North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 74 I Don't Want to Do It
"Your Excellency, you still owe me a favor, do you remember?"

Bishop Evan gave an expected smile: "I knew you'd say this when you told Vivian to leave."

"Back then, you saved my poor, lovely little niece's life. At Captain Vic's tailor shop, I said I owed you a favor."

"This favor will remain valid indefinitely. However... if you're using this favor to get me to agree to be with Vivian, I'm sorry, I can't do it!"

“As a clergyman, I have served my Lord my entire life, without a partner or children. Anne was my dearest little sister, and she has now passed away. So her daughter is my daughter!”

“I will not tolerate Vivian being with a heretic like you! I think her father would absolutely not agree either!”

Bishop Evan stared at Azu with a scrutinizing gaze: "I will do everything in my power to give Vivian the very best of everything! Including her future husband!"

"Li, although you are an outstanding young man, it is obvious that you two are not a good match!"

I admit you are excellent, but you are just a Chinese person with yellow skin, so you are not good enough for Vivian!
Azu sipped his Margaux wine, listened patiently, and then shook his head slightly: "Your Excellency, I think you've misunderstood me."

"You owe me a favor, and I'm not asking for it in exchange for your permission to be with Vivian!"

"This is a free country! Vivian is a free girl! Who she chooses to be with in the future is entirely up to her! She doesn't need anyone else's permission, nor is it anyone else's place to agree!"

Even your own maternal uncle won't do!

“You…!” Bishop Evan had not been refuted like this to his face in a long time.

When was the last time he was treated like this? Bishop Evan couldn't even remember!
Therefore, the bishop was somewhat annoyed, but with his composure and self-control, he managed to remain calm.

Azu continued, "Your Excellency, I'll use this favor to exchange for a perfect birthday and coming-of-age ceremony!"

"Vivian's birthday and coming-of-age ceremony!"

"She's turning eighteen soon, and tomorrow I've prepared a grand celebration for her!"

“These days, my company and I have made a little money, enough to prepare for this grand ceremony for her.”

"However, we don't have any decent connections in San Francisco."

"Without proper guests, the ceremony prepared for her would lose its meaning."

"Therefore, I hope that in exchange for the favor that Your Excellency owes me, you will personally invite all the guests in San Francisco who are qualified to attend this ceremony!"

"Of course, it's inappropriate for adult men to attend a girl's coming-of-age ceremony. Therefore, this ceremony will only invite female guests and young boys!"

“I think…!” Azu looked up and smiled at Bishop Evan, “This request is a piece of cake for Your Excellency, isn’t it?”

Bishop Evan paused for a moment after hearing this before subconsciously replying, "Of course! This is not difficult for me. But... I seem to remember that my lovely little niece was born in October, wasn't she?"

"It's just a few days earlier. The date doesn't matter; what matters is the sentiment."

Bishop Evan hesitated for a moment, then said, "Alright! If it weren't for your reminder, I would have almost forgotten Vivian's birthday and coming-of-age ceremony."

"For a girl, missing her birthday and coming-of-age ceremony is truly a lifelong regret!"

“I will personally write invitations to everyone in San Francisco who is eligible to attend this ceremony, and I believe that no one will refuse to give me this small favor.”

“Thank you very much, Your Excellency! By the way, your invitation probably doesn’t include adult men, right?” Azu confirmed.

“Oh…?” Bishop Evan looked at Azu with a half-smile: “Li, what are you worried about? Are you worried that I’ll take this opportunity to introduce Vivian to other outstanding young people?”

"Hehe!" Azu scratched his head, slightly embarrassed. Bishop Evan teased, "Don't worry! A girl's coming-of-age ceremony is not suitable for adult men to attend. If I didn't even know this basic rule, how could I possibly be a bishop?"

"So, where do you plan to hold this ceremony?"

Azu replied, “I bought the shipping company that used to belong to the Cameron family, which included an ocean liner called ‘Joan of Arc,’ which is now docked at Clark Pier.”

"I have arranged for the Joan of Arc to be decorated as the venue for the ceremony. I hope to see all the distinguished guests attending tomorrow evening!"

Bishop Evan, upon hearing this, readily agreed, saying, "Last year, I traveled from the East to the far West aboard the Joan of Arc to assume my post. It was a large ship, and a fine one at that! What could be more fitting for holding the ceremony there!"

"I'll start writing the invitations right away and send them out immediately to make sure everyone can attend on time tomorrow!"

As he spoke, Bishop Evan was about to get up and see his guest off.

"Master Bishop, don't be anxious!"

Ah Zu stopped him, saying, "There's something else!"

"Is there anything else?" Bishop Evan asked curiously.

"Regarding Miss Vivian's attendance at the church school!"

Bishop Evan sat down again: "Lee, you've used up your favor. There's absolutely no room for negotiation regarding Vivian's enrollment!"

Bishop Evan said firmly, "If you continue to keep her by your side, who knows, by the time her father returns one day, he might already be a grandfather. And I'll be a great-uncle!"

"I swear...!" Azu quickly declared, "I would never do such a thing!"

“Alright, your oaths don’t carry much weight with me!” Bishop Evan stopped Azu from continuing.

"Once Vivian has completed her coming-of-age ceremony, I will send her to a church school...!"

“Wait…!” Azu interrupted him again: “I’m sorry, Your Excellency! I didn’t want to turn this into a transaction, but I can’t think of any other way!”

Bishop Evan asked curiously, "Lee, what do you mean?"

"Well... actually, you are Vivian's maternal uncle, and I really didn't want to do this. It was all because you forced me, Your Excellency the Bishop!"

Bishop Evan immediately became wary: "What exactly do you want?"

"Glug!" Azu took a sip of his drink before saying, "Your Excellency, you personally manage all the properties and funds of the entire Bay Area Church, right?"

"Hmm...it's not a secret!"

Azu continued, "But what many people don't know is... the church is very rich, extremely rich!"

"The church owns a lot of real estate throughout the Bay Area, as well as many schools and hospitals, and has a stake in many other industries... It even owns a large part of the Bay Area!"

"Compared to the church, the Cameron family is nothing but paupers! I don't think I'm exaggerating at all, am I?"

Bishop Evan's expression was solemn; he neither denied nor confirmed, but simply asked, "Li, what exactly are you trying to say?"

"What I want to say is, Your Excellency, you're in big trouble!"

(End of this chapter)