Witness of the film and television world

Chapter 157 We Are Friends

Baji Manor - This is a very large manor with a history of more than a hundred years.

When it was built, the place was not prosperous enough, so the owner of the manor was able to enclose a large piece of land as much as possible to facilitate various renovations later, or to maintain his own privacy and security.

Even Peyton knew that Christians in California gathered here a long time ago, making it an iconic place in the religious circles of California.

Just to the west of the manor, there is a church.

As the Baji family occupying an important position in the federal religious circle, their influence and appeal may not be obvious, but in many respects, they are irreplaceable.

Religion may not be as transcendent as in the Middle East in this country, but it is more universal.

After all, we all know that too strong and extreme religious belief is a double-edged sword. He feels forced to accept rather than take the initiative. This kind of terror of being coerced is serious.

However, the relatively free religious form of the Federation is easier to guide and win votes from the people.

In times of disaster, you can blame bosses, officials, and capitalists... and your only belief, the belief you actively choose, becomes all you have.

For example, during World War II and its aftermath, there was a dramatic increase in federal religious groups. The war drew millions of federal families into churches or synagogues to pray for the safe return of loved ones from the front lines.The horrors of war and the loss of faith in the future drove millions to seek refuge in religion.

After the end of the 50s, although this upsurge in religious faith subsided, the growth rate of church membership stabilized.

The church membership as a percentage of the total population has remained steady at 63% for several years.

It was also under these circumstances that the Catholic faith was bombarded by so many Protestant Christians during Kennedy's election campaign.

He was almost defeated as a "battle hero", "female best friend" and "tea party expert"...

The titles of the church heads of several generations of California diocesan, which makes them have all the real nobility, although they do not have the title of nobility.

It is far from comparable to some dilapidated households who wear dukes and marquises.

Otherwise, it would be impossible for Sibel Badji to marry a lady from the Rockefeller family.

The strong will only unite with the strong.

"Dear little Mr. Chris, I'm glad you're here."

Mr. Siebel Budge seemed to have heard the news from the doorman. When Peyton's car stopped, he was already standing outside the house, looking very enthusiastic.

Beside him was a young man in a suit and leather shoes, with a friendly smile on his face, nodding to Peyton.

"Let me introduce to you, this is Northern Petroleum's Vice President Charles Koch."

Peyton was surprised.

It's normal to see Mr. Budge's family members or people from Standard Oil of California, but a young president of Northern Oil?

Peyton was also a little confused, thinking in his heart, with a calm face, smiling and beckoning to the two.

"It's an honor to have your invitation, Mr. Badji."

"President Koch."

……

The manor is really big. Under Mr. Baji's leadership, it took them a while to walk through the long corridor before they entered the manor.

This is a hall, full of dignity and luxury.

Walking into it, the pavement comes, a special atmosphere.

To be precise, the entire hall space is filled with a very special atmosphere, which is very yearning.

It is an aura that can only be infused with wealth, status, and power as materials, a noble aura, a luxurious aura.

This kind of aristocratic life that has been passed down for hundreds of years is hard for people to imagine. The wealth accumulated by the family for hundreds of years is itself a huge and astonishing number.

This wealth allows them to live a very refined life.

It is so delicate that any detail in life that is too small to be finer has an expensive atmosphere.

Not to mention the coral, white ivory that dot the environment...

Just find a picture frame, and the oil painting hanging inside may be the work of a certain master at his peak, which is very valuable.

Randomly pull out a manuscript from the bookshelf on the side, and you may see a series of historical celebrities sign their names on the cover as soon as you open the cover to show that they have read the book.

Even the carpet that Peyton and others stepped on at this time has a price that ordinary people can't imagine.

This place is like a museum, but all kinds of precious things in this museum are just Mr. Baji's daily life.

Some people say that nobles have a special temperament, which cannot be cultivated in three generations.

In fact, this so-called temperament is the edification of all aspects of life, as well as the development of vision and the jump of thinking.

This needs wealth to irrigate.

If you don’t believe me, take a look at the prince in distress. Without the embellishment of wealth, you may think he is contrived and hypocritical...

Obviously he is still so elegant~~
Just a little bit admiring the inheritance and heritage of this big family, Peyton sat down quickly, and then put a box that he carried with him on the table.

"It's my first visit. I heard that Mr. Baji likes to collect some historical things. It just so happens that I have a very special little thing here. I hope you can accept it."

As Peyton opened the box in front of him, a colorful spot of light began to be reflected.

This is a crown. The main part of the crown is outlined in gold, and then inlaid with a total of 180 gems, some of which are out of production and can be called unique.

Regardless of its material value, it is also of great value in terms of art, history and culture.

Mr. Baji's originally calm face also showed a little more emotion.

Peyton smiled: "This is the Indigo Crown, a collection of a Marquis. It was made by a court jewelry craftsman during the period of Louis XIV in France."

"A crown from the time of the Sun King? Unbelievable!"

Baji’s eyes were amazed. He just wanted to reach out and touch the things in the box, but he thought of something. He walked to a shelf in the exhibition hall, opened the drawer, put on a thin layer of gloves, and then picked up the box. crown.

"beautiful!"

Mr. Baji kept praising. For a person like him, money might make him a little bit interested, but it was hard to impress him.

Only something that hits the climax can move him.

It's like, the prime minister is not tempted by the lady in his boudoir, but he just likes a good family~~
Get rid of low-level interests and pursue higher enjoyment.

Mr. Baji looked back and forth, full of admiration and appreciation...

Peyton smiled in his heart, he knew he had found the right thing.

Mr. Baji's hobbies are indeed the same as those in the information. He prefers all kinds of ancient crowns, preferably with some historical elements and celebrity characteristics.

A few years ago, Forbes auctioned off a crown that belonged to Charles II after the Restoration, and it was won by him at a sky-high price of 350 million US dollars.

(There are actually many similar hobbies, such as your honorable Brezhnev, the Medal of Love.)
As for the Crown of Indigo, in terms of price alone, its last public transaction price was not expensive, worthy of more than 100 million US dollars.

But the problem is that no one knows who owns it, and even if they know, they may not sell it.

It was Payton who spent a lot of effort to find his owner, a Marquis of the Netherlands, through the firm's network, and then took the collection through a favor and cash.

After a while, Mr. Budge reluctantly put the crown back into the box.

"It is indeed the style of the Sun King period. I am too precious and I cannot accept it."

Peyton smiled slightly, he could see Mr. Budge's reluctance.

Peyton shook his head and refused: "I just locked it in the safe in my hands, but given it to you, you can let more people see it, which is also its honor!"

"I'm in the oil industry just now, and I just need the guidance of seniors like you. This gift is exactly the crystallization of our friendship."

"Doesn't Mr. Budge disagree with our friendship?"

Mr. Baji's expression was very vivid, and his eyes kept jumping between hesitation and reluctance.

Finally he made up his mind and stretched out his hand: "Of course, we have always been friends."

Peyton laughed: "Then please accept the gift from your friend."

With that said, after closing the box, he actively pushed it over.

Charles, the young vice president on the side, saw this scene, and it was not surprising. Although he was young, he had a master's degree in chemistry and engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. clear.

Although it is undeniable that the main reason for being the vice president is that the company belongs to their family, his father's trust in his ability is also an important point.

Otherwise, he would not be the only son in the family.

(End of this chapter)