San Francisco's Chinatown is the place with the highest concentration of Chinese in the Western Hemisphere, with more than 100,000 overseas Chinese living here, second only to New York's Chinatown in terms of scale.

The whole state of California is home to most of the Chinese population, and for hundreds of years, San Francisco's Chinatown has become a mecca for overseas Chinese.

In the United States, a country where guns are rampant, social security is a huge problem, coupled with the problem of racial discrimination in the United States, Chinese people can only choose to group together if they want to survive.

In the whole of California, there are nearly 1,000 Chinese groups, most of which are concentrated in San Francisco.

Among them, there are six of the most famous churches in San Francisco, namely Wuzhou Hongmen Zhigong General Church, Binggong General Church, Cuisheng Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Hesheng General Hall, Yingduan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Jinmen Xiesheng Union, each of which has a history of more than 100 years.

The purpose of these halls was to protect members from bullying by force, and to unite and help each other regardless of social background, surname, or place of origin.

It's just that with the passage of time, more and more social resources and heritage have accumulated in the halls, and due to the environmental factors in the United States, all the halls are constantly whitewashing.

The one who invited Xia Yu this time was the head of the Situ family, and he was also the head of the Zhigong General Hall, Situ Boshan!

Xia Yu and Situ Boshan have known each other for a long time, the earliest was when he first came to San Francisco to establish Polaris Capital, and by the way, he spent $1.7 million to buy a mansion in the wealthy area of Atherton in San Francisco's South Bay, and his reputation spread like this, and then people continued to visit, Xia Yu got acquainted with Situ Boshan at that time.

During the previous election, when Ronald Reagan came to San Francisco to give a speech, Xia Yu visited Situ Boshan again and asked him to help mobilize the Chinese to cheer for Ronald Reagan.

And when voting in the general election on November 4 this month, Xia Yu also entrusted Situ Boshan to mobilize the Chinese to vote for Ronald Reagan, who also did his best to do this and contributed to Ronald Reagan.

It's just that Xia Yu has been busy, and the vote for the electors in December has not yet been held, so Xia Yu just made a phone call to express his gratitude and did not come to visit.

This time, Situ Boshan took the initiative to invite Xia Yu, not as the head of the General Hall of Workers, but as a private banquet, which was completely a family banquet, so Xia Yu specially bought a bunch of gifts before he went.

From a distance, Xia Yu saw two people, an old man and a young man, standing at the door of Situ's house, it was the old man Situ Boshan and his 28-year-old son Situ Nan.

After the car stopped, Xia Yu immediately got out of the car, and walked forward quickly with a smile on his face to say hello: "Old man, Brother Situ, I'm really sorry for bothering you to wait here for a long time." ”

Situ Boshan laughed, shook hands with Xia Yu and said loudly: "What Mr. Xia said, you are not late. ”

"Besides, you are a distinguished guest of our Situ family, and in order to show your attention, I should greet you at the door. ”

Xia Yu humbly greeted a few words again.

"Mr. Xia, what other gifts do you bring, this is too outstanding. ”

Seeing Li Wuming take out a bunch of gifts from the trunk, the old man Situ Boshan said with some dissatisfaction.

Xia Yu smiled and said: "Yes, how can anyone come to the door empty-handed, I have some fruits and the like." ”

Situ Boshan pretended to be unhappy and said: "Mr. Xia, you can't bring it next time, your arrival has made the humble house shine, and you can come to give me the greatest gift." ”

After speaking, Situ Boshan instructed his son Situ Nan: "Anan, pick it up for Mr. Xia." ”

"Mr. Xia, please inside!"

"Old man, please first!"

"Let's go!"

After a few humble pushes to each other, Situ Boshan and Xia Yu entered side by side, and Situ Nan and Li Wuming followed behind two steps behind.

The layout of the Situ family's house is in accordance with the Chinese style, and the decoration is the same.

If you didn't know that this was San Francisco, just walking into this place, you would definitely think that you had come to a wealthy ancient mansion in a village in China.

In San Francisco, thousands of miles away from their homeland, the Chinese retain many of the customs and culture brought by their hometowns, and the layout of the houses is an obvious place.

The Situ family is a big family, after hundreds of years of reproduction, the family population has been quite large, even if it was brought back by Situ Boshan's uncle a few decades ago to return to the motherland, there are still dozens of people.

And the Situ family who stayed in San Francisco, the Situ Boshan lineage is the main family.

Xia Yu also met Situ Boshan's wife in the courtyard, as well as Situ Nan's wife and 4-year-old son.

Situ Nan originally had a son, but died in an accident.

After a brief cup of tea, it was time for lunch.

Lunch was made by Situ Boshan's wife and daughter-in-law, and it was a very authentic Cantonese dish.

By the time we had eaten, it was already half past one in the afternoon.

Situ Boshan and his son and Xia Yu came to the courtyard together and sat down around the quaint stone table to drink tea.

"Old man, you have bothered with this election. ”

Xia Yu thanked.

