Chapter 192: Absolute Initiative, Absolute Profits

I wish you smooth sailing after you return to your country.

Cheers.

Xu Yuexin said calmly, clinking his glass against Alyosha's.

After drinking it in one gulp, Xu Yuexin smiled and looked at Alyosha.

"Brother, do you understand the state of your country's foreign trade?"

"Of course I do. Diplomacy and foreign trade are sister departments; we interact frequently."

"My ancestors also came from the foreign trade department."

"Indeed, my elders were ordinary mid‑level cadres."

Alyosha spoke frankly, yet not without caution.

It turned out he was a staunchly loyal party member.

Xu Yuexin nodded after listening, thinking to himself.

"In the current economic climate, has your country ever considered Barter trade?"

"We have considered it, and actually done it, but not often."

Alyosha shook his head and said, "Basically we use oil to exchange for urgently needed military‑industrial weapon components."

"Oh? May I ask why the frequency is low... because you can't, or because you don't want to?"

"It's because we can't. Oil prices have fallen so sharply that each month hits a new low; basically no one is willing to take oil."

Alyosha said helplessly, "All we can offer is oil."

So that's the situation.

If I hadn't talked with Alyosha, I might not have known there are so many intricacies in Barter trade.

After hearing Alyosha's words, Xu Yuexin thought.

He also didn't want oil; the next price rise won't come until after the mid‑1980s, so it's still early.

Thus the problem became that Xu Yuexin had something to sell to the Soviet Union, but the Soviets might not have what he wants in exchange.

"What, you want to trade with our country?"

Alyosha saw Xu Yuexin silent for a while, then took the initiative to speak.

"I do have that idea."

Xu Yuexin thought for a moment and said.

"What goods do you have on hand?"

Alyosha asked.

"I have some Mature Process Chips that can be used to manufacture televisions; you should need those."

"But the problem is, I don't need your oil."

"You don't want oil, huh..."

Alyosha mused, "Our country's timber and fur products are also good; are you interested?"

Xu Yuexin, seeing Alyosha's question and considering his background, understood something.

"Very interested, but I can't find anyone to act as a go‑between."

Xu Yuexin deliberately looked at him and said.

Alyosha patted his chest after hearing that and said, "I'm not in the foreign trade department, but I can ask around for you."

"As soon as I have news, I'll inform you."

"Aren't you about to return to your country?"

"No problem; I can apply to my superiors to stay in your country a few more days."

"My family also has contacts in the foreign affairs department; the superiors should approve my request."

Alyosha smiled, half‑boasting, and said.

"Then you're really awesome."

Xu Yuexin promptly played along, laughing, and said.

"Awesome?"

Alyosha's eyes showed a hint of confusion; he didn't understand what Xu Yuexin said.

Xu Yuexin realized: their diplomats usually frequent upscale venues, mingle with the upper echelons of society, and deal with people who speak elegantly.

So they rarely hear a word like 'awesome' in their ears.

"Yes, awesome—it's the cow's..."

Xu Yuexin stifled a laugh and explained to Alyosha.

"Why the cow's?"

"Maybe... because it's big?"

"Hahaha..."

Alyosha burst into laughter, rolling with mirth, "Alright, I've learned it."

"Brother, you're also awesome."

Xu Yuexin also laughed.

"You're flattering me."

"As for the trade, please do the inquiries for me."

"Consider it done."

The host and guest enjoyed themselves and departed; before leaving, Xu Yuexin gave Alyosha his family's phone number.

After leaving the Moscow Restaurant, Xu Yuexin returned to his home inside the East Second Ring.

When he reached the main courtyard entrance, Xu Yuexin heard his daughter‑in‑law talking with Da Yizi.

"We have to finalize the allocation next month; the teacher is letting us choose."

"We can choose, right? How many options did the school give you in total?"

"Three: the Chemical Industry Department, the soon‑to‑be‑established China Construction Corporation, and the City Third Light Factory."

"Then which one do you want to go to now?"

"The City Third Light Factory is definitely out of consideration; choose between the two in front."

"I plan to wait for Brother Xin to return and discuss it with him."

Qiao Qiao was talking with Chen Yixue when she saw Xu Yuexin walking out of the courtyard.

"I was just about to mention you, and you came."

Seeing Xu Yuexin, Qiao Qiao smiled, got up, fetched a chair for him and said, "Sit quickly, I have something important to discuss with you."

"I just heard, it's about the allocation, right?"

Xu Yuexin took the chair, placed it by the table edge, sat down and said, "I recommend you choose China Construction."

"Because corporate promotion has no time limit. Moreover, China Construction hasn't been established yet; if you go, you'll be a founding senior."

"Going to China Construction, huh…"

After Qiao Qiao finished listening, she fell silent in thought, and Da Yizi also nodded. The two reasons given by the husband were indeed very strong.

Listening to him, it should be correct.

