Manhattan Reborn 1978

Southeast corner of the United States, Florida.

Duval County, Jacksonville.

In 1645, the French established a colony along the banks of the St. John's River, called Chateau Caroline.

The castle was later destroyed by Spain, and the city of Jacksonville still preserves French remains and is a sister city to Nantes, France.

In 1821, Florida became a U.S. territory.

A year later, the city of Jacksonville was incorporated.

The city's original name was Cowford because the cows crossed the river here. .

The current city is named after General Andrew Jackson.

When Florida was established in 1845, Jacksonville had become an important port for the local cotton and lumber trade.

Today's Jacksonville, because it is located in the northeastern corner of Florida, is an important hub for railroads, highways and shipping in Florida. It has gradually become a trade center in the agricultural (tobacco, peanut, fruit) forest area, as well as paper manufacturing, shipbuilding and shipbuilding. A concentration of industries such as repair, wood processing, steel, fertilizers, and food processing.

In addition, Jacksonville's financial, banking and insurance industries are also one of the most developed cities in the southeastern United States, second only to Atlanta, the capital of Georgia and northern Florida.

. . .

Jacksonville, south bank of the St. Johns River.

At a resort club just off Shore Drive.

Miami drug lord Griselda Blanco, wearing a brightly colored long skirt, led two bodyguards and followed the waiter to a small independent building in the backyard of the club.

On the second floor of the small building, the waiter asked Blanco's two bodyguards to stop and asked them to wait for a while in a large lounge.

Then, the waiter led Blanco to the third floor, the room where today's party was held.

. . .

in the room.

Polly Sidrich, who came from New York, was sitting at the edge of the eight elders. When she saw Blanc coming in, she stood up with a smile, stretched out her right hand to her and said.

"Are you Griselda Blanco?"

"Yup!"

"Are you Polly?!"

"Ok!"

"Hahaha~"

"When I rushed back to Miami yesterday, I learned that you had left~"

"Today, you must..."

Polly and Blanco had previously communicated through Blanco's agent in New York, Field, and had never met.

Now, one of them took the initiative to accept the other and deliberately catered to them, as if they were good sisters who "met each other late". They sat down chatting and laughing, causing everyone in the room to turn their attention to the two of them and whisper to each other. got up. .

The Florida gang leader Meyer Lansky, who was sitting in the main seat among the crowd, smiled and lit a cigarette and smoked it leisurely.

After the cigarette in his hand was burned out, Meyer Lansky coughed lightly and said.

"cough~cough~"

"Okay!"

"Now, everyone is here~ let's get started!"

"Ok!"

. . .

Seeing everyone in the room quiet down, Meyer Lansky smiled at Polly.

"Would you like to talk about it first?"

"Ok!"

Polly stood up, nodded to Blanco and the familiar or unfamiliar elders around her, and said with a smile.

"Have you read the information I gave you just now?"

"If there are any details that you don't understand, I can explain them to you later."

"Now, let me first talk about what a trust is!"

"The word trust, most people generally believe that it originated during the Crusades."

"At that time, many knights who responded to the call of the Pope would entrust their properties, fields, wives, children, etc. to trustworthy people before going to the battlefield where their life or death was uncertain."

"Thus, the earliest entrustment based on trust...trust! was born~"

"However, everyone should also be able to find that this kind of trust-based entrustment obviously has serious loopholes."

"That's...the credit of the trustee!"

"We call the person who has the trust intention a trustor; then what will happen if the trustee, who is trusted by the trustor, breaks his trust and does not hand over these assets to the trust beneficiary?"

"Of course he refused to admit that he had accepted the client's assets and took them as his own!"

Polly walked to Meyer Lansky's side with a smile and spread her hands to everyone.

"It is precisely because of this situation that no one wants to see happen that the British have spent hundreds of years making the legal provisions related to trusts very complete and harsh."

"This can be regarded as the British people's greatest contribution to the world's legal community~"

"Hehe~"

"Hahaha~"

All the bosses laughed at Polly's cold joke~

. . .

