Chapter 107 The Poplar Foundation (Revised)

He Changyi no longer wanted to recall how he rescued Roman from the wrecked taxi that day, or how he found Moscow University's mathematics diploma and bank termination notice in the car.

She didn't want to recall that when Roman woke up in the hospital bed, his first action wasn't to thank her, but rather, after taking in his surroundings, he scrambled off the bed in a panic, screaming as if his face had turned deathly pale:

"I have no money! I have no insurance! I don't need any medical care!"

In short, once everything had settled down, He Changyi's first question to him was:

Do you need to work?

Roman was stunned.

Roman was overjoyed!

"Yes! Of course! I can do anything, any job! I can even clean toilets!"

—Look, under the immense pressure of survival, the child no longer stutters when speaking.

He Changyi said slowly, "Don't be so happy yet, I have a few questions to ask you."

Roman sat upright, like a primary school student being called on by the teacher, nervous yet expectant.

He Changyi placed his graduation certificate and dismissal notice side by side on the bed and asked, "You're a top student from a prestigious university, why were you suddenly dismissed by the bank? The reason is still..."

She glanced down at the notice and read aloud: "Fraudulent activities, a serious violation of bank rules and regulations."

He Changyi asked him, "Did you do this?"

Roman shook his head frantically, and said in a low voice, feeling wronged, "I didn't!"

He Changyi nodded and said, "I don't think you would dare either."

Even a minor rear-end collision requires them to rush to pay compensation; they're so law-abiding that they'd do anything for it. They'd be so eager to hand over even a penny they picked up from the ground to the police, let alone steal money from a bank—and then the local corrupt cops would happily accept it.

He Changyi then asked him, "Do you know why you were fired?"

Roman lowered his head, as if he had done something wrong, and stammered, "The deputy director's nephew needs a job..."

He Changyi clicked his tongue. It seemed that he was the easiest target in the entire bank, and there would be no consequences afterward.

"Even if you lose your job at the bank, with your education, finding a new job shouldn't be difficult. Why did you choose to drive a taxi instead? To be honest, your car is as bad as your driving skills. You're not like a driver at all; you're more like a roadside executioner randomly selecting victims."

Lermontov, who was standing guard at the door of the ward, couldn't bear to listen to it.

This is not just rubbing salt into a wound, but tearing the wound open and pouring tons of alcohol into it.

Roman, on the contrary, seemed quite calm, casually dropping a bombshell.

"Finding a job takes time, and I owe high-interest loans that I need to pay back immediately."

He Changyi: "...You owe money to loan sharks?!"

Lermontov jumped up, shouting, "Hey, you Caucasian kid, what have you been doing? Gambling?!"

Roman, belatedly realizing something was amiss from their reactions, hurriedly explained, "No, no, ah, yes, yes, I, I..."

He finally managed to clear his throat, "I borrowed money, but it was to buy a residence permit!"

Residence permit, a unique intangible cultural heritage of the Mosk Union.

After the Union dissolved, the newly revised constitution of Oroqen abolished the restrictions on population movement, but Mosk picked them up again and even further developed them.

If a nobody from out of town wants to come to Moscow to beg for food, he or she must first pay a city service fee, which is not much, about 500 times the minimum wage, less than two million rubles, or about 1,500 US dollars.

Not having a residence permit isn't a big problem; it just means you can't buy a house, a car, get medical treatment, or get married in Moscow... that's all.

For ordinary Slavic outsiders, a residence permit is indeed useful, but not so urgent; it's not to the point where they have to borrow money at high interest rates to pay city service fees.

However, it's different for Caucasians.

Although the reason is unknown, Slavs have a deep-rooted prejudice against Caucasians, even though the two ethnic groups are really hard to distinguish in the eyes of foreigners.

For ordinary non-locals without a residence permit, the most they can do is not buy a house, a car, see a doctor, or get married. However, the consequences are much more severe for non-locals from the Caucasus region.

Roman said dejectedly, "I need a residence permit, otherwise the police will arrest me and kick me out of Mosk."

He Changyi said, "But you're unemployed now, so you don't need to stay in Moscow anymore."

Roman said bitterly, "I know, but the loan sharks don't!"

He used all his savings and salary to pay interest, and now he can't even afford to rent a place and has to live in a taxi.

He Changyi said sympathetically, "It really is too tragic."

Under Roman's expectant gaze, she affectionately stroked his fluffy head.

"Come back with me and clean the toilets. As long as I have a toilet, you'll get paid."

Lermontov, the goalkeeper: ...

After paying the medical bills and returning home, Xie Xuejun: ...

Roman was taken aback at first, but then he was overjoyed and vowed, "I swear, I will clean your toilet until it shines as brightly as Ye Mouqin's crystal wine glass!"

Lermontov: ...

He turned to Xie Xuejun for confirmation: "That is indeed a Mosk University graduation certificate, right?"

Xie Xuejun: "...But I can't be sure what kind of stuff is taught in universities in your country."

