Yang Wei's assessment of this person was: He was very smart, but more than that, he was shrewd, so shrewd that he was almost cunning!
Finally, this man is one-quarter Chinese—his grandmother was a Chinese immigrant.
Part Two: The Road to Success, Chapter 164: The Strongest Gangster Family!
When I met Charlie, there were hardly any traces of Asian features left on his face. He had an ordinary appearance, dressed very well, and it was clear that he was someone who worked in the entertainment industry. He had very bright eyes, but they also gave off a cunning look.
“Give me a reason to hire you, sir.” I sat behind my desk and scrutinized him. “Your qualifications are attractive, but frankly, I have at least five candidates with similar qualifications for this position. So you must give me a reason to convince me that you are a better fit for the job than the other candidates.”
Charlie thought for less than ten seconds before saying something to me.
“Because I will be very useful to you.” Charlie smiled. “By ‘useful,’ I don’t mean that I know a lot about this circle or anything like that, because others can do that too. But I will be more useful to you because I am very obedient and will achieve your goals according to your wishes! For example, if you say that snow is black, I will tell you, yes, that’s right, snow is black… Then, I will find a way to tell this fact to other people, and at the same time, I will find a way to make other people believe that snow is indeed black!”
Finally, the guy blinked at me and said, "So, do you think someone like me might be useful to you?"
What a wonderful person! Without hesitation, I immediately stood up and shook hands with him: "Welcome to our team, my General Manager."
************
It seems Yang Wei has chosen a very useful person for me!
The first thing this guy did after taking office was layoffs! He fired some people from the company and then gave me a list of reasons why he didn't need them right now.
As it turned out, he was right, because the company's efficiency actually improved after the layoffs!
He then sifted through my numerous daily social engagements, identifying those I should cultivate relationships with and those I could completely ignore. He determined who I needed to show respect to, and who I could simply sit back and wait for to fawn over me!
“Don’t worry about people saying you’re arrogant, or about offending people,” Charlie told me. “It’s an incredibly realistic circle! As long as you’re powerful enough, there will always be a group of people willing to fawn over you. Of course, you need to maintain respect for those who are very powerful, unless one day you become more powerful than them.”
My workload has been greatly reduced—not because Charlie is more capable or smarter than Yang Wei, but because he is more familiar with this circle.
He accompanied me to several press conferences and parties hosted by Hollywood celebrities. He then helped me establish good relationships with several top agents.
"You don't need to deliberately try to please or win over those big-name stars. You're the owner of a film company; no matter how famous they are, they're just tools for you to make money! You just need to build good relationships with their agents. As for the stars, as long as you have a suitable script and the agreed-upon fee, they'll come to you. The agents can handle that."
Charlie worked very hard to help me establish myself in Hollywood and to help me truly integrate into the industry... He also organized several events to keep the media's attention focused on the newly filmed movie.
"This film is your first since taking over the company, and it's a big-budget production. So you could say it's our most important project right now! I suggest you reduce your public appearances and shift media attention from you to the film. Otherwise, if the public focuses too much on you and less on the film, it's a losing proposition. You're already the boss of the film company. Even if the media pays more attention to you, it won't add a single penny to your wealth! But if this film is a success, that will bring you substantial profits."
This coincides with Yang Wei's suggestion that I keep a low profile.
He was indeed capable and incredibly smooth-talking. I once witnessed him tell me privately at a party that one of the producers hosting the party was an "arrogant fool who would really think he was God's spokesperson if you said a few nice words to him." However, a moment later, he would embrace the producer with extremely warm and friendly manner, as if they were old friends.
He also taught me some little tricks, such as that when facing Spielberg, I should deliberately show some respect for Jews... and it really worked.
Judging from everything, this General Manager named Charlie really made the right choice.
************
However, even the most capable Charlie has his share of difficulties.
That day, Charlie knocked on my office door. I was playing mini-golf with a club. I was trying to learn this aristocratic sport, although I didn't like it at first, it was indeed very useful in actual social situations.
“This is an invitation to a dinner party tonight… and you are the only guest.” Charlie looked somewhat embarrassed.
