My absurd experiences in North America over the years

On Saturday evening, the sky over Nashville was overcast with low-hanging clouds.

It looks like a downpour is about to happen.

Li Fu wore a dark gray custom-made suit, and the tie was a dark blue one that Lucy had chosen for him, with fine silver diagonal stripes.

He stood in front of the mirror, glanced at himself, adjusted his bow tie, and then walked out of the room.

Lucy's car was already waiting at the door.

She was also in the car, looking radiant, as if she had been waiting for this day for a long time.

Today, the eldest daughter of the Forrest family wore a white knee-length dress, her hair was styled in an updo and held in place with a tortoiseshell hairpin, and she wore sparkling pearl earrings.

Her attire and demeanor make her look like a princess from a medieval royal family.

Even Li Fu, who was quite familiar with her, was immediately captivated and couldn't bear to look away.

After Li Fu got into the car, the partition between the front and rear rows automatically rose, turning the rear row into a private space.

"You look so handsome today," Lucy said, in a good mood, and kissed his forehead.

Li Fu shook his head and gently pulled her into his arms. "No, you are truly beautiful today, radiant with light."

This was a heartfelt compliment.

The car drove out of the community driveway and merged into the highway leading to the suburbs.

The oak trees on both sides have sprouted new leaves, their tender green color resembling a thin layer of mist in the twilight.

The two acted very intimately throughout the journey, as if they had returned to their time in Los Angeles.

Lucy did it because she felt that her father had finally accepted Li Fu, and that she had finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel.

Their future is definitely bright.

Li Fu only wanted Lucy to be happy and was going along with her wishes. At this moment, he probably understood Thomas's attitude towards him better than Lucy did.

Attending the Forrest Party wasn't arranged through Lucy's invitation, but rather by Cole informing her beforehand.

This actually means a lot.

This subtle difference may reveal Thomas's deeper meaning: this banquet was by no means a simple family gathering, but an examination of interests and loyalty.

In the eyes of such powerful clans, emotions may always have to give way to interests and the situation.

This ruthless approach to weighing the pros and cons can sometimes be nauseating, but it is precisely the main reason why powerful and wealthy families can continue to exist; it is their survival rule.

At least in North America, this is an unspoken rule of survival.

The cast-iron gates of Forrest Manor remain open today.

The limestone on the gateposts glowed with a warm yellow light in the beams of the headlights, and the oak tree on the family crest was gilded with a dark gold under the lights.

The parking lot was already full of cars, all of them luxury vehicles: Lincolns, Mercedes-Benzes, Maybachs... and even a limited-edition Rolls-Royce.

The driver parked the car next to a black Bentley and immediately got out to open the door.

Lucy took Li Fu's arm and walked up the steps.

Before arriving in Nashville, they never acted like this in public; they had to be very careful when going out to avoid being seen in public.

Now we can finally walk through that heavy walnut wood door with dignity.

When Li Fu first arrived at the Forrest family manor, the corridors inside were probably the longest he had ever walked through. He didn't even bother to appreciate the incredibly valuable oil paintings on both sides.

Lucy, on the other hand, was much more relaxed, with a genuine smile on her face the whole time.

The banquet hall is located on the right wing of the main house, with a ceiling height of six or seven meters and a huge crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

A white tablecloth covered the long table below, and the silver cutlery gleamed softly under the light.

There were already twenty or thirty people in the hall, scattered in twos and threes, holding champagne or whiskey and talking in hushed tones.

Lucy did not linger in the banquet hall.

She led Li Fu through the crowd and towards the side hall.

As they passed the fireplace, Li Fu saw a familiar figure: Cole was standing beside him, holding a glass of whiskey, talking quietly to a gray-haired man.

Cole glanced at them and nodded slightly, as if to say hello.

The side hall is smaller than the banquet hall and is decorated for more privacy.

Thomas Forrest stood by the window, his back to the door, one hand in his pocket and the other holding a glass of whiskey.

He turned around when he heard footsteps.

This was the first time Li Fu had met Thomas Forrest.

The head of the largest private hospital group in the United States.

The brother of Bill Forrest, a prominent figure in Congress, and his backers.

The truly influential families.

He was wearing a dark blue suit, a white shirt, and silver buttons on the cuffs bearing the Forrest family crest.

Li Fu placed one hand on his chest and bowed slightly. "Good evening, Mr. Forrest."

