Chapter 156 Creating Venture Capital for Yourself: Want to Join?
Ivanov was momentarily bewildered.
Wang Xiao had mentioned this to him when she returned to Dachang from the trade city. He had agreed without hesitation.
But at the time, he was caught up in the joyous and festive atmosphere of the New Year and didn't think carefully about the meaning behind her words.
He was so bewildered that he asked, "What kind of technology do you need?"
Car manufacturing technology? You're kidding. The production line that the Soviet Union imported from Europe in the 1960s has been working tirelessly for over twenty years, and a generation later, it still looks exactly the same.
The production lines that China has introduced now are all more advanced than theirs.
Russia's abundant steel resources and energy reserves have allowed it to control car prices.
And other technologies—
By the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union, 70% of its exports were still energy products, raw materials, and primary processed products, while high-tech products such as machinery, equipment, and finished goods accounted for only 30%.
Honestly, aside from manufacturing weapons, he didn't know what else he could export to China.
But when it comes to building weapons, even though they're good friends, he can't betray his country.
Exporting weapons manufacturing technology is a completely different concept from providing aircraft and submarines to China's air force and navy.
Wang Xiao wanted to roll his eyes: "Who are you going to sell these weapons to? What are you thinking? China's military industry is also moving towards civilian applications."
"Then tell me what kind of technology you need?"
Wang Xiao honestly replied, "I don't know."
Even Ivanov, a Russian, couldn't explain exactly what advanced technologies his country possessed, so how could a foreigner like her possibly know?
All she knew was that the Soviet Union had an appallingly low rate of technological invention conversion and an outrageously long conversion cycle.
In the 1970s and 1980s, one-third of the world's new technological inventions originated in the Soviet Union.
It's not without reason that Europe and America fear it.
However, only a quarter of these numerous inventions have a role in the economy.
This transformation cycle can take 10 to 20 years.
It can be said that after this series of storage operations, the advantages of previous scientific research have been completely lost.
How did she know so clearly?
Because when she was in middle school, she did a multiple-choice question about the relevant background, asking why this strange phenomenon occurred.
At the time, she chose the answer that the Soviet Union focused too much on the development of its military industry.
However, the standard answer is that it was a result of the severe constraints imposed by the planned economy system.
Regardless of the answer, the waste of scientific research results is a well-known fact.
She now hopes to promote exchanges, bringing Russian scientists and Chinese companies together to discuss potential collaboration opportunities.
This is similar to a comprehensive survey of the industrial sector.
Sigh, I thought that things like these were all controlled by Europe, America, Japan, and South Korea; but after shaking out my own pockets, I suddenly realized that I could actually do them myself.
Honestly, for this level of interaction, official intervention is the most effective.
However, given the current position of the Russian Federation, that is absolutely impossible, and the authorities may even prevent it from happening.
Therefore, it can only be carried out by spontaneously organized actions by the public.
And they, she and Ivanov, were the best driving force behind this.
Why? Was it because Ivanov was a Marxist, and she suddenly became passionate again?
No, no, it is objective reality that determines this.
The trade city and the air freight company have connected the two countries' trade and economic relations. However, due to the increasingly serious problem of the brain-body inversion in Russia, more and more researchers are being forced to engage in the business of reselling goods.
Unlike ordinary vendors, this group of intellectuals is far less satisfied with their new profession than their peers, and they are even unwilling to tell their relatives and friends about their reselling business.
They prefer to make a living based on their own knowledge and skills.
Although Russia has a large land area, its population is mainly concentrated in Europe.
In other words, the capital Moscow, as well as major cities such as St. Petersburg and Catherine, already encompass the vast majority of the country's population and talent.
These non-top scientists (the truly top scientists who are willing to go abroad have already been poached) are actually the real backbone of Russia's current scientific research.
If they make good use of the technology they possess, it could absolutely change the world.
The most ingenious thing is that precisely because they are not famous, are ordinary and do not attract attention, and have been engaged in the business of trading between the two countries for a long time, even if they change careers and go back to their old ways in China, they are still not easy to attract attention.
As for those technologies that were kept secret and locked in archives, well, now all the major research institutions are setting up stalls to sell their data. What can't they develop?
You really can't produce it? Then you're underestimating Ovechkin and Andrei's group. If you dare to ask, they'll give it to you.
Of course, the reason for having to bring in the doll club members wasn't that Wang Xiaozhen coveted the still-unknown secret technology; rather, it was because their presence acted as a glue.
Without them, Russian researchers would find it difficult to lower their guard and cooperate with Chinese companies.
This is normal; it's the same whether it's reversed or not.
Only when everyone relaxes will they stop hiding their true intentions and at least be able to share their personal wealth.
Ivanov once again posed the crucial question: "What exactly is it?"
