Chapter 2668 - 2642: Speech

The problem was solved. It took a week. Gao Yang flew back and forth to four places, met a Congressman and three Senators. He didn’t sign any checks or use any cash, yet everything was sorted out.

To put it plainly, it was a transaction of power and money, but everything was legal, because those representatives literally did nothing. Really, they did nothing at all, not even hinting anything. They merely accepted Gao Yang into their social circle, that’s all, but the problem troubling Gao Yang was resolved.

Why was the problem so easily solved? Because the CIA Director is now in the same interest circle as Gao Yang.

It’s a transaction, but it’s legal, and the transaction method is far more complex than simply paying money for services. Essentially it is so, but operationally, it’s obviously not that simple. Because if a Senator directly accepts large sums from a businessman, it’s illegal. However, after a series of clever yet legal maneuvers, everyone gains what they want, with absolutely nothing illegal, which is the emphasis and the brilliance of the deal.

Those who understand naturally understand; those who don’t won’t understand even if explained, and they wouldn’t believe it, anyway.

How to repay those who’ve helped you with their power? There’s a skill to it, and Gao Yang learned a trick today.

Yelena, holding onto Gao Yang’s arm, dressed in a white gown, looked elegant and beautiful. As a Star of Tomorrow in classical music, her appearance would never be an issue. Yet Yelena was feeling a bit nervous, solely because the gathering she was attending was entirely different from previous ones.

This was an elite assembly, and while slowly moving forward with the crowd of celebrities, Yelena couldn’t help but whisper, "Darling, is it really appropriate for me to attend such an event?"

Gao Yang slightly tilted his head, smiled, and said, "There’s nothing inappropriate about it. It’s just a party and incidentally, there’s also a speech. You’re merely an audience member. It’s much easier than performing on stage, isn’t it?"

Yelena lightly nodded, looked ahead where Morgan stood not far off, and whispered, "Oh, alright, I won’t be too nervous."

Gao Yang stood at the entrance of the banquet hall, handed over the invitation. The staff, wearing white gloves, took the invitation, glanced at it, bowed, smiled, and softly said, "Mr. Gao, Miss Yelena, welcome, please come in."

Gao Yang slightly bowed, led Yelena into the doors of the banquet hall. At that moment, Yelena lightly patted her chest and softly said, "I really can’t believe it, the invitation to the former President’s speech actually has my name on it. It’s amazing. I mean, I’ve always thought I’d be very calm meeting those presidential types who only exist in the news, but now, I’m somewhat excited, very excited."

Gao Yang laughed, "It’s just a former President, darling. The word ’former’ is very important."

Yelena shrugged and said, "Is there a difference? They are all big figures."

Gao Yang laughed and said, "Come on, the invitation wasn’t actually issued by the former President to you, but the organizer added your name. I bet you’ve never heard of the organizer’s name before, oh, it’s my first time hearing it too."

"Then why did he send you an invitation?"

"Because I’m now in the same circle as him, to be precise, Morgan and he are in the same circle, more importantly, they have business dealings, and I will take over Morgan’s business, so of course he has to give me an invitation, oh, there’s Morgan."

Gao Yang brought Yelena over to Morgan’s side, and said, "Hey, Morgan."

Morgan looked at Yelena and laughed, "You are really beautiful tonight, relax a bit, you seem a little nervous, take it easy, you’ll get used to it."

After speaking to Yelena, Morgan then looked at Gao Yang and said, "Why don’t you take your fiancée for a stroll? I have to meet some old friends. We’ll be on the same table when the banquet starts, some very important people are coming tonight. Are you ready?"

Gao Yang nodded and said, "Of course, I’m ready."

Morgan laughed, "Go on, chat with others, the speech won’t start for another half an hour, so there’s no rush to take your seat."

Gao Yang and Yelena walked away. Before officially sitting down, people could move around freely and chat, a good chance for networking. But Gao Yang and Yelena looked rather young and weren’t famous elites of the city, so no one approached to talk to them, and neither did they have the interest to approach others.

Upon arriving in one corner, Gao Yang smiled at Yelena and said, "Would you like something to drink?"

Yelena softly said, "How strange, shouldn’t the speech be held in a theater-like place with a lot of audience?"

Gao Yang shrugged and said, "That’s a common and low-end speech. It is different here, the audience won’t be large, the food at the banquet won’t be very exquisite, mostly cold dishes. Everything is merely for people to gather and send money to the former President."

"Money?"

"Oh, five hundred thousand dollars, post-tax, approximately eight hundred thousand dollars with tax, paid by the banquet organizer, just like that."

"Why pay so much to invite a former President to speak? Is he really that capable, just a few words?"

"Oh, no, no, no. The only reason to pay for a former President’s speech is because an incumbent President cannot charge for speeches, but a former President can. Understand?"

"Why?"

Gao Yang sighed, lowered his voice, and said, "Because the real payer owes the former President a favor. Understand? This favor debt owed since the presidential term. Now the President has stepped down, he can be paid, so he organized this event under the guise of charity and invited the former President to speak. Once the former President casually spews some talk, five hundred thousand dollars are pocketed, tax-free, understand?"

Yelena widened her eyes, tremblingly said, "Is this also possible?"

"Of course, darling, don’t widen your eyes so much. Someday I may have to use this method to pay. You need to get used to it."

Yelena tremblingly said, "But only five hundred thousand dollars? Isn’t that too little? You guys often drop tens of millions at once, why here only five hundred thousand dollars suffices?"

Gao Yang sighed, "It’s quite a bit, after all, it’s just done by talking. Paying eight hundred thousand dollars is no less. You can’t give too much at once, since it’s just a speech, and besides, nothing is something the President alone can complete. Everyone has already gotten their fair share, but only an ex-President is qualified to receive money this way, openly and legally, quite a bit."

After saying that, Gao Yang tapped his head, smiled and said, "Sorry, I need to correct one thing, former Secretaries of State also have the qualification to receive money through speeches. As for others, I’ve stepped into this field too recently, not very familiar yet, but I suppose they must have suitable methods of getting paid, certainly, I promise."