Chapter 1779 Forced to Become an Economist

Xiao Peng looked at the two of them and said, "I need an explanation."

He was really confused. Why would someone risk his life to protect this illegal bride market? What on earth was he trying to achieve?

Novov said, "Mr. Xiao, I'm a student at Moscow State University. I'm not someone who hasn't received higher education. Otherwise, I wouldn't be the head of Vorkuta Coal Company. I know what I'm doing is illegal, a serious violation. But I still did it."

Usmanov heard this and said, "Noufu, this is not illegal. Vorkuta does have a tradition of 'bride markets'..."

But Nouf said, "Come on, who can be fooled by this statement? It has always been just self-deception."

After he finished speaking, he said to Xiao Peng, "The reason I returned to Vorkuta instead of staying in Moscow is actually because I love this place."

"Huh?" Xiao Peng frowned, confused.

Usmanov asked Xiao Peng, "Mr. Xiao, how did you feel when you first came to Vorkuta?"

Xiao Peng answered truthfully: "It's a dead city. Most of the buildings are basically uninhabited."

Usmanov said: "This is already very good!"

"Is it very good?" Xiao Peng asked puzzledly.

Usmanov said, "I was transferred here eight years ago. Back then, the city's population was less than half of what it is today. Including the elderly, the weak, women, and children, there were only about 11,000 people. The entire city didn't even have a proper hospital. No, to be more precise, there was a hospital, but no doctors. As for the lack of supplies, that's even more than that. This was a hopeless city. To be honest, besides potatoes and carrots, it was hard to get anything to eat. Although there were trains bringing in supplies... the amount that made it here was truly too small. This is a hopeless city, otherwise I wouldn't have been sent here."

Xiao Peng asked, "What's the population now?"

Usmanov said, "After eight years of hard work, the price has now reached 56,000. As you can see, although it's still not very wealthy, it's much better than other places."

After hearing this, Xiao Peng's eyes moved slightly and he looked at Usmanov. This number was shocking, much more than the number of people in Salekhard.

As if he had guessed Xiao Peng's thoughts, Usmanov said, "Many people from Salekhard are now living here."

Novuf said, "And the reason people over there come here..." He smiled bitterly at this point, "Because of crime. Because of the good relationship here with the Nenets people, the smuggling of mammoth ivory, fur, alcohol, antlers, casinos, and other businesses have attracted a lot of people here. With more people, more supplies come here. The standard of living here is really much better than before. If there were no such bride market serving the Nenets, our city might return to its previous state. That's the last thing I want to see. We do have a lot of crime here, is that right? No, but if it's for the well-being of the people, I don't regret it."

Usmanov said hurriedly, "Mr. Xiao, you won't believe this, but our city now has a hospital with real doctors and three more kindergartens! And Nov is the most admired person I've ever met. You may not believe this, but he hasn't touched a penny of the crime here. He doesn't even take a salary, but donates it all to the city's financial fund. He lives on basic employee benefits. He truly wants the best for this city!"

After hearing this, Xiao Peng shook his head and said, "Fool."

After hearing this, Nouf's eyes widened and he said, "I do these things for our city. I don't think I'm stupid!"

Xiao Peng said, "I admire your love for this city, but your actions strike me as foolish. Vorkuta has no roads leading outside, only planes and trains. This provides a safe haven for all kinds of crime. But what you haven't considered is that human desires are endless. These crimes will only lead to more and more crime, and then it will be completely beyond your control. Have you ever considered what will happen when that happens? Things here will erupt like a volcano, impossible to hide. According to your usual Russian practices, what will happen then? An iron-fisted crackdown will turn this city into a dead city among dead cities! You are Russians, and you know what I say is true."

Usmanov said: "It is still under our control."

"Really?" Xiao Peng grinned. "Do you believe it? If you hadn't said that when you left the room today, your men would have beaten that Korean to death for money! If money from a foreigner like me had such an effect, can't your local gangs be bribed? Do all your men love this city as much as you do? Will they stay in this crime capital after getting money?"

Usmanov frowned after hearing this.

Xiao Peng continued, "And you should be aware of the construction of Sabetta Port. Initially, it appears to be built for LNG ships to transport natural gas. But if it was just for natural gas, would Soo Jung-seok come here to discuss coal business? If the coal here has to be transported through Sabetta Port, do you think the situation here can still be controlled?"

"Of course we've thought about this, and when the time comes, I'll take full responsibility myself! By then, things will be back on track! All I have to do is stabilize all the developments before then," said Novak.

"You are ready to die." Xiao Peng said.

Nouf did not deny it: "I have long been prepared to die for this city."

"Don't you have any other way?" Xiao Peng continued to ask.

After hearing this, Nouf suddenly stood up and turned to the bookshelf at the side. He pointed at the books on the bookshelf and said, "These are all various books that lead people out of poverty and into prosperity." He picked up one at random: "Here, this is 'The Nature of Poverty' by Nobel Prize winner in Economics Abhijit Banerjee!" After that, he took out another book and said, "This is 'The Crowd Against Society' by German writer Walter Wollenweber, and there are also economics-related books by British Adam Smith and Malthus. And... damn it, I was an expert in geology, but now I've been forced to become an economics expert! But I've read so many books and I can't find any solution! I can only turn to the path of crime!"

After hearing this, Xiao Peng was silent for a while, then suddenly burst into laughter, and couldn't stop laughing. In the end, he laughed so hard that he couldn't straighten his back.

"What are you laughing at?" Nouf asked with a gloomy face.

Even Usmanov's expression changed a little when he looked at Xiao Peng.

They discussed the matter with Xiao Peng in a nice tone, but Xiao Peng turned out to be like this?

Damn it, I really want to shoot him!