Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 438 The Key to Ending the Farce

David Miller, who is even more familiar with the rules of the American political game, also confirmed that "Wei Laosan" was destined to win.

Contrary to popular belief, the United States retains a large number of laws that have been in place for one or two hundred years and are completely out of touch with current reality. For example, in Georgia, it is illegal to put ice cream in your back pocket on Sundays; and in Nevada, men with beards are prohibited from kissing women.

On the other hand, they are also keen to revise new laws at any time in accordance with "public opinion," or choose to ignore certain laws—for example, blatantly dismantling the Rockefeller family's assets, even if those assets were acquired within the legal framework.

Therefore, as long as there is the support of "public opinion", any law or regulation can be swept through.

In this article titled "Running for Governor," "Wei Laosan" inexplicably became a legitimate candidate for governor of California based on this very point.

What followed proved this point—

On Election Day, the California sky took on an unusual leaden gray hue, like a vast, still-wet canvas, weighing heavily on the restless city. Crowds thronged the polling stations, but the atmosphere was unlike anything seen before. There were no candidates' boisterous campaign vehicles, no echoing heated debates; instead, the air was thick with an almost religious solemnity and anticipation. Countless voters, their wrists adorned with ribbons of rainbow and gray symbolizing "Wei Laosan," silently approached the voting machines, their fingertips making their mark next to the name "Wei Laosan" with a pilgrimage-like devotion.

……

The just-concluded vote count shows that, with unprecedented voter participation, independent candidate Wei Laosan overwhelmingly defeated all establishment opponents with a staggering 62.8% of the vote, becoming the next governor of California! This result has completely rewritten the political landscape of the state and even the nation, declaring that the "Wei Laosan phenomenon" is not a fleeting phenomenon, but rather the ultimate judgment of public opinion on the stagnant political system!

At this moment, Los Angeles' central plaza—an extension of the former "birthplace of courage"—has transformed into a sea of ​​jubilation. Hundreds of thousands of supporters waved banners that read "WEI IS THE WAY," embracing and weeping in the rain, singing impromptu hymns: "Freedom is good, Wei is the way!" Tears mingled with the rain, washing over every face contorted with emotion. This was a night of celebration without a victory speech, without the elected leader appearing in public; the absence of the protagonist, ironically, amplified the sanctity and symbolic significance of this victory to its fullest extent.

On a makeshift stage, facing a fervent crowd and the cameras of global media, Ms. Allison Chen, co-chair and lead counsel of the "Wei Road Committee," delivered a historically significant declaration:

"Tonight, we have made history together! We have not only elected a governor, we have elected 'conscience' itself! Mr. Wei Laosan's silence is a rejection of personality cult! His absence is to tell us: true power lies in each and every one of us!"

Therefore, we solemnly declare: From this moment forward, the 'Wei Road Commission' will act as the trustee of the collective will of the people of California, fulfilling the duties of the governor! We will form a 'People's Wisdom Team,' drawing upon distinguished individuals from all walks of life, guided by the fearlessness, authenticity, and pluralistic values ​​symbolized by Mr. Wei, to jointly govern our homeland! Governor Wei Laosan is not an individual; he is each and every one of us! Each and every one of us is the governor!

...]

"As expected..." Zhu Yanling said to Liang Dandan upon seeing this, "'Wei Laosan' has become the governor of California."

Liang Dandan smiled and said, "Mark Twain failed 150 years ago, but today an illegal immigrant from China has been elected. However, I think the underlying logic is the same."

Zhu Yanling: "Oh?"

Liang Dandan further explained: "Mark Twain lost the election because he couldn't withstand the mudslinging his opponents threw at him, and ultimately lost the trust of the voters."
"Wei Laosan" won the election because he became the voice of voters' inner emotions due to a chance event—although I don't know why American society has accumulated so much anger—but obviously smearing him has little effect on an idol who is a fictional character.

In the United States, whoever controls the emotions wins the votes.

After listening, Zhu Yanling gradually gained a deeper understanding of the significance of "Running for Governor"—Zhang Chao's novel was indeed written for American readers, but why couldn't it also offer some inspiration to readers in other countries?

From any perspective, Zhang Chao is a master at manipulating public sentiment. Every time he gets into a dispute with someone in the media, he manages to manipulate everyone from his opponents to the media. As a result, even if he shows a weakness now, no one dares to attack him rashly.

Therefore, it is absolutely perfect for him to write this novel.

He is using "Running for Governor" to tell readers that any propaganda that seems incredibly sincere may actually be a product of media manipulation.

Amidst the public outrage, a mere "Wei Laosan" could overturn a country's mature order that had been operating for over a century. People flocked to vote for a stranger who only appeared briefly on camera and could barely speak.

Behind the absurdity lies a cold reflection of reality.

