The hotel where the charity dinner took place is also located on 59th Street in Manhattan.

It's not as majestic as Little Astor's Waldorf Astoria, but it's more than enough for dinners.

That night, when the lights were on, Chen Jianqiu and Camilla stepped out of the carriage and walked into the hotel lobby with little Astor and his wife Eva.

The first to come out turned out to be the owner of the hotel and a friend of little Aster, Mr. Chinedu Parsons.

Chen Jianqiu thought that he was here to greet little Aster, but he didn't expect that this rich man would go directly to him.

"This is Mr. Chen! It's a pleasure! With a smile on his face, Mr. Parsons stretched out his arm to welcome him in.

"Well, hello."

The courtesy came unexpectedly, and Chen Jianqiu had to smile at him and nodded.

"Mr. Chen, my hotel is okay, right?" Parsons asked, pointing to the décor of his lobby as he led them inside.

The lobby is full of golden luxury, and even the ceiling is covered with various lights.

"Well, you should ask Mr. Astor about this, he's a connoisseur." Chen Jianqiu turned his head to look at the grinning little Astor behind him, and greeted him, "Hey, real estate tycoon, what about you!" ”

Little Astor came up.

"All the lights here come from the Roswell Electric Company, and the electricity used in this building is also supplied by your company." He pointed to the lamps and introduced them to Chen Jianqiu.

Chen Jianqiu was really a little surprised.

With so much work on his hands, he handed over all the business of Roswell Electric to Tesla and Ford.

However, Tesla basically doesn't care about business matters, and Ford basically handles it.

After the expo, Roswell Electric Company continued its efforts and won the bid for the Dracades hydropower plant in Nicaragua.

Tesla designed state-of-the-art alternator sets for hydroelectric power plants and paved high-voltage transmission lines all the way to New York.

Chen Jianqiu knew about this, but he didn't expect the business of these guys to be promoted so quickly.

Under Parsons' guidance, Chen Jianqiu and the others went up to the second floor and entered the banquet hall.

The banquet hadn't started yet, but people had already arrived.

In the hall are three rows of long tables, with chairs facing each other on either side of the table.

In front of each chair, dinner plates and knives and forks have been placed and waiting for the guests to take their seats.

However, many of the guests did not seem to be in a hurry, and they were still taking the opportunity to communicate with each other.

Among these people, Chen Jianqiu saw the familiar Mr. Morgan, as well as Rockefeller and Sheriff Roosevelt.

But Mr. Rockefeller gave him a strange feeling.

As for what was strange, Chen Jianqiu couldn't say for a while.

Camila grabbed Chen Jianqiu's arm.

The Caribbean beauty today changed into a long red gown and wore a white gold necklace set with a huge sapphire on her chest.

This was prepared for Camilla by little Astor's wife, Eva.

However, she insists, these are just icing on the cake, because no matter what she wears or what jewelry she wears, she will be the center of attention at the banquet.

Because her beauty and figure are too stunning.

Sure enough, when the two appeared at the door, many people's eyes turned and fell on them.

"Honey, you're eye-catching." Chen Jianqiu smiled and whispered.

However, Camilla reminded him softly:

"These people don't just seem to be looking at me, they're mainly paying attention to you."

Chen Jianqiu realized that what Camila said seemed to have some sense.

Because there are not only men but also women, and their looks, a little, respectful?

Chen Jianqiu didn't understand it a little.

The name of "Mr. Chen" is in the west, and it can be said that it is like thunder, but in a place like New York, even when Chen Jianqiu was at his peak, he was not very popular.

After all, in the eyes of most people, he is just a Chinese nouveau riche who has infiltrated the top circles of New York through the Astor family.

The Chinese are not welcomed here; The nouveau riche are also not very popular, although the so-called "aristocrats" go back one or two generations, and they are also nouveau riche.

In addition, after Chen Jianqiu sold the shares of the railway company, he has been very low-key.

Therefore, the "respect" of these people is as inexplicable as the courtesy of Mr. Parsons before.

Under the watchful eye of everyone, Chen Jianqiu found the position of himself and Camilla.

