Manhattan Reborn 1978

new York.

at dusk.

Manhattan, 875 Fifth Avenue, 15th floor, the new home of Margo Ludwig and Janet Patrick.

in the living room.

Princeton University President Guy Luther, Columbia University Vice President Ferry Cripps, New York University Executive Vice President Davis Piplo, Bernard Madoff, secretaries Maggie and Toby Orr Jia and others are chatting.

Zina carried a small plate of dessert and gave it to David. She took his arm and came to sit in the seat specially reserved for him in the living room.

Principal Guy Luther glanced at Xena and Mag, and smiled at David.

"Davis is an old friend of mine~ Is this your first time meeting each other?"

"Oh~ yes!"

"You can call me David~"

"Haha~ Just like Guy, call me Davis~" Davis Piplo, executive vice president of New York University, said with a friendly smile.

"ok~"

"Hi~ Ferry!"

"My friend Miranla went to your school to study. I haven't had time to thank you yet!"

"Hahaha~" Columbia University Vice President Ferry Cripps said with a smile and waved his hand.

"After we said goodbye in front of the Flintstone Library last time, I have been thinking about what I can do for you..."

"No, Ferry! You're too polite~"

. . .

When a few people were laughing and chatting, they were at the door of the apartment.

Maggie, the secretary in charge of temporary reception, heard a knock on the door. Toby Olga glanced at the people in the living room, got up and accompanied Maggie to the door, and opened the door.

Otis Parker and Mayor Frant Hardman stood outside the door and smiled at Maggie and the others. .

"Hello, Maggie, Toby!"

"Mr. Parker! Good evening~"

"This is our Lord Mayor, Mr. Hardman!"

"Good evening, ladies!" Mayor Frant Hardman greeted Maggie and Toby very politely.

Mr. Parker stood nearby, glanced around, quickly found David and Mag, and smiled at Hardman.

"Let's go there first~"

"Maggie, Toby, can we talk later?"

"Ok!"

. . .

ten minutes later.

Almost all the guests at tonight's party have arrived, and everyone chatted for a while.

The host, Mag Ludwig, stood up and signaled to all the guests, turned to the three principals and Mayor Hardman, and smiled.

"Thank you all for coming tonight ~ I guess..."

Mag said some words of thanks, and naturally made a gesture of invitation, handing over the right to speak as his master to David, who was eating desserts.

David felt himself being pulled gently by Zina. He raised his head and saw that everyone's eyes were focused on him. He shrugged helplessly and smiled.

"Sorry ~ I'm a little hungry!"

"Then let's talk while eating~?"

"Ok!"

"Agree~"

"Hahaha~"

. . .

in the restaurant.

Mag specially prepared a feast for everyone in a famous restaurant tonight, filling the entire dining table.

After everyone sat down, Maggie and Toby, under the command of Zina, poured drinks for everyone and arranged everything~

Mag looked at David, nodded, and asked him to say a few words.

David quickly swallowed the dessert in his mouth, stood up, raised his glass, and smiled at everyone.

"Sorry! I did some physical training this afternoon, and my stomach has already started growling with hunger~"

"Hahaha~" Everyone who also raised their wine glasses laughed in their own way to express their goodwill.

David's eyes swept over several familiar friends around him, and finally landed on the new friends he met today, Principal Davis and Hardman, and said.

"To my new friend, Davis~"

"Here's to our new mayor, Hardman!"

"cheers!"

"Cheers~" Everyone raised their glasses together.

. . .

After everyone put down their wine glasses.

Several "Vanity Fair veterans" who have been hanging out in New York all year round: Guy Luther, Zina, Hardman, Ferry and Davis, quickly made the atmosphere at the table relaxed and happy~

Mag, who was sitting next to David, joined everyone in the "dinner table social" chat after being proactively called by Zina and Hardman.

David blocked their "nonsense" and all kinds of interesting stories, while carefully picking the shells of the sweet shrimps with his hands. .

Maggie, the secretary sitting on the other side of David, saw that he was clumsy in picking up shrimps. She silently raised her ears and listened to the chat of several people. However, she picked up a few sweet shrimps with her little hands and put them on her plate. , a little bit, a little clumsily started to peel the shrimp shells. .

Maggie's little gesture gave Toby, who felt a little "out of place", a great inspiration~

She also followed the same example and got some sweet shrimps for herself, and started to peel the shrimp shells seemingly "very skillfully". .

In fact, these two actions of the two of them cannot escape the sight of these "old fritters" at the dinner table~

However, these guests tonight seemed to have reached some kind of "tacit understanding" and were completely "immersed" in the heated chat~

. . .

About two 10 minutes later.

