Chapter 26: The ‘President’ Pledge of Allegiance

The lobby of the Chinese dormitory was eerily quiet. Omar, Chen Yushu, Li Yang and Zhou Ming were all staring at Zhou Ming, waiting for his final answer.

Although Omar had already told his story in full just now, to Chen Yushu, Li Yang and the others, it was still an unbelievable miracle.

You have to know that today is already the 23rd of May, and there are only two days left until the end of candidate registration. If before Huang Yi was disqualified, they still had a last glimmer of hope after the meeting with Zhou Ming, then today, after their failure to find a new candidate, they have completely given up hope. Otherwise, Ye Ning would not have said that they would go back and persuade Omar.

Of course, they could have given up on the campaign. After all, they were mainly there to learn about finance and economics, and the United States is a capitalist country where everything serves commercial capital. Similarly, there are plenty of companies here that do not participate in politics. As long as American laws support capital and commercial activities, companies can survive within the legal framework.

So if others can do it, then so can they. Deep down, they are holding back a breath: why should we admit defeat to Brooke? We just don't buy it!

But reality is ultimately cruel. Due to racial discrimination and propaganda, they hit a wall everywhere. The people they approached either refused to run for them or did not have enough political ability, so in three days they made no progress at all. However, just when they were at their wit's end, Omar, who had been handpicked by Zhou Ming before, suddenly presented himself at the door. They could think of no other expression than a miracle.

When Omar suddenly appeared at the door just now, they were almost so happy that they could have jumped up and down. Only Zhou Ming remained calm, invited Omar in to sit down, and then asked him what had happened.

After a while, Omar saw that Zhou Ming was still silent, and he could no longer hold back. He said, 'Zhou Ming, I know that my attitude was very bad before, and I can apologize to you for this.'

Omar stood up and bowed to Zhou Ming, then turned to Ye Ning and continued, 'I can also apologize to this lady for my harsh words that day. I don't ask you to forgive me, I just want to tell you that I am still useful. I know about elections and I can give speeches. As long as you can give me your support, I can win a seat for you in the parliament. Please believe in me!'

Facing Omar's sincere words, Zhou Ming felt a little bit of a mixture of emotions, because he had just been slightly distracted. After all, Zhou Ming never imagined that this black president, who was destined to be recorded in the history books of the United States and even the world, had actually had such an unforgettable period in his life. Not only did he lose the opportunity to become a judge, but he was even cuckolded in his own bed.

But this seems to explain why, after receiving his doctorate from Harvard Law School this year, Obama chose only to take a job as a teacher and it was not until six years later that he began his political career with the encouragement of his future wife. In ten years, he went from running for city councilor to becoming President of the United States, and he was also the first black President to break with tradition. From another perspective, this also shows his political abilities.

Zhou Ming was a little distracted just thinking about these things, and when he came back to his senses, he saw that Omar was apologising to himself and Ye Ning and also trying to sell himself. This really made Zhou Ming feel a little helpless, but it also showed from another perspective that Omar had really made up his mind to go into politics.

Since he had already sold himself, it would be too mean if he held back on his support, even though he hadn't intended to hold back.

Zhou Ming said to him, 'Mr. Omar, I would like to believe you. If we support you, you will definitely help us win this election. But before that, I have a question for you, Mr. Omar. What is the purpose of your campaign? Is it to gain power and then take revenge on your girlfriend and that opponent, Cain, or do you have some other ideas?'

Zhou Ming's question left Omar stunned. He shook his head and muttered, 'I don't know. I just want power. I just can't accept that just because we're both in America, they're better than us. Just because I'm black, I'm destined to be bullied?'

'Do you feel that you are an American, but America is not your home; you are an African, but Africa is a land that is even more foreign?' asked Zhou Ming.

Omar was stunned at first, and then he silently repeated Zhou Ming's words in his heart. His eyes suddenly lit up, and he nodded desperately, saying, 'Yes, that's the feeling. Mr. Zhou Ming, you are really amazing, you actually described in one sentence a feeling that I can't describe no matter how hard I try. Although you look very young now, I think you must be a very smart and experienced person!'

Zhou Ming actually felt a little embarrassed by Omar's praise, because what he had just said was what Omar would write in his book in the future. Zhou Ming had just told him his own summary in advance.

Zhou Ming waved his hand and said, 'I am not a literary figure, I just simply don't want the candidate I support to run a purposeless campaign. As for you, Omar, I think that due to your background and experience, you must have the most say in the social structure of the United States. So what you need to do is not just to seize power, but to use that power to change them as much as possible according to your ideas.'

Zhou Ming's words made Omar respect Zhou Ming. He subconsciously straightened his back. Although Zhou Ming was still sitting there, in Omar's eyes, he was now as tall as a giant.

'Mr. Zhou Ming, you are the greatest person I have ever met, not only because of your wisdom, but also because of your generosity and charisma. You want your followers to progress together with you, not just use them. This is like the sky and the sea, in the past I thought only God could do this, until I met you.'

