Chapter 35: A Woman's Thoughts

Zhou Ming and Jie La walked out of Quincy Restaurant together. Fortunately, not many people came here because of the cost of consumption, otherwise, if they came out together like this, it would definitely lead to some malicious conjectures. If they knew about their teacher-student relationship, I'm afraid the conjectures would be even more filthy and despicable.

Suddenly, Zhou Ming seemed to sense something, and he glanced back at the castle in the centre of the restaurant, stunned and a little dazed.

Jie La couldn't help teasing him when she saw Zhou Ming like this: 'What? Does classmate Zhou Ming feel that this time he didn't have a good meal? It's okay, anyway, this Quincy restaurant has been open here for more than two hundred years. If classmate Zhou Ming is really interested, next time I can come with you specifically to eat, but I can only let you pay the bill. After all, you know that my salary as a teacher and researcher is not high, but I can't afford such a luxurious life.'

Zhou Ming, however, did not pay any attention to Jie La's teasing, but instead turned to her and asked, 'That person in the restaurant just now was not Mr Nordleman, was he?'

Jie La's smile instantly froze, and she looked at Zhou Ming blankly, somewhat awkwardly asking, 'Zhou Ming, why would you think that? You saw it with your own eyes, and you even talked to him for such a long time...'

Before Jie La could finish her sentence, Zhou Ming interrupted her, saying, 'It is precisely because I saw him with my own eyes and talked to him for such a long time that I am even more certain that he is not Mr Nordeman, even though he looks very similar to him.'

Zhou Ming looked at Jie La as he continued, 'Of course, I don't blame you, Miss Jie La. I think you must have your own reasons. I just don't like this feeling of being deceived, especially when it is you, Miss Jie La, who is deceiving me. This feeling makes me feel very uncomfortable, you know?'

Jie La was full of shame, but she still desperately tried to explain to Zhou Ming: 'Zhou Ming, I'm very sorry, but I actually didn't mean to deceive you in any way. It's just that Mister wouldn't let me speak.'

'Who is Mister? Is he the person who just now looked very similar to Mr Nordeman?' Zhou Ming asked.

Jela nodded and said, 'Yes, that's him. His name is Jefferman. Since he and Mr. Nordleiman are twins, they look very similar and it is difficult for ordinary people to tell them apart. Mr. Nordleiman's public identity is that of a professor at the University of Chicago, while Mr. Jefferman's public identity is that of a bank director, but in reality he is an important member of a wealthy family. Those of us who know him call him Sir.'

'That's about what I expected. So it was Mr. Jefferman who asked you to give me the news about the Tang Dynasty Bank and the Gulf?' Zhou Ming asked again.

Jela replied that it was, and then she hurriedly added, 'Zhou Ming, whether it's this matter or any other matter, I have never deceived you. And this matter is still good for you, at least Mr. Jefferman really wants to help you!'

Zhou Ming didn't say anything, just staring at Jie La. Jie La felt a little guilty when Zhou Ming looked at her like that: 'What's wrong? Zhou Ming, why are you looking at me like that? Did I say something wrong?'

'It's not that you said anything wrong, it's just that I feel there's something wrong with the logic,' Zhou Ming continued, 'I think you, Teacher Jie La, should remember the capital issue that Jeffrey and I discussed just now, right?'

If it were anyone else, they would probably not be able to react quickly enough to keep up with Zhou Ming's pace of thinking, but Jie La was only momentarily stunned, and then immediately responded, 'Zhou Ming, you mean to say that he doesn't really want to help you, but the current situation forces him to choose to help you, right?'

'There is no other explanation,' said Zhou Ming. 'After all, he and I don't know each other. Just from the few encounters I had with Mr. Nordleman, I don't have that much face. And to borrow his words, in terms of capital, there is no friendship, only common interests.'

'But there is such a big difference in your levels, what common interests could there be?'

As soon as Jie La asked this question, she immediately covered her mouth. She looked at Zhou Ming with some concern, afraid that her words had hurt the man she cared about. After all, he was a young hero and must be very proud and self-respecting.

Zhou Ming of course understood what Jie La was worried about. He smiled and said to her, 'It's okay, I'm not that petty of a person, and what you said is indeed the truth. The level difference between him and me is too great. Otherwise, I would have already become the manager of a large trust holding several major companies, and I would be using my capital to make the situation in the Middle East deteriorate. I wouldn't be the one being lectured by him.'

Zhou Ming wanted to say something else, but after thinking about it, he didn't say it. Jie La asked Zhou Ming, 'Are you going to ask me about the Tang Dynasty Bank and the consortium behind him?'

Zhou Ming nodded without avoiding it and said, 'I really wanted to ask, but then I thought it would be good to explore step by step as I grow up. It's not necessarily a good thing to know some things too early.'

Jie La was shocked: 'I didn't think that you, Zhou Ming, could have such strong self-control at such a young age, which is truly amazing!'

Then Jie La lowered her head again: 'But in fact, I can't tell you anything either, because I only know that Tangren Bank is affiliated with an ancient Chinese consortium, and this Chinese consortium has a good relationship with some old consortia such as Morgan.'

