Rebirth 1989: My Unlucky Career

Zhao Zhuo felt relieved when he heard that it was just the middleman who took the cut.

"If it's just a commission, it's fine. It's just more agency fees."

Zhao Zhuo said casually.

Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Li Mengshi immediately shook her head:

"It's not as simple as you think. These middlemen charge nominal agency fees, but in fact the money they charge is more than what you paid to buy the goods, or even several times more!"

Hearing this, Zhao Zhuo couldn't help but be a little surprised:

"What? It's so expensive? Didn't they make all the money?"

Li Mengshi nodded:

"That's right, these people make the most money. And even though you are from Fengtian, these people make the most money from fellow villagers like you."

Zhao Zhuo asked:

"Oh, why is that?"

Li Mengshi said like a treasure trove:

“Because Fengtian people buy goods and return to China, it is close to the Soviet Union, so the transportation cost is cheap.

On the contrary, in other cities far away from the Soviet Union, considering the high transportation costs, the profit margins of those merchants are small, so the middlemen will charge less."

After listening, Zhao Zhuo nodded.

"Well, thank you very much for providing this information. If you didn't tell me, I really wouldn't know."

"Hey, it's nothing, we are friends."

Li Mengshi waved her hand and said.

Hearing this, Zhao Zhuo smiled:

"From what you just said, you didn't go to the Soviet Union to do business?"

"That's right."

Li Mengshi nodded:

"I'm going on a trip."

Zhao Zhuo couldn't help but ask:

"Then how did you know this news?"

"Hey, my family is in business. Although I'm not doing business here, I still have a few friends."

Speaking of this, Li Mengshi suddenly remembered something:

"By the way, what do you want to buy when you go to the Soviet Union?"

"Camera Roll."

"Hmm... As for film, I actually know a friend who is also from Yangcheng and is a middleman who specializes in film business there.

I’ll give you his contact information, so you can go to him directly. Although there are still agency fees, it should be cheaper for you.”

As she spoke, Li Mengshi took a piece of paper and wrote a phone number on it.

Zhao Zhuo was overjoyed when he saw this:

"That's great! Thank you very much."

Li Mengshi smiled and waved her hands:

"Look, you said thank you again. Doesn't that mean you don't regard me as a friend?"

"Alright alright."

Zhao Zhuo smiled bitterly.

"In that case, I won't say anything."

It takes several hours to fly from Beijing to Moscow.

Along the way, Zhao Zhuo and Li Mengshi chatted, and the more they chatted, the more they became more and more speculative.

Zhao Zhuo was somewhat surprised to find that Li Mengshi's business thinking was not inferior to Zhao Zhuolai's.

Although in terms of foresight on many issues, Zhao Zhuo has an absolute advantage because of his decades of experience.

However, Li Mengshi has her own unique understanding of some current business models.

Zhao Zhuo vaguely noticed that Li Mengshi was not a simple person.

…

Before we knew it, the plane landed.

"I wish you good luck with your business."

"Hahaha, I also wish you a happy journey."

The two said goodbye and left.

Before leaving, Li Mengshi suddenly shouted to Zhao Zhuo:

"By the way, the second number on the paper is my home phone number."

After saying that, Li Mengshi smiled mischievously, turned around and left coolly.

When Zhao Zhuo heard this, he took out the piece of paper and looked at it. Sure enough, there were two phone numbers on it, and he couldn't help laughing.

After leaving the airport, Zhao Zhuo saw Yalikov with a big nose coming to pick him up from a distance.

"Hey Zhao! I'm here!"

When Yalikov saw Zhao Zhuo, he waved and shouted desperately.

Zhao Zhuo saw this and walked over.

"haven't seen you for a long time."

Zhao Zhuo said in Russian.

"No, no, no, according to what you said, it should be like three autumns after not seeing each other for one day."

Yalikov actually spoke Chinese in Chinese, which shocked Zhao Zhuo.

"Oh, I didn't expect you to speak Chinese."

Zhao Zhuo smiled.

Hearing this, Yalikov wanted to be complacent, but suddenly thought of something and his expression changed:

"Zhao, let's get in the car first. I have something important to talk to you about."

Seeing Yalikov's serious expression, Zhao Zhuo already had a premonition in his heart.

Sure enough, after the two got into Yalikov's squeaky old car, Yalikov solemnly said:

"Zhao, the current trade situation in the Soviet Union is no longer as optimistic as it was when you came last time."

"Oh, what's wrong?"

Zhao Zhuo asked calmly with a calm face.

"As far as I know, many factories now have you Chinese people as their representatives to help them sell goods.

Especially the camera and film you want to buy, I don’t have many friends who do this.

Therefore, you may need to figure out your own solutions to purchasing issues."

Yalikov said slowly.

After hearing Yalikov's words and comparing them with Li Mengshi's words, Zhao Zhuo already understood that the current situation was indeed not optimistic.

"It doesn't matter. As long as you can give me the phone number or address of a factory that produces cameras, that's enough. I will figure out other things myself."

Zhao Zhuo said with a smile.

"That's no problem! I've found the phone number for a factory that specializes in producing cameras. Just contact it directly."

Yalikov said.

"OK."

Zhao Zhuo nodded, and then took out a bottle of wine from his backpack.

"A gift for you."

Yalikov took the wine and looked at it carefully, and was immediately overjoyed:

"Maotai?! It's hard for me to accept such an expensive gift! After all, I haven't done you any favors."

Yalikov looked surprised at first, and then said a little embarrassedly.

But Zhao Zhuo smiled slightly:

"Then I will teach you another Chinese saying, which is that the best wine is given to the best friend."

When Yalikov heard this, he suddenly smiled:

"In that case, I'll accept it! After all, you are my good Chinese friend!"

"Hahaha, that's what it means."

"By the way, I'll find a local authentic restaurant to pick you up!"

Yalikov said boldly.

Seeing how enthusiastic Yalikov was, Zhao Zhuo had no choice but to be disrespectful.

…

So Yalikov drove to a Russian restaurant.

One meal was red cabbage soup, big ribs, and tomato beef...

I didn't think it was very delicious, but it really made Zhao Zhuo gain knowledge.

After dinner, Yalikov kindly invited Zhao Zhuo to stay at his home, but Zhao Zhuo declined.

At Zhao Zhuo's insistence, Yalikov had no choice but to help Zhao Zhuo find a hotel, and then went back to the textile factory.

After Zhao Zhuo settled down in the hotel, he was not in a hurry to go out, but chose to rest first.

In Zhao Zhuo's view, business matters must always be based on abundant energy.