The arrogance started from Chinatown

Chapter 764 Returning favors
Chen Zhengwei is also very busy today and doesn't have time to accompany James all the time.

There were too many people coming to pay New Year's greetings, including A Long, A Hu, Rong Jiacai, and even Yan Qingyou came back, as well as Yu Chong from the labor company.

"Why do I feel like you've been idle lately, running around everywhere every day?" Chen Zhengwei glanced at Yan Qingyou. He ran back when he came back from Malaysia before.

I'm back again this Chinese New Year.

"It's nothing serious anyway. Chicago is very stable. I only get to pay New Year's greetings to Brother Wei once a year, so of course I have to come back!" Yan Qingyou said with a smile.

"I'll tell Rong Jiacai this! Ask him why he didn't come to pay New Year's greetings!" Chen Zhengwei
Then Chen Zhengwei looked at Yu Chong again and said, "You have now been promoted from the San Francisco Labor Service Company to the head of the International Labor Service Company. Tell me what you think?"

"The burden is heavy again, but I will do my best!" Yu Chong said with a smile.

“It’s not enough to just do your best. We have to make it bigger and stronger!” Chen Zhengwei laughed.

"Boss Yu now has more people under him than I do! I only have more than 20,000 people under me, but he has hundreds of thousands!" Aaron joined in the fun.

Then, people from the Chamber of Commerce, led by Lin Yuanshan and Liang Yiyue, came in a group to pay New Year's greetings to Chen Zhengwei.

Chen Zhengwei invited them to have lunch. In the afternoon he had to go to worship Mazu, and this time the whole family would go.

Not only Lin Changning is holding the golden egg, but Wanyun, Qiaoniang and Zhengwu are also going.

Recently, Qiao Niang and Zheng Wu have been on vacation, and they have been having fun in their mansion in the city center like wild dogs on a leash.

The Tianhou Temple was one of the earliest buildings built when Los Angeles was rebuilt. It is much larger than the one in San Francisco, but even so, it is still packed with people.

"Do you want someone to clean it out first?" Li Xiwen asked.

"No need to be so pretentious!" Chen Zhengwei waved his hand and walked straight to the Tianhou Temple.

After walking a few steps, Qiao Niang and Zheng Wu disappeared.

Chen Zhengwei was too lazy to ask anyone to look for it, so it would be better if it was lost.

These two have been quite annoying at home lately.

"Happy New Year, Mr. Chen!"

"Mr. Chen! Congratulations on your prosperity!"

Chen Zhengwei walked into the Tianhou Temple to worship the gods with a smile on his face. He glanced at the crowd and saw a few familiar faces.

Lin Guoyu's family has several brothers, and their faces are all rough, worn by the sea breeze and the sun. Even if they are thrown into a group of laborers, they can be recognized at a glance.

Chen Zhengwei didn't ask about their situation. Since they had left the Qing Dynasty, they would start over with the navy here.

Previously they had been assisting in transporting Chinese people...after these tasks were completed they would be transferred back to their own ships.

Given their contributions in assisting transportation, they could probably start as the boatswain or first mate of a cruiser, or the captain of a torpedo boat.

There is no other way. Chen Zhengwei's ship was launched too quickly and there is a shortage of manpower. As long as you have some ability and merit, you can get a position.

However, it would probably take two or three years to become a cruiser captain.

……

In the evening, when the banquet was halfway through, Chen Zhengwei finally went to a small living room on the side to chat with James Garfield.

"Chen, what do you think of the current situation in the United States?"

"Everyone knows that you are a genius in war and business! So I would like to hear some of your opinions!" James Garfield found an opportunity to speak. This was the main purpose of his visit this time.

Chen Zhengwei smiled. In fact, when James invited him to attend the New Year's party in Washington last time, he already knew his purpose.

He took out a box of cigars, threw one to James, and lit one for himself.

After thinking for a while, he said, "Now is a critical period for the expansion of the West and the development of industry in the United States."

"We need to vigorously promote infrastructure, including railways and roads, to boost the economy and employment."

"Accelerate the development of related industries, such as automobiles! This can bring about the development of related industries, such as oil, steel and rubber..."

Chen Zhengwei paused halfway through his speech.

It sounds like bragging because it's all about him.

He owns a lot of shares in oil companies and many steel mills, and he also has a good relationship with Andrew Carnegie.

As for rubber, Peru and Bolivia both have large rubber plantations.

But he was telling the truth.

"We need to continue to integrate the territory and resources in the west! Large tracts of land are left vacant, which is a waste!"

"At the same time, we must continue to expand foreign trade and open up and consolidate the markets of South American countries, so we also need a strong navy!"

"Honestly, the U.S. Navy sucks!"

James really liked the "we" that Chen Zhengwei mentioned. He thought about Chen Zhengwei's words carefully before nodding and saying, "Yes, these are what we need to do."

In fact, except for the navy, everything else is already on the US government's schedule.

