[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-mercenary-s-war":3,"chapter-mercenary-s-war-mercenary-s-war-chapter-197":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Mercenary’s War",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1613087,2077,"Chapter 197 - 197 One Hundred and Ninety-Five Cultural Differences","mercenary-s-war-chapter-197",197,"\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sorry, boss, I won’t bother you anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bob laughed heartily and said, “Frey, you’re a South African, and a white South African at that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t all white South Africans like rugby?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why do you like baseball?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And why the New York Mets?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought every foreigner who likes baseball would only like the New York Yankees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a shame, I was really disappointed when I found out you liked baseball and not rugby.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s just that no one else wanted to play with me, and my dad was busy, so I could only practice pitching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I never thought this wish would come true, but now it really is, like a dream.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bob shrugged and said, “Sorry, I hope the Mets can give you a win.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yang also patted Frey on the shoulder and said, “You’ve done very well for someone who had to practice alone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey’s face showed sadness as he sighed, “Almost no one plays baseball in South Africa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s very hard to buy a baseball, so when I was a kid, I practiced with rocks about the size of a baseball.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after my dad lost his job, I could no longer afford to buy baseballs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Plus I wanted to keep the ball my dad gave me, so I tossed rocks when I had nothing else to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t forget how using rocks instead of baseballs once saved both Lee and my life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Plus, not understanding the rules, they gave up playing with Frey after a few days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t want you to get picked up by the police while you’re enjoying yourselves in New York, so remember your names.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When your official documents are ready, we’ll switch them out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yang took his passport, memorized his name, and then said to Morgan with a smile, “Thank you so much, Morgan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We’ve been a great bother to you these past days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’re a major businessman, but now it’s as if you’re our nanny.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I actually have business to take care of in New York myself, so taking you along is no trouble at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You can check your account, and you still have over 300,000 US dollars in cash with me that you can take anytime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just one thing, if you want to spend money in New York, cash isn’t very convenient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are you planning to carry around a big bag of cash when you go shopping?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing Morgan’s words, Glolov frowned and said to Gao Yang, “Gao, this isn’t right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did you divide the money equally without discussing it with us?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had an agreement on how to split it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, it was because of my friendship with Bob that I dragged you guys to Mexico, and it got everyone hurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I still took the lion’s share under these circumstances, I wouldn’t be able to accept that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Glolov was still serious as he said, “No, rules are rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We volunteered for the mission, and nobody raised any objections about the commission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Split it the same way just because his mission was more dangerous?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao, there’s no such rule in the mercenary world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The agreed amount is the agreed amount.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone who thinks it’s too little can simply not take the job.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one is forcing anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rules are made to be followed, and we are a collective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When you plan to change the distribution of the commission, you at least need the consent of us three original shareholders.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morgan suddenly interjected, “I’m an outsider, but I have to say, Gao, you did this wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You have your own charter, which means you have to abide by it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once you make the rules, you shouldn’t break them lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then can your group last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whom I give gifts to is my business, and whom you receive gifts from is solely your concern, irrelevant to others.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Foreigners speak plainly, but Morgan’s words hit the nail on the head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why he had distributed his larger share among the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui Bo and Li Jinfang thought just like Gao Yang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They both didn’t see anything wrong with what Gao Yang did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jinfang scratched his head and said nonchalantly, “Isn’t it just about splitting the money?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What’s the big deal?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We are brothers who’ve gone through life and death together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our lives are bound together, so what’s the fuss about money?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If we just split it, so what?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heck, if someone urgently needed money, giving it all to one person wouldn’t be a big deal either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Glolov shook his head, “No, it’s not about the money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s about breaking rules, and breaking rules is something that can’t be done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lee, would you blatantly disregard military regulations?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jinfang shook his head repeatedly, “That can’t be done, of course not.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui Bo waved his hand dismissively and said, “Hey, these foreigners even go Dutch for a meal together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Brother Yang often says, it’s just cultural differences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But, the Old Russian and his lot are right; even blood brothers should settle accounts clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just follow the rules from now on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yang said to Glolov with a rueful smile, “I get it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I won’t do it again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But let’s just let it go this time, alright?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The money’s already in the bank, so let’s not touch it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let’s consider it an end-of-year bonus that I, as the team leader, am giving to everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is that okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Glolov still shook his head, “That’s not acceptable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We didn’t include this when setting the rules.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking for a moment, Gao Yang burst out laughing and said, “Alright, then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The extra money I gave you guys this time can be considered a Christmas or New Year’s gift from me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who cares what we call the gift?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s a personal gift from me, so there shouldn’t be a problem with that, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of contemplation, Glolov suddenly nodded slightly at Gao Yang and said, “Thank you, thank you for your gift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And by the way, you’re a good leader.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey was all smiles as he said, “Thank you, boss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks for your gift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Money, oh, it’s my favorite gift.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yang responded irritably, “Frey, if you call me ‘boss’ one more time, I’ll really swat you like a fly against the wall.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lee and Cui Bo were about to speak when Gao Yang suddenly felt overwhelmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pointing at them both, he yelled, “Enough from you two, okay?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These Westerners are a hassle, but you two surely can’t be the same, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui Bo dismissed it with a sneer, “It’s just some money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you want me to take it seriously, that’s fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How about for a New Year’s gift, I give you half a million?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or a million if you think that’s too little?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pfft, since when did we brothers ever make a big deal about money?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I can’t even spend all I have now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t care less to bring this up with you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just wanted to ask, have you thought about what gift to buy for Yelena?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or shall I give you some advice?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jinfang immediately retorted, “Give it a rest, Brother Yang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During his time in South Africa, know what this fool gave to that black woman Tutu?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A knife!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swear, only his brain could come up with that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you take advice from him, Brother Yang, then you’re an even bigger fool than he is.” (To be continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you enjoy this work, I invite you to cast your recommendation votes and monthly votes at Qidian (qidian.com).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your support is my greatest motivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)\u003C\u002Fp>",1957,"2026-06-06T10:19:38.026Z",1,"novelbin.me","5afa39ed646a15900f0db1e34c60ddadb66b5a65e11aa3a0faba2083a16838ce","mercenary-s-war-chapter-198","mercenary-s-war-chapter-196",2343,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmercenary-s-war-cover.jpg"]