Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 436 What is talent? This is it!
"Wei Laosan is running for governor?" Zhu Yanling was stunned.

Although she was not very familiar with the details of the American political system, she was by no means completely ignorant of it.

She asked疑惑地问道, "Isn't 'Wei Laosan' working illegally in the US? How is he qualified as a candidate?"

Liang Dandan shrugged, indicating that she didn't know either.

Zhu Yanling asked, "Do you think the 'America' in this novel is purely Zhang Chao's imagination, or does it have some basis?"

Upon hearing this, Liang Dandan did not immediately answer Zhu Yanling, but pondered for a while before saying, "I think there is some basis for it."

Zhu Yanling quickly replied, "Then tell me."

Liang Dandan paused, as if lost in memories, until Zhu Yanling reminded her again, and she said, "Last year when I was at Harvard, something like this happened—"

Local municipal workers went on strike over pay issues, but the person they pushed to the front lines to negotiate with the Massachusetts government was a Vietnamese-American sanitation worker named Nguyen Van Phuc.

This Nguyen Van Phuc, who doesn't even speak much English, has been portrayed by the media as a 'pioneer of Asian rights'.

Whenever the government refused to compromise and negotiations reached a stalemate, the workers would make Nguyen Van Phuc stand up and shout a few broken slogans in heavily accented English.

That's his job: to shout slogans and pump fists in front of the camera and at the conference table.

Zhu Yanling looked bewildered and asked, "What... what can this make?"

Liang Dandan laughed and said, "Everything has been accomplished. The demands of these municipal workers have been met, and even exceeded their expectations."

That incident was quite a commotion; the garbage outside our apartment wasn't collected for a month, and it stank horribly.

Zhu Yanling pressed on, "And then what happened? What became of Ruan Wenfu?"

Liang Dandan said, "What happened next? I haven't seen him since. He disappeared from the television news reports on the day the negotiations were completed."

No media outlets followed up on his case afterward. He wasn't even a formal municipal worker to begin with…”

Zhu Yanling was somewhat shocked and asked, "Then who is he...?"

Liang Dandan rolled her eyes and said, "In the United States, municipal workers who can get a government job are all members of their unions, the kind that have been hereditary for hundreds of years."

At the time, there was a pothole on a public road next to our community that needed repair. A report was submitted, an exploration was conducted, and the area was fenced off for over six months. Three people came every day.

One person was measuring and drawing, another was rummaging through things, and yet another was standing by the roadside with a warning sign, reminding passing vehicles to slow down.

By the time I returned to China, the problem was still unresolved, though more than a dozen different groups of people had come to fix it. My colleagues in the US told me they were constantly depleting the budget and then submitting reports to request additional funding.

When the city hall finally couldn't take it anymore and refused to add any more money, they would hire a few illegal immigrant laborers like Nguyen Van Phuc or "Wei Lao San" to fill the hole in two or three days.

Zhu Yanling's eyes widened in disbelief, and she stammered, "This...this could happen in America?"

Liang Dandan nodded firmly and said, "What do you think? But it's all legal and reasonable for people to do this. If you actually finish the job in no time, then you'll be in big trouble."

Zhu Yanling quickly realized what was going on and said, "There must be quite a few people who rely on this project for their livelihood, right?"

Liang Dandan said, "Yes—back to the novel, when I was studying in the United States in the 90s, the United States was not like it is today."

Although racial discrimination was more severe at that time, and white classmates would occasionally show a sense of superiority, the overall social atmosphere was pragmatic and progressive.

The professors at the university teach practical things, unlike the one in the novel... that one is too exaggerated.

Zhu Yanling asked, "And now?"

Liang Dandan said, "Now? There are more and more people with different skin colors on campus, and groups of different ethnicities are becoming more and more active..."

The professor is much more cautious than before, especially when he wants to criticize students of color, for fear of being accused of racism.

Some have even lost their tenure as a result of related complaints.

Zhu Yanling asked somewhat uncertainly, "So is this a good thing or a bad thing?"

Liang Dandan thought for a moment before saying, "There's a good side to it too. After all, the proportion of people of color in American society is getting higher and higher, and we can't really exclude them from higher education."

Letting them in to study is just an educational issue; keeping them all out becomes a social problem.

Of course, the quality of those included is somewhat uneven. So my overall impression is that the political forces in American society that are promoting racial equality are growing stronger.

