Chapter 1124: Begging for food and still complaining about the black buns
After hearing Xiao Peng's question, Billy seemed like a different person: "Industry requirements and structural changes."
"Hmm?" Xiao Peng looked at Billy.
Billy said, "All coastal development is essentially about tourism, shipbuilding, and fishing. Competition in the tourism industry is fierce, and the shipbuilding industry has been shattered by the impact of East Asia. Fishing resources are scarce, making it difficult to develop. This is especially true for the French coastline and the disputed areas with the UK. So, if we want to develop the coastal economy, we must transform it!"
Xiao Peng scratched his head and said, "Billy, how long have you been memorizing this? This doesn't sound like something coming out of your mouth."
"That's what my father said. He invited you to visit France when you have time," Billy said.
"'Count of Paris'!" Xiao Peng vaguely remembered Henry's father's title. Wasn't he the heir to the House of Orleans?
"What else did he say?" Xiao Peng asked.
"Hmm," Billy thought for a moment and said, "The German Three-State Alliance's operational model is truly excellent! While addressing employment issues, it also further promotes the prosperity of related industries. It's based on shipwreck salvage, and centered on comprehensive development. All in all, this is a completely beneficial initiative with no downsides."
"Then what did you do a few days ago?" Xiao Peng frowned.
Stephen answered the question: "The only variable is you."
"Me?" Xiao Peng suddenly realized, "Oh, in short, without us, you wouldn't be able to make as much money as you do now, but I'm leading you in making money, and you're not willing to accept it? How can you let a Da Xia person have the final say?"
Everyone in the room fell silent. In fact, this was what they thought. They still wanted to make money and have the final say.
Xiao Peng suddenly said, "Now that I've retired from this industry, you can search for and salvage the sunken ship on your own. I wish you success!"
Everyone's face was filled with black lines: "Aren't we here to solve this problem this time?"
"Solve? How?" Xiao Peng sneered. "If you want to develop profitably, you need me to provide the coordinates of the sunken ship. Otherwise, if you rely on yourselves, your efficiency will be reduced by over 95%! You don't understand this! And you still expect me to listen to you? Sorry, I don't want to play anymore!"
"Why are you talking about this again?" William said, "Xiao, don't worry! We are here to solve this problem."
Xiao Peng said helplessly, "Are you here to solve the problem or just to talk about the same old thing?"
William pointed at Weir and said, "I don't know what he thinks, I'm here to solve the problem!"
Weier's face turned green. "Who did you learn this from? You're trying to trick someone? You'd rather die than let your friend die?"
Xiao Peng also turned into a black question mark face: William, your trick looks so familiar!
But William was thinking: I learned this from you. Let's find someone good to take the blame first! Now there are still people in the Tri-State Alliance who think I'm the one who messed things up!
Xiao Peng looked at William: "William, how do you plan to deal with this matter?"
William smiled and said, "We in the Netherlands are more pragmatic. As you know, the German Three States Salvage Alliance was originally backed by the Dutch IHC Group. This included funding and technology. They only needed to provide manpower to develop the economy. But now it's still like this... We in the Netherlands have decided to fully support the deep-sea exploration industry. In fact, we are already the leaders in the Atlantic deep-sea salvage industry. If I had known you earlier, the German Three States Alliance might have become the Dutch N Province Alliance!"
Xiao Peng was shocked after hearing this: Are they going to openly break up?
William continued, "Our Dutch opinion is this: If Germany doesn't want to play anymore, we'll start. We Dutch don't mind gossip. If Germany really can't hold on, we Dutch need talent! Ship repairmen, crew members, dock workers, even those prostitutes who serve the crew! We want as many as you can get! That'll solve our labor shortage problem!"
Xiao Peng nodded slightly. Actually, it wasn't just the Netherlands; practically all of Western and Northern Europe was facing a labor shortage. The labor shortage was particularly severe in the primary and secondary industries.
Hmm? Don't know how to distinguish between the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries? That's easy. The primary industry is raising cattle and sheep, the secondary industry is slaughtering chickens and sheep, and the tertiary industry is eating beef and drinking mutton soup. So, the primary industry refers to agriculture and animal husbandry, the secondary industry is processing and manufacturing, and the tertiary industry is the service industry.
Since the Industrial Revolution, Western countries have seen booming primary and secondary industries, contributing to their prosperity. However, this prosperity was short-lived. Capitalists soon realized that their long hours of toiling in production were not as profitable as a single night's profit in the financial markets. Consequently, they shifted their focus from primary and secondary industries to tertiary industries. Developed countries like the United States and the United Kingdom typically have financial services as the largest share of their GDP. The United States, once a manufacturing superpower, now can't even produce a new bicycle using purely domestic parts.
These developed countries need to supplement the labor force engaged in the primary and secondary industries, which is also normal. Who would be willing to be a laborer if they have money?
Back when Europe opened its doors to refugees, it was primarily to compensate for a lack of productivity. I remember when Germany opened its doors to refugees, a public intellectual in China frantically shouted, "Don't worry about Germany! They're just trying to make up for a lack of productivity. They only want high-quality, elite refugees..."
As a result, they dared not speak anymore after being slapped in the face by the facts. Basically, before the refugees came, they were crying and saying: Please, I can't live anymore; but after that, they crossed their legs and said: The benefits we receive are not enough, give us more and more!
This isn't entirely a refugee issue; after all, starting a new life in a place with vastly different religions, cuisines, and customs isn't easy. However, it certainly doesn't satisfy the developed world's primary goal of "supplementing the labor force." Most developed countries struggle with labor shortages in the primary and secondary industries, but Xiao Peng's sudden emergence changed all that.
The deep-sea salvage industry, with its promise of "getting rich quick," attracts many. The growth of one industry often drives the simultaneous development of other sectors. For example, a place in Germany has developed a "deep-sea salvage-themed" tourism industry, and business is booming. Not to mention the impact on the restaurant and porn industries...
Xiao Peng sighed and said, "They are beggars and yet they complain about the blackness of the steamed buns!"
William was stunned for a moment and then nodded: "That's right!"
After hearing what the two said, Wei Er became anxious: "Xiao, we know that we have problems. Isn't this the time I came here to make up for it?"
Billy and Zhang Qikun both raised their hands at the same time. "Actually, I have the same goal. Is there anything we can't discuss?"
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