My Realistic Simulation Game

Chapter 56 Everything Was the Right Choice
Two days passed in a blink of an eye.

Qin Yuan spent almost all of yesterday at the Moscow State Bank, and even in the evening he just randomly found a hotel nearby.

The results were astonishing, especially when they left the bank.

The leather briefcase, which had been empty, now weighed heavily on his wrist.

It contained a full $218,000 in cash.

Although, in the meantime, Ivanovic, that seasoned financial tycoon, ruthlessly pocketed 20% of the profits.

But Qin Yuan felt no resentment or regret.

He knew very well another way to calculate this.

If you bring this mountain of rubles back to your country, hoping to exchange them for US dollars through official banking channels?
That's simply a fantasy!

Putting aside the restrictions on individual foreign exchange quotas, the sheer amount of ruble cash from unknown sources is enough to attract countless troublesome eyes and extremely cumbersome scrutiny.

How much will we ultimately get? It's probably hard to even guarantee the theoretical value under the official exchange rate.

But what if we go through the black market?

In underground banks in Yanjing or Manzhouli, rubles are exchanged for yuan, and then yuan is used to exchange for dollars at those secret exchange points.
In theory, it seems that you can get more at the official exchange rate.

But this is just theory!

Such a massive amount of cash was handled and transferred through informal channels, with each step accompanied by huge hidden costs.

This means high middleman commissions, long waiting times, and most fatally, unpredictable risk costs!

Double-crossing, embezzlement, and even a swift crackdown by law enforcement...

Each of these possibilities could be enough to leave him penniless, or even land him in jail!

Ultimately, the amount of US dollars that can actually be safely pocketed may not even reach 200,000, and could even lead to utter ruin!

Now, even though Ivanovic has taken a big chunk of flesh from us, what have we gained in return?
It's about safety, speed, and a potential channel for future value.

Getting on board with Ivanovic was far more significant than a simple currency exchange.

This is a secret path to the core of the Soviet financial system, and its value in a future chaotic financial storm may far exceed the tens of thousands of dollars lost!
Worth it!

Qin Yuan made this deal willingly!
And Ivanovic is clearly not just a "bloodsucker".

Perhaps impressed by Qin Yuan's boldness and potential, or perhaps the improved kvass gave him a glimpse of greater potential for cooperation, the banker showed extraordinary generosity after the currency exchange was completed.

He not only personally escorted Qin Yuan to the bank entrance, but also specially arranged for a black Volga sedan with a gleaming body and internal bank license plates.

He also had his personal driver take Qin Yuan back to the Chekhov Hotel.

"Comrade, we've arrived, this is the place."

The driver's voice was calm and polite as he steadily brought the car to a stop in front of the somewhat dilapidated entrance to the Chekhov Hotel.

Several Russian men, bundled up in thick cotton-padded coats and hunched over waiting for work at the hotel entrance, looked at the car, which clearly exuded an aura of "privilege," with eyes filled with awe and curiosity.

Some of the traders with East Asian features were even more astonished when they saw Qin Yuan get out of the car.

"Thank you for your hard work."

As he was getting off the bus, Qin Yuan thanked him in Russian.

To be honest, his Russian is now completely different from what it used to be. Any Russian would never guess from his accent that he has only been learning Russian for less than a month.

Just as Qin Yuan closed the car door and was about to turn and walk towards the hotel, a familiar figure walked quickly out of the hotel.

It's Natasha.

She was carrying a thick, bulging canvas bag, and it looked like she was going to the bank to deposit money or pay a bill.

When she looked up and saw Qin Yuan, and the black Volga behind him slowly starting and driving away, a look of understanding and surprise flashed in her azure eyes.

She knew that car all too well.

It was one of her father's official cars at the bank.

"President Qin?" Natasha walked up quickly and asked curiously, "You just came back from...my father's place?"

“Yes, Natasha.” Qin Yuan smiled calmly, “The matter is finally settled, and it went very smoothly.” “Mr. Ivanovich was very considerate and even sent a car to take me back.”

Looking at Qin Yuan's calm and composed expression, and recalling her father's cheerful demeanor when he left home that morning, Natasha understood.

