Manhattan Reborn 1978

Europe.

England, Oxfordshire.

He is upstairs in St. Mary's Church in Oxford, where the University of Oxford is located.

David, Livlin, Elena, Maggie, Toby Olga and Cui Yingying, under the introduction of Angres Holm, looked at the buildings of the small town of Oxford with a British atmosphere.

after an hour.

David and the others walked out of a cafe, followed Holmu, and strolled on the street, listening to his introduction.

"Oxford University has more than 30 colleges and four academies, scattered throughout the small town."

"Our first stop is the Oxford University Museum with its long history on the side of the City Hall in front of us."

Holm glanced at Jellal, who was following David, leading everyone to the entrance of the museum.

“The history of this museum is still several decades older than the history of the British Museum~”

"It is said that the earliest batch of exhibits were from a group of private collectors who donated their collections to Oxford University."

Inside the Oxford University Museum.

Holm led a few people to look at the museum's exhibition area introduction picture at the entrance.

"Here, it can be roughly divided into four exhibition areas~"

"Exhibitions of Eastern Art, Western Art, Ancient Coins and Utensils."

"Look, the area in front of you is the exquisite handicrafts that flowed into Europe from the East 200 years ago~"

“This is a lady’s jewelry box made entirely of ivory material and carved~”

"This is... a sewing box. It is a beautiful work of art made using the long-lost lacquer dark pattern embossing process."

"This row of colorful plates with various patterns are exquisite decorations ordered from the far East more than 100 years ago."

"Look at the blue glazed patterns on the edges of these plates. The craftsmanship has almost been lost..."

"Ah~"

“The exhibit in front of you may rarely be seen~”

"This is a wooden statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva..."

"It is said that its history can be traced back to more than 1200 years ago, during the reign of a certain Buddhist king in an ancient eastern country."

David stood in front of the wooden Bodhisattva and silently calculated in his mind. .It should be a Buddhist statue left over from the Tang Dynasty~

. . .

Holm continued to lead a few people out of the Oriental Art exhibition area and introduced.

"As you can see, on the left hand side are all kinds of exquisite porcelain, pottery, and lacquerware from the East~"

"At the entrance of this exhibition area is a silk embroidery exhibit with a history of hundreds of years."

“In the exhibition area we were going to visit the year before last year, the main exhibits were some utensils from the early ancient Greek era~”

"These are all pottery used daily by people in ancient Greece between 1000 and 700 BC~"

"And the previous ones are all BC..."

"This is a mummy unearthed in Egypt..."

"It is said that ancient Egyptians, regardless of whether they were rich or poor, were mummified after death."

"Here, on display are the masterpieces of many violin masters in recent hundreds of years."

. . .

Nearly an hour later.

David everyone walked out of the Oxford University Museum.

street.

Jellal stood in the sun, holding a cup of coffee in his hand, squinting his eyes slightly, seeming to enjoy the tranquility and relaxation at the moment.

David walked up to Holm ahead of him and said with a smile: "Well, it's time for you to bask in the sun more and breathe more fresh air~"

"We have collectively taken calcium supplements in New York, so you should also seize the time to take a supplement~"

"what??"

"Hahaha~"

David was amusing himself, and his laughter caused several people to look at him in confusion.

Holm smiled and shook his head, walked over and said.

"Opposite is the hotel where we will stay tonight~"

"Our room has been opened and our luggage has been put away~"

"Are you hungry? Let me find a unique restaurant for you to try?"

David looked back at the girls, nodded to Holm and said with a smile: "Okay~"

"ok~"

"Let's go this way~"

"Look, there is a monument in the middle of the road ahead~"

"It's called the Martyrs' Monument!"

"It commemorates the three archbishops who were burned to death by Queen Mary during her reign more than 400 years ago."

"Ahead, we can follow the outer wall of Balliol College and head towards Broad Street."

"Look, this yellow stone on the wall is called honey stone~"

"When we were looking at the tower just now, everyone should have arrived~"

"Part of the buildings in Oxford were built in the 15th and 16th centuries, continuing the architectural style of the Tudor period."

"There are also some buildings from the Georgian period, most of which are Gothic or Baroque."

. . .

Everyone followed "guide" Holm and turned to a street with more people.

