197: Chapter One Hundred and Ninety-Five: Cultural Differences 197: Chapter One Hundred and Ninety-Five: Cultural Differences Sitting on the plane, Frey kept tossing a baseball in his hand and catching it, mumbling non-stop.
“I’m going to New York, I’m going to watch the New York Mets’ game, I’m going to New York, I’m going to watch the New York Mets’ game.”
Gao Yang was so annoyed by Frey’s mumbling that he finally said, tiredly and helplessly, “Frey, do you know you really sound like a fly right now?
It’s bad enough that you bug us to play baseball with you every day, and now you’re using language to attack us too?”
Embarrassed, Frey smiled and said, “It’s just that the thought of going to Citi Field to watch a real baseball game gets me so excited, I can’t help myself.
Sorry, boss, I won’t bother you anymore.”
Bob laughed heartily and said, “Frey, you’re a South African, and a white South African at that.
Don’t all white South Africans like rugby?
Why do you like baseball?
And why the New York Mets?
I thought every foreigner who likes baseball would only like the New York Yankees.
What a shame, I was really disappointed when I found out you liked baseball and not rugby.”
Frey smiled and said, “When I was very young, my dad came to America once and someone invited him to a New York Mets game.
When he went back, he bought me a baseball and a glove, and a Mets cap too, so I’ve been hooked on baseball since I was a kid.
It’s just that no one else wanted to play with me, and my dad was busy, so I could only practice pitching.
Also, since I was small, I’ve dreamed of going to Citi Field to watch a baseball game, especially after my dad died, I wanted it even more.
I never thought this wish would come true, but now it really is, like a dream.”
Bob shrugged and said, “Sorry, I hope the Mets can give you a win.”
Gao Yang also patted Frey on the shoulder and said, “You’ve done very well for someone who had to practice alone.”
Frey’s face showed sadness as he sighed, “Almost no one plays baseball in South Africa.
It’s very hard to buy a baseball, so when I was a kid, I practiced with rocks about the size of a baseball.
And after my dad lost his job, I could no longer afford to buy baseballs.
Plus I wanted to keep the ball my dad gave me, so I tossed rocks when I had nothing else to do.
But I would try to get a feel for the ball by handling the one my dad gave me, so at least I could remember how heavy a real baseball is.”
Gao Yang sighed and said, “From now on, you can play however you want, and just to add, if you hadn’t practiced with stones since you were a kid, you wouldn’t be able to throw grenades so accurately.
Don’t forget how using rocks instead of baseballs once saved both Lee and my life.”
A few days earlier, when Frey’s injuries were almost healed, he somehow found a baseball and then bugged a bunch of people to play with him every day.
At first, Gao Yang and the others found it quite fun, but since Frey insisted on pitching, no one could hit his throws, and when Frey batted, they couldn’t get past him.
Plus, not understanding the rules, they gave up playing with Frey after a few days.
Now Gao Yang finally understood why Frey was so obsessed with baseball, and he began to feel somewhat guilty for refusing to play with Frey.
The atmosphere in the cabin was somewhat heavy for a moment, then Morgan cleared his throat, and took out a stack of passports from his pocket, saying, “Your passports, all temporary travel documents.
I don’t want you to get picked up by the police while you’re enjoying yourselves in New York, so remember your names.
When your official documents are ready, we’ll switch them out.”
Gao Yang took his passport, memorized his name, and then said to Morgan with a smile, “Thank you so much, Morgan.
We’ve been a great bother to you these past days.
You’re a major businessman, but now it’s as if you’re our nanny.”
After a hateful glance at Bob, Morgan huffed and said, “If it weren’t for Bob, you’d still be in Israel, so since I brought you guys to America, I have to take responsibility for you.
I actually have business to take care of in New York myself, so taking you along is no trouble at all.”
Since they had already troubled Morgan enough, Gao Yang simply smiled and said no more, though it was clear Morgan had done even more than he had expected.
After a pause, Morgan continued, “Gao, as per your request, I’ve already transferred the money to your accounts, 1.5 million for each person.
You can check your account, and you still have over 300,000 US dollars in cash with me that you can take anytime.
Just one thing, if you want to spend money in New York, cash isn’t very convenient.
Are you planning to carry around a big bag of cash when you go shopping?”
After hearing Morgan’s words, Glolov frowned and said to Gao Yang, “Gao, this isn’t right.
Why did you divide the money equally without discussing it with us?
We had an agreement on how to split it.”
Frey also looked astonished, and with some unease, he said to the stern-faced Glolov, “Boss, I don’t know if I should get a salary or a bonus for this operation, but either way, 1.5 million is too much, isn’t it?”
