1994: I Became a Literary Master in America

Chapter 171 Chicago Boy

Helen Hunt?

Xu Shengjie is no stranger to this.

In his past life, he watched "Tornado" more than once and greatly admired the adventurous spirit and courage of the storm chasers in the film.

America has made many disaster films, and Tornado is definitely one of them.

In addition, there is another movie, "Death Wish," a disaster film starring Bruce Piercenan, which is equally memorable.

As for the day after tomorrow and 2012, those are works from after the millennium.

It's very good, but to be honest, he still prefers "Tornado" and "The Collapse of the Sky".

Wait a minute, 2012?

This is an original work; the director and screenwriter, Emmerich, is currently working on the film *Independence Day*. In other words, he hasn't even started working on *2012* yet, nor does he even have an idea for it.

Xu Shengjie vaguely remembers that after the release of "2012," Emmerich talked about the concept and creation of the film in an interview. He started to have the idea in the late 2012s and then wrote the first draft of the script. However, the special effects involved in "2012" were too large and complex, and even America at the time was not capable of completing them.

Reluctantly, Emmerich temporarily shelved "2012," and then extracted a segment from the story of "2012" to create...

That's how the 2004 film *The Day After Tomorrow* came about.

"Jeffrey?"

Helen reached out her hand, but received no response from Xu Shengjie, which made her a little unhappy.

Tom Hanks frowned slightly and patted him on the shoulder.

Xu Shengjie then came to his senses and quickly grasped Helen's hand, apologizing, "Ms. Hunter, I'm very sorry, but when Tom was talking about 'Tornado' just now, I suddenly had an idea, an idea about a global disaster."

Spielberg once gave a brief introduction to the "Tornado" project.

So it's not surprising that Xu Shengjie knew it was a disaster movie.

Helen and Tom were taken aback.

Helen Hunt smiled and asked, "What kind of idea?"

Are you familiar with the Mayan prophecies?

"The Mayan prophecy?"

"The Mayan prophecy, part of the Mayan civilization, is a linguistic legend derived from the Mayan Long Count calendar. According to the Mayan prophecy, the world has experienced five cycles of destruction and rebirth, also known as the Sun Age." 2012

The year marks the beginning of the "Fifth Sun Age." At the end of each age, Earth faces destruction.

Helen didn't believe Xu Shengjie at first.

But after he said it, she was also confused.

"Tom, do you know?"

"What?"

"The Mayan prophecy."

Tom Hanks opened his mouth, looking embarrassed, and then said, "I've heard of 'The Mayan'..."

"Prophecies," but I don't know the specifics. However, it sounds like a terrible thing.

He looked at Xu Shengjie.

Xu Shengjie laughed and said, "I only have a basic understanding of it, but I think it will be a good story."

"I'm kind of looking forward to it."

Helen was no longer angry, and the three of them chatted and laughed as they boarded the ferry.

This ferry is a luxury ferry specially chartered by the Estée Lauder Group, and it can accommodate thousands of people.

Security on the ship was also very tight. Xu Shengjie glanced at it and saw that there were at least a hundred security personnel.

The entire ferry was decorated in an extremely luxurious manner.

Tom Hanks, a veteran Hollywood star, looks very gentle, with a Forrest Gump-like honest smile on his face.

They cruised along the elegantly dressed ferry, Tom greeting people from time to time and introducing Xu Shengjie and Helen beside him. Helen Hunt, too, had a wide network of connections. Despite her young appearance, she was born in 1963, a full twelve years older than Xu Shengjie.

She entered the entertainment industry in 1974 and is known for her television dramas, but she has participated in quite a few works.

Besides being an actor, he is also a director, screenwriter, and producer.

She moved around the crowd with ease and remained polite.

Whenever Tom forgot to introduce Xu Shengjie, she would add to the introduction as appropriate.

And so, the three of them made their way to the VIP lounge. Tom and Helen took two glasses of champagne, while Xu Shengjie could only get a glass of lemonade.

New York has strict laws regarding the age of drinking.

Xu Shengjie can have a couple of drinks in private without any problem, but in public, that's all he can do.

The ferry had long since departed New York Harbor. The winter winds of the Hudson River were biting, but they couldn't dispel the warmth and opulence within the cabin.

Today's Prada x Estée Lauder crossover fashion show brought together half of New York's high society.

This was the most anticipated private show of New York Fashion Week in 95. It was not open to the public and did not accept walk-in guests. Those who received invitations were all Hollywood stars, top fashion figures, wealthy families, and top media personalities. Tom Hanks's gaze swept across the crowd, quickly locking onto an empty seat by the window. He smiled and gestured, "Come with me. There are two acquaintances over there who are worth getting to know."

Xu Shengjie and Helen did not object and followed Tom.

In the middle of the VIP room, a group of people were talking.

As Tom walked over, a tall, burly middle-aged man in the crowd saw him, said "excuse me" to the people around him, and then came over with a few others.

"Hey Tom, it's great to have you here for this fashion show."

"Ronald, you called me personally, how could I possibly refuse?"

Donald, it's been a long time!

As he spoke, Tom Hanks turned slightly to Xu Shengjie and Helen and introduced them: "Ronald Lauder, the head of Estée Lauder, is also the host of today's fashion show."

"Half, only half a master, Tom, Mr. Klein will be unhappy if you say that."

Ronald, with his black hair and well-tailored suit, said with a smile.

The Klein he was referring to was Kevin Klein, who was currently on the other side of the VIP room, talking quietly with Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue.

"Jeffrey, this is Donald, you should be familiar with him, he's also an old friend of Hollywood."

He previously gave a brilliant performance in "Home Alone 2".

Xu Shengjie's gaze froze.

He first shook hands with Ronald, and then shook hands with Donald.

This is Donald from 95!

"This is Jeffrey Tsu, a writer and director."

"Ah, I know, you are the author of 'Canal Street Subway Station' and 'Buffy the Vampire Hunter'. I like your stories."

The girl behind Ronald suddenly gasped.

Ronald and Donald certainly didn't know who Xu Shengjie was. Even though Xu Shengjie was somewhat famous now, he might not be able to get in.

They've caught their eye. And people of that age might not necessarily pay much attention to contemporary writers.

When these guys get together, they prefer to talk about Fitzgerald and Hemingway.

That's why it looks more sophisticated.

Ronald and Donald were taken aback and turned to look at the girl.

"This is my daughter, Jane Lande. This is her boyfriend, Kevin Walsh, a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy from Stanford University, who is now pursuing his PhD at Harvard Law School. Oh, and he's also Professor Michelle Friedman's assistant."

"Professor Michel Friedman, the 1976 Nobel laureate in economics?"

Xu Shengjie blurted it out.

Kevin Walsh smiled slightly and said gently and modestly, "I'm just helping Professor Michel with some trivial matters and chores."

"I have read the professor's book, Capitalism and Freedom."

Xu Shengjie outwardly appeared quite envious.

Michelle Friedman, the Squid Man, is the famous mentor of the Chicago Boys.

It advocates minimizing the role of government, allowing the free market to function, and maintaining political and social freedoms. It emphasizes the advantages of a free market economy and opposes government intervention—a stance that had a significant impact on the economic policies of the Reagan administration and many other countries in the 80s.

It can be said that this guy single-handedly emptied the vast American national capital accumulated after Roosevelt took office.

At the same time, through the promotion of his ideas, he ruined the economies of South American countries such as Chile and Brazil.

It was Michelle's theory that enabled the Squid Man to gradually undermine America's internal structure by leveraging the "City of Chicago academic" concept.

A very powerful character!

However, Xu Shengjie didn't pay much attention to it.

What he cared about was Kevin Walsh in front of him.

Kevin Warsh, born in 95, was only twenty-five years old—Xu Shengjie knew this guy was extraordinary. After graduating this year, he joined Morgan Stanley as a department head, and thirty years later, he became a Federal Reserve governor, and was also the most promising candidate to become the chairman of the Federal Reserve.

Xu Shengjie read about Kevin Walsh while in his hospital bed.

Therefore, it left a deep impression.

This guy is something else!

"I've also read your books; Jane recommended your 'Canal Street' to me many times."

However, I prefer your new book published this year, *Fight Club*. Personally, I think it's a work with a strong sense of realism, art, and philosophy.

A bachelor's degree in public policy and literature—his tastes are indeed quite unusual.

Xu Shengjie smiled and said, "Thank you for your liking."

"Hoho, look at young people these days, they're so much more outgoing than we were back then, and they have so many things in common to talk about."

Tom, I heard you're planning to become a director. You know, I'm really interested in the film industry. Want to chat?

"sure!"

Tom accepted Donald's invitation without hesitation.

However, he asked Helen to stay and take care of Xu Shengjie.

Ronald and his two companions stepped aside. At that moment, someone informed the people in the VIP room that they could enter the show.

With nothing else to do, the four of them went into the show.

Helen and Jane chatted happily, while Xu Shengjie and Kevin Walsh remained somewhat silent.

Sitting down on one side of the runway, Kevin Walsh and Xu Shengjie were both secretly observing each other.

Even though Kevin likes Fight Club, he doesn't care that much about Xu Shengjie.

Just a talented newcomer in the arts.

Writer?

Kevin believes that one should rely on inspiration, aesthetics, and talent to establish oneself.

Compared to the cold, rational economic field, which emphasizes strategic maneuvering and capital rules, these are two completely unrelated tracks.

There's nothing to talk about!

To be honest, if it weren't for Jian Jian staying, he would have preferred to stay with Ronald and the others.

However, he did not show his disdain.

On the surface, he was polite and had a noble air about him, and his smile was particularly charming.

"Did you see the news from a few days ago?"

The recent earthquake in Japan was devastating!

Jane suddenly steered the conversation toward the Hanshin earthquake.

She said with a compassionate tone, "The images in the news are shocking; countless people have been displaced. It's terrifying."

Helen chimed in, "It's truly terrifying. In an instant, a bustling city can be reduced to ruins. Natural disasters are always the most merciless."

o

She had already read the script for "Tornado" and was very sensitive to natural disasters.

"This is just the beginning!"

Xu Shengjie suddenly spoke.

"what?"

"Natural disasters are followed by man-made disasters."

While the Hanshin earthquake was devastating, its true devastation lies in the fact that it will completely expose the facade of Japan's economic prosperity.

"What do you mean?"

Jane and Helen were a little confused.

Kevin, sitting to the side, suddenly noticed something amiss.