'The Morgan consortium?' Zhou Ming exclaimed in surprise. 'But as far as I know, the Morgan consortium is a monopoly capital consortium. Its stronghold is banking, and its main sphere of influence should be in steel and railways. But this time, the other party's gun is pointed at the Gulf, where there is only oil.'

'Do you think it's Rockefeller?' Jie La shook her head and said, 'Although the Rockefeller consortium is synonymous with oil, this time the Brighton consortium is involved. The Brighton consortium is a partner with the Rockefeller consortium, and the Morgan consortium is their sworn enemy. Ever since the assassination of the president in Texas 27 years ago, their hatred has never been resolved.'

Zhou Ming listened silently and nodded. Then he said to Jie La, 'Thank you very much, Miss Jie La, for your introduction. I think I understand.'

Zhou Ming's words were very polite, but of course Zhou Ming didn't believe that things were that simple. After all, even behind the Gulf War there was such a tangle of capital, so behind that presidential assassination, who could say there wasn't an even more complicated backstory? ? And just now in Quincy's restaurant, that Mr. Jefferman also said that there is no eternal friendship between capital, only eternal interests. Then the same goes the other way around, there is no eternal enemy of capital either.

It's just that these words Zhou Ming just thought to himself, there is no need to tell Jie La. Zhou Ming does not have the pleasure of arguing with people to their faces, but he also will not simply accept a woman's ideas.

After bidding farewell to Jie La, Zhou Ming went back to the dormitory. Ye Ning was waiting at the door of the dormitory, back and forth. When she saw Zhou Ming, she hurriedly ran over in three or two steps, but when she came to Zhou Ming, she didn't know what to say, just looking at Zhou Ming pitifully.

Zhou Ming smiled and rubbed Ye Ning's little head, asking her, 'Why are you swaying back and forth at the door? Are you done for the day?'

Ye Ning shook her head and whispered no, then looked up and asked Zhou Ming, 'Teacher, have you met with Teacher Jie La? Where did you eat and what did you talk about?'

Zhou Ming felt very warm towards Ye Ning's questions, because this is what women are like. No matter if they are smart or not, or what the current situation is, their main concern is always the man they care about the most.

Facing Zhou Ming's smile, Ye Ning once again lowered her head. She also understood that she shouldn't be asking these questions at this time, but she just couldn't help herself.

Zhou Ming took her hand and said, 'Ye Ning, you don't need to be embarrassed. In fact, you have asked the key questions. First of all, I did meet with Teacher Jie La, but she took me to meet with another person. It was mainly that the third party wanted to meet with me. We had dinner at the Quincy Restaurant on Harvard campus, but we didn't have a good meal today. I only had two bites and left. Next time I have the opportunity, I will take you there to eat together.'

Ye Ning was so happy that she almost jumped up: 'Yes, teacher, you mustn't lie to me!'

Zhou Ming also smiled and said yes, looking at Ye Ning's innocent smile, Zhou Ming felt like a disgusting scoundrel, saying exactly the right things to a girl to woo her!

After coaxing Ye Ning, Zhou Ming returned to the dormitory and received a call from Omar, saying that the Election Committee had already set the time and place for voting, and he had also notified all his supporters of the time separately. If there were no other accidents, he was very confident of winning the election. However, things are so deceptive. On the third day, an accident happened.

Early in the morning of the third day, Zhou Ming received a call from Omar right after his first class. He shouted in a panic, 'Something bad has happened!'

Zhou Ming was a little surprised, but since he had another class afterwards, he asked Omar to meet him at the cafeteria nearby.

They sat down after meeting Omar at the cafeteria. Omar couldn't wait to tell Zhou Ming, 'Mr. Zhou Ming, something bad has happened! The election committee called me this morning and said they want to change the time and place of the voting.'

'A last-minute change? What's going on?' asked Zhou Ming.

Omar shook his head and said, 'That's not the reason. Mr. Zhou Ming, you may not know this, but elections are a very important thing in the United States. Generally speaking, the scheduled date is not allowed to be changed at will. And once the time and place are changed, it often means that someone is meddling.'

Zhou Ming didn't say anything, so Omar continued, 'The United States is a country ruled by law, and everything must be done within the framework of the law, including elections. However, political power is something that many people want to manipulate. In this situation, in order to protect their own interests, most parties will control the election committee to vote at a time and place that is favourable to them.'

'For example, if most of their supporters have plenty of time, while the opponents' supporters are mostly office workers, then the voting time can be arranged during working hours, and the location can be in a place where it is difficult to park and find. This will easily make the opponents' supporters miss the voting time and automatically give up their right to vote, so the majority party will undoubtedly win the election by despicable means within the legal framework,' Omar said.

After hearing Omar's words, Zhou Ming smiled. Although Zhou Ming never believed that American and Western elections were truly democratic, he never expected them to be so dirty. What a good trick.

'So Omar, you also think that this time the Election Commission's temporary change of voting time and location is also to help their desired candidate win the election? Then who will this person be?' Zhou Ming asked curiously.

As Zhou Mingdel's voice fell, another voice immediately sounded out from the side: 'Hey, isn't that Omar? It's been a long time.'

When Omar heard this voice, he first froze, then subconsciously clenched his fists, turned his head to look at him, and ground his teeth as he shouted out a name: "Kane!"