Chapter 614: Ten million for a broken stick?

Salvaging a sunken ship is like gambling; no one knows what will be found next.

Ma Wufang just wanted to embarrass Xiao Peng, or make him take the risk, but this ship really couldn't be left unsalved! Looking at the other artifacts that had been salvaged, this shipwreck was clearly one of those "good stuff" ones. Wouldn't it be a joke to not salvage it now?

Moreover, this ship also has the mission of promoting China's marine engineering strength, so they can't stop!

But Xiao Peng had already taken out his checkbook, and Ma Wufang was thinking about how to get Xiao Peng to take out the money while continuing to salvage the sunken ship.

He looked at the aluminum stick in Xiao Peng's hand and his eyes suddenly lit up: "Commander Xiao, I see you can't let go of this aluminum stick. How about you take it away?"

"This thing?" Xiao Peng was stunned after hearing this: "Dude, don't worry about what it's made of. This is a cultural relic with a long history."

Ma Wufang said, "Commander Xiao, I've also watched your livestream. I agree with one of your sayings: 'No matter how long garbage is left, it's still garbage.' Of course, you'll have to pay a price for this. Since you're not short of money anyway, how about this? Give me 10 million euros and the stick is yours!"

Everyone at the scene was dumbfounded.

Xiao Peng did the same: "You said it was rubbish first, and now you're asking me for 10 million?"

Ma Wufang said, "What's the old saying? Money can't buy what you love. Seeing that you're still holding this aluminum rod, it shows how much you like it. Ten million euros is not a lot for you. Mr. Xiao, you also know what this salvage operation means. The investors behind the company are not happy with the result! I have to bear a certain amount of responsibility, but it is also my job to reduce the losses for investors. Although you have been abroad for many years, you are still Chinese after all, and your grandfather is still in China. If the investors are dissatisfied with this matter, I think you will not look good when you return!"

Xiao Peng's face darkened: "Are you threatening me?"

Who is the investor of this ship? Doesn't he know it if others don't?

"How is that possible!" Ma Wufang said, "I'm just stating a fact. Mr. Xiao, think about it this way. So many people online are questioning whether you are patriotic. Now is your chance to prove yourself!"

Xiao Peng was stunned: "You even said something like that?"

Ma Wufang said calmly, "The live broadcast has been shut down due to 'signal issues'!"

Xiao Peng turned to look at the people from the live broadcast team sitting on the side, and He Xiao showed an apologetic expression.

Chen Zetao was anxious: "Ma, what are you planning to do?"

Ma Wufang said, "This salvage operation is related to whether the country can gain a firm foothold in the Mediterranean! Can we pay compensation for something like this? We also have to pay Algeria, otherwise it will be difficult to explain! I can't afford the losses caused by this matter! I will find every way to make up for it!"

"I can't let you do this!" said Chen Zetao.

But Ma Wufang said, "Chen Zetao, you don't have the final say on this matter! Have you forgotten something?"

"What's the matter?" Chen Zetao asked angrily.

Ma Wufang said: "I am the political commissar of this ship!"

Xiao Peng was stunned after hearing this, then he understood and turned to look at the first mate Lin Wei. Lin Wei spread his hands helplessly.

Interestingly, a few countries retain the position of "political commissar" on ships, responsible for maintaining ideological awareness and coordinating interdepartmental coordination among crew members. This position exists not only on warships but also on large vessels like ocean-going cargo ships, where it is typically held concurrently by the ship's chief mate. However, on some ships, the "political commissar" is the de facto leader.

It seems that this is the case with this ship.

Ma Wufang said to Chen Zetao, "Chen Zetao, the country has seen your work, but your recent work attitude is quite problematic! You shouldn't raise objections at this time, but should cooperate with me!"

"Fuck you!" Chen Zetao angrily shouted, "I work for the country, not for you! Who the hell do you think you are? I'll contact the authorities back home right now! I'll see if they agree with what you're doing!"

"I'm sorry, but I'm a general in the field and I'm not bound by the king's orders. I've already ordered everyone to cut off all the signals on the ship. You want to contact the outside world? Sure, wait until I finish what's going on here! As for accepting the punishment from above, I accept it. I'm doing this to make up for the losses to the country! There will always be people who support my approach." Ma Wufang said calmly.

Xiao Peng laughed in anger: "I want you to make up for the damage you caused?"

Ma Wufang spread out his hands: "Who made me penniless? Someone has to compensate for the loss. Besides, I'm not asking you to pay directly. I'm just giving you a stick, right?"

Chen Zetao wanted to speak, but Xiao Peng stopped him and turned to look at everyone around him: "Do you all agree with what Ma Wufang said?"

Whoever he looked at lowered their heads, and no one looked back at him. They knew that what they did was not right, but Ma Wufang had been busy doing activities these days.

What happened today was planned by Ma Wufang a long time ago!

They had no choice. On one side was a foreign tycoon, and on the other was a domestic official's son-in-law. Which one was a greater threat to their lives? They chose the lesser evil. After weighing the pros and cons, they naturally chose to side with Ma Wufang. No matter how rich Xiao Peng was, he was abroad, while their families were all in China!

When gods fight, the little ghosts suffer. Now they are just the "little ghosts" caught in the middle.

Ma Wufang smiled and said, "Mr. Xiao, look, no one is talking. What does this mean? This is what the people want! You should explain it quickly. We still have to broadcast it live! There are still many netizens anxiously waiting!"

Chen Zetao said angrily: "It's okay, Ma! I'm not done with you about this!"

"Then what? You go back to your country?" Ma Wufang smiled coldly.

Despite his age, Chen Zetao had never been this angry before. He raised his fist and was about to charge forward, but Xiao Peng grabbed him and said, "Kaxin! Help me hold on to Brother Chen!"

Kasim didn't understand Chinese and didn't know what was going on, but he understood the last sentence and quickly grabbed Chen Zetao.

Xiao Peng took out a pen and wrote a check for ten million yuan from his checkbook. He handed it to Ma Wufang and said, "Your wish has been granted! This aluminum rod is mine!"

Ma Wufang was a bit proud holding the check. Humph, what's wrong with having money? I still have to bow my head. Will there be trouble in the future? I saved the country a loss of nearly 100 million. What trouble can there be?

Now he felt a little regretful. Seeing how Xiao Peng took the 10 million without hesitation, it seemed like he had asked for less! If he had known earlier, he should have asked for more!

"Brother Xiao! Why did you just give him money like that?" Chen Zetao roared, "Kaxin, let me go! Your boss is being blackmailed!"

"What kind of blackmail is this?" Xiao Peng lit a cigarette and said, "This is God forcing me to get rich!"