Chapter 29

Bear Soup is Now My Dish Chapter 29

029 Industrial Zone of Ussuriysk / Eldest Son of the Second Uncle

For decades, Russians had been eating the same bread and soup and using the same mundane products.

Then they tasted something completely different.

They also tried Western products with their flashy designs and added convenience.

Ultimately, they lost their rationality, unable to resist the paralyzing urge to buy.

It was just before the most important holiday of the year, and the Russians had changed to a frightening degree.

Everyone, let's buy!

Let's go to U-Mart!

"Security team leader! Cut it off there! This could lead to an accident. Hurry up!"

Nikolai personally stepped in to control the surging crowd.

Russia's Christmas is on January 7th.

This is because the Russian Orthodox Church uses the 'Julian calendar' rather than the 'Gregorian calendar' we currently use.

Therefore, for most Orthodox believers in Eastern Europe (former Soviet states), Christmas was also on January 7th.

During the Soviet era, all Christian holidays were removed from public holidays, and religious symbols were taboo, so even putting up a Christmas tree was not allowed.

However, after the collapse of communism and President Boris Yeltsin declared January 7th a public holiday in 1992, it became an important holiday for both believers and non-believers.

Additionally, Russia has had its own Santa Claus since ancient times.

This is Ded Moroz, the old man of snow (cold), who appears in Russian folk tales.

He wears a blue cloak instead of a red one and rides a traditional Russian sleigh called a 'troika' pulled by three horses.

Russia's Christmas is on January 7th, but the holiday season runs from January 1st to the 10th.

Russians pour all their money into this holiday.

They even take out loans a month in advance to enjoy it properly.

Because of this, December is the biggest sales period in Russia, just like in other countries.

Now, the three U-Mart branches were struggling to handle the pent-up purchasing desire of the Russians who had been waiting all year.

"Back! Move back! You in the blue shirt, move back!"

"Me?"

"Yeah, you!"

Eventually, serious arguments broke out among the people waiting in line.

"I saw your face. I saw the big mole on your chin."

"I saw you too. What are you going to do about it?"

Russians are used to standing in lines, but even this was reaching its limits.

So, Nikolai finally found a way to calm the situation.

"How did you come up with this idea?"

"Does it seem okay?"

"The employees will have to work hard, but it should definitely work."

"Then let's start right away."

People can think of solutions when they put their minds to it.

After much thought and deliberation, he found a method that, while not extraordinary, was perfect for the current situation.

Six handsome and beautiful U-Mart employees walked around the people in line with signs, like round girls in a boxing match.

【Numbered tickets. Enter in order of numbers.】

【24-hour operation starting today.】

People's expressions began to relax as they saw the signs.

"If we do this, there's no need to stand in line so hard."

"Right. We can go home, get some sleep, and come back at dawn. They said the products won't run out."

As people who weren't in a hurry started to leave the line, the chaotic atmosphere began to calm down.

Shortly after, the employees distributed numbered tickets to those still in line.

"Phew, the situation is under control."

The security team leader, who had been monitoring the situation, let out a sigh of relief.

The store manager of the first branch also wiped the sweat from his forehead and felt relieved.

"The second and third branches are also stabilizing."

"That's good. Don't force it at night since there will be fewer customers. Just take volunteers."

"We'll proceed as you say.

"The night shift pay should be double the regular weekday rate."

"Double?"

"Who wants to work at night? They need to be compensated for the effort."

"Understood."

As the situation stabilized, the employees of the newspaper company, where Nikolai was the major shareholder, started shouting.

"Subscribe in December and get U-Mart gift cards! This offer is only for one month! Don't hesitate to sign up."

Russia was gradually regaining its vitality.

With the hope that the new year would bring a Russia that was clearly different from the current year.

While Nikolai was lost in thought, Yury Yusupov approached with a bright smile, accompanied by Ivan.

"Busy, huh?"

"Now things are a bit more relaxed, Grandfather."

"It's the first time in my life that I'm worried about having too many customers since opening U-Mart."

Ivan, who had never experienced such a situation before, echoed Yury's words.

"Me too."

When they bought the land for the store, they never imagined it would be this successful.

'What I couldn't achieve in 20 years, he did in just one. I almost doubt if he's my blood.'

While Ivan was smiling at the entrance of the store, Yury wanted to give Nikolai more encouragement.

"Shouldn't we open more branches in Moscow? What do you think?"

"I've thought about it. I plan to open two more."

That would bring the total number of U-Marts in Moscow to five.

With a population of over 10 million, Moscow still didn't have the economic power to support more, so this number seemed just right.

"Shouldn't we open in other cities too?"

"Of course, we should."

"Do you have any places in mind?"

"St. Petersburg."

A place Nikolai had visited before, the second-largest city in Russia.

"I plan to open three branches there initially."

"If I hadn't seen the situation here, I would have been worried like last time, but now I'm more excited. Do well there too."

If St. Petersburg is successful, he plans to open in the other 11 cities with populations over 1 million.

"We'll definitely make it a success, like in Moscow."

"Good, I believe in you."

Now that one thing is stable, it's time to move on to the next.

Nikolai wanted to take the first step in making Russia the world's factory.

"Grandfather, I'm thinking of building a factory in the Ussuriysk area to produce Korean products."

Right next to Ussuriysk is Vladivostok, the only port city in Russia that can reach East Asia.

However, unlike Busan, it has no flat land, and most of the area is hilly, making it unsuitable for building factories.

Fortunately, right next to it is Ussuriysk, which is relatively warm and has a lot of flat land.

Nikolai decided to build a large-scale factory there.

"Hmm. Did you tell Ivan to buy the flat land in that area in advance?"

