Chapter 386: Don’t Ask About The Future

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

As far as he knew, unlike other Chinese organizations in America, the entry requirements for the Committee of 100 were extremely stringent. Members would need to first recommend the person, who would then need to be examined and approved by the other members before entrance could be given.

He shared what he knew and Elson laughed, "If we recommend you, I think they would be willing to accept you."

After some consideration, Li Du declined Elson’s offer.

Any Chinese-American would be tempted to join the Committee of 100.

The Committee of 100 was the most influential Chinese organization in America. Each year, they would invite many key persons from the political and business arenas to join.

Li Du remembered that in 2007, the Committee of 100 had invited the future President Obama to give a speech. In 2008, they invited the former Vice President, Big Blue’s Bill Gates, and Apple’s Steve Jobs, all of whom had attended some of the events.

Joining the Committee of 100 would mean that he’d reach the heavens in a single step, and transform from being an average Joe to a member of high society.

The Committee of 100 emphasized mutual a.s.sistance and for its members to have solidarity with each other. As long as they accepted someone into the committee, even if that person were a Chinese beggar, they would not hesitate to help him or her become the chief of all beggars.

In short, to any Chinese person, as long as one possessed the network offered by this organization, then one could become a multi-millionaire in no time.

But even with millions in fortune, one still needed to depend on one’s own ability to strive; it took a good blacksmith to make steel. The Committee of 100 could provide a.s.sistance, but it was not omnipotent.

The problem was that Li Du was more than a multi-millionaire. He had millions between his bank and watch. He also had the very valuable bejeweled dagger at home.

To him, the Committee of 100 might not provide that much additional a.s.sistance.

But if he were to join it, the elevation in his social standing and growth in connections would be apparent; this organization included the most outstanding Chinese representatives from almost every industry in America.

For example: the former Dean of Berkeley University, Tian Changlin, the first Chinese governor in America, Gary Locke, the first Chinese female mayor, Chen- Li Wanruo, epidemiological research expert He Dayi, Yahoo founder Yang Jiyuan, the famous CEO Li Kai-fu, and many more.

Elson was evidently aware of such insider information. He also knew that sending Li Du into the Committee of 100 would be a great boost to the young man.

Without any exaggeration, to an ordinary person, joining the Committee of 100 would result in a rebirth, or a step into Heaven: almost equivalent to saving someone’s life.

Li Du guessed that Elson wanted to do this to thank him for saving Steve, as well as to return the favor.

But he had the little bug on hand, and becoming a wealthy man had been easy for him. He would be fine without the help of the committee, so why would he still need to join it?

Having been rejected, Elson asked, puzzled, "You don’t wish to join? Mr. Li, perhaps you are not aware of the Committee’s work?"

Li Du said, "No, Mr. Elson. I’m aware, and I still decline.

"If I join the Committee of 100 now, it will be due to the help from someone of status, and not because I earned entry based on my own ability. According to Chinese culture, this is called ‘haste makes waste.’

"Besides, my position and status are no match for this organization. It may be easy to join it, but it would be a challenge to connect and interact with other members on their level.

"Most importantly, Mr. Elson, is that one day I will join the Committee of 100. Not through recommendation, but through their invitation."

After hearing his logical a.n.a.lysis, Elson laughed, "It will not be an easy task to score an invitation from the committee. "

Li Du laughed along with him, "There’s another Chinese saying: ‘It all depends on one’s efforts.’ I’m confident in my own ability; I will surely make it."

Elson patted his shoulder. "Good fella, then I won’t go on. All the best to you!"

Americans admired confident people, especially young people. Elson found Li Du’s fighting spirit and confidence very appealing.

At the airport, before he left, Li Du said, "Mr. Elson, I know why you want to help me apply for the Committee of 100."

"Oh?" Elson smiled.

He nodded. "Yes. And you don’t need to worry about it. I saved Steve because I’m just a normal person, and only because of this. Any normal person will render help when he sees another person in need."

Elson stared at him and slowly nodded. "Good. Young man, I understand."

They waved in parting and Li Du, Big Quinn, and G.o.dzilla boarded the plane; Elson had booked three first-cla.s.s tickets.

Seated on the large comfortable seat, Big Quinn smiled, "Boss, I think your words just now won over the old man."