Of course, He Changyi wouldn't really use Roman as a cleaner, although the first thing he did after being taken to the bank was rush into the bathroom, grab a rag, and start wiping the toilet.

The customer, who was in the act, grabbed his waistband in a flustered manner and yelled angrily, "Are you crazy? I'm still taking a dump!"

Roman said confidently, "Don't worry, I will definitely clean it up! Even if there's still poop inside!"

He Changyi: ...

She asked Ms. Tagyana uncertainly, "Was this really a successful recruitment?"

Ms. Tagyan said with a calm and collected tone, "Geniuses always have quirks. Who says mathematicians can't enjoy cleaning toilets?"

She comforted He Changyi: "After all, you won't find another top graduate from the mathematics department of Moscow University who would be willing to work at a small, privately-owned foreign bank far away from Moscow."

He Changyi let out a long breath.

"...At least we will have a dedicated cleaner."

However, it was clear that Roman's talent didn't lie in cleaning toilets; he quickly demonstrated an innate mastery of numbers.

In just one week, he doubled the amount of money He Changyi had used for foreign exchange speculation.

Even during the brief period of ruble appreciation, he achieved a 100% return on falling stocks through quick in-and-out trading during the bear market.

Ms. Tagyan exclaimed, "Boss, you've really found a genius!"

He Changyi subtly stated, "When the rear-end collision occurred, I knew it wasn't an accident; it was a crash guided by fate."

Lermontov, standing nearby, muttered, "So God dismantled that old taxi?"

Xie Xuejun happened to be passing by and pulled him out the door.

"Stop with the feudal superstitions. Regular vehicle inspections and timely scrapping are what we should be doing. Come on, let's go wash the car!"

Lermontov protested, "Hey, Jie, you can't do this to me! I'm not some Caucasian kid who likes to clean toilets!"

Roman rose overnight from a reserve cleaner to a pillar of the Far Eastern Development Bank, but he seemed completely unaware of it. Apart from the custom-made suit given to him by He Changyi, he looked no different from the taxi driver he had been back then.

He only becomes eloquent when discussing his profession.

“Setting up a warrant fund is very simple. You just need to submit an application to the Federal Asset Management Administration, then solicit warrants from the public, have them sign a contract to entrust the fund to invest, set a lock-up period and a redemption period, but there is no guarantee of principal or returns, plus a 10% management fee... In short, whether or not warrant investment makes money, you will definitely not lose money!”

It sounds tempting, but there are many problems to solve in order to implement it.

He Changyi asked, "Do you know who we should contact to ensure the fund establishment application is approved?"

Roman paused, then murmured, "I...I don't know..."

He hung his head in dejection, as if saying "I don't know" to his boss meant he had done something wrong.

He Changyi was not surprised and encouraged him, "You're right. Go and prepare the warrant fund contract. I'll take care of the rest."

Roman rallied again and happily replied, "Yes!"

He Changyi came to Moscow again, this time to apply for the establishment of a warrant fund.

There are plenty of smart people these days. The Federal Asset Management Administration was packed with people, with long queues of people waiting to see the director.

Led by his associates, He Changyi happily passed through the long queue and received a stack of approvals stamped with the official seals of various departments, and most importantly, the approval to establish a warrant fund.

And this is only the first step.

Next, He Changyi spent lavishly on a massive, brainwashing-style advertising campaign on mainstream television and newspapers. Everywhere you looked, you could hear the promotional slogans for a company called Baiyang Industrial Development Investment Fund—

"A single receipt is just a piece of paper, but when combined, it becomes a powerful force!"

"Don't just use vouchers to redeem vodka, invest in your future!"

"Baiyang Fund: Your expert team helps you grow your assets – the only trustworthy choice!"

Fortunately, there are no restrictions on advertising financial products these days, otherwise He Changyi would have to hire people to distribute flyers.

But that's not enough.

There are too many warrant funds on the market now, fund advertisements are everywhere, some even daring to claim a 500% return on investment, they are more like scammers than scammers.

People are drawn to one fund one moment and another the next, caught in a sweet dilemma while clutching their vouchers.

—Should you choose Fund A, which invests only in oil and diamonds, or Fund B, which invests in gold warrants?

Of course, the warrant fund called Baiyang looks very attractive, but it still needs a push to make a decision.

He Changyi rented offices in the city center of various cities and set up fundraising points next to local savings bank branches. Bank staff enthusiastically promoted Baiyang Fund to potential investors because of the generous returns.

"That's a legitimate fund, and the owner is sitting in the White House! Do you think those big shots would cheat you out of your money?"

"It's not just you, celebrities A, B, and C who's on TV every day, they've all invested in the Baiyang Fund. Do ordinary people know more about the inside story than them?"

"You need to make a decision quickly, there are limited spots available, and there are many people waiting in line!"

The high rate of return on investment, coupled with a formal contract, a fixed office location, and a gift package worth 30,000 rubles given on-site after signing the investment contract, finally convinced the hesitant investor to make up his mind.

—That's the Poplar Foundation!

Soon, the Baiyang Foundation raised more than three million warrants.

