America 1982

"This idiot can be nominated as party manager while sitting here, and I'm sitting here, and you just say welcome home to me? And you hand me a fucking beer and remind me thoughtfully, Remember to donate to SSD in time?" Jason White sat in the conference room of his fraternity, looked at the fraternity members in front of the round table, and asked in an unhappy tone.

As Charles and Eric graduated, newly elected Chairman Ian and Vice Chairman Ted nodded with a smile: "That's right, because the moment you took a break from school, your status at SSD has already changed." changes happened."

"It means you are a successful person in the eyes of our SSD students. Jason, we are proud of you. You are now worth tens of millions and are admired by thousands of people." Tommy picked up a cigarette, lit one, and said to Jason Sen said with a smile.

Jason calmed down a little when he heard Tommy's flattery: "Very good, keep talking, don't stop, Tommy, if you can continue to praise for five minutes, you will gain my forgiveness."

Derek, who once partnered with Jason and won the beer bowling championship in the rookie competition, then continued what Tommy said: "Of course, apart from the illusory market value, the biggest difference between you and us in the future is that you will not have the opportunity to participate in the sisterhood. social activities.”

Jason originally closed his eyes and longed to hear more praise, but then his psychological defense was shattered by the words of his brother at the same time. At this time, he slapped the table hard and cursed loudly to Tommy and Derek:

"F*ckYou! Derek! F*ckYou! Tommy!!"

Tommy turned his head and looked at the new chairman, Ian Haywood: "It is unlikely that Jason will donate to us in a short period of time."

Once a fraternity member leaves school, he will be moved to the list of departed brothers by the list of current students within SSD. Although he is still an undoubted SSD brother, don't expect everyone at Stanford SSD to treat you as a fool who can be teased. You can always You can go back to Spartan House to drink beer and attend parties, but they will never take the initiative to contact you, they will not call you every weekend to tell you to come back and participate in club activities, and they will never ask you to be responsible for solving certain problems for a major party. If you have a difficult problem, maybe designing lighting, or transporting drinks, or being responsible for contacting sororities, etc., you can only attend the party, and you no longer have the sense of participation in the entire party from scratch.

"Now I know the reason why you would rather spend all your available time crazily studying for credits instead of suspending school. I don't know if Holly regrets it, but I already regret it now. If I had worked as hard as you, Now I can compete with a fool like you for the position of external relations manager with Derek, and I can still...continue to be a fool..." Jason said with some regret.

Tommy patted Jason on the shoulder: "Don't take it to heart, I just participated in the sorority activities for a slightly longer time, not too long, just a trivial three years."

"Thank you for rubbing a pinch of delicious salt into my wounds, Tommy." Jason glared at Tommy, and then said nonchalantly:

"After knowing this cruel truth, I felt that the treatment of three girlfriends every night could not make me happy. I decided to add one more, and then sent the video to you, and donated a large-screen TV to broadcast it to you 24 hours a day. …”

After all the SSD members heard about Jason's debauched life with three girlfriends every night, they also broke their guard. Derek and another brother at the same time, at the urging of Ian, grabbed Jason and dragged him out of the conference room.

The ostentation of rich people is so fucking monotonous and intuitive, but it’s incredibly lethal.

"Counting Jason, we have ten brothers leaving school this year, which means that in the first week of school soon, there will be at least ten new faces joining us. The question before us is, on this year's recruitment night, we What celebrity is used as a gimmick? Last year it was Major General Ott. Which living SSD alumni who graduated from Stanford do you think should be invited to attend this year?"

"Has Mr. Gardner resigned from the Stanford University Board of Trustees? Do you want to invite him to visit his hometown again? I guess he would be willing to go back to campus and have a look at SSD." Tommy mentioned a name casually.