After Polly watched everyone laugh, she put her hands in front of her lower abdomen in a ladylike manner and continued with a smile.

“The trust I want to introduce to you today is an asset management method that has been gradually developed over hundreds of years and has strong legal supervision and is very popular among wealthy people.”

"Everyone can take a look at the information in hand."

"As for trusts, I have listed many advantages for you in asset management."

“In terms of tax avoidance, debt and property isolation, privacy protection and inheritance distribution management, as an independent financial asset management entity, it can solve many problems that have been bothering you for a long time!”

Polly moved slightly with her feet, walked to Meyer Lansky, bent down and smiled.

"My father established a family trust fund for the family and deposited all the clean money into it."

"Has he already mentioned it to you?"

"Ok!"

Meyer Lansky nodded lightly with a smile, glanced at all the old friends, thought for a while, and said.

"It was not Polly's idea to invite everyone here today, but my impromptu idea!"

"Trust can solve many problems that have troubled everyone for a long time."

"What she just said... is still too implicit, too simple and general!"

"We might as well talk about it more directly~"

"She just mentioned a trust, which consists of three parties: the settlor, the trustee and the beneficiary."

"But what if the settlor, trustee and beneficiary are all set to be... one person or a family?"

"Polly, what is this method called?"

"Self-beneficial trust!"

"Ah~ yes, yes!"

"That's right!"

Meyer Lansky said with an even brighter smile: "I benefit from it!"

"I have lived for decades, but only now do I know that such tricks can still be played in the so-called financial industry?"

"Hahaha~"

Everyone present echoed and burst into sympathetic laughter.

Polly was among everyone, recalling Meyer Lansky's two "instructions", slowly stood up straight, faced everyone and continued to speak.

"Regarding self-benefit trusts, they are currently not protected by U.S. law."

"If everyone is interested in this, we can find another time to chat alone~"

"The trust I just talked about, as Uncle Meyer said, is very simple and very general."

“However, after I personally learned this part of financial knowledge, I also made some simple summaries.”

“Trusts are becoming more and more popular among the wealthy as an asset management method that can allow most of the wealth to be passed on to the next generation and ensure that they have no worries about food and clothing.”

"The reasons can be roughly divided into two categories."

"The first category is a special trust fund set up based on the personal wishes of the trustor."

"Its function, first of all, is to protect marital property and separate debts!"

“Secondly, it is possible to pass on almost all of one’s personal assets to the next generation.”

"In the end, it is the protection of everyone's personal privacy and the fair distribution and management of inheritance."

“The main trustees of this type of trust are well-known large banks, such as Morgan Bank and Chase Bank in New York, or Bank of America and Wells Fargo Bank in San Francisco, etc.”

"These banks have the most professional trust departments, which can establish a trust fund for everyone according to various needs and wishes."

What Polly said here did not go into details, but changed the subject and said.

"And the other kind!"

“It is a trust that can help everyone realize wealth appreciation.”

"Most of this type of trusts are trust companies that find projects that can provide low risk and stable returns, and make them into trust project products and sell them to investors who are willing to invest and manage money."

"Another reason why I came to Florida this time to visit Uncle Meyer is because we have acquired a trust company and are in acquisition negotiations with a small bank in New York."

When Polly said this, she deliberately paused for a few seconds. After scanning everyone's faces, her eyes fell on Blanco's face and she smiled.

"Wait until our plan to acquire the bank is successfully completed."

"We will merge this trust company into the bank, set up a special trust department, and rely on the bank's capital pool to establish a stable capital circulation chain."

"Oh~ that's right!"

"I just forgot a key point!"

"The biggest difference between trusts and fund products and bank financial products that you may be familiar with is flexibility!"

"In addition to not being qualified as a bank to absorb deposits, it covers all the business scope of various classified fund companies, and can even extend loans, borrow money, real estate project financing, and purchase equity in unlisted companies, etc."

"Let me put it this way, as long as it is an investment project that can be found on Wall Street, the trust's funds can be invested at will!"