Thomas looked at him naturally. He had seen the young man's photo many times, but this was the first time he had met him in person. He was indeed a handsome young man.

No wonder his daughter Lucy was so devoted to him.

"Welcome to the banquet, please have a seat."

The three people sat down at the round table.

Lucy and Li Fu were on one side, and Thomas sat opposite them.

On the table, a silver tray held several delicate pastries, next to an open bottle of whiskey and two glasses.

Thomas picked up his cup and took a sip.

"Kerr often mentions you to me. He always says you're a genius. Turning a six million investment into a six hundred and thirty million investment in less than two years proves that you are indeed a genius."

His attitude and tone were like those of a kind and approachable elder.

"I wouldn't call myself a genius. It's all thanks to Lucy and Cole's support; otherwise, I might still be an undocumented person," Li Fu said modestly.

Of course, some aspects are also true.

Besides, the Forrest family would be a powerful force he would have to rely on in the future.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they share weal and woe.

Otherwise, even someone like him would be no different from a child carrying a large sum of money walking through a busy city in America.

Thomas seemed satisfied with Li Fu's statement, shaking his head with a smile to affirm his ability, "They only provide the platform; ultimately, it depends on your talent. As it turns out, your trading skills have even shocked Wall Street."

"They might be even more shocked in the future," Li Fu said with a smile.

The subtext of this statement is that he has a backup plan.

Thomas certainly hoped so.

The more successful Li Fuyue is, the more wealth the Forrest family can get from him.

He also plans to provide strong support to the other party in order to generate more profits and enrich the family's diversified business layout.

"To be honest, JPMorgan Chase and several other major investment banks, including some emerging financial companies, all want to meet with you. Some even want me to act as their go-between," Thomas told the truth.

He wanted to see the other party's attitude.

The so-called matchmaking is, in essence, a transaction of interests.

Li Fu knew his answer was crucial, so he cleverly asked, "Then, Uncle, do you have any suggestions?"

He addressed him as "uncle," which surprised Thomas somewhat.

Unlike China, the US doesn't constantly preach freedom and democracy, but there's a difficult-to-cross divide between the aristocracy and the common people. At least in China, the concept of aristocracy is no longer prevalent.

Those nobles didn't like others trying to curry favor with them.

Otherwise, how can one appear superior?

However, Li Fu's use of the term "uncle" at this moment indicates a sense of closeness.

Moreover, in Thomas's eyes, this young man now has the potential to rise in social class, so he naturally didn't mind and thought it was quite nice to call him uncle.

"New York is the world's financial capital. If you go there, you should be able to make a name for yourself. Whether you go or not is of course your decision," Thomas shrugged casually, his attitude as friendly as if he were talking to a junior.

Lucy was quite nervous; she knew that her lover's conversation with her father was not as calm as it appeared.

She was afraid that Li Fu would answer the wrong question.

At that moment, she held his hand tightly.

"I've thought about this before, and people on Wall Street have called me, but I think establishing myself in Nashville is my long-term strategy, and that won't change," Li Fu said, holding her hand to reassure her.

He had imagined many scenarios before he came.

And this is one of them.

Thomas smiled with satisfaction. He was quite pleased with the young man, Li Fu. "Tonight is a family dinner. Let Lucy show you around so you can get to know everyone."

His probing was over, and he had no intention of deliberately trying to win him over.

He was just preparing to let go of his daughter's relationship.

This is probably the most powerful attempt at winning them over.

"Then we're going out, Dad!"

Lucy stood up, took Li Fu's hand, and walked out of the side hall.

The noise in the banquet hall was even louder than before. The people attending the banquet were still the same, but the atmosphere was more lively. The crisp sound of clinking glasses rippled in the light of the crystal chandelier.

Lucy didn't walk towards the crowd; instead, she pulled Li Fu straight through the long table and towards a corner by the window.

In the shadows by the window stood a woman with dark brown hair in a bun. She wore a dark green dress with an oak diamond brooch at the neckline, the pattern of which was identical to the badge on Thomas's cufflinks.

If you look closely, even his facial features are strikingly similar to Thomas's.

Those deep brown eyes revealed a composure born of someone who had seen it all.

Li Fu immediately guessed the other party's identity.

"Auntie," Lucy released Li Fu, stepped forward and took the woman's hand, "Let me introduce you, this is my boyfriend, Li Fu."

The woman was Thomas's sister, Catherine Forrest.

