Chapter 313

Chapter 314: Alexander's road to the card house

Shrub Family This wonderful family atmosphere.

It made Abel feel like he was in China. Compared to ordinary Anza people or Europeans and Americans, the proportion of people who value family is not large.

Although eighteen years old cannot be kicked out of the house, they belong to the civil class and are poor.

Many families actually had two families when they were growing up. Only the middle and upper classes have more family values.

The shrub family has a very strong family concept. One reason is that this family actually has a "throne" to inherit.

Second, it was mainly because Herbert's wife Barbara managed it well and Herbert himself was very capable.

Under the restraint of him and his wife, generations of the bush family were cultivated to unite. The previous generation is united, the next generation grows up in this atmosphere, the relationship will naturally not be so scandalous.

This atmosphere also infected the small Smith family.

Emily even whispered to Abel: "Actually, if there are more children, it would be better if it were more lively."

She knew that she now had three grandchildren/grandchildren, but none had yet been born.

Abel did not hide it from him.

Abel looked at her and wanted to speak. When little Laura came out dressed, he naturally ended the topic. There's still an hour left before dinner and reception begin.

In the first lady's living room, everyone ate first to fill their stomachs.

This is also the habit of many people from the European and American upper classes when attending receptions and banquets.

Eat your fill first, at least half full. This way, it can be avoided during subsequent receptions and banquets. Because you're hungry, you focus on eating and forget the real purpose of these drinks.

Eating is never the main thing in this cocktail.

What matters is always social.

The Smith family also ate some.

Almost finished eating, before it got dark. Little Laura asked Emily to go out for a walk and she wanted to take her on a tour of the White House.

Little Laura could tell that Emily was very curious about this place.

This is also the curiosity of most people in this country, even Abel was no exception at first.

George also smiled and supported little Laura. Little Laura took Smith with her and left the first lady's living room first. Little Laura clung tightly to Emily's arms during her visit to the White House.

Alexander did not go there, he appeared on the south lawn with Abel.

There is a large staff on the South Lawn and much of the evening reception will take place here.

Tonight we used the buffet mode because it might be too crowded.

I may not be able to stay inside and the weather is nice today, so I might as well enjoy a cold buffet outdoors. There's still about half an hour until guests arrive. The large South Lawn is not full of employees.

Abel and his son walked among them.

"I think this place is very normal." Alexander suddenly said: "I think your grandfather's house in Houston is more beautiful than this place."

"The attraction here is not the house. It's the power that the people who live in this house have."

Abel glanced at his father: "Dad, ask yourself. Haven't you ever thought about living here someday? »

Responding to his son's question, Alexander looked up at some buildings across the lake.

It's not completely dark yet and these buildings are already lit up.

"Of course I do. American boys don't have such fantasies in their youth, do they?"

Like Hoa Ha, most children dream of becoming XXX when they are young.

"Right." Abel stopped and whispered to his father, "I hope one day you can live there."

Alexander stopped following him and looked at his son. A year ago, Alexander would have been surprised when Abel said these words to him.

Now that Abel said these words to him, Alexander was not surprised at all.

One year ago, that time in the hideout under the Smith mansion.

The secret conversation between father and son helped Alexander understand Abel's thoughts and plans.

From then on, Alexandre decided to help his son. So Alexander would not be surprised to hear his son repeat this.

"Dad." Abel suddenly said in a low voice: "In November of next year, do you think you can become a deputy?"

Alexander glanced at him: "Next year?" Is it too urgent? I even got used to this type of life.

"What's up? Last month, someone was also an executive director at several companies. They will become finance ministers next month. » Abel said indifferently:

"In comparison, you have more experience."

Alexander guessed that his son was talking about George's treasurer.

For my son, even in Texas.

Uncle Alexander paid attention to the political situation in the country, especially in Washington DC.

In this way, Alexander of course also knew Paul Henry O'Neill, who was recently said to be increasingly at odds with George and the White House.

Alexander is thinking about his own chances of success next year. Abel is also thinking.