"Hiccup~haha~"

After David finished the last bit of food on the plate in front of him, he let out a not-so-loud burp~

Ma Ge handed him a tissue with a smile and said with a smile: "Are you full?"

"Ha~ I'm full!"

"I feel so good after eating!"

"Hahaha~"

Several people in the "God Chat" just now were all amused by David's exclamation~

Zina wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin and asked with a smile to Maggie, the secretary next to David.

"Maggie, what were we talking about just now?"

"Huh? Uh..."

Maggie didn't quite understand what Zina's question meant! ?

David picked up the juice and smiled at her: "I was just focused on eating~ I didn't even remember what everyone was talking about."

"Oh~"

"Everyone just started talking about the more than 900 suicides a few days ago, the LGBT parade in San Francisco and the one in New York..."

"Principal Luther and Mayor Hardman talked about the real estate development project... and the serial murder case that was rumored some time ago..."

"Prosecutor Rudolph Giuliani may go to Washington to join the Justice Department..."

"Zina and Principal Davis also argued for a while about the style of Jennifer Muller Dance Company's modern dance works~"

"Principal Ferry believes that Jennifer Muller's modern dance choreography ability and creativity will challenge the status of modern dance master Paul Taylor."

"Finally, everyone changed the topic and talked about the Miss America beauty pageant that will enter the national preliminaries in a few days!"

"Oh~"

After listening to Maggie's retelling, David glanced across the faces of the people at the table and finally landed on Mayor Hardman, smiling.

"If everyone agrees, I would like...to talk to Mr. Hardman first?"

"Of course~"

Principal Guy Luther, who was holding the wine glass, was the first to speak out with a smile and said with a smile.

"Hehe~"

Principal Ferry and Principal Davis also nodded with friendly smiles and waited for David with a hint of curiosity in their eyes. .

David looked directly at Hardman and smiled.

"I once said that after you are successfully elected as mayor, I will give you gifts!"

"Now... I have three good proposals for you ~ I hope you will be... satisfied with them!"

Hardman sat back a little and made a cooperative gesture~

"ok~"

When David saw that everyone was quietly waiting for him to speak, he stopped delaying and spoke directly.

"Further expand and develop real estate projects in the greater New York area; select a land parcel with complete infrastructure in the city to establish a high-tech industry innovation incubation center; upgrade and implement the Manhattan Street Cleanup Plan previously formulated by Mayor Lynch!"

"..."

Hardman frowned and stared at David with burning eyes. He thought for a moment before asking.

"Can... can you tell me in detail?"

"Okay~"

David smiled and shrugged to everyone. "Habitually" he pulled the little hand of Maggie, the secretary next to him, held it in his hand and played with it, and said.

"We are all New Yorkers, so we should have personal experience with the development and changes of New York over the past few decades~"

"Before the 40s, people's work and life were mainly concentrated in the center of New York, which is where we are in Manhattan~"

"Afterwards, with the continuous influx of foreign people, the city expanded rapidly, and the living environment in Manhattan continued to deteriorate~"

“In the 50s and 60s, many middle-income families who originally lived in Manhattan and the Bronx chose to move out of the city center due to the construction of convenient highway transportation systems~”

"Choose to buy low-priced real estate in Long Island or Jersey City, and then buy a family mobility scooter to improve your ideal living space and comfort~"

"As a result, the original urban centralization has transformed into a transition stage to suburbanization~"

"The formation of fringe urban areas around New York can relieve people of the noisy noise, traffic congestion, and increasingly poor security problems of downtown Manhattan, and provide these people with a good living space and quality of life!"

"In addition, in recent years, facilities such as large supermarkets, cinemas, restaurants, clubs, and sports venues in these small towns have been continuously improved, making more people like living in single-family homes surrounded by green lawns."

"Of course ~ The success of suburbanization cannot be separated from the strong policy support of the federal government, state government and New York City Government!"

"Decades ago, in the 30s, during the Great Depression, in order to stimulate the development of the construction industry, the federal government lowered the threshold for middle- and high-income groups to obtain residential mortgage construction loans and encouraged them to build a new home of their own in the suburbs~ This accelerated the suburbanization of New York in the 30s~"

“In the 50s, the federal government put forward proposals to build small cities in the suburbs.”

"In 68, Congress passed a new urban development law and approved the establishment of 63 new small cities in history, with an average population of about 2 people~"

“After entering the 70s, some newly built towns around New York realized the suburbanization construction of the dispersed Greater New York area and added model city experimental plans!”

When David said this, he paused for a moment, lowered his head and wiped the sweat from Maggie's palms with a napkin, then raised his head and smiled at Hardman.

