Chapter 49: You know the owner by looking at the ship name
Buying a boat in Marseille is really easy, just go to the Old Port of Marseille.
The Yacht Club of Marseille's Old Port not only maintains the boats moored there but also acts as a broker for second-hand boat sales. Anyone looking to sell a boat can register it, and the club provides relevant information for buyers to choose from. Derrida and his wife also registered their boat there.
Europeans don't mind buying second-hand goods, and second-hand markets are everywhere. Buying a used ship is much simpler than buying a new one. New ships require various modifications and customization procedures, while used ships can be used directly after the transfer of ownership, saving a lot of time.
Xiao Peng doesn't have much time now, so he gives priority to second-hand ships.
What made Xiao Peng happy was that the staff at the yacht club didn’t even recognize him!
Although Xiao Peng is very popular in France now, many people can't even recognize him.
Some people say that foreigners have face blindness when it comes to Chinese people, and that in their eyes, all Chinese people look the same. In fact, many Chinese people also feel the same way about foreigners, thinking they all look the same. Especially when it comes to black people, people often say: "All black people look the same, and it's hard to tell one from the other."
This isn't prosopagnosia; in psychology, it's called the "cross-race effect," the result of a lack of familiarity between people of different races. Simply put, it's a lack of experience. When Xiao Peng first arrived in Marseille, he couldn't tell people apart, but after spending time here, he no longer had that problem.
The staff member of the yacht club obviously did not have much contact with Chinese people, especially since Xiao Peng was followed by a local child and a burly bodyguard. This image could not be associated with an ocean cleaner.
Xiao Peng’s little tail is Felix.
Xiao Pa was going to Belgium to attend an art collection salon, and Felix shamelessly followed Xiao Peng - since that dinner, Felix became Xiao Peng's "little brother".
And why wouldn't his sister Marlene leave someone behind to protect him while he stayed in Marseille? Originally, it was Jacques the Goatee who should have stayed, but Jacques, using the excuse of recuperating from his injuries, refused to stay. So, the strong man Boco stayed behind to serve as Felix's bodyguard and Xiao Peng's porter and driver.
Of course Boko didn't want to stay here. Xiao Peng left a deep psychological shadow on him, but he had no choice but to accept the job with a bitter face.
The dock worker was a black man named Deyue. After hearing Xiao Peng's request, he asked, "Sir, are you sure you want an ocean-going sailboat?"
Xiao Peng nodded and said, "Yes, is there any problem?"
Djokovic said, "You know, most of the sailboats here in Marseille are beginner-level. There aren't many ocean-going sailboats. Those who own such boats are well-off, and even if they do have one, they won't sell it. So, ocean-going sailboats are generally bought new."
Xiao Peng hummed and said, "I'm going to the Scandola Reserve now. I can use a basic sailboat there. But considering that I want to do it all in one go, I'm just here to try my luck. If you don't have one, I'll buy a new boat. I'm not in a hurry anyway!"
He said this to show his financial strength and let the yacht club staff do their own things at that time.
This action was clearly unnecessary. Djokovic grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth, and said, "But sir, you're in luck. There's an ocean-going sailboat listed right here at the yacht club, waiting for a buyer. Just a moment..." He fiddled with the computer for a while and then said, "Got it! It's the 'Red Head Boat.'"
"What did you say the name of this ship is?" Xiao Peng was stunned after hearing this.
"'Red-headed boat,'" Djokovic replied.
Xiao Peng scratched his head and said, "Please don't tell me that the owner of this ship happens to be Chinese."
Finally, it was Djokovic's turn to be curious: "How did you know? Do you know the owner of this boat?"
Xiao Peng shook his head and said, "I don't know the owner of this boat, but I know that the 'Red-headed Boat' is a symbol of the Chaoshan people in our country. All of the Chaoshan people's cultural output began with the Red-headed Boat. So when I saw the name of the boat, I guessed it belonged to a Chinese person."
Djokovic gave a thumbs up.
Xiao Peng smiled and said, "Can I take a look at this ship?"
"Of course! Please follow me!"
Following Djokovic to the deep berth of the dock, Djokovic pointed to a ship and said, "Sir, that's the one!"
Xiao Peng saw the direction of Djokovic's finger and laughed: "Djokovic, what do you want me to see? The canvas?"
The boat had been lying there for who knows how long, and was now covered with a canvas boat cover. What could one possibly know from this?
Djokovic smiled awkwardly and said, "Wait a moment, sir. I can't take off this big boat jacket by myself. Someone will be here soon."
They waited for less than the time it took to smoke a cigarette before several staff members of the yacht club came over and worked together to lift the boat's cover, revealing the true appearance of the boat!
Djokovic enthusiastically explained, "This is the X55, a Danish monohulled, mechanically assisted ocean-going sailboat from X-YACHS. You should know that all of Northern Europe has a rich history and culture steeped in sailing. Their shipbuilding industry is truly world-class, and Denmark's X-YACHS sailboats are known as the 'Maserati of the sea,' top-tier sailboats recognized by world-class competitions! Each boat is designed by the finest Scandinavian designers. Look at their clean, crisp lines. Compared to those flashy designs, this minimalist beauty is unparalleled! And while they prioritize the exterior, they also pay close attention to the interior! The entire boat is designed for both comfort and practicality!"
"And as you can see, this ship is actually quite suitable. Using the metric system you're used to, it's 17.23 meters long, 4.84 meters wide, and has a tonnage of 19.5 tons. This length-to-width-to-weight ratio, coupled with the ship's advanced electronic equipment, makes it easy to maneuver, despite being an ocean-going sailboat, like an entry-level sailboat. The cabin is also spacious, with a large double bedroom and two rows of bunk beds. Not counting the sofa, that's six berths. It's fully equipped with every necessary living facility. In short, this is a great ship!"
He wasn't exaggerating. Xiao Peng took a look around the boat. The exterior cockpit on the deck featured a Raymarine navigation system, two rows of comfortable fabric sofas, and a removable parasol on top of the exterior cockpit. The interior bridge was even more advanced, equipped with a maritime satellite phone, radio, and internet access. This boat's owner must be quite wealthy!
"How much does this boat cost?" Xiao Peng asked the question that concerned him most.
Djokovic laughed and said, "A new X-YACHTS X-55 sailboat would cost at least 1.8 million euros!"
Xiao Peng took a deep breath after hearing this: "How much?"
"But sir, don't be nervous. This is a second-hand ship after all. I can help you contact the owner and you can negotiate on your own." Djokovic smiled. Anyway, the transfer of the ship must go through the yacht club, and they will definitely get a commission as long as the transaction is successful!
Xiao Peng thought for a moment and said, "Please arrange an appointment for me with the ship owner. I'll take it if the price is right!"
Djokovic smiled widely: "Of course, I'll call right away!"
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