Chapter 1058: Goodbye

Goodbye. Looking at Lan Si, who was sitting in Die Ge's chair and working hard, Pedro suddenly had a very wonderful feeling.

He just watched Lan Si work quietly, without any intention of disturbing the other party.

When he first met Lan Si, he was just a high school teacher.

Perhaps because of famine and some reasons, he had some dissatisfaction and resentment toward this society and the ruling group of Lapa.

If it weren't for Die Ge and the others selling the originally sufficient food under the temptation of high profits, perhaps there wouldn't have been a famine, nor would there have been what was about to happen.

At that time, he just felt that Lan Si was... perhaps not very friendly to Lapa, a Federal person. He was promoting a reactionary idea, telling them how to utilize the power around them.

Those things they could see, could touch, usually didn't have any expression, but as long as they united, they could explode with huge power, all utilized.

At that time, Lan Si, in Pedro's eyes, was an ambitious "mentor," which wasn't a good word either.

During this period, he also heard many rumors related to Lan Si, especially the signing of the Zhuolan Treaty, where Die Ge sold a large amount of national interests in exchange for some aid from the Federal government.

At this time, Lan Si, in Pedro's eyes, had become one of the culprits who split Lapa, an evil one.

The second time he truly met Lan Si was not long ago.

It's interesting to say that they met again after a long time after their first meeting, and when they met for the second time, Pedro was still meeting Lan Si with a kind of "pride."

Because he succeeded.

Their change succeeded.

This meant that he transformed the things Lan Si taught him into reality, and successfully verified it, plus some of his own thoughts.

This is like a person who has worked hard for a long time and finally achieved success. He urgently wants to share his joy at this moment with everyone who has helped him.

Even if the role Lan Si played was not glorious, to him, he still wanted to meet Lan Si, chat about recent situations, and tell him that now Lapa was his to decide.

The second meeting could actually be divided into two encounters, but the effect was not as good as he imagined.

The calmness and composure Lan Si showed made him vaguely realize that some things are not what you want, you can do.

He wanted to establish a new Lapa government, a government belonging to the people, fair, just, clean, and efficient, but he seemed unable to do so.

The Native State Coalition declared war on him directly.

And today, it was the third time he met Lan Si.

"Time" doesn't refer to the number of times in the strict sense, but a stage.

Each stage he himself had different changes, but only Lan Si seemed to have no changes from beginning to end.

Now, Lan Si was sitting in that chair of Die Ge, the chair that symbolized the supreme power of Lapa, the chair that he, Luo Si, and others never sat in even once until they died.

Lan Si just sat there easily, and wouldn't give anyone an abrupt feeling, as if... it was indeed very suitable for him! It was also a complete see-through of the whole "event," so he didn't have any resistance, struggle, or any other thoughts now.

Before, when he read history books, he always read them very superficially, without thinking deeply, thinking about what the purpose of those historical political figures doing this or that was, why it was this form of expression, and whether there was any deeper meaning.

He had never considered it. Now, he suddenly found that he didn't need to consider it either, because he was destined not to become such a person, so he only needed to see the superficial things, which was enough.

He just stared at Lan Si, his mind randomly radiating thoughts.

After about twenty minutes, Lan Si put down the fountain pen in his hand, rubbed his wrist, and only when he looked up and closed the documents and folders did he find Pedro standing by the door.

A slightly confused look flashed by, followed by his realization, "Sorry, I was too involved just now and didn't notice you had arrived."

"Please sit."

He signaled Pedro to sit opposite him, "Open his handcuffs, don't worry that he will hurt me."

Pedro stood there silently, letting the soldiers open his handcuffs, then walked slowly to the opposite side of Lan Si and sat down.

"How is it?"

"Did you sleep well these two days?"

An outrageous opening remark. Pedro, who had already prepared countless questions to deal with Lan Si, was stunned for a moment, then laughed twice, "Not bad, it's very clean and tidy inside, and there is food every day."

"If it weren't for the fact that there is no freedom in there, I actually think that is the final form of life that humans crave."

"No pressure, no work requirements, food every day, and you can do your own things."

Lan Si nodded noncommittally, "Soon it won't be, because they will have new work to do."

Pedro didn't know what that was, but he didn't want to ask, "Can I ask you a question?"

Lan Si nodded and said, "Of course you can, we are friends."

The word "friend" was not harsh, but it gave Pedro more feelings and insights. After pondering for a while, he asked, "Will you rule Lapa?"

Lan Si shook his head, "I won't, it will become a state of the Federation."

At this time, Lan Si also unreservedly stated the changes here in the future.

Pedro felt some discomfort, although he had expected it long ago, "You have never considered whether the people living here are willing to accept this result."

After Lan Si heard his words, he didn't reprimand him or anything else, but discussed it with him calmly and composedly.

"You, Die Ge, and others, actually don't understand what people want."

"They just want a stable life, a job that can support them and their families, and if possible, some savings."

"Can eat their fill every day, can afford to wear thick clothes when the weather gets cold, can eat some meat, whether it's pork, beef, or mutton."

"Fish is actually okay too."

"Life can be plain, can have no waves, but it must be stable."

Pedro kept shaking his head, "We can do it too."

Lan Si took out his cigarette case, gave Pedro one, and lit one for himself, "What you said you can do is at the cost of sacrificing the vast majority of people."

"60% or 70% of the population has no work. They have to find ways to support themselves. For every three people, two Lapa people have to run for their own and their family's daily food."

