Chapter 341 Even a fool wouldn’t believe it
"Boss, do you need a telescope?" Walter pointed to the side: "Isn't there one there?"
Xiao Peng looked in the direction Walter pointed. Hey, there was a coin-operated telescope on the shore, and there were actually people watching there. Did they really think of bathing girls as a tourist attraction?
The girls swimming in the Dnieper River obviously know this, but they don't care and proudly show off their bodies in the river.
Cultural differences, cultural differences!
. . . . . .
Xiao Peng and Walter spent a day strolling around Kiev.
Although they experienced beggars, donation fraud, harassment from drunkards, and being forced to kiss an old lady along the way, at the end of the day, Xiao Peng actually began to fall in love with this city.
I have to say, the city of Kiev is so beautiful!
The city is clean and tidy, with lots of greenery and ancient buildings. Besides cigarette butts, there's barely any trash to be found. The girls, especially the younger ones, are far more welcoming than Belarusian girls. Perhaps because their English proficiency is higher than in Belarus, there are plenty of girls who actively approach people, most of whom are just having fun and aren't interested in anything else.
Xiao Peng's favorite thing about this place is how cheap it is! He never thought he'd ever find himself in Europe again, marveling at the low prices: it feels even cheaper here than in Belarus. Xiao Peng and Walter had lunch. Both of them were big eaters, and the meal, which included fish, vegetables, and meat, cost them less than a hundred euros.
It's no surprise that eating here is cheap.
Ukraine is nicknamed the "Breadbasket of Europe" for its vast expanses of fertile black soil, ideal for agriculture. While the economy isn't doing well, basic living standards are still guaranteed. While 34% of Ukrainians currently earn below the minimum living standard, no one has reported starvation.
Ukraine has basically no disadvantages except for its low income. The welfare here even exceeds that of some developed countries.
For example, meat, eggs, and milk are dirt cheap, with only some seasonal vegetables being more expensive. Childbirth is encouraged here, with money given when children are born. Public hospitals provide free medical care, and education is also free. Ukraine is full of universities. Water, electricity, and food are cheap. Natural gas and heating used to be free, but now they have to charge a fee due to price increases in Russia, but they are still cheap. Public transportation is free for seniors and students, and the elderly can receive a monthly pension when they reach a certain age. . . .
But no matter what, it is an indisputable fact that the general public is poor. The fact that one-third of the income is below the minimum living standard is already shocking!
But the life of the rich people in Ukraine is enviable - most of the rich here have their own country houses, and they either go out to travel or rest in their country houses. . . .
"Boss! I'm so tired! Let's take a break!" Walter surrendered. He thought he was in good physical condition, but after a day with Xiao Peng, he felt like his legs were straight.
Xiao Peng still looked relaxed: "Where are we going to rest?"
Walter pointed ahead and said, "That's Mariinsk Park. Let's go sit there for a while! The scenery over there is quite beautiful right now!"
Xiao Peng said disdainfully, "What's so good about the park?"
"I promise you'll like it!" said Walter.
Xiao Peng followed him to Mariinsk Park. Before he even entered the park, he understood why Walter said he would definitely like the scenery there.
Across from the park stood a two-story, Soviet-style building in light blue and white, surrounded by a red brick wall. Inside was a large courtyard with a small playground at the back. A Chinese flag fluttered in the middle of the courtyard.
"Boss, this is the Chinese Embassy in Ukraine," Walter introduced.
Xiao Peng smiled and said, "The scenery is indeed beautiful. I like this scenery! Look, isn't our Chinese Embassy beautiful?"
Walter nodded and said, "Indeed, this is the most beautiful of all the foreign embassies in Ukraine. Back then, this was the Children's Palace in Kyiv, Ukraine. After independence, when Ukraine was allocating embassy sites to various countries, it was always hesitant whether to give this place to China or the United States. In the end, it chose China."
Xiao Peng snapped his fingers. "They finally did something smart. Otherwise, who would they sell all that junk to? They'd be even poorer if they couldn't sell it!"
The "junk metal" he mentioned wasn't actual junk metal, but rather Ukrainian weapons. Ukraine's economy has improved in recent years, largely thanks to China.
Ukraine's sales in the global arms market are increasing, and it seems to be recovering from its past. In fact, nearly one-fifth of these weapons are sold to China. Otherwise, where would China get so many Ukrainian experts?
Xiao Peng took out his cell phone and took a few photos of the embassy, and then asked Walter to take a few group photos. Then the two of them walked into Mariinsk Park.
"Boss, don't underestimate this park. It was built by Maria, the wife of Tsar Alexander II, with her own money. Today, more than a hundred years later, it is full of towering trees. Look at this large cast iron fountain, it is more than a hundred years old! Have you seen those trees with white flowers? They are all chestnut flowers. It's a pity that we are here at the wrong time. We can pick chestnuts in autumn. At that time, the ground in this park will be full of chestnuts!" Walter turned into a competent "tour guide" to introduce the scenery here to Xiao Peng.
Xiao Peng walked while listening, and suddenly pointed to a white building and asked: "Walter, what is that?"
"Oh, that's the Ukrainian Cabinet Government Building. When I came here, it was black, and now it's white. Boss, my feeling after coming to Kiev is: except for the color of this government building, the whole city remains unchanged!" said Walter.
Is it a good thing that a country's capital remains unchanged for so long?
Kiev's greenery is indeed good. There is such a large park in the city center, which also contains museums, concert halls, and the Mariinsk Palace, where the Ukrainian president works.
He wanted to visit the Mariinsk Palace, but was disappointed: it was undergoing renovations. Xiao Peng inquired and learned that there was a quality problem with the Mariinsk Palace's helipad.
No wonder the Ukrainian people chose an actor as their president. You can get a glimpse of this from the tarmac:
This helipad was built at the former president's expense, costing him approximately $36 million. He then spent another $17 million on a used helicopter. The president's helicopter only cost $6 million, and you're spending $7 million on a used one? And you're spending $36 million on a crappy helipad that's only been used for a few years?
There's no trick here? Even a fool wouldn't believe it!
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