Chapter 115: A very satisfactory deal

In the room of the No. 1 Hotel, Zhou Ming was standing in front of the mirror, while Su Han was helping her beloved man get dressed like a good little wife, even carefully smoothing out any wrinkles in his clothes. 

Li Cheng and Tong Gang stood by, watching Zhou Ming in the mirror with confidence. Tong Gang couldn't help but urge him, 'Little brother Zhou Ming, I personally have great confidence in you. I believe that Mr. Meta, for his own considerations, will also be willing to cooperate with us, but I always feel that this matter is not that easy. I think that since this is the first time we have cooperated with Mr. Meta like this, it is best to be cautious and test the waters.'

Tong Gang paused for a moment and then added, 'As you can see, Ming, it wasn't easy for us to gain the support of these Northern Russian friends. We can't let them down!'

At this time, Su Han had already finished tidying up for Zhou Ming. Zhou Ming turned to Tong Gang and said, 'Chairman Tong, you can rest assured, I know what I'm doing.'

Li Cheng also spoke up for Zhou Ming, saying, 'The greatest strength of Brother Zhou Ming is that he can put people at ease. No matter what situation he faces, he can keep his head clear and make the most correct decision. I have dealt with him a lot in Gangcheng, and I don't think I can't tell a good person from a bad one.'

'In fact, I really hope that everything goes smoothly, but I'm afraid that some things won't go as smoothly as I'd like, at least not this time.'

Zhou Ming said something that surprised Tong Gang and Li Cheng, and then walked out the door with Katerina Karelin. An extended Lincoln Town Car was waiting downstairs at the hotel. When Zhou Ming got out, the specially trained driver helped him open the door, and the three of them got in.

Maita was in the car. He greeted Zhou Ming first, and then said, 'Mr. Zhou Ming is indeed very punctual. We are going to the Mlini Palace now. During our previous phone conversation, I already discussed it with Mr. Nikolic, and he will agree to let you handle part of the deal. Of course, in exchange, the price ratio will change, so I hope Mr. Zhou Ming is prepared.'

Zhou Ming raised one eyebrow but still nodded and said, 'This doesn't come as a surprise. After all, the trading partner has changed, so some things need to be renegotiated, but as long as the changes aren't too outrageous, it's fine.'

'Of course it won't be too outrageous. I personally have great faith in Mr. Nikolic's credibility and will not ask for the moon,' said Maita.

'I also believe in Mr. Maita's credibility,' said Zhou Ming.

Inside the car While Zhou Ming and Maita were talking, the extended Lincoln Town Car had actually started smoothly. The location of Hotel One was not far from the Mlini Palace, and the Town Car was also a frequent visitor to the Mlini Palace, so it was not strictly inspected and casually entered the Mlini Palace. Soon, it arrived in front of the office building. Kasia, the director of the president's office, greeted them at the door: 'Welcome Mr. Maita and Mr. Zhou Ming. The president is already waiting. Please follow me.'

While speaking, Kasia looked at Zhou Ming twice. This butler of the Mulin Palace had already met Zhou Ming many times before, but every time he felt a different sensation when he saw him.

Ten minutes later, Kasia led them to Nikolaevich's office, but since the president was on the phone, they could only wait for a moment in the reception room outside.

After a while, Nikolaevich walked out of the office. Zhou Ming and Meta got up to greet him, and Nikolaevich asked them to sit down first.

'Mr. Nikolaevich, I believe you are all familiar with each other, so I don't need to introduce you,'

Mata said awkwardly, 'Mr. Zhou Ming is a business tycoon from China and has many friends in Northern Russia. Regarding the deal between us, you know the strictness of the Western financial system, and in order to avoid any financial turmoil caused by the sudden withdrawal of funds, we need a certain amount of time to raise funds. However, Mr. Nikolic is in a hurry, so I think we can do the deal with Mr. Zhou Ming first.'

Maita pushed Zhou Ming forward: 'Mr. Zhou Ming is backed by the Oriental Harbour City consortium, which is one of Asia's financial centres, and also by many local Northern Russian businessmen. It is very cost-effective to do business with him. I wonder what Mr. Nikolajevic thinks?'

'That's of course perfect,' Nikolajevich said happily. 'Now that the Republic of Northern Russia has just been established, the debts of the former Soviet Union and various economic problems are weighing on our heads, which is very troublesome. Not long ago, we issued new rubles, and we desperately need a foreign exchange reserve to stabilise the current exchange rate of the new rubles.'

Nikolaevich said this and then changed the subject again, saying, 'However, Mr. Zhou Ming, although I am not a businessman, I also understand some of the rules of the business world. Since this transaction has been split up, then I think the amount of our transaction should be renegotiated.'