"I did think ahead, but the timing was much earlier than expected."

He had planned it for about two years later, but U-Mart's success accelerated the plan.

"You always act first."

Yury Yusupov felt like he was getting younger every time he saw such a grandson.

Why wouldn't he?

Nikolai's success in everything he does is leading the Yusupov family to even greater heights.

"Grandfather, you need to invest. The profits from the mart should be used to build new marts."

"Haha, now you're asking for it outright."

"Will you do it?"

"Understood. I'll tell the bank to provide the necessary funds."

"But I can't pay interest for a while."

"How can I ask for interest from you? In fact, our family's revival is all thanks to you."

Yury had said this many times.

This was to remind himself of the times when he could do nothing as the family was falling apart.

He always talked about Nikolai's achievements to never forget his初心.

"Thank you."

Once the factory is built in Ussuriysk, the economic sphere of the former Soviet states will be back under Russia's control.

Nikolai had foreseen this.

'The Unicorn Construction employees will be very busy. They'll have to build apartments while setting up the factory.'

* * *

A few days later, in the office of the second uncle, Yegor.

The inside of U-Mart on TV looked like a different country.

The store was so long and wide that the end couldn't be seen, and it was filled with countless items.

The shoppers' expressions were so bright that it was hard to believe they had been mourning the loss of their country just a few months ago.

'I had heard the rumors, but I didn't expect it to be this much...'

Yegor's face was tense, and the faces of Anton and Kirill, who were watching TV with him, grew darker.

Kirill, Yegor's eldest son and Nikolai's brother Denis, was 25 years old.

Click.

Yegor turned off the TV in frustration, unable to watch any longer.

"It's unbelievable. When he said he was building a large mart, I thought that young guy didn't know what he was doing..."

"Are we going to lose everything?"

"What do you mean lose?"

"You know, don't you? This isn't the time to be idle. I feel even more anxious after watching the TV."

"..."

"Father is giving all the work to Ivan and is even surrounding himself with Nikolai. We can't just sit here and do nothing."

Yegor knew.

He knew that his father's attention was on Ivan and Nikolai, especially on Nikolai.

'How does that guy manage to succeed in everything he does?'

He foresaw the economic crisis in Russia and bought dollars and gold.

He sold them at the highest price.

He also used the money to buy bankrupt banks and companies.

And now those places...

'Have turned a profit in just a few months.'

His push for President Yeltsin was also spot on.

A few months ago, he monopolized products from Korea and built a large mart.

The result is now on TV.

'How could one person achieve all this in less than a year?'

It's hard to believe that a 20-year-old did all this.

"From the looks of it, President Yeltsin will be re-elected. If that happens, we'll have 7 more years to make money without any worries... But why do I feel so dirty?"

The eldest son, Kirill, who had been listening to Anton's complaints, finally spoke.

"Father, Nikolai can't do everything, right?"

"What do you mean?"

"From what I see, Nikolai has perfectly timed the Russian upheaval and is riding the wave. You can't force someone like that to do anything."

"Riding the wave..."

It's a perfect description of Nikolai's current situation.

Like a tiger riding on its back, who could dare to stop it?

"For now, it's better to pretend to help Nikolai. What could Grandfather say about helping? We might even regain his trust."

"Your words make sense. Ivan, what do you think of Kirill's idea?"

"It doesn't seem wrong."

"Let's pretend to help for now. Then, when the opportunity comes, we can take everything Nikolai has built."

Just because Nikolai built it doesn't mean it's all his.

The true owner is the one who holds it in the end.

Kirill decided to wait for that moment.

He was still young, unlike his father.

However, there was something that not only Kirill but all the family and relatives didn't know.

Yury Yusupov had secretly put all the business entities Nikolai had started in Nikolai's name.

He did this with the help of his son-in-law, the Minister of Justice, Zakhary, ensuring no one would find out.

So, the idea that they could take it was just Kirill's thought.

"Don't be too hasty. Opportunities will always come."

'Opportunities will always come?'

They will, but the problem is that by then, he would be an old man.

Yegor looked at his reliable eldest son with a warm gaze.

Although he didn't match Nikolai when he was young, he was a top student at Moscow University as an adult.

He needed to listen to his son's advice at least once.

His father had also listened to Nikolai's advice and revived the family in one go.

With his mind made up, Yegor spoke heavily.

"Soon, Nikolai will be building a large factory in the Ussuriysk area."

"I know. Why are you interested in it?"

"I can't move without drawing Father's attention, so how about you, Kirill, go and help, or pretend to help?"

"It seems like a good idea. As a person, Nikolai has weaknesses that can be found if you get close to him."

Kirill's words made Yegor and Anton's lips curl up sarcastically.

* * *

The new year of 1994 arrived.

Russians celebrated the new year as if they were living and dying for the day.

Fireworks exploded non-stop in various parts of Moscow every night, and the noise from cars honking on the streets made it impossible to sleep.

With the holiday ending on January 11th, IT professionals were to start their first day at the Gum Department Store, so Sasha was bringing in workers during the holiday to prepare.

"How is Uncle Anton doing these days?"

"He often goes to Uncle Yegor's office."

Nikolai had created an information network through Sasha.

He knew he couldn't do everything alone.

Also, there were still many people in the family who harbored ill feelings towards him, so he had to be careful.

Following Nikolai's instructions, Sasha was using former KGB agents as subordinates.

Sasha directly gave orders to three people, who in turn gave orders to other agents and reported back to Sasha.

"A few days ago, I saw Uncle Anton go in with Kirill."

"Kirill?"

"Yes, he seems to be acting more boldly lately. He