The renowned Boss Huang He, a prominent figure even in his home country, felt a slight disappointment as no one on his arrival in America showed him any adulation. However, he reassured himself that within fifteen to twenty years, every American would know his name.
"Hello, are you Mr. Huang from Wenzhou?" When Huang He, along with Leng Zhiruo and two other subordinates, reached the arrival hall at the airport, someone finally recognized him and stepped forward.
This person was the local American tour guide Huang He had pre-arranged. She appeared to be of Chinese descent.
"That's me!" Huang He nodded.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. Hello, I'm Ruth He. You can just call me Ruth!" the guide said fluently in Chinese.
"Ruth? Are you a local Chinese American? Second-generation immigrant?" Huang He inquired.
"No, I came here more than ten years ago. I've fully integrated into this great free world, so I've adopted a local name!" Ruth He stated confidently.
"Oh!" Huang He's brow furrowed slightly, though he maintained a smile. Led by this assimilated guide, they reached the hotel he had booked. After a few brief introductions, Ruth He departed.
"I don't like her. She no longer carries the scent of a Chinese person, even though she still has a Chinese face!" Leng Zhiruo said indignantly after Ruth He left.
"It doesn't matter. Everyone has their own path. I don't want to see her much either, but we only booked this one guide. We'll see if we can find someone more suitable later," Huang He smiled faintly.
"Brother-in-law, shall we go out for a stroll?" Leng Zhiruo suggested, clearly excited about shopping in America.
"I'd advise you to abandon that dangerous idea," Huang He shook his head.
"Why?" Leng Zhiruo asked, sounding reluctant.
"Look at the sky outside!" Huang He pointed to the world outside the window. It was already evening, with the city lights beginning to glow.
"There are three things you absolutely must not do in America: first, give the middle finger to a black person; second, hide your hands where the police can't see them; and third, go out at night!" Huang He shrugged. "If you do even one of these, we might not leave America alive."
"That's terrifying? I thought America was a developed country, a free world, a paradise of civilization. How can it be dangerous to go out at night?" Leng Zhiruo looked at Huang He incredulously.
"That's right. Precisely because it's a developed, free, and civilized world, everyone can have a gun, and everyone can shoot at you. Furthermore, we are considered yellow-skinned people from an underdeveloped, unfree, uncivilized country. It's civilized behavior for civilized people to kill uncivilized people, you understand?" Huang He spoke as if reciting a tongue twister.
"Let's wait until tomorrow. After I take care of something tomorrow, it will be much safer."
"But brother-in-law, I'm still not entirely sure why we've come to America?" Leng Zhiruo asked, confused. She had learned of Huang He's trip to America quite suddenly but had no idea what he intended to do. Even when she asked him, he remained mysterious and wouldn't explain.
"You'll know when we get there!" Huang He always said this.
"You'll know tomorrow!" Huang He replied in the same manner.
"Yes, brother-in-law!" Leng Zhiruo nodded helplessly. Then, she felt her waist being embraced by Huang He, who then tossed her onto the bed. The rest of the story is indescribable.
The next morning, Ruth arrived as scheduled.
"Mr. Huang, what are your plans for today? Where would you like to go?" Ruth asked curiously. Strangely, unlike the other tourist or business groups from China she had hosted, this Huang He hadn't provided any itinerary in advance, forcing her to ask.
"There must be a Blackwater company in Los Angeles. That's our destination this morning!" Huang He said with a smile.
"Blackwater company!" Ruth looked at Huang He in surprise. "Mr. Huang, are you looking for a bodyguard as the first thing you do in Los Angeles?"
"No, not one. We need at least eight bodyguards!" Huang He said with a smile.
"Eight bodyguards!" Ruth swallowed. Did this man have a billion dollars on him to require so many bodyguards at once?
"In that case, you'll need to wait a moment. I need to make a call to get the address!" Ruth said.
"Oh, the tour guide doesn't know where Blackwater company is?" Huang He asked curiously.
"Yes, I've led hundreds of tour and business groups from China, but you're the only one who has requested bodyguard services. I was caught off guard and wasn't fully prepared!" Ruth said with a wry smile.
"It can't be helped. I'm a bit cautious and value my safety," Huang He said with a smile.