Zhou Ming nodded and replied, 'I agree very much with what the president said. As the saying goes, there is a way for businessmen to do business. Now that it is a transaction between me and the president, then it is only right to renegotiate.'

'It's great that you understand, Mr. Zhou Ming,' Nikolaevich said with emotion, and then asked, "My deal with Mr. Maita requires the purchase of 5 billion US dollars. I wonder how much money you can come up with in the shortest time, Mr. Zhou Ming?'

'I already discussed it with all my friends in Northern Russia yesterday, and I can come up with 100 million right away. If Mr. Nikolaevich can give me some more time, I think it won't be a problem to come up with 300 million to 500 million US dollars," Zhou Ming said.

This answer made Nikolajevich feel a little surprised: 'I didn't think the Gangcheng Consortium was so powerful?'

Zhou Ming shook his head and said, 'Of course not. In fact, this is also because you, Mr. President, underestimated the strength of private financial magnates. There is still a lot of wealth in the private sector, and if it can be gathered together, it will be very considerable.'

'I see. It seems that Mr. Zhou Ming still has more appeal than I, the President of the Republic.'

Nikolaevich gave Zhou Ming a thumbs-up, and he continued, 'In that case, let's talk about the 100 million US dollars you can immediately come up with.'

Zhou Ming nodded and said yes. Nikolaevich said, 'Previously, I negotiated on behalf of the Kremlin with Mr. Meta for 140 billion new rubles to purchase 5 billion US dollars, and with you, Mr. Zhou Ming, it is 2 billion new rubles for your 100 million US dollars.'

'Mr President is a real deal maker. With Mr Maita, it was 2.8 billion new rubles for 100 million US dollars, but with me, you've cut nearly a third of the new rubles,' said Zhou Ming.

Nikolaevich remained calm: 'Mr. Zhou Ming, this is all due to the particularity of the transaction. After all, it is very troublesome to suddenly change the original transaction. And the amount on your side is not large, which is a drop in the bucket for our republic. In order to ensure financial stability, I must leave the greatest benefit to my greatest business partner. If it were you, I think you would do the same?'

'I understand what you are saying, Mr President, but 2 billion new rubles is really too little. You know I am not alone in this, and I can't explain to my partners if you insist on this.' Zhou Ming held up five fingers. 'I understand your feelings about protecting major clients and the interests of the country, but I really can't accept this amount. I think it should be at least 2.5 billion new rubles.'

Nikolaevich shook his head and said, 'Impossible, Mr. Zhou Ming. I know you are a very persuasive person, but this price is impossible. I can only give in by a step, 2.1 billion new rupees.'

Zhou Ming also shook his head and said, 'Mr. President, I am not here to bargain with you. The price I quoted is already the bottom line that we can accept. If Mr. President really can't make a decision, I can reduce the amount to 2.3 billion new rubles, but I hope that 1.2 billion of it can be paid to us in the form of new oilfields in Siberia and the Madang gold mine. What do you think, Mr. President?'

'New oil fields in Siberia are fine, but gold mines are out of the question,' Nikolavich said.

Zhou Ming sighed: 'Well, although I really want the gold mines and I have thought about the leisurely life of the gold mine owners, but since this is an important economic lifeline of Northern Russia, I naturally will not force it. Is it okay if the 1.2 billion is all paid in new oil fields in Siberia?'

'Of course it's fine. I didn't realise that Mr Zhou Ming was such a grudge holder. I know about the conflict between you and Yugins,' Nikolavich said.

Zhou Ming scratched his head and laughed, saying, "I'm sorry, this has made the President laugh.'

Nikolavich laughed and said he understood, but in the end he spread his hands and asked, "Mr Zhou Ming, so we've settled our deal?'

Zhou Ming nodded and said, 'Of course, as long as there are no problems on your side, the deal can be settled like this.'

'That's great, Mr. Zhou Ming, you are really a very straightforward person, and it is always a pleasure to talk to you,' said Nikolic, 'I look forward to doing business with you.'

Zhou Ming said, 'Me too. Since this is the President of Northern Russia, he didn't chat much here. Since the business was settled, Zhou Ming and Meta got up and left.

Back in Maita's Lincoln Town Car, Maita congratulated Zhou Ming first, and Zhou Ming replied, 'Thank you very much, Mr. Maita. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to close this deal.'

'Then according to our previous agreement, Mr. Zhou Ming, shouldn't you return a portion of it to me in cash?' Maita asked.

'Of course, Mr. Meta,' Zhou Ming said, "as we agreed, I will transfer one third of the transaction amount to your Swiss bank account.'

Meta was also very happy: "I now understand the feeling of Mr. Nikolic just now. It was really a pleasure talking to you, Mr. Zhou Ming. I'm waiting for your remittance.'

'Don't worry,' Zhou Ming said.