Catherine withdrew her doting gaze from Lucy and turned to the young man in front of her, her eyes very calm. "Lucy mentioned you to me. I am her aunt, Catherine."

"Hello," Li Fu bowed slightly, showing no lack of etiquette when facing an elder.

Catherine smiled slightly, seemingly appreciating him as well. "My niece is a bit rebellious, so I'd like to ask you to take good care of her for us."

As the eldest daughter of the previous generation of the Forrest family.

She certainly knew why Thomas had invited this young man to his dinner party.

"It's my duty," Li replied with a smile.

Catherine turned to Lucy to ask about her recent situation, and Lucy spoke rapidly as if reporting official business.

Li Fu stood quietly by the side, but his gaze swept across the hall like a scanner. Cole was surrounded by important figures in the political world.

The white-haired man with a cane is a senior state senator; the man in the gray suit has a gleaming gold badge on his chest; and the lean man with high cheekbones is the city council speaker.

These faces gathered here not for a banquet.

The Forrest family's roots are deeply embedded in the land of Tennessee.

After asking Lucy, Catherine turned to Li Fu, "I heard from Cole that you personally went into danger to investigate the disappearance in that small town?"

Li Fu nodded. "At the time, we had no choice but to do so."

"You must never do that again. Putting yourself in danger is a big no-no," Catherine shook her head.

Perhaps they truly considered him one of their own.

In the eyes of someone as important as her, dangerous tasks should be left to her subordinates.

"You're right, I'll be more careful in the future," Li Fu immediately replied.

Catherine nodded and said nothing more. She took a sip of champagne and gazed thoughtfully at the dark night outside the window.

Lucy tugged at his sleeve and left. The two walked around the grand piano and moved to the side of the hall.

The atmosphere here was relaxed, and the laughter was genuine.

"The one in the gray suit is the governor's confidant," Lucy pointed slightly with her chin.

Cole strolled over at the opportune moment. "Lee, this is Mitchell, the governor's right-hand man. The one next to him with the round face and belly is Williams, the Tennessee real estate tycoon. I'll introduce you to him later."

Li Fu looked up and saw Mitchell listening intently, while Williams grinned broadly, his belly protruding.

They probably hope the state government can provide some support to the precarious real estate market!

Lucy lowered her voice, her tone unusually serious, "I told Cole to keep a close eye on things. You should remember their faces; you'll be dealing with them later."

Li Fu gazed at her profile; the soft light from the chandelier outlined her gentle features, and her eyes held a clarity unlike her usual one.

That clarity did not belong to an innocent young girl, but to a powerful woman about to enter the political arena.

At that moment, Thomas's voice suddenly pierced through the noise, "Gentlemen, please allow me to introduce a young talent."

The crowd quieted down.

Thomas stood at one end of the long table, his gentle smile reflected in the wine glass.

"I'm sure you're all familiar with this young talent. Recently, he's been regarded as a superhero by the citizens of Nashville, and Wall Street calls him a genius that comes along once in decades. At the same time, he's also an important partner in our Forrest family's financial empire."

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd burst into enthusiastic applause.

Li Fu understood Thomas's deeper meaning: this introduction was an endorsement of family credibility, a bargaining chip of sovereignty thrown into Nashville's high society.

He is a member of our Forrest family.

Li Fu was thus invited to the center of the crowd.

Lucy's eyes were full of brilliance, her pride evident.

"Li, let me introduce you. These two are Norman Reed and Allen Burns."

Thomas introduced Li Fu to Thomas.

Someone personally recommended by such an important figure is certainly not to be underestimated.

Norman Reed is a leading economist and former advisor to the Federal Reserve; Alan Burns is a former senior Treasury official.

They are always honored guests, no matter the occasion.

Their attitudes toward Li Fu differed.

Reed shook hands with neither servility nor arrogance.

Burns, however, was even more adept at social maneuvering, his eyes revealing no concealment of his smile and affection.

This may be the difference between scholars and officials.

Scholars should maintain their integrity, while high-ranking officials should be more pragmatic.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Li Fu, Reed suddenly changed the subject, "I've heard you have unique insights into economics. So, what's your view on the current economic situation?"

His question was like a test, or a demonstration.

Thomas has been praising this young man too much; he wants to test his abilities and deflate his arrogance.

Otherwise, wouldn't this high-level scholar be completely invisible?

In his eyes, Li Fu was so young that his knowledge and experience must be shallow, and his previous achievements might have been partly due to luck.