While in America, the system says Roosevelt was an emperor.

Chapter 98: A Feminist Seeks an Audience?

After finishing their lunch, Tom and Denise drove away.

On the way, Tom asked Dani, "Didn't you say that one of your best friends was coming to see me this afternoon?"

Could you tell me more about her specific situation?

Denise began introducing her best friend, whom she was to meet that afternoon.

Jessica Anthony, a close friend of Denise from elementary school through high school and college.

Her most prominent label is that she is a descendant of Susan Brownell Anthony.

Susan Anthony was a pioneer of the American women's liberation movement.

After graduating from college, Jessica Anthony also joined the women's liberation movement without hesitation.

It is no exaggeration to say that Jessica's presence can be seen in at least three out of ten women's marches in America.

Because of their vastly different jobs, Denise and Jessica lost touch after graduation, but it didn't affect their friendship.

Denise immediately shared the news of Tom sending Tom to the "company" with Jessica.

Upon hearing this on the phone, Jessica first congratulated her best friend on finding true love, and then wanted to meet Tom.

Tom drove, analyzing Jessica's motives, thinking to himself:

Are you a rights advocate?

I must see him.

Even rural feminism, or even extreme feminism;

Tom also wants to see her.

Born into a political family, and now active on the front lines.

She represents not only herself, but also the votes of millions of women.

What politician wouldn't give votes face?

Moreover, the feminists of this era haven't gone crazy or started doing anything drastic yet.

The two first went home to change their clothes, and with Dani's permission, Tom also invited Anna along.

Tom had already planned how to turn this meeting into a publicity stunt.

Then the three of them went to an afternoon tea house.

Jessica chose the meeting place.

An afternoon tea house that costs several times more than the French restaurant Tom booked out.

Tom underestimated Jessica based solely on her choice of meeting place.

Another idealist who only talks the talk but doesn't walk the walk. If he were even slightly more pragmatic, he wouldn't have chosen this kind of place to meet.

But wealthy young ladies who enjoy afternoon tea are also Tom's favorite people to meet and befriend.

There's nothing else to it but my fondness for deceiving you.

Tom and Denise walked hand in hand, with Anna carrying the camera. The three of them then entered the afternoon tea house.

Inside the hall, women dressed in European-style gowns were chatting and laughing, holding cups of red tea and fanning themselves with small fans.

There was absolutely no indication of the urgency of a nation at war.

If you didn't know better, you'd think you were back in the Enlightenment era, at a French salon gathering.

Even in the distant past, during World War I, there were many similar salon gatherings in Paris, France.

What business is it of the young ladies if they're fighting to the death on the front lines?

Tom also slightly modified his plan; he wanted to win over all the young ladies present.

As Tom entered, all eyes turned to him, and they exchanged greetings with their friends, saying, "Oh~"

"Huh~"

"Look at that man, he's so handsome!"

There's no other reason; it's purely based on numbers.

If it weren't for Denise guarding his food like a vicious dog, Tom might have been dragged to some table and subjected to all sorts of savory dishes.

Jessica raised her hand slightly and waved to the three of them.

Tom saw Jessica, who looked out of place in her women's suit.

A distinctly masculine face, not the androgynous handsomeness, but a serious masculine look.

The three of them took their seats, and all eyes in the hall immediately turned to them.

Many young ladies began to speculate about the relationship between the four.

Anna Karenina, Madame Bovary, Othello —

Countless literary works depicting love triangles surfaced in the minds of these young ladies.

Denise formally introduced them, then ordered a dessert and green tea, allowing the three of them to chat freely.

Jessica was equally outspoken, saying, "Mr. Tom, I heard you're planning to start a pharmaceutical company?"

Tom nodded, and Jessica continued, "I've read all your speeches that have been published in the newspapers."

"Including your speeches in the Black community."

"You are a politician who supports equal rights for the underprivileged. I'd like to ask you something."

What are your views on gender issues?

"And will your future pharmaceutical company factory offer equal pay for equal work to men and women?"

"It will still discriminate against women, just like other companies and factories, and pay women less and lower wages."

Jessica's barrage of questions only drew the attention of the young ladies around her.

Anna also picked up her notebook, ready to record every word Tom said.

The pampered young lady, who never lifted a finger, was also a well-read intellectual.

And wouldn't they also like to make a name for themselves like a man?

But families and society always use similar excuses to deflect attention:

You are a woman, it is not appropriate for you to appear in public.

Wait for your father to introduce you to a good husband, and you can live a life of leisure, drinking tea and enjoying life. Why bother with scheming and intrigue?

Just focus on educating our children properly; why bother traveling around? America isn't safe anyway.

Although their words and actions were full of "love" and "care";

But they could sense that the other party harbored a deep-seated prejudice against women in their subconscious.

The discrimination they faced, especially from family and those around them, was something they could never forget.

Tom looked at Diane again, but Diane wasn't interested and was busy showing off her desserts.

Being with Tom is indeed very physically demanding, and even though Diane eats a lot, she doesn't gain any weight.

Tom looked at Jessica again and saw in her eyes:

Examined, questioned, tested — and a sliver of hope.

Tom deliberately raised his voice, making sure everyone present could hear him, and said, "Miss Jessica, please look at the black tea in your hand."

"May I ask you, do you know whether this cup of black tea was brewed for you by a man or a woman?"

"Are the black tea leaves picked by men or women?"

"Not just black tea, but for any product in our daily lives, can you tell whether the producer is male or female?"

Jessica and Anna shook their heads; who could tell the difference?

The other young ladies also shook their heads.

Tom pointed to Dani's dessert and continued, "I can't tell if a man or a woman made the dessert, but I can enjoy how filling it is."

"All I need is to feel full, not to care about the gender of the creator."

"Could it be that desserts made by people of different genders provide different levels of satiety?"

"Is an apple sweeter than one grown by a woman simply because it was grown by a man?"

All the listeners understood what Tom meant, and their eyes immediately filled with hope.

The hope for true gender equality.

Tom pressed his advantage, saying, "So in my eyes, as long as you provide labor to society and create value;"

"Whether male or female, young or old, there is no difference."

"And it's not limited to actual production labor:"

"To bring joy to the public through literary works;"

"In public services, provide social security for the public;"

"Regardless of the field, as long as one contributes to society, who can distinguish whether the contributor is male or female?"

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