"Oh?" I didn't pay much attention at first, casually pushing the club to put the ball into the hole, then I glanced at him: "What's wrong? Is there a problem with this invitation?"
Then I deliberately teased, "Should I show respect to this person, or should I wait for him to lick my feet?"
In the past, when I made jokes like this, Charlie would always chime in with a couple of amusing remarks, but this time, his brows were furrowed and his expression was somewhat complicated.
After a few seconds of contemplation, he replied, "Well... I can't give a definitive assessment of this person, but all I know is that he's someone everyone has to respect—at least in his presence! And... I don't think anyone in America would sit back and wait for him to fawn over them. In fact, if possible, I think you should stay as far away from this kind of person as possible. Because getting involved with him will cause a lot of trouble."
I noticed the seriousness on Charlie's face. There was no trace of his usual smoothness on his face now, but rather a genuine worry.
He then placed an invitation on my desk.
"Robert Gooch".
I frowned: "This name..."
Charlie gave a wry smile, then whispered, "Even Spielberg would get a headache hearing that name. Because he's a member of the Mafia... a true, undisputed godfather of the Mafia!"
He paused for a moment, then added, "He is the current godfather of the Gambino family."
At that moment, my hand holding the cue paused for a moment!
After all, I'm involved in organized crime! Although I live in Canada, I'm not completely ignorant about the American underworld!
At least I know about the Gambino family!
If the Mafia is the largest organized crime group in the world... then the Gambino family, even if they aren't the most powerful family within the Mafia... are certainly the most famous Mafia family!
The world's most famous gangster film, a classic among classics, *The Godfather*, is entirely based on the story of the Gambino family! And the real-life inspiration for the character in *The Godfather* is Carlo Gambino, the first Godfather of the Gambino family!
A legendary figure who is considered a god-like figure by the mafia worldwide!
It can be said that the godfathers of the various Mafia families today most want to imitate and surpass Carlo Gambino!
How powerful is the Gambino family? I can't give you an exact description, but the few true stories that have been passed down are enough to shock you!
One of the most outstanding first-generation godfathers in history, Carole Gambino, is most famous for a time when he convened a national Mafia council meeting with twelve other Mafia family heads, only to be raided by the police! Gambino incredulously ordered his men to offer no resistance whatsoever! They calmly requested bail! In less than an hour, over a million dollars in bail was on the prosecutor's desk! Keep in mind, this was in the 1960s! Back then, over a million dollars was equivalent to over twenty million dollars today!! The final result was that everyone was acquitted, and the prosecutor lost his job—and his career was completely ruined; he never held any public office again for the rest of his life!
When this godfather finally died, he had a royal funeral! One hundred media outlets around the world broadcast the funeral live!
The movie *The Godfather* is a complete adaptation of the Gambino family story! And it's become a classic in the gangster film genre! The relationship between the Mafia and the film company... well, you can imagine!
According to legend, the reason why "The Godfather" was made was because the Mafia family deliberately made this movie to improve their public image!
The Gambino family has since become one of the most prestigious and famous Mafia families in the world!
Moreover, the family's godfather has always been a key figure in the National Mafia Committee!
It's fair to say that while there are many Mafia families, offending the Gambino family is tantamount to offending the entire global Mafia!
Part Two: The Road to Success, Chapter 165: The Godfather
The Gambino family, a legendary mafia family, is a star among the many mafia families around the world.
Of course, despite its formidable strength and history... this is not the main reason why I am wary of it.
If it were just a mafia family, I might not be that afraid of them in terms of power.
But there's another reason why I have to be wary!
As far as I know, in the 1930s, under the leadership of the legendary godfather Luciano, twenty-four major Mafia families from across the United States gathered together for the All-American Mafia Family Conference! At the same time, they established an organization that later caused countless headaches for prosecutors in the American judicial system: the All-American Mafia Family Committee.
This national committee united many powerful Mafia families across the United States... and remember, that was over seventy years ago!
After nearly a century of development, it's hard to imagine the sheer power that this organization now encompasses, comprised of many of the most powerful families. United through this committee, they possess an immense force!
