Volume 2: Knocking on Heaven's Door Chapter 58 Leaders Must Have a Spirit of Contract (Part 2)
"I think it's very simple. I mean, since the United States is unwilling to honor its promise, we can find a way to earn it back from it. I have an idea." David Shaffer sat at the conference table, eating fried chicken nuggets and mumbling to Tommy and others:
"We provide money laundering services, then grow hemp in large quantities and sell it to the United States, and we can make back the money quickly."
Tommy Hawke shook his head. "No, David, that would really ruin the country. What we need to think about is to solve this problem through normal channels. According to your plan, the United States owed this country money, and the American sugar factories were evading taxes. But because you did something wrong, it gave the United States the best opportunity to break the contract. We can't do anything wrong. This country, which is not even as big as a small town in the countryside of the United States, has a zero tolerance rate. It has not made any mistakes, and the United States can ignore the contract. If it really does something to hurt the United States, guess what means of retaliation the United States can use?"
"How about newspapers? We can make a batch of newspapers and distribute them in the United States to let Americans know what's happening here?" Zoe said.
Catherine's face was gloomy. "Or maybe we don't need newspapers. Why don't we just take the armed forces to smash the sugar factory and make a big fuss? Let everything spread back to the United States and let everyone know about it?"
Stephen walked in from outside: "Uh... Unfortunately, I just called and my grandfather hasn't passed away yet, otherwise I could use the money to buy the front page headlines of all American newspapers and publish everything that happened here."
"Chris, what do you think?" Tommy asked the young man in the cowboy hat. He felt that among these people, the only one who shared similar views as him was probably this guy who liked to study probability and numbers.
Chris shook his head: "I think we shouldn't confuse the two. The US sugar mills evading taxes and exploiting workers is one thing, and the US not fulfilling its promises is another. They need to be addressed separately."
"If the Americans knew who we are now, what do you think they would think? Would they really care that we are the prime minister and various cabinet ministers?" Tommy picked up an onion ring and put it in his mouth, then wiped the oil stains on his hands and asked several people.
David Schaeffer said in a firm tone: "Stop it, man. If they knew about this, they would just treat us as a joke. They wouldn't be able to find this country on the globe without a magnifying glass."
"Everything this country has experienced is very tragic, but in order to ensure that we win enough attention, we must first interpret all of this into a comedy. Believe me, Americans don't care about the life and death of other countries. They only like to see the fun they want to see. They only like to see that Americans are the most superior existence on this earth and that Americans save everything." Tommy Hawke rubbed his face vigorously and looked at several people:
"We need to trample on the dignity of this country and make the ignorant Americans laugh. We should first show them what they like to see, whet their appetite, and then show them what they don't want to see."
"Comedy? A group of black people started working while owing high-interest loans, and the Americans took away the country's sugar industry and refused to fulfill their contract and provide financial assistance. How can this be turned into a comedy?" Kevin said unhappily.
Tommy Hawke looked around at the people in front of him: "Has anyone been on a TV show?"
"Me? In order to make my resume look better, my father once arranged for me to host a campus program on Nickelodeon." Seeing that no one else responded, Catherine spoke up.
Nickelodeon is a children's television channel founded in 1979 by Paramount CBS Television Network. It is not only popular among teenagers, but many adults also watch the sitcoms and fun news programs produced by this channel. For example, the famous "SpongeBob SquarePants" was produced by this channel.
If ordinary teenagers want to appear on the programs of this channel to show themselves and increase their dazzling halo, it is very simple, just pay money. Although the TV station will not directly accept money to give rise to gossip, there are a large number of intermediary companies that rely on helping the TV stations recommend outstanding teenagers and provide American elite teenagers with opportunities to appear on TV shows. As for how they share the profits with the TV stations privately, the rich people who send their children to the show don't care, and the poor people who don't have the money to send their children to the show don't care either.
"Your father is really willing to invest in your education. When I won first place in the state league, Nickelodeon invited me to participate in their sports variety show. The agency charged my father 500 dollars for publicity. Come on, the number one high school wrestler in New York State has to pay 500 dollars to the TV station to appear on the show." Kevin said in shock when he heard what Catherine said.
David Schaeffer asked Kevin, "So you went?"
"If I had gone, I would have already shown off when the poor guy asked me just now." Kevin answered frankly.
Tommy Hawke said, "OK, Catherine, I need you to arouse their curiosity. A group of American high school students rule this country in the Caribbean, helping the backward black people abandoned by Britain to get back on track. If you need money for them to come here to shoot the footage, just tell me and I will apply for publicity fees from Lincoln High School."
"Let them film the troubles this country is encountering?" Catherine asked with surprise, rarely giving Tommy Hawke a look of approval.
"No, when you introduce this country, you should put all the problems of this country on the British. The black people here are uneducated, poor, and don't even know about taxes, education, or what the Olympics mean. The most pitiful thing is that Britain has abandoned them. In short, describe this poor country as unlucky clowns, and we are American high school students who help these clowns by coincidence. Tell them some jokes... Dennis! I'll let Dennis help you. This guy knows what exaggeration means." Tommy Hawke picked up the cigarette box and threw it at Dennis, who was dozing with his eyes closed in the corner. Dennis looked up blankly, and Tommy said to him:
"Help Catherine fool the photographers, reporters or anyone else from Nickelodeon. In short, you listen to Catherine's instructions. Now you can go out and think about how to tell the story to make them interested."
After Catherine and Dennis left, Tommy looked at Chris and said, "Do you think the Minister of Taxation is willing to cooperate with you and play the role of an idiot who can't understand numbers in the eyes of the Americans?"
"I think if we can find a way to fix the country's troubles, he might be willing to pay more than just play an idiot." Chris said, then stood up and walked out. "I can go teach him now, or rather, in my eyes, he has always been an idiot."
Tommy looked at Zoe. "Have you tried calling the American Embassy before?"
"I tried it, and a temporary employee answered the phone. He told me in a perfunctory tone that he would help record my question and convey it to the ambassador." Zoe exhaled: "That tone made me want to get angry."
Tommy said, "I know, I know. Just be patient and show your ladylike side. In front of the camera, keep on talking on the phone and keep the normal records. I will give you a chance to lose your temper."
“That’s better.” Zoe stood up and walked out the door. “You don’t want to see me angry.”
Stephen looked at Tommy. "Is there anything I can do to help? But there wasn't much I could do before my grandfather passed away."
"Stephen..." Tommy looked at Stephen. "You are the only one among us who is recognized by American society as a truly elite high school student. Although what I am going to say next may not be friendly to myself and others, I still want to say that all the clown acts and farces we have done are to finally send you to the stage in Washington. Get ready, buddy."