"This is Kuan Street~"

"Broad Street is the street with the most colleges in Oxford~"

“In addition to the academy, there are also libraries, reading rooms, bookstores, small shops, cafes, restaurants, etc.~”

"The building on our left, full of Baroque architectural style, is Balliol College."

"Ballior College is one of the earliest colleges in Oxford University, founded in 1263."

"However, there has never been a very accurate statement about the founding date of Oxford University~"

"Many people believe that the period of King Henry II's reign from 1165 to 1168 was the time when Oxford University was founded."

"Because at that time, King Henry II was about to go to war with France, so he recalled most of the missionaries from Paris and temporarily arranged them to live in Oxford."

"And these missionaries were the first founders of many colleges at Oxford University~"

"Ballior College is the college with the strongest political atmosphere in Oxford University."

"Among its graduates, there have been two prime ministers. The current leader of the Conservative Party in the British government, Margaret Thatcher, also came from this college."

“There are also William Tyndale, the pioneer of the Reformation who translated the modern English version of the Bible, and many well-known scholars who have won Nobel Prizes.”

"In addition, the more than [-] colleges of Oxford University are independently operated and enroll students independently, and their financial revenue and expenditure are also responsible for their own profits and losses."

. . .

David, who was holding Elena by the hand, had a bright smile on his lips.

Margaret Thatcher!

What a familiar and beautiful name~

This time. .It’s finally stable!

There is no more Reagan in the United States. .

If Britain no longer had Mrs Thatcher, David would definitely make himself look like one. .Like a mole, it finds a hole to crawl in, hides, and never comes out to chatter again. .

----

The other side of the ocean.

new York.

Manhattan.

In the Marseille restaurant where David often comes.

The little Zach raised his neck and drained the milk in the cup, then let out a long burp with great pleasure~

He took out some change, put it under the cup, walked to the counter, took the breakfast for Menge, the steel-toothed dog, from the big black man Marseille, and walked out of the restaurant briskly.

Wildfire Bar allowed little Zach and his younger brother Zach to put an end to their "gangster" life of petty theft and no fixed abode~

Although, the little Zach always regards himself as the smart brother in front of his younger brother~

But he knew very well that his younger brother, the big man Zach, was much smarter than him!

. . .

42nd Street, Wildfire Bar.

The little Zach walked to the door of the bar in the morning light. He looked at the dilapidated pickup truck parked on the street with some confusion, scratched his head and walked into the bar.

in the bar.

As soon as the little Zach walked in, he saw Mengo, the steel-toothed dog, sitting at the edge of the bar, staring at the table not far away. .family? ?

"Hey~ Mengo!"

"Who are they?"

Before the steel-toothed dog Menge could answer, a middle-aged man with a sloppy beard among the three members of the family shrugged and shouted.

"Where's Susan?"

"We know she's here!"

"I have here the remittance order and letter she gave us!"

"This is all evidence!"

"Call her out immediately...otherwise, I will go to the other side to call the police!!"

"Ok??"

The little Zach threw the breakfast bag in his hand to Menge, frowning and looking at the smelly, slovenly man, the thin woman sitting next to him, and the little boy in her arms.

"You... who are Susan's friends?"

The sloppy man pointed at the woman and shouted, "These are Susan's mother and brother."

"Oh~"

"What about you?" The little Zach glanced at Menge, took out the pistol from his waist, weighed it gently in his hand, and asked.

"Who are you, bastard?"

"I...I am her stepfather!"

"Haha~ Got it."

The little Zach showed a disdainful smile and took a step forward with a gun in his right hand: "Since you are Susan's family, she still owes us more than 5000 meters of knife."

"Take the money~"

"What??" The sloppy man turned around and growled at the woman in confusion.

"What the hell are you talking about Susan..."

"Hey~"

"If you say one more word, I will let him knock out your front teeth!"

The little Zach gestured with his thumb to the steel-toothed dog Mengo. .

Menge grinned, his big silver teeth making the sloppy man feel a little scared. .

"I...we are here to ask her for money!"

"We have no money!"

"Ah~hehe!"

"If you don't have any money, what the hell are you doing sitting here?"

"Susan will only come to work at night. You have to find her... Go wait in the back alley at night! Do you understand?"

“Back alley??”

"Stop talking nonsense! Get out of here!"

