An old man wearing a black dress, wearing reading glasses, gray hair, and wrinkles on his face held a magnifying glass, lowered his head, and was studying a Chinese landscape painting with gusto. His name was Powell, and he was the mayor of San Francisco. , is now sixty-five years old, but he still sits firmly in the position of mayor and has not stepped down.
After a long time, Powell put down the magnifying glass in his hand.
He leaned back on the chair, with a frustrated look on his face, and sighed: "I have nothing to do, so I can only focus on landscape paintings. After all, I am also the mayor of a city and the governor of San Francisco, but I am not qualified to welcome Li -President, this is so bullying. Am I going to be segregated because I don’t have pure white blood? It’s hateful, it’s hateful, it’s so hateful.”
Powell's great-grandfather was not white, but a black man, but he married a white man. His grandfather was of mixed race. By the time Powell was born, Powell had no black features on his body and looked completely white.
However, it cannot be erased that Powell's ancestors are black.
Because his great-grandfather was a black man, he was treated unfairly in many places. Even though he served as the mayor of a city and held great power, in some places he was looked down upon by white Americans.
"Dong, dong,."
Outside the office, there was a gentle knock on the door.
"Come in," Powell ordered.
An attendant came in respectfully, saluted Powell, and said, "Mr. Mayor, Mr. Tang Huaide, a businessman from Chinatown, is here to visit. He has urgent business and wants to see you."
Powell said: "Please."
The attendant went to deliver the message, but not long after, Tang Huaide strode in.
In Tang Huaide's hand, he also held a pair of ancient scrolls. He came to Powell's desk, put down the scroll, then pressed his hands on the desk, and said with a smile: "Old friend, I just came from an antique shop. I bought a precious landscape painting there, which was painted by Emperor Zhao Ji of the Song Dynasty of China. It is very precious. This time, it is absolutely authentic and I won’t lie to you."
"Oh, really, that's great. Come on, come on, spread it out and take a look."
Powell's eyes were shining with excitement.
The reason why Tang Huaide and Powell got connected was because of Chinese landscape painting. Powell was a person who liked Chinese landscape painting. He and Tang Huaide were addicted to painting, and the other liked it. After going back and forth, the two gradually became familiar with each other. They became good friends and talked about everything. Because of this, Tang Huade was able to easily enter Powell's mayor's office.
Tang Huaide spread out the painting, and Powell immediately picked up the magnifying glass and looked at it carefully.
It took a full five minutes before Powell stood up.
He swallowed, couldn't help but rub his thin palms, opened his mouth to reveal his big white teeth, and said excitedly: "Old friend, this painting and calligraphy is indeed that of Emperor Zhao Ji of the Song Dynasty. It is genuine and not a fake to fool people. This painting The painting is priceless and truly a masterpiece.”
Tang Huaide said: "My old friend likes it, so I gave it to you."
Powell sat down, smiled, and said: "China often says that no reward will be given without merit. I dare not accept your things casually. Besides, you, Tang Huaide, are a well-known big businessman in Chinatown. You never do business at a loss. This time you will take something from you." You came to me with Zhao Ji's painting. Something big must have happened, so you were willing to give this painting to me. Hey, don't lie to me and say you bought it in an antique shop. It's impossible to sell such a precious painting. , it is definitely a painting that you, Tang Huaide, treasure."
Tang Huaide did not quibble and said: "Old friend, he has a keen eye."
Powell raised his jaw slightly and said matter-of-factly: "We have known each other for so many years and know each other very well. I know you better than even your relatives. Tell me, if something happened, you need my help. As long as it's I will never refuse anything I can do."
Tang Huaide sighed softly and said, "It is indeed a big event."
Powell said: "What is it? Let me tell you directly. I am not in a hurry to accept this painting. Let's talk about the matter first. The matter that can alarm you Tang Huaide is not an ordinary matter."
Tang Huaide replied: "The wife of the brother of Hongmen leader Hong Yi was raped by an American manager of the factory. After the incident, the woman committed suicide when she returned home. When Hong Yi got the news, he took people to the factory to demand justice. The American manager apologized, but instead of apologizing, the American manager sent people to drive Hong Yi out. A fight broke out between the two sides, and the manager was killed by Hong Yi. Some Americans who were protecting the factory were also killed. Now Hong Yi has been arrested. , I will probably be executed next, and that’s why I’m here.”
Powell shook his head and said: "Old friend, please forgive me for my inability to do anything."
Tang Huaide asked: "Why."
Powell replied: "The impact of this matter is too great, especially since President Lincoln and Secretary of State Seward were both in San Francisco. This matter reached the ears of these two people, and they instructed that it must be dealt with impartially. With the President and Secretary of State Seward, If the Secretary of State intervenes, Hong Yi will definitely be executed. As for the other escaped Hongmen accomplices, they will continue to be hunted. Old friend, please don't interfere in this matter, otherwise it will be detrimental to you."
Tang Huaide said: "Isn't it possible to save Hong Yi's life? It doesn't matter even if he goes to jail."
Powell shook his head and said: "As I said just now, with the president and secretary of state intervening in this matter, it is impossible to make the matter trivial. Besides, the factory will not let it go."
Tang Huaide nodded and said, "Thank you, old friend, for giving this painting to you."
"No, I don't dare to accept it." Powell looked at Zhao Ji's painting reluctantly and gave it back to Tang Huaide.
During this sensitive period, he did not dare to accept this great gift.
Tang Huaide took the painting, left the mayor's office in frustration, and took the bus back to Chinatown. On the way back, Tang Huaide met Asaman who was returning from the court and asked: "Asaman, how is the situation over there at the courthouse."
Asaman shook his head and said, "I went to the chief judge of the court and he said there was no room for change."
"well,."
The two looked at each other and sighed softly.
Tang Huaide said: "Go back and tell the news to the President. You can only rely on the President." When the two returned to Dading Restaurant, the other businessmen who went to establish relationships also returned one after another. Everyone returned to Dading Restaurant and stood behind them. They looked depressed, shook their heads and sighed, obviously not making any progress. They went upstairs and asked the people who came back first, but no one had good news.
Li Zhen asked: "How are you doing?"
Tang Huaide shook his head and said: "Mayor Powell said that Lincoln and Seward intervened in this matter. The final result will definitely be that Hong Yi is killed, and even the other Hongmen brothers who escaped will be hunted down."
Li Zhen looked at Asaman again, but Asaman also shook his head and sighed.
This matter can only be taken over by Li Zhen. No one can save Hong Yi except Li Zhen.