"Therefore, this kind of flexibility makes the financial management yield of trust products far higher than those funds and banks that have limitations in various investment businesses."

Polly bowed slightly to everyone with a smile on her face and said with a smile.

"Finally, I would like to introduce to you... Griselda Blanco!"

"She, I believe everyone has heard of her even if they have never seen her, right?"

"Hehe~"

"Blanco, it's your turn!"

Polly smiled and made a gesture of invitation to Blanco, causing everyone's eyes to focus on her.

Blanco stood up with a smile, lowered his head and quickly straightened his skirt, and smiled.

"What Polly said just now inspired me a lot."

“It’s only today that I really understand some of the meaning and uses of the term capital pool.”

"After I go back this time, I will contact my friends to establish a similar fund pool to facilitate the circulation of the capital chain."

"So, if you need to launder money, I can provide you with a convenient and fast channel."

"Before the end of this month, if you launder money from me and invest it in Polly's trust company, you can get a discount on all handling fees!"

Blanco smiled and paused for two seconds. After observing everyone's reaction, he smiled with satisfaction.

"Also, if you can introduce more high-quality customers to me in the future, I can also offer you a discount of half the handling fee for your personal money laundering business."

“Limited to one time for each new customer!”

"..."

After Blanco finished speaking, everyone looked at each other in silence for a while, frowning in thought.

Meyer Lansky looked at Polly with a smile, walked to Blanco and sat down. The two started chatting in a low voice again, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart. .

"Polly, Blanco!"

"I happen to have...several millions in cash, and I need to go through the channels you two have to invest."

"Okay, Uncle Meyer!"

"Blanco will be here in a few days..."

"It won't take a few days!" Blanco waved his hand very domineeringly and said with a smile.

"Give me a designated account, and the money will be deposited into it in two hours!"

"My share of the handling fee is waived!"

"Wow ~ two hours?" Meyer Lansky asked in pretending to be surprised.

Blanco nodded with an embarrassed look on his face and said with a smile: "After we have established a huge capital pool here, all money laundering operations will be completed within one to three days!"

"This way, everyone no longer has to worry about their money being used by those vampire bankers and intermediaries who use their time to earn interest differences."

"Hahaha~"

Everyone present laughed in sympathy~

Polly smiled like everyone else, but secretly clenched her fists.

Griselda Blanco, who has a flexible mind and will not only look at immediate interests, may really become one if she can continue to go smoothly. .

. . .

Two 10 minutes later.

Blanco took Polly's arm, and the two walked out of the small building.

On the way out, Blanco looked back at the people following him from time to time. He seemed to have thought of something and asked Polly in a low voice.

"The guy who came with you, he..."

Polly looked back at a few people and suddenly remembered. .Cohen, the security company who came with her, once took people to Miami, kidnapped Griselda Blanco, extorted a sum of money, and used her as a bargaining chip to hand over to Florida FBI director Baugh. Beru. .

Blanco, who had been paying attention to Polly's expression, relied on her keen sixth sense to immediately know that she had guessed right!

The smile on her face froze for a few seconds, and then she smiled even brighter. .

"Hahaha~"

Blanco pulled Polly to a stop, turned back to look at Cohen, and asked with a teasing smile.

"Didn't you prepare a black hood this time?"

"...Haha~" Cohen bared his big white teeth and smiled, but said nothing.

Seeing that she had guessed it, Polly simply smiled and said, "What black hood?"

"Hahaha~"

Blanco felt that the more he looked at this guy who had never seen his appearance but was very familiar with his laughter, he became more and more interested. .

She shook her head at Polly and smiled, "Nothing!"

"What's his name? Why don't you introduce him to us?"

"Uh... you'd better ask yourself~"

"Cohen!"

Before Blanco could ask, Cohen, who was wearing a suit, white shirt and tie today, looking like a middle-aged professional elite, took the initiative and answered with a smile.

"Oh.."

Blanco narrowed his eyes with a wider smile and asked, "Are you free tonight? How about we have dinner together?"

"Forehead.."

Her open invitation made both Polly and Cohen speechless.

