Chapter 641 The Era of Turbulent Winds and Clouds
Kurno is a young man living in the Ukrainian countryside in Eastern Europe. His family has a small orchard. Difficult to maintain a family's livelihood.
There are two elder brothers above Kurno, he is the youngest son in the family. Although his parents and brothers take good care of him, he is 18 years old after all this year.
He needs to start planning for his future. Because the current economic situation in Ukraine is not good, half of the country's banks have gone bankrupt, and the government has even lowered the minimum monthly salary of hired workers to $42.5 a month.
The small orchard is already struggling to maintain the family's livelihood, especially after my eldest brother married his wife last year, the burden on the family will be even heavier.
And my sister-in-law is already pregnant, and after my nephew (niece) is born, the burden on the family will be even more difficult.
Kurno walked in the field, picked up a stick of dogtail and waved it irritably.
Do you want to join the army? Kurno thought so, at least if he went to the army, he would be able to take care of his three meals a day and clothing, and get a little allowance every month, although it was not much, it could also subsidize his family.
Or go to Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, for a break? I heard there are still some jobs to be found there.
But Kurno didn't know what he could do, and he didn't seem to know how to do anything except exert his strength. The education level is only junior high school, and after graduating from junior high school, he started to help the family with farm work.
He can drive a tractor, repair a tractor, and do some basic electrical circuits and welding. Because without these basic skills, you can't survive in the countryside.
It is impossible to find maintenance workers after any agricultural machinery breaks down. In that case, most of the annual income would have to be given to the maintenance workers.
I just don’t know if there is any need for tractor maintenance in Kiev? I wonder if repairing a car is the same as repairing a tractor? If it was the same, I might be able to do car maintenance or something.
Kurno thought about these things one after another, and walked towards the direction of home in a stroll. However, something unpleasant happened on the road, and he was almost entangled by some hooligans in the village.
They were unemployed bastards, who just went around stealing things for money every day, or went to the old factory area 30 kilometers away to find building materials and steel that could be dismantled to exchange for money.
That factory area was established in the Soviet era. At that time, it was a tractor factory. It barely operated for ten years after its disintegration, and finally closed down.
Kurno's father used to be an employee of the tractor factory, and this village was originally the family area of the factory. But after the factory closed down, life became more and more difficult.
Just like now, those unemployed young people idle around all day long, and there are not many jobs for young people in a town of 3,000 people.
If you don't want to work hard on the farm, you can only hang out with these village hooligans.
"Go away!" When Kurno was entangled by several hooligans, a voice like thunder came from behind. Kurno's burly elder brother was holding a wrist-thick wooden stick and glaring at those hooligans.
He roared like Hong Zhong: "Go away, you bastards! Stay away from my brother!"
Kurno's eldest brother used to be a soldier, and he was the kind who had killed people on the battlefield. When terrorists were rampant in Eastern Europe, almost most of the CIS countries were harassed.
Thirty-year-old strong man is carrying a thick wooden stick, which is still very daunting. A few hooligans left cursing. Originally, they planned to extort Kurno's only one hundred hryvnia (one hundred hryvnia is about 25 RMB).
"Treat this kind of person, you need to be ruthless! Kurno, if necessary, you need to carry a knife on your body!" After driving away those hooligans, the eldest brother patted his third brother on the shoulder, because After exerting too much force, Kurno's shoulder hurts a bit.
"Take it easy, big brother." Kurno rubbed his shoulders and grinned.
"Why are they pestering you?" the eldest brother asked as he followed Kurno home.
"They saw the money in my pocket." Kurno said a little depressed.
"The one hundred hryvnia? Today is your eighteenth birthday. This is our birthday present for you. You can go to the town and buy something you like. I remember a baseball cap that you like very much. The price is just right." The eldest brother asked while walking towards the house with big strides.
