He Long asked, "Just enter the WTO? You can't just enter now, right?"
His business was big, but it was limited to food and beverage. One business became two, and two became four. He knew his limits and did not diversify his business.
He never paid much attention to the situation in the country. The term "WTO" was a hot topic in the country for a few years, and he could hear it even with his ears covered.
Russia was just a few steps away, but it was so far away that it had nothing to do with his life.
Fang Quan said, "Russia and the West have always been at odds. Old Putin has a bad temper, and the Americans don't give in to him. They might not be willing to do business with China, but other than China, they can't find anyone else who dares to do business with them.
How else do you think these border traders make their money?
The bosses in the border trade look like migrant workers. They are inconspicuous, and they can't be compared to the bosses in the coal industry. If they really want to do something, they can invest hundreds of millions or even billions without blinking. "
He Anwen said, "That's true. There are too many big bosses in the border trade, and they are too good at hiding their wealth. Sometimes, I don't even dare to be arrogant when I meet a boss I don't know. It'll be bad if I get slapped in the face. I don't even have the confidence to stand beside them. "
He Long asked, "Did you see any good ideas when you went there? If there's a good way, don't forget about me. I have some spare cash, so I can still use it. Just tell me. "
He Anwen smiled bitterly. "Bro, do you think it's still the same as before? After the 2008 financial crisis, the global economy was in a bad state. Russia was under sanctions, and by right, we are doing border trade, but we can't do many things. Oil and natural gas are too high-end, and we definitely can't do it. We can only deal in clothes and shoes.
I'm not bragging, but I used to be able to make a replica of a train car every week. Now, I can't. Many bosses in the south have set up markets and stalls that specialize in selling China goods. They sell their goods directly, and I'm almost starving now. "
Without them as middlemen, they did not even get to eat the price difference.
Fang Quan said, "It's just a matter of time for the information society. Brother-in-law said that when the internet and logistics catch up, in the future, the Russians will buy directly from the domestic online market. They won't even be able to make a living in the wholesale market there. A middleman like you will have even less of a future."
He had always admired Second Elder Li's foresight. Thus, even though he found it unfathomable, he didn't dare to doubt it.
He Anwen said, "It's possible. If they build warehouses overseas, the transportation costs will be reduced by more than half. The Russians will really be able to do online shopping. Actually, I only have one wish now. I hope that Rubles and RMB can be swapped as soon as possible. No matter how bad Old Putin's temper is, he still can't get rid of USD.
Just like when we earn rubles, the first thing we do is to exchange them for US dollars, and then exchange US dollars for RMB. The Americans are just so comfortable, lying at home, they can buy wool from us. "
Global trade was mainly denominated in US dollars, which meant that transactions could only be settled in US dollars, resulting in the US dollar's extremely strong position. Therefore, the Americans could impose economic sanctions on other countries at any time.
Li Lan asked curiously, "I remember that during the 2008 economic crisis, China and Russia signed a currency swap agreement."
He Anwen said, "It was just a backup agreement, and there was no debtor-creditor relationship. Now, when we import oil and natural gas from China, the Russians will not be happy even if we give them RMB."
Li Lan did not know much about currency and finance. He laughed and asked, "Isn't the US sanctioning Russia? How are they going to use US dollars? "
He Anwen said, "This is where Hong Kong's advantage is. It's not called the international financial center for nothing. After being sanctioned by the US, the Russians treated Hong Kong as a safe haven. All their US dollars and Euros were changed to HKD, and HKD became Russia's reserve currency.
If it was during the British colonial era, the Russians might not have the guts to do so. Europe and the Americans are on the same side, and they will sanction whoever the Americans want to sanction.
Countries like France, Germany, and the United Kingdom were happy to see this. Iran and Iraq had deposits and gold with them. Only fools wouldn't want to steal their money legally.
Now, Hong Kong's sovereignty is in China's hands, and they don't even care about the Americans. Our domestic policy is that the enemies of the Americans are our friends, and whoever the Americans dislike, we will deal with. It's not easy to provide help in times of need, and a friend in need is a friend indeed. Look at us now, our relationship with Venezuela, Iran, and Africa is quite good. "
He spoke with fervor and assurance and said a lot of things, causing Fang Quan and the others to be dumbfounded.
Fang Quan lit his cigarette and said, "You must have watched a lot of military programs. What you said makes sense. But you're right. I've met a few people from Lunan who are in the business of steel structures and pipes. Their business in Africa and the Middle East is much better than before.
