Accompanying him was Ukrainian Admiral Petrovich, who also happened to be Major Sheknia's father. As for Sheknia herself—whom Mavi had shared a night with—she had not made an appearance for reasons unknown.
Since Mavi's arrival in Ukraine yesterday, Sheknia seemed to have been deliberately avoiding him. She neither greeted him at the airport nor even made a phone call. Instead, another major had been assigned to welcome him.
After Mavi finished speaking, the male translator responsible for facilitating communication clearly conveyed his words to the elderly Mr. Yuan Kaimin.
Upon hearing them, the old man nodded. Then, he extended his right hand and shook hands with Admiral Petrovich and Mavi.
"Hello, Admiral Petrovich. Hello, Mavi."
From this brief interaction, Mavi could tell that the old man was the serious and reserved type—someone who rarely smiled. In this regard, he was very similar to Admiral Petrovich. Both were pragmatic individuals who had no patience for flowery rhetoric.
Fortunately, Mavi had prepared a small surprise for him in advance…
"Mr. Yuan Kaimin, I must apologize. Earlier, I took the liberty of changing the originally arranged vehicle for your transportation. Instead, I prepared this: the Dongfeng CA71, China's first independently developed automobile."
As Mavi spoke, he exchanged a glance with the officer beside him.
Half a minute later, a bright red Dongfeng CA71 rolled up. Its front bore the silver dragon emblem and the elegantly scripted "Dongfeng" characters, exuding a deep sense of nostalgia.
The Dongfeng CA71 was manufactured in 1958 by First Automobile Works. It held immense symbolic and historical significance. Only about 30 units were ever produced, making each one incredibly rare and highly sought after by collectors.
When Mr. Yuan Kaimin saw this vintage car from his memories, a wave of nostalgia hit him. He suddenly recalled the first time he had laid eyes on a Dongfeng CA71 in his youth. Back then, he was only 28 years old and in his prime. At that time, only the most distinguished individuals had the privilege of riding in a Dongfeng CA71…
The vivid memories surged like a rising tide, momentarily leaving Mr. Yuan Kaimin in a daze. Turning to Mavi, he asked in a low voice, "Where… did you get this car?"
"I acquired it from an antique collector," Mavi replied. It had taken him considerable effort and connections to track down this rare vintage vehicle.
Hearing the answer, Mr. Yuan Kaimin slowly approached the red Dongfeng CA71. A group of Chinese naval officers followed silently behind him, careful not to disturb the moment.
Reaching out, Yuan Kaimin gently ran his hand over the car's hood. The emotions in his eyes were complex—clearly, he was lost in the memories of his younger days. Back then, he had been full of ambition and had eventually owned a Dongfeng vehicle himself, though not the CA71 model…
After a long silence, he turned back to Mavi and said sincerely, "Thank you."
"Mavi, thank you for doing this," he added solemnly.
"You're welcome, Mr. Yuan Kaimin. This is the least we could do."
For esteemed naval veterans like him, patriotism and nostalgia carried the greatest weight in their hearts. Mavi understood that when dealing with such figures, empty pleasantries were useless. The key to success was appealing to those two sentiments.
Thanks to the Dongfeng CA71, Yuan Kaimin's demeanor visibly relaxed during the journey. He was no longer as stern and tense as he had been when he first stepped off the plane.
Seated inside a Dongfeng Warrior military vehicle, Mavi gazed out at the scenery along the road. The entire route was devoid of other traffic; the police had completely blocked off the streets, and military vehicles led the convoy. This was the highest level of escort treatment.
As the convoy entered the city, Ukrainian police had sealed off entire streets. At intersections, traffic lights—whether red or green—were disregarded, allowing the fleet to move unobstructed.
Onlookers stood along the roadsides, while Ukrainian drivers who had been halted at intersections remained silent. None dared to even honk in frustration. After all, such an escort was reserved for only the highest-ranking figures.
Thanks to this special privilege, the convoy soon arrived at the Black Sea Shipyard.
The shipyard looked much the same as it had during Mavi's last visit. However, the one significant difference was the state of the Varyag aircraft carrier, which Sheknia had previously shown him.
Mavi had arranged for the vessel's hull to be thoroughly cleaned—removing rust, corrosion, and blemishes—restoring its appearance. Now, one could hardly tell that it was already over a decade old.
"Mr. Yuan Kaimin, the aircraft carrier before you is the Varyag, built here at the Black Sea Shipyard. The vessel is 67% complete, and all its components remain well-preserved."
Standing atop the dry dock, Mavi led Yuan Kaimin and the group of Chinese naval officers to view the enormous warship. He didn't need to say much more—the sheer sight of the aircraft carrier was enough to leave them speechless.
The Varyag was a Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier with a full-load displacement of 67,000 tons and a length of 306 meters.
The flight deck's bow rose the equivalent of seven stories above the water, while the stern's flight deck spanned 73 meters in width. The carrier could accommodate approximately 60 aircraft, and its forward deck housed 12 SS-N-19 anti-ship missile launchers.
An aircraft carrier is a symbol of national power. Not only does it possess formidable offensive capabilities, but it also serves as a powerful deterrent in defending territorial waters and countering naval forces from neighboring countries.
If China were to purchase this carrier, it would be a cause for national celebration. Acquiring an aircraft carrier from scratch would be a monumental achievement—one that would undoubtedly boost both military and civilian morale.
As they gazed at the massive vessel before them, Mr. Yuan Kaimin and the Chinese naval officers remained silent, overwhelmed by the moment.
Strengthening the navy had been the lifelong mission of their generation. A carrier battle group was nearly unrivaled on the open seas. Owning such a warship would ensure that other nations took them seriously.
For instance, Japanese and South Korean naval forces would think twice before acting provocatively in the presence of a Chinese carrier battle group.
Sensing that the naval officers were still digesting the sight, Mavi, as their host, took the initiative to continue the conversation.
"Mr. Yuan Kaimin, if we resume construction on the Varyag, it is estimated that she will be fully operational within two to three years. In other words, by the end of 2003 at the latest…"
(End of Chapter)