MWC – Chapter 162 The Boss’s Kindness

I AM DROPPING THIS NOVEL. IF ANYONE WANTS TO CONTINUE THEY CAN. IF POSSIBLE PLEASE SHARE THE LINK SO I CAN BINGE READ TOO.

Security Office on the First Floor of the Mall

In the security office on the first floor of the mall, there were two black-uniformed patrol officers, one of whom was a deputy sergeant as indicated by his shoulder badge. He was an old man in his fifties or sixties, with a serious expression and a demeanor that kept people at a distance. He spoke to the security guard in a reprimanding tone.

When Lu Ming and Jennifer entered, the old man looked over and sized up Jennifer, slightly frowning, “Miss, your advertisement banner has caused complaints from the residents of the community opposite the mall. They say it has caused them mental distress. Please take it down. It’s dark and unsightly, too!”

Apparently, the security guard had informed him that the people responsible for the advertisement would be arriving shortly, so he naturally assumed that the Western noblewoman who had just entered was in charge.

“Ah…” Jennifer, who had never been spoken to so harshly by anyone except Lu Ming, was startled and carefully said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know…”

After all, she had always been surrounded by many protectors, and ordinary people couldn’t usually speak to her directly.

Now, being with Lu Ming, she was without her protective layer.

Lu Ming frowned slightly. Yang Yanran, who had been closely following, immediately stepped forward with a haughty expression, “Watch your tone. Where’s your ID?”

The old sergeant took out his ID, and Yang Yanran accepted it, handing it to Lu Ming while glaring at the old sergeant, “Let me tell you something. Do you know how many of you we could support with the taxes this mall pays annually? This is private property, and we have the right to display any advertisement we choose. Complaints? Do they matter? Do you have a court injunction to take down our advertisement? Who gave a stinky patrol officer like you the courage to tell us to remove our advertisement?”

Clearly, having spent nearly a year in the chairman’s secretariat, Yang Yanran was no longer the same person. Her experience and arrogance had greatly increased, becoming more tyrannical and bullying the weak.

Of course, the “weak” she was bullying now were people most others wouldn’t dare to provoke.

Lu Ming glanced at the ID. The old sergeant’s name was Xu Sanzhi, likely named following the tradition of naming children by their birth order in lower-class families, suggesting he was the third child.

At this moment, the old sergeant glared at Yang Yanran, “What did you call me?”

“Stinky patrol” was a derogatory term used by common folks for patrol officers in Donghai when they first appeared, but now, the status of patrol officers was much different from back then.

“You don’t know what you are?” Yang Yanran’s eyes widened even more.

The old sergeant raised his hand as if to slap Yang Yanran, but his hand was stuffed with something—it was Lu Ming who had returned his ID.

Glancing at the young patrol officer behind the old sergeant who looked like he was enjoying the show with a hint of schadenfreude, Lu Ming smiled at the old sergeant, “Sergeant Xu, I don’t think we’ve met before. Oh, I don’t have my business card with me.”

A pretty woman in a rose-red skirt came running in from outside the security office, handing a business card to the old sergeant.

Lu Ming pointed at the woman in the red skirt, not knowing her name. He always traveled with a group of men and women, changing assistants frequently, all arranged by the office or, more specifically, by Murong Xue and Master Gong.

The security office was too small, so all the accompanying staff stayed outside except for Uncle Sun.

Pointing at the woman in the red skirt, he said, “You, follow Miss Jennifer from now on.”

Then, looking at Jennifer, he said helplessly, “You, from now on, if you want to find me, tell her. The office will inform her of my schedule. Don’t just drive around with a driver. Have you ever been scolded like this before? Now you’re experiencing everything, aren’t you?”

“Okay!” Jennifer’s delicate face showed a bit of happiness.

Lu Ming smiled wryly to himself. Sigh, when a woman chases a man, it’s really like a thin veil. It hasn’t been long, and I already feel sorry for her.

The woman in the red skirt, full of joy, immediately moved next to Jennifer, speaking rapidly in a Western language, seemingly introducing herself.

Lu Ming rolled his eyes. The office assistants all seemed highly educated, the kind with impressive degrees. In the future, the lowest would be a 985, a place full of hidden talents and many academic achievers. Murong Xue was one of the best, and fluent Western languages were a basic requirement.

