Chapter 11

“What do you think? Why is the gap that big?”

“In my opinion, this is just a gimmick by deliberately giving away trash as padding in order to bring out Michael’s grandeur.”

“It makes sense. This time, he truly grabbed all the attention.”

Michael’s face was beamed with happiness. He put the key inside the box and passed it to the host.

The host carefully placed the box in the center space. Despite Michael’s gift being the smallest, its place was the most conspicuous.

Michael returned to his seat and sat cross-legged.

“Johnson, what do you think about my gift?”

Johnson’s face went livid. He lowered his head without speaking a word.

“Hahahaha! Why? Haven’t you always liked to compete with me?

“This time, I’ll see how you could still fight with me.

“Johnson Hill, let me tell you. This time, I’m certainly going to be promoted as the deputy director, and you'll get lost soon!

“You are a loser, just like your son-in-law. There’s a saying that goes, “Birds of a feather flock together”, hahaha!”

Facing Michael’s cynicism, Johnson could not find himself refuting him.

Johnson had completely lost.

In the midst of the crowd, Emma felt her entire body boil with rage. She was helpless to see her father being bullied like this. She really wanted to stride forward and slap Michael.

At that moment, Thomas silently grabbed her hand.

“Don’t be angry.”

“Why shouldn’t I?!” Emma frowned deeply and said, “Didn’t you see how that scum bullied my father?!”

Thomas replied calmly, “Do you still remember that I mentioned I enjoy watching a joker’s performance?”

“What do you mean?”

“That’s simple. Micheal would struggle soon.”

Emma was skeptical. She asked, “He bought a luxurious mansion worth more than ten million dollars, while my father gave a beer that costs three dollars and sixty cents only. Naturally, Michael would please the officer in charge more and could soar in the future. Meanwhile, my father may be sacked for this, and lose his way in the future. Why do you say Michael would struggle soon?”

Thomas smiled as he said, “Precisely, Michael’s luxurious mansion would cause trouble to him. He’s such an idiot.”

“Why do you say so?”

“Just wait and see. The good show is about to start soon. The joker show is over.”

Soon, everyone finished presenting their gifts.

Most of the gifts were very expensive. They were worth more than a hundred thousand dollars and hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, those gifts paled in comparison to Michael’s luxurious mansion that cost ten million dollars.

A majority of the people predicted that Michael would certainly prevail this time.

The host said, “All of you have spent a lot on the gifts to welcome the officer in charge. Please be rest assured that I’ll definitely convey your token of appreciation to him.”

As soon as the host finished speaking, amidst the crowd, Thomas’s phone vibrated.

He instantly hung up. Then, he typed and delivered a message. After that, he continued to sit there as if nothing had happened.

After a few minutes, Samson walked out once again.

The host was stunned and asked, “Do you have further instructions for us?”

Samson chuckled, and said, “While I was backstage, I heard that many of you have presented your token of appreciation for the chief officer in charge, so I came to take a look at them.”

The host smiled, and said, “Their gifts are all over here. Please take a look.”

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Samson walked over to the area where the gifts were placed.

Samson swept his glance over each gift and eventually rested his eyes on the Rhapsody beer on the floor at the corner of the stage.

He walked over, bent down, and picked it up.

“Is this a gift too?”

The host sneered, and said, “Yes. Johnson Hill’s token of appreciation.”

The crowd glanced at Johnson with a mocking gaze. Johnson buried his head in his arms in shame, he simply did not have the guts to face people.

Suddenly, Samson unscrewed the lid, took the bottle, tilted his head, and drank it.

He gurgled several mouthfuls of beer.

“Yes. That’s the taste. It’s exactly that strong taste!”

Samson’s words and reaction got everyone confused. ‘Could a low-grade bottle of beer that cost three dollars and sixty cents only truly be that good?’

He rose up and raised the six bottles of beer high. He said loudly, “I’ve seen all your gifts. These six bottles of Rhapsody beer are the chief officer in charge’s favorite!”

The crowd was dumbstruck.

They fell silent.

Even Johnson froze on the spot. He thought there was something wrong with his ears, and he had heard it wrongly.

After some time only did the crowd respond to it. At the same time, they cried in surprise.

Even the host was also caught off guard and asked, “Are you kidding us? The Rhapsody beer costs three dollars and sixty cents per bottle only. What makes it better than other gifts?”

Samson looked at the beer in his hands like looking at his lover.

“You guys are ignorant.

“When we stay on the west coast, our lives are at stake at every moment. We hardly eat and sleep well daily. Let alone a glass of good wine.

“Rhapsody beer is the most common beer that we could find on the west coast. It’s also the strongest drink we could have. It’s the favorite beer for each and every warrior of the west coast!

“It’s this beer that we drink to comfort our soul. It’s the same beer that we drink to slaughter the enemies. It’s the same beer that we drink to protect our nation!

“This is not just a beer, it’s our brother, and lover as well!”

He had delivered an impassioned and touching speech.

After a brief moment of shock, the crowd erupted in dramatic applause to offer their most sincere respect for the warriors who had shed their blood for them.

Once again, Samson raised the bottle of Rhapsody beer, and said, “Therefore, it’s without a doubt that the person who has presented the Rhapsody beer is the winner!”

The host looked troubled. He had just taunted Johnson before this and had even thrown his gift on the floor.

At that moment, the host said in embarrassment, “That’s very true. A precious wine like this is truly the best gift. Johnson is very insightful, thoughtful and understands the warriors on the west coast well. He’s truly a good partner for all of us. Let us give a warm round of applause to Johnson Hill!”

The crowd applauded respectively, especially those people who had just mocked Johnson. All of them earnestly clapped their hands, fearing that Johnson may hold his grudge against them.

“I’ve long known that this man is more than meets the eyes.”

“Only a true man could express his solicitude for the warriors, and would not spend lavishly for a gift.”

“Johnson Hill is indeed a good man!”

Just like any other man, when one fell, everyone would add insult to injury. When one rose, everyone would butter him up.

Within just ten minutes, Johnson had experienced a drastic change of emotions from sadness to happiness.

He rose up and bowed at the crowd. He smiled from ear to ear, and his face was beamed with happiness. He was very pleased. The gloom that had shadowed him previously was gone.

In the midst of the crowd, Thomas shot a glance at a stupefied Emma. He smiled and said, “So, how is that? My recommendation works pretty well, right?”

Emma snorted, “It was a fluke.”

“Haha!” Thomas slightly shook his head, and said, “I’ll replicate more flukes again. Wait and see. Michael, that scum is going to get it soon.”