My Realistic Simulation Game

Chapter 47 Building a Moat Before Counterfeits Run Rampant

"A brand from Hong Kong Island? Brother Yuan, you...you started this with people from Hong Kong Island?"

Chen Jianhua's voice trembled slightly. He felt that Qin Yuan's figure seemed to have risen another level, shrouded in a halo that he couldn't see clearly.

"Ah."

Qin Yuan simply responded without explaining any details, but his gaze turned to the Moscow street scene that was rapidly passing by outside the car window as it sank into the twilight.

His tone carried an undeniable determination:
“When we sell other people’s brands, we can only earn a small fee for our hard work; the brand owners take the lion’s share.”

"Only by owning your own brand can you truly establish yourself in the market, gain pricing power, and have a voice in the market!"

"This enormous market should nurture our own brand power!"

These words struck like a resounding bell, deeply resonating in everyone's hearts.

Although everyone instinctively felt that promoting this new brand would be extremely difficult, Qin Yuan's vision and ambition gave them a glimpse of a larger and more exciting future.

"Understood, Brother Yuan!" Chen Jianhua was the first to recover, his eyes shifting from shock to burning fervor. "You have foresight! Just tell us what to do, and we'll do it!"

"Yes! I'll follow Brother Yuan and make something of myself!" Zhang Wei excitedly declared.

"If Brother Yuan says we'll go for Jeanswest, then we'll go for Jeanswest!" Wang Haiyang clenched his fist.

When the atmosphere was reignited.

Li Xiangqian, one of the four, suddenly blurted out, "Brother Yuan, you want to create your own brand, presumably because there are more and more middlemen coming to Moscow, right?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Yuan turned to look at him: "Oh? Why do you say that?"

Chen Jianhua and the others also turned their gazes toward him.

Li Xiangqian seemed a little uncomfortable being the center of attention, and subconsciously rubbed the corner of his clothes, but his voice was very steady: "Jianhua told you before that more and more people are coming to Moscow in the past month, and there are people from all kinds of countries."

"And now, a lot of people in China have also discovered this trade route, and the complexity of the personnel involved goes without saying. When this wave of Chinese people who came to Moscow today make a fortune and spread the news back home, there will definitely be even more gold diggers flocking to Moscow."

Qin Yuan smiled; he found it quite interesting.

"You go on."

"Yes!" Li Xiangqian paused and continued, "Invitation letters and visas are costs that many people cannot afford, so in the future, most people will inevitably enter the Soviet Union through informal channels."

"This group of people is difficult for both the Chinese and the Soviet Union to manage, so some problems are bound to arise."

"For example?" Qin Yuan asked.

“For example, those who sell counterfeit goods,” Li Xiangqian said, head down.

“Back in Yiwu, our ancestors started their business by shaking rattles. I understand the ways of the business world all too well—profit is the only thing that can cloud one's judgment!”

"In order to squeeze out a few extra coins, someone might be willing to sell rotten fish and shrimp as gold!"

"In order to make a profit, these middlemen from China will definitely bring a large number of counterfeit and shoddy goods into the local market when they import goods."

“Not everyone in the Soviet Union is rich. You’ve only been back in Yanjing for a month, and the ruble has depreciated again. Prices have also risen quite a bit. Buying these light industrial products has taken up a lot of their savings.”

"The Russians tightened their belts to get these things from us, but if we go back and take them apart, they'll all be a bunch of shoddy junk..."

He paused, his voice heavy, "Then who will that anger be directed at? Who will they hate?"

"Made in China!" He practically spat out those three words through gritted teeth.

"When our goods are labeled as 'inferior' or 'fraudulent,' what will happen to those of us who honestly sell good products? Will we be considered as having mud dripping down our pants?"

"Want to prove your innocence? Too late! Once this market's reputation is ruined, rebuilding it will be as difficult as climbing to heaven!"

Snapped!Snapped!Snapped!
A burst of crisp applause suddenly rang out in the somewhat somber carriage.

Qin Yuan clapped his hands, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration: "Xiangqian, I didn't expect you to be the type with hidden talents!"

Qin Yuan knew better than anyone just how devastating these resellers of counterfeit and shoddy products were to the destruction of Chinese brands.

In the early 1990s, when the traders first came to Moscow, the Russians were very respectful and polite to the Chinese.

They believe that the Chinese are very capable; as a society and a nation, they are able to produce such good products.

But when the middlemen sell them "fake goods," when fake goods flood the Russian market.

They began to hate Chinese people, pointing and gossiping whenever they saw one.