Wang Xiao's head was throbbing.
She took the postgraduate entrance exam back then because everyone else was doing it, and it was to create a positive and inspiring online celebrity persona. It wasn't because she actually did any research or wanted to do anything significant.
“I don’t know, let them talk about it themselves.” Wang Xiao explained his idea with difficulty. “What we can do is build such a platform, provide the shortfall in funding, and push the project forward.”
She thought for a long time and then gave an analogy, "It's like a foundation. We do venture capital."
When it came to the word "investment," Ivanov's capitalist nature took over again: "So, we can make money, right?"
Wang Xiao thought he had said something stupid.
It has to be able to make money.
Once capital has accumulated to a certain level, investment, making money work for you, will become the mainstream way to increase capital.
What if there are no suitable investment projects? Find a way to create your own platform.
Moreover, no matter what you do, you have to make a profit if you want to continue doing it.
Apart from the government, no one can continuously invest money and energy in something without expecting anything in return.
After all, the government can guarantee that it will always have fiscal revenue, while businessmen cannot make profits forever and thus ensure that they have money to subsidize.
After thinking it over, Ivanov felt that this might actually be something that could be done.
Even if it's a bit troublesome, it's still a good thing that brings both fame and fortune.
Without Wang Xiao needing to specifically remind him, he, being from a noble family, had long understood a principle.
That is, no one can truly escape politics.
Especially for businessmen, when you become so wealthy that you can rival a country, if you don't have any trump cards, the government will choose to protect your trump cards.
Then you can just wait to be finished.
He cleared his throat, preparing to let out a howl to call out to his cronies.
Suddenly, a face loomed large in front of him.
Think about it, no matter how rich a steel factory is, it's impossible for it to be brightly lit on New Year's Eve.
The streetlights cast a dim glow, barely better than moonlight. Fireworks burst in the distance, their flashes reflecting on people's faces; to put it bluntly, the effect was somewhat similar to will-o'-the-wisps.
Anyway, Ivanov was terrified.
That howl turned into a loud "Awooo—", and he almost fell into the bodyguard's arms.
I am so surprised!
Sofia let out a scream of fright, even more frightened by his reaction, and started trembling.
When Wang Xiao saw this, he instinctively wanted to cover his eyes.
Oh dear, this girl, it's too late for her to think things through now.
Ivanov is now following the "don't mess with the people around you" approach.
The boss won't touch someone who has officially become a company employee and started making money for the boss.
Otherwise, how should senior executives manage such frontline employees, and in what position should they view them?
A boss can yell at executives and complain that they don't earn enough money for him, but a boss can't just do whatever he wants and trip up executives.
So, whatever Sofia is thinking, she's out of luck now.
Ivanov finally recovered from his shock, and when he saw the person's face clearly, he became even more annoyed: "What are you doing? Is this where you should be standing? Get back here right now."
Sofia's friend sensed something was wrong and immediately jumped over to pull her away.
However, this girl was also very stubborn, fixated on only one question: "Why can't I?"
Ivanov, thoroughly annoyed, said curtly, "There's no reason why. Just go back to being a model."
He's not a bodhisattva from Chinese folklore who would offer his body as alms.
Why complicate simple things? Why create trouble for yourself?
As the saying goes, alcohol emboldens the timid. Sofia downed two bottles of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) that night, and now, under the influence of alcohol, she shouted, "I'm not doing this anymore! I'm not making money for you!"
"casual--"
Ivanov's patience ran out, and he snapped, "Mr. Xiang, book her a plane ticket, and she can go back now."
That's ridiculous, are you threatening him?
There are plenty of pretty girls lining up to be models; one more won't make a difference.
Wang Xiao had no choice but to bite the bullet and act as a peacemaker: "Alright, alright, go back to sleep early after you finish drinking."
She gently patted Sophia's shoulder. Actually, she wanted to touch the girl's face, but Sophia was too tall—there was a height difference of over ten centimeters—making it too difficult for her to reach her. So she had to settle for something else.
"Alright, don't think too little of yourself. You can earn your own money, why narrow your path?"
Wang Xiao was forced to step in and act as a confidante, earnestly advising, "Even if you go with him, you can earn what he can give you by working hard yourself. Don't have any illusions. People like your boss, including them—"
She glanced around and gestured to all the wealthy men present, "Even if they get married and have children, they can't really share their assets with their wives."
They were less generous to their wives than to their capable subordinates.
Because subordinates can make money for them, they are considered positive assets.
A wife who stays at home and no longer works cannot generate wealth for him; she represents a continuous source of expenses.
"There's no need for you to be so down. Just focus on your work," Wang Xiao said frankly. "Don't let down the face God gave you to make a living."
Sofia is still tolerated to this day, which is really thanks to her beautiful and delicate face, which is as beautiful as an angel's.