"What I said is that the further expansion and development plan of real estate projects in the greater New York area was slowly formed after checking these historical data~"

"Manhattan, due to factors such as geographical location and historical legacy, has combined to make it the undisputed central area of ​​New York City!"

“The plan I proposed is to revitalize Manhattan through a series of methods such as property replacement, demolition and reconstruction of dilapidated buildings, renovation, repair or relocation of old buildings, overall planning and reconstruction of abandoned port areas and piers, etc. A veritable commercial, cultural, entertainment, economic and political central district!”

"Among these specific details, let me first talk about the issue of property replacement."

"Real estate replacement, as the name suggests, means that we first select a suitable area in the suburbs, and after various investigations, design and establish a relocation area for people to choose~"

"Then, demolish the original old buildings here in Manhattan and redesign and build them according to the standards of commercial buildings."

. . .

ten minutes later.

David gave a brief overview of his overall plan related to real estate development~

The focus of everyone's attention at the dinner table neatly fell on Mayor Hardman~

So. .Is David's plan a good one?

It sounds really great!

But it is also a double-edged sword!

To complete it. .It’s too difficult~

Everyone thinks so, and so does Mayor Hardman~

However, after he lowered his head and thought for a while, he did not feel frustrated or flinched. Instead, he felt full of fighting spirit and raised his head to look at David and asked.

"It's a matter of funding..."

"Hehe~"

David couldn't help but smile and shake his head, looked at Princeton University President Guy Luther, and asked.

"Guy, if I invested your school's endowment fund into this real estate development project... what would you think?"

The smile on Guy Luther's face did not change, he raised his glass and replied: "As long as we can get this investment back at any time, I have no problem!"

"Any time...?"

David pouted, rolled his eyes, and said sarcastically: "You should come to Wall Street and find a job! You vampire!"

"I'll give you double your salary. Come to my company~ How about it?"

"Hahaha~"

Everyone looked at Guy Luther and laughed~

Amidst the laughter, Hardman quickly thought of another question in his mind, and asked David again.

"I...if I encounter some problems, can I ask Mr. Parker for help?"

"Oh~? Parker?"

"Hahaha~"

"As long as you can make this plan smooth and efficient, of course it's no problem!"

David answered Hardman, but his eyes looked at Otis Parker, who had been silent.

Mr. Parker looked at David very interestingly, thought for a moment, turned to meet Hardman's expectant eyes, and smiled.

"Yes~"

"Ok!"

"I'll have a meeting with someone when I get back tomorrow to discuss this matter!"

"Hahaha~"

The "courage" and "vigorous" style shown by Hardman made everyone laugh~

Amid the laughter of everyone, David turned his head and glanced at the blushing secretary Maggie, smiled and let go of her little hand, stood up and walked behind Zina, and continued.

"Don't rush to find someone to hold a meeting just for this matter~"

"What about the high-tech innovation incubation center and the upgraded street cleaning plan?"

"Don't you want to hear it?"

"Forehead.."

"Sorry~ I was too impatient..."

"Hahaha~"

"It's okay, man!"

“Actually, the plan for this incubation center was inspired by the Silicon Valley in the San Francisco area!”

“The name Silicon Valley was first coined by people here in New York~”

"Then why can't we in New York build one...Silicon Alley, Silicon Street, Silicon District, or even Silicon City?"

David put his hands on Zina's shoulders and smiled at the three principals.

"If you really count it, it's only been more than ten years, right?"

"The development of the computer industry is so rapid!"

“Even among current college students, many of them wish they could own a personal computer~”

"So...its future development prospects are still uncertain?"

"The establishment of this high-tech incubation center will also provide more and broader development space for the universities where you three work~"

"As for the issue of investment, I think everyone can follow my thoughts just now and come up with a solution~"

"That's right!"

"We have Wall Street in New York!"

"It is undeniable that there are many smart people on Wall Street!"

“But there are not a few people who dare to take risks and invest~!”

“Let me ask, who wouldn’t want to be the one to find the next Intel?”

"Who wouldn't want to... be the person who invested in Hewlett-Packard?"

"Hehe~"

"I can assure you all right now!"

"If this center is established, I personally will set up a venture capital department first, and will invite more professional tutors and professors from various universities to help evaluate the innovations of these young people. Product or technology!”

"..."

Principal Guy Luther stared at David intently and asked.

"You want to invite the tutors and professors from our school to come and help...?"

"Of course!"

"It's another plan of mine~"

"Zina will answer the specific details here~"

"..ok!"

Principal Guy Luther closed his mouth with a smile.

Principal Ferry and Principal Davis looked at each other with different thoughts, said nothing, and just continued to wait patiently for David. .

