, this is a shame for that person. If the national system is chaotic, and a person is wealthy and noble, that person is shameful! That bunch in the Manchu Qing court were a group of shameless people. But back in the Qing Dynasty, foreigners were blocking our doors and beating us every day. When the country encountered a bit of disaster, tens or hundreds of thousands would starve to death at the drop of a hat. Although millions or tens of millions didn't starve to death, they merely *didn't starve to death*, which wasn't much different from dying. Yet those people still cared about their dignity. What dignity! They truly didn't want their faces anymore!"

Although the children didn't quite understand the meaning of these words, they could understand the basic gist. Moreover, seeing their father's charmingly drunk appearance, they found it amusing and nodded repeatedly along with him.

Han Haitao's chest was indeed surging with emotion. When he followed He Rui, he hadn't thought of any great wealth or honor. At that time, He Rui was just the Siping Military Governor and didn't count for much in the Northeast. Seeing that He Rui was willing to do things for the poor and could manage public security in Siping so that everyone could live a life without worrying too much about accidents, Han Haitao indeed felt a sense of gratitude.

Another reason was that if Han Haitao didn't want to follow He Rui specifically, he would have been dismissed by the government. For various reasons, this former small teahouse owner gave up his past life and became a civil servant.

A few years later, Han Haitao had different thoughts. These thoughts erupted under the stimulation of this year's great drought in the North and the Russian trade negotiation team.

Facing his children, Han Haitao said loudly, "We are going to build a New China. In New China, everyone must not only eat their fill and dress warmly but eat well, drink well, and dress well. They must go to school and understand reason. If foreigners dare to invade China, we will beat them until they surrender. If there are bad people in the country, we will arrest them and sentence them! I, and others, will follow Chairman He to build such a country, letting you live in such a country! So, you must study hard and be dignified people. What is dignity? It is not deceiving others, not deceiving oneself. Treating others well, treating oneself well. Did you hear me?"

"Heard you," the boys answered immediately.

It was Han Haitao's daughter who, after saying "Heard you," added, "Dad, today is your birthday. Wishing Daddy happiness as immense as the Eastern Sea, and longevity as high as the Southern Mountains."

Because of work, Han Haitao's emotions had not returned to family life. Hearing his daughter say this now, his nose suddenly soured, and tears threatened to burst forth. Han Haitao hurriedly raised his hand to cover his eyes, not wanting the children to see him cry.

Seeing Han Haitao suddenly cry, his wife and children, although knowing he wasn't crying from sadness, hurriedly came forward to comfort him.

Han Haitao's emotions, however, did not calm down. He was forty-one years old, an age where the yellow earth was buried up to his chest. For the better part of this life, he had suffered hardships and endured sins. Living until now by dealing carefully with life, Han Haitao hadn't cried much since adulthood. Surviving with a hardened heart was difficult enough; where would he have the mind to cry?

But today, at this moment, Han Haitao found that his past life was so unbearable. The heart that had once been forced to be strong had become so sensitive and tender. Feeling how precious his current life was, Han Haitao just couldn't help but shed tears.