My absurd experiences in North America over the years

Li Fu certainly understood this principle.

It's unimaginable how many things a priest must have done to stay in that position for so long, having painstakingly built up his business in a small town.

How could there be no one above him?

Cults typically aim to amass wealth and engage in obscenity, so Crawford must have accumulated considerable riches.

It goes without saying where his money will go.

His followers likely include judges, prosecutors, and city councilors; even if not, he can win them over through bribery.

Where were those missing girls taken?

Who received the goods? Who received their share of the money?

If all of these are found, it means that without weighing him, he weighs less than two ounces, but on the scale, he might weigh over a thousand pounds.

Cole's meaning was quite clear.

It's not that he doesn't want to get involved, but that he can't.

Even if we need to regulate, it should be done within limits, and we shouldn't touch on areas that shouldn't be touched.

Li Fu leaned back in his chair, his feelings a mix of emotions.

He knew this was indeed a rather tricky matter.

"Is there really no other way?" he asked Cole tentatively.

Cole shook his head. "For now, we can only treat this as an individual case. To eradicate it completely, we'll have to postpone it until the right time."

This is the biggest concession he has made.

"What specific timing is needed?" Li Fu was genuinely asking for advice this time.

To criticize powerful figures like Cole from a purely righteous standpoint would be somewhat biased.

The saying goes, "It takes more than one cold day for ice to freeze three feet deep."

Some things you just can't do just because you want to.

Cole was silent for a moment, as if he was choosing his words carefully.

"Once we've stood high enough and our position is secure enough, we can give it a try," he said softly, but every word was clear. "That's just how things are; justice doesn't always work."

Li Fu knew that the other party wasn't trying to reason with him, but rather about costs and consequences.

In this country, some things cannot be accomplished simply by having evidence. To give an imperfect analogy, evidence is essentially just a ticket.

Once you're in the game, you'll also need connections, resources, power, and a little bit of luck.

He remained silent for a long time, then asked a seemingly unrelated question.

"Cole, do you know Epstein?"

Upon hearing this, Cole raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly.

He was clearly surprised.

The young nobleman raised his head and looked at Li Fu.

Something flickered in those eyes hidden behind the gold-rimmed glasses—a hint of surprise, and a scrutinizing look that seemed to ask, "How do you know this name?"

"His full name seems to be Jeffrey Epstein," Li Fu said this time, referring to the full name.

Cole leaned back on the sofa, his expression unchanged, but his silence carried more weight than any answer.

He neither answered nor denied it.

In fact, in 2005, Epstein was accused of sexually assaulting underage girls in Florida, with dozens of victims.

The prosecution has solid evidence, including the victim's testimony in the investigation report, the private jet's flight logs, and comprehensive supporting evidence—enough to put him in jail for life.

However, he remains at large.

"He must be quite famous now, right?" Li Fu sighed.

Cole shook his head and smiled. "What? You think he's involved in this?"

Li Fu gave a negative answer, "No, I just want to confirm how much resistance there is to investigating human trafficking."

"Epstein's legal team is very strong, and he should have a lot of evidence against him, enough to ruin the careers of many big shots, so people don't want anything to happen to him."

Cole decided to lay things out on the table; whether there would be much resistance depended on who was behind the other side.

Li Fu understood this principle.

He even read some of the later declassified documents and learned that prominent figures such as Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Prince Charles of the United Kingdom, and Trump's wife were all inextricably linked to him.

"Do you want this evidence?" He suddenly lowered his voice, his tone cautious.

Cole frowned slightly. "Do you think I can just give you whatever I want?"

This evidence is so important that it can be used to make many deals in private and facilitate the passage of many bills.

If it were available, he would certainly want it.

"I should be able to get some," Li Fu replied confidently.

He possesses internet technology that shouldn't exist in this era.

It only takes a very small opportunity to steal all the private information from someone's computer, email, or mobile phone.

Moreover, he knew better than many people of his time who had close ties with Epstein.

If you deliberately create opportunities, the chances are quite high.

"Are you planning to make a deal with me using this?"

