MWC – Chapter 165 New World

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

Beiguan Town Hall is a three-story building with a green oval roof.

The Beiguan Parliament Hall is located in the eastern part of the town hall’s first floor. The layout is centered around the rostrum, with rows of conference tables radiating outward from it. The rostrum is for the chairman and secretaries, while the rows of tables for the council members are elevated, creating a sense of overlooking and pressure on the central rostrum.

This layout signifies that the parliament’s power of speech is in the hands of each member, and the person on the rostrum is merely the host of the meeting.

The chairman is typically a relatively neutral and low-profile council member, while the two vice-chairmen are usually influential members who haven’t made it into the seven-member committee.

However, the vice-chairmen, like the seven municipal committee members, sit among the ordinary members during the full council meeting.

The seating arrangement is based on party affiliation and the alphabetical order of the members’ names.

At the back of the circular conference tables for the council members, there are some seats for the public. Any citizen of Beiguan can apply to attend, but the process is cumbersome. There are no requirements regarding personal education or work, but applicants must have no criminal record and a character guarantee from their neighbors. Only then can they be approved to attend the parliament meetings.

During parliamentary recesses, all areas of the town hall are open to the public for two days every fortnight for tours.

This is based on the belief of the ancestors of the Eastern Sea that a fair society should not require any mystery in its civil power institutions, and that breaking this sense of mystery is essential for citizens and officials to psychologically dismantle their faith in power.

Lu Ming, as an ordinary citizen of Beiguan, took a tour of the town hall since there were still a few days until the first meeting of the new parliament on the 30th.

…

At a small café near the town hall square, a small table by the window was occupied by two men and a woman. Judging by their backs, it seemed to be a pair of young students and their grandfather, likely a kind old man taking his grandchildren out for fun.

Oh, it seems wrong. The two students seem to be a young couple, using a couple’s double straw to sip coffee from a large cup. This kind of large black coffee is cheap and usually bought for takeout to refresh oneself. It is typically used by young couples with little money to while away the time.

So, what about this old man? Is he open-minded? Young couples rarely get a chance to be romantic during their holidays, so what is he doing tagging along? If he’s conservative, he wouldn’t allow his grandchild or grandchild to date while still in school. The weirdest thing is, the old man is drinking one of the most expensive handmade coffees in the shop, a Philbeck.

The staff couldn’t understand the complex and strange relationship among the three, so they shook their heads and went back to the bar to continue their work.

Lu Ming was browsing a thick booklet in his hand, which contained information about the 57 new members of the Beiguan parliament, including their age, birthplace, and party affiliation. The booklet also provided an in-depth analysis of their political views and personalities.

Looking up at Liu Laocai across from him, Lu Ming felt a bit helpless. “Are you not bored now?”

Since Deng Hongmei left, Old Liu seemed to have suddenly become very idle.

Today was the first day of the year-end holiday at Furnard Academy. Jin Meizhen had arranged their second date, and despite his busy schedule, he had to make time for it. He had promised her a day out of a week, but now, half the semester had passed, and this was only their second date.

Moreover, it was supposed to be her choice of location and her expense, but the girl first asked him if he had any preferred places.

He suggested the town hall, as it was an open day and she could receive some patriotic education while he wandered around.

In reality, it became his choice of location again, and he wanted to visit the town hall anyway to familiarize himself with it.

The strangest part was Liu Laocai. This morning, just as he was about to go out to pick up Jin Meizhen, Liu Laocai called, saying he was bored and wanted to have tea with him.

He politely invited Liu Laocai to join him, saying he had a coffee date and planned to visit the town hall. Liu Laocai immediately agreed to accompany him.

Now, looking at Liu Laocai, who wore a black velvet hat covering his bald head, looking like a kind old man, Lu Ming found it both amusing and frustrating.

However, Old Liu had become very detached from money and power, seeing everything very lightly. Their friendship had become very genuine, with no taboos in their conversations, making it a very relaxed relationship.

“Is that Old Sixteen?” Liu Laocai discreetly gestured toward Jin Meizhen.

“Hey, don’t talk nonsense!” Lu Ming quickly waved his hand.

Although he was also dressed in a student uniform, if Jin Meizhen looked closely, she would see that he was very young, just a fast-growing elementary school student.

Jin Meizhen wore a light green dungaree skirt with cartoon patterns, a blue and white lace long-sleeve undershirt, soft flower short socks, and cute little dark green soft cloth shoes.

When Lu Ming first saw her, he was shocked. The usually intellectual and elegant top student had turned into a cute type.