John Gardner, a member of the SSD fraternity at Stanford University, served in the Italian branch of the U.S. Marine Corps Strategic Operations Office during World War II and was responsible for intelligence work. After World War II, he joined the Carnegie Corporation and became the president of the Carnegie Corporation in ten years. Later, he was awarded He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. During President Lyndon Johnson's term, he served as the Secretary of Health and Education in the President's Cabinet. After leaving office, he served as a director of the Stanford University Board of Trustees and established a number of lobbying organizations. The main lobbying direction focused on how to help the rich get tax exemptions.

Everyone present looked at the list of famous alumni who graduated from Stanford SSD. Ted was the first to raise his head and give his opinion: "Tommy, I don't think Mr. Gardner is the most suitable candidate. I'm not saying that he is not good enough. It's just that he's not cool enough for newcomers, you know? Major General Ott can at least invite us to drive tanks and shoot guns, and he can also grant us military ranks. As soon as Mr. Gardner shows up... I always have a feeling that he will want us at any time. He was very strict when he was checking my homework. When he was a school director, he would privately call the chairman of Stanford SSD every year to intimidate Charles and the previous chairmen, asking them to promise him that SSD would not cause trouble in their hands, otherwise He was the first to dissolve it..."

Everyone else, including Ian, also nodded. Mr. Gardner is definitely the shadow of the Stanford branch of SSD. It is certainly worth showing off that one of his own alumni has become a school director, but it is also uncomfortable for SSD to be subject to strict requirements. Every time the school If there are any public welfare activities or charity activities, if SSD's presence is not strong enough, Mr. Gardner will suddenly appear at the fraternity house like a villain and talk to everyone.

"That's right, the rookies walked into our site and were thinking about what interesting things they could see. Then Mr. Gardner told them with a straight face that he wanted SSD members to spend one day a week to help the illiterate people nearby. Hobos take literacy classes... I guarantee no rookie will think this is cool." Derek also added.

"How about Mr. David Garde? The roster shows that he updated his address the year before last and moved back to Los Altos, California from Hawaii. Yes, he lives in a small town next to Silicon Valley." He sneaked back. Jason, waving the roster in his hand, gave another name.

After hearing Jason's suggestion, everyone turned to David Gard's information page. David Gard, whose real name is Donald David Gard, graduated from Stanford University in Economics in 1957 and is a member of the SSD Stanford University Chapter. He is one of the three founders of the famous American folk band Kingston Trio and the band's guitarist.

Although Tommy, a time traveler, has never heard of its album, he knows its name. It can be said that its establishment completed the revival of American folk songs. The first album released in 1958 The album sold three million copies, frightening all music companies and directly changing the development direction of American music.

There was even a rule in the entire American nightclub industry at that time that if you wanted to make money, the resident singer must learn the band's songs.

"Cool!" Everyone except Tommy got excited.

There is nothing more attractive to newbies than getting up close and personal with their idols and talking to them.

Tommy sighed dejectedly. It seemed that he was going to find another opportunity to get to know Mr. Gardner. There was no way. Who made Mr. Gardner seem less famous than Mr. Gardiner? Although Mr. Gardner had more influence. The strength is much higher than that of Mr. Garde.

Oh, by the way, after his first year, Tommy moved out of the dorms, but instead of living in a fraternity house, he rented a small six-bedroom villa near Stanford University.

Occasionally Jason, Holly, Mark and Susan would come over to discuss some issues with him, and if it was too late, they could just stay in the guest bedroom.

Tommy, who no longer has a work schedule, seems to be completely relaxed. He is happily setting up the venue and planning the party with his SSD brothers. Everything in his life seems to be back on track. Just like that, the new semester has arrived.

On recruitment night, the appearance of Mr. David Gard, a well-known SSD alumnus and folk revivalist, made SSD the biggest surprise of Stanford University that night. Even many members of other fraternities and sororities couldn't help but come over to get close. See the idol. The next day, the school newspaper "Stanford Daily" specially reported that the recruitment night of the SSD Stanford Chapter last night was the most visited recruitment night in four years.

From the moment the gray-haired Mr. Gard picked up his guitar, sat on a high stool, and sang the Kingston Trio's famous songs "Tom Dooley" and "500 Miles" with a weathered voice, Tommy felt like Gard Mr. Gardner is indeed a better choice than the Mr. Gardner he proposed.

