Chapter 617 The Devil That Seduces People

There is a plate of thick rye bread on the table in the mayor's restaurant. It is crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and has a sour taste after fermentation.

Next to it are thinly sliced ​​ham and sausages, brightly colored and exuding the rich aroma of smoke and barbecue.

There is also a large plate of roasted potatoes, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with some onions and herbs, which is enough to whet your appetite.

A steaming bowl of milk porridge was served. There were small pieces of butter and a rich aroma of milk floating in the porridge, which looked warm and inviting.

There is sour cream on the corner of the table, as white as snow, with some pickled cucumbers and pickles next to it. These sour side dishes are a classic combination of Russian breakfast, which can both appetize and relieve fatigue. There is also a small plate of thinly sliced ​​cheese on the table, which is fragrant and fragrant. It is eaten with bread and ham and has a rich taste.

Of course, the most important thing is the steaming pot of black tea and the candied fruits that accompany the tea. Next to them, there is a small saucer of sugar and a pot of milk for guests to add according to their taste.

Arthur sipped the black tea and put down the cup, savoring the warmth and aroma of the sip. In his opinion, Russian tea is obviously superior to British tea in terms of taste and persistence of aroma.

Neither Russia nor Britain is a tea-producing country, so tea from both countries is basically purchased through trade with China.

However, Russia mainly trades directly with China through land routes, which ensures the supply and quality of tea.

The UK, on ​​the other hand, relies on sea transportation to transport tea from Guangzhou to big cities such as London. Due to relatively poor transportation and storage conditions, this naturally makes it difficult to maintain the quality of tea at its best, and the price of high-quality whole-leaf tea remains high all year round. No less.

When Arthur was still working as a foot patrolman in Greenwich, he drank powdered tea (pulverized tea leaves) priced at 1 shilling per pound.

Even when he was later promoted to police inspector, he only switched to mixed tea (tea that blends tea leaves from different producing areas according to specific proportions and recipes) at 2 to 5 shillings per pound.

And when "The British" was on the right track and the business with Rothschild began to bear fruit, Arthur finally began to drink Keemun (Qimen black tea) and Lapsang Souchong (Wuyi Lapsang Souchong) and so on. High-end stuff starting at 10 shillings per pound.

However, these kinds of high-end teas can only be seen in the upper class of Britain, and they can actually appear in a remote town like Druisk. Arthur even discovered jasmine tea, which is very popular among British ladies, in a corner of the restaurant.

It has to be said that, at least when it comes to drinking tea, the Russians are indeed treated more favorably than the British.

Arthur picked up a piece of candied fruit mixed with sour plums, almonds and orange peels, and asked Captain Huett next to him in English with a strong Yorkshire accent: "Richard, I have always had a doubt, how could you do this?" Going to work in a Moscow company is not usually an option. How long have you been living in Russia? Or longer?"

Hute took a sip of tea, and a thick stream of white water vapor came out from his nose that was red from the cold. He stared at the falling snowflakes outside the window, his eyes calm, as if he was looking back at those long gone years.

"Including this year, this is already my fifteenth year in Russia. When I was twelve years old, my father suddenly came to me and told me that I didn't have to go to grammar school tomorrow. He knew a friend from a Moscow company. Let me be an apprentice with him. To put it bluntly, the family has no choice but to make a living on my own. My father's business is not doing well, my mother died early, and the family cannot afford to raise several children. My sisters are still young, and I am the eldest in the family. As a big brother, I can't let those little brats take my place, right? The Moscow company happened to provide me with an opportunity, so I had no choice but to go. At the beginning, I didn't expect so much for a twelve-year-old. What did the little kid know? All I knew was that there was a company in Chelsea, London, that would teach me some Russian and arithmetic so that I could be qualified to do something in Moscow or Petersburg. At that time, I had no idea what business was like. I just know that making money can make life better.”

Having said this, Hute shook his head slightly, as if he was thinking about himself at that age.

"In those six months, I learned a lot of Russian, and I also learned some superficial things, such as business negotiations and contract details. But everything was just superficial. The real experience has to start from going to those places. When I went to Petersburg, I realized how the real Russia works. Each of those officials, businessmen, and nobles has their own interests, and the games between them and the dirty deeds between these adults are far more complicated than anything else. I think it's more complicated.