It appears that the astonishing currency exchange transaction has been completed, and both parties seem quite satisfied.

She waved the canvas bag in her hand: "I'm here to settle accounts too. The goods... are all gone!"

Her tone carried a sense of relief and excitement, along with a hint of disbelief and amazement.

"Cleared?"

Qin Yuan raised an eyebrow. Although he had expected it, he still felt a sense of shock from Natasha's confirmation.

“Yes! Gangzi and the others are tidying up in the back!” Natasha nodded vigorously.

Qin Yuan said no more, gestured to Natasha, and the two walked into the hotel side by side.

Walk through the dimly lit front hall, filled with the mixed smells of cheap tobacco and food, and head straight for the backyard.

Pushing open the creaking back door, a blast of cold air, carrying the smell of dust, hit me.

What came into view was the small warehouse that had been crammed full of woven bags and burlap sacks.

The warehouse is now completely empty!

Only some scattered packing ropes, scraps of cloth, and a few specks of dust remained in the corner.

Gangzi and Magan'er were still cleaning when they saw him come in. Their faces instantly lit up with smiles, and they rushed over excitedly: "Brother Yuan, it's sold out! It's fucking sold out!"

He slammed the broom into the corner of the wall, his voice trembling slightly: "Jianhua and the others... they're really risking their lives!"

"It was past midnight last night, and it was snowing outside. The last group of them drove their beat-up car all the way back from Ryazan (a city east of Moscow) to pay the money!"

Qin Yuan's gaze swept over the warehouse, which had once been piled high with goods but was now empty, and he slowly nodded.

He didn't show any particular excitement, but the satisfaction and a hint of genuine surprise deep in his eyes were unmistakable.

“Yes, Jianhua did a great job,” he said calmly.

This cannot be summarized by the word "hard work".

What Gangzi and Natasha might have seen as just "going all out," Qin Yuan saw Chen Jianhua as demonstrating initiative, organizational skills, and strategic vision that far exceeded his expectations.

He merely hinted at the framework of the business model and the vision for the future in the car, yet Chen Jianhua was able to understand and internalize it so quickly and unleash such strong action!

Not only did he organize manpower to clear out the remaining inventory of Moscow's universities within two days, but he also used the network of connections of newly recruited Soviet student leaders such as Sergei to extend his reach to several satellite cities around Moscow!
Gangzi added, "Jianhua, we did exactly what you said that day!"

"He had Sergei call back to his hometown of Ryazan overnight and contact two of his high school classmates. The market there had just opened and they were short of these things!"

"Yesterday afternoon, he personally accompanied Sergei and drove over to deliver a full twenty bags of goods!"

"Goodness, they said people over there are going crazy for it. The prices are no less than those in Moscow, and they're fighting over coats that cost 600 rubles each!"

"I heard that someone in Tula next door has also heard the news and is making contact!"

Hearing this, Qin Yuan finally smiled.

He knew he had made the right move!

The extreme scarcity of Soviet light industry, the huge gap in the consumer goods market, and the widespread panic among ordinary people about the impending collapse of the ruble's purchasing power all contributed to this specific window of opportunity for explosive growth.

The price of wool coats has been driven up from the initial 500 rubles to 600 rubles, but this has not stopped people from frantically buying them as a form of hard currency to preserve their value!
Although jeans haven't increased in price significantly, they're still selling very well at school. Long jeans, bell-bottoms, and ripped jeans have become a trend in Moscow.

A sales network covering Moscow has been continuously expanding from Moscow as its center to surrounding cities.

"Okay, got it." Qin Yuan gathered his thoughts and turned his gaze to Natasha: "How much money do you have on hand now? Have you settled the accounts?"

Natasha immediately stepped forward, holding a thick hardcover notebook with the words "Financial Log" printed on the cover.

Her expression was both serious and tinged with a hint of excitement after exhaustion.

“President Qin,” she opened the ledger, “based on our final count and reconciliation, after deducting necessary losses, as well as small reimbursements such as travel expenses, meal allowances, and phone bills for team members during this period…”

Natasha looked up and clearly and forcefully announced the heart-stopping number: "We currently have exactly one million one hundred and seventy-two hundred rubles in cash on hand!"

(End of this chapter)