Chapter 100: Why?

The silver beach was full of surging waves, and the villa, far away from the city, was very quiet. Zhou Ming and Governor Edward sat facing each other on the beach chairs. The air seemed to have congealed, and all that could be heard was the sound of the waves lapping against the shore.

In this way, Edward looked at Zhou Ming blankly for a while before saying, 'I think I must have heard it wrong, or are you joking, Mr. Zhou Ming?'

'No,' Zhou Ming said very seriously, 'Governor Edward, you haven't heard it wrong, and I'm not joking either. I came to your vacation villa this time in the hope that you can help me deal with the Adams family together.'

Even Edward, with his strong mental constitution, couldn't help laughing when he heard Zhou Ming's words. He said to Zhou Ming with a meaningful tone, 'I'm sorry. I know I should remain serious, but I can't help laughing because I really don't understand what made you say such things. I know that your situation may not be good right now, but that's no reason.'

'It seems that Governor Edward already knows about me and Wharton Corporation?' Zhou Ming asked.

Edward nodded and said, 'Yes, I did learn some of it. After all, the streets are full of protestors, so it is hard for me as the governor not to know.'

After saying this, Edward stared into Zhou Ming's eyes and added, 'So now you, young Mr. Zhou Ming, have come to me in desperation, hoping that I can give you one last miracle. But I'm sorry, I don't think I can help you. Although I am the governor of Massachusetts and I do have some power, the power I have is not the same as the power you know. I need to abide by the law and cannot override the supremacy of the law.'

'I see. But unfortunately, my thoughts may not be the same as Governor Edward's, because I don't think I'm here looking for a miracle. Rather, I think Governor Edward will definitely help me with this,' said Zhou Ming.

Faced with Zhou Ming's confidence, Edward frowned instead, because Zhou Ming's words reminded him of two months ago. At that time, in the office of the Vidda community, the young man also sat in front of him with such confidence, and in the end successfully asked him for 7 million US dollars. For this, he argued with the guys in the parliament for more than a month. Now he is acting like this again? This made Edward think more.

Edward didn't say anything, and Zhou Ming continued, 'Governor, what I mean by asking for your help is not for you to directly issue an executive order to sanction the Adams family, because what the Adams family did did not violate any laws.'

'So what do you want?' Edward asked.

'I think I already gave the answer to this question a long time ago, and that is to help me deal with the Adams family together,' Zhou Ming replied.

'But didn't you just say that yourself? I am the governor, but I cannot use the power in my hands to help you with anything. Aren't you contradicting yourself?' Edward said angrily, 'I respect you as a friend of Omar and have not blamed you, and I have not held you responsible for breaking into the villa. But if you just make unreasonable demands here, then I will immediately throw you out...'

Edward's words stopped abruptly here, because Zhou Ming then said, 'Whether it is contradictory or not depends on whether you are Mr. Edward, the governor, or a member of the Candini family.'

Edward calmly considered for a moment and asked, 'What do you mean by that?'

'If you are the governor, then we have nothing to talk about, and you cannot help me. But if you are a member of the Kennedy family, then I think we have a lot of room for cooperation, don't we?' Zhou Ming looked at Edward and said, 'Mr. Governor, I think we can all speak frankly. Perhaps few people call you by your surname, but it does not hide the fact that you are a member of the Kennedy family.'

'I have never tried to hide anything, but what does it mean to be a member of the Kennedy family?' Edward leaned back in his beach chair and asked with interest.

'The Kennedys are a very legendary family. One hundred and fifty years ago, a poor Irishman came to Brighton across the ocean. He worked in a cooperage and made some money to start a family. His son was very smart. He first worked as a porter at the docks. He saw the desires of the sailors and their splurges in the bars, so after he had saved some money, he opened a pub. As the business became more and more prosperous, the second generation of the Candini family married the daughter of a famous hotel. He spent all his fortune to send his son to Harvard University, and he eventually became the youngest bank chairman.'

Zhou Ming did not directly answer any of Edward's questions, but instead told the story of the Candini family's rise to wealth. Edward did not stop him either, and just lay on the beach chair, seemingly listening leisurely.

Despite feeling surprised by Edward's attitude, Ming didn't stop and continued, 'The youngest bank chairman made a series of speculations, earning himself huge profits. After legally acquiring the bank's shares and accumulating assets worth more than ten billion US dollars, he naturally became a member of the Brighton consortium, which gave rise to the Candini family.'

'It seems that Mr. Ming Zhou knows a lot about Brighton's history! This surprises me a little, but what does it mean?' Edward asked with a smile.

'Perhaps the family's background was not strong enough, or perhaps new families are always full of energy and vitality. So the Kennedys have been active in business and politics for a century, until one of them became President of the United States. I think when President Kennedy was sworn in at the White House and reached the pinnacle of power, it was undoubtedly the most glorious time for the Kennedy family.

