The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 1096 - 1065: Bold Prediction

Chapter 1096: Chapter 1065: Bold Prediction

After Huo Zhekun finished washing up, Jiang Lifang had already poured him a glass of milk and said, "Drink this and go to sleep."

"I just brushed my teeth," Huo Zhekun responded. "Besides, I sleep well. I don’t need to drink this stuff."

"Who was the one cramping up on the train yesterday?" Jiang Lifang retorted. "You don’t take care of yourself and then when someone reminds you, it’s just wasting kindness?"

Recalling the embarrassing scene from yesterday, Huo Zhekun reluctantly took the milk and, after gulping it down, went back to rinse his mouth before finally heading to bed.

He didn’t know if it was psychological or if it truly helped, but Huo Zhekun didn’t have any cramps during the night.

The next morning, the whole family got ready to celebrate the New Year at the old house.

Song Chunli, who was much better off now than before, had already tidied up the room, allowing them to celebrate together at the old house on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, which was lively and bustling.

On the afternoon of the first day of the new year, Huo Family’s second wife finally returned to Maoer Alley.

At this, Old Master Huo and Old Madam Huo were very pleased.

The men gathered to play chess and cards, while the women played Mahjong together, watched television, and knitted.

As the children were older, they were left to play together without the need for adults to watch over them.

In the evening, it was time for the Huo men’s tea meeting.

With two thermoses and five tea cups brought up by the maid, who then left, the setting was prepared.

Old Master Huo looked at his second son with satisfaction and said, "Second son, you’ve done well this year; you must hold steady."

"Yes, father, I understand," Huo Zhekun nodded earnestly.

Huo Zheqian, sitting nearby, chuckled and said, "Dad, don’t worry. Here in Yanjing, I’m also here. If someone upstairs wants to make a move against my younger brother, I will not just sit idly by."

"Thank you, brother," Huo Zhekun smiled. The support between him and his older brother over the years hadn’t been easy.

Moreover, they had a harmonious relationship, unlike other families where there is constant scheming. This was quite rare in Yanjing.

"We are brothers; there’s no need for thanks," Huo Zheqian said. "Moving forward, let’s stand together like brothers on a tiger hunt, like father and son in battle. With our father behind us, as long as we do no evil, we have nothing to fear."

"Yes, what elder brother says is true," Huo Zhekun chuckled. "By the way, I recently heard that the polar bears up north are not very stable. Does our country have any strategies in place?"

This matter of international relations captured the attention of Huo Yingjun, who worked in the foreign affairs department.

Having been stationed abroad for several years and now back in Yanjing, Huo Yingjun was involved in managing these affairs.

Seeing everyone’s attention turning to him, Huo Yingjun smiled and said, "I’ve received some information that the reforms in the Soviet Union are causing great instability domestically, and they have now deviated from socialist norms to pursue what Western countries call ’freedom and democracy.’ The internal conflicts are intensifying, and along with their longstanding Cold War standoff with Country M, it has drained the Soviet Union’s strength."

Huo Zheqian was also aware of this, being a senior official and very sensitive to these matters.

"I feel that with such reforms, the Soviet Union is bound to face trouble," Huo Zheqian said. "We have some people in our country who think the Soviet Union’s approach is good and want to undertake political and economic reforms, even copying theirs directly. I am very skeptical of this. Second brother, what do you think?"

"Hmm, elder brother, you are right," Huo Zhekun agreed, endorsing his brother’s political insight. "Our country is different from the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union was an alliance of several countries forming a large entity to counter NATO. However, their internal conflicts are significant, and with their overly idealistic reforms, I also am not optimistic. We should focus on stabilizing and vigorously developing our economy; that’s the hard truth."

While everyone else had their say, Huo Yingjie was the only one quietly listening and sipping tea at the side.

Suddenly, the room went quiet, and everyone stared at Huo Yingjie.

Realizing it was his turn, Huo Yingjie put down his tea cup and chuckled, "Heh, Uncle, Dad, what elder brother said was very good, and I agree."

Old Master Huo, seeing his grandson’s casual demeanor, was quite displeased. They were discussing serious domestic and international issues, and this young man seemed too unconcerned, too relaxed.

"You, young man, what are your thoughts? Your uncle, father, and elder brother have all spoken from their job experiences. Now you combine yours and speak up; let’s see something new, broaden our horizons."

"Yeah, you’re the smartest in our family; you can’t be lazy about this," Huo Yingjun said. Although he worked in diplomacy, he realized he didn’t have the far-reaching perspective of his younger brother.

After all, his brother was a genius, unmatched by even Zhuge Liang.

"Yingjie, tell us, we want to hear your thoughts," Huo Zheqian pressed, as every time Yingjie discussed these major issues, he brought new insights and inspiration.

Seeing everyone urging him on, Huo Zhekun also said, "Alright, you, young man, speak up. We’ll handle the other matters."

As a father, he understood his son’s mind.

Suggesting ideas was one thing, but don’t come to him for executing them; that was his son’s mentality.

"Heh heh," Huo Yingjie chuckled. "Since everyone is asking, I won’t hold back anymore. Here’s my simple view: I predict the Soviet Union will disintegrate!"

"What?" Old Master Huo was startled. In the eyes of the older generation, the Soviet Union was a colossal entity, and despite later conflicts between the two nations, its capabilities were undeniable.

"Yingjie, you can’t just say things like that," Huo Zheqian was somewhat flustered. "That is the Soviet Union, an alliance that counters the United States and NATO."

Huo Zhekun was also somewhat incredulous, but he knew his son wasn’t one to speak rashly.

"This is a family gathering, and we should speak freely, but we must not be reckless," Huo Zhekun said. "However, since you say the Soviet Union will disintegrate, let’s hear your reasons; share your thoughts with us."

"Alright, then I’ll just briefly explain," Huo Yingjie responded, smiling. "Let’s look at a few points. First, economically, the Soviet Union has been engaging in a long-standing arms race with Country M and NATO, severely impacting its economy. It devotes substantial resources to heavy industry while light industry lags behind, and the standard of living hasn’t significantly improved; second, politically, Gorbachev’s reforms have not only caused political turmoil domestically but have also been penetrated by Western influence, inevitably leading to failure; lastly, the Soviet Union is an alliance of various states, each with internal conflicts and conflicts among themselves. When these reach an irreconcilable stage, collapse is natural."

Upon hearing this, the room fell into a long silence.

Everyone pondered deeply, contemplating Huo Yingjie’s words.