America: My Time

Chapter 770 Laying Out the Land in Ohio
Chapter 760 Laying Out the State of Ohio
"John, let them take over the charity fund as well. I don't have time to keep an eye on it!" After the meeting, Anna, as a mother, handed over the charity fund to John again.

"This is a bit of a problem with the charitable fund. My mother thinks someone can take over, but I have limited knowledge in this area!" John doesn't know much about this, as his mother has always been in charge of all the arrangements, including community charitable donations and other donations. Now, John is suddenly in a bit of a predicament.

“Originally, Naoko was the most suitable, but now she needs to take care of little Martin and doesn’t have time. She also doesn’t know much about the others, so you’ll have to make the decision yourself. This is no small matter and we can’t be careless. Let Jennifer Connelly and Christy Turlington participate in the management together. However, you’ll still need to guide them, since they don’t know much about the other people either.”

"Alright, I'll first show them how the charity foundation works, and some necessary social interactions. I originally thought there would be a future between you and Sophie, but I didn't expect it to end so quickly!"

“It’s not that I don’t want to, but she can’t accept it. She has her own ideas, and I can’t force her!” John couldn’t help but smile bitterly at this moment. It seemed that his mother had a good impression of Sophie Marceau, but unfortunately, they had differences.

"Then let the two of them have time to talk to me more. Jennifer's problem isn't too big, but Christie will have a hard time. It might be difficult to coordinate their schedules, since just because I have time doesn't mean she does!"

“That’s not a problem. Let her study with you, and she’s also planning to go back to school. I’ll arrange for her to get into Stanford when I have time! I’m not too concerned about the issues in the US. After all, my public image is no longer an issue, and even if there are some minor problems with the charitable foundation, it won’t be a big deal. But I’m also planning to set up a charitable foundation in Hong Kong, under Standard Chartered Bank. When you have time, could you give them some pointers on things they should pay attention to, so that there won’t be any embarrassing situations?”

“John, you’re being a bit too hasty right now. I think you should calm down, think things through carefully, and then make a decision. Don’t rush things. Things can be done slowly, especially things like this. You have to be extra careful. Charity is a complex subject. If you do it well, you can accomplish a lot with a little money. If you do it poorly, you’ll spend money and still get complaints!”

“I understand, and I’m not in a rush, but I need them to start making contact slowly. I also need to be more vigilant now. Even though the past seems to be over, those old guys will still try to scheme against me whenever they get the chance. I have such a large investment in China, and those old guys will definitely bring it up. Especially since the agreed time for my initial investment is approaching, I’m worried that someone will cause trouble. There’s nothing those old guys won’t do for profit.”

The ten-year agreement is indeed nearing its end, and John needs to be careful at this time. If those old guys find an excuse, he'll be in trouble. Those bastards are no good.

John paused here. The issue of charity wasn't a big deal, but he needed to be more vigilant about the ten-year agreement and not give those old guys an excuse. There was also something more important: since he had the idea of ​​leaving the family, he needed to start preparing now.

“Dad, have you ever thought about getting involved in politics? If so, I think we can participate in the Oregon election. I intend to take over the whole of Oregon. If you are willing, we can give it a try. I believe that as long as we work together, Oregon will soon become our family’s territory.”

“John, are you serious? This is no joke. Do you know what the consequences of doing this are? It means you'll be on the side of the donkey?” Smith looked at John with a serious expression, wanting to hear John's answer.

“Of course I’m serious. I’ve talked to my grandfather, and he supports my decision. Now that we’ve been on the West Coast for so many years and have established ourselves here, we need to have our own territory. A family can’t do without its own territory. California has too many problems, and the Kennedy family is there. It’s difficult to compete with them in politics. Why not move out of California and turn to Oregon? I already have quite a few ideas.”

Smith's expression hardened, and he said in a deep voice, "If you're serious, I can offer someone, but I don't want to get involved. It's too tiring, and I'm not suited for it. Your uncle Calvin would be a perfect fit; he's in Portland now as the deputy mayor."

