LRAB Chapter 90 You're right, if I were to tell you this, I wouldn't be sleepy anymore.
Chapter 90 You're right, if I were to tell you this, I wouldn't be sleepy anymore.
Chapter 90 You're right, if I were to tell you this, I wouldn't be sleepy anymore.
Shanghai, the British Concession, the French Concession!
"Extra! Extra! The National Army has achieved a great victory at Taierzhuang, annihilating more than 20,000 Japanese soldiers of the 10th Division... Extra! Extra..." Newsboys in the concession of Shanghai waved newspapers and weaved through the crowds, their hoarse cries piercing the oppressive atmosphere that hung over the city.
Citizens stopped to buy the newspapers, their hands crumpled from their excited grip, and thunderous cheers erupted throughout the streets and alleys.
In the editorial office of the *Shenbao* newspaper, editor-in-chief Gu Zhongxing was sweating profusely as he made a phone call: "Director Liu, please help me! Please, please! The newspaper is selling like hotcakes today! Not just the main edition, but even the special edition has been reprinted by 100,000 copies! My door is overflowing with people waiting to pick up their newspapers... Please help me, please send another 300,000 copies! Yes, 300,000 copies! Old Liu, you know perfectly well that the National Revolutionary Army won a great victory... With such earth-shattering news... how could it not sell out? You're working overtime there, but the entire newspaper office here is working overtime all night. Even the deputy editors and reporters are doing printing work at the printing plant..."
...How about this, you make the workers work overtime, and our newspaper will pay them the overtime wages, is that alright?
What? The workers said they want to boost morale and don't want overtime pay?
Haha... It's definitely inspiring! Our young folks at the newspaper usually complain when we ask them to work overtime, but today they're all brimming with energy, haha...
Everyone working in the printing workshop, covered in oil, is expected to get overtime pay as long as the paper is produced and delivered. Yes, our newspaper will pay.
'
On the streets of the British and French concessions, almost every citizen had a newspaper in hand, whispering among themselves... "Have you read the newspaper? A great victory for the National Revolutionary Army? Is it true?"
"It's true, it's true. Even the Japanese devils didn't come out to say anything right away, so of course it's true."
'
After a while, the man repeated, "Have you read the newspaper? The Nationalist army..."
?
'
"It's true, it's true..." The person on the other end paused for a moment, thinking that the other person hadn't heard her clearly, and then replied with a smile!
Unexpectedly, after a while, the man asked again, "Have you read the newspaper? The Nationalist Army..."
.?
"Hold...
"...You've asked three times already, are you deaf?"
"I'm sorry, I'm not deaf, I just want to hear that answer again."
'
..right...
...You're right, if I told you that I wouldn't be sleepy anymore!
Okay, ask me again, and I'll answer you again.
""
Washington, D.C., United States.
William Huntington Rawls's mansion, a Georgian-style villa with a wide garden in an upscale neighborhood, was brightly lit tonight, exuding an almost dreamlike, ecstatic atmosphere.
In his study, William Rawls sank deep into the expensive leather sofa, not holding his usual cigar or documents, but a thin yet incredibly heavy Citibank confirmation letter.
Below the confirmation letter was a thick book of Citibank cashier's checks!
He checked the numbers above dozens of times: a full $440 million had been transferred to the designated account in accordance with the agreement, along with his personal 20% share of the Alaska oil field, which only granted him the right to receive dividends!
This substantial fortune, even without considering the continuous future dividends, is enough to elevate the family to the ranks of the top tier of wealthy families.
Among the elite!
His wife, Erin Cole Rawls, a well-maintained and elegant lady, held a newly delivered jewelry catalog, her fingertips trembling slightly with excitement.
This afternoon, she practically emptied the Tiffany flagship store of its latest collection; those dazzling gems that used to require careful consideration could now be packed up and taken away like candy.
"William... darling, I... I feel like I'm dreaming." Eileen's voice was unreal and ethereal. "This morning we were just... an ordinary government official's family, and now... God, this is like something out of Arabian Nights!"
"It's not a dream, darling, it's reality!" William put down the confirmation letter, his eyes shining with an unprecedented light. He stood up and paced back and forth, full of energy. "It's Zhenhua Cole! He's our family's lucky star, an angel sent by God to change the fate of the Rawls and Cole families!"
