Chapter 205: Traces of Time
Although the running time of the movie vaguely suggests that it is impossible for the male protagonist to successfully complete the bet in less than half the time, the ending of spending more and more time is really not something that people in this era can think of all at once.
"We helped him make so much money, why does he act like we lost most of his fortune?" Facing Brewster's dark face, Spike and the other two were so confused that they almost discussed hiring a psychiatrist for him...
Perhaps only the audience who knew the inside story could burst out laughing at this scene.
After deciding to sell all his shares, clear all his stocks and never challenge any more gambling games under the increasingly incredulous gazes of the three, Brewster slumped in his chair, "Are there any investments I can consider recently?"
"Let me think..." Although Assistant Woods had some doubts, he still did his job responsibly to calculate the accounts. The investment expert was about Brewster's decision just now and went out to calm down. Therefore, only Spike was left in the room. "I talked to the investment expert before. He said that angry antiques, precious metals, artworks, stamps and other things can resist inflation to a certain extent and maintain or appreciate in value..."
The speaker may not mean it, but the listener may take it seriously. After this movie was translated and broadcasted in mainland China, some smart people paid attention to the deeper meaning mentioned in this plot.
In the movie, the protagonist Brewster rushed to the collectibles store after hearing these words and spent a million dollars to buy a misprinted stamp "Jenny the Upside Down".
After the news was reported in the newspapers, the two heads of the law firm who were keeping a close eye on Brewster's words and actions immediately laughed secretly: buying collectibles is also a kind of investment. With this misprinted stamp worth millions in hand, even if Brewster spent all his other money, he would still have lost this bet.
Then, before the person in charge had finished laughing, they received a greeting card from Brewster inviting them to see the show. The stamp on the card looked 9.999% similar to the image that took up most of the front page of the newspaper...
"Is this guy crazy?!" The two responsible persons were also in a panic when they saw the postmark that destroyed most of the collection value of the stamp: a rare and misprinted stamp worth millions of dollars was mailed out as if it were an ordinary stamp by this wasteful guy!
But this really doesn't violate the rules—the rules state that “the value of the artwork cannot be intentionally destroyed”…
But stamps are originally used to send letters. Even if a stamp appreciates in value from a few cents to millions of dollars, after it is used for its original purpose of sending letters, its value is the price it represents!
It just so happened that at the beginning of last year, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications in mainland China issued the first set of stamps in the first round of zodiac series stamps - "Gengshen Year" - on the day before the first day of the Lunar New Year in order to commemorate the Gengshen Year.
This set of special stamps, numbered T.46, is commonly known as the "Monkey Stamps" in the stamp collecting world in later generations.
In later generations, there were people who got rich because their elders bought monkey stamps. When they were interviewed by reporters, they answered: "My grandfather saw Su Yun's movie that made him a billionaire, and then he wanted to collect stamps. God, thanks to him for thinking about it for a moment, I have saved myself a lot of struggle in my life!"
Perhaps Su Yun could not have imagined that such an unintentional act would become more and more evident after various Hong Kong gambling movies used her photo to pray for blessings and various examples of her accidentally leading the audience to make a fortune through investment. Her reputation as a "wealthy woman" became more and more real, so much so that even after more than half a century, there are still superstitious people who put her photo on the altar at home to worship her...
Let's get back to the plot of the movie. After realizing that he spent 30 million dollars at a time and ended up spending 50 million dollars, Brewster learned his lesson and began to pay attention to other money-burning projects.
When people heard that Brewster was going to run for mayor of New York City, except for his good friend Spike and assistant Woods, almost everyone else thought he was crazy: A Chinese wanted to run for mayor?!
However, in a country where capital is paramount, he spent 50 million... maybe, possibly, probably, perhaps, it could really create a miracle?
"He never figured out what he wanted to do before, but now he has finally set a real goal." Unlike others, Spike was very pleased.
"I finally understand why he said that before." After spending a large sum of money, the whole of New York was covered with promotional posters with Brewster's headshot. Woods' assistant was also amazed: she had always believed that Brewster was a nouveau riche who had inherited a huge inheritance and squandered it, but she didn't expect that he really had a dream and really wanted to work hard for the people.
