Chapter 1857: If you have something to say, why not just say it directly?
When she heard someone was looking for Xiao Peng, Smolnikova stood up and said goodbye.
She brought a lot of people here today to put pressure on Xiao Peng. They thought Xiao Peng was an irresponsible and lazy person who was delaying the salvage operation. However, they didn't expect that Xiao Peng had been preparing for the salvage operation during this period.
Look how proactive they are! They've already gotten everything done without them even needing any help. There's no time to coax them now. She decided to go back and make all the necessary preparations. They couldn't afford to let her down when the time comes.
"Mr. Xiao, in that case, we'll be leaving first." Smolnikova stood up and said, "I hope we can work together well and have a good harvest."
Xiao Peng smiled and said, "There will definitely be one."
Desaryev said with a bitter face, "Mr. Xiao, I need to report the situation here to my superiors. After all, the work at Red Star Television needs to be prepared in advance. Oh, I'm afraid Victoria Kosogliatenko will meet with you in advance. Is that appropriate for you?"
After hearing this, Xiao Peng said, "Okay, I'll treat that guy to a drink."
Desarev blinked. "Victoria Kosogliatenko is a woman!"
"Um... sorry." Xiao Peng said, "Then it's better not to meet first."
Ka Xin said from the side: "Boss, are you afraid that you can't control yourself? You must not have touched a woman in the past few days?"
"Shut up!" As soon as Xiao Peng finished speaking, Bruch walked in with Ma Xiao and others.
Several people were startled by Xiao Peng's shout.
Xiao Peng hurriedly said, "Desalev, you guys go ahead and do your work. We'll see you at the dock tomorrow morning!"
Desarev shook his head and said, "No, no, no, we will see each other again in a while. I need to keep an eye on you so that you don't run away again."
Xiao Peng's face was filled with gloom: "Where is the basic trust between people?"
Desarev said, "I've scared you. You're too willful."
Xiao Peng laughed and said, "I don't like being controlled by others. I hope you understand."
DeSal nodded, "See you later."
After Xiao Peng saw Desarev and the others off, Ma Xiao and the others were already sitting in the house waiting.
The man who came with Ma Xiao was about to speak when Xiao Peng interrupted him. However, Xiao Peng was not talking to him but to Ma Xiao: "Ma Xiao, who asked you to come here?"
Ma Xiao was stunned: "Boss, this is..."
Xiao Peng interrupted him again and asked, "As the captain of the 'New Calypso', how dare you leave the ship at this time?"
Ma Xiao hurriedly said, "I handed the work over to Ma Xiao."
Xiao Peng said with a gloomy face: "He is the captain and you are the captain? Why don't you give him your salary? As a captain, you are derelict in your duty by doing this."
"I am willing to accept punishment." Ma Xiao said.
Xiao Peng said calmly, "I'll fine you one quarter of your performance bonus."
"Yes, boss." Ma Xiao chose to accept the punishment.
After listening to this, Xiao Peng nodded and said, "You can now introduce these gentlemen."
Ma Xiao said, "Boss, this is Consul Wang Zhenyuan from the Consulate General in St. Petersburg. This is Mr. Gu Heshun, the liaison officer from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is Ms. Ou Hongcai, Chairperson of the Fund Council of the Ministry of Finance, and this is Director Liu from the State Oceanic Administration."
After hearing this, Xiao Peng shook hands with several people, motioned them to sit down, and asked, "I wonder what you want to talk to me about?"
Wang Zhenyuan said, "Mr. Xiao, it's so hard to find you! Don't blame Ma Xiao for what happened today. After all, you've been in St. Petersburg for so long, yet we've never met. I asked him to help introduce you. If possible, I still hope you won't punish him. Don't you think this punishment is too harsh?"
Xiao Peng frowned slightly after hearing this. "Consul Wang, do you know how much Ma Xiao's performance bonus was in the lowest quarter last year?"
Wang Zhenyuan was stunned and shook his head to indicate that he didn't know.
Xiao Peng answered, "370,000 euros after tax. If he could take that much, he naturally had to produce more. Now that he's lost so much, you're responsible. You don't want to make amends for your mistakes, but instead blame me? Your consulate has its own rules, and our company has its own. Can someone at your consulate just apologize and solve the problem? Are the regulations over there so lax?"
After hearing this, Wang Zhenyuan froze in place, his face turning red and white.
Director Liu of the Ocean Administration quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "Mr. Xiao, although this is our first meeting, I've long heard of you. Thank you for your contributions to the National Deep-sea Submersible Base, especially your fund, which has been a real help to the base."
Xiao Peng lit a cigarette and said calmly, "It's just a piece of cake."
"That's right," Director Liu said. "Mr. Xiao is very wealthy, so it would be a piece of cake for you."
Xiao Peng said, "Everyone, as you just heard, FSB's Desarev will be coming to see me soon. Let's cut to the chase and get straight to the point, shall we?"
Wang Zhenyuan couldn't help but raise his voice and said, "Xiao Peng! What's wrong with you? Are your compatriots less important than foreigners in your eyes? These people have come all the way from China to see you, and this is your attitude?"
Xiao Peng scratched his ears. "Keep your voice down. It depends on what my compatriots want to talk to me about, right? If they come to me and ask me to treat them to a meal, I think it's not as important as cooperation between countries, right? Besides, Consul Wang, I have no reason to welcome someone who yells at me! If you yell at me again, there's no need for us to have a conversation!"
"You!" Wang Zhenyuan glared and was about to speak when Gu Heshun grabbed him and said to Xiao Peng with a smile, "Mr. Xiao, the thing is, I heard that you fired all the new crew members sent from China this time. We are here because of this matter. Those crew members you fired have been staying at the consulate for a while, which is why Consul Wang is so anxious."
Xiao Peng was stunned after hearing this. He looked up at Ma Xiao and smiled, "Yes! Is there anything wrong with my decision?"
Upon seeing these new crew members, Xiao Peng's first thought was to tell them to get out. However, Ma Xiao's assessment of them as having "strong execution" meant he was either being a fool or had some unspoken ulterior motive. Now that Ma Xiao had fired them, it seemed he had already made up his mind about how to side with them.
Since Ma Xiao has expressed his opinion, Xiao Peng will not add insult to injury and will take the responsibility on himself.
After hearing Xiao Peng's words, Director Liu hurriedly said, "Mr. Xiao, those people are young, and it's inevitable that they'll make some mistakes. They need to be taught. Don't just punish them with one blow. Tomorrow, our two countries will cooperate in salvaging Lake Ladoga. You can't do the work without so many people on your ship, right? Give them another chance."
After hearing this, Xiao Peng said directly: "Oh, don't worry about this matter. I really don't need so many crew members, because my ship will not be used for this salvage operation!"
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