Chapter 375: 371. The Nikolayev Family (Please subscribe, monthly tickets!)

Very quickly, the train pulled steadily to a stop at the platform. A crowd of people swarmed off, and when the passengers from Zhang Ran's carriage stepped down, they couldn't help but be startled.

These two rows of men in suits looked incredibly imposing.

Soon after, Zhang Ran led his family out as well. Upon stepping off the train and seeing this scene, Zhang Ran was slightly stunned, then shook his head with a laugh; this guy still loved putting on a show as much as ever.

"Zhang Ran!" An excited voice rang out, and the man in the lead strode over with big steps, his arms wide open!

"Nikolayev!" Zhang Ran laughed as well and gave him a firm hug.

"It is so good to see you again!" Nikolayev said loudly.

Zhang Ran also sighed with emotion and said, "Same here. I never expected that nearly thirty years would have passed since we last met."

"Let's go, let's head back first. Oh, right, let me introduce my children to you first," Nikolayev said.

He then pointed to a man in his mid-twenties and said, "This is my eldest son, Ilya..."

Following his introductions, Zhang Ran also got to know his two sons and one daughter.

The eldest son was named Ilya, the younger son was named Ivan, and the daughter was named Zhuoya.

The three of them were also very curious about Zhang Ran, or rather, they had long admired him; their father had often spoken to them about Zhang Ran, and the wistfulness and nostalgia in his tone were plain to see.

Zhang Ran greeted the three of them with a smile, and all three greeted Zhang Ran back very politely and respectfully.

Zhang Ran also said to them, "Let me introduce my children to you as well."

As he spoke, he introduced Zhang Siyan, Zhang Sicheng, Liu Lu, and Qian Li to them, but when he saw Tu Yu following behind, he was momentarily stunned.

Why was this guy still following them?

"Uncle Zhang, I don't have anything going on here, I'd like to follow Brother Sicheng and hang out for a couple of days," Tu Yu said, suddenly feeling a little nervous, but he said it anyway.

Zhang Ran looked at him and started to laugh; this guy really was thick-skinned. Zhang Ran then briefly introduced Tu Yu.

"Let's go, let's go, let's head back first. I've prepared a sumptuous dinner this time," Nikolayev said, pulling Zhang Ran along as they walked out.

At the same time, his subordinates approached He Yong and handed him a gun, along with a document: a firearm permit!

He Yong took the gun into his hand without the slightest hesitation and gave it a quick check.

Seeing this, Zhang Ran laughed and said to Nikolayev, "I'm already on your turf, you really don't trust yourself, do you?"

Nikolayev spread his hands and said, "I have confidence, but I also don't want Brother Dayong staring at my vitals every single moment."

Nikolayev also knew about what happened to Zhang Ran and his group in Hashi, so this was specifically prepared for He Yong.

Having gone through that incident, He Yong was surely on high alert now; he wouldn't let his guard down even with an old friend.

Zhang Ran smiled and didn't say anything more, leaving with Nikolayev.

After they had left, Lu Xuan and the others walked out from behind. Seeing this scene, they felt a slight pang of regret in their hearts.

They knew Nikolayev, and they also knew the Nikolayev Family, and were even more aware of their influence and status in Russia.

The Nikolayev Family was considered a rather legendary family in Russia.

During the time of the Former Soviet Union, this family had been quite influential, but in the later years of the Soviet Union, the family began to decline, sliding straight downhill.

Moreover, at that time, there was no sign of any rebound for the Nikolayev Family, and many people thought the family was destined for total ruin.

After all, many connections and resources were basically useless after one generation.

But what no one expected was that the family, which had already fallen, suddenly burst with new life, and starting with Nikolayev, there were signs of a resurgence.

At that time, their previous connections and political resources began to show signs of recovery.

What allowed them to rise again, and even reach a higher level, was the dissolution of the Former Soviet Union.

Over the years, many people had analyzed their family's actions during that period, and many discovered one thing: it seemed Nikolayev had been certain very early on that the Former Soviet Union would collapse.

So they had made preparations long in advance, getting everything ready, and when the Former Soviet Union dissolved, they reaped a massive windfall, allowing their family to fully recover and become even more prosperous than before!

Their family now held extraordinary influence in both the political and business circles of Russia.

It was precisely because they knew these things that Lu Xuan and the others were so shocked and regretful when they saw this scene; if they could have built a good relationship with them, it would have been a great thing for people like them.

But clearly, they had missed this opportunity, and they didn't have the thick skin that Tu Yu had.

No, it should be said that they hadn't expected Zhang Ran to know Nikolayev in Russia, and that their relationship seemed so good—or rather, intimate.

"Xia Wen, when can you help us introduce Zhang Sicheng? We'd like to invite him to a meal," Lu Xuan said.

Xia Wen was equally shocked, but she didn't have any feelings of loss. Compared to people like Lu Xuan, Xia Wen was relatively laid-back, and she didn't have any grand ambitions.

Upon hearing this, she only said, "I'm not very close with Brother Sicheng either, but I'll see if I can invite Sister Siyan out for a meal."

Zhang Ran and Nikolayev sat in one car, with He Yong in the passenger seat; this was specifically arranged by Nikolayev.

Zhang Ran looked at the line of cars and said to Nikolayev with a smile, "You're being a bit too flashy here."

Nikolayev laughed and said, "I'm only being flashy this once. I've been studying Huaxia culture for so many years, and I know that in many situations, one needs to be low-key."

Nikolayev's Mandarin was getting better and better, and he used Mandarin when communicating with Zhang Ran.

Zhang Ran only gave that one reminder, and hearing him say that, he didn't say anything more. "I looked up your situation over these years online; I have to say, it far exceeded my imagination."

Zhang Ran was offering sincere praise; he truly hadn't expected Nikolayev to be able to reach this point.

And this was only what was on the surface; because of the twenty-eight years Zhang Ran had missed, he didn't understand many of the deeper things.

But even so, Zhang Ran felt a faint sense of shock in his heart; what Nikolayev had done was truly beyond his expectations.

Nikolayev rarely showed a hint of pride, but he quickly recovered and said, "If it weren't for your guidance and help, Zhang Ran, I absolutely could never have reached this point."