46: Chapter 46: When the market closes, you'll all line up to jump off buildings.

James had no interest in politics, but his own brother, Theodore, was an out-and-out political fanatic.

In 1881, Theodore entered the New York State Assembly representing the Republican Party and was in desperate need of massive political resources to back him up.

Looking across the entire USA, who was the biggest financier behind the Republican Party?

Naturally, it was the Rockefeller Family.

Rumors had long circulated that the Democratic Party relied on Morgan, while the Republican Party relied on Rockefeller.

Regardless of the side, the money from Wall Street was the lifeblood.

If Theodore could use his connection with Lin Tian to get a line to Rockefeller, the Ross family would absolutely take off.

James could never have dreamed that this relative of his would eventually produce two presidents, leaping to become one of the four great political families in the USA.

A few days later, the first National Rifle Competition concluded successfully.

Major newspapers reported on it with overwhelming intensity.

The grand spectacle, witnessed by tens of thousands, spread across the country.

Otto, who won the top prize, instantly became a big star in New York.

Newspapers dug up his background: a veteran, cruelly laid off, whose wife sold her long hair to help him buy a model 1882 lin rifle.

The story earned plenty of tears. Women couldn't help but cry after reading the newspaper, while men were very envious that he had such a good wife.

The factory boss who had previously fired Otto shamelessly sent a manager to ask him to return to work.

Otto refused directly in front of reporters and loudly announced that he had already accepted an offer from the Lin Weapons Company and would soon move to San Francisco to become a senior test shooter.

In fact, it wasn't just Otto; the remaining experts who made it to the finals were all recruited by Lin Tian.

Sharpshooters who had fought their way through thousands were top-tier talent, whether as security guards or test shooters, and Lin Tian would never let them go.

Only the female shooter, Annie, did not agree, as she followed her husband to perform on tours around the world.

After the competition, Lin Tian happily spent three days in Chicago with Anna and Elizabeth.

When the day of parting arrived, Lin Tian sent the two of them to the train station.

This time, he had booked a first-class carriage with soft sleeper bunks and dedicated attendants.

On the platform, Elizabeth looked reluctant to part ways: "Bruce, you must come to New York to attend my birthday banquet!"

"And me!" Anna lowered her head, looking gloomy. "But I'm afraid my father will be so busy with his experiments that he won't even remember my birthday!"

Lin Tian nodded and promised Elizabeth first: "As long as I'm free, I will definitely go, Elizabeth!"

"Call me Sean; that's what my family calls me," Elizabeth said softly, blushing.

Lin Tian acknowledged this and turned to look at Anna: "If Mr. Edison forgets, Sean and I will celebrate your birthday with you, Know-it-all!"

Anna's blue eyes widened in surprise: "Really?"

"I would never lie to you!" Lin Tian smiled slightly.

"Let's swear in the name of God, and neither of us can go back on it!"

"Okay, sworn in the name of God!"

Anna was instantly overjoyed, then immediately asked in confusion: "Lin Tian, why do you insist on calling me Know-it-all?"

"You'll understand later!" Bruce deliberately played it off vaguely.

The attendant urged them to board, and Bruce could only wave goodbye.

The next day, Elton and Mr. and Mrs. Ross also prepared to return to New York.

Before boarding, James enthusiastically invited Lin Tian to visit Hyde Park Village when he had the time.

Lin Tian nodded readily, indicating he would definitely visit.

June had just ended, and while the heat from the rifle competition hadn't dissipated, Chicago had not calmed down at all.

Entering July, the weather grew hotter, and the entire city was filled with an air of manic greed.

The futures exchange was packed with people every day.

Watching grain prices rise day by day, farmers and big bosses were all blinded by greed.

Even the exchange clerks and senior advisors, who were accustomed to storms, were lost in the wave of money.

Barney, who ran a carriage business, had currently become a living investment legend.

By mid-July, the futures contracts he held were worth as much as 3.5 million dollars.

If he sold them now, he could net a profit of 1.5 million dollars.

For ordinary people, they couldn't earn that much money in several lifetimes.

Added to what he had earned a while ago, his net worth had skyrocketed.

Barney was completely carried away.

He couldn't even be bothered to look at his carriage business, feeling that running a real business was too slow and couldn't compare to the pleasure of lying down and counting money in the futures market.

Early on the morning of July 20th.

Barney, as usual, was smoking a Cuban cigar and had his arm around a French woman as he walked through the doors of the exchange.

Although the market hadn't opened yet, the hall was already packed with people. Everyone looked envious and flocked to greet him and ask for advice.

"Mr. Barney, how much more can it rise today?"

"I want to throw in another 5,000 dollars to buy oats; do you think that's okay?"

"The unit price of wheat is about to break through 20 dollars!"

Facing various questions, Barney was smug and casually held court.

"Did you hear that, my dear? Everyone calls me the God of Wealth! I pointed out a shortcut to riches for everyone!" Barney boasted loudly to the woman in his arms.

The French woman looked flattering, her eyes alluring: "You are so amazing! I have my eye on over a dozen new dresses designed by Madam Amanda; can I buy them?"

Barney rubbed his beer belly, his face lecherous: "Buy them! Buy whatever you want! I just love seeing you in beautiful clothes!"

"Mwah!"

The woman happily leaned in and gave him a kiss.

Just as a group of people were fawning over Barney, a huge commotion suddenly erupted in the exchange hall.

Hearing the commotion behind him, Barney curiously turned his head.

A second later, his expression changed slightly.

He saw a group of people walking into the hall, and walking at the very front was the young Chinese man, Lin Tian.

Surveying Lin Tian, who was dressed in a crisp blue suit and looked fresh-faced, a look of mockery appeared on Barney's face.

"Everyone, look! Isn't this Mr. Lin Tian, who made quite a splash in Chicago selling muskets over a month ago?"

Barney laughed at the top of his lungs: "Hahaha, is the hard-earned money you made selling muskets enough to cover the bloody losses in the futures market?"

Several Western gentlemen nearby joined in the taunting.

"I heard Mr. Bruce threw several million dollars into the futures market. I think if everyone in the USA bought one of his muskets, he might barely have enough to cover the losses. Too bad I didn't buy one!"

"To dare to short the market two months ago, he's truly stupid to the core!"

"The yellow-skinned man should just hurry back to his hometown!"

A chorus of jarring laughter rang out in the hall.

Facing the ridicule of this group, Lin Tian couldn't have cared less.

He looked up at the wall clock; there was still half an hour until the market officially opened.

He was actually looking forward to it, wondering if these people would still have the energy to laugh when the market closed today.

Or, perhaps, whether they would be lining up to jump off the top of the Chicago Water Tower.