Next year will be 2002, and there will be a new round of selection at the end of next year.

This is why Abel wants Alexander elected next year.

Because it relied solely on the local reputation of the Smith family and the support of the neighboring Bush family.

There is also Abel's investment from last year to next year, for a total of two years. Abel thought that Alexander had a good chance of being elected.

And it doesn't matter if you don't get elected, you can still continue to be his sheriff if you don't get elected.

Not until the general election three years later, if the election fails, will there be no district leader.

Like George, if he lost last year's election. He could come back and continue being governor of Texas. George did not resign as governor until December, after the victory had been confirmed and left it to his deputy to do so.

For example, in case a certain senator or governor participates in the general election.

Once elected, simply resign from the governorship or senatorship near the time of inauguration.

If not elected, you can continue as governor or senator on your own, as long as the term has not ended then you can continue as governor or senator.

That's what Abel thought, he wanted dad to try next year. If they become one of the members of the House of Representatives, the Smith family will really begin to make a name for themselves in Congress.

Faced with his son's serious eyes, even Alexander felt that the speed was too fast.

After all, this time last year he was just a farmer. This year, now Tarrant's sheriff.

If he succeeds next year, he will be one of the members of Congress next year. The range of identification is too large, and Papa Smith is not used to it.

"Okay. I'll think about it." Alexander finally told his son.

Abel smiled lightly.

Because Abel knew that, given his own father's character. He never thinks about things he doesn't want, and things that make him think mean he's really agreed.

Father and daughter began to back away slowly and they saw Emily and baby Laura walking out of the room.

It is estimated that Emily has finished visiting the White House.

Abel believes he may not have finished his visit.

Because according to Mrs. Wales, except for the second floor. There are many places inside where she cannot go.

Very boring.

Wales couldn't go, and of course baby Laura and Emily had nowhere to go either.

Just like how Abel was treated during the day.

Two generations of the Smith family met in the middle of the South Lawn. "How are you, dear mother? How does this house compare to our Smith Manor?" » Abel said smiling.

A smile appeared on Emily's face: "To be honest, I'm a little disappointed. We can't go to many places, it's too serious, I don't like it."

The little girl Laura next to her smiled softly and said: "This place looks like this." I lived here when I was young and the only place I could play was outside!

Emily couldn't help but look at little Laura, who was about the same height as her, and she smiled gently at her. Originally, Emily loved Charlize more.

After all, they were together day and night, Charlize had Abel's child, and her belly grew bigger and bigger.

Emily always goes with him to check.

Using many different testing methods, watching the child in her belly grow bigger and bigger, Emily also felt like she could participate in watching her nephew grow up.

As someone who loves home and darkness, she also loves Charlize a little more. In fact, little Laura just met her for the third time today.

The first time was at a family gathering after Christmas last year.

At that time, Laura had not yet confirmed the relationship and both sides were in the "blind dating stage".

The second time was when little Laura came to the door on her own. At that time, Emily was very worried and worried that little Laura would ask her to blame her. Because baby Laura has already arrived at Charlize's house.

But Emily did not expect that little Laura was very gentle and did not mention Charlize at all. Instead, he proactively pleased Emily in many different ways, much to Emily's surprise.

I couldn't help but leave Emily, I couldn't help but have a good impression of little Laura.

Today was the third time Emily met little Laura. Little Laura enthusiastically took her along, which made Emily love her even more.

Besides the fact that baby Laura will obviously be her son's wife, Emily currently doesn't know whether she loves Charlize or baby Laura more.

Abel's mother is in trouble.

Abel of course did not know this. He called his parents and little Laura to leave the South Lawn before the reception was about to begin. Then Cheney, George's deputy, and his wife would greet guests outside.

George and his wife directly welcome guests here.

Also guests, except Abel and little Laura, please stay here.

But now that there are still Alexander and his wife, it is better to go through the main gate to get to know more people.

Abel did not need it, but Alexander, who intended to follow this path, needed it very much. Led by little Laura who knew the way, the four of them walked to the main street, in front of the reception desk.

