Mixed in the last days as a salted fish

Chapter 372 Federation 100 Years

Early the next morning, Zhang Hao couldn't wait to make a video call to his family.

Yang Huaqing sat in front of the camera with her little daughter in her arms, and said excitedly: "Husband, I have good news for you, Guoguo will call mom and dad."

"Really? Guoguo, call Dad quickly!"

Zhang Hao said excitedly.

"Papa... Papa..."

Guoguo children are very cooperative.

"So cute!" Zhang Hao felt relieved immediately.

Yang Huaqing couldn't help showing off: "Husband, Guoguo not only speaks, but also learns to walk."

After speaking, she put her little daughter on the ground.

Kid Guoguo waved his hands and walked a few trembling steps with his short legs.

"Our fruit is really powerful, awesome!"

Zhang Hao praised repeatedly.

It's a pity that Guoguo's children don't understand his father's words at all, and he doesn't even know his father.

After some interaction, the couple chatted about homework.

As usual, Zhang Hao first asked about his parents' physical condition, especially their father, who was over 80 years old, which was really worrying.

Yang Huaqing comforted her with a smile: "Don't worry, your parents are in good health, especially our father. Since you became a consul, you have changed from the previous sluggishness, and your spirit is very good. You are happy every day. .”

"It's fine, but it's the twelfth lunar month of winter, so don't let the old man go out."

Zhang Hao exhorted.

You know, winter is definitely the number one killer of the elderly, let alone the extreme climate of today.

Yang Huaqing waved his hand: "You don't need to remind me. With our mother watching, the old man can only stay at home obediently. Besides, our house is well-heated. Many people come to visit every day, not to mention how lively it is."

"It's good to have someone to chat with." Zhang Hao nodded with satisfaction, "By the way, how is Uncle Fan's illness? Is he better?"

Some time ago, he learned from his mother that Uncle Fan, the old village head, had a bad heart and was hospitalized.

Yang Huaqing sighed after hearing the words: "Honey, I was just about to tell you that Uncle Fan passed away in the hospital this morning, and I just came back from there."

"What? Didn't you say that you have an old problem?"

Zhang Hao couldn't help being taken aback.

"Hey, Uncle Fan is about the same age as our dad. The complication caused by the old illness this time failed to be rescued." Yang Huaqing explained casually.

Zhang Hao slowed down, and then asked, "Uncle Fan is gone, does Catherine have any plans?"

After all, Catherine's mother and daughter and Uncle Fan's children are not easy to deal with. Without Uncle Fan's pension, life in the future may not be very optimistic.

"Catherine has agreed to my invitation and is going to work in Haotian Group."

"What about Tian Tian?"

"Catherine is going to transfer Tiantian to the city to go to school. The mother and daughter can live in the staff dormitory. The original house just returned to Village Chief Fan and his family."

Yang Huaqing replied.

Zhang Hao frowned: "Could it be that Fan Youwei bullied their orphans and widows?"

"That's not true. Catherine gave up the house on her own initiative. After all, after Uncle Fan left, they also wanted to change their living environment."

"The environment in the village is very good. Why do you have to change the environment? Unless Catherine wants to remarry."

Zhang Hao guessed.

"Catherine is only in her early forties, even if she really wants to marry, it's okay, right?"

Yang Huaqing said unhappily.

Zhang Hao smiled sheepishly: "I didn't say she was wrong, but to be honest, if Catherine really wants to remarry, it would be inappropriate to live in the original house. Fan Youwei and his family will definitely not be able to swallow this."

"Forget it, this is someone else's family business, it has nothing to do with our family, let's not meddle in our own business."

Yang Huaqing waved his hand.

Zhang Hao hurriedly changed the subject: "Isn't today Sunday? Didn't Guoji and Guoxuan come over?"

Usually, the twins basically go to their grandparents on Saturdays, and go to the governor's mansion on Sundays.

"New Year's Day will be in two days. The school has prepared New Year's Eve activities, and neither of them came back this weekend." Yang Huaqing quickly explained.

"Next year will happen to be the 100th anniversary of the Commonwealth, so we really need to celebrate it."

Zhang Hao agreed.

At the end of the chat, Yang Huaqing asked casually: "By the way, how is Haoxuan's girlfriend looking?"

Zhang Hao spread his hands: "It's still the same, I introduced him a lot, but I didn't like any of them."

"What exactly is he looking for?"

Yang Huaqing complained on the spot.