Their son, Charles, an elite working in Wall Street investment banking, had just finished a long transatlantic phone call and walked into the study with incredible excitement on his face: "Dad, Mom! I just did the math, and with this cash and the expected future dividends alone, our family's net worth is enough to rank us in the top fifty in Washington!"
My boss, that usually arrogant partner, was so respectful on the phone just now that I almost didn't recognize him!
Britney, the daughter, kept raising her hand to examine her newly purchased Patek Philippe watch, excitedly saying, "Dad, Mom, you should see how my friends look at us! They used to think we were just a bunch of lowlifes with a bit of status," but now... haha, it's like a queen has arrived!
Seeing the admiration and elation on their children's faces, William and Eileen exchanged a smile, their hearts filled with the greatest satisfaction a parent could receive. This sense of power and elevated family status brought by money was far more intoxicating than any empty political fame.
"Eileen," William said, calming down a bit, and took his wife's hand. "Mr. Zhenhua Cole is a great benefactor to our family."
I think we should formally invite him to our home for a family dinner, not a business dinner, but a real family gathering, to properly thank this... relative who changed our destiny." He deliberately emphasized the word "relative," and a vague plan began to take shape in his calculating mind.
Eileen nodded immediately, her eyes shining with the same light: "Of course! Absolutely! I'll have the butler prepare the grandest banquet right away!"
We also need to invite Jackson (her brother) and his family to show how grand our family gathering will be.
The invitation was sent out quickly. When Han Zhenhua received the call and heard that it was a "family gathering" rather than a business meeting, he understood.
He inquired carefully about the number of people attending the banquet, including William and his wife, their children and spouses, grandchildren, and Eileen's brother Jackson Cole and his family, and even thoughtfully asked about the number of resident servants.
That evening, in the banquet hall of the Rawls family villa, crystal chandeliers illuminated everything with a dazzling glow. A pristine white linen tablecloth covered the long table, and silver cutlery reflected a warm luster.
When Han Zhenhua arrived on time, he was no longer the straightforward "engineering guy," but a polite junior with a perfectly appropriate gift.
What surprised and shocked the entire Rawls family even more was that Han Zhenhua had prepared a thick red envelope containing a brand-new $10,000 in cash for every immediate family member present, regardless of age!
Even the eight servants present each received a small "red envelope" containing one hundred dollars.
"This is just a small token of our appreciation, a custom from our Republic of China era. It's our first time attending a banquet at an elder's house, so we're hoping for good luck. Please accept it," Han Zhenhua explained with a smile, his attitude sincere and natural.
This move completely ignited the atmosphere of the banquet.
The children, holding thick red envelopes, were so excited their little faces turned red.
The adults looked at each other, feeling both embarrassed and touched by this Eastern-style generosity and respect.
William's grandson and granddaughter surrounded Han Zhenhua, calling him "Uncle Zhenhua" affectionately.
The entire dinner was filled with a harmonious atmosphere, just like a real family reuniting after a long separation.
Jackson Cole, the burly, sharp-eyed security company owner, was also impressed by this "generous and polite" young man, and kept clinking glasses with him throughout the meal.
After the banquet, the children left one after another, filled with excitement and exhaustion, while the servants cleaned up the mess.
Only the slightly tipsy William and his wife, Jackson, and Han Zhenhua remained in the living room, the air filled with the aroma of cigars and coffee, and a subtle warmth.
Eileen Cole Rawls took an elegant sip of her coffee and casually began the conversation: "Dear Zhenhua, we really owe you a lot this time."
It's quite a coincidence that we share the same surname, Cole. May I ask which branch of the Cole family you belong to?
"Perhaps we really were one family hundreds of years ago." Her face held a gentle curiosity.
Han Zhenhua, who was prepared, gradually lost his "pretended" smile, which was replaced by an expression that was a mixture of sadness and reminiscence. His eyes were slightly lowered, as if he was lost in the past that he did not want to touch.
He paused for a few seconds before beginning to tell the touching story he had prepared in a slightly hoarse voice: "Mrs. Rawls (he still used a polite form of address)... to mention this, it's actually... a little sad."
I... I actually am.
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