MMB 12. 2006 Spring Festival
12. 2006 Spring Festival
During the 2006 Spring Festival, Li Xiang did not go home for the holiday, citing the need to balance his business.
The New Year's Eve dinner was changed to a video format.
"How's my outfit? Is it your style?" Natasha was the surprise guest for the evening.
I don't know where she got that floral cotton-padded jacket from Northeast China, and she's posing and showing off.
"Yes, that's what we dress like for Chinese New Year back home. It's what makes it feel like the New Year." Li Xiang forced a smile.
Natasha said earnestly, "I bought you an outfit too, go ahead and change into it."
"I'm working, I'll change later."
Li Xiang cooked today, and all the dishes were made strictly according to his mother's instructions step by step. He had no choice but to do it, since he wasn't going home anymore. If he didn't follow her orders, he would be executed immediately.
"Will your parents dislike me?" Natasha asked, a little uneasy.
"I like them, so you like them. Your job today is to sit next to me and eat."
Although the New Year's Eve dinner was separated by a screen, the online video quality was not high and the picture was intermittent, but at this moment, the whole family was still reunited.
Li Xiang knew that Old Li did business with Russian merchants and knew some basic Russian. He was surprised to learn that Sister Han (his mother) also knew it, and spoke it even more fluently than Old Li.
Li Xiang's parents' generation was the last generation in China to receive basic education in Russian.
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Under Li Xiang's coercion, Pavel became an outer member of the SNOWFLYING drug trafficking group.
Although they made some money selling counterfeit clothing, the pressure of living on the edge was immense.
For gamblers, the best way to relieve stress is always gambling.
A week ago, Pavel lost his mind at the Victory Bar and borrowed 300,000 rubles at exorbitant interest rates.
Bar counter.
"I hadn't seen you play cards for days. I thought you'd run away." Galina, the bar owner, has deep ties to the Tambov Gang, the most powerful gang in St. Petersburg.
As long as they want to continue living in St. Petersburg, no one will dare not pay back the money owed to her.
"Is it really worth it for such a small amount of money?" Pavel looked exhausted.
"When do you plan to return it?"
"Wait a little longer."
"The longer you delay, the less you'll be able to pay it back." Galina opened a bottle of beer for Pavel. "It's on you."
"This beer is really expensive." Pavel picked up the beer and downed half a bottle in one gulp.
Galina was wiping wine glasses when she leaned closer to Pavel and suggested, "I heard you've been making high-quality counterfeit clothing lately. If you're short on funds, we could collaborate."
"How will we cooperate?" Pavel asked intently.
Galina: "I had someone buy a few of your clothes. The quality is pretty good. It's a shame to sell them at a street stall."
"You want to sell it in a brand store?" Pavel guessed, following Galina's lead.
Galina's lips curled slightly as she said softly, "I have the channels. I mix the real and fake products together, and no one can tell the difference. I know the rules. You supply me the goods, and I won't ask where they come from."
Pavel then asked, "If we really cooperate, could you waive the interest on the loan I borrowed?"
"One thing at a time. Even if the mayor of St. Petersburg owes me money, he still has to pay it back."
Seeing that Pavel's expression wasn't good, Galina poured him another glass of whiskey. "As long as your goods are consistently of stable quality, I can offer you a slightly higher price."
Pavel downed his whiskey in one gulp. "Deal!"
-
Li Xiang, this drug lord, is a powerful figure from out of town; Galina, backed by the Tambov Gang, is a powerful figure in the mountains; Pavel is caught in the middle, unable to offend either side.
He can only blame himself for his own impulsive gambling addiction and the fact that he even borrowed money.
With interest rates compounding, if it keeps snowballing, you'll have no choice but to sell your house.
On the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, Pavel brought gifts to Green Mountain City to wish Li Xiang a Happy New Year, but he was actually quite hard to find.
"What are you doing at my house?" Natasha asked Pavel with hostility.
The gated villa area allowed Pavel to enter only after the security guards had obtained Li Xiang's consent.
"Chinese people give gifts during the New Year, and I'm here to give Mr. Li a gift." Pavel smiled sheepishly, holding up two gift bags. He wasn't so afraid of Natasha anymore.
Natasha looks intimidating, always ready to pull out a gun, but her true feelings are written all over her face.
Pavel fears Oleg, who is ruthless and taciturn, and Li Xiang, who always wears a smile.
"Let him in, it's so cold outside." Li Xiang wasn't too happy about Pavel's uninvited visit, but he also happened to have something he wanted to talk to him about, so he wanted to avoid having to make another appointment.
"Behave yourself." Natasha said with a long face, her small eyes fixed on Pavel.
Pavel handed the gift to Natasha, changed into slippers, and said, "I'm going to see Mr. Li."
Who invites someone to a sauna during the Chinese New Year?
However, this doesn't seem out of place in St. Petersburg, where saunas are a very common social activity for Russians.
Li Xiang invited Pavel to the sauna, not out of social habit, but because it made talking easier.
"Mr. Li, my sales channels are open, and the stores have everything they need. When will the goods arrive?"
"I'm stuck at customs. I heard you have connections there. Could you help me figure out a way?"
"I have no connections, and my... shipments are often delayed." Pavel stammered nervously.
"It really is just clothing." Li Xiang knew what Pavel was worried about.
"Mr. Li, please forgive me. I really have no choice. I can't take responsibility if something happens."
Pavel was convinced that Li Xiang was a drug lord. Even if what was hidden in his clothes wasn't drugs, it must be some other contraband. Who would dare to help him with this?
Even if this batch is indeed clothing, what about the next batch? Who knows, some batch might be mixed with counterfeit goods.
Although Pavel had no evidence for his speculation, he preferred to believe it was true.
Li Xiang also looked helpless, crossing his arms as he looked at Pavel.
"Fine, if you don't want to help, I won't make things difficult for you. Let's talk about something else."
"The World Cup is just over five months away, and I'm planning to ship some high-quality replica jerseys over to sell."
"That's great!" Pavel breathed a sigh of relief and grinned. "Let me take a look at the sample first. If it's a good imitation, give me 50,000 sets. I have a ready-made sales network."
Li Xiang curled his lip, "I'd still come to you for 50,000 sets."
How many sets do you want to produce?
Li Xiang held up one finger, "One million sets."
"High-quality counterfeit clothing isn't exactly high-tech; anyone can make it as long as they're not afraid of being fined. It's hard for the St. Petersburg and Moscow markets alone to handle such a large volume."
Pavel thought for a moment and continued, "We could try selling some more to Belarus."
Li Xiang's lips curled up. "You've already thought of Belarus, can't you think of something else?"
"Bolan, Lithuanian, Latvia, or Ukraine?" Pavel frowned, a little confused.
"The European Union," Li Xiang continued, "The three Baltic states have all joined the EU. There are three routes. As long as we can open up one of them, this business can be done."
"Goods move freely between EU countries. Entering the EU is like entering Germany, like being at the World Cup."
"Adidas sells for 100 euros, and you can sell it for 90 euros. Calculate how much profit you make."
"You don't even have to pay taxes. Even if two out of three truckloads are seized, you'll still make a fortune as long as you can get one truck in."
"Such a profitable business... How can I thank you enough for introducing it to me?" Pavel was worried that Li Xiang would bring up the customs matter again.
Li Xiang smiled slightly, "I don't like illegal business. You just need to get your goods from me. Is 50,000 sets enough? Should we add another zero?"