In particular, integrating the territory and resources in the West is one of the most important strategies of the United States at present.

The Navy has also allocated funds for shipbuilding this year, four light cruisers, three of which are on the East Coast and one on the West Coast, and the order was placed in San Francisco.

It’s just that it’s not Chen Zhengwei’s shipyard. Chen Zhengwei’s shipyard is now fully scheduled.

"Chen, you have a very sharp vision, which can be seen from your business! I believe that cars will bring great changes to this country in the next few years. I am willing to help you promote related things."

“Of course, it’s not just because of the benefits of the car, but also because of our friendship!”

"So we need to stabilize the United States. The war in the southern states last year has seriously slowed us down... and the development of the United States is also in your interest."

"I hope you can help me! We all know that you have great influence, even greater than that of the President of the United States in some aspects. You can prevent some things from happening and reduce the impact of some things..." Who said that foreigners speak directly?
Look how tactful James Garfield is.

They speak directly to you simply because they don't have to be tactful with you.

Chen Zhengwei thought for a moment and found that what James said was quite pleasing to the ear.

And there is really no need to let the blacks make too much trouble now. The white people have already witnessed the destructive power and threats of the blacks.

Just maintain the rift between whites and blacks and push it when needed.

"I'll think of a way." Chen Zhengwei said lightly.

James Garfield breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this.

He prepared along the way how to communicate with Chen Zhengwei.

"Chen, do you want to get a job?" James laughed.

"If you let me be Secretary of State... I might consider it!" Chen Zhengwei said playfully.

"No way!" James said without thinking, and then burst into laughter.

If Chen Zhengwei becomes Secretary of State, it is estimated that within a month, the United States will have to fight with other countries.

James Garfield was actually just talking, he knew Chen Zhengwei would not agree.

But he had actually thought about this before.

Secretary of State, that is impossible.

Minister of Finance, this is also impossible.

Attorney General, this is still not possible.

No matter what position Chen Zhengwei is in charge of, he will cause endless harm.

In fact, what Chen Zhengwei is most suitable for is... Speaker of the National Assembly. At least the agenda of congressional proposals will be much faster in the future.

"What was the reaction from the French?" Chen Zhengwei changed the subject while smoking a cigar.

"The French Prime Minister has not made any statement, but their diplomatic department has been protesting recently. However, I will find a way to convince them!" James Garfield also reciprocated.

Obtaining the rights to build and operate the Panama Canal will also bring huge benefits to the United States.

As for what to do after obtaining the excavation rights, he has never worried about it.

He believed that Chen Zhengwei definitely had the ability and the means.

"Tell the French that they can give them my two Vietnamese ports, Haiphong and Quang An, and the Hongji Coal Mine!"

……

James Garfield stayed in Los Angeles until his third year of junior high school.

It was not until the fourth day of the New Year that Chen Zhengwei had a meal with students such as Tang Shaoyi and Zhan Tianyou.

When these students saw Chen Zhengwei coming in, they all stood up and said respectfully, "Mr. Chen!"

"Please sit down!" Chen Zhengwei said with a smile.

“How’s it looking in LA these days?”

"It's more advanced than New York in many aspects!" everyone said.

"New York still uses horse-drawn trams. The first time we saw a tram that was not pulled by horses, we stood there in a daze for a long time!" said Tang Shaoyi.

"And cars! We saw them in the newspaper when we came to San Francisco, but we didn't see them in person until we got to Los Angeles!"

Chen Zhengwei smiled and said, "As we all know, science and technology, social humanities, these are what drive the world forward!"

"I have some fantastic ideas, and when people come up with them, they promote the development of the world and society."

Chen Zhengwei has never been modest about his achievements. He then changed the subject: "But many things cannot be done by one person, and the development of the Chinese people cannot be supported by one person!"

"That's why I always say that you are the pillars of the Chinese people! You are the backbone! Because you grow by learning new science and technology! Your growth is the growth of the Chinese people!"

"We will definitely live up to Mr. Chen's expectations!" Chen Zhengwei's few words made everyone excited, and they all stood up and clasped their fists.

Chen Zhengwei nodded. After all, it was rare for him to speak so nicely.

If they didn't react, he would be unhappy.

After encouraging the students and having a meal, Chen Zhengwei left.

However, although it was just a meal and a few words, in this era, the effect of this approach was extremely good.

When he returned home, Li Xiwen handed him a telegram.

"Fighting broke out again in South America. The British bombarded the two cities that Bolivia had recaptured. Chile also sent a lot of troops... Peru and Bolivia attacked the saltpeter mines in the Atacama Desert..."

Chen Zhengwei took a look at the telegram and threw it aside.

These are all expected.

Chen Zhengwei turned on the system, thought for a moment and then turned it off again. He went to find Wanyun, slapped her on the butt, turned around and left with a smile.

Only the evening clouds were left there, bewildered.

Chen Zhengwei returned to the sofa and turned on the system.

"lottery!"

(End of this chapter)