Becoming a Russian Oligarch After Rebirth-Chapter 1062 - 931: Adding to the Difficulty_2
Medvedev clearly hadnβt suffered a similar misfortune before, so his outings were quite casual, with just one car, a driver who doubled as a guard, and additionally a secretary, and thatβs it!
But after all, this was still Moscow, and as long as one didnβt encounter particularly dangerous situations, there wasnβt too much risk involved.
Just like Wang Ye had said, he had "enemies," people who would love to see him dead! π»π³β―β―π€β―π·π―β΄πβ―π.πβ΄π
As for Medvedev, he had just taken office and hadnβt had the time to offend anyone yet, nor did he have any enemies, so there was no need to worry too much about safety.
......
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Wang Ye and Medvedev walked into the restaurant side by side, without any accompanying personnel following them.
They sat opposite each other in Wang Yeβs usual private room.
While waiting for the dishes to be served, the two chatted idly over chilled, freshly brewed beer.
"Mikhail..." Medvedev began, but Wang Ye interrupted him.
"Just call me Misha, thatβs what my friends call me, and weβre not in the Duma Building or the Kremlin now, so letβs keep it casual," Wang Ye said with a smile.
Medvedev laughed heartily and repeatedly agreed.
He was of course aware that only a few people called Wang Ye "Misha," but he also knew that not many had the privilege of calling him that without his approval.
At the very least, before earning Wang Yeβs recognition, he couldnβt take the initiative to call him "Misha."
Now that Wang Ye had brought it up himself, letting Medvedev address him as "Misha" in private signified that he had received Wang Yeβs approval and had become his "friend"!
Of course, Medvedev was very pleased.
"Misha, I heard there was a minor incident on your side yesterday, but your response once again surprised many.
The news today is all about you. Iβve seen some of it, and the things you said were really great!
If the entire country...
No, I donβt dare to hope for that much, but if even half, or even a small portion of the officials, could be like you.
Then this country, why worry about not being prosperous and strong!" Medvedev said, full of emotion.
Clearly, the words Wang Ye had spoken at the scene of the demonstration the day before had been recorded by journalists and published in the newspapers.
Wang Ye shook his head and sighed deeply, saying:
"Ah, itβs easier said than done!
Whatβs most terrible is, even for people like you and me, when we want to do something, there are some people who not only donβt want to help, but theyβre also desperately trying to hold you back or trip you up, hoping youβll take a big fall!"
Medvedev could deeply relate to that.
He chimed in, "Yes, itβs really difficult to get things done.
I used to work in the Kremlin and then at the Russian Gas Industry Group, where the matters I dealt with were relatively simple, and I didnβt have many insights.
Now that Iβve become the head of the government, Iβm dealing with more issues and government departments...
Sometimes itβs not that I donβt want to do things, but that Iβm willing yet unable."
It was evident that Medvedevβs work wasnβt going that smoothly since he took office as Premier.
He must have encountered some resistance as well.
Even with the support of Wang Ye and the Kremlin behind him, some things still couldnβt be done entirely his way.
It wasnβt his fault, nor could it be said that Medvedev lacked the ability or anything else.
It was mainly due to the political system in place in Russia.
Since the Former Soviet Breakdown, until this current Duma election, Russia basically experienced a strong Kremlin, while the government and Duma were weak, and the Upper House was merely for show.
Institutions like the Supreme Procuratorate and the Supreme Court did not possess the power and status they should have...
However, thanks to Wang Yeβs unremitting efforts over the years and the operations after the election, the Dumaβs status has been elevated.
It canβt be said to shoulder to shoulder with the Kremlin, but at least in some aspects it has formed a situation of mutual checks and balances with the Kremlin, so much so that even the Kremlin has to take into account the opinions from the Duma.
So if the power of the Kremlin is "100", the power of the Duma has now reached about "70", and it is still on the rise!
But on the side of the government, there really is no actual power, to say nothing of "100" or "70", not even "30"!
In name, apart from the few departments directly managed by the Kremlin, other departmental organizations are under the jurisdiction of the government.
The problem, however, is that the heads of each department are nominated by the Kremlin and voted on by the Duma, which leaves the top brass without much to do.
Without personnel authority and with financial power taken away by both the Kremlin and the Duma, working in the government has become quite frustrating, something Medvedev has come to realize!
Of course, as long as the relationship between the government and the Kremlin is good and there is strong support from the Kremlin, work progresses smoothly.
After all at the end of the day, itβs just the "housekeeper" managing domestic affairs for the Kremlin.
Just as Medvedev had "great power in his grasp" and was ready to make a big splash, he found himself constrained at every turn, naturally feeling very frustrated...
......
Wang Ye smiled gently and consoled him, "Many things canβt be rushed. First adapt, then integrate, and finally make your own voice heard."
His words were simple, but Medvedev reflected on them for a long time.
He understood that this must also be Wang Yeβs own personal experience.
After all, when Wang Ye first entered the Duma, he didnβt have such a high status or so much power!
By contrast, Wang Ye was then just an obscure new Congressman.
One of four hundred and fifty in the Duma, nothing special...
But why, in just a few years, had he emerged from the pack, and has now become the most powerful and influential person in the entire Duma!
Perhaps thatβs just his way, "First adapt, then integrate, and finally make your voice heard"!
......
After a good while, Medvedev finally looked up with a somewhat embarrassed smile and said, "You see, I was supposed to talk about your incident from yesterday, but I ended up complaining, ha ha."
Wang Ye also smiled and waved his hand dismissively, saying:
"No problem, wasnβt that protest already resolved? It was just a misunderstanding.
However, what surprised me was that there was some trickery behind that protest!"
Medvedevβs eyes widened in surprise, asking, "What? Was someone deliberately pushing it?"
Wang Ye nodded, "Yes, it seems some people from Moscow State, maybe theyβre unhappy with me? Or perhaps they donβt want the CBD Center to be built. Anyway, they wanted to give me some trouble, so they stirred up this incident."
Medvedev furrowed his brows, lowered his voice, and asked with concern, "What are you planning to do about it? Is there anything I can help with?"
For him to ask proactively like this was quite commendable since this was a clash between the two major factions!
One carelessness and getting involved could shatter one to pieces.
Others would avoid it if they could, so why would they actively approach it?
It was because of Medvedevβs personal relationship with Wang Ye that he didnβt want to step away and instead wanted to help alleviate some of Wang Yeβs pressure.
Because he also knew very well, taking on the Moscow Faction was no easy feat!
Wang Ye smiled faintly and said calmly, "Iβm going to get Luzhikov ousted."
Medvedev was so startled by this statement that his beer glass almost fell out of his hand, spilling beer onto his clothes!
He hastily put down the glass of beer and, without bothering to wipe the stains off his shirt, lowered his voice and asked cautiously, "Are you joking? Thatβs Luzhikov weβre talking about, heβs been Governor for more than a decade, no one can shake his position!"
Wang Ye laughed heartily and said casually:
"Of course Iβm not joking. Itβs precisely because he has been Governor for so many years that itβs time for a change, you canβt let him hold that position forever, right?
What do you think? You want to break the status quo and establish your prestige, donβt you? Join forces with me to take down Luzhikov, and your reputation will rise meteorically, ha ha."