He didn't even know before that "500 Miles", a song that was still sung in the previous life until 2022, was actually recorded by the other party in the album as early as 1962. The monotonous and heart-stopping guitar melody sounded, making Tommy I had a wonderful feeling that my previous life and this life seemed to be perfectly intertwined because of this song.

The only thing that made Tommy unhappy was that when Mr. Garde sang the song "Tom Dooley", all the SSD assholes, led by Jason, directly replaced Tom Dooley with Tommy Hawke during the chorus. If they had followed Tommy's suggestion and chosen Mr. Gardner, there would never have been such a dazzling SSD recruiting night as tonight.

So the lyrics became: "When the sun rises tomorrow, it will be the day of Tommy Hawke's death. Lower your head, Tommy Hawke. You deserve to die. Tommy Hawke, you deserve to be sentenced to death." As punishment, Tommy Hawke, you should be hanged on a white oak tree, Tommy Hawke..."

Mr. Garde, a veteran of folk songs, even curiously asked why the brothers sang like this when taking a photo with Tommy. Ted reported to Mr. Garde thoughtfully, saying that everyone present wanted to invite you, Mr. Garde, and only those who were stupid *Tommy objected and suggested inviting the former school director. Fortunately, the SSD brothers insisted on their opinion and allowed you, Mr. Gard, to appear tonight.

After listening, Mr. Garde plucked the strings and sang with a smile: "You deserve to die, Tommy Hawke, I'm going to cut off your dick, Tommy Hawke..."

However, for SSD, Tommy is not always in a state of being innocent. For example, before the new member's induction night the next day, Ian and Ted asked Tommy, the party manager, about the beverage expenses and the upper limit of event funds. Tommy bit his cigar and asked with a domineering look:

"I can only promise that as long as people can continue to drink, there will never be a limit on alcohol, or what is the fucking limit?"

"This is the most generous you've ever been, Tommy. Do you mean you're willing to personally support part of the drink expenses?" Ian and Ted were very satisfied with Tommy's generosity: "We did the right thing by electing you as the party manager. decision."

"Of course it's the most correct decision, but it's not me who pays for it. That idiot Jason will get the drink bill at the end of the year." This was Tommy's shameless reply at the time:

"I must ensure that he has enough presence in SSD in the next three years. Others may not be with the brothers, and his heart may not be with the brothers, but his money must be with the brothers. .”

"On behalf of all the current students of the SSD Stanford Chapter, please thank alumni Jason for his contribution." Ian said to Tommy sanctimoniously: "Be sincere when you say thank you. As a friendly reminder, remember to buy yourself an accident insurance." , SSD does not bear any responsibility for the casualties of its members."

As for the new rookies joining SSD, Tommy did not deliberately select them. He is the party manager of SSD. There is no rush in selecting and cultivating the successor for this position, although the two positions of party manager and external relations manager will basically have more opportunities to display. , and it would be easier to run for chairman and vice-chairmanship, but Tommy has no interest in managing SSD, and is not prepared to hold an election to usurp the throne before Ian voluntarily resigns.

His next focus...

"SSD Stamford Chapter Veterans Association fundraising charity dinner?" Ian and Ted looked at Tommy: "You mean, we will host it this year?"

Tommy nodded: "SSD has been established for more than 140 years, and the Stanford chapter has been established for more than 100 years. Our chapter has never hosted it as the organizer."

"But we send people to participate every year, and we also donate or raise funds by holding various other events every year. To be honest, Tommy, this is California, and the brothers may not be interested in hosting such an event. We are A private university, not a military academy." Ian lowered his head and thought for a moment, then looked up at Tommy and said.

A charity dinner to raise money for veterans is held every year by SSD, and the venue changes with the organizer. However, after World War II, it was mainly concentrated in Texas, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Connecticut and even Tang Dynasty. In areas such as Rhode Island, where Mi is from, the California chapter has never hosted such an event, mainly because this event has been labeled by the military since its first inception.