However, before the people around him began to try their best to canvass votes for his decision, Brewster was already standing on the podium.
"Why would an actor run for mayor of New York City?" In the face of doubt, Brewster used his years of hard-learned stage drama skills to shock the audience with his voice, "Wasn't your current president an actor before?!"
Hearing this, the audience laughed out loud: President Reagan, who took office last year, was indeed an actor who worked in Hollywood for many years and acted in nearly 50 films before being elected as the Governor of California and the current President.
Just like after the Watergate scandal, there were still people who dared to hold up signs to mock Nixon at the Oscars live broadcast. The contemporary American people, who are protected by the banner of freedom of speech, have never felt the restrictions on what they dare not say.
I am not afraid that you dare not speak, I am only afraid that you cannot speak.
The more he criticizes current politics and is cynical, the more he is loved and admired by the American people who feel uncomfortable if they don't criticize current politics a few times a day...
"Is it reasonable for my two opponents to spend more than tens of millions of dollars to compete for a job that only pays $60,000 a year?"
"Why would they be willing to be like me, a person with a lot of money but nowhere to spend it, without caring about making or losing money?"
"Unless, this job can make them gain more than they put in!"
During an election campaign, the most common and most frequently used tactic is to find every possible way to expose the opponent's black spots and attack them with all your might. But surprisingly, after Brewster finished talking about the corruption of his two opponents, he suddenly changed the subject and said that he was running for the election just to buy votes...
"I am standing here today to appeal to you not to vote for anyone!" After announcing that he would spare no effort to get the other two candidates elected, he became more and more excited, "Please do not support anyone in this election, including me!"
"Who invited you to dinner?"
"Brewster!"
"Who gave you the advantage?"
"Brewster!"
"Who are you going to elect in this election?"
"No one! None of the above!"
"Great!" Brewster walked down the podium with satisfaction.
After realizing that Brewster's continuous nonsense had caused his approval rating to drop, the two opponents, who were once mortal enemies, were finally forced to unite and publicly announced that they would sue him for a series of crimes including defamation and insulting the candidate.
So, after receiving the lawyer's letter, Brewster was ecstatic and paid them 4 million in mental damages.
The one-month deadline was approaching, and the two law firm executives began to get anxious when they discovered that Brewster was really about to spend the nearly doubled 50 million.
In order to ensure that they could get the 300 million inheritance, the two responsible persons secretly called lawyer Warren, who was doing interior decoration for Brewster, and told him the content of the bet. Before this man changed his job for the high salary, he was also one of the new generation of elite lawyers in this law firm.
After making a promise that would allow him to become the third partner of the law firm, Lawyer Warren gritted his teeth and nodded when the two principals suggested that "only a small receipt that was accidentally left behind would be needed in the huge expense details."
Amid the audience's tense anticipation, Brewster, who was about to spend all his money, was very relaxed: the money was almost gone, and his most important task next was to show all the talents he had learned on this grandest stage.
The previous performances were all very successful.
After receiving the best treatment and encouragement, his bandmates also performed their talents beyond their expectations on this stage.
The last act is a one-man show by the male lead, who uses a long, mysterious monologue to denounce the world's deception and cruelty to people. Therefore, the requirements for the male lead actor are extremely high. As of now, there are not many male actors in Broadway-level theaters who can perfectly perform this last one-man show.
But Brewster practiced hard countless times in the middle of the night when no one was around.
But what's the point? No matter how outstanding their skills are, no theater company will let a Chinese actor play the leading male role, which is not restricted by race.
Fortunately, he had this unexpected fortune, which enabled him to fulfill his dream which seemed so far away and unattainable.
But when he was about to step onto the stage, he heard another piece of news: after being successfully elected as mayor, he would have an annual salary of 60,000 US dollars - this is also wealth that can be counted as assets.
His mind wandered, and after performing this extremely difficult one-man show with all his might, looking at the smiling faces and listening to the applause from the audience, Brewster suddenly realized that everything he was doing was just a joke.
"It turns out that most of you didn't come for my performance, you just came for 'me'."
"But what I want to show you is the hero of the play, not the person 'Brewster'..."
