Reborn in Russia as a Big Shot

64. Entrapment

Google Mail.

Li Xiang clicked to view the information, which was a recommendation from Ruan Junying. He was quickly drawn to a girl named Chen Qiucao.

"This guy looks honest, but he's already keeping a mistress right after starting his job."

This was just a joke from Li Xiang, but it's certain that Chen Qiucao has connections.

Among the many recommenders, she had the worst qualifications, lacking both education and experience. In the "Self-Introduction" section, she clearly wrote that her greatest strengths were "hard-working and responsible".

These are the exact words Li Xiang said to Ruan Junying.

"It wouldn't be good to only admit her; let's look at the others."

Soon, Li Xiang found another person with connections on the recommendation list. With a wry smile, he picked up his phone and dialed the number of another Vietnamese senior, Nguyen Minh Chi.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, we got down to business.

"Nguyen Tuan Anh recommended a few employees to me, one of whom is named Nguyen Minh Tat. He claims to have international connections and that his younger brother is studying at St. Petersburg State University in Russia. His name is Nguyen Minh Chi, which is the same as yours. Are you the same person?"

"I don't know. I do have an older brother, but Vietnamese people tend to have similar names," Nguyen Minh Chi said with a smile.

"Stop pretending." Li Xiang seized the opportunity to inquire, "You're graduating this year, right? Have you decided which company you'll be working for in Vietnam?"

Ruan Mingzhi sighed deliberately and said, "I can't compare to Junying. He's a leader now, and he even has a car with him when he goes out. I've been assigned to a company, the Foreign Trade Bank."

Li Xiang laughed heartily and said, "You think I don't know anything? You're a master of electrical engineering who studied abroad, and instead of assigning you to the power sector, we put you in a bank. You've got some skills."

Ruan Mingzhi did not hide anything and revealed, "I don't have any special abilities. Junying helped me. His new girlfriend's family works in the Pingyang Finance Bureau, and she helped me make some connections."

"You don't need to worry about my brother's situation. I already told him not to write those useless things on his resume. Whether he gets the job or not depends on his own abilities, but he just wouldn't listen..."

After Li Xiang finished his phone call with Ruan Mingzhi, he was about to reply to Ruan Junying's email when someone knocked on the door.

"Come in." Li Xiang looked up, smiled wryly, and said, "You've changed your look?"

"I used to be a female gangster, now I'm a high-level executive at a big company, so of course I have to change my image." Galina spun around on the spot, spreading her hands, waiting for praise. "How is it? Does it fit Yuremi's product positioning?"

Galina was transferred to YUREMI by Li Xiang, who also specially found a marketing manager to work with her on marketing.

He was being groomed as a reserve cadre.

Li Xiang commented, "It's alright."

"No taste." Galina put her bag aside, sat down, and reported to her supervisor, "YUREMI landed a big order yesterday."

"How big can it be?" Li Xiang asked casually.

By driving traffic to Shopee through WeTV, the conversion rate for clothing items is very high, but the gross profit margin for clothing is too low, so there's not much profit to be made.

YUREMI is making money, but unfortunately sales are not ideal.

"5000 million rubles! That's a big deal, isn't it? Someone knows what's good for them."

Fifty million rubles, which is roughly equivalent to $170 million at the current exchange rate, is more than all of YUREMI's sales since its inception.

"Where did this customer come from?" Li Xiang had a vague feeling that something was wrong.

Galina replied, "They found us themselves. They told us to ship the goods to Minsk, and the deposit has already been paid, so there won't be any problems."

After a few seconds of contemplation, Li Xiang said, "It's best to be careful."

-

Binh Duong Province, Vietnam.

"Dinner's ready."

After a long day at work, Ruan Junying still has to cook for his girlfriend when he gets home, making him a well-known model boyfriend in his workplace.

Du Meiling came to the dining table and, seeing that there were no chopsticks, picked up a betel leaf-wrapped roasted beef roll with her hand and put it in her mouth.

"Have you washed your hands?" Ruan Junying came out of the kitchen, carrying chopsticks and a spoon.

"No." Du Meiling chuckled, swallowed the beef roll, went to the bathroom to wash her hands, and casually asked, "How's it going with recommending employees to your classmate?"

Ruan Junying truthfully stated, "He replied to my email at noon today. I recommended a total of sixteen people, and he kept them all."

"They're quite careful." Du Meiling came out after washing her hands and followed up the conversation, asking, "Who did you recommend as a 'connected' client? Did he guess?"

"Ruan Mingzhi's brother, do you even need to guess? It's written directly in his resume. Who is his brother?" Ruan Junying only stated part of the facts, deliberately concealing Chen Qiucao's situation.

Du Meiling asked curiously, "What exactly is your relationship with Ruan Mingzhi? You're helping him with work, and you refuse any benefits he offers you, wanting to give him a free ride instead."

"We're classmates, so it's all about mutual help. If we transfer him to the bank, it'll be easier for me to attract foreign investment and get loans for them." Ruan Junying said, scooping rice from her bowl.

Du Meiling pouted and said, "Half a bowl is enough, that's too much."

Ruan Junying handed the rice bowl to his girlfriend and said considerately, "Eat up, and give me the rest if you can't finish it."

Du Meiling took the rice and reminded her, "I've been browsing your Chinese classmate's e-commerce website these past few days, and it's doing pretty well."

"If you can really help our local businesses in Pingyang connect to his website, I'll have my uncle put in a good word for you behind the scenes. You might have a chance to get promoted in the next round."

-

St. Petersburg Customs.

Volkov was called to the office by the warden, Opria, and arrived at the door in a daze, his legs trembling.

I mustered up the courage to knock on the door.

"Enter."

Opria was very enthusiastic and stood up to introduce Volkov, "This is Victor, a high commissioner sent by the Federation. He has something to ask you."

As he approached Volkov, Opria whispered in his ear, "I'm not here for you."

Opria resumed her normal volume and said with an awkward laugh, "Cooperate well with the investigation. Do whatever you're told and strive for a good result. I have official business to attend to, so I'll be going now."

Russian customs has always been a hotbed of corruption, especially in recent years, as the more prosperous the import and export trade becomes, the greater the opportunities for rent-seeking.

Victor came to the customs office not to help the St. Petersburg customs clean up the corrupt officials, but his main target was Li Xiang.

After Opria left, he closed the door.

Victor began his questioning: "Don't be nervous, we're just chatting. Do you know Li Xiang, the Chinese businessman?"

Volkov was silent for about a minute before replying, "I've run into him while fishing at the beach, but I don't have much of a relationship with him otherwise."

Victor: "As far as I know, Li Xiang's goods were able to enter St. Petersburg without any hindrance because of your help behind the scenes."

Volkov, looking slightly nervous, retorted, "There's nothing wrong with his goods."

"There are plenty of perfectly good goods. Why are other people's goods being held up and obstructed, but his aren't?" Victor pressed on again. "I did some pre-arranged meetings with you. How did you get this section chief position? Did Li Xiang pay for it?"

"I got promoted to section chief based on my own abilities. Can you buy that? You have to take responsibility for saying such things!" Volkov had goosebumps all over his body, and his voice trembled slightly.

Victor adjusted his expression and said seriously, "We have no interest in your problems, not in the past, not now, and not in the future, but there is one condition: you must cooperate with us unconditionally."

"Contact Li Xiang as soon as possible and have him send you some money."

Volkov looked utterly exasperated. "A sting operation!"