American Entertainment 1978: New York Night Fever

Chapter 101 Relocation Resistance

After the plane landed at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, the group went their separate ways. The premiere was scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. the following night.

Old Rossi arrived in an Electra 225 four-door sedan to pick him up. The car had a boxy, rugged body, chrome trim, large windows, and a signature waterfall grille, giving it a dignified and imposing look.

"Papa, why didn't you buy a better car? It's better to spend the money ourselves than pay taxes." It was Zik who insisted on getting a new car.

Rossi Brothers Trading Company made a fortune from its surrounding businesses, and as the general manager, Rossi could no longer drive that old Chrysler.

From Zik's Chinese perspective, a car is a symbol of a man's status; even if he doesn't run a company, he can't let his elderly father look too shabby. This Buick only costs around $8,500, which isn't even considered a luxury car.

Old Rossi chuckled and explained that while he could easily afford a Cadillac, the top-of-the-line Buick had the same engine performance as a Cadillac, was equally respectable, and cost almost half the price. He was already quite content to drive a Buick.

Zik chuckled inwardly and didn't try to persuade him any further. Old Rossi was used to being frugal and always valued cost-effectiveness.

Back home, the family enjoyed a warm and happy dinner. There was also a lot of good news: Maria, the older sister, would be starting university this year.

Since Zeke promised to pay for all her medical school tuition, Maria had already given up on the idea of ​​going to nursing school. This application season, Zeke specifically sought out a college counselor in Manhattan who specialized in elite universities, through Erf Bigger, the head of Casablanca Records' New York office.

The consultant was an elderly Jewish man with thick-rimmed glasses and a constant cigarette in his hand. He charged exorbitant fees, but had a keen eye for talent. After reviewing Maria's transcripts and resume, he immediately rejected her idea of ​​applying to Ivy League universities and instead tailored a personalized presentation strategy for her.

He did not hide Maria's background; instead, he packaged her as "a resilient woman from the working class in Brooklyn."

In her application essay, Maria was asked to focus on how she studied biochemistry on her own while helping out in the kitchen and taking care of her younger siblings, and how she transformed the survival wisdom of the streets of Brownsville into a desire for medicine.

Most importantly, he capitalized on New York's unique political climate, as the City University of New York system was reportedly pushing for affirmative action and desperately needed local talent like Maria who not only excelled academically but also embodied "diversity" and a "first-generation college student" background.

American universities typically release admission results in March or April. Students need to reply to the university by May 1st to confirm whether they accept the offer and pay a deposit to secure their place. Now everything is settled.

“Zick, I’ve decided to go to Hunter College,” Maria said excitedly. “Its biology department is ranked among the best in the country, and it’s the best stepping stone to Columbia Medical School. Papa just took me to see the campus last week, it’s amazing, it’s full of people who really want to be doctors—and it’s right on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, just a subway ride away.”

"The college counselor said that as long as I keep my GPA above 3.8, coupled with my background, Columbia Medical School will be like a magnet to me—then I will be the first doctor in the Rossi family, and also the first female doctor."

"Wow, Maria, you're amazing! The requirements there are incredibly high." Zeke exclaimed with admiration, surprised that his sister was so capable. Hunter College is the flagship program of the City University of New York (CUNY) system, with an exceptionally strong pre-med program.

However, Maria was able to excel in math and biology at the top of her class in a terrible public school, which means she had a good foundation. It's just that no one had ever told her about the SAT registration fee or the recommendation letter process before.

Once Zeke had secured the funds and connections, Hunter College's admission was less a miracle and more a return to its rightful place, as the cut-off scores had been suppressed by poverty.

Maria bit her fork, her eyes brightening for a moment, then she deliberately feigned nonchalance: "Hunter Academy offers a scholarship program. I'm a local student, and it works out to 1,800 a year—if I work a job during the summer—"

"Maria, you don't need to worry about tuition and living expenses at all. I'll make up for whatever you're short. I can afford it." Zeke stuffed the last piece of garlic bread into his mouth and mumbled, "Of course, you can work at the Rossi Brothers if you want."