It's important to understand that there aren't many photo editing apps available now. The quality of a photo depends heavily on the model's physical attributes.
Sophia is one of the company's top three customers, and many clients specifically request her for their next order after working with her before.
Even for short blessing videos, after her last song request show, at least four or five of the ten orders that came to her also wanted her.
But such moments of brilliance don't guarantee they'll last forever.
If the company finds someone to replace her face, she'll be fired very soon if she continues like this.
"Work hard." Wang Xiao painted a rosy picture again, "Strive to be richer and more famous than all of us in the future."
As a result, Sophia burst into tears.
She felt that this was a hopeless situation for her.
But Wang Xiao stopped trying to persuade him. It's good to cry; once the alcohol turns into tears and flows away, he'll sober up.
She quickly signaled to the models to take the little darling back.
Before she could even catch her breath, she turned her head and found someone pressing their face too close to hers.
The mixed-race male model looked at her with deep affection, stammering, "Miss Wang..."
Before he could finish speaking, Wang Xiao's face fell, and she said irritably, "Work hard, earn money, and try to give your mother a better life as soon as possible."
The handsome young man, with his refined and elegant appearance, blushed instantly and stood there with his hands outstretched, at a loss for what to do.
He had finally mustered the courage to come up, and he felt that the boss's eyes were shining when he looked at him.
This is a good opportunity, especially since the gentleman who was sticking to the boss has already left.
She was all alone tonight.
Seeing his tearful appearance, Wang Xiao honestly admitted that she was itching to have him.
She's so beautiful, truly a feast for the eyes.
But business owners must have principles. Since we didn't get to eat there before, we shouldn't be thinking about it now. It's better for everyone to stick to their own roles.
She reached out and patted the handsome young man's cheek, saying seriously, "Don't waste your looks; they're your advantage. Once you ignore their true value, your future is over. Bosses only give better resources to those who can make more money for the company."
The poor young male model's attempt to gain recognition failed miserably, and he was heartbroken as his friends dragged him away.
Ovechkin, who was watching the commotion from the sidelines, got carried away with the alcohol and joined in the fun. He insisted on getting close to Wang Xiao and eagerly offered himself up: "Miss Wang, what do you think of me? I definitely won't ask you for any resources."
Ivanov shoved him aside, furious: "It's not your turn."
Ovechkin scoffed. "Trying to win favor and already getting all smug?"
When Mr. Wu was around just now, weren't you as cowardly as a dog?
Now they're acting all high and mighty.
Ivanov doesn't have mind-reading abilities, and even if he did, he probably wouldn't bother using them on Ovechkin right now.
He complained to Wang Xiao, "What's wrong with all of them? Have they all gone mad?"
Even when he was at his most playboyish and indulging in pleasure, he wasn't like this.
She's clearly a popular model, and she could easily make a lot of money on her own, yet she's settling for second best and trying to use her most basic assets.
“It’s normal, they’re feeling the pressure.” Wang Xiao’s cold capitalist nature kicked in. “From another perspective, this is a good thing.”
Because of the immense pressure, they subconsciously wanted to cling to powerful figures to maintain a stable life.
This also means that their previous attempts to persuade each other, whether to play the good cop or the bad cop, have been effective.
It's estimated that for at least the foreseeable future, the models will work diligently and stop rebelling against the company.
Ovechkin, listening nearby, had his eyes sparkling. Oh, so this is Catherine the Great.
She is always calm, always rational, always weighs the pros and cons, and always strategizes.
Everyone and everything is just a pawn in her game.
It was so exciting and thrilling that I felt a surge of heat and prostrated myself at her feet.
Ovechkin gazed at her tenderly, calling out "Miss Wang" with a voice that echoed through the ages.
Wang Xiao's forehead was about to explode. He threatened in a sinister tone, "Sir, you need to take a good shower and go to sleep. Don't cause any trouble."
One after another, it just keeps going on and on!
Instead of letting your mind wander, you should think carefully about how you plan to continue your business.
As they were talking, they arrived at the steel mill's guesthouse.
To be honest, with so many people, they are really lucky.
It was right around the Lunar New Year, and all the guests at the guesthouse had already checked out and gone home.
Otherwise, with their large entourage, numbering in the hundreds, the guesthouse simply couldn't accommodate them.
The owner's auntie was yawning at the front desk when she saw them and immediately handed out keys: "Hurry up, everyone go back to sleep, I'm going to sleep too."
As a result, the Russians laughed and joked, and none of them seemed inclined to go to sleep.
Firstly, there is an eight-hour time difference between Moscow and Kinning, and they haven't adjusted yet.
Secondly, even if it were truly the dead of night in Moscow, as night owls, they would still be full of energy.
