Miss President wants to talk to you

Outside the station, a car had been waiting for a long time.

All the arrangements were made in advance by Eleanor before she left Washington, D.C.

Wilson Dam is federal property.

The administration office has a reception room, which is occasionally used to receive members of parliament and military officials.

Preparing a dinner is not difficult.

That evening.

Wilkes arrived at the dam on time.

He only brought one private secretary with him.

After entering the reception room, the secretary waited outside, and Truman received the same treatment.

Eleanor and Wilkes held hands and looked at the camera.

A White House photographer took their picture and then left.

"Mr. Hopkins."

Wilkes smiled gently. "Thank you for the invitation."

"I should be thanking you for coming."

Eleanor gestured for Wilkes to sit down.

“I have just taken over the valley and I don’t know much about it.”

“You’ve been running this business here for many years, so I’d like to ask you for advice.”

These words were spoken with great humility.

Wilkes was initially wary, but after hearing the story, he relaxed considerably.

The two sat down at the dining table.

Dinner was prepared in a very formal manner.

After chilled oysters, come clear turtle soup and pan-fried river trout.

The main course is roasted beef tenderloin, served with ham sauce, creamed potatoes, tender asparagus, and freshly baked buttermilk rolls.

Finally, pecan pie and black coffee were served.

The overall style has a strong southern feel.

Wilkes couldn't help but say, "Mr. Hopkins seems to be very considerate of my tastes."

"I also want to try the local cuisine of the Federation."

Eleanor said, "Don't let my East Coast background fool you. I don't hold grudges. East Coast cuisine is subpar and not presentable. Among the continental cuisines, the only ones worth mentioning are Southern cuisines."

His statement was somewhat biased, but it wasn't a major problem.

Northern cuisine, with its diverse culinary traditions, draws from all over the world. While it is inclusive, it lacks its own distinct local characteristics.

In contrast, the South, with its strong local flavor, has developed a systematic culinary style.

Wilkes smiled slightly, clearly pleased with these words.

It seems that Eleanor is not just a cruel official in Roseve's hands, as the rumors suggest.

That's still quite humane!

“Mr. Hopkins, I must say, you are easier to get along with than the newspapers say.”

"What did the newspapers say about me?" Eleanor asked.

"Hehe, I think it's better if I don't answer that question."

Wilkes usually reads Southern newspapers.

There couldn't possibly be a single good word for Eleanor from there.

After that, their conversation was perfectly normal.

We didn't talk about any sensitive topics, just chatted about the weather, our hometown, and life.

Eleanor also inquired about how many people were in Wilkes' family and where his children went to school.

Wilkes provided the answer.

He has a son and a daughter. His daughter is studying law at university, while his son has just started boarding school.

When talking about his children, this southern power tycoon couldn't help but show warmth on his face.

For a time, both host and guests enjoyed themselves immensely.

The atmosphere remained harmonious until the dinner was nearing its end.

Wilkes was indeed somewhat surprised by this.

He had assumed that Eleanor would present a prepared proposal demanding concessions from Southern United Power Company.

He waited patiently.

As a result, Eleanor did not mention any similar topics at all.

It seems I have to be the one to speak first.

"Mr. Hopkins."

Wilkes took a sip of red wine and said.

"You called me here today, there's probably more to it than just drinking and eating, there must be something else going on!"

"Please just say what you have to say."

“If our group can do it, we will definitely do it for you; if we can’t, Mr. Hopkins, I hope you can understand my predicament.”

Eleanor slammed her hand on the table: "That's great! I love your temper!"

"To be frank, the federal government wants to buy Southern United Power Company's power grid system in the Wilson Dam area and the surrounding seven counties."

"Price is not a problem; we can accept even a premium!"

Wilkes' smile vanished instantly.

"Mr. Hopkins."

He asked as if to confirm, "You're not joking with me, are you?"

"I haven't heard a word about the federal government wanting to restart the Wilson Dam."

Did Congress actually approve this budget?

"You said you have the money to buy it, you're not just making things up, are you?"

They wanted to buy the power grid system near the dam, but the price wasn't cheap.

The transmission lines themselves alone are worth over 1.2 million.

If we include the power distribution network, such as utility poles, substations, customer access equipment, and local business systems, etc.

Its value is over eight million.

Does Eleanor have the money?

Moreover, Southern United Power Company is willing to sell its power grid system to any power company, but it would never be willing to sell it to the federal government.

This is something that cannot be opened even slightly.

Once the federal government has its own power grid system in the valley, it will essentially have the power to bypass the power companies and set its own prices.

They have their own dams, which allows them to set electricity prices very low.

In the long run, all the power companies in the valley will lose their reason for existence.

"Mr. Wilkes, haven't you heard?"

Eleanor found it strange; he felt that Wilkes' intelligence shouldn't be that outdated.

"Haven't you heard that Congress recently approved a huge sum of money for public works projects across the country?"

Public works?

Wilkes certainly knew that, but hadn't even the person in charge of this project been determined yet?

What gives Eleanor the right to access this funding?

"Mr. Hopkins."

Wilkes expressed his concerns: "If I remember correctly, the public works project is still in the planning stage."

"Isn't it a bit too fast for you to be preparing to use this fund now?"

"At the very least, shouldn't we appoint someone in charge before making any arrangements?"

Eleanor, of course, could not answer that question.

He simply brushed it off, saying, "This is an important part of the new policy, but I can't go into details."

“Let’s get back to the main topic, Mr. Wilkes.”

"As long as you are willing to sell the power grid system of the seven counties surrounding the dam, the price and everything else are negotiable."

Wilkes remained silent for a moment.

"Thank you for your kindness, but I'm sorry, I can't accept."

He said, "The power grid system near Wilson Dam is a very important asset for the company, and there are currently no plans to sell it."

"What if I pay more?"

Eleanor asked, "Fifteen million dollars to buy the power grid system of seven nearby counties. You definitely won't lose out on this deal."

Even though he was mentally prepared, Wilkes still couldn't resist the temptation when faced with this price.

Eleanor is right, the price is already extremely fair.

The power grid system for the seven counties is worth around eight million.