"otherwise.."

The sloppy man looked at the steel-toothed dog Menge who stood up and took out two guns from his body. He swallowed, pulled the thin woman beside him to stand up, and said.

"fxxx!"

"I...I'll come back tonight!"

"I don't believe you can still..."

"roll!"

"..."

. . .

The little Zach stared coldly at the slovenly man dragging the stumbling thin woman out of the bar.

All kinds of thoughts were racing in his mind, he threw down the pistol, and found change, car keys, and more from his body. .Watch~

He gave them all to Menge and said quickly.

"The new second-hand car I bought is parked about 30 meters away from the door and turn right~"

"You follow them, and in an hour, no matter what the situation is, call back ~ I'll be waiting for you here!"

"ok~"

"By the way, take this too~"

With that said, the little Zach took another auxiliary police badge from his belt and gave it to Menge.

"Whenever the police are causing trouble, call Officer Alston!"

"remember!"

"One hour!"

"Don't be impulsive, just keep an eye on them from a distance~"

The steel-toothed dog looked down at the thing in his hand, smiled, and nodded.

"While I'm working, you still..."

"Okay~"

"They are all leaving, hurry up!"

"Hehe~"

Menge grinned, weighed the car keys in his hand, and limped out of the bar.

. . .

After a few minutes.

Apartment above Wildfire Bar.

The little Zach stood in the corridor, frowned and thought for a moment, then raised his hand and knocked on the door of Susan's best friend, Martha's room.

"Um~who is it!?"

"It's me, open the door quickly, Martha~"

Martha was wrapped in a thin quilt and opened the door sleepily: "Zach?"

The little Zach stepped into the room, closed the door, looked around, and asked Martha, whose face was full of surprise.

"Has Susan ever told you about her family?"

"family?"

"Yes ~ think about it quickly!"

"Um..No~"

"What's wrong? What happened..."

. . .

ten minutes later.

The little Zach, Martha, and old Red, who had been stopped when they were about to go downstairs to open a store, sat neatly in Zina's apartment.

Xina, who was wearing a nightgown, poured freshly brewed coffee for the three of them and smiled.

"And then? Is there anything else?"

"Uh..No more~"

"Hehe~"

Zina sat down with a coffee cup, smoothed the broken hair around her ears with her hands, and said with a lazy smile.

"This kind of nonsense is not unusual~"

“The key still depends on Susan’s thoughts and attitude~”

"If, I mean if!!"

"What if this incident was all a farce directed by Susan..."

"What purpose do you think she has?"

"Forehead.."

The little Zach glanced at Martha, shook his head and said, "I don't know~"

Martha frowned, bit her lip a few times, and directly denied: "Susan can't do such a thing!"

"Hehe~"

"What about you? Rhett, what do you think?"

Old Rhett took a sip of coffee, shrugged and said, "Let's discuss it first... let's figure out who will come forward to resolve this matter."

"Hmm~"

Zina put down the coffee cup and said with a smile: "David is not here ~ after Zach drove people away..."

"None of us are suitable to intervene in this matter."

"The most suitable person, the first choice is Polly!"

"Second is... Lilith!"

"..."

"Of course~"

"The way they handle things may be very different~"

"But no matter what the outcome is, from David's perspective, it is more acceptable to him."

David!

Zina’s point of view is very clear~

It's not appropriate for anyone like them to take care of this kind of housework.

Only someone who has a close relationship with David and whom Susan approves of can intervene in this matter will avoid further trouble. .

. . .

After a few minutes.

Old Red drank the coffee in his hand, stood up, and said.

"I don't believe that Susan would be hiding this in her heart.. She is plotting~"

"But you're right!"

"David is not here! The best person who can solve this problem is Polly!"

"Zach!"

"Go find Polly and explain the matter~"

"I'll go downstairs to look at the store and wait for Menge's call~"

"As for what Polly and Susan will choose to do, we have no say."

"..ok!"

"I'm going right now!"

. . .

Little Zach and old Red were gone.

Martha held the coffee cup in her hand, stared at Zina, and whispered: "What we do is so unfair to Susan!"

"Hehe~"

Xina glanced at the figure hiding behind the bedroom door, shook her head and smiled.

"I met Miranla's family, the Websters."

