Manhattan Reborn 1978

(one more paragraph)

new York.

Wall Street, New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX).

Sam Rogers and Mu Brandes looked at the February and March closing prices on the heating oil futures contract bulletin board not far away and couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

It’s finally over~!

4.085~4.035!

These two prices are higher than David’s February and March contract opening prices~!

Mu Brandes stared at the two figures walking out beside the transaction, and whispered to Sam.

"I'm going to find someone to ask, who are they both trading for today?"

Sam slowly straightened his slightly loose tie, buttoned his suit, and shook his head slightly.

“These things should be left to the people at the Securities Regulatory Commission (sec) to worry about~”

"If... before the market opens tomorrow, they haven't released any abnormal trading information, it won't be too late for us to investigate again."

Mu Brandes shook his head in disbelief and followed Sam out of the trading floor.

----

sunset.

New York, Manhattan.

In front of the New York Public Library.

Stick Don Lawrence, the head of the DA Security Company's New Jersey training base, got out of the car and said hello to One-Eyed Andres.

Andres took out a cigarette, lit it for himself and Lawrence, and smiled: "I thought Cohen would come with you."

Lawrence exhaled a cloud of smoke, shook his head slightly, and asked, "Where is David? Is he still in there?"

"Um.."

"I guess... he should be out soon~ Do you want to go in to find him?"

"No~I'll wait here!"

Lawrence walked to his car and looked at the door of the library, silently in a daze.

. . .

After nearly an hour.

David and Giovanni, each holding a pile of folders in their arms, walked out of the library.

Seeing the two of them coming out, Lawrence, who had been waiting for a long time, threw away the cigarette butt in his hand, crossed the street, strode up to David, and took the folder he was holding.

David looked at Lawrence in surprise and said with a smile: "You...won't bring me any bad news again, right?"

"No~"

"I just want to come and talk to you...about the mercenaries."

"fine~"

David glanced behind Lawrence, at Andres across the street, shrugged and smiled.

"I happen to be going to K-Mart to buy some groceries. Let's talk while walking?"

"Ok!"

Lawrence helped put the folder into the car, pointed out his car to the one-eyed Andres, and then got into David's car.

----

K-Mart is the largest discount retailer and largest wholesaler in the United States.

In 1962, Kmart opened its first supermarket in Garden City, Michigan, months before Wal-Mart.

In 1970, Kmart ranked No. 1 in the U.S. retail industry, with sales 45 times that of Wal-Mart!

In 1976, Kmart owned more than 1000 stores, with annual sales of 84 million yuan.

In 1977, the 78-year-old brand Kresge Company was officially renamed K-Mart Company.

(It wasn’t until 1979 that Wal-Mart’s annual sales exceeded $10 billion for the first time.)

(So, in the 70s, Wal-Mart was just a little brother chasing after Kmart...)

(In 2002, the third largest retailer in the United States, K-MART department store, filed for bankruptcy protection.)

(Wal-Mart and Kmart, these two competitors, finally differentiated themselves after 40 years of competition.)

----

Manhattan.

22nd Street, Kmart supermarket.

Since David was reborn into this world, this is the first time he has walked into a large supermarket for shopping.

. . .

Supermarket entrance

He called One-Eyed Andres and asked him to greet all the soldiers who were following him, and they all went into the supermarket to shop. The amount of 100 dollars per person was David's Halloween benefit for everyone.

Andres blinked his one eye, showed his big white teeth, smiled and nodded.

David shrugged and smiled at Lawrence and Giovanni beside him: "Black Mike and the other three didn't come to pick me up today... It's their loss!"

"Haha~ That's right!"

Giovanni rubbed his hands excitedly, looked at Andres's back with envy and said.

"Which... I want to buy some for my children and Jin Ji..."

David put his arms around Giovanni's neck and said with a smile: "Go ahead and buy whatever you want. I'll pay for it today!"

"Lawrence is by my side, you don't have to worry~"

"Ha~ok, boss~!"