The Gambino family, led by the legendary godfather Gambino, who was like a monarch, had every subsequent leader who was a key figure in the National Committee!
I might not be afraid of offending a Mafia family... but offending a national committee of the Mafia... that would be absolutely terrifying!!
It can be said that the Gambino family is an iconic, standard-bearer family in the Mafia! And the person I am about to face is the current godfather of the Gambino family: Robert Goch.
Why did Robert Gouche contact me at this time?
Without a doubt, they're here because of my movie!
A movie that is estimated to earn more than $300 million has indeed attracted envious wolves!
The information Charlie provided me indicates that the American Mafia has historically had a close, albeit ambiguous, relationship with the American film industry.
The most famous example is undoubtedly the classic film *The Godfather*, which glorifies the Mafia. Later, among the seven major American film studios, MGM was once controlled by the Mafia, and Paramount Pictures, which produced *The Godfather*, was even more so! At the time of filming *The Godfather*, Paramount Pictures was essentially owned by the Mafia!
The Mafia certainly knows that movies are very profitable!
Regardless of whether I like it or not, reason tells me that the Gambino family is one I cannot afford to offend.
That evening, I took only a hammer with me and drove to the place Robert Goch had invited me to, a luxurious estate in front of Beverly Hills.
I didn't bring too many followers, because what's the point of bringing a lot of people when visiting someone's home?
Bringing too few people is useless.
Bringing too many people—they invited me as a guest, not to a war. Besides, bringing too many people would make it seem like I'm afraid of them.
I have no intention of describing how luxurious this estate is… In fact, apart from its vast size, everything here appears quite simple. Except for the exceptionally neatly trimmed gladiolus that comes into view after driving into the estate.
The building is distinctly Sicilian in style, with antique furniture, heavy floors, large black curtains, Romanesque reliefs, and a fireplace made of red brick and black iron.
Everything here is decorated with a combination of red and black.
Red and black... a taste of iron and blood!
I was then led into a lounge… Several men in dark suits politely requested a search, which I did not refuse. Hammer and I were searched, but the process wasn't too infuriating because they were all quite polite. I knew this was an inevitable procedure.
The lounge is very large, and there is a huge movie projection system here.
When I went in, a genuine leather sofa was facing away from me, and the high back of the chair made it impossible for me to see the person sitting on it from behind.
In front of me is a movie screen, showing the first installment of the classic gangster film "The Godfather".
The room's decor was old-fashioned, heavy, and solemn!
One of his men walked over to the leather sofa, whispered a few words to the person inside, and then quickly, I saw a hand reach out from under the sofa and wave it gently.
Soon, I was led to the sofa. I finally saw the person sitting there: Robert Gouchi, the current godfather of the Gambino family!
Originally, it all started when I stepped into this old-fashioned manor.
The heavy, solemn, old-fashioned style of this house, coupled with the old movie "The Godfather" playing in this gloomy room, made me initially imagine that Robert Gouche, whom I was about to meet, would also be a middle-aged man, perhaps like in the Godfather movies, wearing a dark suit, with gray hair, sideburns, a solemn and dignified expression, a thick Sicilian accent, and an elegant and gentle demeanor...
But I was wrong.
The current godfather of the Gambino family looks very young, at least he appears to. His appearance is astonishing, as he bears a striking resemblance to Hollywood legend Al Pacino…
This discovery made me feel a little uneasy.
Because Al Pacino is also Italian, and he starred in all three Godfather films.
Besides, Robert Goch had a youthful look in his eyes. He wasn't wearing an old-fashioned dark suit, but a simple white shirt, with the top two buttons undone.
His face didn't show many signs of age, and his hair was neatly combed. However, the wrinkles between his brows were very noticeable. He must be someone who doesn't like to smile and often frowns, which explains the many vertical lines between his brows.
Only when I faced him did he finally turn his gaze away from the movie.
He held a succulent in one hand, while in the other, he gently stroked an old Browning revolver. I don't know how many years had passed since then; according to my memory, this type of pistol must have been produced in the 1960s.