Liang Dandan was progressing faster than Zhu Yanling. She said to her best friend, "Keep watching, and you'll see how Zhang Chao will put an end to this farce."

Zhu Yanling nodded and eagerly flipped down—

...In San Francisco's Sunset District, at the popular Cantonese dim sum restaurant "Golden Kirin," seven-year-old Xiao Jie, who had just immigrated to the United States two weeks prior, was having dim sum with his parents and several relatives who were also new immigrants. The television hanging in the shop was broadcasting news of "Governor Wei's" election and the birth of the "collective governor" 24 hours a day. Wei Laosan's terrified and bewildered face repeatedly appeared on the screen.

The background audio features the passionate commentary of a local Chinese radio host: "...The 'Wei Laosan Committee' officially announced today that it will assume the duties of the acting governor. Secretary-General Ms. Chen emphasized that although Governor Wei Laosan has not yet made a public appearance, his spirit is always guiding us..."

Xiao Jie was struggling to pick up a glistening shrimp dumpling with his chopsticks when he heard the name "Wei Laosan." Curious, he looked up, stared at the TV screen for a few seconds, then turned to his cousin who had just arrived from Shanghai and asked loudly in his clear, childlike voice in Mandarin:

"Sister, why is that uncle on TV called 'Wei Laosan'? His name is so strange! It's like 'Zhang Laosan' who looks after the fishpond at the entrance of our village. Didn't the teacher say that Chinese people all have formal names? Can 'Laosan' be written as a name on the household registration? Does he not have a formal name?"

The child's innocent voice, though not particularly loud in the slightly noisy dim sum restaurant, sounded like an ice droplet falling into boiling oil. Several Chinese diners at the next table instantly stopped talking, their eyes fixed on the television screen, exchanging puzzled glances. Xiao Jie's parents, somewhat embarrassed, quickly and quietly scolded their child for talking nonsense.

But Xiao Jie's cousin, a young woman studying for a master's degree in communication in the Bay Area and known online as "Bay Area Observer," suddenly brightened up. She quickly pulled out her phone, filmed a short video of the TV screen still broadcasting the news about Wei Laosan, and had Xiao Jie repeat his innocent question: "...Doesn't he have a real name?" She added a brief caption:

"Children speak without thinking? Is the name 'Wei Laosan' from the new governor on TV a valid official name? I need an answer urgently. #CaliforniaGovernor #WeiLaosan #CulturalDifferences"

This seemingly casual Weibo post, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, initially only stirred up ripples of discussion within a small Chinese community:

"That's right! 'Third brother' is clearly a ranking title, not a formal name!"

"How could someone register their household registration as 'X Laosan'? They must have a proper name!" "That's a very valid question! Election registration uses 'Wei Laosan,' which is not a legally valid, complete, or verifiable personal identifier!"

"It's terrifying to think about! If even names are vague and informal, then what about all the previous promises about identity (citizenship, length of residency)? Wouldn't that be nothing but castles in the air?"

Zhu Yanling looked up, her face filled with disbelief, and said, "This...this..."

Liang Dandan smiled and said, "Isn't it clever? This twist was hidden in the name 'Wei Laosan' from the very beginning. We didn't even notice it, so American readers would naturally find it even less likely."

Zhu Yanling sighed, "This novel is presented in a straightforward manner from beginning to end. I thought Zhang Chao had abandoned those modernist techniques, but I didn't expect there to be a hidden clue in the name 'Wei Laosan'."

Liang Dandan said, "'Wei Laosan' is indeed just a code name, not a real name. No matter how strong the public opinion is, most voters will probably find it hard to accept running for office using a 'code name'."

Zhu Yanling said, "Aren't they just advocating for a set of ideas?"

Liang Dandan said, "The 'Wei Laosan' 'balloon' has been blown too big—but no matter how big the balloon is, it is still just a balloon, and it cannot withstand even the slightest hole, even if that hole is only the size of a pinhole."

Previously, the needles coming from the outside were blocked before they could pierce the surface of the balloon. But this time, the needles came from inside.

Zhu Yanling asked, "You mean Chinese immigrants?"

Liang Dandan said, "Yes. They have no bias against 'Wei Laosan' and don't need to demystify him. They don't even want to be dragged into this movement."

This "Little Jie" plays the role of the child in "The Emperor's New Clothes." Do you know what these propaganda lies fear most? Is it the truth?

Zhu Yanling thought for a moment and said, "What lies fear most is not the truth, but 'common sense.' What this child is talking about is common sense. Common sense is harder to refute than the truth, and it is also easier to hit the heart of a lie."

Liang Dandan nodded and said, "Yes, a 'common sense' that every Chinese person understands is the key to ending this farce—I didn't expect Zhang Chao's idea to be so ingenious."

Zhu Yanling said, "Isn't the next step definitely 'when the wall falls, everyone pushes it down'?"