Wang Xiao and Ivanov exchanged a glance, and Wang Xiao simply said, "Aren't you sleepy? That's perfect, let's have a meeting and talk about serious matters."
The guesthouse is not a hotel or inn, and it does not have meeting rooms.
But next to it is a small auditorium, which is just big enough for everyone to sit down.
This time, Wang Xiao didn't speak; it was Ivanov who briefly explained their plan.
Everyone looked at each other, so no one said anything.
Instead, Andrei stood up first, expressing his doubt: "But if that's the case, why do we come all the way to China to transfer our scientific research results? We can do it in Moscow, which would be much more convenient."
After all, the technology and investment are Russian, so there's no reason to force the Chinese to participate.
Before Wang Xiao could explain the significance of China's vast market and abundant labor force for technology transfer, he was already there.
Ovechkin jumped up first: "You dare, my buddy? You dare invest in this in Moscow? Don't end up making money but not living to spend it."
Everyone immediately fell silent, as if trembling with fear.
It's really embarrassing to admit, but they were so frightened by the sudden turn of events – the mafia boss was riding high one day, and then he died a horrible death on the street – that's why they all rallied together and flew to China.
Ovechkin's words, however harsh, pointed out a fact.
The environment in Moscow made it impossible for them to sit down and do real business, and even if they were lucky enough to succeed, it would soon cease to be their business.
Taking advantage of everyone's excitement, Wang Xiao spoke up about the plan: "We have a 'Hundred People, One Million' plan, which means that every scientist's research results can be supported by one million yuan in funding."
Someone immediately asked, "Is one million rubles?"
A deafening roar of laughter erupted from all around.
Good heavens, how dare you! The ruble has long since fallen below 500.
Optimists believe it will remain stable below 1000, but many more believe there is no lower limit and it could fall below 2000.
What can you do with one million rubles these days?
"Huaxia Coin." Wang Xiao was both amused and exasperated. "Are you interested in joining us? If not, we can do it ourselves."
This is the confidence of a nouveau riche. With 100 million RMB in working capital, not to mention a freight company, a commercial city can easily provide it.
Ovechkin was always thinking about currying favor with powerful figures, so how could he possibly let go of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?
He immediately jumped in, eager to play the straight man: "Me, me, me, I'll invest 500,000."
He actually wanted to say five million, but unfortunately he had only recently bought the factory and didn't have enough funds on hand.
Besides, with so many of them, there has to be some left for others.
With him taking the lead, the newly rich who originally planned to come and investigate, looking for suitable money-making opportunities, looked at each other and then offered to invest 300,000 or 500,000 yuan.
It's impossible for them to believe that this job can make them money.
For them, the three to five hundred thousand yuan is more like an invitation to a children's club.
They pay this money as a pledge of loyalty, a stepping stone to enter the circle.
"OK!" Wang Xiao smiled broadly. "From now on, we're all in the same boat. Let's wish ourselves all the best."
The guesthouse didn't sell alcohol, but it did have Coke, so everyone opened a bottle as a celebration.
Some people curiously asked, "When should we sit down together and have a proper talk with Chinese companies and scientists about this?"
“It has to wait until after the Lantern Festival.” Wang Xiao said with some regret, but he had to respect the facts. “Before the Lantern Festival, it’s still the New Year, so it’s difficult to get all the Chinese people together to do things.”
Therefore, we should take advantage of this time to quickly examine our own resources.
This way, when we sit down together, we won't be completely clueless, not even knowing what we can do.
But Ovechkin got impatient: "There are still two weeks left, that's too late, far too late. We can do it ourselves first."
How do I do it?
Even Wang Xiao and Ivanov looked at him curiously, let alone the others.
Ovechkin immediately puffed out his chest, beaming with pride: "Let's just trade directly with the scientists and get them to sell us their best stuff."
Andrei said impatiently, "Stop beating around the bush and get to the point. How do you know what they have? And how exactly are you going to get them to sell it?"
"Come and sell it yourselves! You've asked a really stupid question," Ovechkin said dismissively. "Isn't there a celebration at the Trade City tomorrow? We can set up stalls, and anyone who thinks their invention is worth a million can come up and accept the challenge."
Oh, I remember now.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the commercial city did indeed have a large-scale celebration.
only--
My buddy, are you sure that's tomorrow?
It's well past midnight now, it's today!
Go to sleep, go to sleep now, or they won't be able to do anything about it.
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It's snowing again. I feel like this year's crops have had a tough time. Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 2024-02-21 07:15:12 and 2024-02-22 07:01:11!
Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: Ranran (50 bottles); Keke (25 bottles); Xiao P (23 bottles); 『离つ』 (20 bottles); Tanfang Congchuang (10 bottles); Affirmation (5 bottles); Pangpangxiong, aurora, and 206558081 bottles;
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
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