Chapter 1846: Isn’t it okay that I have a new job?
William's laughter came from the other end of the phone: "Xiao, how are you, have you been having fun recently?"
Xiao Peng said, "I've been in Siberia. Do you think I'm having fun? What's the matter with you calling me?"
William smiled and said, "It's okay, it's okay. I called you a lot, but your phone was either turned off or out of service area!"
Xiao Peng said, "There's basically no cell phone signal in Siberia except in the cities. Even if I turn on my phone, it's useless, so I usually use a satellite phone. Can't you call me by satellite?"
"I called! It was your housekeeper who answered the call. You didn't even bring a satellite phone, okay?" William said angrily.
Xiao Peng said, "Who said that? I still have a satellite phone the Russians gave me."
"...Do you think it's possible for me to know the number?" William asked back.
Xiao Peng smiled and said, "You can call the Russian officials!"
William's face was filled with black lines.
Xiao Peng asked, "William, what do you want to talk to me about? Oh, I see. It's time to pay the property tax, right? I called Alfred and asked him to pay the tax! Oh, I really regret wanting that damn Orange Garden. You're a king and don't have to pay taxes, but ordinary people like us have to pay taxes according to the law. Do you know how much tax I have to pay for this house alone every year? Property tax, sewage treatment tax, garbage disposal tax, flood control facility responsibility tax... The tax amount shocked me when I reported it! By the way, William, I want to ask, when the flood came, my Orange Garden was flooded. What's the point of paying the flood control facility responsibility tax?"
Property taxes in the Netherlands are calculated based on the size of the house, its amenities, and the square meter price of the location. While it might not sound like much, at only 0.3% per year, Xiao Peng's annual tax bill alone totals over €1.5 million!
When I see news about the children of wealthy people renting exorbitantly priced luxury houses to study abroad, I often see people commenting that it would be better for them to just buy a house - these people must be bad at math and have not figured out which is more valuable: the growth in house value or the various property taxes!
Not all real estate speculation can make money.
William coughed dryly and said, “Can’t you live in a nice house there?”
Xiao Peng grinned: "William, to be honest with you, I have never liked that house. Otherwise, I would choose to live in that converted observatory?"
William choked.
Xiao Peng continued, "William, I'm exhausted after sitting on the plane for so long. Only when you go to Russia do you realize what 'vast land and abundant resources' mean. You know? This country spans ten time zones! Just imagine how huge this country is! I'm exhausted flying here from Yekaterinburg!"
"Are you tired?" William expressed doubt. "You must have been lying down all the way in first class!"
"Who said that!" Xiao Peng raised his voice. "I was chatting with the flight attendants all the way! Hey, sometimes you have to believe in fate. One of the flight attendants I met on the plane just now was from the flight I took to Russia. When she saw me, she was so enthusiastic... Hey, why am I telling you this? What exactly are you calling about? If it's nothing, I'll really take a break and call you back to talk!"
"Stop it, don't hang up!" William said bluntly, "I expect you to call me? I might as well wait for the Pope to contact me! We've known each other for so long, how many times have you called me?"
Xiao Peng was a little embarrassed after hearing this: "Okay, William, let's talk, what do you want to talk to me about?"
William said: "I saw on the news that you are going to help Russia salvage the sunken ship now?"
Xiao Peng nodded and said, "Yes, I'm in St. Petersburg now!"
William was anxious: "How can you help Russia salvage the sunken ship?"
Xiao Peng was stunned for a moment after hearing this and asked, "William, you've got me stumped: Why can't I help Russia salvage the sunken ship? Besides, I'm salvaging in a Russian lake, so it has nothing to do with other countries, right?"
His question stumped William, who hesitantly asked, "Xiao, where is your 'Calypso'? And what about this 'New Calypso'?"
Xiao Peng asked in return, "Is there anything wrong with me getting a new boat?"
"Um...of course there's no problem." William said: "But..."
Xiao Peng interrupted William, "William, you've really confused me. I'm a huge company! I have to support a lot of people! Do you know how much money I spend every month if I don't do anything? Let me tell you, I need 5 million euros every month for miscellaneous expenses! You only see how much I make but not my costs! Don't say I'm kidding, calculate how much the monthly salaries of the people on my ship add up to? How much do I have to pay for berthing fees, equipment depreciation, and other expenses every month? You drove me to Russia, can't I make a little money here?"
William coughed twice and said, "Xiao, how could we possibly drive you to Russia? We are all friends! I even gave you Orange Garden!"
Xiao Peng said bluntly, "Stop, William. No one is stupid these days, and I certainly am not. You know how much my company costs. Wasn't your original plan to make me stop salvaging so I can't handle the pressure without income and then serve you obediently? I'm fed up with you Europeans. You say one thing and do another all day long, treating others like idiots and forcing them to listen to you. Is that fun? Huh?"
William on the other end of the phone said hurriedly, "Xiao, you misunderstood. We really don't think so. Besides, Fabian and Pascal have gone to Kaliningrad now, and several ships of the Salvage Alliance are idle..."
"I'm sorry, William. The lawsuit in the Czech Republic hasn't concluded yet." Xiao Peng interrupted William. "I'm still a suspect in your European court. I paid you a lot of bribes, but you sold me out, and now I'm a suspected smuggler! You guys are a bit dirty! You're not happy when you see others getting rich?"
William hurriedly said, "Xiao, I swear to God, I really didn't harm you in that matter. You are right, there is indeed someone eyeing your wealth, but that is not me!"
Xiao Peng said, "Then let those who are eyeing my wealth come find me. I'm about to start a new job. As you know, Lake Ladoga is a very large lake. It will take me at least three to five years to complete my work. As for the Salvage Alliance? Please express my apologies on my behalf. After all, I'm a criminal suspect in your eyes now, so it's not easy to interfere with their work. But they will definitely be able to find the shipwreck without me! Oh, and tell those who are eyeing me - if they really find me guilty, I will thank their whole family! I won't starve to death if I focus on finding offshore oil fields."
"Huh? What offshore oil fields are you talking about?"
“Ask the Russians!”
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