Seeing Jennifer quickly become happy from the conversation, Lu Ming vaguely heard the word “fifteen.” He understood some simple Western words, and numbers were one of them.

Additionally, he vaguely heard the pronunciation of “concubine” in Western language, using a transliteration.

So, this assistant must be calling Jennifer the fifteenth concubine.

“So, you are Lawyer Lu running for the third district council, and I didn’t expect you to be directly responsible for the advertisement. I thought it was placed by your supporters,” the old sergeant said, looking at Lu Ming’s business card and sizing him up.

Lu Ming smiled, “Yes, I placed the advertisement.”

“Lawyer Lu, if you truly care for the residents of the third district, please take down the advertisement!” The old sergeant said sincerely, “I don’t have a court injunction, and I probably won’t get one before your campaign ends. You have many ways to delay it in court. But doing this will only make the residents in your district resent you. While I don’t have a court injunction, our community can hold a homeowners’ meeting and protest in front of the mall. If it comes to that, it will damage your reputation.”

Pausing, he added, “To be honest, I’m also a resident of the community across the street. Lawyer Lu, I’ve never voted in a council election, but now, I want to vote against you.”

Lu Ming smiled, “Seeing the pictures on the advertisement makes you uncomfortable and want to oppose me. What if the pictures become reality?”

The old sergeant smiled, “Lawyer Lu, I’m not a child. I understand some of the tricks in elections. It’s just that St. Anton School admitted a Black child, and you’re exaggerating it.”

Lu Ming nodded, “Many significant historical events were initially overlooked. The so-called fair education plan of St. Anton School will continue. Next year, they will increase enrollment. If no one stops them, imagine the year after, and the year after that… And this is just schools. If it spreads, have you thought about the scene of a large influx of foreigners into Donghai? Donghai developed from ruins to the most prosperous place in the empire because of our Zhongzhou majority and our laws determined by our customs. Our location and two centuries of freedom and openness are factors, but the core is our conservative laws, protecting upward mobility through hard work. Now, although social classes are solidifying, there’s still a window for the public to enter the upper class, even if it’s narrowing.”

“But what is the Cao Ying doing? They are dividing this window into two, one for their labeled weak groups, and the other increasingly large. They feel a sense of mission, an alternative redistribution of wealth, which doesn’t affect their class but targets yours, taking your opportunities to satisfy their need for a mission.”

The old sergeant frowned, understanding some parts and not others.

“Sergeant Xu, think about what I’ve said. As for the advertisement, I’ll keep it. If you can persuade the community to protest, that would be great. I have a lot to say to them.”

Lu Ming smiled and extended his hand, “Sergeant Xu, until we meet again?”

“Alright, Lawyer Lu, goodbye.” The old sergeant extended both hands to shake Lu Ming’s hand.

Lu Ming nodded internally. This old man was stubborn, the kind who reciprocates respect.

And he had a fiery temper, almost slapping Yang Yanran earlier.

Given his nearing retirement and rank, it was clear he was promoted by years of service.

According to patrol officer regulations, regular officers with forty years of service are awarded deputy sergeant rank, recognizing their dedicated service.

Running to check an advertisement, he was clearly being used.

Watching his back, Lu Ming smiled. This stubborn old man was quite interesting.

……

When Lu Ming returned to Freedom Tower, the second round of negotiations had already ended unhappily.

At noon, he treated all the campaign office staff to a working lunch. It was clear that everyone was worried since it was already December 10th, and there were only 10 days left until the local council election vote.

If the campaign succeeded, most of them had a good chance of staying on as office staff for the councilor. But if they failed, they would need to find new jobs.

Three long tables were set with an extremely sumptuous meal. After all, this campaign office was likely the most well-funded among local council campaigns. It was said that political donations supporting Lawyer Lu had reached the million-level, but over the past month, they had experienced many challenges.

Perhaps, for an outsider to enter the political arena was a pipe dream from the start, even for someone as gifted as Lawyer Lu.

They were in the largest restaurant in the south wing of Freedom Tower, a place capable of hosting cocktail parties. Everything from the tables to the decorations was very luxurious, with splendid chandeliers hanging high above, making the hall look magnificent.

