As a Magnate, I Started Checking in at a Convenience Store

Chapter 546: First Arrival in Irkutsk! (2)

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

The distance from Jingdu to Irkutsk wasn’t too great, just a little over three hours by plane. Zhou Chao departed from Jingdu Airport at one-thirty in the afternoon, and by the time he arrived at Irkutsk Airport, it was already around five in the afternoon.

As the capital of Irkutsk Oblast, Irkutsk had a history of over 300 years. It was the largest industrial city, transportation hub, and commercial center in Siberia, as well as the second-largest city in East Siberia. It was often referred to as the “Paris of the East.” Being close to Lake Baikal, Irkutsk was a preferred destination for many domestic tourists.

Walking out of the airport, the most common sight was Chinese tourists, most of whom were here for sightseeing.

“Whew, it’s so cold!” As soon as they exited the airport, they felt a cold wind blowing towards them.

Lin Wu, holding his phone, smiled bitterly and said, “Boss, it’s only 3 degrees Celsius in Irkutsk today, and it’s expected to snow in the next few days. The temperature could drop to as low as minus 8 degrees Celsius.”

Zhou Chao hadn’t expected Irkutsk to be this cold. If he had known, he would have dressed more warmly.

“Boss, what should we do now? Shall we find a place to stay first?”

“We’ll wait for someone to pick us up,” Zhou Chao replied, rubbing his slightly cold hands.

Just as Lin Wu was wondering who would come to pick them up, he saw a convoy of luxury off-road vehicles heading towards the airport entrance. All the vehicles were Hummer His. Soon, the convoy stopped in front of Zhou Chao and his group, and two or three burly men got out of each car. They looked like strong men from Bearland. Lin Wu also noticed that these men all had bulging waists. Seeing this, Lin Wu took two steps forward, subtly positioning himself to shield Zhou Chao.

Zhou Chao chuckled at Lin Wu’s gesture and patted his shoulder. “Don’t be nervous, they’re our people.”

Indeed, these were personnel from the Irkutsk branch of GS Group. Zhou Chao had arranged for them before departure. After all, they were unfamiliar with the place, and it wouldn’t be easy to get things done without someone familiar.

A bearded man who seemed to be the leader quickly walked up to Zhou Chao and said, “Boss, hello, I’m Lev Nikita Ivanov, head of the Irkutsk branch.” “Hello, Lev!” Zhou Chao nodded lightly.

“Boss, should we stay in Irkutsk for the night or go directly to Listvyanka?”

“Let’s stay in Irkutsk for the night and head to Listvyanka tomorrow.”

“Boss, please get in the car first. I’ve already arranged the hotel!”

Zhou Chao was somewhat surprised by Lev’s demeanor. It seemed that Lev, despite his rough appearance, was quite thoughtful. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have become the head of the GS branch in Irkutsk.

Under Lev’s guidance, Zhou Chao boarded the most luxurious of the specially customized Hummer His. Lin Wu followed closely behind. Soon, the convoy left the airport. Many domestic tourists who had just come out of the airport took photos of the scene. After all, Chinese people couldn’t escape the love for spectacles.

The Wan Yi Hotel was one of the best hotels in Irkutsk, located in the city center. This was where Lev had arranged for them to stay. As soon as they arrived at the hotel, they attracted many onlookers, as several Hummer His were quite eye-catching.

“Lev, you can let the others go back for now. I have bodyguards with me. When we go to Listvyanka tomorrow, you can bring a few people over.”

Lev looked puzzled at Zhou Chao’s apparent reluctance. Many wealthy people liked to put on a big show. Why did his boss seem unwilling? But without further thought, he nodded and said, “Got it, boss.”

“Yeah!” Zhou Chao nodded, preparing to get out of the car. Lin Wu, who had sharp eyes, quickly got out of the car to open the door for Zhou Chao.

Fortunately, Zhou Chao was tall enough; otherwise, he would have embarrassed himself.

After settling in, Zhou Chao had Lev and his team leave, leaving a Hummer here for convenience to go out for dinner later. Originally, Lev wanted to stay as a guide for Zhou Chao, but seeing so many exceptionally friendly Chinese faces, Zhou Chao politely declined.

Once settled, Zhou Chao, along with Lin Wu and several bodyguards, left the hotel. They were prepared to buy some cold-weather clothing because Irkutsk’s temperature was indeed too cold, and snow was expected in the coming days.

“Boss, why didn’t you just let Lev buy them and have them delivered to the hotel? Why go out yourself?” Lin Wu, driving the car, looked at Zhou Chao somewhat puzzled.

“It’s almost evening, so might as well take a stroll,” Zhou Chao said lightly as he sat in the passenger seat, looking at the European-style buildings outside the window.

After driving around for about half an hour, they finally found a store selling winter clothing. Upon entering, they found that it was run by Chinese people. After a brief chat, Zhou Chao bought two sets for each person, including shoes, thermal pants, and so on. The prices were quite affordable. For six people, the total price for two sets each was just over nine thousand Hua Xia dollars. In the end, the boss even gave them a discount, rounding down to nine thousand. These clothes were indeed cheap.

As night fell, the streets gradually became deserted, with occasional sightings of locals hurrying along.

“Boss, shall we go back to the hotel for dinner?” Lin Wu whispered to Zhou Chao.

After pondering for a moment, Zhou Chao understood Lin Wu’s concerns. He shook his head lightly and said, “It’s okay, let’s just find a local specialty restaurant to eat. Besides, with so many of us, is there anything we can’t handle?”