Omar continued, while making a solemn bow with his right hand clasped against his chest and performing a knightly salute to Zhou Ming: 'I know that these words are nothing to you, but I still want to say that I will be loyal to you and I will try my best to win every election for you!'

As he listened to Omar's solemn oath, Zhou Ming just wanted to burst out laughing. Heaven be my witness, he really hadn't intended to be pretentious, but simply to put Omar on an equal footing with himself and to make a win-win cooperation with him. Who knew that such a pure thought would actually lead to this; it seems that he has been too equalitarian, forgetting that Omar is not yet the President of the United States, but just a black student who has been bullied.

Who is Obama? He is the future President of the United States who has been re-elected, and also the first black President in the 230 years since the founding of the United States.

Now such a person has actually sworn allegiance to him, which is definitely something that makes one howl with excitement!

Perhaps he still doesn't know exactly how the capital of the United States colludes with politicians to create benefits, but he is still in his twenties and has a long time ahead of him. Obama has not even received his doctorate yet, and there is plenty of time for him to slowly understand this game of capital and power.

However, Zhou Ming could not laugh maniacally just yet. After all, the act of pretending to be someone he was not had to be completed no matter what. So Zhou Ming deliberately sighed and said, 'Omar, I know that if I say anything else to you about cooperation or not, it will be an insult to you, so I won't say anything. I will just tell you that I accept your loyalty.'

After getting a positive response from Zhou Ming, Omar smiled and said, 'Thank you very much!'

What is this called? In 1990, he could still accept the oath of allegiance from such a Harvard elite, and he was considered a strange flower.

Zhou Ming muttered in his heart, but for Chen Shuyu and Li Yang next to him, although what was happening was very sudden, in their hearts it was only natural. After all, it wasn't just anyone, it was their teacher Zhou Ming! No matter who it was, even if Omar was now the President of the United States, it wasn't unacceptable for him to swear allegiance to Zhou Ming, right?

For Ming Zhou, allegiance was just an unexpected interlude. Ming Zhou quickly skipped over it. He said to Omar, 'Without further ado, I want to tell you that we are preparing to run for the position of representative of the Veda community, not the Brighton city council or the Massachusetts state legislature. Starting from the most basic level of representative, are you willing, a Harvard PhD?'

Omar replied, 'Of course it's fine. Mr. Ming Zhou, I have already pledged my loyalty to you. I hope you don't doubt my loyalty.'

Zhou Ming nodded silently and then said, 'I'm sorry, I won't doubt it. However, I still need to remind you that since I have also been targeted, I am afraid that I cannot give you much support other than the initial two hundred voter signatures in your campaign. You need to raise funds yourself and create your own slogans and hire people to promote them.'

'Is that Senator Brooke?' Omar asked tentatively.

'So you know about it too?' asked Zhou Ming in return.

Embarrassed, Omar scratched his head and said, 'After you came to see me, I looked into it a bit.'

'I see, yes, it is this senior Massachusetts senator who is targeting me,' said Zhou Ming.

Omar thought for a moment and asked, 'In that case... Mr. Zhou Ming, if you could, I wonder if you could give me a list of wealthy people? After all, I have been studying at school, and my social connections are not that extensive, but as long as I have the list and the phone number, I believe I can raise the money.'

'Just the list and phone number is enough? You are asking strangers for money,' Zhou Ming was curious.

'Of course, because isn't this how all electoral funding is raised? So I used to call these politicians professional high-level beggars, I just didn't think it would happen to me one day,' said Omar.

Zhou Ming felt a little helpless at Omar's relaxed words. It seems that this is a cultural difference. For Chinese people, apart from beggars and scammers, asking a stranger for money is always an embarrassing thing to do. That's why Zhou Ming helped Huang Yi's campaign with his own money. But now listening to Omar, in their eyes, it is only natural for them to ask strangers for money.

After a self-deprecating comment, Omar then asked, 'Mr. Zhou Ming, although I'm being presumptuous, I would also like to take a look at your previous campaign brochures.'

Facing this request from Omar, Ye Ning was the first to react. After answering, she took the initiative to go and get the brochures.

Omar took it and closed it after just one glance. He looked up at Zhou Ming and said, 'I'm sorry to say, Mr. Zhou Ming, but your brochure is too wordy. I think the best slogan is one sentence long.'

Zhou Ming nodded silently. 'It seems I didn't choose the wrong person. Omar, you really do have political talent. Indeed, political propaganda is just like advertising. Too many words will make people forget, and the best slogan is one that people can remember. What are you going to do, Omar?'

Omar pondered for a moment and replied, 'If I remember correctly, the Vida community belongs to the Fenway District, and the campaign period for this district ends in two days. I can go register tomorrow, then go around the community to conduct surveys and decide on a slogan. On the last day, I'll go around asking for 200 voter signatures with the slogan. Mr. Zhou Ming, do you think this arrangement is good?'

'Don't ask me, just do as you say,' Zhou Ming said with a wave of his hand.