Chapter 54: Asshole Press Conference

July 4th is the US Independence Day and a legal holiday in the United States, but not everyone can enjoy the holiday break. At least at the South Hotel in Fenway, many service staff here must be on duty, because a press conference is about to be held here today. It is not difficult to tell from the banners that have been pulled up early that this is a press conference for Wharton Insurance.

At 6am, the hotel staff began setting up the venue, and of course there was some discussion while they were doing so.

'I say, is this Wharton Insurance the one that launched the financial insurance at the Ladder Building across the street? I heard that the company's assets were frozen by the state justice department, so how can it still hold a press conference like this? Look at the banner they pulled up, it's still Wharton Insurance, and they're claiming a huge insurance payout,' said one person.

Another person said, 'I don't think you can do anything about it, can you? Don't you know that the Chinese always have their own special methods? And I heard that the chairman of the board of directors of this Wharton Insurance Company is from Red China, so he must have some methods that we don't know about.'

'I see. After hearing what you said, I really want to meet him. To be able to make a claim for compensation in this situation is really cool, and it's a slap in the face for the guys at the Justice Bureau.

'Not just the guys at the Justice Bureau, I heard that this time it was Senator Brooke who deliberately wanted to cause trouble for Wharton Insurance, but the Chinese guy came up with a solution, so in a way he slapped the senator in the face!'

'Are there any more stories like that? These Chinese people are really evil bastards, but I like them!'

...

Amidst all this idle chatter, Zhou Ming arrived at the Southern Hotel in his Buick. He was accompanied by lawyer Alan and finance students Chen Shu and Ye Ning. As the press conference had not yet started, they went to the lounge to relax.

At quarter past nine in the morning, an extended Cadillac pulled into the parking lot of the Southern Hotel. It was Lao Brook.

For Lao Brook, he was very reluctant to come to this press conference, but this involved the medical expenses of the 2,000 employees of his processing plant, and he could not afford to miss it. Otherwise, if he refused to attend and the Chinese caught him doing it, it would be quite disadvantageous to him. Not to mention the condition of the workers and the burden of medical expenses, but the loss of the processing plant being shut down for so many days.

If he could accept some losses to deal with the Chinese, then he could accept it, but on the contrary, he not only incurred losses but also failed to deal with the Chinese, which he could not accept under any circumstances.

It was 9:30 in the morning, and the press conference began. The reporters first took their seats. Although most of these reporters were paid by Zhou Ming, it didn't matter. The important thing was that there were reporters here, and the news today would definitely be broadcast.

The reporters were followed by Zhou Ming and Old Brook, who shook hands cordially. It must be said that all businessmen and politicians are actors. Obviously, Old Brook hated Zhou Ming to death, but in front of the camera, he still managed to put on a very cordial appearance, as if he was very happy to hold a press conference with Zhou Ming. Zhou Ming could not help but have a new understanding of his face.

Then there was a bland opening, and Zhou Ming fiddled with the microphone in front of him for a moment before saying, 'Hello, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome. I'm very glad you could all be here today, even though unexpected things have happened to Wharton Insurance over the past few days, including the freezing of the company's assets and the sudden outbreak of mass food poisoning at Brook Processing Plant.'

'Since these things have happened, we will put aside the question of why our normal investments have attracted the freezing of assets by the judicial department, or the many doubts surrounding the food poisoning incident at the processing plant.'

Zhou Ming immediately raised his voice when he said this: 'We will uphold the attitude of a responsible insurance company, solve the difficulties of all our policyholders first, then investigate who deliberately poisoned the food, and finally help all policyholders pursue legal responsibility.'

When Zhou Ming finished speaking, there was an instant burst of applause and cheers. These cheers undoubtedly sounded very harsh in the ears of Old Brock, as if he had become a miserly character who only cared about the insurance company's money.

This despicable Chinese person knows how to take all the noble feelings upon himself, as if he is the Virgin Mary who thinks of others at all times, but he is clearly a despicable bastard!

In his heart, Lao Brook cursed Zhou Ming, but on the surface, he couldn't say a word, otherwise he didn't know how his attitude would be interpreted. As a veteran senator who had dealt with the media for a long time, he knew very well what kind of news those shit journalists liked to fabricate to attract attention, without the slightest regard for the truth.

'I know that many people will spread rumours behind my back that the financial insurance products of Wharton Insurance Company are a financial scam. But I want to say that every hero will be slandered and targeted by the devil before they come out, and they are also very easy to be misunderstood by people. But in the end, heroes can always defeat evil and save the earth.'

Zhou Ming paused for a moment and then continued, 'I don't want to say that I am some kind of hero, but the predicament that Wharton Insurance has suffered is the result of the actions of some plutocrats who, seeing the future of these financial products, are afraid of losing their monopoly. They are like the demons who constantly create obstacles for the hero. I myself would rather be a supporting actor who helps the hero flourish!'

