"Wait a moment!"

In large Russian stores, there are always guards to prevent theft and handle unfortunate incidents. This store was no exception, with a formidable security guard stationed there. As an old woman slowly and wearily walked by with a bent figure, her body seemed to freeze as if something blocked her path.

"Excuse me."

Nikolai looked at her.

The frail shoulders of the old woman trembled slightly. Then, she lowered her head and looked at the small bag hiding potatoes. "Grandmother, please take this. I put many potatoes, eggs, and other things inside."

Turning her body slowly, the old woman's face was filled with bewilderment. "What?"

"Take this with you and have something to eat. I also put some money inside. You must be going through hard times, should I carry it for you?"

"Th-thank you. Did you, by any chance, see...?"

I saw, but I pretended not to. "I already took care of the payment, so you don't need to worry."

"Thank you so much. I had nothing to eat at home..."

Is this incident with the old woman a rare occurrence? No. In today's Russia, many citizens like her worry about their next meal. The socialist distribution system of the Soviet Union collapsed, and they can't even find work or receive money from the state. How do people like her survive in such a desperate world? To change this hopeless situation, Nikolai made up his mind to earn money again. Despite the grandmother's protests, Nikolai hailed a taxi for her. As the taxi moved away, Sasha spoke with a bitter tone. "You still have that kind of heart, don't you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Ever since you were a child, you couldn't just pass by people in difficult situations."

Nikolai fell silent.

"Our grandmother passed away in Uzbekistan..."

"When I was young, my mother told me this story. She said my grandmother always wanted to go to America. People often visit their hometowns before they pass away, right? Whenever I see elderly people, I sometimes think about it."

"Where is your grandmother's hometown?"

"She was from New Jersey."

"Where in New Jersey?"

"West Side."

"Sasha."

"Yes?"

"I promise I'll take you there one day. To West Side."

After all, in America, she would roam around until her shoes wore out. "I should visit our house in Florida, too."

After exploring two more large stores, they didn't seem much different from the first one they saw. If this was the level of large stores in Moscow, there was no need to bother visiting other cities. "Let's establish ourselves in Moscow for now."

The reason Russia repeatedly faced economic difficulties was that it didn't invest in manufacturing, despite having abundant resources, including vast reserves of oil, natural gas, and various minerals. As a result, the revenue from selling underground resources was mainly spent on imported necessities and luxury goods, leaking away to foreign countries. "But things will change from now on."

Once hailed as the world's factory, China would now be replaced by Russia as the manufacturing powerhouse. At the same time, they planned to invest in the distribution and finance sectors. After buying three bottles of vodka and three packs of eggs, which Sasha liked, Nikolai headed to the parking lot. However... "Huh? Why is she coming out from there?"

It was a familiar face from his memories. The woman who had the most influence on the Yusupov family when he came into this body. The source of stress. She was once his fiancée but became his ex-fiancée, Zhenya. Recognizing Nikolai, she approached with a tall man by her side and waved her long hair as she greeted him. "How have you been?"

Thanks to you, I've been doing very well... Right? I heard you were going to drop out of school?"

Nikolai considered forcefully pulling back his original owner's memories, but that seemed too far-fetched. It's probably better to just pretend I don't know.

However, it seemed like she noticed his thoughts, as Zhenya continued to act as if she knew. "Pretending you don't know? Wow, but you look much better. It's been a while since I last saw you, and you've changed so much."

Zhenya is a woman he should have seen at least once. Blond hair, porcelain-like skin, and the same blue eyes as himself. Moreover, her tall and slender figure with well-defined curves, and those hips... It was perfect. Even without an objective evaluation, Zhenya was a top-tier beauty. But her personality is incredibly irritating.

Recalling memories about her, unfortunately, her personality was indeed irritating. Somehow, it made him feel good. Since things have turned out this way, Nikolai decided to wrap things up neatly while meeting her. Nikolai looked at her with a stern expression and opened his mouth heavily. "Sasha, handle this."

"Huh?... Again? But this is different from the restaurant situation."