The oak trees outside the window swayed in the night breeze, making a rustling sound. Cole took off his glasses and gently wiped them.

“Indeed, if you think I am trustworthy, then please investigate this case,” Li Fu said with utmost seriousness. “Besides, this matter may not only be bad; I even think it can strengthen the foundation of your Forrest family in Tennessee.”

"Oh?" Cole said noncommittally. "What do you mean?"

"You may not realize this because you come from a wealthy family, but the demands of ordinary people are actually very simple. They are much easier to buy than anyone else. If you give them even the slightest bit of respect and benefit, they are even willing to die for you."

Li Fu was trying to explain a very simple principle.

The United States has electoral politics and needs so-called public opinion.

However, public opinion is seen as too abstract and elusive by politicians.

Different groups represent different public opinions and different interests.

In order to gain support, they often pander to certain groups with slogans, making a lot of noise and shouting loudly, but when it comes to actually doing something, they don't move an inch.

Therefore, politicians have never truly represented the will of the people.

Only a very small number of people are exceptions.

For example, Trump, and his deputy Vance.

One important reason why Trump was able to rally so many rednecks is that he genuinely represented public opinion and attempted to fulfill his political slogans.

However, his first term as a political novice ended in failure as he was sidelined.

Vance's success relied on his acclaimed work, "Hillbilly Elegy," whose core argument was to reveal the plight of the white working class in America.

It is not only an economic issue, but also a comprehensive manifestation of a lack of cultural, psychological, and social capital.

Through his personal growth experience, he revealed a social phenomenon in a "rust belt" mired in poverty, drug abuse, and domestic violence.

This resonated with many white people.

These people naturally became his driving force in his foray into politics.

Trump's choice of Vance as his running mate owes much to the blue-collar workers in the Rust Belt region around the Great Lakes.

Have Trump and Vance really done many things that moved the working-class white community to tears?

Actually not.

It might just be because they appear to care about the situation of lower-class white people.

Eight parts slogan, two parts practice.

That alone was enough to garner tremendous support.

If there really is a powerful and influential person who values ​​the safety of their children so much that they are willing to make a powerful enemy for it.

So, will they follow like a tidal wave?

The answer is actually quite obvious.

Cole didn't respond immediately.

He folded the glasses cloth, put it back in the box, picked up the water glass and took another sip. Perhaps the water was too cold, because he frowned slightly, but still swallowed it.

"You mean you're using this case to win people over for our family?"

Li Fu shook his head. "No, no, no, it's not about bribing people, it's about winning their hearts. Bribing people can only be done through benefits, and the effect is only temporary. But to win their hearts, you only need to treat them as human beings, respect their human rights, and then they will follow you wholeheartedly."

He spoke very bluntly, even to a somewhat harsh degree.

Cole leaned back in his chair and watched him, waiting for him to continue.

The current context is the Republican Party's loss of both the House and Senate in the midterm elections at the end of 2006.

Cole's uncle, Bill Forrest, went from Majority Leader to Minority Leader, and the power that once controlled the Senate agenda was taken away by Democrat Schumer.

While they retained their base in Tennessee, the victory was hard-won.

Although this crushing defeat was caused by the Bush administration's protracted wars in the Middle East, inadequate hurricane relief efforts, and economic problems.

But a loss is a loss.

Even the Forrest family's political interests in Tennessee were almost affected.

During that period, the family's political analysis team updated the numbers weekly; the curves were flat on the map of Tennessee, and even declined in some counties.

It's not that the Democrats are so strong, but that the Republicans' own base is faltering.

Colby knew that they needed to consolidate their base, and it was almost urgent.

"If we're talking about winning through the election, you've been in the state government for so long, you're better at it than I am, but..." Li Fu paused for a moment, then continued, "I think public opinion might not be the numbers on the ballot, but rather the scales in the hearts of those who vote."

He looked at Cole and said, word by word, "To give an inappropriate example, if you donate money to a senator, he may not remember you. But if you help a family find their missing daughter, they will remember you for a lifetime. The whole town, the whole community, and even everyone who has heard of you will remember your heroic act."

