Chapter 446 Walter, you think too much

Xiao Peng shook his head. "I'm not kidding you. Back then, our country was completely helpless with these kinds of problems. There were simply too many! From 1991 to 1993, Shanxi Province alone saw 7,435 cases of fare bullying, including 166 murders! And that's just one province. How many provinces does our country have? Now you know how bad our public security was, right? And that was after it improved! The public security in the 1980s was even more terrifying! It was to deal with these brutal gangs that our country converted some of its soldiers into armed police, specifically to deal with these brutal gangs!"

Fabian whistled. "It sounds like I'm listening to a foreign language. Are you talking about China?"

Xiao Peng nodded and said, "That's true, which is why we Chinese cherish the life we have now. We understand that nothing in the world is more important than 'safety'! At that time, our country was implementing reform and opening up, moving from a planned economy to a market economy. The transition between two completely different economic systems was a huge shock to everyone. The daily events were unimaginable. That era gave birth to many famous entrepreneurs, but also many fierce gangsters. Many young people at that time just wanted to go out and make a few big moves, become big brothers in the future, or retire from the underworld."

Fabian looked at me and I looked at you, not knowing what to say.

Xiao Peng suddenly grinned. "But these aren't really a big deal. We Chinese are used to solving problems as they arise, rather than watching them fester like you do. I'm not bragging, but there aren't many countries on the planet with better public security than China. This is all the result of our country's efforts to solve problems. If someone commits a crime in our country now, there are almost no cases that can't be solved. How can public security be bad?"

Fabian sighed, "I can't believe your country still has such a long history. How could such a huge change happen in just a few years?"

Xiao Peng smiled and said, "Your lament actually illustrates another point: our country's development is truly too rapid, a pace that even we Chinese can't keep up. Let me put it this way, our country's truly rapid development has only occurred in the last decade or so. During these ten years, our country has changed dramatically. My grandfather is old, but he often says that life is getting better and better. He's lived for so many years, so his feelings should be the simplest and most intuitive. And believe me, our country will only get better in the future."

Fabian was silent for a moment and then said, "Xiao, I finally understand why you didn't become a French citizen. You sincerely believe that your country will become stronger."

"That's a must!" Xiao Peng said confidently, "No matter how much I say, it's better for you to see it with your own eyes. Come home with me this time. I'll show you the real China!"

Walter blinked. "Boss, you know I'm considering immigration. Can I immigrate to China? I think what you said makes sense. All the enjoyment in this world is based on the word 'safety'. I don't want to admit that the security in Europe is bad, but I can't deny it! Especially after the influx of refugees in recent years."

Xiao Peng grinned: "Haha, Walter, our Chinese population is the largest in the world. We are not an immigration country at all. The most difficult green card to get in the world is the Chinese green card! It's not impossible for you to immigrate to China, unless you are a top talent in some field, otherwise... Haha, I can only say that you think too much!"

Walter blinked: "Then even if you have money, it won't work? For example, like Fabian and Mr. Pascal?"

Xiao Peng snapped his fingers and said, "This way there's a chance!"

"There's a chance?" Walter was confused: "If it works, it works. If it doesn't, it doesn't. What do you mean by a chance?"

Xiao Peng explained, "If you want Chinese citizenship, you first need a Chinese green card, also known as a 'permanent residence permit for foreigners.' Since our country implemented the Chinese green card policy in 2004, we've only issued an average of just over 300 green cards per year. To get one, you need to either invest $2 million in China and have a good tax record for three years; or you need to have held a senior position at a Chinese company for four years; or you need to have made significant contributions to our country or achieved outstanding accomplishments in your field, such as winning a Nobel Prize; or you need to have been married to a Chinese woman for five years! Only after you meet these requirements can you apply for a green card. And only after you get a green card can you apply for citizenship, which requires meeting one of three conditions: you must be a close relative of a Chinese person, such as your father is Chinese; you must have settled in China; or you must have some other legitimate reason. There are millions of foreigners living in our country, but only a four-digit number have obtained green cards, and even fewer have obtained citizenship. Do you think they don't want to get it? It's not that they don't want to, it's that they can't!"

"Damn!" Walter was so anxious after hearing this that he burst out with French swear words: "Isn't this too strict?"

Xiao Peng laughed and said, "People are selfish. In the early years, our country really didn't develop well. It was far worse than your countries. Many people left China and chose to live in other countries and obtained citizenship and green cards from other countries. Later, they regretted it and wanted to regain their Chinese citizenship, but found that they couldn't do it - China doesn't recognize dual citizenship. When you get a green card from another country, you naturally give up your Chinese citizenship. There was a kung fu superstar in our country who changed his nationality twice. First, he became an American citizen and then a Singaporean citizen. Finally, when he got old, he wanted to return to his roots and even signed a will to donate a lot of his property, but he still hasn't changed back to Chinese citizenship."

"Wait a minute!" Walter interrupted Xiao Peng and asked with wide eyes: "Isn't Singapore a Chinese place?"

Xiao Peng covered his face.

Walter's statement is not just one or two, many foreigners think that Singapore belongs to China.

At first Xiao Peng thought they were ignorant, but after thinking about it, he could understand: people go to high places and water flows to low places. Everyone will only look at places that are better than themselves and not places that are worse than themselves.

This is like when Chinese people chat, everyone can talk about America, but when it comes to countries like 'Papua New Guinea', 'Guinea', 'Eritrea', 'Sierra Leone', 'Burundi', and 'El Salvador', many people may not even have heard of them.

In any case, in the eyes of Europeans, China is the worst place on earth, and they don't understand China in every way.

Frog in the well!

A few people were still chatting when Heidi suddenly said, "We're here."

Xiao Peng and his companions got out of the car. In front of them was a Gothic-style European castle-like building with four floors. The top floor was an observation deck, and there was a spire tower on the other side. The granite walls were decorated with pebbles.

He also saw Friedrich and knew why he couldn't come to pick him up: this guy turned out to be a cripple! Both of his legs were cut off at the knees!