As he was about to leave and have a fun time watching from the side, he heard a highly unpleasant statement in his ear. "Good job breaking off our engagement. I was a bit too much for you, wasn't I? It's good that you listened to your Grandfather."

Nikolai slowly turned around. "Zhenya."

"What?"

"Isn't that the man you were dating before?"

"We broke up and I met someone new, why?"

"Keep living like that. You'll soon run out of luxury goods, always changing men like that."

"You're being annoying."

"When was the last time you earned money even once? Just because you were born into a famous family, you think everything you've been enjoying is yours."

"So, you're not from a famous family?"

"That's why I'm going to work now and earn money." Nikolai proudly claimed.

"You, trying to earn money by working? I understand now why our grandfather suggested breaking off the engagement. He must have realized there's no hope left for the Yusupov family."

"No hope?"

"Your family is practically finished, isn't it?"

It was just a meaningless argument, but Nikolai decided to show respect for his original owner. "Take care of the luxury brand certificates. You'll have to sell all the luxury goods by the end of this year."

With that, Nikolai got into the car with Sasha. As he was about to start the engine and leave the parking lot, suddenly Sasha, who was sitting in the driver's seat, swiftly took something out from the back. Then, swoosh! A white, round object flew toward the target at an incredible speed, just like a pitcher throwing a fastball.

"Ugh!" Zhenya groaned.

The eggs landed exactly on both their faces, sizzling and oozing down their faces. What the hell is this brat doing now?" she yelled

"Good job, Sasha, a cool little slave. You do whatever you want."

To at least apologize for the sudden prank, they simply...revved their engine and"sped away.

Two days later, the Yusupov family announced that they would give up on acquiring the company, and Yury Yusupov visited the relevant agency again to wrap things up, but there he met an unwelcome figure. "Mr. Chairman, it's been a while."

"I suppose it has."

"We had a phone call before, but it seems like it's been over three months since we met in person."

Aleksiy Romanov. He was the head of the Romanov family and also the grandfather of Zhenya, the woman who broke off the engagement. Zhenya was with him as well. How could someone beautiful like Zhenya be his granddaughter, with a face that looked like a pug and a body that resembled a mudfish? The world of genetics is a mysterious thing.

Yuri Yusupov didn't want to continue the conversation any further, so he planned to leave after a simple greeting. "Excuse me. I have an appointment, so I'll take my leave."

However, Aleksiy Romanov chuckled slyly and said, "You gave up on all five companies?"

"Excuse me?"

"There are rumors that the Yusupov family is broke. I suppose it's not just an unfounded rumor?"

"We have enough to live on."

"How can a person live on just food? If you want to expand and grow your business, you'll need a considerable amount of money. It seems that you're truly struggling."

"In business, there are always difficult times."

"If you need money, just let me know. I'll prepare a reasonable amount for you."

"I'll accept your goodwill."

The one who's laughing now won't necessarily be the winner. The true winner is the one who laughs last. Yuri Yusupov knew exactly when to advance and when to step back. Now was the time to step back. Remembering Aleksiy Romanov's sly smile, Yuri and his secretary got into the car. "Sir, why do you endure such humiliation?"

"If a dog barks, do I bark along?"

"Still, he's so arrogant..."

"Enough of that. Let's head to the scheduled bank. We have to visit all seven places by the end of the day, so hurry."

"Yes."

Once the car started moving, Yuri Yusupov turned his head towards the window and asked, "How much have you secured in the commercial paper market?"

"We haven't surpassed 50% of the target amount yet. We were trying to apply fixed rates, so..."

Borrowing money with a floating interest rate was not advisable. "Then use fixed rates, but increase the interest a bit."

"How much are we talking about?"

"If we can keep it within +5% of the current interest rate, proceed immediately. If it's more, report it."

"With about +5%, we should be able to secure the loan."

"We don't have much time. Utilize all our resources, whether it's collateral or credit, and borrow as much as possible."

"Yes, we are devoting all the company's capabilities to this."