"These days, I've had enough of fame and fortune! I've also had enough of this money-oriented society!" He looked around at the audience with different expressions, "So I decided to withdraw from this election!"
Who could have expected it?
When a seemingly ridiculous and funny choice suddenly appears among several seemingly correct answers, many people will be tempted to choose it...
Infected by this crazy atmosphere, his support rate is actually the highest among the three!
Damn, you said you wouldn't choose anyone?!
Brewster was so shocked by his refreshing and unpretentious ultimate move that the real-time news report that night was dedicated to this: "If Brewster really withdraws from the election, according to statistics, he will go bankrupt after tonight..."
Perhaps it is true that when money is gone, the living is at peace. When everyone who did not know the truth believed that he would go bankrupt the next day, without those people pestering him for money, Brewster felt that he had gained a rare night of peace in the past month.
Although Woods' assistant tried his best to dissuade him and even scolded him for violating professional etiquette, he still used the last few tens of thousands of dollars to hold a party in the hotel's buffet hall.
This time, he saw the other side of those people: the businessmen who used to greet him with a smile when they saw him from a distance now walked past him in a hurry as if they didn't see him; Spike and the investment experts launched a fundraising campaign on the spot, hoping to help him make a comeback after he lost his way; the private detective who had always been loyal to him and flattered him refused to let go of his high salary and was too lazy to donate a penny; the polite old doorman still saluted him politely and told him, "I miss your outspoken criticism of politicians very much. I originally wanted to see what kind of new situation you can bring to us, but I hope to respect your wishes, so I finally voted for 'none of the above'"...
The fickleness of human nature, the cruelty of the world, all seemed to appear before him without reservation on the night before he and the world were about to lose everything.
Brewster suddenly seemed to understand what his uncle had casually muttered in the video, saying that he had no friends and felt lonely all his life...
"Didn't you book a concert tonight?" Suddenly remembering that Spike had originally planned to hold a super luxurious concert tonight, Brewster couldn't help but ask as he watched his friend running around in the venue.
"Don't worry, I've already canceled the concert. We can use the money to buy a cabin, go fishing and enjoy life..." Before Spike could finish his words, he was hugged by the deeply moved Brewster.
This lesson from the dead finally reveals its deepest meaning in front of a good friend who tries his best to help you continue to prosper when you are prosperous and does his best to help you overcome difficulties when you are in trouble.
No matter how rich or powerful you are, don't forget each other; having one true friend in life is enough.
On Brewster's last "rich" night, Spike sat at a long table in the buffet hall and performed "Honey Take My Hand", which he had originally planned to use as the finale of his concert.
The deep male voice sings a melodious tune. The healing melody and voice seem to express the yearning for a peaceful and beautiful life. It looks like a love song, but it is more than just the monotonous theme of love.
In this comedy that is crazy in the early stages, insane in the middle stages, and uses every possible means to satirize capital and politics, at the end, the brilliance of friendship is so warm and touching.
Because he knew that there were still people accompanying him in this cruel world, Brewster was very calm and indifferent when he went to the law firm alone the next day wearing the same flowered shirt.
But it seems that some people don't want to see him so calm and indifferent.
Brewster was touched and angry as he watched Lawyer Warren rush over, apologizing and explaining that he had forgotten to return the receipt for the furniture deposit during the renovation, so he was now forcing the receipt of 20,000 yuan into his shirt pocket.
What moved me was that this lawyer, whom I had always believed to be a scumbag, was so upright in returning the receipt. What made me angry was that with less than 5 minutes left before the agreed time, this guy with good intentions but bad intentions actually gave me an extra $20,000 in credit limit for no reason when I was originally sure of winning!
Just when Brewster was about to accept the reality and sign the contract to give up the inheritance, Woods, the assistant who was pissed off by him before, suddenly rushed in and said, "Warren deliberately didn't give me the receipt for accounting because he had an agreement with the two heads of the law firm that after getting your 300 million inheritance, he would be made the third partner of the law firm!"
