Reborn in Russia as a Big Shot

14. Customs solicitation of bribes

The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is called the Lantern Festival in Yuenan.

In addition to Chinese dishes, Li Xiang also specially prepared Yue Nan festival foods such as Yue Nan glutinous rice balls, square rice dumplings, and round rice dumplings.

The taste may not be authentic, but the thought is there.

Li Xiang remembered that his senior classmate, Nguyen Tuan Anh, who rose to the position of Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade in Vietnam, was also here today.

But Li Xiang didn't talk to him much, only exchanging a few words.

There is a direct train from Green Mountain to downtown St. Petersburg.

Li Xiang lived in an old, dilapidated house in the former Soviet Union. Because it was built early, it was very close to the train station. The people who came to the dinner party were catching the last train back to school.

Some people drank too much and didn't leave.

Waiting for the train on the platform at the train station.

Several international students from Vietnam gathered together, speaking in the Vietnamese dialect, which the people around them couldn't understand.

"Didn't Li Xiang say he had a place to stay? It would be great to stay overnight, and we could even get an extra meal tomorrow morning."

"Can't you have any shame? You're eating and taking things, and you still want to stay at their place? They might not say anything, but aren't they annoyed?"

"I think he really welcomed us. Take zongzi for example. People in the north eat square zongzi and people in the south eat round zongzi. He actually prepared both."

"The glutinous rice balls were also specially prepared; the kind they eat is different from ours."

"Brother Ruan, I saw you talking to him for quite a while, what did you talk about?"

Ruan Junying: "He didn't say anything, he just asked about the Unified Investment Act."

"Their family wants to invest in Yuenan? Isn't that perfect? ​​It'll give you some business opportunities. Call them to Pingyang."

Ruan Junying is about to graduate, and Yue Nan has already arranged a job for him after he returns to China.

I went to work as an investment promotion specialist at the Binh Duong Provincial Industrial Zone Administration.

"They didn't say they would vote."

"If he didn't have this idea, he wouldn't have asked at all. Let's try to win him over."

-

The 100,000 sets of high-quality counterfeit jerseys that Han Jiayin sent from mainland China were seized by customs in St. Petersburg.

This time is different from the last time.

On the day the container arrived at the port, Sergei received an anonymous phone call claiming to have connections and be able to get the goods out, with information as readily available as if he were a prophet.

The asking price wasn't expensive; it was five thousand US dollars, to be transferred to a designated overseas account.

Sergei can make decisions on routine matters, but now he's being extorted for bribes...

Of course, it could also be a scam.

"It's normal for goods to be stuck in customs for a few days. Why don't you wait a little longer? This person might be a scammer."

Five thousand US dollars, which is almost 140,000 rubles, Sergei felt heartbroken just thinking about being scammed.

Weren't we scammed?

I feel even more sorry for her.

They successfully extorted this batch of goods; they'll definitely need the next batch.

Li Xiang analyzed, "Even if they are scammers, they are still connected to their own internal affairs."

Sergei: "Doesn't Pavel have connections? Let him help us inquire."

"I can't count on him." Li Xiang sighed and decided, "I can't give him the money."

"What if that really happens?" Sergei asked with a worried expression.

"Let's just go through the motions. If you're so tough, then keep stockpiling the goods until the World Cup ends." Li Xiang bit his lip and said, "At times like this, it's all about who can keep their composure."

"If we give in to his every request, we deserve to be treated like a pushover, and he'll keep asking for more and more."

"Brother Xiang, this isn't just about one shipment. If this shipment isn't resolved, the next shipment we send to St. Petersburg might also run into problems." Sergei took a deep breath and suggested, "We could try shipping it through Lithuania, crossing the EU to sell it to Belarus first, and then heading north to Russia."

"No matter how far the St. Petersburg customs officials reach, they can't extend their influence to the border trade between Russia and China."

"What if you reach over there?" Li Xiang asked with a smile.

Sergei swallowed hard, thought for a moment, and said, "There are six trading ports between Russia and Belarus. I'll change the name of the company in Belarus and export to Russia under the name of a Belarusian company."

"With so many goods coming and going every day, no matter how capable he is, he can't find us."

Li Xiang nodded and said, "Okay, we'll do it your way."

Sergei chuckled sheepishly, "We don't have much cash on hand. These jerseys can't be converted into cash, and the money for buying more..."

"I'll figure out how to source the goods. The Belarusian route is a new market, so we should pay more attention to it."

"I know," Sergei said confidently. "There definitely won't be any problems."

-

I still have to go to Lao Li for sourcing goods.

"You're calling me again. Tell me if it's good or bad news first. If it's bad, I'll hang up immediately."

The caller ID showed that Lao Li answered the phone and immediately started ranting.

Li Xiang didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "Those 100,000 sets of jerseys were seized by customs."

"Why?" Old Li's voice immediately turned serious.

"I got a phone call; they want money."

Old Li was stunned for a moment, then complained, "Is someone trying to withhold money, or are you trying to swindle me?"

Li Xiang said with a wry smile, "Make me another 100,000 sets of jerseys, and I'll transfer the deposit to you in the next day or two."

"They really withheld it? Forget about the deposit." Old Li sighed and reminded him, "Don't send any more to St. Petersburg, switch to another line."

"No deposit required," Li Xiang chuckled. "Then make me 200,000 sets."

"Don't push your luck. Quickly find a way to get those 100,000 sets out of customs. Give us a little, it's over three million. Even if we earn less, it's better than losing our capital."

Old Li asked, "Did you buy insurance?"

Li Xiang: "I bought it."

"We can't skimp on insurance," Old Li muttered. "These bastards have so many ways to cheat people. The weather forecast says it'll rain, so they deliberately unload the goods outside and check them one by one."

"Can you sue them? Where would you even begin? Do you think doing business is child's play? People can be treacherous; there are many tricks involved."

Li Xiang comforted his father, saying, "It's just a paperwork issue, not the goods being confiscated. It won't be lost."

"Your blood pressure is high." Old Li cleared his throat and stammered, "Brothers fight tigers together, fathers and sons go to war side by side. If you're in trouble, I'll help you without hesitation."

"After you get the goods back and sell them, give me a commission. Your brother is going to study in the US, and my little bit of savings isn't enough."

Li Xiang feigned ignorance and said, "When did I suddenly have an extra brother?"

"Don't you know?" Old Li asked, his voice barely audible even though no one was around. "Wang Shufen's son."

Fearing that Li Xiang might misunderstand, Old Li added, "Don't worry, our family's property is still yours. He's grown up and I haven't been around to help him. I just want to make up for it within my means."

-

After finishing his call with Lao Li, Li Xiang dialed Aunt Natasha's number in Vladivostok.

"Aunt Dalia."

"You have a sweet tongue, but I'm not your aunt. You can change your address after you marry Natasha."

"It's only a matter of time," Li Xiang said with a fawning smile. "I have a batch of clothing that needs to be shipped to Vladivostok. Could you help me pick up the goods at the port and then transfer them by train to St. Petersburg?"

"Why not ship it directly to St. Petersburg by sea?" Dalia immediately grasped the key point.

"There was a disagreement with the customs in St. Petersburg."

"Do you need any help?" Dalia asked.

Li Xiang refused, saying, "I can handle this myself. Just help me pick up the goods."

Two is one, one is none.

This quote comes from the U.S. Marine Corps.

If you only carry one essential piece of equipment, and it breaks, you have nothing left.

Always have a plan B.