West Point Military Academy in New York, the Naval Academy in Maryland, the Naval Academy in Rhode Island, Texas State University in Texas, and other SSD military alumni chapters are the main hosts of this kind of event.

"California has the soil to hold charity dinners. It has Hollywood, stars, and celebrities. It's no worse than New York, where West Point is located. Why can't it be held?"

"Tommy, we don't have as much money as the other party, and more importantly, we don't have that much influence in the military. The most we can do is call in the Commander-in-Chief of the California National Guard, Major General Ott, but the other party can ask the Secretary of Defense to Attendance, that's the difference." Ted also said:

"Charles had considered this issue before when he was here, but after his careful thinking and calculation, based on the $1,000 ticket price for the charity dinner, Major General Ott could only sell thirty invitations at most, which is 30,000 US dollars. Damn, this number can only make us a laughing stock, and the lowest fundraising record at West Point is a fucking 180,000, which is six times higher than ours."

The so-called charity dinner means selling tickets at a high price and donating the money earned to the Veterans Association.

You need to ask the rich living SSD alumni or the ordinary people who want to attend to willingly pay for your tickets, and then have a few words and take a photo with the big shots attending this charity dinner at close range, so that they can be treated as you in the future. Bragging capital to the outside world.

For the Stanford chapter, the difficulty lies in how to recruit big names who will make wealthy people buy tickets, and at the same time, it needs to convince all the living alumni of the SSD General Assembly.

For example, you can't invite Jim Carter, the former president who is willing to stand up for money. This guy vigorously advocates racial equality, black people's participation in politics, and even hung a photo of Martin Luther King in the hall of Congress. If you invite such a thing, Without outside guests, SSD's own brothers can directly blow up the charity dinner with explosives.

If a few big names in the computer industry are invited to attend, members of the SSD branch of military academies will not send people to attend the meeting. They are not interested in spending their own money to learn about the history of computer development.

So every year for this event, Charles Salmon takes two or three rookies to the meeting, contributes three to five thousand ticket fees, then hands over the money raised by his branch through various activities, and finally takes some photos to commemorate the event. .

"I mean, if you don't object, I will ask Jason from EFF to donate a special donation of 500,000 yuan for the dinner in the name of the alumni, and then design the entire charity dinner plan around the cost of 500,000 yuan."

"Jason is so damn lucky to have a brother and boss like you Tommy, if you had said you would pay half a million yourself, we wouldn't have talked so much." After hearing what Tommy said, Ian was stunned. After a while, he then said angrily to Tommy:

"No wonder before Charles resigned, he specifically told me not to pay attention to that idiot Tommy. To him, the brotherhood is like a Troja. He puts it on when he wants to use it. When he doesn't use it, he just throws it in the drawer. What do you think? What the hell are you doing? Are you going to sell the veterans as commodities?"

Tommy looked at Ian dissatisfied: "I'm not selling veterans, I just want to expand some interpersonal relationships, which is also good for SSD. Don't look at me like this, I donated half a million fucking dollars in real money, for such a dinner party , not to mention the West Point Military Academy, the White House Charity Dinner is almost the same, and it was held during the terms of you and Ted, two idiots, which is enough for you two to brag to death. This is an honor that Charles did not have when he was in office."

Ted raised his middle finger at Tommy: "First, the money must be received first, and then you write the plan. We will sign it for you then and submit it to the general meeting. Go away. By the way, the plan is on Remember to write me and Ian in front of your name, silly*.”

"That's a good idea." Ian high-fived Ted and said, "Remember to call and stimulate Charles."

Tommy raised his middle finger at the two of them and walked out of the conference room.

…

Sophia drove the Tiffany blue Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham she bought with her scholarship, and looked through the rearview mirror at Tommy who was sitting in the back seat and looking through a stack of old newspapers:

"You and Renee broke up, right? I mean in this case, you are still going to... let her father help you design the overall plan for the charity dinner, and because of your relationship with his daughter, give her Do you have some discounts?”