Gao Yang chuckled and said, “Don’t get so worked up, everyone has a share in this operation, and no one is safer than anyone else, so of course the money should be split evenly.
Besides, it was because of my friendship with Bob that I dragged you guys to Mexico, and it got everyone hurt.
If I still took the lion’s share under these circumstances, I wouldn’t be able to accept that.”
Glolov was still serious as he said, “No, rules are rules.
We volunteered for the mission, and nobody raised any objections about the commission.
If we start splitting the commission evenly just because this operation was dangerous, then what will we do when we recruit new members in the future?
Split it the same way just because his mission was more dangerous?
Gao, there’s no such rule in the mercenary world.
The agreed amount is the agreed amount.
Anyone who thinks it’s too little can simply not take the job.
No one is forcing anyone.
Rules are made to be followed, and we are a collective.
When you plan to change the distribution of the commission, you at least need the consent of us three original shareholders.”
Morgan suddenly interjected, “I’m an outsider, but I have to say, Gao, you did this wrong.
You have your own charter, which means you have to abide by it.
I understand you feel it’s unfair to take the biggest cut and want to split the money evenly, but we’ve all got to have a sense of contract.
Once you make the rules, you shouldn’t break them lightly.
Only then can your group last.
I get it, you feel bad because I gave you a farm and not them, but you have to understand that although we are all friends, I share a deeper friendship with you.
Whom I give gifts to is my business, and whom you receive gifts from is solely your concern, irrelevant to others.”
Foreigners speak plainly, but Morgan’s words hit the nail on the head.
Gao Yang did indeed feel that the mission had been dangerous for everyone, yet Morgan had given him a big farm, while Glolov and the others had nearly lost their lives for just a commission.
That’s why he had distributed his larger share among the others.
Cui Bo and Li Jinfang thought just like Gao Yang.
They both didn’t see anything wrong with what Gao Yang did.
Li Jinfang scratched his head and said nonchalantly, “Isn’t it just about splitting the money?
What’s the big deal?
We are brothers who’ve gone through life and death together.
Our lives are bound together, so what’s the fuss about money?
If we just split it, so what?
Heck, if someone urgently needed money, giving it all to one person wouldn’t be a big deal either.”
Glolov shook his head, “No, it’s not about the money.
It’s about breaking rules, and breaking rules is something that can’t be done.
Lee, would you blatantly disregard military regulations?”
Li Jinfang shook his head repeatedly, “That can’t be done, of course not.”
Cui Bo waved his hand dismissively and said, “Hey, these foreigners even go Dutch for a meal together.
As Brother Yang often says, it’s just cultural differences.
But, the Old Russian and his lot are right; even blood brothers should settle accounts clearly.
Just follow the rules from now on.”
Gao Yang said to Glolov with a rueful smile, “I get it.
I won’t do it again.
But let’s just let it go this time, alright?
The money’s already in the bank, so let’s not touch it.
Let’s consider it an end-of-year bonus that I, as the team leader, am giving to everyone.
Is that okay?”
Glolov still shook his head, “That’s not acceptable.
We didn’t include this when setting the rules.”
After thinking for a moment, Gao Yang burst out laughing and said, “Alright, then.
The extra money I gave you guys this time can be considered a Christmas or New Year’s gift from me.
Who cares what we call the gift?
It’s a personal gift from me, so there shouldn’t be a problem with that, right?”
After a moment of contemplation, Glolov suddenly nodded slightly at Gao Yang and said, “Thank you, thank you for your gift.
And by the way, you’re a good leader.”
Frey was all smiles as he said, “Thank you, boss.
Thanks for your gift.
Money, oh, it’s my favorite gift.”
Gao Yang responded irritably, “Frey, if you call me ‘boss’ one more time, I’ll really swat you like a fly against the wall.”
Lee and Cui Bo were about to speak when Gao Yang suddenly felt overwhelmed.
Pointing at them both, he yelled, “Enough from you two, okay?
These Westerners are a hassle, but you two surely can’t be the same, right?”
Cui Bo dismissed it with a sneer, “It’s just some money.
If you want me to take it seriously, that’s fine.
How about for a New Year’s gift, I give you half a million?
Or a million if you think that’s too little?
Pfft, since when did we brothers ever make a big deal about money?
I can’t even spend all I have now.
I couldn’t care less to bring this up with you.
I just wanted to ask, have you thought about what gift to buy for Yelena?
Or shall I give you some advice?”
Li Jinfang immediately retorted, “Give it a rest, Brother Yang.
During his time in South Africa, know what this fool gave to that black woman Tutu?
A knife!
I swear, only his brain could come up with that.
If you take advice from him, Brother Yang, then you’re an even bigger fool than he is.” (To be continued.
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