"Maybe he didn't want to look for it at all."

Zhang Hao replied casually.

"What?" Yang Huaqing immediately looked dissatisfied, "It's just asking him to find a girlfriend, not forcing him to marry, why is it so difficult?"

"Don't put pressure on him, just let nature take its course. When fate comes, it will happen naturally."

Zhang Hao couldn't help persuading.

"No, we must hurry up on this matter, otherwise, with his personality, he would rather be single for the rest of his life."

Yang Huaqing nagged.

Zhang Hao nodded helplessly: "Okay, I will help him introduce a few more blind dates."

"My husband, thank you for your hard work."

Yang Huaqing apologized.

As a consul, her husband has to take care of everything every day. She shouldn't bother him with such trivial matters. If she wants to blame her, it's too shameful to blame her brother, so she can only resort to this trick.

"It's hard work, but who asked me to be his brother-in-law? But let alone, this kid is not active in finding a girlfriend, but he does a good job as a staff member." Zhang Hao couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

"Okay, let's stop talking, let's stop here today, husband, go to work, pay more attention to rest, don't be too tired." After Yang Huaqing finished speaking, she held her daughter's chubby hand and waved: "Guoguo, hurry up!" Say goodbye to Daddy!"

"See you..."

Zhang Hao waved his hand, said a few words to his daughter, and then hung up the phone.

……

Time turned and two days passed.

In half an hour, Confederation 100 will be here.

In order to celebrate this important historical moment, and the Consul happened to be in the local area again, New York officials specially organized a grand New Year's Eve party.

In the early hours of the morning, [-] to [-] people had gathered in the city hall square, and almost one-third of the population of the entire underground city had come.

In the last ten seconds of the countdown, a unified counting sound sounded in the square:

"Ten, nine, eight, seven..."

"Three, two, one, happy new year!"

"Happy New Year!"

With the ringing of the New Year's bell, there were warm cheers in the square.

In addition, many people kissed together on the spot, some were lovers, some were strangers.

In short, this moment belongs to everyone!

Next, the center of the square directly turned into a concert scene, and the crowd sang and danced to the music, enjoying this rare moment.

Zhang Hao stretched out his hand and patted his uncle's shoulder: "Don't just stand there stupidly, just go if you want!"

"Brother-in-law, I'll go then."

Yang Haoxuan couldn't hold back for a long time.

"Be careful, don't leave with strangers casually." Zhang Hao urged.

"Understood, I am measured."

After Yang Haoxuan finished speaking, he quickly ran towards the square.

Followed by two bodyguards.

After a while, Chu Dehan came to Zhang Hao and extended an invitation: "Consul, a celebration banquet is prepared in the city, would you like to go over and have some tea?"

"It's fine to drink tea. I want to go to the surrounding residential areas. I wonder if Mayor Chu is willing to lead the way?"

Zhang Hao said his plan.

He was already tired of endless banquets.

At the same time, he also wanted to personally observe the real living conditions of New York residents, instead of just listening to reports from Chu Dehan and others.

Of course Chu Dehan would not refuse, he laughed immediately: "Since the consul has such a good mood, what else can I say, I can only risk my life to accompany the gentleman."

"Don't bring too many people, a dozen people are enough."

Zhang Hao gave an order.

"Would you like to have a private interview on Weibo?"

Chu Dehan tentatively said.

Zhang Hao nodded, and said humorously: "What? Are you scared? Actually, you don't have to worry at all. This place is inherently experimental. As long as you don't intentionally break the law, you can't be blamed."

"Consul, we are not afraid of being slapped in the face, but also worried about your personal safety."

Chu Dehan quickly argued.

Zhang Hao smiled and waved his hands: "It's okay, guns are banned here, and the security is good. I think as long as we don't reveal our identities, we don't have to worry about being in danger."

"Well, where do you want to go?"

Chu Dehan could not find a reason to refuse.

Zhang Hao had already prepared: "Why don't you go to the Dharavi community first? I heard that it is the largest slum in New York. I want to hear their views on underground life."

"Okay, then let's go to Dharavi."

Chu Dehan did not hesitate.

The most indispensable thing in New York is housing. It is precisely because of this that although Dharavi is a slum, the living conditions are not that bad.

Half an hour later, the group finally arrived in Dharavi.

The so-called Dharavi slum is actually a large underground parking lot with a total of three floors.