"Alright, I'll follow your advice and go to China Construction."

Qiao Qiao gladly agreed.

"Good, being obedient is right."

Xu Yuexin felt very satisfied that his daughter‑in‑law could listen to his words.

Just as he said, being on the fast lane as well, the promotion speed in enterprises is faster than in agencies.

Many big shots originally came out of enterprises.

The daughter‑in‑law should follow the path she suggested.

As for what the daughter‑in‑law should do after entering the enterprise, Xu Yuexin also has his own plan.

"You will definitely run your own business later, right?"

At this moment, Chen Yixue asked from beside.

"Exactly, I think being free and easy suits me better."

Xu Yuexin nodded, "Moreover, the business is so big now."

"Aren't you supposed to trade with the Soviet Union? How is it going now?"

Prompted by Xu Yuexin, Qiao Qiao asked him.

"Progressing in an orderly manner."

Xu Yuexin smiled slightly and said, "There are difficulties, but I believe they can be solved."

Barter trade must consider how to handle the goods received later before it even starts.

Especially products like wood and furs, which heavily test sales channels.

Xu Yuexin was pondering how to find reliable distributors to sell the goods received later.

…

After winter passed, Xu Yuexin waited for more than three months and finally received Alyosha's phone reply.

"Brother, I've arrived in Jingcheng."

"Is the Chip over there still there?"

"It's gone."

"You waited so long and still didn't get a Letter; I sold it early."

"What?"

From the handset came Alyosha's surprised voice, "I just got online here, and you actually sold the Chip?"

"Hmm, I almost sold it."

"If your call had been fifteen minutes later, I would have signed a contract with someone else."

"Then don't sign yet, okay?"

In the phone, Alyosha's voice was clearly a bit urgent.

"Okay, I won't sign for now."

"But you have to tell me why it took so long."

"Hey, I couldn't help it. I had taken leave, hoping to use the holiday in Jing to settle the trade, but when the holiday ended there was still no clue."

"I had no choice, so I had to return to Moscow."

"You should understand that after diplomats return home to report, they need to do many reports and briefings, which took up a lot of my time…"

"Alright, I'll try to understand you for now. What's the situation over there now?"

"I've already gotten in touch with a director of the Foreign Trade Committee, and he is very interested in this trade."

"We can first meet to discuss the specific details of this trade. If we can reach a preliminary agreement, we will invite that director over."

Alyosha spoke extremely fast, clearly fearing that Xu Yuexin would not sell the Chip to them.

Xu Yuexin slightly raised his eyebrows, feeling very pleased.

This time, he seized the initiative before the negotiation even began.

"Alright. Since you're in such a hurry, how about we meet the day after tomorrow?"

Xu Yuexin proposed over the phone.

Just today? If you're free.

Today… let me think.

Xu Yuexin said hesitantly, and after thinking he finally nodded, "How about this: let's meet this afternoon, okay?"

Alright, 3 p. m. this afternoon, how about meeting at the Moscow Restaurant?

Fine. But I don't have much time; at most I can give you an hour.

Because barter inherently leaves a lot of room for negotiation, Xu Yuexin intends to adopt a hardline stance to secure the greatest benefit for himself.

Even though he usually calls Alyosha brother, when it involves major tangible benefits he will be ruthless.

At 3 p. m. that afternoon, the two met punctually at Lao Mo.

Sorry for keeping you waiting so long.

As soon as they met, Alyosha hurriedly apologized, "I didn't expect it would take more than three months."

Tell me, what are the exact specifications of the wood you need this time?

We plan to use Birch Wood, plus premium Ermine Fur, in exchange for Chip.

The more Chip you have on hand, the more favorable our terms become.

There's no limit to the amount of Chip I have; whatever quantity you want, I have.

Xu Yuexin said casually.

He has over a hundred million deposited in his Yin Hang account in Xiangjiang.

As long as Alyosha agrees, besides the capacity of the Kwai Chung Factory, he can also purchase Chip elsewhere.

The volume is unlimited; for him that's no empty promise.

We want one hundred thousand units of Chip; do you have them?

Alyosha asked.

Xu Yuexin smiled.

Alyosha didn't even ask about the Chip's specifications, which shows that the old Russian is truly desperate for Chip.

But that's not surprising, because the Soviet Union's Chip industry has lagged behind the world by many years.

In the 1950s, the semiconductor sector shifted from vacuum tubes to transistors, and at that time the Soviet Union made a crucial decision: to focus research efforts on miniaturizing vacuum tubes rather than studying transistors.

Subsequent facts proved that vacuum‑tube miniaturization was a dead end, while transistors evolved into integrated circuits, which are today's Chip.

This caused, by the 1970s and 1980s, the Soviet semiconductor industry to fall behind, unable even to achieve self‑sufficiency in Mature Process Chip.

And this means Xu Yuexin holds absolute initiative in the negotiation.

(End of chapter)