The plot unfolded exactly as she had predicted—

Several scholars studying East Asian naming culture quickly followed up. Dr. Li Man, a professor in the Department of East Asian Languages ​​and Civilizations at Princeton University, published a brief statement on his personal academic homepage: "In the traditional Chinese naming system, 'Lao San' (老三) is a typical name based on the birth order of brothers in a family (e.g., Zhang Lao San, Li Lao San), similar to 'Junior' or the nickname 'Trip' in English. It is not a legally recognized formal name (formal name/given name). Formal names are usually two-character or single-character names (e.g., Wei Guoqiang, Wei Ming). In official documents requiring legal validity (e.g., passports, ID cards, election registrations), the registered formal name must be used. Using 'Wei Lao San' as the sole registration identifier has a serious legal flaw."

The conservative California Chronicle, with its keen sense of opportunity, seized upon this opportunity, publishing a front-page in-depth report: "Governor Unknown? Further Evidence Added to the Mystery of Wei's Identity—Name Legality Questioned by Top Scholars!" The article quoted Dr. Li Man's views in detail and pointedly stated: "How can someone whose legal and complete name cannot be confirmed pass the supposedly rigorous candidate qualification review? Did the forms filled out by the 'Wei Road Committee' falsify or deliberately obscure this point? Does this constitute a major fraud against voters?"

This time, the voices of dissent were no longer isolated. The issue of "name legitimacy" is a clear, concrete, and deeply rooted problem closely linked to common cultural sense, instantly shattering the "politically correct" exemption created by the halo of "symbol of conscience." Many former supporters felt a sense of being fooled and anger.
“We support symbolism, but symbols also need a real vehicle! It’s absurd that even the name is vague!”

"This is a fundamental violation of election law! Procedural justice must be respected!"

"It feels like a grand performance art piece... We've all been used!" #FooledVoters# is trending.

The response from the "Wei Road Committee" was hasty and weak. Ms. Alison Chen urgently held a press conference, attempting to defend herself: "'Wei Laosan' is a symbolic name for Mr. Wei that is well-known and loved by the people! Its spiritual value far exceeds that of a cold legal name! This is a respect for diverse cultural expressions..." However, this explanation, full of sophistry, appeared utterly hollow and evasive in the face of irrefutable facts and the overwhelming backlash from public opinion.

The press conference was filled with sharp, probing questions:

"What is Governor Wei's official legal name?"

Does the name filled in on the election registration document have legal effect?

Did the committee know about and conceal this situation?

Unable to cope, Ms. Chen ended the press conference early, her face turning ashen.

Under immense pressure, the state Supreme Court formally accepted an emergency lawsuit filed by Senator Richard Dunn and others, seeking to invalidate Wei Laosan's candidacy. The hearing was largely a formality. The committee could not provide any official documents (such as a passport or birth certificate) to prove that "Wei Laosan" was a legitimate official name. An East Asian cultural expert hired by the court testified in court, reiterating the absurdity of using "Laosan" as a name for legal registration.

Chief Justice Maureen Carter of the State Supreme Court struck the gavel with a heavy thud, solemnly declaring the verdict:

"Upon review, it was found that the name used by candidate 'Wei Laosan' did not meet the basic requirements of the state's election law for candidates to be 'true, complete, and verifiable in identity.' In the context of this case, the word 'Laosan' cannot constitute a legally recognized part of a valid personal name, rendering the candidate's identity unverifiable and resulting in a fundamental and substantial defect in his registration information. Therefore, this court unanimously rules that the registration of candidate 'Wei Laosan' (SP-114514) is invalid, and his election is hereby revoked. The position of governor is vacant, and the lieutenant governor will legally assume his/her duties until the special election is completed."

The verdict, like a cold pardon, instantly froze the entire state of California. The remaining "WEI IS THE WAY" flag in the plaza fluttered in the cold wind, appearing both glaring and ironic. Those once fervent faces now held only bewilderment, embarrassment, and a trace of emptied exhaustion. The media quickly shifted their focus, beginning to analyze the lieutenant governor's resume and the prospects for the special election.

The website of the "Wei Zhilu Committee" shut down overnight, and the office was deserted. Merchandise bearing Wei Laosan's image was thrown into the trash or sold at a discount. The online popularity of the hashtag plummeted, as if an invisible giant hand had brutally erased the name "Wei Laosan" and all the noise it represented, leaving only a mess and a few slightly melancholic "phenomenon recap" articles in the media.

An era, an absurd one built from misunderstandings, fanaticism, and symbols, came to a sudden and dramatic end with a seven-year-old child's question about his name, so quickly that it left no time to react.

Seeing this, Zhu Yanling looked up at Liang Dandan and asked, "Where's 'Wei Laosan'?"

Liang Dandan said, "Zhang Chao still has a conscience; he arranged a decent 'ending' for him."

(End of this chapter)