"They are typical representatives of ordinary families in small American towns!"

"During our interactions, it was obvious that Miranla's father and mother could hear Miranla's choice from my hints~"

"But they still spent all their savings to send Milan to college."

Zina put away her smile and looked at Martha calmly: "When they left, I left a letter and a check in their car in advance."

"In the letter, I made it very clear that Miranla filled in the university file as married and her husband was David."

"But when they went back, they didn't collect the check and sent it back to me~"

"He even sent me a letter in reply."

"They said in the letter that Miranla has been very smart since she was a child!"

"She has grown up~"

"When she comes to New York to pursue her career, her family will unconditionally support any decision she makes and will be her strongest backing!"

"Martha!"

"God didn't give us the right to choose our family!"

“But God gives us the right to choose life!”

"Nowadays, around David, there are more and more people who want to change their destiny~"

"They are all just like you and me. Due to various factors, they gathered and followed David~"

"Only David can maintain the current development speed and continue to grow and expand~"

"All of us will have a precious opportunity to change our destiny!"

A self-deprecating smile appeared on the corner of Zina's mouth, and she said with a smile: "Maybe, you will think~"

"Why can't we leave David's side?"

"Whoever leaves you, the sun will still rise~"

"Hehe~"

"Everyone has the right to choose their own life~"

"However, seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages is the deepest and hidden nature in people's hearts~"

"Making the right choice rationally has nothing to do with fairness!"

Zina stood up, stretched her waist, and no longer paid attention to Martha's expression. She turned to look at the morning light outside the window and whispered.

"Everyone will have countless opportunities to choose~"

“We don’t need to get it right every time.”

"But when the golden key that can change our lives appears in front of us..."

"Everyone's choice is almost unanimous!"

"Hold it tight!"

. . .

Martha is gone.

Zina stood by the window and said to the bedroom door with a smile.

"Come out~ We have to rush to the power plant recording studio later!"

Madonna Sigourney, wearing a vest, walked out of the bedroom, stood next to Zina, lowered her head and said.

"I...can I have a chance?"

"Hehe~"

"I have no idea!"

Zina turned back and smiled at Madonna: "I really envy you..."

"If I were 20 years younger... you wouldn't have a chance!"

"Ok??"

"Hahaha~"

----

Oxford city.

On Broad Street, in an exotic restaurant.

Jellal greeted several ladies and sat down at two small tables put together.

David, who had just walked out of the bathroom, saw Holm who was about to go out, so he said hello to a few people and followed him.

Outside the restaurant.

Holm took out cigarettes from his pocket, lit one, and heard David's voice behind him.

"Can you give me one too?"

"...Of course~"

"Do you smoke too?"

"No~"

“I usually smoke one only when I feel tired.”

Holm had a look of "understanding" on his face and smiled: "We still have cigarettes in the car. I'll get you a pack later~"

"Cough cough cough~"

David choked on a puff of cigarette, pointed at Holm, and coughed hard several times. .

Holm happily led David to a flower bed on the street and sat down.

"You guessed it too, right?"

"..What?"

"Hehe~"

David calmed down his breathing, turned to look at Holm and smiled: "Did Jellal tell you?"

"Said~"

"What do you think?"

"I'm here~"

"Hahaha~"

The two "understanding people" looked at each other and laughed~

David flicked the ashes of his cigarette, took a puff, and said with a smile, "Are you still going to Cambridge with us?"

"No need~"

Holm threw the cigarette in his hand on the ground and put it out, smiling at David.

"Reason, let us choose to get along with recognized friends!"

"Rationality can also allow us to find our own position when looking at the rapid changes in the economy."

"But none of us are purely rational animals~"

“That’s why advertising always affects our lives and choices~”

"David, what you are talking about has a lot in common with the traditional economics I have studied, but there are also big deviations~"

"What exactly are you implying?"

David smiled and shook his head: "Actually, I didn't hint at anything~"

"I just responded to Jellal's invitation to cooperate."

"You mean... futures?"

"Yes~"

"Hmm..." Holm frowned, and instantly thought of what David said at that dinner party. . "storm"!

David took a drag on his cigarette, threw the butt on the ground, stood up and smiled.

"Gerard said that real estate is also one of the important businesses of the Duke of Westminster family."

