1264 That Is Not My Hometown
On the top floor of the Heart of the Sea, the semi-open arc dome was brightly lit.
It was the most luxurious banquet hall in the entire Xin, and it usually hosted the most prestigious events of the country. In addition to state banquets that were usually sponsored by Future Group, private functions or business functions must pay a daunting twenty million Xin New dollars to rent the venue.
Based on the current international influence of Xin and the Earth Defense Alliance, the banquet held here at this moment was probably one of the most influential events in the world. It was even comparable to a state banquet of the Capitol. Perhaps the dishes available were not the finest delicacies, but outside the dinner itself, the decisions made at the event dictated the future direction of the world.
“Haha, President Zhang, congratulations!” A man in a suit came forward and congratulated him.
“It seems that G.o.d is destined to let Xin continue to prosper, because every citizen of Xin has made the right choice.” In a black evening gown, a representative of a community raised her gla.s.s with a smile and offered her congratulatory words.
President Zhang smiled humbly to the praising words and leaft the most graceful image he could to the honorable guest. However, the corner of his mouthed curved up and the flush on his face showed off the proudness in his mind.
This victory came very easily and could even be described as expected.
However, even knowing this point, the little vanity in people’s minds was still fulfilled.
Who would have thought that the person who lived in exile in New Zealand four years ago turned out to be the revolutionary leader of Xin, and he was pushed to the throne of the president?
Of course, obviously not everyone was satisfied with this result.
The oppositions that were invited stood at the corners of the banquet hall. They gazed at Zhang Yaping, who received all the compliments in the world, with envy and jealousy in their eyes. They whispered and mocked.
“You just found the right person. What’s there to be proud of.”
“Just a puppet…”
“Humph! When I become president, the first thing I’ll do is to end the monopoly of Future Group on Xin’s economy. The second thing I’ll do is to take back the national defense and intelligence power from Celestial Trade. An enterprise is running the country, how dare…” The more extreme voices were gnas.h.i.+ng their teeth while spewing their political aspirations to the members of their party.
Occasionally, the guests that heard their words would just laugh and joke.
“That’s why you will never be president.”
The man’s face turned red with anger, but he looked away instead.
Obviously, when he said these words, he also clearly knew that.
As long as Xin continued to prosper, these claims would only be a reality in his dreams…
In addition to the few complaints, the main theme of the entire banquet was positive and uplifting.
The melodious symphony echoed in every corner of the hall, and the courteous waiters walked through the seats to pour wine to the goblets on the long tables.
There was commotion at the entrance of the banquet hall from time to time, and the guests in the banquet hall would cast their attention to the door from time to time.
In addition to those that were important and distinguishable, the amba.s.sadors of some superpowers, the ministers of a member state of the Earth Defense Alliance, the generals and presidents of the va.s.sal states of Moro, Country F, and Madagascar were all invited… …
To the visiting guests, the people welcoming and the people being welcomed were all quite grand. Since the visit would set the foundation for the two countries’ diplomatic relations for the next four years, the extravagance was justified.
“Welcome, Mr. Kerry.” Looking at the man who just entered hall, Zhang Yaping’s expression looked slightly surprised, but soon he smiled naturally and extended his right hand, “it’s an honor of the UA to have such an outstanding secretary of state like yourself.”
“Thank you,” Although Kerry was not pleased with such praise, he still responded with a smile. “On behalf of the UA government, I congratulate you on your election. I hope to work with you to safeguard the peace of the world in the next four years, and cooperate in a wider field…”
After he finished the lines he wanted to say, Kerry smiled and politely bowed to President Zhang. The crowd applauded around him as he let go of President Zhang’s hand and walked into the hall.
…
On the elevator to the banquet hall, Jiang Chen gently held Ayesha’s hand. He looked at the bustling crowd, as well as the anchors stopped by the police and army on the lawn outside the floor-to-ceiling window, then recited.
“If Paradise be on this earth, Damascus ’tis and none but she;
If in the heavens, from her derives its air and its amenity.”
“Are we not going to solve the South American problem?” Ayesha awkwardly twisted her pet.i.te body in the evening gown, looked at the crystal high heels, and whispered, “What does it have to do with Damascus.”
“International issues have never existed in isolation. These two problems can actually be solved together.” Jiang Chen shrugged and pointed from the floor-to-ceiling windows at a man being escorted in headscarves through the parking lot. “Did you see it? That is the king of Saudi Arabia. He should have a glamorous princess next to him, but he did not bring her”
“What does he have to do with us?” Ayesha asked.
“Of course, in simple terms,” Jiang Chen laughed, “We solve the Syrian problem for Russia, and the KGB will ‘replace’ the president of Colombia for me. I just happen to be friends with someone in the Middle East who can introduce me to a Syrian General and provide a shortcut in avoiding the UA’s military informants at the Persian Gulf.”
Because of the Ares incident, the relations.h.i.+p between Xin and the UA suddenly took a ninety-degree turn from a state of cold war to an ambiguous relations.h.i.+p. How long this relations.h.i.+p could last would be dependent on the next person giving orders in the Capitol.
During this time, the UA would not be on the aggressive front with Celestial Trade, but Celestial Trade should also not agitate the UA. Maintaining this relations.h.i.+p with Joseph Kennedy until his accession to the throne could perhaps add another member to the Earth Defense Alliance.
The option to avoid war should be the preferred option.
Not to mention…
Jiang Chen paused and smiled at Ayesha.
“And, don’t you want to help your hometown?”
Holding onto Jiang Chen’s arm, Ayesha shook her head gently and smiled softly.
“That is not my hometown, your shoulder is where I belong.”
The gentleness hidden in the sapphire-like eyes, even inadvertently touched, made his heart melt.
However, in the unreserved gentleness, Jiang Chen still could not feel eased.
When he first pulled her away from that desert, took off her tattered headscarf, and brought her into a secularized society, it allowed her to enter another world she had only seen in fantasies. It also converted her to atheism…
However, even after so many years, she did not completely heal from the trauma of her hometown
After all, it was too much for a fifteen year old girl to see her parents die, and then get decapitated by militants in front of her. She traversed through hunger, disease and death… The word cruel is pale compared to what she experienced.
She always chose to forget about her past and instead, filled the missing part of her heart with a tall, confident figure.
For five years.
Jiang Chen did not intend to remind her of those bad memories. He just wanted to do something for her.
Even with the power of the Gaia civilization, he could not bring back the dead.
Perhaps a peaceful and prosperous hometown could make her feel a little better.
It was also the only thing he could do for her.
Now, the time was ripe.
Jiang Chen caressed her brown hair, approached her ear, and said softly.
“Just consider it as something for me.”
The little hand gently covered the warm big hand. Her eyelids were half-closed as she nodded meekly.
“Okay.”