Chapter 23: Chapter 23: A Customer Is Found for the Coffee Machine

The older guard called out to Werner. He was about fifty, his face etched with the stern expression of a man who had been on duty for many years.

Werner walked over, trying to control his nerves. The older guard’s sharp gaze immediately fell on his large case.

"Papers," the guard said, holding out his hand, his tone laced with professional suspicion.

Just as Werner was pulling out his papers, the guard asked again, "What’s in this case? It’s so heavy."

Werner’s heart leaped into his throat. He was about to explain when Matthias suddenly walked over.

"Frank, look at that old woman over there." Matthias pointed to an old lady with a large shopping basket not far away. "She was acting suspiciously just now, like she was hiding something."

Frank followed Matthias’s finger and saw the old woman, who was nervously arranging the items in her basket.

"You’re right." Frank frowned. "These old ladies are the best at hiding things. Last time, one of them hid three bottles of West German beer under her potatoes."

Matthias seized the opportunity. "I’ll check this comrade. You go handle the situation over there."

"Fine. You’re in charge of him." Frank walked toward the old woman without hesitation.

Matthias took Werner’s papers and pretended to inspect them carefully. "Werner Betelich... occupation... address..." he murmured, winking at Werner as he read. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"What’s in this case?" Matthias asked, raising his voice enough for those nearby to hear.

"Some... work supplies," Werner replied cooperatively. His voice sounded a little nervous, but such nervousness was normal during a border check.

Matthias walked to the case and made a gesture as if to inspect it, but he didn’t actually open it.

"Looks like there’s no problem," he said loudly, then lowered his voice and added quickly, "Next time, remember to split it into smaller packages. This is too conspicuous."

"Thank you," Werner mouthed silently.

"Go on." Matthias waved his hand, and Werner quickly passed through the inspection desk.

As he left, Werner discreetly slipped him a pack of Marlboro cigarettes. Matthias expertly pocketed it and continued to pretend to inspect other passengers.

Having successfully passed the checkpoint, Werner’s back was soaked with cold sweat. He composed himself, picked up his case, and walked out of the subway station.

The moment he stepped out of the station, he felt the stark contrast between the two sides.

If West Berlin was in color, then East Berlin was in black and white.

Despite it being the same March weather, the streets here seemed much grayer and more oppressive.

The exterior walls of the buildings were all painted a uniform dark green, plastered with various political slogans: "Follow the German Unity Social Party toward a bright future!" "Let’s build our German Democratic Republic together!"

The pedestrians on the street were also dressed much more monotonously, in a sea of gray, blue, or black overcoats. Occasionally, a Soviet Army truck would drive by, the soldiers aboard staring blankly at the sides of the street.

Werner first returned to his small apartment, carefully hid the magazines, then picked up the case with the coffee machine and headed toward the foreign trade store where Eva worked.

****************

Eva was standing behind the counter, showing a German camera to a middle-aged man with gold-rimmed glasses.

She was wearing a standard-issue dark blue work uniform, but it couldn’t hide her beauty. Her golden hair was tied back in a ponytail, revealing the elegant curve of her neck.

Seeing Werner enter, Eva’s face immediately broke into a smile. She said to the customer, "Sir, this Leica camera really is the best choice. Please take some more time to consider it."

The middle-aged man nodded. "I’ll come back this afternoon to decide." With that, he left.

Once there were no other customers in the store, Eva hurried over to Werner and asked in a low voice, "Did you get it?"

"Of course." Werner patted the suitcase. "The latest Egro model, imported directly from Switzerland."

Eva’s eyes lit up. "That’s wonderful! Mrs. Schmidt came by the store again yesterday afternoon, asking specifically about this. I told her what you said, that a friend of mine might be able to get one. She’s very much looking forward to it."

"What did she say?" Werner asked curiously.

"She said that if we could really get our hands on something this good, price is no object," Eva said excitedly. "And she also mentioned that several of her friends have been complaining recently about their own coffee machines not working well. You know, those East German-made machines..." She made a face.

Werner nodded with satisfaction. "Good. Then you should contact her now."

Eva walked over to the black telephone in the store and dialed Mrs. Schmidt’s home number. After a few rings, a woman’s voice came through.

"Ma’am, it’s me, Eva... Yes, from the foreign trade store... About the coffee machine... My friend got it, he can deliver it today... Yes, really, an original from Switzerland... Three o’clock? Okay, no problem... I’ll tell him right away."

She hung up the phone and turned to Werner, her face flushed with excitement.

"Mrs. Schmidt is practically ecstatic! She wants you at her house at three o’clock sharp. And..." She lowered her voice mysteriously. "She said she happens to have a few friends gathering at her place this afternoon, and if the coffee machine works well, they might all be interested."

Werner was secretly overjoyed but remained calm on the surface. "Excellent. This is exactly what we need."

*****************

Mrs. Schmidt lived on a quiet street in the Mitte District, the best residential area in East Berlin.

The area was filled with exquisite pre-war buildings. Although their facades had been uniformly painted dark green, their original elegance was still visible.

As the wife of the Director of the Bureau of Culture, she enjoyed a three-bedroom apartment on the second floor of a four-story building.

Werner climbed the carpeted stairs to the second floor.

The hallway was quiet, the only sound being soft music wafting from one of the apartments.

He straightened his clothes and rang the doorbell.

The door opened quickly.

Opening the door was Mrs. Schmidt herself—Mrs. Ingrid Schmidt. She was wearing a fine-quality, dark blue wool suit, with an exquisite silver brooch pinned to her chest. She looked both dignified and tasteful.

"Comrade Betelich!" she greeted him enthusiastically, the smile on her face much more genuine than the last time they met. "Come in, come in! We’ve all been waiting for you!"

The last time he was here, Werner and Eva had been led directly to the kitchen to drop off coffee beans and had not entered the living room.

This time, he was genuinely welcomed by Mrs. Schmidt and led into the entryway. He took the opportunity to carefully survey his surroundings.

Despite the constraints of the political climate, the decor here was clearly far more refined than that of an ordinary home. The walls were covered in elegant wallpaper, the floor was laid with a thick carpet, and the air was filled with the faint scent of perfume.

"Let me take your coat." Mrs. Schmidt personally took Werner’s overcoat and then led him toward the living room.

The sight of the living room made Werner’s eyes light up.