The third brother, Giovanni, held back his emotions and made a pistol and alert gesture to Lawrence.

Lawrence smiled and nodded, patting his armpit lightly.

After confirming, the third brother Giovanni turned around with a smile and walked into the supermarket in three steps at a time.

David tilted his head and looked at his cheerful back, shook his head in amusement, looked around, found a supermarket staff, and asked if he could use credit card or check when checking out, and got these two checkout methods in Kiama. After I was able to go to the supermarket, I was relieved. .

"Let's go, Lawrence~"

"My beard has grown very fast these days~ Let's buy a razor first!"

"Ok~"

Lawrence followed David silently, observing the surroundings with curious eyes while silently considering his thoughts in his heart.

After a few minutes.

David successfully found the razor shelf, found a razor that looked pretty good, took it in his hand, and turned to Lawrence.

"By the way, what did you want to say when you came to me?"

Lawrence pondered for a moment and said: "The number of personnel in the training base has grown too fast~"

"I think you can find a suitable person to replace my management work."

Lawrence pursed his lips, looked at David seriously, and said, "The security company has already taken its shape."

"We need more professional and stricter management rules and regulations~"

"You need people with rich experience to help you manage these people well and prevent them from causing trouble for you!"

"I turned out to be just a soldier and had no experience in management."

"If you let me take you, train him, and fight on the battlefield, that's no problem."

"Let me manage the security company, which is beyond my capabilities, David~!"

David listened to Lawrence's words equally seriously and frowned at the nearly forty-year-old man in front of him. .The veteran said in a low voice.

"What do you think is the purpose of setting up Da Security?"

David put his right hand on Lawrence's shoulder: "I admit, when I first wanted to set up a security company, my idea was not simple."

"You probably have an idea of ​​the public security situation in New York now..."

"I want a security company to be a shield to ensure my personal safety ~ it can stop me from being distracted and go higher and further!"

"But after I talked with Black Mike before you guys arrived, I realized that the security company can definitely help more people like you who need it!"

"Dude!"

"I don't care about your ability, whether you can manage DA's security~"

"In my opinion, ability and experience are not my top priorities."

David exerted force with his right hand, and after Lawrence felt the strength on his shoulder, he exhaled and continued.

"As long as the security company still belongs to me, how you want to manage it is entirely up to you!"

"If you have no management experience, you can find someone with experience to help you!"

"If we don't have complete management rules and regulations, we have to find someone to help us and formulate a new system that suits us."

"Cohen, Jackal, Rambo, they are all trustworthy guys~"

"But their character and style of conduct determine that they are not suitable to be security managers."

"I will give you my back and you will feel more at ease!"

"This is the original reason why I want you to take over the security company."

"You deserve my trust!"

Lawrence looked directly into David's eyes. After a few seconds of silence, he nodded.

"I see!"

"Haha~ This is right!"

David smiled and punched Lawrence on the shoulder, turned around, picked out a few razors from the shelf, and threw them to Lawrence.

"Come on, bring some back to them."

Lawrence looked down at the razors in his arms, raised his eyebrows slightly, and held them in his hands.

David walked in front, looking left and right at the products on the shelves, and asked.

"Do you have the right person who can help you manage it?"

Lawrence followed David's footsteps and continued: "There is one~!"

"Oh? Tell me~"

"His name is Edward B. Tryon. He was a lieutenant colonel in the No. 40 [-]th Armored Division of the Texas National Guard."

"Lieutenant Colonel? How old is he?"

"..56 years old~"

David opened his mouth, silently calculated his age, and asked in surprise: "He... participated in World War II?"

"Yes~"

"He received the Distinguished Service Cross during the Battle of Guadalcanal in the South Pacific!"

"The Battle of Guadalcanal? Wow ~ awesome!!"

. . .

When David was in school, he learned about this period of American history during World War II.

He still remembered his teacher at the time, who commented when recounting the history of this war: In the Battle of Guadalcanal in a battlefield environment where both warring parties were equal, the Allied forces defeated the best ground, air forces and sea fleets of the island country at that time. !