Kurno looked at his elder brother's aging face at the age of 30, hesitant to speak, until he saw his dilapidated but well-maintained house appearing in front of him, he said nah : "I think the family needs this money more than I do. After all, birthdays are celebrated every year."
"And you will need to spend more money after your child is born, big brother. Let's save it."
Kurno's words made the elder brother stunned for a moment. In the end, the elder brother stared at his brother for a long time, and finally couldn't help but sighed and said, "This is your coming-of-age day."
Kurno smiled: "It doesn't matter."
Because it was Kurno's birthday, the family prepared a rich dinner today.
The mother and sister-in-law made red cabbage soup, freshly grilled daliba, fried sausages in butter and stewed pork with mixed vegetables. This is a very hearty dinner, which is usually only prepared at home during festivals.
Father came back late because he had just gone to the city 40 kilometers away to buy fertilizer today.
In the evening, the family sits around the dining table talking and laughing while having a big meal, everyone has smiles on their faces. Everyone is wishing Kurno, and wishing the youngest son in the family a grown-up.
Only Kurno himself clenched his fists tightly under the dining table. When his sister-in-law put a piece of fried sausage into Kurno's dinner plate, Kurno suddenly said in a low voice: "I want Go to the army."
"What?!" It was Kurno's mother who raised the volume suddenly: "What are you talking about?! Say it again!!"
Kurno looked at his parents' white hair and the sumptuous dinner on the table, as if he had made up his mind, he said loudly, "I'm going to be a soldier!"
Kurno's father first stopped his emotional wife, and then asked calmly, "Why?"
"Because, because I'm an adult. I can't stay at home anymore, and the income from the family's orchard is not high. Dad, I saw it when you went to buy fertilizer today, and my mother almost took out most of the family's money. Yes. But now the fruit can’t be sold at a high price, and people in the city don’t have much money to buy fruit to eat. The price of fruit is getting lower every year, and I can’t stay at home anymore!”
The more Kurno said, the more excited his voice became: "If I go to serve as a soldier, I won't need to prepare my food at home. The army will provide food and clothes. There will also be a monthly allowance of several hundred hryvnia. As long as I save , so that when I leave the army, I can bring back a sum of money, just like my elder brother, and I can buy a new tractor for my family!"
boom! The elder brother slapped the table heavily. The elder brother who has always been silent and loves his younger brother looked at Kurno with a very fierce expression and shouted: "Daydreaming! Do you think it is so easy to mess up when you enter the army? With your character and physique , will die in the barracks at any time! It's not a paradise there."
"Especially the previous war with Russia, have you forgotten? For Latvia's new energy, Russia has waged war on us! How many border cities in Ukraine were destroyed? How many soldiers were killed!"
Facing the fierce elder brother, Kurno could only say weakly: "But the war is now over."
"But war may start at any time!" Kurno's mother's voice was very high-pitched, and she was extremely unwilling for her youngest son to enter the barracks: "If you want to be a soldier, you must wait until I die! I don't want to watch my son fight Die on the battlefield!"
The whole family was extremely opposed to Kurno's decision, but Kurno said stubbornly: "But what would I do if I don't become a soldier? I can't go around like those hooligans. I don't want to be like them. Even if I As a factory worker, I also hope to be able to straighten my chest upright."
"Either I will go to Kiev to find my second brother and ask him to help me find a job in Kiev." Kurno mentioned his second brother who works in Kiev.
But the father snorted coldly: "Your second brother himself only worked in a bakery in Kiev, so you also went to be a bakery apprentice?!"
"At least it's better than wasting food at home." Kurno has the stubbornness of a teenager.
But the elder brother who gave Kurno a bad meal before was silent for a while and then said: "Actually, the second brother called me today."
Father still snorted coldly: "Does he still remember having this home? In a big city like Kiev, he has already gotten carried away. He didn't even come back for Christmas last year."