Currently, Yuri Yusupov was borrowing money, but most people were taking advantage of the higher interest rates by depositing their money in banks. Alternatively, some were hoarding cash due to insecurity. That's why, despite Yuri Yusupov's attempt to borrow a significant amount from the bank, approval was expected soon. Unlike Yuri, Aleksiy Romanov of the Romanov family had all their funds deposited in banks. The day when Nikolai's prediction would become a reality would be a devastating blow to the Romanov family. "How much have we secured in dollars and gold?"

"As the bank assured us, once the loan is approved, we'll reach our target amount."

"As for gold, the government is closely monitoring it. We need to handle it without leaving any traces."

"I have been by your side for over 20 years, haven't I? You don't need to worry."

"..."

"By the way, did Nikolai suggest this plan?"

"He may be young, but he has a forward-looking vision. What has that guy been up to these days?"

"They say he's been wandering around Moscow city."

"If there's anything special, report it immediately."

"Understood."

After hearing Nikolai's words, Yuri Yusupov checked the government and market conditions and realized that things were going strangely. From that moment on, Yuri Yusupov began to feel tense. However, his tension was not born out of fear but rather an immense sense of anticipation for the days to come. "For some, it may be despair, but for us, it'll be an unparalleled opportunity. The problem is just a few percentage points difference as Nikolai mentioned."

The timing to sell the dollars and gold was the problem, but Yuri Yusupov felt confident. He was prepared. With the preparations in place, he believed that he would be able to recognize that moment as he continued to observe. After a few months of observation, even if we sell, we can still retain a profit of at least several percent. If things get really tough, I can listen to Nikolai's opinion again; it might be helpful.

He felt there must be some way for his grandson. Such confidence that borders on arrogance is not something just anyone can possess. Meanwhile, Aleksiy Romanov and Zhenya came out after finishing their work and also got into the car. As Aleksiy rolled down the window, he furrowed his brow. "He's not the type to stay so quiet..."

"Grandfather, it's certain that the Yusupov family is short of money, right?"

"Everyone knows we gave up on acquiring the company. If we had money, we would have bought it. Moreover, considering the talk of going to the bank, it's probably true."

Yuri Yusupov was definitely not the type to visit the bank in person. But he went there himself? This is undeniable evidence. Evidence that the Yusupov family was running low on money. Aleksiy Romanov felt relieved that his decision to break off the engagement was the right decision.

"When I met Nikolai at the parking lot, that crazy guy threw eggs at me and ran away. He must have lost his mind."

"It seems he was shocked by the breakup. From now on, avoid him if you happen to meet him."

"That's what I'll do. It's best to avoid a lunatic."

Aleksiy and Zhenya enjoyed the feeling of victory, but it wouldn't last long. The economic storm would soon sweep across all of Russia.

"Aaah!"

The scream shattered the tranquility of the 3 AM dawn, and everyone in the house rushed in wearing their nightclothes. "What, what happened?"

"What's going on, Nikolai?"

"Hey, what's wrong with you?"

Sasha, who was in the adjacent room, was the first to rush over. "What's happening?"

"Wha, I had a nightmare..."

"You had a bad dream?"

"Yes."

Ivan Yusupov looked at his son, who was sweating profusely even in the middle of winter, and asked his wife, "Bring a towel."

"Oh, get a hold of yourself. Wait a moment."

Maria quickly brought a towel from the bathroom and gently wiped the sweat from Nicholai's forehead, her face showing concern. "Nikolai, what kind of dream did you have to react like this?"

I, it's... It's a nightmare that I can't tell my parents about. The image of my whole body decaying and dying is still vivid. The sight of me dying while clutching a newspaper. The painful memory gave me a feeling of reality even though Putin is dead, and I have a new life.

"Mother, even though Nikolai exercises a lot and has leisure these days, don't you think he might be struggling emotionally?" At Denis's words, Maria glanced at Sasha.

"That might be the case. Sasha, do you have anything for times like this?"

"Hmm... Let me prepare something."

"Yeah, thanks. I think you'd be quicker in handling this than I would."

"Don't worry too much. I'll take care of it."