Politicians are eager to win votes from an increasing number of voters of color, which inevitably leads to them becoming more and more radical, and the media will naturally follow this trend.

Who knows what it will be like in 10 or 20 years? That's why I say Zhang Chao's novels have some basis and are not purely conjecture.

But I still don't quite believe it could escalate to as serious as he described.

Zhu Yanling listened attentively to Liang Dandan's words, occasionally taking notes with her pen.

After Liang Dandan explained it to her, she was finally able to grasp some of the true intentions behind Zhang Chao's article, "Running for Governor."

She was so eager to see how the story would unfold that she quickly printed out another copy and read it with Liang Dandan.

Sure enough, in the following episodes, under the dual pressure from the media and the public, "Wei Laosan" was no longer a mascot used by politicians to showcase their policy proposals, but was directly pushed into the position of "governor candidate".

And Catherine, who was the first to interview "Wei Laosan," was one of the instigators; she updated her article on her own social media platform—

Public opinion is boiling! Can the "Silent Saints" save Spectrum State?

With only 72 hours left until the deadline for gubernatorial candidate registration, an emergency poll conducted jointly by this agency and Stanford University shows that one name is overwhelmingly at the top of the list of "most desired gubernatorial candidates" with a 67% approval rating—Wei Laosan. Notably, a remarkable 42% of respondents were unaware of his specific policy proposals, with surprisingly consistent reasons: "He represents conscience," "We need change," and "Wei is the way!"
Downtown Los Angeles plazas have been occupied by spontaneously gathered crowds. They are not traditional political rally participants: there are college students holding signs that read "Giggle = Awakening"; mothers holding babies, firmly believing Wei Laosan is their "guardian angel"; and a large number of members from minority and gender-diverse groups who see Wei Laosan as a symbol of hope for breaking down the glass ceiling. Their only common demand: "Let Wei Laosan's name appear on the ballot!" "Procedural justice? Identity verification? When public opinion surges like a tsunami, outdated legal provisions are nothing but paper dams!" Renowned constitutional scholar Professor Jonathan Wright wrote in a newspaper, urging, "The Wei Laosan phenomenon exposes a deep crisis in our electoral system—it can no longer represent the true pulse of public opinion! Now is the time to break the shackles and allow 'the conscience of the people' to legally compete for the right to run!" Professor Wright has announced the formation of a "Wei Laosan Legal Support Team" to challenge any "outdated regulations" that might hinder his candidacy.

The pressure weighed heavily on the heavy oak doors of the election commission building. Commission chairman and veteran bureaucrat Harold Jenkins faced the most severe test of his career: on one hand, the state election law, clearly stipulated in black and white, that candidates must be "registered voters and legal residents of the state for at least seven years"; on the other hand, the deafening clamor of public opinion outside and the relentless 24-hour spotlight from the media. Sources revealed that the commission was mired in unprecedented division and chaos.

David Miller had to admit that Zhang Chao's idea was very aggressive and completely overturned his previous expectations for the novel.

Zhang Chao doesn't want "Wei Laosan" to be an election mascot; he wants this illegal immigrant worker to become the governor of California!
This is an utterly absurd scene for any American.

However, in Zhang Chao's meticulous and insightful description, even David Miller had to admit that this idea had its merits.

Because the rest of the novel has already sufficiently created the social atmosphere of America in 2020:

Fanaticism, radicalism, everyone shouting their own opinions, no one cares about the truth.

All of this has accumulated over decades of development; it may seem absurd, but it is not without a basis in reality.

It's almost a replica of the American "anti-war" and "hippie movement" of the 60s and 70s.

The effects of Youssef's tutoring of Zhang Chao quickly became apparent; he actually found a loophole in California's election regulations that could be exploited.

And so everything raced headlong into a state of utter absurdity.

California's state election law has a gray area regarding the "registration" process. According to the law, candidates are required to submit a completed Statement of Intent (SOI) and pay a nominal fee.

The form requires your name, address (no strict proof required), and a declaration of eligibility (to be checked by the applicant). Crucially, identity verification is not a prerequisite for registration, but rather a step in the subsequent eligibility review process!
This "trust-based" design, intended to improve efficiency, has now become a huge loophole.

With the clamor of opinion leaders such as Professor Wright, the idea that "the will of the people is above rigid rules" has become the mainstream narrative.

Any attempt by the election commission to strictly enforce identity verification could be interpreted as "going against public opinion," "discriminating against marginalized groups," or "being afraid of real change."