"Then have you ever thought about what policies the government will implement after this winter to reduce people's dissatisfaction?"

"What policies will be implemented to address the rising inflation index?"

David looked at Balliol College in the distance and said, "I never went to college~"

"But... we know that everything we learn in school basically has a standard answer."

"But in our lives, there is no so-called standard answer."

"Cooperation~ In my opinion, only when both parties contribute equally can we achieve a win-win situation!"

"...I understand~"

Holm stood up, extended his right hand to David, and said with a smile: "We will give you a satisfactory answer before you leave Cambridge University."

"Thank you!"

"Hahaha~ Shall we go in?"

"Let's go~ I'm already hungry!"

----

new York.

Wildfire Bar, fifth floor.

Polly knocked on David's door.

Susan stood at the door sleepily, smiling at Polly in surprise.

"Ah~ why are you here? Please come in quickly!"

"What would you like to drink? I was just about to make coffee."

"Hehe~"

"Remember to add a piece of sugar to me~"

"no problem!"

Polly glanced around, sat on the sofa in the living room, put her small bag aside, and looked quietly at Susan who was busy in the kitchen.

After a few minutes.

Susan sat next to Polly with two cups of hot coffee and smiled.

"It's about laying the floor upstairs..."

"No~"

Polly stood up, moved her body in the direction of Susan, took her hand, looked into her eyes, and said.

"This morning, someone claiming to be your family came to the bar downstairs to find you!"

"do you know?"

"what?!"

Susan looked surprised and uneasy and wanted to stand up, but found that her hand was held by Polly. .

"I...I don't know~"

"I just wrote a letter to my mother a few days ago and sent some money..."

"Um.."

“Susan, David’s not here!

"I need you to be honest with me about everything, okay?"

"..good!"

. . .

After more than half an hour.

Wildfire Bar.

Polly carried a small bag and pushed the door open and walked in.

The little Zach, Martha, Old Rhett, and Mike Bai, who had just come back, all looked at her.

Polly stood there, pondered for a moment, and asked Mike Bai: "Where was the apartment you used to live in?"

"Um.. I returned it~"

"Then let's find another apartment and let Susan's mother and brother settle down first."

"Then, you go to Auston and ask him to find any excuse to lock up that man first. When David comes back, let him handle it~"

Mike Bai curled his lips and smiled disdainfully.

"I've seen too many bastards like him~"

"It's better... to send him to see him as soon as possible..."

"Stop xx's nonsense!"

Polly's eyes widened and she stared at Mike Bai fiercely: "If I want to kill him, why would I call you back?"

"...Okay~"

Mike Bai closed his mouth consciously.

Polly glanced around the people in the bar, sighed, and said softly.

"It's business as usual!"

"Let's just pretend that this incident never happened."

"..ok!"

"it is good!"

After hearing the answers from several people, Polly nodded with satisfaction and walked out of the bar.

Mike Bai took out a cigarette from his pocket and asked Old Red: "Mengo, where is he?"

"he is.."

"ok~"

"I'll handle this matter, you guys... it's business as usual!"

Mike Bai left too~

Martha took a few deep breaths, stood up, nodded to Old Red and little Zach, and followed Mike Bai's footsteps out of the bar.

Old Red picked up his camera, gestured to the little Zach, and smiled.

"Here, let me take a picture for you?"

"...Forget it~"

"not in the mood!"

"Hahaha~"

----

Oxford city.

Next to the Dabur Museum in Oxford, in front of the Old Bank Hotel.

David and Angres Holm held hands and smiled: "Thank you! We will see you again, right?"

"Of course!"

Holm smiled and shook hands vigorously, nodded to Gerald, turned around and got into the car, and quickly disappeared around the corner.

David shrugged at Jellal and said with a smile: "Let's go back and have a rest first, and then visit Oxford later?"

"it is good!"

Jellal, who was in an extremely relaxed mood, walked into the hotel side by side with David.

----

London.

In front of the Langham Hotel.

Kanes Rothschild got into the car and said to the driver.

"Let's go to Oxford City."

"Okay, sir!"

The car started and drove forward slowly~

The demonstrators on the road, holding the slogans they carried during the march, walked towards their homes in twos and threes.

It's already lunch time.

Workers participating in strike demonstrations also need to eat~