David pressed his hands on Zina's shoulders, turned to look at Hardman, who was frowning and thinking, and didn't intend to give him more time~ he continued.

"Next!"

“Upgraded street cleaning plan!”

"I don't think the first step in this plan is to continue what Mayor Lynch has done..."

"cough~"

"But we must first solve the sanitation problems on the streets~!"

"Hardman, Manhattan is the center of New York!"

"The streets are full of homeless people... Let's not talk about it for now~"

"Can the garbage cleaning work be more timely and thorough!?"

"I really don't want to live in a garbage dump!"

"...Hahahaha~"

----

Manhattan.

42nd Street, Wildfire Bar.

At this time, the bar was crowded and already at capacity~

The waiters, Madonna and Jin Ji, shuttled among the guests with trays in their hands. Although they were soft on the tips, their calves were almost broken by fatigue. .

at the bar.

Old Rhett happily took out the camera from behind during his busy schedule, and took several photos in succession of the sweet-dimpled Martha who was complaining to the bartender Erica~

Madonna placed the tray in front of Old Rhett, wrinkled her nose and said softly.

"Old Rhett! You're lazy again!"

"Hahaha~"

"I don't have as much tips as you do~"

"Tch~ give me six bottles of beer quickly! The customers over there are asking for it~"

"Okay, okay~"

Old Rhett put away the camera with some hesitation, put the beer on the bar on the tray, and said with a smile.

"Where is your little sister Mirala?"

"Didn't she say she wanted to come down to help?"

"Her~"

Madonna shook her sore arm a few times and curled her lips.

"She feels shy wearing our clothes! She is upstairs and doesn't want to come down~"

"Oh?"

Old Rhett looked up and down at Madonna, who had a bumpy figure, and said with a smile: "Indeed, you are already used to wearing tights. She may not be able to accept it for a while."

"Hehe~"

"Then you didn't see how greedy she looked when I was counting the tips..."

"Hahahaha~"

. . .

At the entrance of the bar.

The little Zach, who was sneaking around in the crowd, suddenly found Menge, the steel-toothed dog, and whispered.

"Hey~ did you see that guy with the mustache over there?"

"Hmm~ What's wrong?" Menge, the steel-toothed dog, looked in the direction of little Zach's finger and nodded.

"He just told me that he was blackmailed while drinking in our bar!"

"Blackmail? Him?"

"Who did it?"

"I don't know~ He can't tell clearly~"

"Then... why are you blackmailing him?"

"Because...he's married~"

"fxxx!"

"That's all it is?"

"Hehe~"

"Some people are specifically looking at the guy who has a wedding ring on his hand and comes out to find the girls on the street having fun... blackmailing!"

"I know~"

Menge, the steel-toothed dog, sneered. Under the slightly dim light, the big steel teeth reflected the light of metal~

"Go tell him to be smart~"

"If you encounter this kind of thing again, don't panic, come to me! I'll solve it for him~"

"Ok!"

The little Zach nodded cheerfully and walked towards the man with the mustache in a circle.

----

Manhattan.

40th Street, above Marseille Restaurant.

After Susan's mother, Sarah Grubb, put her five-year-old son to sleep, she quietly walked out of the room and closed the door.

in the living room.

When Susan saw her mother Sarah coming out, she smiled at her and said, "Johnny, is he asleep?"

"Hmm~"

"You should go back too~"

"Okay~ This time is the busiest time at the bar."

"If you have anything to do, you can call me at the bar."

Sarah, who was thin and short with gray hair on her temples, held her daughter Susan's hand, nodded and smiled.

"Ok!"

"Then... I still have some money here. You should keep it first. In a few days, I will..."

"No need~ I have some more here..."

"Take it!" Susan put a small stack of Franklins into Sarah's mother's hand and whispered.

"...Okay~"

"I'll wait for Johnny to get used to it in a few days, then I'll go out and look for a job~"

"Don't rush about work!"

"Let's talk about it after you take good care of yourself~"

Susan raised her hand and brushed her mother's gray hair, her eyes filled with regret and remorse~

A smile appeared on Sarah's lips, she patted Susan's arm with her hand and said softly.

"If David has time someday... I want to thank him in person!"

"Ok!"

Susan lowered her head slightly, looked at her mother who looked much better, hesitated, and asked.

"Don't mention it when you meet David..."

"I understand~"

Sarah's eyes flashed with complexity, and she nodded: "As long as you are happy, I won't say anything!"

"..Thanks!"

"Hehe~"

"Go back~ It's too late and the road is not safe!"

"Um.."

Sarah stood at the window of the living room, watching Susan walking on the street gradually go away, clasping the fingers of her hands together, and couldn't help but sigh.

Is it lucky that she met David?