Li Du said, "They were not to win him over. That’s really how I feel."

Big Quinn was puzzled. "But you really did something significant; that was a very big favor."

Li Du patted his shoulder. "I’ll share with you guys another saying in Chinese culture: ‘Do good without being concerned with what it leads to.’ That is a gentleman’s att.i.tude."

This seemed to strike a chord with G.o.dzilla. "Boss, I’m interested in your culture."

Back in Flagstaff, Li Du resumed his peaceful life.

It was early September and the weather was still very warm. He had nothing much to do during the days and spent them amusing Ah Meow and Crispy Noodles. When Sophie finished work in the evenings, he would have dinner with her and they’d play with Ah Ow together.

Ah Ow ate and drank well, and become very well-developed. However, she still could not bark and instead made howling sounds.

Sophie joked that Li Du had great foresight and had given her a very appropriate name.

During the first weekend of September, a buyer for the mahogany was found through Hans’s connections. It was a Chinese wood sculptor from Phoenix.

After Hans had connected with him, he asked Li Du to contact him as well.

Li Du said, "I’m not good at negotiating prices."

"It’s not at that stage of negotiation yet," Hans said. "First, we have to stabilize this source. It will be easier for you to identify with him since both of you from the same country."

The Chinese sculptor was named "Wright Chen." He was an outspoken young man who switched to Mandarin upon learning that Li Du was a foreign student. "Brother Li, send me the mahogany, the price can be negotiated!"

Wright Chen lived in the city of Tempe in the Phoenix metropolitan area. According to the country’s geographical division, it was part of Phoenix, but was also an independent city. Arizona State University was located there.

Since they were available during the weekend, Li Du and Hans drove over with the mahogany.

Wright Chen was very earnest. After giving them the address, he said that his residence was not easy to locate and instead asked them to wait at the entrance of a resort named "Sheraton."

But he sounded a little too enthusiastic over the phone, and Li Du felt a little unsettled.

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Chapter 387: Brother Haonan

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The full name of Sheraton Resort was "Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pa.s.s." The wild horses from this area, like the bison which had once populated North America, had been virtually wiped out by American hunters.

Li was unwilling to wait in front of the resort. It belonged to Native Americans: the well-known Gila River Indian Community. The luxury resort was known for offering the healing and intellectual practices of Native Americans.

The Gila River tribe and the Comanche tribe were allies, and he had had a run-in with Comanche Casino previously. This is why he felt hesitant about waiting outside.

Hans had wanted to go in for a look. He said excitedly, "Buddy, you should go in too. There’s comfortable rooms and s.p.a.cious golf courses, as well as equestrian centers and spa facilities. It’s a great place for a vacation."

"Did we come here with a bunch of mahogany for a vacation? Are you kidding me?"

Hans continued to tempt him: "There’re also water slides modeled after the ruins of Hohokam, which you surely have not seen before."

Li Du rolled his eyes at him. "Of course not. I haven’t any clue what the ruins of Hohokam are."

Hans said excitedly, "They are the ruins of a Native American aqueduct, which was once the pride and joy of the Phoenix Native American tribe. It was once abandoned, and later Swilling, an Arizona pioneer, used it as the base for a series of irrigation ca.n.a.ls.

"This way, not only was the issue of drinking water and irrigation solved, it also enabled the large plots of Arizona farmland to be used. It attracted many people to build places for gatherings and resulted in today’s Phoenix."

After listening to his detailed introduction, Li Du nodded and then said, "Okay, but I still don’t wanna go in."

Hans stared blankly at him.

Not long after they arrived at the entrance of the resort, a snow-white Lamborghini drove over.

This sports car had beautiful curves, and a coat of bright, s.h.i.+ny paint. Every one of its parts revealed the machine’s beauty—it was definitely a star on the road.

Hans turned his gaze to it and said, "The beautiful white bat, what a good car. Maybe I should save up some money to buy a Lamborghini."

G.o.dzilla said, "Those who drive Lamborghinis are sissies!"

Big Quinn added, "Or showy playboys!"

Li Du said, "You guys are just jealous because you haven’t got the money to buy one."

The two beefy men glanced at each other and deflated. "Yes boss, you’re right."

The speeding Lamborghini finally stopped in front of them. The window rolled down and a young man with multi-colored hair stuck his head out and asked, "Li Du?"

