1982 Started from Hong Kong

Chapter 501 Councilor Zhai

"Maria, turn on the TV quickly."

As soon as Zhao Meizhen entered the Deep Water Bay Garden Villa, she urged her Filipino maid: "Today, Ah Yuan went to the government building. There was a live broadcast."

Zhou Haimei and Zhai Yao followed beside her, each holding a scroll that was rolled up so that the design was no longer visible.

The TV was turned on, and Channel 3 was broadcasting the midday news live.

……

The camera flashes in the scene, and the red carpet is spread out.

Chief Secretary for Administration, Hodgson, stood on the stage, facing the gazes of a group of officials and reporters seated below, and was delivering a speech full of platitudes.

"...Although Hong Kong's economy was slightly hampered in the first half of the year, it has now returned to normal and is gradually thriving. This situation once again reminds us that Hong Kong's economy is inseparable from the contributions and development of business people and the working population..."

……

Zhao Meizhen stared at the television screen, squinting her old eyes, and asked, "How is it? Did you see your brother?"

Zhai Yao and Zhou Haimei stared wide-eyed as they searched the audience, but the camera kept focusing on Huo De's foreign face, occasionally showing a few seconds of footage of the audience, and they couldn't see any trace of Zhai Yuan at all.

"Ugh! This deadbeat talks too much nonsense!"

Five minutes later, Zhao Meizhen saw Huo De still rambling on TV and cursed him in dissatisfaction.

Then she got up, picked up the scroll she had brought back from outside, and called out, "Ignore him for now. Hai Mei, watch for when your cousin appears. Yao Yao, come and help me hang up the photos."

As the scroll in Zhao Meizhen's hand unfurled

As the scroll unfurled, a striking image appeared: a photograph of Zhai Yuan with Prince Charles and Princess Diana, enlarged and framed, the ink vibrant and clear.

The mother and daughter walked to the living room wall directly opposite the door, and their Filipino maid, Maria, brought over a stool.

Zhao Meizhen instructed Zhai Yao to step on the table and hang up the group photo. Then, she tiptoed and took down the ancestral tablet and incense burner of Zhai Yuan's father from the Buddhist cabinet.

"Hey dad, your son's got connections now! He's got connections with the imperial family and he's got an official position. You old devil, you shouldn't keep occupying this prime spot. Please move out of here."

Zhao Meizhen looked around with the memorial tablet in her arms, but couldn't find a suitable place. So she handed it to Maria and said, "Put the ancestor away for now. Tomorrow, we'll find a fortune teller to calculate and change the location for him."

Zhou Haiming covered her mouth and smiled as she watched this scene.

On television, Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr. Ho Tak, abruptly changed the subject: "To recognize socially responsible individuals who have made contributions, we are holding a solemn and meaningful ceremony here today. I am honored to announce on behalf of the Governor that we will now appoint a new Justice of the Peace, a new Legislative Council member, to participate in formulating the path for Hong Kong's future development. He is Mr. Zhai Yuan!"

"My cousin is out!"

Zhou Haimei excitedly pointed to the screen.

Zhao Meizhen and Zhai Yao didn't even bother hanging up the photos; upon hearing this, they rushed to the television.

Camera shift,

Zhai Yuan rose from the audience with a smile, clasped his hands together in prayer, and was met with applause.

…………

"I, Zhai Yuan, having been appointed as a Justice of the Peace, hereby swear that I will uphold the rule of law in Hong Kong and, as a Justice of the Peace, faithfully and diligently serve the citizens of Hong Kong."

Hong Kong Government Building

Zhai Yuan, dressed in a dark suit with a Justice of the Peace badge pinned to his chest, took the letter of appointment from Huo De with a smile.

The applause of the audience was thunderous.

As is customary, Hodgson offered a few words of encouragement, and then said to Zhai Yuan, "According to the Royal Decree of Hong Kong, I hereby, on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen and Sir William Wesley, hereby reappoint you as a non-official member of the Legislative Council for a term of two years, effective from today."