“My uncle is the deputy mayor of Portland. How come I didn’t know that? Besides, didn’t he leave the family a long time ago and have little contact with us? I remember seeing him only a few times a year. At least in my memory, he’s always busy, but I don’t know what he’s busy with. If you hadn’t mentioned it, I wouldn’t have even thought of him.” “You can’t blame your uncle. It’s all the result of the family’s infighting. Back then, he was just like you. He didn’t want to accept the family’s arrangements and clashed with some of the family members. In the end, he left the family and left the East Coast. He’s been in Portland ever since, and we’ve always kept in touch. It’s just that you younger generation don’t know his situation. Before you completely broke with the family, the old man didn’t allow him to have too much contact with you. In fact, the old man has always wanted you to take over the family.”

"I don't want to deal with those greedy guys. They're all too greedy, trying to take advantage of me without wanting to give anything in return. There's no such thing as a free lunch. By the way, how's Uncle doing these days?"

"He's been living a carefree life since leaving the family. He's been involved in politics in Portland. Although he's received some help from the old man, you know it's difficult to advance further without the family's support. The old man also doesn't allow him to have too much contact with you. So far, he's doing alright."

“This is a good opportunity. I have time to have a good talk with my uncle. With his connections, it will save a lot of time!” John said with a faint smile.

While John was talking to his parents, the women around him were also forming small groups and talking amongst themselves, constantly watching what was happening with John.

“Claudia, it seems our decision was right; at least the situation we feared didn’t happen. However, I think you shouldn’t continue in the entertainment industry. Didn’t you see Jennifer is ready to give up? What are you doing running to Hollywood?” Christie Turlington whispered to Claudia Schiffer, feeling that her choice was foolish and a complete waste of her time.

“This is my hobby. I love living in the spotlight. This is the life I want!” Claudia Schiffer and Christie Turlington are different, and they make different choices.

"Okay, whatever you like is your freedom, but beauty fades, and you might regret it. Hollywood isn't much better than the modeling world. Don't be fooled by their glamorous lives; they all suffer! You've seen how many women are around him; it'll be too late for regrets." Precisely because John had so many women around him, Christie Turlington was willing to remind Claudia Schiffer, lest she be eliminated halfway and leave him friendless.

Looking at those unfamiliar faces, Christie Turlington couldn't help but feel a slight sense of pressure. Although she hadn't been in the modeling industry for very long, she knew it very well. Don't be fooled by how good they all seemed; very few of them actually achieved good results. Most were at the bottom, being manipulated by others.

New York is undoubtedly a fashion capital, but it's also a top global financial center. This has led to the modeling industry being intertwined with the crocodiles of Wall Street, creating a pervasive darkness within the industry. Countless unscrupulous models are being controlled, and such unethical agencies are rampant. The extent of these shady dealings, as revealed by colleagues alone, is immense. This is why Christy Turlington chose to retire gracefully rather than foolishly continue in the industry.

While a talent agency can protect you for a while, it can't protect you forever. The entertainment industry changes very quickly, and without sufficient resources, there won't be any good results. Moreover, even within the same agency, resources are limited. Although Linda Evangelista and Cindy Crawford seem to be doing very well now, without the support of their agencies, they will gradually disappear from the public eye. Resources are the most important thing.

It is precisely because of the support of two major media companies and the power of the Forever Group that the agency has achieved its current dominance in the modeling industry. It is also because of John's protection that they have not fallen into the darkness of the New York modeling world. Although there are many legitimate transactions in the industry, there are far more crazy and shady dealings, with all sorts of shady dealings emerging one after another. The more crazy Wall Street is, the more crazy the New York modeling industry is.

Similarly, the New York fashion scene is incredibly ruthless. Outsiders only see the glamorous surface, unaware of the endless abyss behind it. Countless people fall into this abyss, unable to escape, ultimately succumbing to its clutches. The more you learn about this industry, the more fearful and terrified you become, because you never know when you might fall into its depths. Talent agencies are even more unpredictable. This industry is rife with shady dealings, and newcomers can easily be drawn into its insane depths. There are too many traps; one wrong step and you're trapped!

(End of this chapter)