Li Du was stunned. "Wright Chen?"

He did not expect for his compatriot to be so flashy. Not content with the attention-seeking Lamborghini, he even had a crazy hairstyle. Were all artists the same?

The young man smiled, got out of the car, and gave him a hug. "Yes, I’m Wright Chen," he said in Mandarin, "but call me by my Chinese name. I’m Chen Haonan."

Li Du was dumbfounded. "Huh?"

Brother Haonan was a boss at Causeway Bay—all Chinese youths knew this.

The young man laughed, "Can’t be helped. People always think my father named me after someone in the movie, but when I was born ‘Young and Dangerous’ had not even been shot yet. It’s all a coincidence."

Li Du shook his hand and said, "How’re you, Brother Haonan? What do we do next?"

Chen Haonan waved his hand and said, "Follow me, I’ll bring you to my studio."

Looking at the lavish Lamborghini he was driving, Li Du was no longer worried. One who could afford to drive such a car would not harbor any ill intentions over wood worth only tens of thousands of dollars.

Tempe was a large city with a population of 1.67 million, not to be compared with Flagstaff. With a large population, Tempe occupied a large area and was surrounded by vast rural areas full of farmland.

Chen Haonan led them on a winding road and after a few laps around the farmland, they entered a small canyon.

Located at the very end of the canyon, his studio villa was discreetly hidden in the woods. It was built in a modern style, using mainly stainless steel, which glittered in the sun.

The car stopped. Chen Haonan laughed and asked, "Well, what do you think of my studio?"

Li Du stared at the villa. "It"s very creative. You must have spent a lot of money in order to get it built here."

Chen Haonan sighed, "Yes, I’ve been in America for two years and all the money I’ve earned has gone into paying for this car and building this house."

Li Du was shocked. "Pardon me, I didn’t realize you were a famous sculptor. I’ve been ignorant, so sorry."

Hans had told him on the way that the car had cost about half a million dollars while building a modern-style villa like this in a city like Tempe would cost a million dollars.

Chen Haonan had earned 1.5 million U.S. dollars in two years—he must have surely been a famous sculptor.

He waved his hands modestly. "Famous? I am not a famous sculptor. Relatively unknown."

Li Du said, "You are too humble. To earn more than a million in two years is not something any regular sculptor can achieve."

Chen Haonan looked puzzled. "Who told you I had made more than a million in two years?"

"You would need to spend at least a million to buy the car and this villa, right?" Li Du asked.

Chen Haonan replied, "Yes, it cost 1.9 million dollars, but I had only paid 20,000 dollars. My father gave me 1.88 million dollars…"

Li Du did not want to continue chatting—this guy did not follow the format of regular conversations.

Noticing his change in expression, Chen Haonan guffawed, "Haha! You’ve been tricked by me. I was joking."

Li Du forced a smile. "I also thought it was a joke—"

Chen Haonan interrupted him and continued, "How would I be able to make 20,000 dollars? I can’t even make 2,000 dollars. My father had to give me two million dollars!"

Li Du did not even have the motivation to change his expression; this guy did not play his cards according to the rules, and appeared to want to ruin the card game.

But as he joked with him, subconsciously, the relations.h.i.+p between the two had grown closer.

Chen Haonan was obviously one of those incredibly-spoiled rich kids, but he did not have the arrogant, domineering att.i.tude of those rich kids depicted on the Internet. He liked to joke, except that his jokes were not at all funny.

While the villa had looked cla.s.sy from the outside, Li Du discovered that the inside of the house was a mess. It was chaos, with carving knives, molds, design drafts and other tools sprawled all over.

Upon entering the house, Chen Haonan kicked off his shoes and opened his huge refrigerator. "What do you want to drink? Beer? c.o.ke? Juice? Mineral Water?"

"Mineral water then," Li Du said.

Chen Haonan said. "Sorry, no mineral water."

Li Du was stunned. "Did you not just ask me if I wanted to drink mineral water?"

Chen Haonan said matter-of-factly, "Yes, but I didn’t say that I’ve got mineral water here. Is there any link between asking you if you want to drink it and whether I have it here?"

Li Du gave him a wry smile. "Alright, never mind. I’ll have juice."

"Sorry, no juice either."

Li Du gave him a blank stare.