"Most Lapa people are in a state of hunger 365 days a year."

"But look at our development. Almost everyone can support themselves as long as they are willing to work."

"People don't live with much dignity, but at least they can eat their fill and wear warm clothes."

"A 15-cent fried chicken can allow a family to enjoy a sumptuous dinner, but here, nothing can be done."

"Being ruled by the Federation is not a sorrow, Pedro. For the individuals being ruled, these people, it is a good thing."

"They will get more job opportunities, have a more stable life, and possess dignity."

"They don't need to risk their lives jumping into sewers to clear silt with their hands, nor do they need to look for garbage that can be sold in rivers full of feces and animal corpses."

"Even less do they need to look for food scraps left over by the rich in the garbage dumps of the rich, bring them back to heat up and feed their families."

"After the Federation rules here, they only need to work to get things they can't get even in their dreams."

"Refusing the Federation's rule is the manifestation of selfishness, not patriotism."

"Patriotism should be based on everyone getting a better life. If you throw them into hell to maintain the independence you think, then you can only be the enemy of the people, a devil."

Pedro listened to these words with a strange expression, "You didn't say these things when we held seminars before."

Mentioning this, Lan Si couldn't help but laugh, "Because there was no content of this part in your script, it doesn't belong to you."

Pedro sighed, "So we were abandoned by the era."

His tone was full of emotion and regret, but Lan Si had some different views, "Although there is no problem in saying so, I think it is a bit one-sided."

"You did it. You will become a part of the history of this country. When those children in the future can receive free compulsory education in the classroom, in history class, they can read your names from books."

"Pedro, you have to know, this is an achievement that many people have used their whole lives and couldn't achieve, but for you, it was completed so easily!"

"And your work is not meaningless. Your work will help the Federation better integrate with the people of Lapa."

"Those who possess rebellious spirit, confrontational spirit, and don't obey discipline have basically been eliminated. After the remaining ones are cleaned up, Lapa will welcome a new life."

"All of this is thanks to the better completion of your work. You are also the creators of this new era, although perhaps your reputation in history will not be very good."

Pedro shook his head indifferently, "I don't care much about these, to be honest."

"I just hope... if you can really let the people here live a beautiful life as you said, perhaps everything you did is correct."

Lan Si smiled and didn't answer his sentence, but asked, "Do you have any dreams that haven't been completed?"

"Are you talking about last wishes?"

Lan Si laughed twice, not caring about this somewhat aggressive answer, "You can also understand it this way. After all, we have been cooperating quite happily during this period."

"Whether as your friend or your mentor, if I can satisfy your last wish, then I will."

Pedro thought for a while, "Actually, I don't have many regrets. Just like you said, I did what I should do."

He said as he suddenly seemed to think of something, "At that time, I also asked Die Ge what his last wish was. How similar is it to this moment?"

"You don't know, some time ago I lived here. Every day when I saw the mirror, the person reflected in the mirror wasn't me, but Die Ge."

"He was always saying in the mirror that he was waiting for me, or saying some things I couldn't understand."

Lan Si was a bit surprised to hear him talk about this for the first time, "Sounds a bit scary, so... what is your wish?"

Pedro originally intended to say that he had no last wishes, but for some reason, he looked at the high chair back behind Lan Si, "I... want to sit in your chair."

"Die Ge's chair, the president's throne!"

Lan Si was a bit surprised, but felt it was reasonable, "Haven't you sat in it?"

He said as he stood up, "You can sit, but don't mess up the documents on my desk."

After he finished speaking, he walked to one side, signaling Pedro to come over and sit down.

Pedro's body trembled slightly. He held the table and stood up, "I'm a bit nervous."

Lan Si responded with a smile. He walked to the side of the chair, held the edge of the table with both hands, then took a deep breath, and sat down slowly.

Die Ge was a president who knew how to enjoy. The price of this chair was not cheap. Sitting on it was like sitting on... he didn't know how to describe it. The feeling of sinking deeply didn't look like a chair at all, but more like sitting in someone's arms, tightly wrapped, comfortable, and full of security.

He was somewhat obsessed with this feeling. He patted the armrests with both hands, squinted his eyes slightly, and seemed to be fantasizing about something.

After about half a minute, he opened his eyes, full of regret, and then stood up.

"Don't want to experience it for a while longer?", Lan Si asked, "How does it feel?"

Pedro took the initiative to move to the side of the table, "Very comfortable, this is the most comfortable chair I have ever sat in."

"But in the end, it's just a chair, it can't represent anything."

"Yes, it's just a chair. Apart from being comfortable and beautiful, it has no other attributes."

"In your eyes, it might have some different things, but this is not because it itself possesses any special attributes, but because of the person sitting in this chair."

Lan Si sat down again, "When Die Ge sat here, it was the president's throne. In the eyes of many people, this office, this desk, and this chair represent the supreme power of the entire country."

"But in reality, they are just ordinary furniture."

"If a person gains people's respect because of some thing, then this respect absolutely cannot be as lasting and sincere as the respect they gain through their own efforts!"

Pedro nodded and sighed, "Yes, you are right.", he paused, "How much time do I have left?"

Lan Si glanced at the watch on his wrist, which had a calendar on it, "A few days."

Pedro couldn't help but laugh, "I never thought it would be like this, my life."

"But... you are right, at least it's wonderful enough."

"Goodbye, Lan Si."

Lan Si nodded slightly, "Goodbye, Pedro."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 1059 =====