It was cold and had a slightly sour taste... It reminded him of the bad days when he was hiding in trenches and ruins decades ago.

Then, he instantly realized that this glass of water was saved by Sonia with great difficulty using a rain collector.

Since this apartment was abandoned, the water and electricity have been cut off. If people living here want light, they can only buy the cheapest and most smoky kerosene to make lamps; if they want drinking water, they can only collect rainwater; as for

It is impossible to turn on the heating in winter. If you stay in such an environment for a long time, your body will be damaged.

In fact, Ivanov has discovered that Sonia's physical condition is worse than when he last came. The scene of Sonia groping for the cup in the dim light just now reminded Ivanov of a disease——

Night blindness.

Ivanov didn't know the specific cause of night blindness, but he only remembered that it seemed to be related to malnutrition.

Thinking of this, the figure of the British veteran appeared in front of Ivanov's eyes.

The appearance of Newt even gave Ivanov the idea that maybe the brothers who died in the Great Patriotic War and even in subsequent wars were the lucky ones. They died with their ideals in mind, and at least

In people's eyes, they are the real heroes, while other veterans who are still alive are only regarded as burdens.

Ah, yes, the British veteran named Newt Scamander.

Ivanov finally remembered the purpose of his trip. He took his hand out of his pocket and placed several flattened pounds in front of Sonia. Then he placed a third-class Medal of Valor issued by the Soviet Union.

Placed next to the pound.

Sonia did not lower her head to look at the things on the table, but touched two things on the table one after another. When her hand touched the sharp-edged surface of the third-class medal of valor, her face clearly showed confusion.

look.

The last time they met, Sonia personally handed the medal to Ivanov and asked him to sell it for a good price.

But now Ivanov has returned the medal to himself. Where did the money come from?

Soon, she figured out the whole story: "Ivanov, you sold your medal, right?"

"Haha, you have to know that my medal is much more valuable than the one you have. Mine is a second-level medal of valor, while your husband's is a third-level medal."

"That's not the problem. No, I can't accept the money. You'd better help me sell my husband's badge."

Sonia pushed back the badge along with a few pounds.

"No, Sonia, you must keep it. This is proof of Yuri's bravery in destroying a Tiger tank alone. You should leave him with Valkyrie, or give it to him when Valkyrie's child is born.

, instead of trying to sell it.”

The moment Ivanov said this, he felt a little regretful——

Yes, the Soviet Union has disintegrated. In this new world of market economy, everything has a clearly marked price. A combat hero's lifetime of glory and sacrifice can be packaged away - usually in US dollars, and the price is still high.

Not expensive.

Buyers only care about whether there is a legendary story behind the medal, because it will become an excellent conversation piece at their tea party. The sacrifices and prices paid for this medal are considered unimportant.

How could the wife of a recipient of the Patriotic War Medal 2nd Class think of selling it if she wasn't really desperate?

But on the other hand, Ivanov did not do this temporarily.

It is difficult for the youngest generation in Russia to understand the generations of Ivanov and Ivanovich. This is not because they were influenced by capitalism or communism, nor is it because of the age gap between them.

Even if ordinary people of the younger generation reach Ivanov's age, their pursuits will be very ordinary.

Soup, vodka, a warm home, a kind wife and healthy children.

——But what Ivanov and the others want is a strong motherland.

Did the Soviet Union collapse?

This seems to be an undoubted problem. But in Ivanov's opinion, it is not the case. He has always believed that the motherland has not fallen, she is just... too tired. She just needs to rest.

One day she will stand up again, yes she will!

When that day comes, what will we use to tell the younger generation what kind of people their parents are like?

Are we going to hand over the right to speak to those capitalists?

Then they will say that in Chernobyl we were forced to go up to Chernobyl because the political commissar held a gun to it; they will say that in Berlin it was the Americans who replaced the flag on the Reichstag; they may even say that it was the Soviet Union

Started World War II.

People grow old easily, and even great countries cannot survive forever.