Cole was slightly taken aback; he hadn't expected Li Fu to say that.

"The incident in St. Clair is not just a scandal in that small town. If handled properly, it can become a calling card for the Forrest family, allowing a large number of people from the lower classes, including residents from out of state, to immediately think of your family when they hear about a missing child. They will become an unshakeable stronghold because of this..."

Of course, there was one thing Li Fu didn't mention.

Doing this would bring enormous benefits, but it would also offend some powerful figures and groups.

However, Cole was clearly somewhat tempted.

Few people would bring these things up with him, not because the consultants weren't smart enough, but because it was a blind spot in their thinking.

Even though the United States is the most technologically advanced country in the world, it still retains a strong aristocratic atmosphere and religious customs.

Social Darwinism is the mainstream ideology, and few people even think it has a problem.

The powerful and wealthy have no interest in the lower classes, even though they constitute the largest population group.

Even people at the bottom of society sometimes take this for granted.

Looking at Cole's expression, Li Fu began to gently persuade him, "Think about how many towns like St. Clair are there in Tennessee? How many missing girls are there? How many parents are losing sleep at night, waiting for their children to come home? And how many people are worried that their children will be harmed?"

Undoubtedly, most ordinary people share this concern, and their numbers are alarmingly large.

"These people don't need to have their votes bought. No amount of slogans or propaganda is as effective as letting them know that someone cares about their lives, that someone is concerned about their situation, and that someone wants to uphold justice for them..."

Li Fu emphasized his words, speaking with great passion and fervor.

Trump did this once and achieved great success.

However, that was nine years later.

Cole was silent for a moment; he had to admit that the idea was novel.

"So you're suggesting we go all out and make a big splash?"

"It doesn't have to be dramatic," Li Fu shook his head, "It just needs to be fair and just, to let these scumbags receive the punishment they deserve, and then let the media report on it extensively, but objectively."

Crawford has evidence of his crimes in his hands, with both witnesses and physical evidence. As long as the normal legal process is followed, he will definitely be convicted in the end.

There's no need to deliberately create hype for this.

Even normal reporting is enough to cause a huge uproar.

Deliberate promotion might backfire.

The living room was quiet for a while.

The wind outside the window had stopped, and the oak tree's branches and leaves remained still.

Cole breathed a sigh of relief.

He knew that doing so would make him enemies and would come at an additional cost.

However, the rewards are even more enticing, making it seem worth the try.

Moreover, he can keep a close eye on things the whole time, ensuring that no risks are leaked out and that nothing that shouldn't be investigated is discovered.

In other words, the risk is actually controllable.

"You've said so much, have you thought about... what the consequences would be if this were messed up?" Cole looked directly into Li Fu's eyes.

“This is very difficult to mess up,” Li Fu pointed to the computer. “You’ve seen the evidence, and I also have witnesses. Even Jesus couldn’t overturn this case. If you mean messing up in other ways, I think you are capable of handling that.”

Other aspects are simply obstruction from behind-the-scenes forces.

However, this is Nashville, Tennessee, the stronghold of the Forrest family.

Cole walked back to the sofa and sat down.

He didn't answer immediately, but thought about it for a while.

"How is the witness's mental state with you? It would be best to arrange for her to see a psychologist. We need to make sure she can speak before the hearing."

Li Fu was overjoyed. "So you agree?"

Cole neither nodded nor shook his head.

"Don't tell anyone about this for now. If Thompson needs me to send people to ensure their safety, you need to let me know immediately," he stood up and straightened the hem of his suit. "Also, don't do anything for now, just wait for my news."

Li Fu immediately said there was no problem.

Cole picked up the car keys, took two steps, and then suddenly stopped.

"You previously mentioned Epstein's incriminating evidence..."

"This will take time and opportunity, but I'm very confident," Li Fu said, adding that he probably knows more than Cole now.

Cole nodded slightly, then opened the door and went out.

The night wind was strong, blowing his hair.

Li Fu escorted him to the door and watched him get into the car before turning back into the house.

After tonight, an unstoppable hurricane will sweep through Nashville and even the entire state of Tennessee.