America 1881: They Call Me Legend

Chapter 365 New Democratic Candidates

Chen Jianqiu, who had watched the whole farce from the sidelines, was not in a hurry to leave.

He was looking for something in the crowd.

"Chen, do you think these children of Raymond Russ are real or fake?" Danny asked from the side.

Chen Jianqiu did not turn his head, and continued to scan the crowd:

"The latter ones are false, but the first black child may be real."

"But even if it's true, there are other people's handwriting in it."

"Otherwise, how could a teenage child know the appearance of his biological father who had abandoned him long ago? How could he and his mother have such a coincidence that they would appear at the scene of Lars's speech to recognize their relatives on this day?"

Chen Jianqiu's eyes quickly stopped on a person's face.

The fat congressman next to Scott.

At this time, he was looking at the backs of Harlem and the Democrats leaving, with a look of gloating on his face.

"Let's go, I guess we'll be busy soon."

Chen Jianqiu greeted Mayor Danny and left the scene.

In Santa Fe, the Democratic Party's gubernatorial election stronghold, backbone members are discussing countermeasures.

There was an air of pessimism hanging over the room.

Some people were sighing, some were musing, and some were angrily accusing Raymond Russ of slipping up at critical moments.

"I'm just saying that it's not a good idea to turn the battle line into personal attacks!" a lawyer muttered dissatisfied.

He was holding a cigarette in his left hand, and the pen in his right hand was tapping the table rhythmically.

"Scott is particularly experienced in this kind of dirty stuff," the lawyer said.

"Can you stop talking about these things afterward?" A newspaper editor sitting opposite him expressed his dissatisfaction, "Also, can you stop banging on the table?"

The lawyers immediately began to retort like cockfighting cocks.

The quarrel in the room started again, and more people joined in the scolding.

"Please give me some time to calm down!"

Congressman Harlem, who was sitting at the top of the table, finally stopped covering his face.

He started pulling his hair.

"Now that the situation has gotten so bad, you actually still have the heart to quarrel here?"

The people on both sides of the table stopped talking and looked at Harlin.

Otherwise? What else can you do now besides quarreling?

After what happened in Lincolnshire, this campaign was over.

Raymond Russ's reputation is ruined, and the Democratic Party's efforts this election cycle will be in vain.

Just one step away, they already have a certain advantage in the state assembly during the midterm elections.

"Where's the prosecutor general? How's it going?" Harlin turned his head and asked the person next to him.

"Since I came back from Lincolnshire, I have been staying in my own house behind closed doors and not seeing anyone."

Harlin covered his face again.

As a politician, Raymond Rath's performance is so substandard.

If it were him, he would shamelessly pretend that nothing had happened and continue to explain his point of view.

As long as you are not embarrassed, others will be embarrassed.

"Harlem, there are several businessmen who want to withdraw from our campaign team." The editor suddenly said, "They found various reasons."

"Do these people not understand what political loyalty is? Do they think that if they turn to Scott now, will they still be wanted?"

Harlem rubbed his face.

After scolding him, he knew that the political donations promised by these people must have not been forthcoming.

"How about we go find Mr. Chen again? Among the powerful bosses in New Mexico, he is the only one who has not expressed his position." The lawyer began to turn his pen again.

"Okay! Go and invite Mr. Chen!"

Harlem agreed without thinking.

There was no hesitation, even though the two had broken down not long ago.

He only knew that if there were no funds, the election could be over directly, and he would have to continue to endure Scott's arrogance.

What is a face? Is it important?

"Otherwise, we'd better go find him directly!" The lawyer was more thoughtful than him.

The next day, the two men showed up under the Santa Fe Railroad Company building in Albuquerque.

"Mr. Chen is not in the office, he went to Mr. Gardner's house." A company employee said to the two.

So Harlin and the lawyer rushed to Gardner's house without stopping.

The door to the Gardner house was closed.

The two of them knocked for a long time but still didn't open it.

There wasn't even a servant to open the door.

They had to go around to the back of the yard to find the reason.

A burst of laughter came from the fence of the yard.

Gardner's servants were playing croquet on the lawn of the yard with Chen Jianqiu and the lumber dealer.

"Mr. Chen! Mr. Chen!"

Chen Jianqiu was about to hammer the ball into the goal.

He raised his head and saw a hand shaking back and forth above the fence that was as tall as a person.

That voice was familiar to him.

"It's Congressman Harlem." He whispered to Gardner. "Open the door and let him in."

