My absurd experiences in North America over the years

Li Fu put down his water glass but did not reply immediately.

C.P.'s words were like a knife, cutting open the things he had been vaguely dealing with before, from his trip to Nashville to the fall of 2008 and up until now, he had been trying to establish himself.

However, he overlooked the most critical issue: the entire society and politics could not possibly accept him.

It's not that he didn't try hard enough, but if the direction is wrong, trying too hard will only make him a better target for the enemy.

"You're right." Li Fu had to admit that C.P.'s political acumen was quite keen. "If Bradson had contacted me about the mission... I would have found a way to decline."

C.P. leaned back on the sofa, quite satisfied with Li Fu's reaction. "How do you plan to refuse? Your company headquarters is still in Nashville, after all. Bradson is the governor. If he asks you to go, I might not be asking if you're willing, but rather informing you."

"So we need a reason he can't refuse." Li Fu thought for a while before answering, "Just say that Forrest Capital has a few big projects that I need to keep an eye on in North America and I can't get away. Doesn't he want political achievements? It's more practical for me to help him create more jobs than to go to the East with him."

C.P. tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest twice. "That's a good reason, but you need to be firm about it. Don't let him think you're just giving me the runaround. Tell him directly that the project funding is in place and you need to personally oversee the progress."

Li Fu nodded, putting the matter aside for the time being.

The sky outside the window darkened further as dusk fell, and the green space of Central Park turned from deep green to gray-black, like a velvet blanket slowly swallowed by the night.

The lights of Manhattan came on one by one, casting dappled shadows on the glass.

C.P. didn't continue discussing the mission. He picked up his Coke, took a sip, and gazed at the distant city lights. "Li," he said, "have you ever thought about why society has become the way it is?"

Li Fu was taken aback. The question came too suddenly and had nothing to do with the previous topic.

Which aspect are you referring to?

“In every aspect,” C.P. drew a circle in the air, “whether it’s the Democrats or the Republicans, they’re going to the two extremes. The middle ground is getting narrower and narrower. Whoever stands in the middle will be caught in the middle and attacked from both sides.”

This analogy is fairly apt. Both conservatives and radicals are going to extremes, but why this is the case is a complex social issue.

"The Forrest family is still following the old-fashioned ways of traditional families, trying to have their cake and eat it too in both politics and business," C.P. shook his head, "but that's becoming less and less effective."

Li Fu looked at C.P., wondering why he said that. Aren't all those aristocratic families like that?

He himself later went into politics.

"Li, you're still young and may not understand, but business and politics are essentially two completely different games." C.P. patted him on the shoulder.

Li Fu looked at him, unsure how to answer, or perhaps what the right answer would be.

"Business is all about profit. If you invest in the right projects and make money, you win. The rules are simple and the accounts are clear," C.P. began to speak at length, just like he would later do on television.

"Politics is all about votes. Even if you do the right thing, you will still lose if the voters don't accept it. The rules are complicated and the accounts are confusing."

Li Fu looked at him in surprise. In his previous life, many people thought CP was ridiculous and even doubted his abilities.

However, how could the ability of a businessman who has fought his way out of the encirclement to the presidency be a problem?

He has now gotten straight to the heart of the problem.

"Thomas sent his daughter to the city government, his son to the state legislature, and his brother even became the Senate Majority Leader. He wanted the Forrest family to have a deeper foothold in Tennessee," C.P. emphasized. "He thought political and business families could play both cards well at the same time, but your arrival changed all that..."

"What do you mean?" Li Fu sensed that C was implying something.

"Let me be blunt!" C.P. looked at Li Fu with an air of certainty. "For business reasons, Thomas won't object to you being with his daughter, but for political reasons, he will never marry his daughter to you!"

Li Fu asked instinctively, "Why?"

But as soon as the words left his mouth, he knew he had asked a pointless question; he had always known all along.

"Thomas doesn't dislike you, but he has to do the math. If he marries his daughter to you, he can make a lot of money, but he will also lose a lot of votes. He might make a lot of money, but in terms of votes, you will make him lose miserably."

C.P. stated this directly and frankly.

Li Fu frowned slightly. He had already helped Lucy and Cole gain a lot of popularity, and popularity often means votes. Could it be said that he was a political hindrance?

However, on the other hand, he also had to admit that if he married Lucy, the Forrest family's political future might be halved.

"The Forrest family's foundation is not only its large private hospitals, but also the votes of the rednecks in Tennessee, not because they hate you, but because you are not like them. In their eyes, a Chinese son-in-law may mean that the Forrest family no longer represents them."

C.P.'s understanding of populist power is probably clearer than anyone else's. The reason he was able to defeat Hillary Clinton against all odds was precisely because of the power of populism.

He knew all too well what those people wanted and didn't want.

Therefore, he dared to boldly conclude that Forrest would definitely not dare to have a Chinese son-in-law.

And this is precisely his opportunity.

Li Fu suppressed the turmoil in his heart. "You didn't call me here just to say these things, did you?"

He didn't want to discuss it further because he already knew perfectly well what was going on.

C.P. patted his shoulder affectionately again, "I want to show you a broad road, a broad road that doesn't require you to give up anything."

He turned and walked to the window, his back to Li Fu.

"You've helped me so much, I won't just watch you struggle in a game that isn't yours. The logic of business is addition; you help me make money, I help you make money, and we all make money together... The logic of politics is subtraction; if you want something, you have to give up the other half."

This is the difference between politics and business, and also the unique political landscape of the United States.

That's how electoral politics works. This is why the Republican and Democratic parties have swapped their bases several times throughout history. Choosing one group of voters means giving up another.

As for Chinese voters... they are negligible.

C.P. turned around and looked at Li Fu. He knew that his words must have had an effect, so he pressed his advantage.

"I'm not like Thomas. I'm not a politician, and there are no politicians in my family. Votes don't matter to me. I'm willing to let Ivanka marry you..."

He spoke so bluntly that Li Fu was completely stunned.

Manhattan outside the window was brightly lit, and the spire of the Empire State Building shone with white light, like a white jade pillar reaching for the sky.

"You said you had no intention of getting involved in politics..." Li Fu replied after a long pause, "but every word you just said sounded like something a politician would say, and was extremely inflammatory."

C.P. couldn't help but reveal his signature smile.

He's not a politician, but he knows better than any politician how to win. "That's enough for today! Ivanka's waiting for you, don't be late!"

He patted Li Fu on the shoulder affectionately and left first.