40: Chapter 40 An unexpected encounter with the future president's biological father

Leaving the exchange gates, Lin Tian turned his head to look at Foss: "Could I ask you for a favor, Mr. Foss?"

"Please speak, Mr. Lin Tian!"

Lin Tian leaned close to Foss's ear and lowered his voice to give a few instructions.

After listening, a strange glint of amusement flashed in Foss's eyes, and he nodded decisively: "No problem, leave it to me. However, I hope Mr. Bruce will favor Wells Fargo Bank with more business in the future."

"It's a deal. I also look forward to a long-term cooperation with your company and becoming friends with you!"

The two boarded their respective carriages at the roadside and left in different directions.

Just as the trend chart provided by the system predicted, by May and June, the prices of wheat and other grains began to skyrocket like a rocket.

Seeing the market booming, the entire Chicago Exchange was packed with people every day.

Countless people with bloodshot eyes rushed in, waving cash, throwing their entire life savings into the market.

Every minute, the bookkeeper would update the astronomical figures on the blackboard.

Watching the quotes constantly rising, everyone fell into a frenzy.

Barney, who ran a carriage business, had already thrown over a million dollars into the futures market during the initial phase.

Taking advantage of the skyrocketing grain prices, he naturally made a fortune.

But people are never satisfied; they are as greedy as a snake trying to swallow an elephant.

Barney was not at all satisfied with just being a millionaire.

He dreamed of becoming a multi-millionaire like Foss, a top figure respected by all.

Just as he was blinded by greed, a manager from Wells Fargo Bank approached him, asking if he wanted to take out a mortgage loan.

Without even blinking an eye, Barney mortgaged his two hundred carriages, his luxury villa in San Francisco, and even his large farm in another state to the bank.

In exchange for a massive sum of 1.3 million dollars, he pushed it all into the futures market.

Watching his net worth soar every day, Barney became carried away, showing up at the exchange on time every day with a French woman in his arms.

Here, he had become a well-known celebrity.

"Mr. Barney, how much further do you think wheat will rise this month?"

"At least another thirty percent!"

"I heard you've already made over a million; could you reveal the secret to getting rich?"

"It's simple: just buy! As long as you bet on the rise, you can count money while lying in bed!"

"Mr. Barney, what is the one thing you want to say right now?"

Hearing the reporter's question, Barney, with a cigar in his mouth, pushed away the woman in his arms, held up a middle finger high, and shouted arrogantly:

"Chinese boy, you are about to be completely finished! Hahaha!"

Soon, the photo of Barney giving the middle finger appeared directly in a local Chicago tabloid.

This rag of a newspaper, which specialized in racial discrimination, not only gave Barney a front-page feature but also exposed Lin Tian's shorting of grain entirely.

The newspaper unabashedly asserted that Lin Tian's short selling this time would absolutely end in a crushing defeat, and all his wealth would go down the drain.

The end of the article didn't forget to praise Barney's investment vision to the skies.

The most luxurious Kona Hotel in Chicago.

Lin Tian had just finished a Turkish bath and was lying on a soft bed, enjoying a back scrub massage.

Nearby, his lawyer Paul, wearing a bathrobe, flipped through the tabloid and asked with a smile: "Boss, do you want me to sue this newspaper in court?"

"Ignore them, they're just a bunch of clowns courting their own destruction!"

Lin Tian, eyes closed, instructed comfortably: "Remember, the contracts we are holding must all be settled before mid-July!"

Allen, Tom, and Paul in the room nodded one after another.

Everyone knew it very well.

A massive 12 million dollar position involving ten types of grains; the quantity was frighteningly large.

It absolutely could not be dumped all at once, or it would immediately trigger a massive avalanche in grain prices, and they would suffer losses themselves.

In order to make the most money, they could only settle in batches.

According to the price peak provided by the system, they had to start selling off quietly from the end of June.

"The next main event is the National Rifle Association shooting competition!" Lin Tian calculated in his heart.

Tomorrow, the second president of the National Rifle Association, Mr. Elton, would arrive in Chicago.

This big shot was specifically invited by Lin Tian.

Mentioning Elton, one cannot avoid his half-brother, Ambrose.

This fellow was not only a famous Northern general who fought in the Civil War but also personally invented the breech-loading carbine.

He served as Governor from 1866 to 1869 and was a Congressman in 1874.