Now, other than us, no one dares to do business with countries that are sanctioned by the US. So, sometimes the Americans are really nice to us, giving us money to earn. "
He Anwen said, "It's a good thing that we're more powerful now. The Americans dare to sanction Cuba, Iran, Russia, North Korea, and Venezuela. But when it comes to China, they only talk trash. They don't even dare to mention the word sanctions.
It's no wonder the Americans treat China as their enemy. When we compare ourselves to other countries, it's all about the US, Russia, and Japan. We no longer care about them.
Globally, we are the only one who has the ability to challenge the US. In any case, dedollarization is a global trend, and the Americans can't be arrogant for long. "
Fang Quan said, "No wonder your business is so big, but it's a pity."
"What's a pity?" He Anwen asked curiously.
Fang Quan said, "It's a pity that you didn't study. You didn't study, and you're already so successful. If you did study, you'd be better off."
He Anwen was stunned for a moment, then sighed, "You're right. Every time I don't have enough brain power, I hate myself for not studying hard enough. I'm not as good as that kid Fang Li."
The lady boss personally served the dishes and wine. In the middle of the big round table, there were two opened bottles of national cellar wine and unopened bottles of beer. She placed them on the table for them to choose from.
After the lady boss left, Fang Quan first poured a glass of beer for Li Lan, then filled it for himself. He raised his glass and said, "Cheers, everyone."
Everyone stood up, raised their glasses, and downed the beer in one gulp.
He Long asked, "You guys aren't drinking baijiu anymore?"
Li Lan said, "Let's just drink beer. We're all family, and drinking so much baijiu will make you feel uncomfortable. Beer is fine."
Fang Quan smiled and said, "Let's drink beer. Everyone, drink as much as you want. When you're done, go and sing."
Everyone looked at Li Lan.
Li Lan said, "No, I don't like the noise. I can drink and eat well, but I don't have to sing."
He Long said, "Maybe it's because I'm getting old. Back in my days, I loved to drink, eat, and play. I could play in the dance hall for a whole day without getting sick of it. But now, I get a headache just from hearing that sound from afar."
Because he was too addicted to it, he was even reprimanded by his brother-in-law. Since then, no one dared to accompany him to the entertainment venues. Naturally, he would not go alone. It was even more boring.
Sitting at the door was Fang Quan's younger cousin, Fang Shiqiang. He was more honest and had not interjected much. Now that he had drunk two glasses of beer, he could not help but say, "There are quite a number of Russians in the county's clubhouses. That one over there is 1.8 meters tall, even taller than me. His skin is also fair."
Of course, he was too embarrassed to say such words out loud.
He Long said, "Come, let me have a drink with you."
"Brother Long, let's have a toast." Fang Shiqiang stood up with his glass in hand. It was naturally inappropriate to say anything else.
He Anwen said, "I'm still planning to work with a few Southerners to open a trade market in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and other Central Asian regions. After it's completed, we'll rent the storefronts and stalls to local businessmen.
There isn't such a professional trade market there yet. We'll fill in the gaps and should be able to earn quite a lot. "
Fang Quan said, "It's fine if you have connections there. If you don't, it won't be easy. Just the trouble from the police will be enough to make you suffer."
He Anwen said, "You've never done border trade before, so you won't understand. The smaller and poorer the country, the easier it is to build connections. Last year, I went to Africa with them. From the president to the ministers, I met anyone. There was only one table. On the left was the president, and on the right were a few Chinese people. On the other side were the ministers of transportation, finance, and navy.
At that time, they even gave me the approval to open a bank. I was afraid of trouble, otherwise, I would have opened a bank by now. "
Li Lan heard He Anwen's exaggeration and asked curiously, "Uncle Anwen, I'm not trying to embarrass you. Are you serious?"
He Anwen said, "Of course I'm serious. You don't understand the gap between the rich and the poor. I'm not talking about anyone else. I'm just talking about your dad. "
Li Lan said, "What does it have to do with my dad?"
He Anwen said, "I heard it from others. At first, I thought it was nonsense, but after I went to Africa, I felt that it wasn't far from the truth. Do you want to hear it?"
Li Lan nodded, "Go ahead."
