Reborn in Russia as a Big Shot

49. How can 12 become 1 million?

Li Xiang and VKontakte signed a five-year exclusive server rental agreement.

Using a data model, Xiao Du predicted VKontakte's user growth curve for the next year, and based on this, calculated the configuration requirements, proposing the minimum load capacity requirements for Li Xiang's Hongxing data center.

There is a three-month grace period. If the target is not met by the end of the period, the exclusive clause will be void.

Li Xiang roughly calculated that adding a new server would cost at least one million US dollars.

Where does the money come from?

The dirty money from the Ivanov family hasn't arrived yet, and even if it does, it can't be touched for the time being.

Apple will release the iPhone next year, and my 3x leveraged long position hasn't even started to rise yet. It's a bit of a shame to cut my losses and cash out.

After much deliberation, the only way to raise that million dollars is to sell the house.

Russian housing prices won't start rising and falling until the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis, when global energy demand was severely impacted. It's like a 10-meter diving platform. It's a bit early to enter the market now, but real estate has poor liquidity, so you can sell with peace of mind.

Since the beginning of the year, housing prices in St. Petersburg have risen by nearly 90%, and even more if measured in US dollars, as the ruble appreciates.

-

During the few days Li Xiang was away from home, Galina simply broke in and got in.

"Your house is just sitting empty anyway. I'm homeless, so I'll stay here for a bit. I've already made a copy of the key myself. Aren't I clever?"

"Can't you have any sense of boundaries?" Li Xiang sat on the sofa with a helpless expression.

Galina came out of the kitchen carrying a bowl of instant noodles and stood in front of Li Xiang. She said with a serious expression, "Li Xiang, I know the situation at VKontakte very well. I helped you get the shares. You can make hundreds of millions of dollars from this investment. You'll never get rid of me in this lifetime. It's only natural for me to live in your house."

At this point, Galina suddenly smiled and said, "Didn't you give me a test? I'm officially informing you now that I'm not handing in the test paper. I'm exempt from the test."

After a few seconds of silence, Li Xiang said, "Name your price, and we'll settle this once and for all."

"I'm not setting a price." Galina sat down to eat her noodles, turned to Li Xiang and said, "If I asked you for half the shares, would you be willing to give them to me? You might as well support me; I don't eat much."

Li Xiang said coldly, "As for personal relationships, if I value them, they're there; if I don't, what can you do to me? I advise you to name a reasonable price, take the money, and leave."

Galina stared into Li Xiang's eyes for a while, then smiled and said, "I helped you get Subuda out of trouble. You didn't have to repay this favor, but you still accepted it."

Galina nudged Li Xiang's shoulder and continued eating her noodles.

"Stop pretending. You're not the kind of person who turns on you without a second thought. Besides, my request isn't unreasonable. I just want to make a living by working for you."

Li Xiang glanced at Galina's two car headlights. "Couldn't you at least wear some clothes at home?"

"Who knew you'd be back today?" Galina pulled up her collar and said with a smirk, "I didn't dress up for you, you're not lucky enough to see that."

Li Xiang emphasized, "Following me, you can only do legitimate work."

"I just want to do this job," Galina said sadly. "I don't have a father, and my mother used to work in a state-run song and dance troupe. She can't do anything but dance. What else could she do? I joined the Tambov gang because I had no other choice. You can only look back if you survive."

Li Xiang joked, "Before, I didn't have a choice; now I want to be a good person. 'Infernal Affairs'?"

"What?"

Li Xiang spoke the words "Infernal Affairs" in Chinese, which Galina couldn't understand.

"Watch the Hong Kong film 'Infernal Affairs' when you have time, lest you regret not giving me a chance later."

Li Xiang got up and left to get the key.

"What movie are you talking about?" Galina asked, chasing after him with a bowl of instant noodles.

"I'll search for you in a bit." Li Xiang found the key and handed it to Galina. "As your boss, I'm giving you a task: get rid of this house and that villa in Green Mountain City within a month."

"So, where should we move to?"

"I'm moving to Hongxing. You can go wherever you want."

Galina pouted and complained, "I was supposed to be living a life of luxury with you, but instead I'm suffering more and more. We even have to move into the factory to live. There's no heating there, is there?"

"You won't freeze to death. If you're too cold, you can stay in the server room, where there's electric heating 24 hours a day."

Li Xiang took out his laptop, found the torrent link for the Russian-subtitled version of "Infernal Affairs" on WeTV, handed the computer to Galina, and then slammed the door shut.

-

Li Xiang took out the list of server components he needed to buy again. Buying from the original manufacturer had a price advantage, but the process was long, involved queuing, going through customs in batches, and there were many other troubles, including overseas after-sales service.

Finding a local dealer, like before, is convenient, but it's incredibly expensive.

After weighing the options, Li Xiang chose a compromise: to contact distributors in Hong Kong.

Could Li Xiang's shares in VKontakte, initially valued at 120,000, grow to over 100 million? Theoretically, it's possible if he can quickly penetrate the Russian-speaking market and create a network effect.

However, if VKontakte's overall valuation can reach $100 million in the short term of two or three years, that would be a very impressive achievement.

Galina's meddling cost Li Xiang at least ten million.

Given the gravity of the matter, Li Xiang was somewhat uneasy about sending Han Jiayin alone to Hong Kong to import servers.

Who else can I ask for help?

Li Xiang took out his phone and dialed Yong Ge's number, but it was disconnected.

International roaming is quite expensive.

"Brother Xiang, this number is disconnected. How did you get through?"

"I'll top it up for you right now," Li Xiang said irritably.

Zhang Renyong's voice suddenly lowered, and he whispered, "I deliberately turned off my phone to avoid debt collectors. Didn't I give you a Russian number last time?"

"I forgot to deposit it." Li Xiang paused for a moment and asked, "How much money do you owe since you went into hiding from your debts?"

"not much."

"There are a few, even if not many."

"More than two million Hong Kong dollars. I didn't owe that much to begin with. Isn't this just compounding interest?" Zhang Renyong insisted. "Don't worry, I can handle it myself."

"I'm not worried at all."

Zhang Renyong was a little embarrassed.

Li Xiang said, "My cousin is going to Hong Kong to purchase a batch of servers. She's unfamiliar with the area, so I'd like you to help me find a reliable person to go along and run errands."

Zhang Renyong said, "No problem, I have the connections. It's just a matter of one phone call."

Li Xiang reminded him, "Brother Yong, this is serious business, don't brag."

"I really have connections. My brother's son works at Jardine Matheson Technology. But I heard him bragging to me that his son's company only handles large orders worth tens of millions of dollars and doesn't take on small businesses. Anyway, he knows the industry and definitely has the resources in this area."

Li Xiang had never heard of Jardine Matheson Technology, but Jardine Matheson & Co. was a very famous company.

Li Xiang smiled and said, "By your standards, this really is a small business."

"I won't let you help me for nothing. Two million... is indeed a bit unrealistic. If you help me make this happen, I'll give you a commission of two hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars. Whether you keep it for yourself or split it with your brother, I won't ask."

Upon hearing that there was money to be made, Zhang Renyong immediately perked up.

Look at them, and then look at that pretty boy, he won't even lend me five yuan, I don't need it!

"Brother Xiang, when is our cousin arriving in Hong Kong? I'll go back and pick her up right now."

Li Xiang joked, "Aren't you afraid of getting ripped off by loan sharks if you go back like this?"

Zhang Renyong arrogantly declared, "What do I have to fear if I have money?"