He was also the founder and first president of the National Rifle Association.

Unfortunately, this veteran passed away from illness just last year.

The one who took over the burden of the association was his younger brother, Elton.

This competition was sponsored by the Lin-Browning Arms Company, and organized by the Rifle Association.

For the association, this was definitely a great opportunity to make a name for itself.

You have to know, the Rifle Association, which had only been established for ten years, was only somewhat famous in Virginia, far from the behemoth that not even Presidents would dare to provoke in later generations.

Therefore, when the Lin-Browning Arms Company approached them to explain their intentions, this newly appointed president didn't even hesitate and agreed immediately.

...

The next day, at 10:00 AM.

Lin Tian brought people to the Chicago train station to welcome the National Rifle Association's president, Elton.

Elton was around fifty years old, had a very sturdy build, and wore a full beard.

Upon meeting, Elton shook hands with Bruce with a beaming smile.

"Hello, Mr. Bruce!"

"Hello, Mr. Burn, you've had a tiring journey!" Lin Tian responded politely.

Elton waved his hand with a smile: "Just call me Mr. Burn; I'm not an official in the government!"

Then, he began to introduce the elderly husband and young wife who had just gotten off the train behind him.

"This is Mr. James Roosevelt, and beside him is his wife, Sara."

Lin Tian was stunned for a moment and carefully scrutinized the couple.

The man was in his fifties, wearing a well-fitting black suit and a top hat, with a small round beard on his chin, looking refined and scholarly.

The woman was under thirty, slim, and very beautiful.

Only her chin was a bit large, revealing a stubborn temper.

A historical memory flashed instantly through Lin Tian's mind.

The Roosevelt family would turn the USA upside down in the future.

Right now, they weren't very famous, but later, the family would produce two Presidents.

Theodore Roosevelt and the Franklin Roosevelt of the World War II era.

This James before him was a distant relative of Theodore, and also the biological father of Franklin Roosevelt.

Sara was naturally Franklin's biological mother.

He really didn't expect to run into such historical giants here.

"Welcome to Chicago!" Lin Tian stepped forward to greet them.

James smiled kindly: "Mr. Lin Tian, I have long admired your name. I see your exploits in the newspaper every day, and seeing you in person today, you are even more energetic than what is written in the papers!"

Bruce said modestly: "You flatter me. Compared to Mr. Roosevelt of Hyde Park, I still have a long way to go!"

"Mr. Lin Tian actually knows me?" James was startled, his face full of curiosity.

He had some fame in New York's high society circles, but he didn't like politics, preferring to be an honest country gentleman in the countryside.

Ordinary people didn't know him at all.

At this moment, even Mrs. Sara was full of surprise.

Lin Tian continued: "Didn't you join the board of directors for the Hyde Park village school, and serve as a trustee for the asylum? I've read the newspapers and have always felt you are a responsible and great philanthropist!"

As soon as these words were spoken, James was pleasantly surprised, as if he had met a kindred spirit.

"You are absolutely right, Mr. Bruce!"

Seeing her husband so excited, Sara quickly interjected: "Dear, this is the train station; let's go somewhere else to chat."

She ordered the attendants to take the luggage.

Lin Tian replied: "Please follow me; carriages are already prepared outside."

Two luxury carriages were parked outside the station.

Lin Tian and Elton rode in one, while Mr. and Mrs. Ross rode in the other.

Inside the carriage, Sara sighed to her husband: "This young man named Lin Tian is definitely not simple!"

"What's wrong?" James asked, confused.

"Don't you think he is too mature? The newspaper says he is only ten. Heaven help us, he gives me the feeling of a veteran who has spent half his life in social circles!" Sara said with a serious expression.

James nodded in agreement: "Indeed. Not only is he growing fast, but he handles things with sophistication. However, this has nothing to do with us; we are just here in Chicago to watch the shooting competition."

"That may be so, but I hope you can build a good relationship with him."

Sara warned seriously, "If we were to make an enemy of such a person, I would wake up terrified from my dreams in the middle of the night!"

James deeply agreed.

The most frightening thing about Lin Tian was not his genius brain, nor the kung fu touted in the newspapers, but his bottomless potential.

To be able to reach such a height at only a teenager's age.

As long as one's brain is functioning normally, no one would want to go against him.

To deal with such a genius, you either become friends with him or destroy him directly.

Mr. and Mrs. Ross decisively chose the first path.