The card with their names on it, folded into a triangle, was placed next to their plate.

And sitting next to them was an old man with a white beard.

"Allow me to introduce you to the Cartman Councillor I often talk to about, a well-known figure in New York City." Little Astor stood beside Chen Jianqiu and introduced him.

He turned to the old man again and pointed at Chen Jianqiu:

"Then this is Mr. Chen Jianqiu Chen, he"

Little Astor was just about to gush about to start his introduction.

He could talk about it for a day and a night.

However, the old man had already stood up and stretched out his hand to Chen Jianqiu with a smile: "Hello, Mr. Chen, I have admired the name for a long time." ”

Chen Jianqiu was confused again.

Long-awaited daimyo? What do you mean?

"Councillor Cartman, you've won the prize, I'm just doing a little business." Chen Jianqiu was humble according to the usual practice of the Orientals. ”

"Your expulsion of the Japanese in the Hawaiian Islands and the protection of the interests of the American diaspora have spread throughout New York, and everyone admires your patriotism and enthusiasm very much."

Councillor Cartman gestures to the people at the table who are looking over with their necks craned.

"It's not just me, a lot of people think so."

Chen Jianqiu was a little confused.

Where is this? It's true that I'm in Hawaii and expelled the Japanese, but what the hell is patriotism?

"Don't thank me." Little Astor leaned into Chen Jianqiu's ear.

Chen Jianqiu turned his head and pouted: "Have you written it again recently?" ”

Little Astor spread out his hands and looked innocent: "Haven't you read the newspaper recently?" I just told Pulitzer and his reporters about it, and they seemed interested in it. ”

Chen Jianqiu was a little helpless.

While they were still biting their ears and chatting, the guests began to take their seats.

Because little Astor's mother appeared.

Everywhere this noble lady goes, she is in the spotlight.

She wore a rich gown encrusted with precious stones, and the plump skirt supported the hem of the skirt into a tent that could drill into a man.

"Please take your seats, the charity dinner is about to begin."

The lady walked up to the stage and waved to the audience.

A traditional classical band appeared on the stage and began to play soothing music.

The appetizers and wine before the meal were also served by the waiters one after another.

"Champagne or wine?" The waiter asked.

"Red wine, thank you." Chen Jianqiu replied casually.

His attention was not on the wine, but on the old man who was a councilor.

The old man sat alone next to him, quietly watching the band playing on stage, and didn't know what he was thinking.

Chen Jianqiu always felt a sense of déjà vu when he looked at him.

At the end of the song, the guests basically sat in their seats.

A middle-aged man in a suit walked onto the stage.

"It's the mayor of New York City, Democrat Yasini Murray." Little Astor came over again and whispered to Chen Jianqiu, "It's a fool!" ”

"Why don't I switch places with you?" Camilla, who was in the middle, reminded "kindly".

Little Astor hurriedly retracted and waved his hand again and again: "No, sister-in-law, no." ”

The mayor walked up to the microphone.

At that time, the microphone was not the same as that of later generations, and it looked more like a pillar inlaid with a disc.

But his subsequent behavior made Chen Jianqiu a little suspicious of how this person became the mayor of New York City.

Murray looked a little nervous.

He pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and began to stammer:

"The New York government has been committed to eradicating poverty and building a better municipal environment for everyone."

The heavy snow has destroyed the lives of many people in the lower city and crushed many people's houses, and we should help them."

If each and every one of us reaches out and helps those who are still in poverty, New York City will have a better future."

Here, I would like to thank the beautiful Mrs. Astor for organizing this charity dinner; Thanks also to the Tammoni Society, a long-established charitable organization that will launch a fundraiser."

Murray's eloquence is beyond compliment.

Among the politicians Chen Jianqiu has seen, not to mention the eloquent Roosevelt, even those halfway monks in New Mexico are much better than Murray.

Voters in the United States are actually very much about speeches.

But according to the level of the mayor, I am afraid that he can't even draw cakes, so what kind of medicine did the voters take to vote for him?

Chen Jianqiu looks at Councilor Cartman and finds that the old man is holding his chin with his hand on his head, and his expression is a little unhappy.