After rinsing the towel in cold water once again, Victoria yawned and said, "Let's stop now."

"Go back and rest, I'll stay with Nikolai." Sasha volunteered.

Upon Sasha's words, the family left quietly, their expressions mixed with different emotions.

Sasha sighed. "I guess I should take some medicine."

At times like this, herbal medicine was a sure bet. But here, there's no such thing available... "How about trying some Chaga mushroom tea?"

"Huh? Chaga mushroom?"

"It's a famous tea among Americans, but Russians don't seem to know about it. Drinking it regularly improves sleep and clears the mind."

"That might be difficult to find here tonight," Shasha said...

In this situation, Nikolai just accepted it. "Thanks, Sasha. By the way, do you know about ginseng?"

"Of course I do. Regular folks usually only know about the root."

"Then can you get aged ginseng? Something that has been preserved for a long time."

"If I can get it, I'll bring it, but it won't be easy. But what kind of dream did you have that surprised you so much?"

"A dream of dying."

"You dreamt of dying?"

"Yeah. It's really disturbing."

Shasha, who was lost in thought for a moment, chuckled and stood up. "A dream of you dying is actually a good dream."

"What? Do you know how to interpret dreams?"

"When I was little, my mother was strangely good at interpreting dreams. So I learned a bit."

"You know everything. There's nothing you can't do. Then what does it mean if I dream of dying?"

"It's a dream where business or other things go well, unexpected big luck brings wealth or many good things happen. So, it means you're going to hit the jackpot in the future."

I really hope that's true. If only I had won the lottery or the American lottery.

The next day, Sasha and Yury went up to the mountains, a 4-hour drive from Moscow, to buy first-grade Chaga mushrooms. There were indeed many locals who looked like mushroom hunters. "You dig up and sell these from the mountains?"

"I've been making a living like this for quite some time now. But if you dig up chaga mushrooms and ginseng, can I sell them?"

"Yes, from now on, don't sell them elsewhere, sell them to Sasha here. We'll buy all you have, no matter how much it is."

"They say they'll pay 1 ruble per kilogram, so of course, I'll sell it to you. Chinese people try to beat down the prices too much. I was worried they might break off the deal, but this is great."

Well, it's no surprise that Chinese people know the value of Chaga mushrooms. I wonder how Xi Jinping is doing. I should visit him sometime. "What about ginseng?"

"Occasionally, we dig up ginseng too, so let's do the same."

Nikolai remembered seeing it on the internet during the height of the war. Grade 1 chaga mushrooms were over 400,000 won per kilogram. But now it's only 1 ruble per kilogram. It's about the price of a bottle of soft drink. Even with such a time gap, it's too cheap. With two boxes of Chaga mushrooms loaded in the car, we stopped at a restaurant on our way back to Moscow. "Looks like the good dream is coming true. Buying two boxes of such good chaga mushrooms."

"But why did you buy Chaga mushrooms?"

"I'll feed my family and give them as gifts to relatives and acquaintances."

"Is that the only reason?"

"I'll tell you more about it later."

It's a situation that will help him collect money, but it's not the right time to talk about it now. "They sell newspapers here too. It would be nice if they could deliver it to our home. It's quite annoying to buy it on the street all the time."

While waiting for the food order and looking at the top part of the newspaper... "Huh? Why does this newspaper look like this?"

The newspaper seems strange. The date is...? Today's year and date are 1992, February 15th. However, it is written as May 1st. "The content is also very odd. There are only a few lines of news articles."

When he turned the page, all the back pages were completely blank. Has his mind gone haywire? Why is he feeling like this lately? Even his dreams have been strange. Should he go to the hospital for a check-up? While Nikolai continues to stare at the newspaper, blinking his eyes, he becomes more serious. However, since the interpretation of his dream about his own death indicated a sign of hitting the jackpot... maybe something good is about to happen?

Author's Note

Hey there, wonderful readers. I'm thrilled to announce that you can now read the next chapters right now on Toodat!

You can click this link~

writing/detail/4mVoBDbDRnel2EON