With these last words, Zhou Ming immediately pushed the atmosphere to a climax again. All the reporters who should have maintained an objective stance abandoned their positions, one by one becoming Zhou Ming's fans, standing up and applauding furiously for Zhou Ming.

'Chinese people, you don't need to be humble, you are Brighton's great hero! Your thoughts are as pure as Joan of Arc's, and only those damn bastards who targeted you should be punished by law!' There were more people cheering for Zhou Ming.

This applause and cheering almost drove old Brook mad. He could not bear to see Zhou Ming being praised like this, but just as he could no longer bear it, Zhou Ming very appropriately handed over the floor to him.

'Mr. Brook, I know you have been very anxious, so now I can advance the medical expenses for the workers in your processing plant,' Zhou Ming said.

Old Brook suppressed the urge to slap Ming Zhou to death, let out a long breath, and then said, 'Although I have been waiting for a long time, Mr. Zhou Ming, I am also very gratified that you were able to make a decision to pay on time within the deadline, because this allows me to give up using litigation to resolve the issue. It's just a good thing that it doesn't take so long in the future.'

This time, before Zhou Ming could say anything, a reporter from the press said, 'Councilman Brook, are you really Councilman Brook? My God, how could Councilman Brook say such a thing? If I understand correctly, Walden Insurance needs a reasonable amount of time to investigate the food poisoning incident. After all, such a large-scale food poisoning is really suspicious!'

Once someone took the lead, someone immediately echoed, 'Indeed, it is very rare for Walden Insurance to be willing to make an advance claim settlement under such difficult circumstances. I don't believe other insurance companies can do the same, so this is definitely worth supporting and encouraging!'

Zhou Ming was very happy in the face of the reporters' reactions below. He didn't expect his previous publicity to have such an effect.

As for Old Brook, these reporters were very unfriendly, clearly slapping him in the face, but he had no way to refute it.

But as the saying goes, you have to finish what you started, and Brook couldn't do anything about the situation at hand but continue, 'Of course I support the continued investigation of the food poisoning incident by Wharton Insurance, but one thing is one thing and another is another. I would also like to wish Wharton Insurance, such a responsible company, to have its assets unfrozen as soon as possible, otherwise this will be a huge hidden danger.'

After Lao Brook finished speaking, Zhou Ming immediately said, 'On this point, on behalf of Wharton Insurance Company, I would like to thank Congressman Brook for his blessings, but I don't think Congressman Brook needs to worry about me, because today Wharton Insurance Company's assets will also be unfrozen.'

It was as if it had been arranged. As soon as Zhou Ming finished speaking, someone was immediately invited to the stage behind him. It was Lincoln, the legal officer of the Financial Supervision Division of the Judicial Bureau. He was still short and stout, and he ran onto the stage like a bouncing ball. He first shook hands with Zhou shook hands, and then said to all the reporters, 'After the Judicial Bureau analysed the investment situation of Wharton Insurance over the past period of time, it believes that Wharton Insurance does not have any insider trading issues. Therefore, today I can announce on behalf of the Judicial Bureau that the assets of Wharton Insurance will be unfrozen.'

Lincoln's words caused an uproar at the scene, especially Old Brooker. While countless reporters raised their cameras and frantically shot photos of the stage, he hated himself for adding that unnecessary sentence.

But in fact, Old Brooker knew very well that no matter if he said anything or not, the result would be the same. Since Zhou Ming dared to hold this press conference, he must have made all the arrangements.

After the press conference, Brook stood up to leave, but Zhou Ming stopped him and asked, 'Senator Brook, we just reached an agreement, but it seems you haven't given me the account yet.'

'Account?' Brook sneered, 'When we first set up the insurance, didn't I already give you all the accounts of the employees? Now you have of course transferred the money to the accounts of each of my 2,000 employees, so why would you need to ask me?'

Old Brook looked at Zhou Ming proudly as he spoke, his eyes saying, 'You're not a smartass? If you're so smart, you go transfer the money yourself!'

But after hearing this, Zhou Ming just nodded silently and said, 'I see. Then I'll have to go through a bit more trouble. But fortunately, I've already tallied all the accounts, and the money should arrive before the bank closes this afternoon. However, I still need Councilor Brook's support in the investigation of the food poisoning incident. I'd like to thank Councilor Brook in advance.'

Zhou Ming didn't have any particular tone, but old Brook gritted his teeth: 'Chinese, don't be too happy just yet, there will be plenty of times in the future when you won't be able to cry!'

'I have no doubt about this, so I also ask Congressman Brook to... keep up the good work!' Zhou Ming said, while also giving an encouraging gesture to old Brook.

This made old Brook almost want to go crazy and storm off, but in the end he managed to control his emotions before turning and leaving.

Zhou Ming looked at the departing back of old Brook, his expression gradually becoming grave. Perhaps what he had just said was very light-hearted, but in fact, Zhou Ming truly understood that old Brook was not joking.