Polly looked at Cohen up and down feeling weird, and gave Blanco a hard tug. The two of them didn't wait for an answer. .He continued walking towards the door of the club.

Cohen, who was standing there and feeling weird, suddenly got goosebumps all over his body. He muttered a few curse words in a low voice and quickly followed the two of them.

----

new York.

Night falls.

Manhattan, upstairs at Wildfire Bar on 42nd Street.

When David and others came back from Wildfire Restaurant, Cui Yingying went to the back kitchen to get some raw materials for making shrimp dumplings and a few big live lobsters, preparing them as the main course for dinner.

David has roped in the new housekeeper Acklade, who serves as the gentlemanly lubricant between Ruby, Susan and Cui Yingying to help him resolve some minor embarrassments that may arise.

quickly!

Cui Yingying made dinner with the help of a few people talking and laughing.

David rubbed his belly in an exaggerated manner and shouted that he wanted to start eating immediately. .

Susan glanced at Ruby, who still felt very uncomfortable, pulled her to say hello to David, and walked toward the bedroom.

. . .

After seeing Ruby follow Susan away obediently.

David glanced at Ackleide, thought for a moment, walked to the kitchen door, and asked Cui Yingying.

"Do you think I will keep her?"

"No~"

"Oh why?"

Cui Yingying stopped what she was doing, tilted her head and looked at David who came over with curiosity, and smiled.

"A broken mirror cannot be repaired..."

"Since you two chose to break up before, even if you really get back together now, it will leave an indelible crack in your hearts in the future~"

"It's not a matter of love or not, it's..."

"I see!"

David stepped forward and hugged Cui Yingying, kissed her on the face and sighed.

"I... understand everything!"

"Ruby, you should understand everything!"

"That's why she rejected my kindness and wanted to leave immediately~"

"Oh.."

"Then what's next for you? What are you going to do?"

"Of course...continue with my plan!"

"But she doesn't want to accept it?"

"Then... force her to accept it!"

David took a deep breath, turned Cui Yingying's whole body over, looked directly into her eyes, and said.

"Ruby gave me my purpose in life and the courage to face adversity head on."

"Even if she wants to cut off all contact with me, I won't let her go back to that...bad life!"

"She can't live a better life on her own...it will only get worse!"

"I can't lie to myself and turn a blind eye to her bad decision!"

"do you understand?!"

"...Yeah! I understand!" Cui Yingying smiled and took the initiative to hug David, kissed him on the lips, and said with a smile.

"Do what you want to do! We will all support you!"

"..you?"

"Have you and Susan talked?"

"Yup!"

Cui Yingying smiled brightly and shook her head: "She said that if you act ruthlessly towards Ruby... you will make us very disappointed~"

"If you still don't understand, there is almost no possibility of getting back together between the two of you, and it will make us very disappointed~"

"And now, neither of these two worst-case scenarios have happened~"

"It just shows that you didn't let us down!"

"Um...you're not...making a bet, are you?"

"of course not!"

"Why do you pause when you speak?"

"Tell me! Did you make a bet?"

"Hahaha~ No! Really not!"

David curled his lips, hugged Cui Yingying tightly, and asked in a low voice: "Tell me, what are you secretly talking about?"

"Hahaha~ I can't... say it!"

"Hey~ How dare you not say it!?"

"Hahaha~ We really don't...can't say!"

. . .

After half an hour.

Leslie and Livlin, as if they knew the dinner time at David's house, knocked on the door in time for dinner. .

David, who opened the door for them, said jokingly with a hint of surprise on his face.

"Wow~ You two, are you here as a group to have a meal?"

"Hahaha~ Stop talking nonsense!" Leslie put a bottle of good wine in David's arms and took the lead in striding toward the restaurant.

Livlin, who was following him, glanced sideways at David and said in a more frivolous tone.

"What's wrong with coming to your house for a meal?"

"Someone invited us... we haven't gone yet!"

"Hehe~"

David laughed dryly, closed the door, looked down at the good wine in his hand, and sighed.