He Anwen said, "Let's just listen to it. We can't spread it around. The reason he told me is because the person involved is my brother-in-law. I definitely won't spread it around. It was around 2009. Brother-in-law brought Big Sis to a country in Africa called Swica. There was a wildlife reserve there. Lions, wolves, and tigers could be seen clearly in the car. "
"It wasn't 2009 that they went to Swica. It was 2008." Li Lan corrected him. That year, his mother suddenly developed a strong interest in the vast African continent. She kept mumbling that she wanted to explore Africa when she had time.
His father was a man of his word. Without a second word, he dragged his mother to Swica in Africa and started a romantic journey with only the two of them.
They were gone for a month.
He Anwen said, "I don't remember it very clearly. I heard that Brother-in-law was bullied by a warlord. This warlord was quite arrogant. If it wasn't for Song Gu and the others being his bodyguards, it wouldn't have ended well.
Brother-in-law was very angry. He found a Chinese man in Swica and complained to the President. If they didn't get rid of this warlord, how could they keep him around for the New Year?
The President made all sorts of excuses. He said that he didn't have money or equipment. In any case, he just wanted to extort some money to get things done.
At first, he asked for one million USD. Brother-in-law agreed readily. Then, he asked for two million. After thinking about it, he felt that it was fine. Two days later, the President regretted it. He felt that Brother-in-law had agreed too readily and was definitely not short of money. He asked for less and asked for ten million.
This angered Brother-in-law. Coincidentally, it was the election in Swica. He secretly contacted all the opposition parties and gave each opposition party 10 million. He only had one goal, which was to bring down the President and eliminate the warlords. He also promised to give them another hundred million USD after it was done.
A few of the opposition parties didn't have the confidence to bring down the President on their own. So, they joined forces with the military. They didn't even go through the election process. They directly took the path of a coup and brought down the President. Then, they quickly eliminated the warlords and divided the hundred million USD equally. "
Not only was He Long and the others stunned, even Li Lan couldn't believe it.
"You can't be lying to me, right?"
He Anwen smiled and said, "There are no outsiders here, so I'll tell you the truth. You know the person who told me this. He's that Chaozhou guy, Zhang Xianwen. He built an industrial park in Swica. When Brother-in-law went there, he was the one who received him. After that, he was also the one who arranged the contact with the opposition parties.
Currently, only he, me, and the few of you know about this. Don't tell anyone else. If this kind of thing were to spread, it would be a taboo. "
Everyone hurriedly nodded. Of course, they couldn't talk about it. They were all riding on Second Brother Li's coattails. No one wished for Second Brother Li's well-being more than them.
As a son, Li Lan naturally wouldn't spread rumors about his father.
"Let me toast everyone." He stood up and said. He raised his head and the glass of beer was empty.
As they drank, the dishes were already all over the table.
The lady boss held a glass in one hand and a beer in the other. She toasted everyone one by one.
She smiled and said, "I'll toast everyone on behalf of my Old Zhou. This meal is on me. Please forgive me if I didn't take good care of you."
He Long said, "That's about it. There's no need to continue serving the dishes. It's a waste if we can't finish it. As for your treat, forget it. I appreciate the thought. "
The lady boss said, "Brother Long, you have to give me face. It's my honor to treat you to a meal."
She walked out of the room with a smile and gently closed the door.
He Long sighed and said, "Times have changed."
Li Lan was puzzled by his senseless words. He smiled and asked, "Uncle, what are you lamenting about this time?"
He Anwen said, "You don't know about this. Shao Yihong is the lady boss. She was amazing in the past. Her father was the head of the cooperative and her mother was a leader of the county committee. Look at her now. You can tell that she must be extremely beautiful when she was young. In addition, she has a good family background. She's practically a replica of Snow White.
We only dared to peek at her from afar. We didn't even dare to look her in the eye, let alone talk to her.
Isn't there a popular phrase on the internet called 'Goddess'? She's the goddess in our hearts.
Who hasn't had a dream when they were young? In our dreams, it was her.
None of us thought that we could get to where we are today. A young man has become a big boss. The goddess from back then has become a kitchen maid. If this isn't because times have changed, then what is? "
"Uncle, did you have a crush on her?" Li Lan asked bluntly.
He Long said, "Ask around. How many people my age didn't have a crush on her back then? There was a guy who gave her a love letter and got beaten up the next day. There were too many flower protectors. It was scary. I'm a timid person and didn't even dare to look at her.
After I got married, I was so tired from farming that I didn't have time to care about her.