In the next few years, it was the same when I went to Moscow and Kazan. You have to learn the rules everywhere and learn how to prevent others from seeing that you don't fully understand these things. I'm not the kind of person who can show off to the crowd, but you have to observe quietly, make the right choices, and seize the right opportunities. After a few years, I learned to deal with these people, understood what should be said and what should not be said, and also understood the hidden things behind business. "

He continued in an understatement: "Life in Russia is not easy, especially for a person with no background. If you leave home early, the assessment of company agents has always been strict, and Russian businessmen will not do it because of you. How can I have mercy on you since you are a child? So, here, everything has to be done by oneself. Day after day, year after year, life is a grinding process. If you hadn’t mentioned it today, I would have almost forgotten it. This is already my fifteenth year away from home.”

"Fifteen years..." Arthur repeated the number softly, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the edge of the teacup. Although Hute's words were simple, they were like an invisible thread, pulling on certain emotions deep in his heart. .

Counting the time, how many years has it been since he came to this world?

Arthur forced himself not to think about those things, and he asked instead: "Have you been back to England in the past few years? London has been changing every year. The Paddington train has been opened, and the New London Bridge has also been opened to traffic. Now, theaters have opened one after another in the West District. As for the East District... the East District is still the same, but more and more illegal buildings have been built.”

Huter shook his head: "I have never been back. Although the rent of employees employed by the Moscow company can be reimbursed by the company, the company does not pay us much in salary. Plus the daily expenses here, if I I have to go back to London every year, and I might have wasted a year or two of my work.”

"Never went back even once?"

"No. But I often write letters to my family, and several of my brothers and sisters also often write to me. My sister got married early last year, and my brother-in-law works for the railway company and is considered a decent man. As for my two brothers Well, the older one is a conscientious person and now works in the shipyard at the dock. , I heard that he did a good job and was about to be promoted to foreman, but the younger one has never been enlightened. He is used to idleness and cannot hold any job for a long time. In the past two years, he got into a fight with others after being drunk and was destroyed. Not only did he lose two teeth, he was eventually arrested by the police and sentenced to six months of hard labor.”

Hutte couldn't help but sigh when he said this: "If my father was still here, he would probably be able to discipline him. But since the old man passed away five years ago, he has become more and more lawless. My older brother He has a loyal temper, and it’s totally useless to speak in front of the younger one. My sister is also a fool. She knows that the younger one has a character that can’t stand up to the wall. However, every time the younger one comes to her sister to ask for money. She still gives it secretly in private!”

Although it was just a brief chat about family matters, we could get a glimpse of Hutte's character.

The military police captain is a realist with rich experience and a calm personality. Regardless of emotions or reasons, he has reasons to switch to Arthur.

He came to Russia just to make a living. If someone could provide him with a higher salary and treatment, and also take him back to London to kick his unfulfilled brother in the ass, then it would be a matter of company rules. , the regulations of the third game, Hughte can ignore them all.

Arthur said at the right time: "As for your brother's problem, when I get to Moscow or Petersburg, I will write a letter to Inspector Ridley King of Scotland Yard, and he will help find a job. For Ridley Said, this kind of second-rate guy is not useless, being able to get along with gangsters is sometimes a special skill. "

Hearing this, Hute quickly waved his hands and said, "Colonel, that's not what I meant. It's certainly a good thing to help him find a job, but I always want him to change his ways and become a decent person."

"Well...that's a waste of good material."

Arthur rubbed his temples and said: "But, well, since you asked for it, then I won't hand it over to Ledley. However, Tom's criminal intelligence center is not suitable for his wild temperament, and Tom also He's not a character who likes to get into trouble with others... As for Plunkett, Team Ghost needs to be calm and composed. If you're angry... just leave it to Greenwich. Although Tony's temper is a bit violent, he is suitable for disciplining a second-rate man. Richard, I guarantee you, your brother will become a competent police officer. He is still ineffective under Tony's discipline, so he can only be sent to the editorial office of "The British" to serve tea and water. "

When Hute heard Arthur's words, he was silent for a while. He took off his hat and lowered his head. There was not much expression change on his face, but there was a rare trace of gratitude in his deep calmness.

"Sorry, Colonel, I've been working as a military police officer for a long time, and I don't know how to say thank you. But don't worry, just follow me. Even if the French attack, I guarantee that you will reach your destination in one piece. This is what we agreed before. In addition, I owe you a big favor."

"Richard, you are too foreign to say that." Arthur smiled and picked up the tea cup: "I thought we were already friends."

Hutte put a hand on his chest and bowed slightly: "I feel extremely honored to be your friend."

Having said this, Huete asked again: "But have you thought about it? Should you go to Moscow first or go directly to Petersburg?"

At this time, Arthur was no longer as impatient as he was possessed by Elder a while ago. He was in no rush to make a decision: "It's still early, and it won't be a problem for me to go to Petersburg a few days later. Richard, Which of the two cities, Moscow or Petersburg, do you think is more worth visiting?”