Even many small shops run by Russians have put up signs that read "This shop does not sell Chinese goods".

This situation directly destroyed a decade of prosperity for Russian trade. Li Xiangqian smiled and waved his hand when he heard Qin Yuan's praise, still feeling uncomfortable being stared at like that.

"Xiangqian is right, he has revealed the secret I hadn't been able to say."

Qin Yuan looked around at everyone and said, "In the future, there will be more and more middlemen coming to Moscow, and many things will be beyond our control."

"The phenomenon of 'bad money driving out good' is not new, and it certainly won't be the last. What we need to do..."

Qin Yuan's voice was resolute: "We'll plant our 'Jeanswest' flag on the riverbank before the floodwaters breach the dikes!"

"Let those who want to buy genuine, high-quality goods know where to turn!"

"Jeanswest is more than just a name!"

He said solemnly, "It's our reputation! Our brand! Our moat! Do you understand?"

"Understood!" Chen Jianhua felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head, instantly cooling his boiling blood and giving rise to a clearer and more urgent sense of mission.

"Brother Yuan! We must make sure the Jeanswest brand shines! We absolutely cannot let those rats spoil the soup of our Chinese culture!"

Zhang Wei, Wang Haiyang, and others nodded emphatically, their faces no longer showing any of their previous frivolity, but only a heavy sense of responsibility.

"Good!" Qin Yuan nodded in satisfaction and turned the topic to the more specific execution level, "Now the team is getting bigger and bigger, and the flow of goods and money is becoming more and more complicated."

“It’s not enough for us to keep track of everything ourselves. I propose that we officially create a finance position.”

His gaze naturally fell on a rather quiet figure.

Natasha, sitting diagonally opposite Qin Yuan, listened with curiosity and a touch of restraint to their enthusiastic discussion in Chinese.

"Natasha."

When her name was suddenly called, Natasha was slightly taken aback, her bright blue eyes widening in surprise: "Huh?"

Qin Yuan looked at her, his tone gentle but formal: "You're a top student in the economics department, isn't that what you studied?"

"Interested in joining us as the team's full-time accountant? Responsible for bookkeeping, calculating profit sharing, and monitoring the flow of funds."

"Of course, there is a corresponding salary."

Happiness comes too suddenly!
Natasha's eyes lit up with surprise!

Of course she wants to join!

In her view, what these Chinese friends were doing was full of bold and innovative business practices, which were much more exciting than the dry knowledge in textbooks!

Moreover, conducting market operations in a familiar environment makes this an excellent example of combining theory with practice!
Not to mention you can even make money from it!

However, this surprise lasted only a few seconds before obvious hesitation and worry appeared on her fair face.

"Oh my god! Qin! This...this is wonderful! I...I really want to...but..."

Her beautiful eyebrows furrowed slightly as she spoke in somewhat hesitant but sincere Chinese, “My father… he probably won’t agree… he thinks students should focus on their studies, especially girls… participating in this… uh… ‘market practice’… might…”

She gestured, her expression showing a hint of frustration.

Clearly, to her father, who held a certain position in the banking system, his daughter's involvement in such underground trading activities was rather "improper."

Seeing Natasha's concerns, Qin Yuan smiled gently and confidently: "It's alright, Natasha. It's normal for a father to care about his daughter and have expectations for her studies."

"How about this, if you don't object, after you've settled us in these next few days, could you help make some arrangements?"

"I'd like to find some time to formally visit your father. I'll talk to him."

"Really?!" Natasha's face instantly brightened, as if she had seen a savior, filled with anticipation. "Qin, you're so kind! Thank you!"

“I’ll talk to him when I get home tonight! I think… if he understands what we’ve been doing, maybe… maybe he won’t object!”

"I really want to participate, this sounds so much fun!"

Seeing Natasha's renewed smile and the admiration and gratitude in her eyes, Qin Yuan smiled and nodded.

For him, Natasha's personal abilities were important, but even more important were the resources that her father represented!
That banker who has considerable connections at the Moscow State Bank!

Whether it's the urgent need to safely and efficiently convert hard-earned rubles into yuan and bring them back to the country, or the potentially larger-scale financial operations or even loan financing that may be involved in the future.

Maintaining the connection with Natasha's father is of paramount importance!
A formal, respectful visit can demonstrate respect for Natasha's status and showcase one's own strength and the "legitimacy" of the "business," paving the way for deeper and more meaningful partnerships in the future.

This deal is a sure thing, you can't lose money.

(End of this chapter)