It must have been her sister, Jin Meiyan, who advised her and helped her dress up.

However, Jin Meizhen now sat quietly beside him, gently biting her straw and thinking, like a beautiful and serene painting. She was still herself.

Hearing Liu Laocai’s words, Jin Meizhen curiously asked, “Uncle Cai, what’s sixteen?”

“Don’t listen to his nonsense!” Lu Ming waved his hand dismissively and glared at Liu Laocai. “Old Liu, don’t talk nonsense. I’m your friend across generations, and this girl is also a friend across generations.”

“Brother Qianxing, you broke your promise!” Jin Meizhen protested immediately.

Looking into her bright, lively eyes, Lu Ming felt guilty and coughed. “It’s not like that…”

But Liu Laocai had already taken out a red envelope. “Here, niece, a meeting gift.”

Lu Ming laughed. “That’s more like it!” He took it and told Jin Meizhen, “I’ll open it for you. I’m telling you, don’t refuse it. If you don’t take it, this Uncle Cai will give it to someone else!”

Opening it, Lu Ming was prepared but still stunned. Inside was a ten-thousand-yuan check.

“For my niece’s future dowry, a set of apartments and a car,” Liu Laocai chuckled, showing a hint of his old self.

“What’s wrong with you?” Lu Ming was helpless. He thought he had to persuade him; otherwise, even if Liu Laocai put his money in his fund, such spending would eventually drain it.

“Nothing, I’m just happy!” Liu Laocai laughed. “Qianxing, why did I insist on following you this morning? I wanted to share in your good fortune. Since knowing you, Qianxing, my life has been getting better and better.”

Lu Ming looked at him and sensed that Liu Laocai was genuinely happy. His smile even had a bit of his old cunning.

“This year, I’ve been through a lot, the ups and downs. In the end, Qianxing, I found that you truly care about me.”

Lu Ming felt a bit creeped out. A small hand reached over, and he quickly grabbed it, feeling like it was a lifeline. Otherwise, what would people around think of this?

“Early this morning, I got a call! Qianxing, you know I have a small desert in Eight Cities?”

“No,” Lu Ming shook his head. He didn’t even know where Eight Cities was.

“Oh, Eight Cities is a small city-state to the west, with a population of just a few thousand.”

Lu Ming nodded. It must be one of the small city-states in the Western Free City-States Alliance. There are hundreds of city-states in the alliance, and only a few large ones with populations of hundreds of thousands are well-known.

“I bought that desert when I was tricked. A gambler lost the deed to me. I saw it was twenty thousand acres, and even in the west, it should be worth a thousand yuan, right? I didn’t hesitate and counted it as eight hundred yuan of chips. Who knew it was a small desert? Damn, that was years ago!”

“I almost forgot about it, but this morning, guess what? Fira Oil called, saying my land is a massive oil field with incredible reserves. Initially, Fira Oil was exploring next to my land, but the oil field they found is mostly on my land! A ten-thousand-acre oil field, Qianxing, can you believe it? Damn!” Liu Laocai finally couldn’t hold back, took off his hat, and slapped his head hard. “Damn, damn, I’m not dreaming!”

Lu Ming was stunned for a while, then couldn’t help but laugh. Comparing people can be infuriating—ten thousand acres of oil fields?

Of course, oil fields aren’t measured in acres, but it’s estimated that Liu Laocai’s oil field has a considerable reserve.

The current extraction conditions are not as they were in the new century. Since Fira Oil says the reserves are astonishing, it means they are astonishing under extractable conditions.

Among the few brothers he initially met, Liu Laocai had the best fate. Maybe it was truly because he had been doing good deeds recently that he finally triggered some celestial mechanism?

This was truly the arrival of fortune after extreme adversity.

Looking at Liu Laocai’s bald head, which was now red from the slaps, Lu Ming laughed, “Old Liu, old Liu, I really thought you were detached from worldly matters. But now that you’ve struck it rich, you’re still the same!”

Liu Laocai chuckled.

Lu Ming flicked the check in his hand, “Old Liu, you’re being stingy. Considering we’re your lucky stars, you’re being a bit tight-fisted!”

Liu Laocai scratched his bald head vigorously, dissatisfied, “Qianxing, you really underestimate your brother. I haven’t received a penny from it yet! Don’t worry, Qianxing, I’ll need your help when I sign the extraction agreement with Fira Oil. Also, this oil field, I’ll split it with you half and half. It’s a gift from heaven, and if I were to swallow it all, I’d be afraid of shortening my life. This year, the biggest change has been meeting you, Qianxing. I think this oil field is also heaven’s way of using my hand to give it to you!”

Lu Ming was left speechless. Old Liu’s thinking had become quite mystical, increasingly superstitious.

He handed the check to Jin Meizhen, “Here, take it. We deserve it.”

Jin Meizhen gently shook her head, “Brother Qianxing, I know this amount of money is nothing in your eyes, and you hope I can treat money like dirt and not care about it, but I can’t do that yet.”

Lu Ming nodded, “Alright, I’ll keep it for you first. You can use it when you go to college. But in the future, I’ll have to rip you off hard. Your little savings, be prepared for me to squander them!”

Jin Meizhen shook her head lightly, biting her straw, then suddenly said, “Brother Qianxing, let’s break up.”

Lu Ming was stunned, “What?”

Over there, Liu Laocai slapped his head, “I have to go to the West Region for a few days to see if Hongmei is willing to come with me.”

Lu Ming’s head was about to explode. Looking at Liu Laocai, “Old Liu, I used to say you believed in equivalent exchange. I think the joy she brought you has been repaid equally. But now? If you keep this up, it’s no longer equivalent exchange. There’s a term from my hometown, ‘licking dog,’ which is exactly what you’re doing!”

Then he hurriedly looked at Jin Meizhen, “What’s wrong? Are you angry because I didn’t keep my promise and brought someone else every time we had a date?”

“No,” Jin Meizhen shook her head lightly, “I was too naive before, thinking I could play and study with Brother Qianxing regardless of class or wealth, and that Brother Qianxing didn’t care about these things… But Brother Qianxing, you’re too high up. Even the small concerns from your friends are a burden I can’t bear. If I don’t accept these concerns and still want you to pretend to be my first love, then what am I doing? It seems hypocritical. So, Brother Qianxing, let’s break up.”

“I will study hard, go to college, and become exceptionally outstanding. I hope that in the future, I can stand confidently in front of you, Brother Qianxing!” Jin Meizhen looked at Lu Ming with tear-filled eyes as if she wanted to remember Brother Qianxing’s appearance for the last time.

She stood up and walked out, leaving only a few drops of tears on the floor.

Lu Ming wanted to chase after her, but as soon as he stood up, he stopped. This little girl was incredibly strong-willed and determined. Once she made a decision, she would stick to it.

Moreover, seeing her pained expression, this little girl was truly heartbroken.

This first love would probably leave a deep impression on her, with more sadness than joy.

He had never expected it to end this way when he agreed to pretend to be her boyfriend.

Chasing after her would only make this little girl experience more emotional turmoil that she shouldn’t have to at her age.

With a sigh, Lu Ming sat back down.

There was no need to worry about her safety, as there were officials and security personnel accompanying her all the way to school.

“Old Liu, you… you ruined my first love… you ruined it!” Lu Ming pointed at Liu Laocai, gritting his teeth.

He felt a sense of loss, as if he had lost something precious.

Liu Laocai spread his hands, smiling bitterly, “I don’t understand these emotional issues among elementary students. Suddenly angry, suddenly breaking up.”

“Yeah, you only know how to lick Deng Hongmei!” Lu Ming shook his head and raised his hand, “Give me a cup of black coffee, the more bitter, the better!”

Liu Laocai sighed, “Now it’s great, we’re both single. Shall we have a drink tonight?”

“Get lost!” Lu Ming couldn’t be bothered with him.

Liu Laocai chuckled, “Qianxing, let’s talk business!” His expression became serious, “This oil field has some issues, and I think you’ll need to solve them. Fira Oil called me saying that the land deed issued by the lord of Bat City-State isn’t recognized by a neighboring city-state, claiming that the land is theirs. Fira Oil is worried about future disputes, so they notified me. After all, drilling for oil isn’t something that can be finished in a year or two.”

Lu Ming nodded, “I’ll help you look into it when I’m less busy.”

“Yeah, no rush. It’s still a long way to go before drilling starts!” Liu Laocai smiled, “You’ve got important matters coming up. Isn’t the big meeting in two days?”

Lu Ming nodded, picking up the booklet and sighing softly, “Yes, the big meeting…”

Ahead, a brand-new world seemed to be slowly opening its doors.

There was some anticipation, but also a vague sense of confusion, because the fierce arena he was about to enter was full of unfamiliar and unknown dangers. Could he become the one who stands in the center of the arena, stepping on countless enemies’ corpses and receiving the thunderous cheers of countless supporters?