Chapter 46: Entering Baghdad
As Idris said, it was also dinner time when the car pulled into the Baghdad International Hotel.
After getting off the expressway, there is a checkpoint almost every two kilometers along the way. Even in Baghdad, where the traffic is very sparse, there are still traffic jams everywhere.
And all the way, Cai Ruichen was holding back his anger.
From the first checkpoint on the expressway, every time he was called out of the car, he explained over and over again why he had come to Baghdad.
Each identity verification lasts for a long time, and the questions are almost the same each time, and he has to repeat the questions he answered at the last checkpoint not long ago.
The same is true for Natasha, who repeats the same question over and over again, which is very troublesome.
If he hadn't really come here for business, Cai Ruichen would have already turned around and returned to Marin Town.
Because even after such an all-round inspection, he had to pay a hidden toll at the hint of the other party before he was allowed to pass.
Anyway, when Cai Ruichen came to the hotel, he had already spent tens of thousands of dollars, and these were just his tickets to enter Baghdad.
And this is for the sake of Idris, a local snake, otherwise Cai Ruichen is very suspicious that these so-called Iraqi government soldiers will take him away on the grounds of safety, and then blackmail him severely.
Fortunately, after entering the hotel, all these troubles disappeared. The Baghdad International Hotel is one of the few five-star hotels in Baghdad.
Outside the hotel, there is a row of tall walls protecting the hotel, and there are many armed soldiers guarding outside the hotel. On the way from the big iron gate of the hotel wall to the hotel gate, several layers of anti-shock piers and thick iron pillars are laid. Once raised, armored vehicles cannot rush in.
As for things like tanks, even walls can't stop them, and things like anti-scorching piers are naturally useless.
However, Cai Ruichen saw anti-tank missiles and anti-aircraft missiles on the roof and outside of the hotel.
It's just that these things have never been used at all, because no one will attack here.
The level of defense of the hotel is no less than that of a military base, and all this is for the tourists who come to live in the hotel.
It is used to tell all tourists that it is safe here.
Of course, the price is not cheap. The cheapest room costs more than one thousand dollars a night, and part of it is the so-called security fee.
After another rigorous identity verification, Cai Ruichen finally walked into the room.
"It's more tiring than fighting a battle. I swear that if this happens again in the future, I will never come again." In the room, Cai Ruichen, who had just closed the door, couldn't help venting.
Idris is also quite helpless. Every time he comes to Baghdad, he needs to undergo inspections at various levels.
At the first time, he was similar to Cai Ruichen, and he was very upset. After all, no one could stand the repeated inspections all the way.
"Mr. Cai, don't be angry, let's go eat something?"
"Going out of the hotel?" Cai Ruichen turned around and asked.
"You can't eat good food in the hotel, and it's very expensive." Idris nodded, glanced at Natasha and said: "However, in order not to attract attention, I still hope to be able to separate from this lady. Together, this lady is alone."
Cai Ruichen glanced at Natasha, shook his head and said, "Since we came out together, we must be together."
"Since Mr. Cai insists, that's the only way to go, but it's a little dangerous." Idris didn't insist, reminding.
"I understand, but I believe nothing will happen." Cai Ruichen naturally understands the taboos between Iraqi men and women, but he is not an Iraqi after all, and with Natasha by his side, he can go out with confidence.
"Then everyone, change your clothes and wash off the wind and dust along the way.
Set off together in half an hour. said Idris.
Half an hour later, the three of them, who had washed away all the dust along the way, walked out of the hotel gate under the protection of a dozen armed men.
Opposite the hotel, there is a good-grade Iraqi restaurant, just to fill their stomachs, and everyone walked in without being picky.
The clerks inside were all men, the armed men Idris had brought in at one table and the three of them at another.
Seeing the woman Natasha sitting with Cai Ruichen and others, her attitude was a little indifferent.
Cai Ruichen didn't care about this either, and specially ordered a large pot of beef as the general's dinner.
The food was served quickly, and soon Cai Ruichen's table was full of food, assorted platters, fried eight pieces, finger lamb, crispy chicken, shredded dry-roasted beef, fried sweet potatoes, hanging roast duck, tomato beef steak.
The expression on Natasha's face improved when she saw the foreigner's face after Natasha took off her veil.
As for Cai Ruichen, he had already turned the unhappiness in his heart into appetite, and started to eat mouthful after mouthful.
There are a lot of products on the dinner table, but the quantity is a bit small, but with so many dishes, it is enough for three people to eat.
This is the first time for Cai Ruichen to eat outside of Iraq. The food is really good, and the craftsmanship is much better than that of the machine butler.
The dishes are all delicious, even when the general eats beef, he enjoys it more than usual.
When paying the bill, the price was not very expensive, and it was cheaper than what Cai Ruichen estimated in his heart.
After dinner, Idris originally proposed to take Cai Ruichen for a walk outside. Baghdad at night is quite beautiful.
But he was rejected by Cai Ruichen. His identity was already sensitive, and he didn't know how many people were hostile to him in the dark.
There is no need to find yourself unhappy, there will be plenty of time in Baghdad in the future, and there is no need to be in a hurry.
Just when they had just returned to the hotel gate, a sudden violent explosion sounded from a distance, and the distant sky soon glowed with a faint red light.
Cai Ruichen was taken aback by the sudden explosion, but the Baghdad people around him just paused for a moment, and then they just did what they should do as if nothing happened.
It seemed that it was not an explosion, but a firecracker, not even a firecracker.
Idris just smiled wryly when he heard the explosion, and recovered immediately.
The entire hotel is still the same. The people here are already used to this sudden sound.
When he came to the room on the twelfth floor, Cai Ruichen saw some fires burning in the brightly lit city outside the window.
Baghdad, in Cai Ruichen's eyes, is indeed a metropolis, a very developed city.
Without those armed attacks, Baghdad is indeed a beautiful capital, and it will hardly lose to any other city in the Middle East.
Especially after the curfew was lifted for many years, Baghdad, a large city in the Middle East, has almost returned to its former prosperity at night.
It's just that beneath this beauty lies cold death, and there is not a day without explosions.
This kind of explosion at least once a day has been going on for several years, and every Baghdad has already gotten used to it.
The numb Baghdad people, I am afraid that each of them has already seen through the separation of life and death, saying that poor people must have something to hate, but in Cai Ruichen's eyes, the people here are more pitiful.
There are also hateful things, but that is only a part of the people. If it is a war, such a social status quo will not appear at all.
Disasters, injuries, and deaths brought about by wars are only temporary, but we are afraid of the sharp conflicts left over from wars for a long time.
"Natasha, can we save this place?" Looking at the night view of Baghdad city outside the window, Cai Ruichen asked suddenly.
Natasha didn't answer, but just stood quietly behind him.
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