The second letter of appointment for a legislator was handed to Zhai Yuan. It was like a bolt from the blue!

The camera shutters clicked in rapid succession, and the stage and audience were bathed in the soft glow of lights.
Surrounded by flashing lights,

The youngest Legislative Council member in Hong Kong's history was born at this moment.

…………

After the appointment was completed, Zhai Yuan walked out of the government building.

After dealing with a swarm of reporters who had followed him, he lowered his head and got into the car, escorted by Ho Chi-long and the Four Ancestors of Shaolin.

"Congratulations, Mr. Zhai, on obtaining two official titles in one day." He Zilang said with a smile to Zhai Yuan from his car, "Your fame resounds throughout Hong Kong, and you've achieved great success with two powerful figures!"

"Two phoenixes taking flight?" Zhai Yuan patted the two appointment certificates in his hand and grinned, "My body can't handle it!"

"..." He Zilang patted his forehead helplessly, and after a moment he said again, "Mr. Zhai, if you have time, please invite a group of councilor friends out for dinner tonight so that you can get to know each other."

Zhai Yuan asked, "Are they all friends?"

He Zilang nodded firmly: "We're all friends!"

Building bridges and laying cables, cultivating relationships, has been something that Zhai Yuan has asked He Zilang to handle ever since he became the village representative of Xiawan Village.

For more than four years, He Zilang went from initially making small talk and visiting local gentry,
Later, 1024 Cinema, Kuaibo Factory, Natural Selection Casino Ship, and Golden House Club were established one after another.

Through the exchange of benefits, their network of connections has expanded ever larger.

These connections were previously unusable, but their usefulness has gradually become apparent since Zhai Yuan became a legislator.

“Of the 57 seats in the Legislative Council, 13 are your friends, Mr. Zhai.”

Ho Chi-long emphasized the word "friend" and continued, "With the addition of the six chairpersons of the New Territories Rural Committee, Mr. Zhai, you will be able to get at least one-fifth of the support for any proposals you make in the Legislative Council in the future."

"One-fifth doesn't sound like much~"

Zhai Yuan shrugged noncommittally. Seeing He Zilang frowning as if to explain, he smiled and patted his shoulder: "Alright, just kidding. I know you've been working hard, Brother Lang. Since these councilors and village committee chairmen are all friends, and I've never met them before, let's take this opportunity to connect with each other tonight. How about Guan Ji Seafood Restaurant?"

“Too high-profile, it would be troublesome if someone took pictures.” He Zilang waved his hands repeatedly upon hearing this, then laughed and said, “I’ll arrange it. Tonight, we’ll have a banquet at the ancestral hall in Xiawan Village, a farm-style meal. We’ll invite Mr. Zhai’s friends to come and congratulate you on your new appointment as a councilor…”

That night, the ancestral hall in Xiawan Village was brightly lit.

The shadows of cups and people mingled, and all the gentry who came and went, regardless of their social connections, were 'friends' of Councilor Zhai.

Human kindness is like a gentle breeze; things will fall into place naturally.

The farmhouse restaurant stayed open very late that night.

By the time Zhai Yuan returned to Deep Water Bay by car, it was almost midnight.

Even in the dead of night, you can still see the lights on in the house through the window.

Zhai Yuan walked to the door and heard the laughter of Zhou Haimei, Zhai Yao, Yu Feihong and several other girls coming from inside.

I rang the doorbell.

The laughter and chatter in the living room fell silent. Zhai Yao asked through the door, "Who is it!"

Zhai Yuanqing cleared his throat: "Director of 91 Entertainment, owner of Kuaibo Technology, head of Zhonggang Communications, village chief of Xiawan Village, Justice of the Peace of the New Territories, member of the Legislative Council, one of Hong Kong's Ten Outstanding Young Persons..."

Laughter erupted again from inside.

Finally, Zhou Haimei coughed and said in a serious tone, "There's not enough room for so many people!"

(End of this chapter)