The Battle of Guadalcanal, in World War II and on the Pacific battlefield, made the United States and the Allies feel that psychological victory was as important as military victory.

The Battle of Guadalcanal was the ultimate Allied victory and a decisive turning point in the war.

Of course, war is always cruel!

In this battle of Guadalcanal, which lasted for more than half a year, the American army invested a total of more than 6 ground troops.

Among them, about 7000 people were killed, 7789 were injured, 24 warships were lost, and more than 420 pilots were killed. .

Edward B. Tryon was able to survive such a cruel war and received the Distinguished Service Cross~

I have to say, he is indeed very powerful!

Because the United States has more than 1000 million troops deployed on the battlefield of World War II.

But throughout World War II, the American Army only awarded about [-] Distinguished Service Crosses.

More than 1000 million: five thousand!

Those who survive to receive medals are the only ruthless people in a million!

. . .

David and Lawrence, walking slowly side by side in the supermarket, asked with some confusion.

"He is a lieutenant colonel of the National Guard. Is he willing to come to our security company?"

Lawrence was silent for a few seconds and explained: "Old Cui En has a son who is Black Mike and I's comrade-in-arms, Little Cui En."

"He died in Vietnam."

"In the past few years, various demonstrations have broken out across the United States. Many returning soldiers could not bear the tremendous psychological pressure and committed suicide. Some people were very dissatisfied with Old Cui En for letting his son go to participate in the Vietnam War."

"So, Old Cui En got angry, pulled out a gun and shot the guy who said bad things about his son, and was sentenced to ten years in prison."

"what?"

David was even more surprised. .

Texas rednecks. .Sure enough, he has a hot temper!

(Many people have the impression of white rednecks in Texas, but the original rednecks refer to the farmers in the Midwestern region of the United States. Because they work in the fields all day long, their necks are red in the sun. of..)

(Later, this statement was extended to those conservative Elephant Party members.)

Lawrence continued: "Originally, after the verdict of Old Cui En's case, he was going to be imprisoned in a Texas prison to serve his sentence."

"But one of his old comrades helped him move to a prison with better conditions, where it was easier to get a reduced sentence and receive care, the New Jersey State Prison."

"Because his old comrade-in-arms is the leader of the New Jersey State Prison..."

When David heard this, he suddenly understood the true purpose of Lawrence's visit today.

"You. Continue~"

"Um.."

"Old Cui En and I have always been in communication~"

"He knows that I came to New York and New Jersey~"

"I went to see him in prison and he was very interested in the security company."

"So...you came to me today because you wanted him to take over the security company?"

"..Yes"

David nodded clearly: "Is he still in prison? Has his sentence been reduced? When can he be released?"

"He'll be out soon~" A smile appeared on Lawrence's lips.

"soon?"

"Yes~ Monday, the 7th of next month, is the day when Old Cui En is released from prison."

"Hiss...Old comrade, he's so awesome!"

"Haha~" Lawrence shrugged and agreed.

David smacked his mouth a few times, looked around at the surrounding shelves, and smiled.

"Ok~I got it, man!"

"I have no problem with him coming to us for security!"

"After he comes out, find an opportunity and arrange for us to meet~"

Lawrence showed a happy smile and whispered: "Thank you!"

"You're welcome~hahaha~"

David pushed Lawrence with his shoulder and walked towards the one-eyed Andres in the distance.

----

New York State, the easternmost point of Long Island.

The town of Montauk is located in the eastern part of Long Island, New York, adjacent to Montauk Point Park.

Montauk Point State Park has beautiful scenery and excellent views.

When the sea is calm, visitors can hear the sound of the Atlantic Ocean gently lapping at the coast. Visitors here can take advantage of the natural trails in the park for hiking in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter; they can also sit quietly on the rocks on the coast. You can enjoy the ebb and flow of the tide, sunrise and sunset; you can even climb up to the century-old Montauk Point Lighthouse to enjoy the panoramic view of the beautiful state park and the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean.