Manhattan Reborn 1978

A few days later.

Monday, August 79, 4.

South-central United States.

On a farm beside the Brazos River in the western suburbs of Houston, Texas.

The sun is setting in the west.

Four elderly men led several young people as they walked and chatted happily along the riverbank of the farm.

Among these people, two had smiles that were tinged with restraint and awkwardness, making them seem somewhat out of place with the others around them.

"Ah~"

The shortest of the four old men walked to a small mound, adjusted his glasses, sighed deeply, and whispered to the person next to him.

"I used to be in Hawaii, doing research on combining ecological farms and ecological ranches, and I faced enormous pressure from a lack of funding every day."

“This time it definitely won’t happen again.” Old Malkin, one of the four elders, smiled and glanced at Old David, speaking in a relaxed tone.

"..." The short old man named Brad Campenin deliberately feigned surprise, following Old Malkin's gaze to look at Old David, his eyes filled with expectant anticipation.

"Hmm." Old David nodded very modestly, which was his response to the two of them, and looked into the distance.

Edward B. Trein, the last of the four elders, stepped forward with a smile and addressed old Malkin as Professor Brad Campenin's introducer.

"Professor Campenin's hometown is Stephenville, Texas's most famous dairy capital."

"Oh? Stephenville? Where is it?" Old Malkin asked curiously, playing along.

“It’s up this river, more than 300 kilometers away.” Professor Campenin waved to the northwest, drawing everyone’s attention in that direction.

"Our ranch would like to purchase a batch of the best dairy cows, you..."

“No problem, my old friends will definitely be willing to help!” Professor Campenin patted his chest heartily and laughed.

Then he changed the subject, pointing to the one at the front of the group of young men, and said, "This is Neil, my youngest son."

"He is mainly in charge of our cooperation this time."

“Neil grew up on a ranch. Later, when I went to Hawaii to work on an ecological farming and ranch project, he stayed with me. He is very experienced, but he is a bit introverted.”

"And these are all my students, and they are very eager to participate in our collaboration."

"Oh, hello, Neil! Hello!"

"From now on, this place is in your hands!" Old Malkin extended his right hand and smiled warmly at the young men.

"Hello, sir." Neil, as the leader of the group of young people, shook hands firmly with old Malkin and smiled.

The sky gradually darkened.

After some casual conversation, the group became more familiar with each other and verbally confirmed many details of their cooperation, agreeing to sign the agreement next Monday.

Outside the farm, old Malkin and old David saw Professor Campanin and his group off by the roadside. Black Mike, standing beside the old farmhouse, witnessed this and put his finger to his lips, letting out a loud whistle.

Upon hearing this, the two old men simultaneously turned around, exchanged a smile, and said, "This kid's cooking is terrible. Let's go home and eat tonight."

"Yes, I agree!"

"Hahahaha~"

A few days ago, Black Mike came here at David's suggestion and has insisted on staying on the farm and doing what he can to help with farm work.

But the farm is currently undergoing demolition and reconstruction, and there is basically no farm work. Old Malkin and Old David told their families that they had to live here, which was just an excuse to avoid a life of leisure.

After staying there for two days, Black Mike realized what the two old men were thinking, so he offered to stay and take care of them, doing odd jobs like cooking and running errands.

As a result, Malkin and David, whose stomachs were used to their own home-cooked meals, rebelled when faced with Black Mike's homemade traditional Kansas dishes.

Black Mike's cooking is neither sweet nor salty, neither sour nor spicy. It's not exactly unpalatable, but it's definitely not gourmet food either.

So, old Malkin and old David practically dragged Black Mike into the car, planning to go to the nearest restaurant on the east side for dinner and maybe find a few new friends to sit down and have a relaxing drink.

A few minutes later, just as the three of them were chatting and laughing as they got into their car to leave the farm, Mr. Longhorn Beetle sped up in his sedan and stopped them.

"Hey~ What's up? Something urgent?" Black Mike, who was driving, saw Mr. Longhorn get out of the car and shouted.

“Yes, there’s something very important.” Tianniu raised his hand to adjust his cowboy hat, walked to the car, and gestured to Old David amidst the rising dust.

"The boss called and said that Mr. Morgan would be having surgery at the end of the month, which might carry some risks."

"So he took the initiative to propose to Mr. Morgan that he set a wedding date with his fiancée, Miss Lilith, and hoped that you could understand."

"A wedding date? What's the specific time?" Old David frowned in surprise, tilted his head to look at his old friend whose expression had turned from sunny to cloudy, and asked.

"Probably around May next year."

"The boss said that if you or your wife have any objections to this, you can call him anytime."

"Okay, I understand. Thank you!"

"This is my job."

"There's one more thing~" Mr. Longbottle said, glancing at Old Malkin. After pausing for a few seconds, he carefully chose his words.

"News has come from New York that the sudden nuclear leak at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant at the end of last month triggered the largest demonstration in recent years, with tens of thousands of people participating. This has further deteriorated the security situation in New York's main urban areas, exposing the serious shortage of police resources."

"This morning, New York City Mayor Frant Hardman's proposals, submitted to the City Council several months ago, including increasing the budget for the public safety system and redrawing public safety jurisdictions, were passed in a full vote of the City Council."

"At noon, Mayor Hardman announced at a press conference that the city hall will gradually increase its enforcement and adjudication efforts against a number of crimes within six months, including smuggling, violent assault, murder and homicide, drug trafficking, robbery and theft involving large sums of money, etc."

He said that because the city government's fiscal pressure has eased in recent years, the education and public safety funding that was owed in previous years will be gradually paid out, and an unprecedented major reform will be carried out to address the chaotic situation within the New York Police Department.

"This reform will redefine the administrative management model between the New York City Police Department and its subordinate precincts, reorganize the internal oversight team, reorganize the Major Public Safety Emergency Response Unit, reorganize the Major Criminal Cases Investigation Unit, recruit more qualified police academy cadets to make up for manpower shortages, etc."

He also stated that he would actively push the New York Police Department to draw elite officers from various locations to reorganize the Night Watch SWAT team, and hoped that the public would generously donate at the fundraising dinner to be held this Sunday.

“Night watchman? FXXX!” Old Malkin heard this once-familiar word, gave a few disdainful sneers, and muttered.

"Hardman!?"

"Has he been elected mayor of New York City for more than six months now?"

"This is quite a big move!" Old David's first thought upon hearing the latest news from Mr. Longhorn Beetle was that his son had probably made the right bet again.

"Tsk~ I didn't quite understand. Could you put it more bluntly?" Black Mike wasn't thinking as much as the two old men behind him. He scratched his head, lit a cigarette, and grinned as he exhaled smoke.

“OK~” Mr. Longhorn Beetle shrugged, reached for a cigarette, lit it, and laughed.

"You should remember that meeting he attended last year at Bonini restaurant with Matthew Denipelo, right?"

“Of course!” Black Mike had a very vivid memory of the Bonini restaurant meeting led by David, and nodded in agreement.

Longniu slowly exhaled a puff of smoke and reached out to hold the car door: "Frant Hardman was the big boss within the New York Police Department system before he ran for mayor of New York City."

“In the three months between his attendance at the Bonini restaurant meeting and his successful election as the new mayor of New York City, the crime rate in all districts of New York City dropped by about 30%.”

"In New York's most important Manhattan districts, the Upper Manhattan and Lower Manhattan Financial District, the overall crime rate has dropped by nearly 40%, and the crime rate in Midtown has also dropped by more than 20%."

"With the crime rate down and the street safety improved, this political newcomer who rose from police chief to mayor has also gained the support and recognition of many ordinary New York residents."

"So now he wants to start from this aspect to expand his influence within the municipal government and his popularity among citizens, which is a classic manifestation of the thinking of a mature politician."

"But~"

Suddenly, Mr. Longinus's tone changed, and his gaze turned to the frowning, silent old Malkin: "There was another person who also attended that Bonini Conference, Matthews Denipero, who is often forgotten."

"He was the real protagonist at this morning's press conference!"

"The NYPD’s restructuring of its internal inspection department, public safety emergency response unit, major criminal case investigation unit, Night Watch SWAT team, and recruitment of new officers, as announced by Mayor Hardman, are all primarily overseen by Deputy Commissioner Matthew DeNipello."

"Now, Deputy Commissioner Denipello has risen to the third most powerful position in the NYPD, and is also the youngest deputy commissioner in the NYPD in the last forty years!"

"In an interview with reporters after the press conference, he said that within two months, he would prioritize the restructuring of the internal inspection department, the rebuilding of the night-duty SWAT team, and the recruitment of new police officers."

"As for the selection criteria for special police officers on night duty, he said that priority will be given to elite patrol officers, criminal police officers, and auxiliary police officers who have long been committed to working on the front line and have outstanding work abilities."

"Auxiliary police? You mean, the auxiliary police office under Inspector Austin is included too?" Black Mike asked in utter surprise.

“Yes!” Mr. Longhorn Beetle said softly, nodding slightly.

Black Mike fell silent upon hearing this.

He glanced back at old David, then at old Malkin, opened his mouth, and hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say.

A few months ago~

Old Malkin followed David's advice and persuaded the Sidridge family members to transfer most of the family's territory to other gang families after the Bonini Conference.

At the same time, Old Malkin personally dismissed many peripheral members, leaving only more than a hundred members who were closer to the core of the family, and had them all join the auxiliary police office managed by the Austin Police Commissioner.

Now, Matthews Denipelo, the youngest deputy commissioner in the history of the New York Police Department, has publicly stated that he wants to draw elite personnel from auxiliary police officers. What is he planning to do?

Does he intend to recruit members of the Sidridge family into his service and give them important positions?

Or does he have ulterior motives?

So what exactly is he after?

"Hehe~" After thinking for a moment, old Malkin chuckled, twitching his beard, and reached out to press down on old David's knee, looking at Mr. Longhorn Beetle and asking.

"We're just about to grab a couple of drinks, do you want to come along?"

“OK! I’ll follow you in my car.” Mr. Longhorn Beetle nodded readily and turned to leave.

Old David silently watched his retreating figure, feeling Old Malkin pat his knee twice more, and the worry and concerns that had risen in his heart gradually faded away.