Nikolai Feldman was a Russian Jew in Smidovich during World War III. He met Vasili Yasevich when the newcomer built a smokehouse for him. Feldman was impressed with Yasevich's efficiency, but warned Yasevich that his efficiency was making other handymen in town look bad. Yasevich, who claimed to be from the destroyed city of Khabarovsk but was actually a refugee from Harbin, China, didn't initially take Felman's meaning, but heard him out nonetheless.