The eldest brother smiled wryly: "Dad, the train ticket is not cheap. The second child is only an apprentice in the bakery, and the monthly salary is very low. Living in Kiev is very expensive, and he can hardly save money. If he wants to come back, he will get the train ticket." He can pay, but the return ticket has to be paid by the family. He just wants to save the family's expenses."
Father snorted and didn't speak, the old man didn't seem very satisfied with this reason.
The eldest brother was also unwilling to persuade his stubborn father, but turned his head to Kurno and said, "Your second brother made a phone call. There is a job recruitment in Kiev that requires a lot of people, and the monthly salary is not low."
Kurno's eyes lit up: "About what? How much is the monthly salary?"
The eldest brother hesitated and said: "It's about building a new high-speed railway. The monthly salary can be three hundred dollars a month, and the settlement is in US dollars instead of hryvnia."
Kurno's sister-in-law is a high school graduate, so she has some knowledge. She said strangely: "High-speed railway? Ukraine still has money to build high-speed railway?"
"If the government has the money to build this, it would be better to rescue those banks that are about to fail. I wanted to save money last month, but the long line of people at the door of the bank are all running for cash deposits. Scary I can only take the money back, and I dare not deposit it in the bank." The sister-in-law did not believe the news.
"And three hundred dollars a month? This salary is too high!"
Kurno was very moved when he heard the monthly salary of three hundred dollars a month. It was a high-paying job, and he didn't care if building the railroad was hard work. As long as sweat can be exchanged for rewards, he doesn't mind sweating more.
But my sister-in-law's analysis is also reasonable. The construction of the railway is definitely a national plan, but where does the country get the money now? Don't be a scam, right? Thinking of this, Kurno's heart became half cold.
But the eldest brother quickly explained: "The Ukrainian government did not pay for it. The money was a loan from Latvia. It is the presidency of the new Eastern European Union that our country has joined. The railway mortgaged by Ukraine for the next three years Ten years of operating rights, Latvia paid for the technology and equipment purchased from the Randall Group of the United States."
"It seems that some kind of super high-speed railway system is going to be built. I don't quite understand this, but I guess it is the same thing as the high-speed railway in China, Dongyang and Germany." The eldest brother doesn't know enough about the super high-speed railway system, so he compared it with Traditional high-speed rail is confused.
But it doesn't matter, as long as Kurno knows that this matter is true and not a hoax.
Kurno looked at his father with determination and said, "Father, please let me go to Kiev! Please!"
……………………
The easiest way to get to Kiev is by train from Kurno's hometown. The train was built in the Soviet era, and the platform has not been modified for so many years, so it looks very old.
The overhang of the train is high, but the platform is low. This makes passengers boarding the train have to climb a narrow and steep flight of stairs on the train. Dragging his own package, Kurno struggled a lot to squeeze onto the train. He didn't ask his family to see him off, because the train station was too far away from where he lived, and the transportation costs would be high if there were too many people.
He is looking for his seat with the ticket, 46., 46, ah! found it!
However, there was a girl in front of Kurno who was dragging a heavy suitcase and wanted to put the salute on the luggage rack. But the salute was too heavy, and the girl failed to lift the suitcase after several attempts.
"Let me do it!" When the girl failed again, Kurno stretched out his hand to help the girl push the luggage onto the luggage rack smoothly. Then he put his luggage on it.
"Thank you!" The girl thanked Kurno with a smile. She was wearing a black and white loose T-shirt and trousers of the same color. She was tall and had a few freckles on her face but her facial features were exquisite.
Even if she didn't trim her eyelashes specially, the girl's eyelashes are very long and beautiful. Under the eyelashes are a pair of emerald green eyes, pure and beautiful like the finest emeralds.
It was the first time for Kurno to be thanked by such a beautiful girl, and he replied somewhat at a loss: "No, I mean, you're welcome."
With two thousand hryvnia in his pocket, Kurno sat on his seat with a beating heart.
The beautiful girl she saw just now sat directly beside her. This made Kurno couldn't help but glance at her.