Unlike other communities, most of the residents here live in tents, and as far as the eye can see, there are only a few solitary low wooden houses.

"Isn't it cold to live in a tent?"

Zhang Hao asked casually.

"It's not cold. Every community has a boiler room with [-]-hour heating, otherwise it's too cold to sleep at all."

Chu Dehan hurriedly explained.

Zhang Hao took off his thick leather hat and felt the temperature in the room. Although the temperature was a little low, it seemed to be only a few degrees, but it really wouldn't freeze to death.

He nodded, carelessly said:
"Are coal reserves sufficient?"

"Sufficient. There is a coal mine in New York. Although it is only a small coal mine with low reserves, it is definitely more than enough for personal use." Chu Dehan said confidently.

Without this small coal mine, New York would not be able to keep the rest of the people, and with the small coal mine, the underground city is the best place to lie down.

At least survival is stress-free.

Unlike the mainland, the population is too large, which can easily cause involution, and even starve to death if you don't work.

"Hmm!" Zhang Hao looked around and asked casually, "How many people are there?"

"About three thousand."

"Do they usually have jobs?"

Chu Dehan nodded: "Basically, unless you don't want to come out to work."

"If they don't work, what do they live on?"

Zhang Hao couldn't help asking curiously.

"Working odd jobs, or participating in official research projects, such as receiving regular psychological counseling, although there is no right to privacy, it will not starve to death."

Chu Dehan replied truthfully.

Zhang Hao was thoughtful: "Is there no subsistence allowance here?"

"Consul, we are mainly young and middle-aged people here, almost all the old, weak, sick and disabled are gone."

"I see."

Immediately afterwards, a group of people came to an open tent. The owner of the tent was a young guy in his 20s, who was leaning on a chair and reading a novel.

"Little brother, we are from the Municipal Social Security Bureau, can I do a questionnaire survey with you?"

"Sorry, I don't have time."

The young man waved his hand without hesitation.

Chu Dehan hurriedly added: "It's a paid investigation."

The young man finally became interested: "How much?"

"One hour, 100 yuan."

Chu Dehan replied.

The price is too high and it is easy to arouse suspicion.

"Okay, come in!"

The young man immediately said enthusiastically.

Zhang Hao took the opportunity to look at the interior of the tent. If he could use one word to describe it, it would be chaos, comparable to a doghouse.

The young man understood etiquette, and poured a glass of water for each of them. The glasses were picked up from nowhere, and there were various styles.

"Thank you!"

Zhang Hao took the cup and took a sip of water.

Immediately afterwards, he took out a questionnaire and asked pretendingly, "What's your name, little brother?"

"Wang Zhijie, 26 years old this year."

"Brother Wang, are you a local or Xinxinmin?" Zhang Hao continued to ask.

"New immigrant, I came here with my family. My parents had an accident the year before last, and now I'm the only one left."

"Brother Wang, I'm sorry for the change!"

Wang Zhijie waved his hand: "It's okay, it's already over."

Zhang Hao said a few words of comfort, then changed the topic:
"Brother Wang, I'm curious, since your parents are gone, have you considered going back to your hometown?"

"Why go back? If my hometown can survive, we won't come out. Besides, I'm penniless now, even if I want to leave, I can't afford the travel expenses."

Wang Zhijie said disheartened.

Zhang Hao coughed and cleared his throat: "Brother Wang, I think you are in good health, why don't you find a regular job and save some money so you can leave here?"

"I'm tired, I don't want to move anymore, and it's fine if I have enough money. Saving money is meaningless. Maybe one day people will say no, and it will be gone. It's better to live one day at a time."

Wang Zhijie simply replied.

"It also……"

Wang Zhijie smiled wryly and shook his head: "There is no need to persuade me any more, I think life is pretty good now, I can sleep when I want, and I can stay up all night if I want to read novels, no one cares.

In addition, to put it bluntly, even if I do earn some money, I still can't buy good food and drink. Do you think it's worth the hard work? "

"You can still marry a beautiful wife?"

Zhang Hao reminded.

"You said marriage? Not interested, the ancients said 'full of warmth and desire for lust', I don't have any fat in my stomach now, how can I have the intention to marry a wife?"

"Marrying a wife can help each other and fight together, isn't it better than being alone?"

"Pull it down! I just like to be alone, free, and don't want to be controlled."

Wang Zhijie shook his head again and again.

ps: Ask for recommended tickets and monthly tickets!

(End of this chapter)