A loose coalition of liberal activists, minority leaders, and idealistic lawyers—the Wei's Way Committee—quickly took shape.

They claimed to be "inspired by the spirit of silent heroes" and to "act on their behalf and pave the way for democracy."

Their core task: to slip an SOI form signed "Wei Laosan" and the fee under the door of the election commission before the deadline.

Wei Laosan was completely unaware of this. Like a rat in a sewer, he was moved by Lao Wang to the construction site behind the junkyard, a place that reeked of engine oil and rust.

There was no internet, the makeshift shelter was crumbling, and wages were squeezed to barely cover hunger. His only task was to retreat into the shadows and pray that the storm would pass.

In the office of the "Wei Zhilu Committee," the most pressing question was raised: How should "Wei Laosan's" address be written? Without a real address, the fraud would inevitably be exposed during the qualification review.

But nothing could stop the elites who were determined to push Wei Laosan to the governor's seat.

Soon someone suggested, "Let's write the address as 'Outside Spectrum Bar, the birthplace of courage'! This is a spiritual home, more important than physical coordinates!"

Everyone was banging on the table, praising this brilliant idea. With his inspiration, everything else was no problem:

Who will sign the name "Wei Laosan"?
A Chinese volunteer on the committee volunteered; his handwriting was childish and distorted, but it was "a true mark of the working class."

Who should check the box on the eligibility statement?

"Wei Laosan's silence itself is a denial of his right to injustice. By checking the boxes for him, we are obeying God's will!"

Where does the campaign funding come from?

Wei Zhilu's campaign website went live that same evening and raised tens of millions of dollars within 12 hours.

Before Wei Laosan had even settled down anywhere, everything about him becoming a candidate for governor of California had already been taken care of for him.

No one cared that after that fleeting glimpse that night, no new images or sounds of "Wei Laosan" were ever seen or heard again.

No one even knew where he was.

But there's an explanation for all of this: "Wei Laosan" is using his actions to oppose outdated and corrupt election tactics! He will give back every penny of the election funds he saves to the voters!

Therefore, it's a done deal that "Wei Laosan" will become the California gubernatorial candidate.

In the final half hour before the deadline, the election commission hall was brightly lit, and the songs and slogans of protesters could be clearly heard outside the windows.

Catherine Millie (who could no longer remain uninvolved and was chosen by the committee as a "historical witness") held a simple brown paper document bag containing the fantastical SOI form. Behind her followed a group of livestreaming influencers holding mobile phones and solemn committee representatives.

The young clerk responsible for collecting the forms was pale, his fingers trembling. He looked up at the office of committee chairman Jenkins; the blinds were closed, and all was silent. He understood; his boss was playing dead, passing him the hot potato. The noise outside grew louder and louder.

The young employee took a deep breath, almost snatched the file bag from Catherine with lightning speed, didn't even glance at it, quickly stamped the receipt form with a blue seal that read "Received, No.: SP-114514," and handed the receipt to Catherine. The whole process took less than 10 seconds.

Catherine held up the reply slip, and the flashbulbs instantly illuminated the hall as if it were daytime. A deafening roar of cheers erupted outside the windows: "WEI IS ON THE BALLOT!" The live broadcast was shown throughout the state. The young employee slumped back into his chair, wiping the cold sweat from his brow.

Catherine then updated her personal homepage—

A historic moment! The Silent Saints have officially entered the gubernatorial election campaign!

Tonight, under the eager gaze of hundreds of thousands of Californians and illuminated by the "light of freedom," "the people's candidate," Wei Laosan, completed his registration for the election! This is not merely a simple procedural completion, but a symbol—a symbol that the silent have finally been heard, a symbol that the marginalized have finally moved to the center!
That small blue stamp from the election commission represents the hope for the self-renewal of California's democratic system! Although the road ahead is bound to be fraught with difficulties (we can already foresee a fierce backlash from vested interests), the "Wei Way" is unstoppable! [Wei is the way! Freedom is good!]

Upon reading this, David Miller abruptly closed the manuscript, filled with a strange impulse, as if he himself had become a supporter of "Wei Laosan," standing on the streets of Los Angeles shouting for him.

It has to be said that Zhang Chao has an exceptional talent for stirring up public opinion; even in novels, he can use this kind of atmosphere to influence readers.

(End of this chapter)