Lu Ming went around toasting the staff, drinking water himself. When he returned to his main seat at the gold-velvet round table, he smiled at Master Gong and asked, “Why do you look so dejected?”

Master Gong smiled back, “Cao Ying is very cunning!”

Indeed, Cao Ying seemed like a born politician. He appeared polite and likable but was very clear-headed and knew how to bide his time. Despite the lawsuits and the growing public outcry, his approval rating remained above sixty percent, and he firmly refused to engage in any TV debates.

“Where is Secretary Murong?” Master Gong looked around; Murong Xue had been absent since the start of lunch.

Lu Ming smiled. At that moment, an officer hurried in and whispered something to Master Gong.

Master Gong was surprised and looked at Lu Ming. “Boss, Cao Ying’s side just called and agreed to a TV debate with you on the 12th.”

The 12th was the last day of the second week, and the TV debate had originally been planned for a day in the second week of December.

Lu Ming nodded.

Master Gong smiled wryly. “Was this all within your expectations?” He blinked his small eyes. “Before lunch, I heard Secretary Murong contacting schools in the Western State? Is that related?”

“Do your best and leave the rest to fate,” Lu Ming stood up. “Alright, it looks like you all have a lot of work ahead of you!”

Word quickly spread throughout the restaurant that the boss would be debating Cao Ying on TV on the 12th, the day after tomorrow, discussing their campaign policies. Essentially, it was a TV debate.

But there was a sense that the boss might attack Cao Ying using his support for racial segregation policies. Generally speaking, Donghai prided itself on being the most open and free autonomous city-state, with its elites fashionably criticizing the empire’s racial segregation policies. If the boss turned to support those policies, it would seem out of place and politically incorrect according to Donghai’s mainstream public opinion.

……

In his office, Lu Ming reviewed the program’s flow and Cao Ying’s proposed conditions.

Sitting at his desk were several key producers and hosts from Kunlun TV.

For the first time, a political debate for the local council election would be broadcast on television, reaching twenty million viewers.

In Donghai alone, nearly two million households owned televisions.

Nationwide, even viewers unrelated to the Donghai North District Third Constituency would be interested.

Kunlun TV’s branch in the imperial capital hoped to use this critical opportunity to further expand its influence and viewership in the capital.

Even those closest to Lu Ming might not realize that for him, just having this TV debate was already a major victory.

The Kunlun TV producers and hosts in his office had no idea that the candidate in front of them was actually their big boss behind the scenes.

To produce this high-profile program, Kunlun TV had established a public policy programming department.

The four people visiting Lu Ming were the department’s director, deputy director, and two hosts.

Director Ralph, a slightly chubby man in his fifties, had a stellar resume and was a veteran in political programming.

The deputy director, surnamed Wang, appeared very independent and stylish. She wore a beige suit and had a short haircut, looking both fresh and smart.

Both hosts were male, as female hosts were rarely seen in political programs.

“The other side’s restrictions are a bit much!” Lu Ming shook his head. “However, I’m quite satisfied with your program flow and the hosts. It’s clear you’ve put a lot of effort into it.”

Ralph sighed in relief. After some research, he found that this Lawyer Lu was truly a legend in the legal field.

And only nineteen years old? It seemed like a joke, dazzling people.

It was too incredible. Furthermore, a nineteen-year-old with such achievements in law, now entering politics?

It felt like this person was a lost alien in space, not quite human.

People like that are usually very eccentric, right? One wrong word, and he might just kick us out.

But surprisingly, he was only displeased with Cao Ying’s restrictions and was very pleased with the station’s arrangements.

Ralph breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Which topics would you prefer not to be off-limits? Please list them, and we will negotiate with Candidate Cao’s team.”

“Alright, thank you for your hard work. Secretary Murong will communicate with you directly regarding other matters.”

Murong Xue stood up and gestured for them to leave.

Watching them go, Lu Ming shook his head. Although he had already provided the station with his general ideas for the program, he was still not entirely satisfied with the arrangements. However, considering the limitations of the time, he couldn’t demand the sensitivity of 21st-century producers and hosts.

If not for that consideration, he would have already given them a good scolding.

Of course, that would be as the TV station boss, not from the debater’s perspective.