"These two prodigal bastards have ruined your bottle of wine for nothing!"

. . .

Another ten minutes later.

While David was at the dining table, vigorously "striking" the duo, Zina and her friend Gila Cox also ran over to the meal spot. .

After Zina introduced her friend Gila to everyone, David finally closed his mouth, looked at the smiling Cui Yingying, and asked in a very low voice.

"There are others at home..."

"Yes! I'll get ready right now!"

"Well... prepare more! Just in case someone comes again later..."

Cui Yingying smiled, patted David, said hello to everyone, then ran into the kitchen and got busy.

Ruby, who had always felt a little out of place, quickly stood up and followed Cui Yingying into the kitchen.

Leslie and Livlin, who met Ruby for the first time today, saw her leaving. They winked at David in a tacit understanding and raised their eyebrows. The gossipy look on their faces almost made them cry. Got to the table. .

David glared at the pair of bastards angrily, and chatted with today's new friend Gila Cox.

After learning that she was a music professor at Juilliard School, he remembered the task assigned to Zina and smiled.

"Gira, I went to Philadelphia this time and wrote some lyrics. I just need someone to help me compose the music."

"Can you help us?"

"sure!"

Gila Cox smiled very simply.

She glanced at the butler Acklade who was standing next to him, serving everyone, and asked with a slightly red face.

"Have you finished all your lyrics?"

"Yes!"

"May I see it?"

"Uh...just wait~"

David stood up and went into the kitchen, got back a few pages with lyrics written on them from Ruby, went to the study to get a pen, sat down at the dining table, and filled in some mistakes according to the lyrics in his memory. After finishing it, he handed it to Gila and smiled.

"That's probably it~"

"ok~"

Gila took the lyrics and read them quickly, then looked at David in surprise and asked.

"You wrote this?"

"Yup!"

"Have you ever thought about this song...what instrument should be used to play the main melody?"

David supported his chin with one hand, looked at Gila, and thought for a moment with a somewhat wandering gaze: "Piano! What do you think?"

"of course can!"

"But only the piano can't achieve...the ideal accompaniment effect."

"Ok!"

"You are the most professional musician ~ I have no objection!"

"Hehe~"

Gila suddenly felt that the pressure on her shoulders was too much. .

Zina, who was sitting next to her, opened her mouth to apologize for her friend: "The songs you recorded the last few times were not found in the Power Plant recording studio...?"

"Ah~ yes!"

David slapped his forehead with his hand and said with a smile as if he was suddenly enlightened: "I'm going to call them right now and ask them to come over with their instruments~"

"Let's try to finish this song tonight!"

"Tonight...?" Gila Cox, who had never had a similar experience, watched in surprise as David jumped up and ran to the living room to make a phone call, and asked Qina in a low voice.

"He is...what do you mean?"

Zina comforted her with a smile: "You will see for yourself later, won't you know?

"Don't worry, it's alright!"

"(one_one)!" Gila Cox was stunned.

PS:

In October 1979, my country’s first trust company was established, which was the predecessor of CITIC Group~

For specific details, you can search online by yourself.

In 2021, the total market value of my country's stock market exceeded 90 trillion yuan for the first time.

In the same year, the total asset value of the domestic trust industry also exceeded 20 trillion yuan!

These two figures are enough to reflect the popularity of the trust industry.

However, it is also a trust~

In China, trust is a financing method for financial institutions and a financial management method that is generally accessible to investors.

In foreign countries, trusts are given more extra-legal functions and responsibilities.

The domestic trust industry is now facing the seventh round of industry regulatory rectification.

The China Banking Regulatory Commission has issued trust licenses to less than [-] companies, but the compliance status of each company is uneven, which has led to constant thunderstorms among trust companies in recent years. .

When I mention this, I am not advocating that foreign trusts are reliable, nor am I deliberately trying to discredit the domestic trust industry.

But I want to tell you that just like the popular p2p financial products in previous years, if you want to invest in trust products, please keep your eyes open!

After all, no one’s money comes from the strong wind!Right?