"Well...it depends on what style you like. Russia is a country with a multi-level lifestyle, and this feature is also reflected in its cities, of which Petersburg and Moscow are representatives. As the capital and trade Center, the life style of Petersburg is closer to the West, and the culture of Petersburg is palace-like and bureaucratic. As for Moscow, it is the old capital of Russia and its culture is aristocratic. Many Russian national traditions are preserved there. Generally speaking, it is much harder for Moscow to accept new things than for Petersburg. , if you want to experience the authentic Russia, there is no better place than Moscow..."

Just as Hueter was about to continue the introduction, he heard the sound of footsteps in his ears. The military police captain immediately shut his mouth and turned to look coldly at the mayor's wife who walked into the restaurant.

The mayor's wife swept her eyes across the two of them, and finally settled on Arthur: "Colonel, we need your help with something, why don't we find a place to talk alone?"

Arthur took a sip of tea and smiled: "No need, madam, Captain Hute is not an outsider. I have nothing to hide from him."

When the mayor's wife saw what he said, she asked the maid to pull out the chair for her. As soon as she sat down with her skirt, she said angrily: "Colonel, you have nothing to hide from Captain Hught, but you have something to hide from me. ”

"Hide it from you?" Arthur's heart skipped a beat, and he thought the matter had been revealed: "Madam, although I dare not say with confidence that 'I have never told a lie in my life,' but I swear to God, I've never cheated on any lady in my life, no, not one."

Seeing his serious look, the mayor's wife said with a smile: "In that case, why didn't you tell me earlier about the imperial envoy? Today's news that Brigadier General Barkov arrived in Druisk really shocked Ah Lexie was so frightened that he almost fell to the ground. Do you know that the whole city is in chaos now, and everyone is worried that the new guy is not as easy to talk to as you."

"The new imperial envoy?" Arthur pretended to be confused, "Maybe he was sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but I didn't know that the Ministry of Internal Affairs also sent people here before. I thought this was just the third round. Routine local inspections.”

"Those bastards from the Ministry of Internal Affairs are really in trouble!" Captain Hught helped in time, his voice low but full of anger: "They know all day long that they are in trouble. In addition to causing trouble for themselves, What else can they do? They don't care about local affairs, but they always try to block the news. Damn it, it's like those of us who do things have to listen to them. Fart! Those people are a bunch of corrupt pigs, doing their own evil things with other people's money, and they also want to use their status as imperial envoys to oppress us. Brigadier General Cove? I bet he is just a sycophant, and no matter how high he climbs, he will always be nothing more than a stupid ass!”

The expression on his face became more severe, and he clenched his hands into fists, as if he wanted to break the table apart: "If we hadn't suppressed the low-level things that group of people committed every time, they would have The whole place has become restless. These guys don’t know how much they have. They should be burned in the pyre!”

The mayor's wife felt more confident after hearing Hueter's curse.

She knew that although a brigadier general was one level higher than a colonel, in the final analysis, Colonel Hestingoff was a military policeman who could reach the third level of Tianting.

Not to mention a mere brigadier general, if it were more serious, even if the governor of a province came, he would not dare to be too rude to the colonel.

Besides...

The colonel is still so young!

Arthur stretched out his hand and pretended to teach Hueter: "Richard, that's about it. Although we really don't have to deal with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, at least the dignity on the table must be maintained. By the way, madam, what you just said Is the new imperial envoy named Barkov?"

"That's right, Colonel." The mayor's wife complained: "Although it may be inappropriate for me to say this, that gentleman is not a decent and elegant person like you. He rushed into the city with a large group of Cossack cavalry early this morning. , causing panic in the city. He also said that he must gather all the officials in the city within the time of a pack of cigarettes. If he finished smoking and found that someone did not come, then he would send a Cossack to that person. Three whips.”

Arthur stood up, straightened his clothes, and straightened the elegant stand-up collar of his tuxedo: "Oh? If that's the case, then wouldn't I be sure to receive these three whips today? After all, I seem to be within the scope of 'city officials', And he’s probably finished smoking now, right?”

The mayor's wife snickered in her heart. She felt that the ignorant brigadier general would probably be in bad luck today.

"How dare he!" the mayor's wife complimented: "The emperor may not be willing to whip you, but he, a Tatar barbarian, has such courage!"

Arthur wiped his mouth with a napkin, stood up calmly, and ordered Hute: "Mr. Captain, summon our men and follow me. After all, General Barkov's order is to summon all the officials in the city. You, me and the military police under your command cannot be spared."