A New Dawn for the Whitlocks Chapter 33

Lanterns were hung in Siweilou, and colorful silks were tied together, creating a festive atmosphere. A birthday table was set up in the restaurant, and birthday couplets were posted. The banquet for Connor Whitlock's 66th birthday was very grand.

After three rounds of drinking, Shao Jing was a little drunk. He said to Connor Whitlock: "Grandpa, as a junior, I want to ask you a question." He pointed to the electric light above his head and said: "What is this?" Na Wen said: "It's an electric light. You don't even need to ask that. You're drunk." Shao Jing asked Na Wen: "Where does electricity come from? Do you know?" Yu Shu continued: "You're asking me - power plants!" Shao Jing asked Yu Shu: "How do power plants generate electricity?" Yu Shu said: "Steam turbines." Shao Jing asked again: "Where does the steam come from?" Xiu'er said: "I know that. Isn't steam the gas that comes out when water boils?" Shao Jing said: "What is used to boil water?" Connor Whitlock blurted out a word: "Coal." Shao Jing slapped the table happily and said: "Coal! Yes, Grandpa, you have a good idea. Now is the industrial age. Coal is indispensable for everything, whether it is building a city or opening a factory. What do you think..."

Connor Whitlock waved his hand and stopped him with a smile, saying: "Shao Jing, I understand. You are talking about opening a mine in a roundabout way to persuade me to invest, right? If you open a coal mine, it would be unreasonable for the Zhu family to do nothing. How about this, I will get Caleb Whitlock to help you, which is reasonable and acceptable, right?" Shao Jing said: "Old man, don't underestimate the matter of opening a coal mine. There are three major coal mines in China. Let's not talk about the Fushun Coal Mine, which has been robbed by the Japanese. Do you know who invested in the Kailuan Coal Mine in Rehe and the Zaozhuang Coal Mine in Shandong? You will be scared if I mention two of them - Li Yuanhong and Xu Shichang, they were both "He is a figure who was once the president of the Republic of China!" Connor Whitlock smiled and said, "We can't compare with such a big figure." Shao Jing said, "Then let's talk about small figures. The shopkeepers on our street should be small figures compared with the president of the Republic of China! But this time, everyone is scrambling to join the Shanhe Mine. Caleb Whitlock, my third brother, is he an even smaller figure in your eyes, right? In order to run the mine, he bet all the Siweilou..." Connor Whitlock was startled and said, "What did you say?" Shao Jing reacted all of a sudden, knowing that he had let the cat out of the bag, and hesitantly said, "I mean... Third brother, what did you tell me that day?"

Caleb Whitlock quickly took over the conversation and said, "Dad, that day, we all discussed investing in Shanhe Mine. I said that we should ask my dad about this matter. If my dad agrees, there will be no problem even if he bets on Siweilou." Caleb Whitlock turned to Shaojing and said, "Shaojing, my dad didn't agree to this, how can you say such nonsense?" Shaojing smiled awkwardly and said, "I've drunk too much. Old man, I'll punish myself with a glass of wine."

Shengzi came from nowhere, holding up a cup and said, "Grandpa, Grandpa, I toast to you: May you be blessed as vast as the East Sea and live as long as the South Mountain." Shaojing said, "Shengzi, your words are good, but they are too old-fashioned." Shengzi stiffened his neck and said, "If they are too old-fashioned, I will give you a new one that I just learned last night." Nawen said, "Shengzi, go away. This is not the place for you to talk." Shengzi didn't listen to Nawen, pointed at Connor Whitlock, and said, "This old man is not a human being." Everyone at the table was shocked, and the guests on the street were so frightened that they couldn't close their mouths. Then they heard Shengzi say, "He is a god who has come down to earth." Everyone laughed and praised Shengzi for his cleverness. Yushu said, "What about the others?" Shengzi said, "All the grandsons and daughters are thieves." Everyone was stunned again. Shaojing said, "Shengzi, you are scolding yourself!" Shengzi made a face, grabbed a birthday peach, knelt down to Connor Whitlock, presented the birthday peach, and said loudly, "I stole peaches to present to my loved ones!" Everyone laughed and praised. Xiu'er asked Shengzi, "Shengzi, who did you learn this from?" Wen's mother said, "Who else can I learn from? Your sister-in-law." The people at the table laughed again.