After saying this lightly, Zhou Ming deliberately paused for a moment, and then suddenly added, 'But since the assassination of the president that shocked the world, the Kennedys have also fallen with the death of the president. Did the Kennedys just accept their fate?'

Zhou Ming could see Edward's hand unconsciously clench into a fist. He then continued, still lying on the beach chair: 'I don't know what you, Governor Edward, and the rest of your family are thinking, but if it were me, I definitely wouldn't accept my fate. I would definitely want my family to regain its former glory under my own hands!'

Hearing Zhou Ming's words, Edward sat up straight at once. His eyes were sharp as knives, staring at Zhou Ming.

But soon, after a short while, Edward burst out laughing: 'I really didn't expect it. Edward Kennedy is almost sixty years old this year, but I can still be educated by a young man in his early twenties.'

Then Edward looked down at Zhou Ming: 'So, Mr. Zhou Ming, how do you want the Kennedy family to return to glory?'

'Kill the Adams family and take control of the Brighton Consortium yourself. It's that simple,' said Ming.

'It is indeed very simple,' said Edward. 'But young man, have you ever thought about what the Brighton Consortium actually is, and how deeply rooted the Adams family is in controlling it for more than 300 years?'

Ming did not give a direct answer, but instead asked in return, 'So Mr Edward, have you ever thought about leading the Candini family to replace the Adams? Or do you just tremble when you hear the name Adams?'

'What did you say?' Edward angrily slammed his hand on the table.

Zhou Ming did not flinch in the least, but continued in the face of Edward's anger: "Do you remember what happened 27 years ago? The assassination in Dallas suddenly knocked the mighty Kennedys off the throne. Although I don't know exactly what happened, there is an old Chinese saying that goes: How can someone else sleep soundly when you are lying on the bed?'

'What do you mean?" Edward asked.

'How can you let another man sleep in your bed?' Zhou Ming said, "I think Adams has been in control of the Brighton Consortium for more than 300 years, and he definitely won't allow anyone to surpass him, will he?'

'So Mr. Zhou Ming, are you here today to drive a wedge between me and the Adams family? I must say, your methods are clumsy and despicable!" Edward sneered.

Zhou Ming took a sip of the coconut at hand, completely immune to Edward's sneering taunts.

'Actually, this plain coconut juice is not very tasty, at least not to my taste. It's a bit too light. Was it cultivated in a greenhouse?' Zhou Ming said.

Edward was a bit disarrayed. He stared at Zhou Ming with wide eyes, completely unable to understand what Zhou Ming was thinking. How could he be talking about family matters and suddenly bring up coconuts?

There was no connection between the two, was there? Edward wanted to lose his mind, but due to his airs as governor, he could only suppress his emotions and wait for Zhou Ming's answer.

Zhou Ming, of course, understood Edward's thoughts. He put the coconut back on the small table and then said to Edward very leisurely, 'Actually, I want to say that things are not as complicated as you think, Mr. Governor. I never intended to use any tactics to drive a wedge between you. I just said whatever came into my head. Of course, my goal will not change. I still hope that you, Mr. Governor, will agree to help me deal with the Adams family together.'

'Why? Your partner has disappeared, your company's funds have been frozen, and your company, whether it is Wharton Insurance Company or the dormitory convenience store, has become notorious. Your Chinese friends who came with you had to move out of Harvard for this. If this is a game of cards, then you don't even have a single card in your hand. Why do you think I would agree to it? Or even if I agree, what makes you think you can deal with the Adams family? Just because you have a big mouth?'

Edward suppressed the anger in his heart and said to Ming Zhou, 'If that's the case, I can only give you one comment, which is childish, you don't understand anything at all.'

'Maybe,' Zhou Ming shrugged, 'but of course I alone cannot shake the Adams family. Even if I add the Kennedys, it will not help. At most, it will cause what happened 27 years ago to repeat itself, and the Kennedys will be hit hard by the Adams again. Although it is hard to accept, I'm sorry, but that is the truth.'

Zhou Ming paused after saying this and then asked, 'What if we add the Lowell and Lawrence families?'

With Zhou Ming's last question, Edward let all the words he had prepared to scold Zhou Ming go back into his stomach. He could only look at Zhou Ming in surprise and ask, 'You mean the Lowell and Lawrence families are also willing?'

'Why not? The Adams family has controlled the Kingdom of Brighton for more than 300 years, but his hegemony is not accepted by everyone. The Lowell and Lawrence families are also very ancient families and are also the most important constituent families of the Brighton Consortium. However, for a long time, their respective spheres of activity have basically been restricted to their respective cities. Is this arrangement what they want? Or is it something they have to do? I don't know anyway.'

After saying this, Zhou Ming got up from the beach chair. Edward immediately asked warily, 'What are you going to do?'

'I've said everything I need to say. Do I need to stay here and get ready for dinner? Anyway, the dynastic succession of the Brighton Consortium has nothing to do with me,' said Zhou Ming.

Facing Zhou Ming's gaze, Edward took a deep breath and said, 'What if I agree?'