San Francisco, Mayor's Office.

An old man in a black dress, reading glasses, gray hair, and a wrinkled face holding a magnifying glass, bowing his head, is carefully studying a Chinese landscape painting, looking at it with relish. This man's name is Powell, the mayor of San Francisco, and he is now 65 years old, but he still sits firmly in the position of mayor and has not retired.

It took a long time for Powell to put down the magnifying glass in his hand.

He leaned back in his chair, looked depressed, and sighed: "There is nothing to do, and I can only place my feelings in landscape painting." Anyway, I'm also the mayor of a city, and I'm the consul of San Francisco, but I'm not qualified to greet President Lee, it's too bullying. Am I not of pure white blood to be segregated? Damn, damn it, it's so damnable! ”

Powell's great-grandfather was not white, but a black man, but he married a white man as his wife. His grandfather was of mixed race, and by the time Powell arrived, Powell had no black features and looked completely white.

However, Powell's ancestors were black but cannot be erased.

Because his great-grandfather was black, he was treated unfairly in many places. Even as the mayor of a city, he held enormous power, but in some places he was looked at with contempt by white Americans.

"Boom! Boom!! ”

Outside the office, there was a soft knock on the door.

"Come in!" Powell commanded.

An attendant walked in respectfully, saluted Powell, and said, "Mr. Mayor, Mr. Tang Huaide, a businessman from Chinatown, is here to visit, and I want to see you in an urgent matter." ”

Powell said, "Please! ”

The attendant went to deliver the message, and after a short time, Tang Huaide strode in.

In Tang Huaide's hand, he was still holding a pair of quaint 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 bought a precious landscape painting from an antique shop, which is the autograph of Zhao Ji, the emperor of the Song Dynasty in China, which is very precious. This time, it's definitely the real thing, and it won't lie to you. ”

"Oh, really? That's amazing. Quick, quick, spread out and take a look. ”

Powell's eyes twinkled, and he was excited.

The reason why Tang Huaide and Powell were able to get together was because of Chinese landscape painting. Powell is a person who likes Chinese landscape painting, and he and Tang Huaide are fond of painting as much as their life, and the other is fond of painting. After going back and forth, the two gradually became familiar with each other and became good friends who talked about everything. Because of this, Tang Huaide was able to easily enter Powell's mayor's office.

Tang Huaide spread out the painting, and Powell immediately picked up a magnifying glass and examined it carefully.

It took a full five minutes for Powell to stand up.

He swallowed his saliva, couldn't help rubbing his thin palms, opened his mouth to show a mouthful of big white teeth, and said excitedly: "Old friend, this calligraphy and painting is indeed the real work of Zhao Ji, the emperor of the Song Dynasty, not a fake that fools people." This painting is priceless, it is a masterpiece! ”

Tang Huaide said: "My old friend likes it and gives it to you." ”

Powell sat down, smiled, and said: "China often says that there is no merit and no merit, and I don't dare to accept your things casually." Besides, you Tang Huaide is a well-known businessman in Chinatown, and he never trades at a loss. This time he came to me with Zhao Ji's painting, and something must have happened, so he was willing to give me this painting. Hey, don't lie to me that you bought it in an antique shop, it's impossible to sell such a precious painting, it's definitely a painting that you Tang Huaide treasured. ”

Tang Huaide did not quibble, and said: "The old friend is as wise as a torch. ”

Powell's chin was slightly raised, and he said as a matter of course: "The two of us have known each other for so many years, and we know each other very well. I know you better than even your relatives. Tell me, if something happens and you want me to help, as long as it is within my ability, I will never refuse. ”

Tang Huaide sighed lightly and said, "It's indeed a big deal. ”

Powell said: "What the hell is going on, just say it." I'm not in a hurry to accept this painting, let's talk about things first. The things that can alarm you Tang Huaide are not ordinary things. ”

Tang Huaide replied: "The wife of the brother of Hong Yi, the owner of Hongmen, was raped by the American steward of the factory, and after the incident, the woman committed suicide when she returned home. Hong Yi got the news and took people to the factory to seek justice and demanded an apology from the American manager. But the U.S. steward not only did not apologize, but also sent people to try to get Hong Yi out. A fight ensued between the two sides, and the steward was killed by Hong Yi, as were some of the Americans who were protecting the factory. Now that Hong Yi has been arrested, he is likely to be executed next, and I am here for this matter. ”

Powell shook his head and said, "Old friend, I can't do anything!" ”

Tang Huaide asked, "Why?" ”

Powell replied: "The implications of this matter are too great, especially since President Lincoln and His Excellency Secretary Seward are in San Francisco, and this matter has reached the ears of both of them, and they have instructed that it must be handled impartially." With the intervention of the president and the secretary of state, Hong Yi must have been executed. As for the rest of the Hongmen comrades who escaped, they will also continue to pursue them. Old friend, don't meddle in this matter, or it will not be good for you. ”

Tang Huaide said: "Can't you save Hong Yi's life?" It doesn't matter if you go to jail. ”

Powell shook his head and said, "As I just said, with the president and the secretary of state intervening in this matter, it is impossible to make a big deal small." Besides, the factory won't let go. ”

Tang Huaide nodded and said, "Thank you, old friend, this painting is given to you." ”

"Don't, I don't dare to take it." Powell reluctantly glanced at Zhao Ji's painting and returned it to Tang Huaide.

In this sensitive period, he did not dare to accept this big gift.

Tang Huaide took the painting, left the mayor's office in frustration, and drove back to Chinatown. On the way back, Tang Huaide met Ah Shaman, who had returned from the court, and asked, "Ah Shaman, how is the situation on the court's side?" ”

Ashaman shook his head and said, "I went to the court's ** officer, and he said that there is no room for turnaround. ”

"Alas!!"

The two looked at each other and sighed softly.

Tang Huaide said: "Go back and tell the news to the president, only rely on the president." When the two returned to Dading Restaurant, the rest of the businessmen who had gone to the relationship also returned one after another. Everyone returned to the back of Dading Restaurant, all of them looked depressed, shook their heads and sighed, obviously not making any progress. The two went upstairs and asked the people who had come back first, but none of them had good news.

Li Zhen asked, "How is your situation?" ”

Tang Huaide shook his head and said: "Mayor Powell said that Lincoln and Seward intervened in this matter, and the final result will definitely be that Hong Yi will be killed, and even the rest of the Hongmen brothers who escaped will be hunted down." ”

Li Zhen looked at Shaman again, but Shaman also shook his head and sighed.

This matter can only be taken over by Li Zhen, and no one can save Hong Yi except Li Zhen.

ps: first update;