The servant opened the back door and brought the two people in.

"Mr. Chen, I heard that the state government is preparing to slash wages from the railway company. In this regard, the governor has done a very unethical thing." Harin stood next to Chen Jianqiu and said.

"Weren't you also there when the motion was voted on?"

Chen Jianqiu lowered his head and waved the mallet in his hand, aiming at the small door.

Harlin was a little embarrassed.

Indeed, this bill was passed by the state assembly, but at that time I and the Democratic congressmen did not try their best to stop it.

They don't have to veto every bill Scott introduces.

"You can't beat Scott like this," Chen Jianqiu waved the mallet lightly, hitting the ball and the ball rolled steadily into the wicket.

"What do you mean?" Harlin asked helplessly.

"Listen to me, I guarantee you will govern in New Mexico." Chen Jianqiu put down the gavel in his hand and looked at Harlin.

Harlem hesitated, but it seemed he had no choice.

"Then please tell me."

"First, as I said before, change the gubernatorial candidate." Chen Jianqiu said simply.

"However, our publicity is all centered around Raymond Russ. The final candidate will be determined in two days. Will there be any problems if we change now?"

Changing generals before battle is a taboo for military strategists, so Harlin was a little unsure.

"He already stinks like shit on the street." Chen Jianqiu looked at Harlin in bewilderment, "Do you understand shit? If you don't sweep him away, how can you hug him to sleep?"

It's a cruel but realistic metaphor that Harlin understands.

He even admired Chen Jianqiu's vision a little.

From the very beginning, Chen Jianqiu told him that Lars was not good and would fall behind.

But the problem comes again.

"Then, who should I replace?"

Harlem thought about it, but couldn't find anyone who could stand up to him, not even himself.

"He."

Chen Jianqiu pointed at Gardner, who was smiling like a rich man next to him.

His words shocked everyone in the yard.

"he?"

Harlem and the lawyer were stunned.

"I?"

Gardner pointed at himself, in disbelief.

"Yes, Russ withdrew from the election due to illness, and Mr. Gardner became the final candidate." Chen Jianqiu's look indicated that he was not joking.

"Wait a minute, he is a businessman and has no experience in politics!" Harlem shook his head desperately.

"Yes, yes." Gardner himself agreed with this view.

"I'm not good with words yet," he added.

"Who told you that businessmen can't join politics? Who told you that people who don't speak well can't become governor?" Chen Jianqiu walked to the chairs in the yard, and the others followed him.

He was the youngest in this courtyard, but now he looks like the leader.

"It's true that Mr. Gardner is an amateur, but this is precisely the most important thing, because he has a good reputation." Chen Jianqiu motioned for several others to sit down.

He began his wonderful metaphor again.

"If you were served two plates of shit and a plate of soda crackers, which one would you choose?"

"I'm going to vomit," the lawyer retched.

Chen Jianqiu ignored the lawyer at all, because he could not find any other more suitable description other than using shit to describe the current candidates of the two parties.

Harlem thought for a while.

Chen Jianqiu seems to be right. Anyway, Lars is completely out of luck now, so why not give Gardner a try?

Just break the jar and break it.

"What about the second point?" Harlin continued to ask.

"Second point, from now on, everything that follows the election, including the program, must be listened to by me."

"I will not show up during the whole process, and I need you to strictly implement my policy!"

"I will do my best to help you become the ruling party in New Mexico, including financial, human and material resources. Either I don't do it, or I have to do it to the end."

Chen Jianqiu stared at Harlin and the lawyer with deep eyes.

Harlem instinctively wanted to refuse.

Are you kidding me? A Chinese man dominates the Democratic gubernatorial election?

Is he trying to control the Democratic Party?

We can't win, but we can win by listening to you?

"You'd better listen to him," Gardner said. "His abilities are beyond your imagination. At least the Santa Fe Railroad Company followed him and never suffered a loss."

Harlin was a little shaken. From what he knew about Gardner, this man never lied.

Chen Jianqiu raised his fingers at him and motioned for the congressman to come over.

Harlem did so.

Chen Jianqiu whispered something in his ear.

Harlin's expression changed drastically.

"Is everything you said true?" He looked at Chen Jianqiu.

"Of course what I said is true. No one knows this number better than me." Chen Jianqiu showed a mysterious smile on his face, "Although the absolute number is still small, it is decisive."

"So, you couldn't win in the past, but now you can."

"Then, let's do it!"

Harlin held Chen Jianqiu's hand.

(End of chapter)