This level of scale means that He Changyi is qualified to sit at the table and compete with others at large-scale state-owned enterprise auctions across the country.

However, before the arm wrestling match, He Changyi still needs to resolve one thing.

"Damn it, we're surrounded!"

Lev leaned against the inside of the overturned jeep, holding his gun with both hands, the muzzle pointing outwards, taut like a steel bar.

In the freezing winter, his forehead was covered in a fine layer of sweat.

Lermontov, gun in hand, stood guard in another direction, a far cry from his usual carefree and jovial demeanor.

"boss."

He suddenly called out to He Changyi, who was being protected by bodyguards, and said seriously, "Give me your mink coat."

He Changyi looked extremely disheveled, with a bruise on her forehead, her hair disheveled and covering her face, and her nose red from the cold.

She didn't ask Lermontov why he wanted her coat, but simply said, "It's useless."

Lermontov exclaimed urgently, "It'll work! Let's change clothes. You put on my coat, and they won't chase after you!"

Even in a life-or-death crisis, He Changyi remained calm and said:

"No one would choose to chase down a two-meter-tall woman, even if she's wearing a mink coat."

Lermontov: ...

Xie Xuejun, who hadn't spoken until now, suddenly said, "I'll do it!"

He is 1.75 meters tall and of a great build, making him perfect for changing clothes and impersonating He Changyi.

He Changyi refused bluntly, saying, "You should protect yourself first. Do you think you can lure the enemy away with a broken leg?"

Xie Xuejun slammed his hand into the snow, and his comrade Zhong Guo shouted, "Don't fucking move! I'm stabilizing your leg!"

While the group was talking, the probing attacks from not far away continued.

Fortunately, the military jeep's shell was thick enough to stop almost all the bullets. If it had been a Nissan, the person would have been riddled with bullets, and the Black and White Impermanence would have been working in a cross-border office with Death by now.

He Changyi held the pistol steadily, her fingers firmly on the trigger even though her hands were frozen stiff as stone.

Not long ago, she was sitting in her warm office, so hot that she even needed to drink ice water, happily receiving a new batch of vouchers.

The problem lies with these vouchers.

The power of the investment package exceeded everyone's expectations. After comparing different funds, people who were interested in investing in funds ultimately chose Baiyang Fund, which did not promise the highest rate of return.

There's no other reason than that I've been fooled too many times. Rather than pinning my hopes on vague and uncertain investment returns that may never materialize, I'd rather get the tangible gift right in front of me first.

After all, it contained all the essential daily necessities, from down jackets (unsold inventory) to canned meat (near expiration date), and then to thermos flasks and electric blankets (wholesale from domestic factories), all of which symbolized warmth.

Even if some funds confidently promise returns on investment warrants in gold and diamonds, that's a future prospect. Right now, we're facing a harsh winter, and we need to survive this winter before talking about the future.

There are also some people who originally had no trust in funds. They have been deceived too many times. Evil people deceive them, society deceives them, and the government deceives them. Their trust has been completely eroded by one deception after another.

Even with promises of high returns on investment and guaranteed principal and interest, nothing could sway them.

However, the gift package from the Baiyang Foundation impressed them.

Should the warrants be sold for $20, or should they be given to the Poplar Fund in exchange for a $20 gift package and a potential future return?

The vast majority of people chose the latter.

Even if the Baiyang Foundation is full of fraudsters, they still got a gift package worth twenty dollars, so they didn't lose out at all.

For He Changyi, this deal was not a loss either.

The return on investment will be discussed after she acquires the company; that's a matter for the future. As for the gift packages being given away now, although they all appear to be winter hot items, their actual cost is no more than five dollars. They are either clearance sales of slow-moving goods or items that are about to expire and are being sold at rock-bottom prices. In the end, the majority of the expense is in the shipping costs.

Currently, the cost of a Baiyang Foundation fundraising warrant is no more than ten US dollars per warrant, which is considered a bargain compared to the market price of twenty US dollars.

However, the total number of vouchers on the market is limited.

The more warrants He Changyi raises through the Baiyang Fund, the fewer warrants other funds can raise—a blatant zero-sum game.

Fortunately, Rus' territory is large enough, with countless cities from east to west, so the number of funds requiring close combat is relatively small.

But coincidentally, in every city where He Changyi set up warrant collection points, there would always be a warrant fund called Golden Lantern, forcing both parties to compete for the warrants held by the same group of investors.

People in the same industry are bound to be jealous of each other, especially those who always lose.

The conflict escalated completely when the two sides appeared together again in North Venetian, 300 kilometers away from Vladimir.

When He Changyi left North Venice with the newly collected vouchers, the convoy of jeeps she was traveling in was attacked.

At dusk, a group of armed bandits suddenly appeared on a highway in the countryside and opened fire on a speeding jeep!

Amidst the intense gunfire, the jeep accidentally ran over a steel spike in the middle of the road, causing a tire to burst. With a loud bang, it instantly lost its balance and overturned heavily to the ground!