Joey, the younger brother, silently shoveled at the pasta on his plate, not uttering a sound, though his shoulders hunched slightly.

Zik guessed that he must be thinking to himself: How am I going to live like this from now on?

Hunter College was already beyond Joey's reach, and Columbia University was a local Ivy League school in New York, a name known to everyone. This would only make him look more like a fool.

Mrs. Rossi was also beaming with joy, going on and on about the advantages of her daughter attending school right at their doorstep, instead of having to live at the school.

Old Rossi puffed out his chest and poured himself another glass of wine.

Zick smiled, it seemed that the face of an Italian family was something that Cadillac could not provide, but rather "my daughter is going to Hunter and aiming for Columbia Medical School."

"Oh, by the way," Mrs. Rossie suddenly picked up her glass, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Zeke, "when you were on 'The Murphy Show,' your father and I were glued to the TV. Even though we didn't understand any of the music or trends you were talking about, you weren't shy at all, you spoke so well, and you were so humble—so many neighbors saw it, and they all said Rossie's son has really made something of himself."

"Speaking of which, Tony and Mary are starting elementary school this year," Zeke put down his fork and said with a somewhat serious expression, "I'm planning to buy a house in a nice neighborhood."

Moving was also on the agenda. More respectable Italian communities were not uncommon in New York, and he had already asked Tino to help him contact a real estate agent to find one.

Tony and Mary were the nicknames given to their eldest brother Paul's two children. Their official names were Antonio and Maria.

Zick is actually quite speechless about the naming practices of Rossi, or rather, Italian-Americans.

Maria is almost a standard name for girls, meaning to be dedicated to the Virgin Mary and to ask for her protection.

Tony's name comes from Saint Anthony, one of the most revered saints among Italians, considered a "recoverer of lost items" and "patron saint of the poor." After Paul "lost" his life on the battlefield, the elderly Rossi and his wife named Paul's son Tony, signifying the hope of finding their family again.

As for his name, Zekiel, it's a nickname for his formal name. The word comes from the Jewish Bible and means the prophet Ezekiel; frankly, it sounds a bit like a Jewish name.

But in Brownsville, Italians and Jews lived together, all struggling at the bottom of society, intermarrying, mixing races, and sharing cultural symbols for survival. Almost no one felt that Ezekiel was a Jewish exclusive; it was just a biblical name, and the Bible was a shared cultural asset of all white working-class communities.

Old Rossi named his second son this name simply because he thought it sounded strong and didn't have such a strong Italian accent, so that his son wouldn't be immediately recognized as "Guido" when looking for a job or signing a contract in the future.

Old Rossi's expression stiffened as he looked at Zeke: "We've lived here our whole lives, where else could we move to? It's fine living here, and it's safe around here."

Mrs. Rossi agreed, believing that if they moved away, it would be difficult to maintain contact with friends and relatives.

She paused, as if remembering something, her voice softening, and she looked at Qi Ke with a hint of pleading: "Besides, if we move away, how will those people find us?"

Zik paused for a moment, then realized who she was referring to.

Before joining the army, Paul Rossi was a well-known activist in Brownsville, and after enlisting, he made many close friends in the military. Over the years, veterans from all over the country have occasionally come to visit him, some passing through New York, others coming specifically to see Paul's two children.

They usually sit awkwardly in the living room, empty-handed or carrying cheap candy, talking about Paul's embarrassing moments at the training camp or his heroic deeds on the battlefield.

In an era when communication methods were not advanced, the "Rosie's house" engraved on the old doorplate was the only coordinate for those veterans scattered across the country to find each other. Once they moved away, this last faint connection might truly be severed.

"But we can't send Tony and Mary to a run-down public school, can we? The neighbors can help tell us our new address," Zeke patiently explained.

In his Chinese soul, valuing education is a matter of course, and given the choice, one should never let one's child rot in a dilapidated school in a slum.

"Why not? Maria went to public school too, and she still went to university—" Old Rossi retorted.

Zik wanted to continue persuading, but then there was a rapid knocking on the door.

"Zek, it's me."

Upon hearing this voice, Qi Kexin immediately jumped up. "How did the dentist find his way to our house?"