"It looks pretty good. What do you think?"
“Fantastic. Far beyond my expectations. Lu, you are a genius. I now believe that you can definitely do it.”
"I hope so. How are your preparations going?"
"Ever since they heard the oracle of the god Peyot, those wizards are full of energy. I've collected all sorts of ritual magic and summoning magic. There are Native American ones and European ones too. Those wizards are trying to fuse them together, to see if they can create something big."
"That's definitely the best option. If we can successfully complete an interdimensional summoning, it will be a huge shock to this world. By the way, how's your company doing?"
"Thanks to you, I now own hundreds of companies. Which one are you asking about?"
"Pharmaceuticals, and arms companies."
Adam paused for a moment, then spoke.
"It's not that simple. The American arms companies have exerted considerable pressure. They don't want anyone else to step in and take a share of the profits. The pharmaceutical side, on the other hand, is fine. The formulations for penicillin and sulfonamides allowed me to successfully enter their circle. At least now I can produce these drugs."
"Do you need our help? The arms industry needs a lot of time and resources to reach a certain scale. It would be better to establish it sooner rather than later."
"I understand what you mean, Lu. Do you really think war is that close?"
"The Japanese in the Far East are getting impatient. They will definitely make their move within five to six years. At that time, weapons and medicine will become necessities on the Far East battlefield. Adam, I won't let you do this for nothing. This is also a close call for you."
"Forget it, Lu. You should know that worldly wealth is becoming less and less important to us. I'm doing this for two reasons: first, you're also a shareholder in the company, and I'll listen to your opinion; second, I need the support of a friendly government. But I don't have much hope for the current Chinese government."
I visited your country more than twenty years ago. With all due respect, they would likely find this war very difficult.
Adam phrased it delicately, but Lu Xuan understood what he meant.
“I don’t deny that. That’s why I’m preparing in advance. This battle may be very difficult. But it is a battle to awaken that country. The flames are already burning in places you can’t see.”
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Chapter 217 Hearing
In 1934, Lu Xuan had been in the United States for five years.
On this day, New York State held a grand hearing to debate whether to repeal the Chinese Exclusion Act.
Lu Xuan also appeared in the hearing panel. Besides him, there were many other representatives of the Chinese community, as well as numerous members of parliament and representatives from various industries.
At least dozens of broadcasting companies in the United States broadcast the hearing live to the entire country and even the world.
The US federal government was naturally extremely dissatisfied with this. However, Adam was already an extremely wealthy man who kept his assets hidden. After moving his assets into the open, he instantly demonstrated immense power.
Moreover, this was not something that could be accomplished overnight. Rather, it was the result of five years of meticulous planning and maneuvering, culminating in this fatal blow.
Over the past five years, he has ventured into numerous industries in New York City. Even without full control, he wields considerable influence in some companies. Crucially, he has facilitated the employment of a large number of Chinese people in various enterprises, allowing capitalists to witness the skills and talent of this group of workers.
Over the past five years, white labor unions in New York City have organized countless protests. But every time they hold a protest, Adam's side will arrange a Chinese march in response.
Although most Chinese people don't enjoy participating in such activities, the daily allowance of ten dollars plus meals, along with preferential treatment from various companies who promise not to deduct wages on the day of the march, means that simply participating in the march can earn an extra ten dollars plus lunch.
To go or not to go? Not going would be foolish. When there's money to be made, why would you compare your diligence to that of the Chinese? For ten dollars, they'd gather in front of the city hall before dawn.
Because Adam improved the attitude and treatment of many businesses towards Chinese people, a large number of Chinese people have flocked to New York to make a living in recent years. Each gathering easily attracts tens of thousands of people.
Tens of thousands of Chinese people sit quietly in front of City Hall or in Times Square before dawn every day. They don't cause trouble, but they hold up banners and chant slogans in unison from time to time. It's like military training.
Don't say it's useless. City government employees have to walk through crowds of tens of thousands of people to get to work. Imagine, tens of thousands of people on a street, all staring at you as you walk. Those with embarrassment issues would almost forget how to walk properly.
Many NYPD officers were actually quite dismissive of the situation. But they had no choice; the NYPD's biggest sponsor, the Eternal Group, had offered their 'advice.' So they willingly took on the task of maintaining order. Putting everything else aside, there was higher overtime pay, free hamburgers, donuts, and hot coffee. Who wouldn't want that? Their kids were waiting for their tuition fees.
In fact, even before this hearing began, the Chinese community already had a certain voice. At least most of them dared to stand tall and walk the streets of New York. Most gangs and police officers no longer dared to extort them. With tens of thousands of people marching and paying their respects at the drop of a hat, even the police were intimidated.
This hearing was actually held by the New York State government under pressure. With the influx of Chinese immigrants, many were inevitably educated and adept at maneuvering. Adam gathered these individuals and, on behalf of the Chinese community, continuously pressured the state government to repeal the Chinese Exclusion Act.
After hundreds of applications and protests, today's hearing finally arrived. Even so, Adam still wasn't entirely confident. Although he had bribed many members of Congress, his overall chances of success were only about 50%. Many factors could influence the outcome, and he ultimately couldn't control them all.
In fact, if he had another five years, he would be about 90% certain. Unfortunately, he knew Lu Xuan didn't want to wait too long.
“These Chinese people have taken away our citizens’ jobs. They should be expelled.”
"Excuse my bluntness, but the citizens you're referring to are more educated than most Chinese people. They were born in this country and are better able to adapt to this city. Why are these citizens, who should be more outstanding, losing their jobs? You should be more outstanding and more trustworthy to businesses."
"They only need a tiny bit of pay..."
"I believe most businesses would prefer to employ lower-paid workers. This is a matter of corporate freedom and a core element of the American spirit. The actions of labor unions are using collective pressure to force businesses to accept unfair treatment. This severely violates the spirit of American liberalism..."
“They already occupy a large number of basic positions in various companies. Do you really want to see them rise to senior management positions in companies, or even enter the government?”
“Why not? If those Chinese people could do the same job as you, but without protesting every day like you do, I would hire them without hesitation.”
"This is America, our country, and they are not Americans."
"That's exactly what we're discussing today. They deserve to be called Americans. You know what? This hall was just renovated a week ago. It was done by a private Chinese contractor. Honestly, I don't see how amazing they did. But it was absolutely competent."
In addition, the renovation of Tenth Avenue, just one block away, the riverside railings not far away, the Empire State Building renovation, and even the replacement of the city hall's ceiling were all contracted and completed by Chinese contractors. To date, the pass rate for these jobs is 100%, far exceeding the 85% pass rate achieved by local contractors.
The presence of these Chinese people can be seen in every corner of this city. In places you can't see, they have been quietly building this city. They are already a part of this city. Therefore, I believe they should enjoy all the rights of an American citizen. They should have permanent residency, citizenship, and the right to vote. And that damned Chinese Exclusion Act, which I don't even want to say out loud. Its existence is an insult to the free and democratic world.”
"......"
The debate lasted for three full days. In the final vote, the resolution to repeal the Chinese Exclusion Act passed by a perfect two-thirds majority. Of course, Adam knew things weren't that simple. During the three days of debate, many previously undecided members of Congress changed their minds.
Adam knew Lu Xuan must have made a move. However, he didn't care. If he had Lu Xuan's abilities, he would only go even further.