Chapter 1536: Pros and Cons
Everyone looked at Xiao Peng, thinking that what he said was a bit exaggerated.
Seeing that everyone didn't believe him, Xiao Peng explained, "Look, if a swimmer wants to compete, they have to go to the FINA competition, right? Do you know how stingy the FINA is? Take the short-course series, for example. The champion only gets a $1,500 prize, and breaking a world record only gets an additional $10,000. Only the top six get any prize money. Dozens of people compete, and after making it through the preliminaries to the finals, if you don't make the top six, you get nothing. If you're a wildcard or private participant, you have to pay for everyone's airfare, food, and lodging. Even if you break a world record and win, you still can't make ends meet! It has to be admitted that many athletes train hard just to achieve results and earn a little money to change their lives. In comparison, isn't swimming a very unprofitable sport? Aisha, you said that almost everyone in your country can swim. But let me ask you, if you had the opportunity to choose a sport and change your life through performance, would you choose swimming?"
Elsa's head shook like a rattle.
At this time, Kaiser asked in confusion: "So what's going on with those swimmers who are achieving good results now?"
Xiao Peng said, "Didn't I tell you? There are three main types. The first is if you have a mine at home and can hire a team. The second is signing with a swimming club. The club provides the fees, and the commercial income from performance is distributed according to the contract ratio. You can think of this as an investment. As for the third type, there's national training. This is where the state discovers promising young people and trains them in state-owned facilities. The state provides coaches, fitness trainers, nutritionists, and team doctors. Even basic food, clothing, and daily necessities are taken care of. All you need to do is focus on training without worrying about money."
"This is a good idea!" Elsa said after hearing it.
"I can only say there are pros and cons!" Xiao Peng lit a cigarette and said, "It's certainly easier to achieve results this way, but have you ever considered one thing? What happens if they don't? An athlete's career is short, and only a few achieve results. What happens to those who don't? If you're lucky, you can find work as a coach or sparring partner. But if you're unlucky, leaving the system will make you completely disconnected from society, and without life skills, your life will become a problem. Furthermore, many things in the system are regulated. Let's use swimming as an example. As I said earlier, swimmers earn very little. Imagine you've achieved results, and someone wants you to star in a commercial, but your supervisor thinks it will interfere with your training. What should you do? You probably only have two options: either do as your superiors ask, or retire. This has happened countless times. Of course, retirement doesn't mean you're completely hopeless. You can turn professional, and then you'll have to pay for everything from coaching and training yourself. The pressure is unimaginable. Many people can't persevere, which is why I say 'pros and cons'."
"Looking at it this way, athletes really have it tough!" Aisha said, "Actually, I thought about becoming an athlete at the time, but now I'm glad I didn't."
After hearing this, Xiao Peng said disdainfully, "That's still better than being a little scoundrel, right?"
After hearing this, Elsa said, "Boss, you can't say that. If I hadn't been a thug, I wouldn't have been arrested. If I hadn't been arrested, I wouldn't have been sentenced to community labor. If I hadn't been sentenced to community labor, I wouldn't have been able to go to Orange Garden. If I hadn't gone to Orange Garden, I wouldn't have been able to serve you. Now I think this was all God's arrangement, just to let me meet such a wise and powerful boss!"
Bruch was dumbfounded. "Holy crap! It's obvious that Kashin taught him this! Boss, imagine what it would be like if everyone in the 'Walter Legion' was cut from the same mold as Kashin."
Xiao Peng also felt a chill after hearing this: "Damn it, don't scare me, that would be too terrible! Aisha, no flattery from now on!"
Elsa, however, looked aggrieved. "Boss, I'm telling the truth. I was actually bragging to you when I said it was my first time on a private jet. Actually, that was my first time on a plane, too. At first, I was trying hard to suppress my nervousness. Boss, I'm not lying. The moment the plane took off, I almost cried out. I was really nervous! But I held it back because I knew I couldn't let you look down on me. All along the way, I've been thinking about one thing. What kind of life do we lead? It seems that people are afraid of us when they see us, but we know that they actually look down on us in their hearts. And look at us now? Just because we were in Orange Gardens, just because we helped distribute free meals a few times, people now give us thumbs up when they see us, and reporters are even taking pictures of us! And look at the attitude of the high-ranking officials and police officers who we usually have to avoid when they see you. We think this is how people should live! We want to learn from you and become men like you!"
After hearing his words, Xiao Peng and Bruch looked at each other in bewilderment. After a long pause, Xiao Peng sighed, "Today I've finally seen what it means to 'outperform the master.' This guy is even more powerful than Kashin! He even filmed it to the point where there's not a trace left!"
Van der Laupe on the side burst out laughing.
After hearing this, Aisha hurriedly said, "Boss, I swear to Allah, everything I said is true!"
Kaiser then said, "Aisha, you are not a Muslim, don't you believe in God?"
"Damn it!" Elsa said angrily. "If I didn't tell the immigration officer that I believe in God, would he let me into the Netherlands?"
Xiao Peng laughed after hearing this. What Aisha said was true: many refugees fled to Europe, unable to speak the language and without documents. Everyone chose to wear a cross necklace around their neck and claim to believe in God. When Emile saw this, he immediately showed the cross on his neck. Thinking about that scene, Xiao Peng felt heartbroken.
I've only been video chatting with Emile for so long. How long has it been since I last saw her? Pascal and Walter's wife are taking care of her, but the more I think about it, the more irresponsible I feel! I'll go back to Marseille to see her sometime!
"Boss? Boss? What are you thinking about? Why are you distracted?" Bruch pulled Xiao Peng back from his thoughts.
Xiao Peng said, "What can I think of? Of course I'm going to buy some food and drinks to fill up the refrigerator. We can't even get some iced drinks right now! This won't do! Let's go to Costco and buy some things. Today is our first day here, and I'll cook for you myself tonight. Let's eat and drink our fill, then have a good rest and go out to play tomorrow!"
"The boss cooks himself? Hooray!"
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