Kirilenko had just stepped out of the airport when he saw a Lada car from his country, which made him very proud. "Look, our car is so popular in China!"
But what he didn't expect was that when the door of the Lada opened, Feng Yu stepped out from the back seat.
"Huh? Feng changed the car? Did he specifically change it to a car from our country for me? What a great friend!"
Feng Yu didn't realize that his unintentional action had further increased Kirilenko's good impression of him. Little did he know, Feng Yu had just wanted to be more comfortable.
"Brother Kirilenko, welcome back to China. I've already prepared a welcome banquet for you, with the best erguotou."
Feng Yu's unusual way of addressing him made Kirilenko pause, but the mention of erguotou brought a smile to his face.
After a heavy drinking session, Kirilenko was once again thoroughly drunk. After Feng Yu explained that "Brother Kirilenko" in Chinese was a shortened form of "Kirilenko's brother," Kirilenko became even more excited. He grabbed Feng Yu's hand and insisted that Feng Yu stay with him at the International Hotel, but Feng Yu firmly declined.
"Sleeping in the same room with you, you can sleep, but I can't! Last time, I barely slept all night and had dark circles under my eyes. Wait until I perfect my farting, grinding teeth, snoring, and talking in my sleep. Then we'll see who falls asleep first!"
The next day, when Kirilenko woke up and went downstairs, he saw Li Shiqiang waiting in a car at the door. After getting into the car in a daze, he was taken to an unfamiliar place.
This seems to be a warehouse?
When the door opened, Kirilenko saw a pile of goods that were in short supply in the Soviet Union, which he had come to China to purchase. What does this mean? Has Feng already prepared everything for me?
A familiar voice came from upstairs, seemingly Feng arguing with someone. As Kirilenko went upstairs, he saw someone storm out angrily, and Feng was shouting in the room.
Seeing Kirilenko, Feng Yu put on a smile. "Brother Kirilenko, I called you over so early, I hope it's not too much trouble?"
"Feng, I seem to have heard you arguing with someone. What happened?"
Feng Yu put on a troubled look. "Nothing, just the supply cooperative doesn't want to sell us anything anymore. Their leadership has changed. I've contacted some other suppliers, but the prices won't come down because it's our first time working together."
"Feng, you've worked so hard for me, I understand. A higher price is no problem."
"No, I won't let you down. I will definitely get you the same price as last time. See those goods downstairs? They're all at the same price as last time. I won't accept any higher prices; I can't let you down!" Feng Yu said fiercely.
This time, it was Kirilenko's turn to feel a bit embarrassed. He rubbed his hands and said, "Feng, my brother, let me be honest with you. Actually, I still make a good profit even with these goods. So a higher price is no problem."
Feng Yu casually said, "How much profit can you make? These things are so expensive here, and you still have to transport them. Making ten percent would be good."
"No, no, no, you don't understand our side. These things are in high demand there. I make about forty percent profit."
Feng Yu couldn't help but whistle. He had guessed that Kirilenko made a lot of money, but he didn't expect it to be this much. Last time, he bought goods worth 300,000 rubles, so the profit must have been 120,000 rubles?
Moreover, Feng Yu suspected that this was pure profit, after deducting transportation costs and the intermediary fee to Feng Yu. This business is too profitable!
Feng Yu then remembered that the Soviet Union was now being dragged into the Star Wars program by President Reagan, with the country's productivity and funds tilting towards military and space technology, leaving very little for civilian use.
The Soviet economy was on the brink of collapse, and it wasn't far from the first country breaking away from the Soviet Union. Trade with the Soviet Union was now a big opportunity. Apart from the military industry, the Soviet Union was about to lack everything!
For example, buying some of their mechanical parts from the Soviet Union, which were still leading in China. There were also many industrial products that were non-existent in China. If this route could be established, making a fortune in a short time would not be a dream!
However, getting import and export licenses was not easy. Feng Yu's trading company didn't have an import license, only an export license, which came with some unfair terms.
For example, if there was foreign currency in the account, you could only withdraw RMB from the bank. The foreign currency was taken by the state.
Creating foreign exchange was a crucial task in this era, and bank supervision was very strict. Exporting to create foreign exchange was allowed, but importing required foreign currency, which was very troublesome.
So, getting an export license was easier, but import licenses were almost never issued except to state-owned enterprises. Coastal cities could import from Hong Kong, but the inland areas were still heavily restricted.
Feng Yu took out a Russian-language list and handed it to Kirilenko. "Brother Kirilenko, take a look. What goods on this list do you want? After you decide, I'll help you calculate the lowest price, ensuring you don't lose out!"
Kirilenko was moved to tears. This is true international revolutionary friendship. Just a mention on the phone, and everything was noted down and arranged, saving him so much trouble.
The list not only included the goods Kirilenko mentioned on the phone but also some items not mentioned, which were very cheap in China. As Kirilenko looked through the list, he filled in the quantities on the form. There wasn't a single item on the entire page that he didn't want!
Kirilenko sat in a chair drinking tea, while Feng Yu used a calculator to compute the prices. In less than five minutes, the price was calculated.
"Brother Kirilenko, according to my calculations, the lowest price to transport the goods to the train is 520,000 rubles. But I'm confident I can negotiate the last 20,000 rubles down, which will take about three days."
"Three days? My train is booked for the day after tomorrow. How about this: whatever you can negotiate, I'll accept. This time, I only brought 500,000 rubles, so you can reduce the quantity of some goods."
Feng Yu's eyes narrowed. Something was off. This Kirilenko doesn't seem as simple as he appears. When we were chatting, he casually asked about prices and remembered them all? The total cost of the goods is just over 500,000 rubles. Did he calculate this in advance?
But no matter how shrewd you are, you don't know the domestic prices as well as I do. If you go around asking, the prices will definitely be higher.
The goods Kirilenko bought, at Feng Yu's procurement price, actually only cost 430,000 rubles, giving Feng Yu a 14% profit!
"Brother Kirilenko, don't worry, I'll make sure to negotiate it down to 500,000 rubles." Feng Yu finished and gave Li Shiqiang a nod.
Li Shiqiang loudly said something to Feng Yu, who seemed to refuse. Kirilenko was confused, but he understood the final finger gesture—this was asking for money.
"Feng, here are 20,000 rubles, as a token of appreciation for your hard work. Is this enough?"
"Brother Kirilenko, that's too much... Okay, I'll take it. Rest assured, I'll start loading some of the goods onto the train tomorrow!"
Doing business with Brother Kirilenko is so refreshing! If I say my router burned out and I had to install a new one, and I treated the classmate who brought the router to a meal, can you forgive me?