Situ Boshan waved his hand and said nonchalantly: "It's just a gesture, we Chinese didn't care about politics before, so we don't participate in voting in every general election, and this time I can help Mr. Xia, of course, I want to help you." ”

Xia Yu expressed his gratitude again, took a sip of tea, pondered for a while, and said to Situ Boshan: "Old man, there are no outsiders here, I will say a few words from my heart, if you don't like it, look at Haihan." ”

Situ Boshan's eyes froze, and he made a gesture of invitation and said: "Mr. Xia, please speak, there is nothing to say between you and me, your career is so big, it is also my honor to be able to listen to your guidance." ”

"If you don't dare to give advice, just say a few humble words!"

With a modest sentence, Xia Yu said slowly: "For a long time, Chinese Americans have not cared about politics and have not participated in politics, which is related to the cultural thinking of our Chinese since ancient times. ”

Of course, this does not rule out the fact that the Chinese have tried to integrate into the American political field, but the efforts have been fruitless. ”

"But I don't agree with this approach, the United States does not have as long a cultural heritage as our China, the American culture is passed on from pirates and prisoners, here the emphasis is on the supremacy of the strong, if you want to live well here, the only way is to fight and compete!"

"In the United States, white supremacy has always been, blacks were originally as miserable as us yellows, but blacks have been fighting, so today, although the status of blacks is not as good as whites, it is far beyond the status of yellow people in the United States, of course, this is also undeniable The reason for the relatively large number of blacks. ”

"But among the yellow race, we have the largest Chinese ethnic group, followed by Filipinos, Indians, Vietnamese, Koreans and Japanese. ”

"But in fact, although we Chinese have the largest number, the highest social status is Filipino, followed by Indian, why is this the result? is because they will fight!"

"We Chinese Americans have things, basically not through the official to solve, but privately solve their own problems, and do not participate in politics, so both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party give up on us, so in the final analysis, the low social status of Chinese Americans is actually caused by ourselves, and we have given up the rights granted to us by the US Constitution. ”

"Now the top major groups among the Chinese are trying their best to whitewash, isn't it just to improve their social status, and the best way to improve their social status is to take the initiative to participate in politics and climb up as much as possible, so as to be able to speak for the majority of Chinese Americans, defend our rights, and compete for the resources that belong to us!"

After Xia Yu finished speaking, Sima Boshan sighed and said: "Mr. Xia, I know that what you said is right, and I am also aware of this, but the major groups among the Chinese are staggered, and the situation is also very complicated. ”

"For hundreds of years, no one has wanted to participate in American politics, but they have all been excluded, and we are more than willing to do it! Over time, we will naturally give up!"

"In addition, now that all the halls are deeply trapped, and there are many internal struggles, it is difficult to work together to climb up, and I can't find this opportunity. ”

"That's why we're just giving up on politics and solving problems in our own way. ”

"Even if it is the Zhigong General Hall, although I am the hall master, it is not as beautiful as it seems, and the major elder families in the main hall still have a great right to speak, not to mention the forces involved in the lower levels, it is difficult!"

"In the final analysis, there are still many Chinese who can't live a stable and good life, and they can't live well, so where can they be expected to care about politics?"

Xia Yu was suddenly silent.

He also specially learned about the situation of the Zhigong General Hall and knew that what Situ Boshan said was true.

Among the six top halls in San Francisco, the other five halls continue to be whitewashed, and the whitewashing of the Gongzong Church is the lowest, and when the leader of the later generations Zhou Tianlong presses to the top, it is getting darker and darker, and when Zhou Tianlong is arrested, he was convicted by the U.S. Department of Justice on 162 counts and sentenced to life imprisonment, plus more than 2,900 years in prison without bail, which will completely ruin the reputation of the Gongzong Church.

As for Situ Boshan's best sentence, it also explains the current situation and real thoughts of Chinese Americans today.

Rather than let them rely on political power to solve their own problems, they would rather rely on their own hands to support themselves, even if it is a little tired, this is the most industrious people in the world.

"But old man, getting by is not a way after all, the Chinese have paid no less blood and sweat for the construction of the United States than other groups, if they don't fight, all kinds of education, people's livelihood and social welfare will be like this over the Chinese, these things are what the Chinese deserve. ”

"And if the Chinese want to live well in the United States, climbing up is the best way out, pure business has a limit, without political asylum, no matter how big the foundation is, it is easy to collapse, so the political road must be taken, and it must be strong enough to have the ability to shelter!"

Situ Boshan nodded and said: "I know, so after knowing that you have a friendship with Ronald Reagan, I pondered, it's time to embark on this road, starting from my family to take the lead, as long as you are willing to go, you will eventually go out of a way, maybe one day we Chinese will also be sheriffs, justices, governors, and legislators!"

Xia Yu raised his eyebrows and asked: "Old man, I have a good relationship with Ronald Reagan, and I can really help in many places, I want to know what you plan to do?"

Sima Boshan suddenly looked at Situ Nan, who had been silent, Situ Nan's expression was firm, and he pleaded with Xia Yu in a sincere tone: "Mr. Xia, I plan to enter politics, I want to seek happiness for the Chinese in the United States and justice for the majority of compatriots, please give me some advice!"