The girl glanced back at Kurno, smiled and said, "Why, I'm not welcome to sit here? I bought a ticket."
Kurno stammered: "Of course, of course."
The girl seemed to be seeing an honest boy like Kurno for the first time, and said to him with interest: "My name is Katyusha, what's your name?"
"Kurno, my friends call me Kurno." Kurno replied quickly.
"Are you going to Kiev?" Katyusha asked curiously.
"Yes." Kurno replied a little dryly.
The train started and headed towards Kiev. A pair of young people sitting in the same car were talking to each other. To be precise, Katyusha was asking, and Kurno was talking.
During this process, Katyusha figured out the purpose of Kurno's trip to Kiev. At the same time, he also told Kurno his identity, a graduate of Kiev University.
Kurno looked at Katyusha enviously, which made the girl feel a little embarrassed.
Katyusha looked at the passing scenery outside the window and said to Kurno: "Curno, can you stop looking at me like this?"
Kurno said embarrassingly: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. I'm just a graduate of Kiev University." Kurno didn't say the rest of the sentence, but just admired it.
Katyusha looked at Kurno with some amusement, and few boys looked at her not because of her beauty, but because of her knowledge.
Kurno continued: "I just think you are amazing, Katyusha. After graduating from Kiev University, you are willing to go back to your hometown and improve local agricultural products instead of staying in Kiev."
Katyusha shook her head and said helplessly: "It's nothing but a drop in the bucket. Now the global seed industry is monopolized by several oligarchs. Ukraine does not cultivate its own grain seeds. Our farmers are just lambs at the mercy of others."
"In fact, not only farmers in our country, but farmers in most countries are dough kneaded by big grain companies and seeds at will. After all, without seeds, we can't do anything. The country has no money to invest in this aspect Research."
Katyusha said helplessly and even sadly.
"So, are you going back to Kiev now? No, I'm not saying you gave up or something. I'm just asking." Kurno felt that he had said something stupid, because just now Katyusha stared at him and didn't bad.
Katyusha turned her eyes out of the window: "No, when I was in college, I was determined to make our country and our people's life better. Especially for farmers, because I was born in a rural area. I know that farmers have How hard it is, especially now that the country's economic situation is going from bad to worse."
"I always want to do something, but I can't always do it." Katyusha took her eyes back from the window, turned to Kurno and said, "You are going to Kiev to participate in the recruitment of the super high-speed rail system, you Do you know the significance of this railway?"
Kurno was silent for a while, then shook his head honestly.
Katyusha said with longing in her eyes: "This will connect the entire New Eastern European Union together. The leader of Latvia, Dum, called on the participating countries of the New Eastern European Union to release border tariffs. Make the circulation of goods faster and cheaper."
"It hasn't been like this since the Soviet Union split. Can you imagine all this?" Katyusha looked at Kurno with excitement.
But Kurno could only blushed and shook his head. Katyusha didn't care about Kurno's embarrassment, but continued to introduce him: "Kurno, you said that your family grows fruits, but now your fruits can only be shipped to nearby cities for sale, and the farthest is no more than Three hundred kilometers. Even if a buyer comes to buy your fruit, the farthest you can sell it is Kiev."
Kurno nodded when he heard this, and Katyusha continued: "But Ukraine's economy is not good. Fruits are not a necessity of life. Everyone is saving money. If you have money, you would rather buy more food and save it. It has become a luxury item. In the fruit shop in Kiev, the fruit is very expensive. But in the farmland, the fruit is bought at a very cheap price.”
Kurno sounded a little confused. Why are the fruits in Kiev so expensive, but the fruits sold at home are so cheap? The complex economic relationship among them is something that Kurno cannot understand.
"But if the super high-speed railway is opened, and the new Eastern European Union removes customs duties between member states, then Kurno, your fruit can be transported to the railway station, and then sent to Latvia, Harsha Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan! The market will become wider and pricing will become more free. Your family’s income will also become better.”