"Actually, Los Angeles isn't that unsafe!" Ruth explained. "It's quite pleasant during the day. As long as you don't give the middle finger to a black person, don't actively seek out police, and don't go out at night, you should be mostly safe!"
"Mostly? You've led hundreds of groups. How many experienced threats to their safety, or were robbed or pickpocketed during the day?" Huang He asked, blinking.
"Uh... a few dozen, perhaps. The proportion isn't that high. I always take you on very safe routes. As long as you don't stray from the prosperous areas of Los Angeles, at most you'll be robbed. Those guys usually don't dare to open fire!" Ruth explained.
However, her explanation only made the other three more convinced that the boss's request for eight bodyguards was very wise.
Soon, Ruth made the necessary arrangements, found the address of Blackwater company, and then drove Huang He and the others to their destination.
"Miss Ruth, have you personally encountered any dangerous situations?" Leng Zhiruo asked curiously on the way.
"I'm generally alright. I might get robbed a few times a year, but usually not more than ten times," Ruth said. "I often have to host groups outdoors, so the chance of trouble is higher. If I stayed in Chinatown without moving, or lived a standard life between two points, I might only get robbed once or twice a year. It's very safe!"
"Very safe..." Leng Zhiruo was speechless and could only ask curiously, "Have you ever thought about returning to China?"
"Return to China? Why would I go back? My country is here!" Ruth smiled slightly, a dismissive expression on her face. "It's not that I've forgotten my roots, but the gap between China and America is too vast. The moon isn't as round in China as it is in America, and there aren't as many stars as in America!"
"I'm serious. China is full of factories and polluting industries now, but America is different. America is very environmentally friendly, with good air that carries a sweet scent. Under such pure skies, the moon and stars naturally appear brighter and more numerous than in China!" Ruth said with great admiration.
"That's quite a reasonable explanation for the 'grass is greener on the other side' phenomenon," Huang He chuckled.
"I know you might look down on me, even consider me a traitor. Many people who came here before have cursed me, but you need to listen more, look more, and feel more, and you'll understand that America is indeed much stronger than China. This is an unchangeable fact. We are not as intelligent as these white people in terms of race. Moreover, our physique... sigh, you all know. Only democracy can secure the future of the world."
"Therefore, China cannot compare to America in any aspect, and this situation might persist for hundreds of years. As a normal human being, I should have the right to pursue a better life, shouldn't I?" Ruth said sincerely.
"But... it's not safe here, not nearly as safe as China, isn't that true?" Leng Zhiruo wanted to defend her homeland but couldn't find any other strong points to argue from at the moment, so she could only bring up the safety issue they had just discovered.
"Safety isn't that important. At most, it's just robbery. As long as you don't resist, your life won't be in danger!" Ruth argued assertively. "Moreover, we have experience. If you only carry less than $100 in cash and hand it over when someone tries to rob you, kneeling on the ground with your hands behind your head, they won't threaten your life. As long as you obey, then we are quite safe!"
"We earn in a month in America what we used to earn in a year in China. Being robbed once or twice a year is completely insignificant!"
"..." Leng Zhiruo was rendered speechless. She felt that there was something wrong with Ruth's words, but she couldn't pinpoint what it was. She just felt a bit disgusted.
Suddenly, the car stopped, and many people rushed into the street, jumping and shouting with great enthusiasm.
"What's happening?" Leng Zhiruo asked nervously.
"I'm not sure, but as long as you keep the car doors closed and locked, it should be fine!" Ruth was also a little tense and muttered to herself, "This shouldn't be happening. There haven't been any police shootings of black people recently, no political scandals have erupted anywhere, and I haven't heard of any secretaries being sexually assaulted by their superiors. Why would there suddenly be a protest?"
"I think you could listen to the radio. So many people are cheering at once, and many are jumping out of their cars to cheer. They must have heard some news on the car radio!" Huang He said calmly.
"That's right!" Ruth nodded, turned on the car radio, and heard an excited man speaking loudly.
"What is he saying?" Huang He asked curiously.
"Everyone is celebrating the one-year anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan!" Ruth said loudly. "And also celebrating that we have brought peace, democracy, and happiness to the Afghan people."
On October 7, 2001, the war in Afghanistan began. It has been exactly one year since then.