Obviously, he was very unhappy with Murray's performance on stage.

And the response from the audience is really not good.

These rich people don't care about the lower city, as long as their interests are not infringed upon, they don't care much about the poor.

It's not that they don't have a good heart.

It's that many of them simply can't understand why snow crushes roofs, why people lose their jobs, why people don't have water because it's cold, why people freeze to death because they can't get on fire.

This is beyond their comprehension.

So they feel indifferent.

"He should have said that if these civilians are hungry, they will find a way to find food in the rich areas." Chen Jianqiu seemed to be talking to himself, "Or simply tell those who still support the government that if they don't save the civilians in the lower city, they will vote for this government." ”

But his words reach Councilor Cartman's ears.

A slight smile suddenly appeared on the councilor's face:

"Mr. Chen, believe me, this will not happen. The reason the Democrats are still in power is because we know everything about it. ”

"You mean the gangsters?" Chen Jianqiu suddenly burst out with a sentence.

Councillor Cartman is momentarily stunned for a few seconds, then puts on his back and laughs.

The others cast surprised glances, but when they saw that it was Cartman who was laughing, they didn't say anything and quickly withdrew their gazes.

"No, no, Mr. Chen, you're wrong." Cartman turned his face and shook his head, "Gangsters have the inevitability of their existence, they are an inevitable product of the bottom society, and we just want them to be able to check and balance each other." ”

"If they can fight themselves, they won't be able to deal with people outside the slums."

"But we will never use gangsters to control the people at the bottom, because those so-called gangsters are not worth mentioning in my eyes."

"In addition, this government has also been paying close attention to the people in the lower city, who have a large base, and at the same time trust us, after all"

The old man suddenly followed the example of Little Astor and came to Chen Jianqiu's ear:

"After all, they are just envious and looking forward to becoming one of the rich."

Chen Jianqiu gave the old man a thumbs up, and then raised his hand to get the red wine glass on the table.

"Mr. Chen, I heard that your experience is legendary, you have worked with the Democrats of New Mexico, right?" Cartman asks as he looks at Jianqiu's side.

His words were not thorough.

Because Cartman did learn from his fellow Democrats in New Mexico that Chen Jianqiu had worked with them to overthrow an old Republican crocodile named Scott.

"Huh? How do you know? I thought the people of New York City wouldn't be interested in the little things about our frontier. Chen Jianqiu took a sip of red wine and replied disapprerovingly.

"No, no, no, New Mexico isn't a frontier right now, it's a rare western industrial region, and it's a strong economy, and I guess joining the Union will be a quick thing." Cartman then said.

His speech was not fast and clear.

"So, what do you think about the last time you worked with the Democrats?"

Cartman's tentative wooing language arouses Chen Jianqiu's alarm:

"I'm just a businessman, sir." He said with a smile.

Cartman laughs again, but instead of talking, he turns his head.

In this situation, Chen Jianqiu felt that he had encountered it.

Ten years ago, in New Mexico, there was also a city owner who wanted to take him under his command as his dog.

It's just that the gentleman, who is also classified as a parliamentarian, ended up very miserable.

It seems that this Cartman is also this way.

No wonder he always thought the councillor looked so familiar.

However, time has passed, and he Chen Jianqiu no longer has to do dirty work for others.

From Cartman's words, Chen Jianqiu has gradually stripped away the relationship between the Downtown gangs and the councillors and the Tammony Association.

Cartman's words are half-truths, and the gangsters, especially the Five Points, do the dirty work for him.

He said that there was no control, and it was likely that some of them could not be controlled.

The murder of the sheriff, this nest of people, can't escape the involvement.

All that's left is to look for further evidence.

The next charity party became boring for Chen Jianqiu.

He followed behind little Astor and symbolically donated some money.

Because these charitable organizations in the nineteenth century did not have such a thing as an accountant audit and a public account.

It is not clear how much of this money goes into the pockets of the Tammoni Society, and how much of it goes to the pockets of those civilians, and how much of it goes into the pockets of certain people.

(End of chapter)