"And this is not only the fruit of your family, but also various specialties and handicrafts between each country. Or some urgently needed supplies. For example, country A needs a certain product X, but country A has no stock. But country B There are many in the market."
"Purchasing goods from country B through traditional trade can indeed relieve the pressure on country A, but the people in country A have to pay a high price. This is determined by the market economy. But after the opening of the super high-speed railway, although the market provides The price factor still exists, but costs and tariffs have been reduced infinitely. This will benefit more people.”
Katyusha's explanation made Kurno gradually understand the meaning of this railway.
Katyusha continued: "Whether it is food, light industrial products, or other necessities of people's livelihood. The exchange of materials and personnel is often trapped by traffic and geographical restrictions. What this railway will do is to completely break all this. You Do you know how fast this railway is?"
Katyusha's question once again made Kurno shake his head in embarrassment. He only went to work for a high salary, and he didn't know many things.
Katyusha said with a smile: "As long as it is repaired, from Ukraine to Latvia or Poland or Kazakhstan, the farthest place will not exceed half an hour!"
Katyusha's words shocked Kurno: "This is faster than our village to the nearest city!"
Katyusha sighed: "This is to use speed to change the world! When the world is flattened, when regional barriers and alienation are broken, everything will become so different."
Katyusha: "Do you know Iron Man, Nightcrawler, and Captain Rogers?"
Kurno nodded and shook his head: "Those are some American heroes? It seems to be."
Katyusha waved her fists with both hands: "They are the heroes of this world, followed by Americans. What they do is to promote change in this world, just like the superheroes of the Horizon Foundation and the Randall Group high-speed rail plan."
"The reason why I came back to Kiev is because I also want to participate in this change. Although I am just an ordinary person, I hope my knowledge can help. This is my dream. When I am old one day When you are young, you can say like Paul Korchagin: I have no regrets in my life!"
Kurno said, "Your dream is so great, but I..." And I can only be a road repairer.
Katyusha patted Kurno's shoulder, and she hugged Kurno's shoulder with the boldness of an Eastern European woman and said: "Dreams are not for others to see. It is just a wish in the heart, it depends on the wish." unwilling to pay."
Looking at the various scenery flying by outside the window, Kurno kept changing his mind. For a while, it was the advice of my parents and the care of my eldest brother and sister-in-law, and for a while, it was my second brother who was far away in Kiev. I also think about doing something for the family after I can earn money in the future.
Then he thought of what Katyusha said, connecting the world and communicating what is needed. Maybe one day the fruit from my own orchard can be sold to any country in the new Eastern European Union?
After that, Kurno could hardly restrain himself from wanting to see what Katyusha said about the super high-speed railway that could change the world.
If the railway is really that good, Kurno would feel honored to be a road worker.
If possible, I would like to spread this railway to the ends of the earth, to every corner of the earth. Let all people like me change their lives because of this railway.
On the train, Kurno defined his first dream in his life, and he had just passed his eighteenth birthday before this day.
And countless young people like Kurno and Katyusha boarded the train and went to Kiev, Astana, and Warsaw. Go to any of the Hyperloop recruiting points.
There are engineers, ordinary workers, and students who have just graduated.
Everyone is full of passion and excitement, dreams and ignorance, to change the world or change ourselves. The endless stream of trains and cars has brought countless young people together, this time to change the world, but also to change ourselves. For the world and for the family.
In this era, the blood is still not cold.
Just like the familiar melody played by the accordion in the train carriage, even after a century, there are still people singing it.
Just as the pear blossoms were blooming all over the sky, there was a gentle veil floating on the river.
Katyusha stood on the handsome shore, her singing sounded like the bright spring scenery.
The girl sang a beautiful song, she was singing about the eagle in the grassland.
She is singing about her beloved, Katyusha love belongs to him forever.
O song of the singing girl, fly away with the shining sun!
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