After that, your parents got married and I went to look for them. I haven't seen her since. I didn't expect her to open a restaurant here. "
"And she's so attentive to you? Brother Long, tell me the truth. Don't you feel a sense of achievement? "Fang Quan asked with a smile.
He Long laughed and said, "What do you think? This is what they say. Back then, she didn't even look at us. Now, if she dares to go west, she can't stay in the county anymore. "
He Anwen said, "Her husband is Zhou Weiping. After Zhou Weiping's father retired, this kid couldn't stay in the city anymore. That's why he opened this restaurant. Should we teach them a lesson?"
He Long rolled his eyes at him. He raised his glass and said pretentiously, "Don't be so boring. More sunshine and less darkness. The world will be a better place!"
Everyone laughed.
When they were almost done, He Long asked the waiter to bring in some rice. Everyone had a bowl of rice.
Fang Quan took out some money from his pocket. He didn't count it. He left it on the table and told everyone to leave.
Shao Yihong glanced at the table and smiled without saying anything. She walked everyone to the door.
He Long said, "Time doesn't spare anyone."
Without waiting for Shao Yihong's reply, he led everyone away.
Fang Quan crossed his arms and asked, "Is everyone cold? Come on, let's go to the sauna and have a stomp. "
He Long said, "Then there's no problem. It's good to sober up."
Fang Quan said, "Let's not go back tonight. We'll sleep in the hotel. Tomorrow morning, we'll go to the riverside for a barbecue."
He Anwen said, "If we don't go back, won't your wife check on us?"
Fang Quan said disdainfully, "Do you think she's your wife? My wife isn't that important. What's the most important thing between a husband and wife? Trust! My wife … "
The phone in his pocket rang.
He Anwen teased, "Hurry up and answer it. Otherwise, Sister-in-law will be angry."
Fang Quan jogged to the other side and picked up the phone while hiding from them. He deliberately said loudly, "Yeah, if I don't go back tonight, where else can I be? I can't hear it. Even the cars on the road are buzzing. What a joke. I'm in a hotel. How can I not find a place to sleep?
Oh, my son misses me. If I don't go back, he won't sleep? Sure, sure, wait a minute. "
He walked over to He Long and the others. Before he could say anything, He Long waved at him. "Where's your chauffeur? Let him pick you up. Don't drive yourself."
Li Lan saw him looking at him and smiled. "What's our relationship? Don't be so courteous with me. Go on, I'm going to take a bath with Uncle. "
Probably because of the alcohol, he was very excited and didn't feel sleepy at all.
Moreover, the people here were here to support him. Fang Quan could leave, but if he did, it would be a little awkward.
Fang Quan patted him on the shoulder. "Have fun then. I'm leaving."
He turned and winked at Fang Shiqiang. "I'll leave it to you. You make the arrangements."
Fang Shiqiang immediately understood. "Don't worry, I'll take care of everything."
He wasn't Fang Quan's secretary, but he hung out with Fang Quan all year round and ran a small business behind him. The bosses in the county were also very familiar with him. From a certain point of view, he represented Fang Quan.
When Fang Quan got into the chauffeur's car, he waved at the cars behind him. Soon, two cars stopped in front of them. He smiled. "Get in the car. It's not far. We'll be there soon."
Everyone got into the car and drove past two intersections. After a turn, they stopped in front of a five-story building.
He Long lit a cigarette as he looked up at the signboard. He smiled. "When did this place open? I don't even know."
Fang Shiqiang said, "Last year. It was opened by a boss from the south. He's a friend of Brother Quan."
He led the way in. When the young lady at the front desk saw him, she quickly greeted him.
He sat on the sofa and personally took a pair of slippers for Li Lan.
Li Lan hurriedly said, "Uncle, I'll do it myself. You don't have to be so polite."
He Long was already wearing slippers, so he didn't change his shoes. After entering the bathroom, he took off his clothes in front of the wardrobe and threw them into the wardrobe. After he entered the sink area, the attendant at the side quickly locked the door with a pass.
It was Li Lan's first time in a public bathroom. He was a little embarrassed to be naked in front of so many people.
He Long smiled. "Come in and take a bath. It's very comfortable."
"Coming." Li Lan decided to let go and tentatively put his feet into the sink. It started to feel a little hot. Slowly, he put half of his body into the water. His tiredness gradually dissipated.
He sat by the sink and leaned against the wall. His hands rested on the edge of the sink. He took the cigarette from Fang Shiqiang and finally lit one.
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