Tommy flipped through dozens of newspapers in his hands, mainly "Army Times", "Navy Times", "Air Force Times" and "Marine Corps Times" under the American Newspaper Group. Hearing Sophia's words, his head He said without looking up:

"No one told me that after breaking up with my girlfriend, I couldn't take care of her father's business. Uh... By the way, remember to call Renee later and ask her to take away the clothes she left at my place a few nights ago. If you don’t take it away, I will give it to her as a maid in my villa.”

"Didn't you break up? Didn't you say that she has a new boyfriend?" Sophia's eyes widened in disbelief: "Are you... together again?"

Tommy found a piece of news from time to time, and then circled it with a marker: "No, there was just a guy from the School of Geology who was pursuing her. Renee wanted me to give her some advice as an ex-boyfriend. Based on my performance in all aspects, and with The other party made some comparisons, but when we got to the end of the conversation, the topic got a little deeper..."

"Change the topic, Tommy. I don't want to continue listening, so at the beginning of the new semester, what do you want me to do for you?" Sophia spent a summer away from Tommy, and she was almost used to normal human thinking again. Until school started, Tommy, the bastard, approached her again.

Tommy was always busy and responded: "Go to see Mr. Benjamin Moore, explain our needs, and ask him to come up with an overall design plan for the charity dinner. Then contact Delia and ask her to call my residence after get off work. , I had some questions to chat with her in Washington, and called Senator Pete Wilson’s office to ask when he would be free. I wanted to visit him, and that’s the arrangement for today.”

"Then you can definitely... call me and tell me these arrangements instead of asking me to drive over." Sophia said while holding the steering wheel.

"Pick me up on the way to class. I live five kilometers away from the school. Otherwise, why do you think I strongly recommend you buy a car and why I go out of my way to accompany you to choose a car despite your busy schedule? Miss Sophia O'Connor? Park in front of me. That's it." Tommy raised his head, looked at the environment outside, and put the newspaper in his hand on the back seat:

"Don't move the newspaper. Then we will drive back to my apartment after school. I will continue to read the newspaper. I wish you a happy day."

Sophia parked the car slowly and looked forward: "I wish you have a happy day like me, Tommy Asshole Hawke, I don't have time in the afternoon, I have to go..."

"Los Angeles." Tommy put down the newspaper, looked at Sophia, and suddenly interrupted her to say the name of Los Angeles.

Sophia didn't react: "Wat?"

"What do you think about your birthday, call Susan, Jason, Holly and your other friends, and let's go to Los Angeles for two days? I remember you mentioned that you wanted to go to Universal Studios when you were chatting with Holly. Come visit and we can make this little wish come true on your birthday." Tommy cast a questioning look at Sophia.

Sophia took a few deep breaths: "Don't tempt me, I won't be fooled, Tommy."

"So?" Tommy opened the car door, but did not rush out of the car, waiting for Sophia's response.

Sophia lowered her head: "Yes, actually I'm not very busy in the afternoon."

"See you in the afternoon." Tommy got out of the back seat and walked towards the campus: "By the way, when I call Delia, ask her to ask Pinkerton for me and ask those ruthless guys who can stay up late. I can’t help recommend two bodyguards and drivers who are good at skills but look intimidating. The work should be rotated and the price should not be too high. If the salary is too high, you can only continue to work part-time and repeat the employer’s requirements.”

"I can help you get beaten, I can beat others for you, and most importantly, the salary is the lowest." Sophia summed it up concisely.

Tommy turned and walked away: "It's best to be a retired veteran. I happen to be busy raising donations for veterans recently. Providing jobs for two retired veterans is also a bonus."

A reader in the previous chapter summarized it very well. The author and the protagonist do not believe in disrespecting women and feelings, so they cannot write that kind of plot.

I want to say that you are absolutely right, just don’t let my wife know, okay? I respect my wife very much in real life, but I just want to be a little wild in the book...