Taking advantage of the guests in front, he chatted with Cheney and his wife.

Abel led his parents and girlfriend in line and then went to the main gate of the reception desk.

Coincidentally, the guest standing behind Abel was Buffett, an old acquaintance and friend of his.

Buffett shouted twice from behind. Abel turned around and saw it was Buffett.

"Oh, this is Warren." "Let us wait for him," said Abel. »

Alexander also saw the damn stock behind him, and stopped with Emily.

"Hey, why are you and Miss Bush walking side by side? Oh, that's it."

Buffett married a woman his age who would become his wife.

In addition, Buffett has two wives: his ex-wife and his current wife. The problem is that after Warren divorced his ex-wife, she still didn't leave.

He then married another woman.

Buffett's first wife was named Susan, and his second wife was Susan's best friend!

What's even more amazing is that the three lived together from start to finish!

Abel felt maybe this was why he and Buffett were able to talk.

Because Warren is a brother like him.

It's just that Warren's body is that of a normal person, at most there can only be two. It's not like limiting yourself to 25 at a time!

Thinking like that, Abel didn't know if it was Susan or not. He smiled and introduced his family to Buffett...

"This is my father, Alexander Smith."

"This is my mother, Emily Koch Smith."

"This is Miss Laura Bush."

Warren Buffett smiled and hugged Alexander and shook hands with Emily and Laura Jr.

Abel also smiled and hugged the old woman, not knowing if it was Susan or not.

Because he didn't know his identity, he was still waiting for Buffett to introduce him.

"Monk Astrid Buffett." Buffett smiled and introduced his wife: "My wife."

Oh, so it's not the ex-wife Susan but the current wife and second wife.

There were new guests coming from the back and Abel suggested going in first.

It wouldn't be good to get stuck in traffic and affect other customers. Buffett of course did not refuse, all six people walked in together.

Coming to the entrance of the main reception hall, George's second-in-command, Cheney, greeted them with a smile.

Whether it's Buffett or Abel, Cheney knows himself well.

Also among them is Laura Bush.

Another simple greeting, another guest came from behind so Abel and the others walked in first. Stepping through the door is a large living room.

There were many people in the living room, the back door of the living room was wide open, and in front of the door was a lawn to the south.

There are already quite a few people here. In the foyer of this living room, Abel saw some familiar people.

Like Paulson at Goldman Sachs, Richard Fuld at Lehman Brothers...

That's right, the main targets of tonight's reception were those present at the meeting held that day by Paul Henry O'Neill. In other words, the guests invited by the White House today are mostly "friends" of the US financial community.

Of course, a party of this class.

Of course, there are also serious customers. Everyone knows the importance of Wall Street and finance in this country.

So many important financial figures gathered together. As long as these members of Congress had time and could come, everyone refused to participate. So tonight's guests, including the companions brought, may exceed four or five hundred people.

Although it is a white house, there is no banquet room in the house that is so large that can accommodate so many people.

Luckily, the south lawn is large enough. This south lawn and entrance hall could accommodate six or seven hundred guests.

Additionally, this is a buffet diet but purely for entertainment purposes. With his parents and little Laura, Abel, along with Buffett and his wife, naturally attracted more attention.

Like Paulson, he was the first to greet us.

Reach out your hand and don't hit the person who is laughing, let alone the Smith family really wants to go up. It is always better to have many friends and few enemies.

Abel introduced again, someone chased after him. He was a bit uncomfortable so he took the initiative to attack.

He took his parents for a walk and met everyone he knew and didn't know.

After a while, Abel's father Alexander made a lot of noise on Wall Street, and he would eventually be considered an unknown in this country in the future.

At least later when someone introduces Alexander Smith, they'll say, "Oh, that's Abel Smith's father." »

Walk like this for half an hour.

The Buffett family left a long time ago to find their own circle. So, in the end there were little Laura and Abel, as well as Alexandre and his wife.

As time passed, more and more guests arrived.

Finally, at about seven o'clock, George and his wife appeared.

(end of this chapter)