"He was just waiting for your autograph outside. I went to ask him out of curiosity, and then I found out the whole truth..." After she left, she checked the news about her fiancé Warren, and found out that this fiancé was really as Brewster said, coaxing her into getting engaged while having an affair with his ex-wife, so she hurried back.
Warren, who was getting carried away by her success, was secretly delighted outside. She curiously went up to ask about it. This two-faced scumbag pretended to hug her affectionately and explained the truth about why Brewster had squandered his inheritance like crazy in the past month.
The scumbag thought that she was just big-breasted and brainless and that he could just coax her into submission. Little did he know that, although she had not yet passed the bar exam, she would never allow such a dirty and dark thing to happen before her eyes!
In an instant, he lost all his emotion. After realizing that the scumbag was still a real scumbag after all, Brewster, who couldn't control his anger, punched Warren on the spot.
He was so good that he even dared to yell after falling to the ground: "Go ahead and hit me. I will sue you and you will owe me money forever..."
"I need a lawyer now!" Brewster turned and shouted to Assistant Woods.
"She's just an unlicensed paralegal and can't represent you in court at all!" the two law firm executives laughed.
"Then take this money and go get your bar license!" Brewster ignored their ridicule: it doesn't matter when the lawsuit is filed, the important thing is to spend the money.
Woods' assistant understood: "I'll give you a receipt right away!"
In a race against time, the intentionally left-behind quota of $20,000 was finally successfully cleared.
After confirming that Brewster's challenge was successful, the financial elite notary in charge of adjudicating the whereabouts of inheritance turned around and looked at the two dumbfounded law firm executives: "I will ask the relevant departments to thoroughly investigate all the details of this challenge..."
This segment ends with the two law firm owners lying paralyzed on the ground. After the ending song, Su Yun’s guest appearance arrives as expected amid the cheers of the audience.
"I heard that with your help, Assistant Woods successfully passed the bar exam?" Spike was still optimistic and talkative, talking to Brewster as they walked. "Are you here this time to discuss investment issues with the research institute in your home country?"
"Yes, the person in charge of this negotiation is my childhood sweetheart from my hometown..." When Brewster was about to introduce her, the graceful figure in the white coat in front of him turned around.
"Hello, I'm Su Yunyun, the person in charge of this research funding investment negotiation and the current leader of the first group of the Institute of Aircraft Design and Engineering of the Beihang University." Su Yun introduced herself with a smile, "Or you can call me by my English name, Mary Su."
"Spike...what's that expression on your face?!" Brewster inadvertently caught a glimpse of his friend's stupid look and immediately yelled, "You criticized me before for not coveting other people's fiancées!"
"Did I say that?" Spike said calmly, "No, and this is just your childhood sweetheart, not your fiancée."
This ultimate change from "I can stab my brother in the back" to "I can stab my brother in the back for Marie Sue" really makes people sigh: it turns out that the deep feelings of sharing weal and woe before can't stand the test...
It’s just that the test at that time was not severe enough.
"Hey, the show is over, why aren't you leaving yet?" Adam called out in confusion when he saw little Leon still staring at the black screen.
"She is charming, isn't she?" Little Leon replied.
Seeing this cheap brother speaking words that all men could understand in his childish voice, Adam nodded with deep feeling: "Yes, the actress who played Woods' assistant was really beautiful..."
"Do you all like this?" Little Leon said with disgust, "I'm talking about the Mary Sue who showed up at the end."
"Oh, brother - you have to understand one thing, not everyone can pursue an Oriental beauty like Mary Sue, so we need to choose some pretty girls who also meet our aesthetic standards but look easier to pursue." Adam also pretended to be a mature man with the appearance of a teenager, thinking that he was mature and stable, but in fact it was quite funny. "So, when facing the unique Oriental beauty, we still need easy-to-find blond sweethearts."
Although he felt that what Adam said made sense, compared to the monotonous beauty, when he encountered the most stunning uniqueness at the age when he first knew the beauty of the world... he was completely led astray and fell in love with the charm of uniqueness even more.
"I'm not the type to give up when I encounter difficulties." Little Leon pursed his lips, then counted on his fingers, "I started filming TV series when I was five years old, and I will continue to develop in the future - by then, I will definitely catch up and get to the position next to Mary Sue..."
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