Becoming a Russian Oligarch After Rebirth
Chapter 149 A Bit Too Naive_1

Chapter 149: Chapter 149 A Bit Too Naive_1

At this point in the conversation, the atmosphere had already turned a bit sour...

Wang Ye really wanted to advise Khodorkovsky, but couldn’t fathom what his endgame was!

Khodorkovsky, to be frank, seemed a bit "naïve"

Khodorkovsky and his group still had complicated relations with Euro-American Capital.

......

In the end, Wang Ye managed to hold his tongue, and didn’t intercede.

Because after all, his credibility was quite "awkward".

If Khodorkovsky showed him respect, then he would have face, but without it, he was nothing...

A person should never forget his place.

On this score, Wang Ye had done reasonably well.

So, he just kept his head down, eating his meal and refraining from interjecting.

Mikhail, sitting next to him, was also just eating his food. He was not at a level where he could participate in the conversation between Gavriil and Khodorkovsky.

Besides, he was an old fox; staying silent and prospering discreetly was far more preferable than meddling in such affairs.

The two of them remained silent, but Abu couldn’t afford to.

Tonight’s gathering was orchestrated by him, and he was also hosting it.

Moreover, he was well-acquainted with both Khodorkovsky and Gavriil.

"Haha, honestly, I think there’s no problem if Yukos wants to grow even bigger. However, oil is a national strategic resource, it squanders the chances to seek foreign investment, it would possibly better to allow the state to have some shares," Abu said, laughing.

Gavriil nodded, "On this front, Abu has done great. Now he’s also serving as the governor of Chukotka, and he invested a great deal of money there, which has greatly benefited the locals. Mr. Vladimir has praised him several times in the high-level meetings."

Abu chuckled modestly, blushing slightly, "These are just my duties. After all, I was born in Chukotka, and that’s my hometown. Who wouldn’t want their hometown to improve? Besides, the people of my hometown trust me, and elected me as governor, so I should try to repay their faith."

Wang Ye marveled inwardly at Abu’s shrewdness. He was really astute!

Speaking of his beginnings, they were no less dubious than those of Khodorkovsky and other older oligarchs.

It was said that Abu made his first fortune by "stealing diesel fuel".

But that man sure knew how to seize opportunities. First, he managed to hook up with Berezov and find his way to Yeltsin, impressing Yeltsin’s eldest daughter and gaining entry into the upper circles of Russia.

Once Yeltsin stepped down, Abu was quick to adapt to the changes,

Abu had also participated in politics.

His approach was different from other oligarchs however.

He ran for a seat in the Duma.

This made him rather unique with a high social status!

He had a so-called "right to pardon" but had no real power. On the contrary, he deliberately distanced himself from the political circle in Moscow, returning to his remote hometown of Chukotka and becoming a governor.

He even dug into his own pockets and spent tens of millions of US dollars to help Chukotka build infrastructure and improve the locals’ welfare.

Truth be told, tens of millions of US dollars were just a drop in the bucket for Abu.

But by spending this money, the people of Chukotka were happy, the national leaders were satisfied, and Abu gained prestige.

All anyone could say was that this man really knew how to spend money!

...

Khodorkovsky sneered, "Chukotka is a good place. It has plenty of gold mines."

Abu’s smile froze for a moment and then he diverted the conversation, "Your nephew is really something! It’s rare to see such talented young people. You’ve trained him well! However, giving him the responsibility of New Sun Group shows that you really trust his abilities. How old is Misha now? In his twenties?"

When it came to Wang Ye, Khodorkovsky wore a proud expression.

Wang Ye was a talent that he had personally discovered!

And considering the life-and-death bond between the two, he had a high degree of confidence in Wang Ye.

Regardless of how excellent Wang Ye was, he needed to rely on Khodorkovsky. He could never betray him!

Because Khodorkovsky held Wang Ye’s "vulnerability".

"He’s only eighteen. In a few months, I plan to send him to Moscow University to study. For young people, learning is always beneficial, even though he’s already more than capable of managing the New Sun Group," Khodorkovsky said with a chuckle.

Wang Ye thanked his "uncle" for his concern with a smile.

However, he was a little helpless inside. When had he said that he wanted to attend Moscow University...

All eyes turned to Wang Ye.

Gavriil also joined in with interest, "Only eighteen? That’s certainly genius level. More importantly, he has his own thought and insights into social issues. Your nephew has great potential, you should nurture him well, he will be unstoppable in future!"

Wang Ye modestly replied, "It’s all thanks to my uncle’s guidance and the opportunity he provided. My little cleverness is insignificant compared to you."

"Haha, Misha, you’re too modest. But it’s a pity that you were born ten years too late. Otherwise, your achievements might be no less remarkable than your uncle’s," Abu joked.

Everyone in the room understood what he meant and burst into laughter.

Indeed, the breakdown of the former Soviet Union might have been a disaster for the country of Russia and the majority of its population.

From the peak of power, a "world pole" capable of challenging the United States, it became an ordinary country with a rapidly declining economy...

But for a few clever individuals, crisis equates to danger. And accompanying danger, there are always opportunities!

And these were once-in-a-millennium opportunities...

......

During the meal, they drank red wine, just as Wang Ye had predicted before arriving.

After a few glasses, Wang Ye maintained that he felt nothing, he was perfectly sober...

They chatted while eating and went back to the living room for cigars after dinner, until around ten in the evening.

"It’s about time, we should rest," Gavriil checked his watch and said.

Everyone rose to their feet, including Wang Ye. He thought this was the signal for everyone to disperse and return home.

But things didn’t go as he anticipated...