But the medal is not easy to change. Every corner of it contains courage and glory. In the hands of capitalists, its value is only a small amount of US dollars, but in the Soviet Union...or in the hearts of the people of the former Soviet Union, it is priceless.

, at least it can tell the younger generation, parents, and even further ancestors what kind of people they were -

They were once eagles spreading their wings over Ukraine;

They were ghosts dormant among the ruins of Leningrad;

They were the grim reapers who emerged from the flames of Stalingrad;

They had been giant bears charging on the Kursk hills;

They were Pripyat’s unyielding back;

them……

——Definitely not a burden to this country!

"Sonia, keep it. There is still some money, and you need it more than I do."

"But, your medal..."

"Ha, I have no use for keeping those things, and I don't have children."

When saying this, Ivanov tried to look relaxed.

Sonia thought for a while, then nodded guiltily: "Thank you, Ivanov, thank you."

Only then did Ivanov really feel at ease.

He knew that there were many diseases that seemed very serious, but in fact only required a few nutritious meals or a period of normal work and rest to make the body recover quickly. The money Ivanov gave Sonia was not worth mentioning.

It's a huge sum of money, but it can help her get through the next period of time, such as buying some meat or finding a doctor...

In short, at least Ivanov won't have to worry about her for a while in the future.

After sitting for a while, Ivanov stood up and left.

Newt Scamander gave him a total of eighty-five pounds, which was not a small sum.

Ivanov divided the money into many parts and prepared to help a few more old friends.

These people live not close to each other. If Ivanov still wants to go to the old place to meet Scamander on time tomorrow morning, then he may have to hurry up. Besides... he also needs to help Newt.

Go collect some more medals.

When leaving the apartment, Ivanov saw in the dim light that there seemed to be some colorful graffiti on the wall of the corridor. The graffiti was not in Russian letters, but in English. It was colorful and made Ivanov very irritable.

These graffiti look like the handiwork of young people. After 1991, the history of this country seems to have been cut in two.

The first half seems to be full of dictatorship and tyranny, while the second half is full of light and hope. Against this background, some young people take destructive actions as if they are declaring their determination, as if this can erase the reality of this country where they were born.

Ivanov raised his chin contemptuously, as if he didn't want to lose his momentum in front of these graffiti from the Western world and strode forward - compared to the pampered British, French and Americans, the Soviet Army will always be the first.

one.

Slowly, Ivanov, with a large sum of pounds in his arms, felt as if he had returned to forty years ago.

They tensed up and fired in all directions.

The tanks, reinforcements, flares, and artillery were defeated by them. Then they crowded forward with the next charge.

He strode forward, and his stiff spine seemed to slowly relax. Time seemed to have returned the youth that had been taken away from him. At the same time, what returned to his body was the belief that had long been worn away by time.

Ivanov walked forward step by step, imagining that he was once again wearing a Soviet military uniform and walking on Red Square. In fact, he was walking in a world flooded with colorful graffiti.

He took one step firmly, one step, and another...

Until the lonely figure disappeared at the end of the mottled corridor.

…………

And at the same time, on the other side.

As a wizarding family, Novat Ivanovich's family was not easy to find.

With Ivanov's help, Newt tried to find out Ivanovich's address from non-magical government departments.

But at this point in time, Russia is rebuilding its government, and the efficiency of various departments is appallingly low - this is true for both the non-magical and magical worlds. Everyone's energy is devoted to sharing the little bear meat left.

During the feast.

Fortunately, Newt still has several reliable acquaintances in the former Soviet Union's Ministry of Magical Internal Affairs.

Moreover, for some reasons, Novat Ivanovich himself can be considered a "celebrity" in this land.

In addition to being told to be cautious, news about the Ivanovich family was quickly obtained.

What's even more fortunate is that Novat Ivanovich's children and their family also happen to live in St. Petersburg, which saves Newt Scamander the trouble of traveling back and forth to find his way.

After separating from the former Soviet veteran, Newt followed the road signs and headed to Ivanovich's former residence alone.

When Newt knocked on the door of the majestic-looking single-family building, the sky had completely darkened.
To be continued...