Chapter 137: Responsibility - Part 2

In the slums, dinner was relatively simple. Even though Michael's wife went shopping, the dishes served on the table were nothing more than scrambled eggs, fried pork chops, macaroni, and spaghetti.

The dining environment was also poor. As more people arrived, the already cramped dining room became packed, but despite this, everyone still ate happily.

The reason was simple—pure happiness.

During the meal, everyone, having composed themselves, began to chat. It wasn't until then that Ethan learned that the First Cavalry Division to which these people belonged had participated in almost all major battles.

Apart from the Delany Valley, they were present in both the Spring Offensive and the Invasion Operation.

As the only American division unit to have fought on all four battlefields in the entire war, they received feedback on many medals, but unfortunately—

"What use are these things!"

A man angrily pounded the table and said, "After we returned home, our unit designation was directly canceled! We were ordered to report back to our original units, and then what we encountered was discharge notices!"

"They said the war was over, the army was at full strength, and there was no place for us!"

"Oh! Damn it!"

"All of these are just excuses!"

"They're desperately trying to cover it all up!"

"They just want to appease the dissatisfaction of the domestic population!"

"They just want to silence the insults!"

"And us—"

"We, the ones who truly fought on the battlefield!"

"The ones who truly need care!"

"Are treated like garbage and thrown away at will!"

"Leaving us to live like this!"

When this indignation arose, the scene that was once reminiscent of the past instantly fell silent.

In Michael's home, a lingering gloom engulfed everything.

And Ethan understood what they were talking about.

Summing it up in one word—

Discrimination.

Just like in Ethan's past life, countless Hollywood movies depicted it, after enduring hardships and sacrificing lives, Vietnam War veterans received not flowers and applause, nor solace and care, but rather unjust treatment from top to bottom in America.

They had no social status.

They weren't easy to employ.

The bullying suffered by Rambo in "First Blood" was the most accurate depiction.

There were many reasons for this situation, but ultimately, it boiled down to the two words everyone knew well—

Losing the war.

For things like this that couldn't be changed by individual efforts...

All one could do was feel helpless.

And as this painful cry emerged, Thomas immediately changed the subject, saying that he had brought a truckload of oranges, and when everyone went back later, each person must take away a box.

Although this diversion seemed a bit abrupt, everyone present understood that Thomas had no ill intentions, so they thanked him and also marveled at Thomas's character.

It wasn't until then that Ethan learned that when these veterans returned to California, they had approached him before, and since then, Thomas had kept in touch with them...

"Thomas, why didn't you mention these things to me before?"

At nine o'clock in the evening, Thomas and Ethan bid farewell. On the way back, Ethan asked, "If I remember correctly, this should be my first time meeting them."

When these veterans mentioned that they had approached Ethan back in '72 when they were discharged, Ethan immediately searched his memory, and the result he got was—

Nothing.

He didn't remember this.

Or rather, the original owner of his body had no memory of this.

"It's simple, because they didn't want to bother you."

Thomas smiled as he drove, "After they got in touch with me, they asked about your situation, and at that time, you had just gotten a job at Magnavox, so I told them that you were doing well, although you weren't very obedient, at least you were earning money."

"After they learned all this, they put aside the idea of meeting you because they were afraid, afraid that their appearance would affect you, afraid that your company would fire you directly once they knew your background, there was no way, at that time, the anti-war voices had already reached the GC of public opinion."

"As the son of a comrade, when you finally stabilized, they felt relieved."

This explanation made Ethan silent.

He gazed out the window, watching the rapidly receding world, smiling and shaking his head.

Even though he didn't have deep ties with these people, he could clearly feel the deep affection they had for him. It was a manifestation of loving the house and its crow, as well as an inexplicable spiritual sustenance.

"So..."

"Thomas, were the gifts you mentioned earlier for them?"

After a moment, Ethan asked again.

And his words made Thomas sigh.

Slowing down the car, turning on the hazard lights, he pulled over to the side.

After pulling up the handbrake, Thomas turned sideways and looked at Ethan.

"Ethan, although what I'm about to say may sound harsh, you have to believe that I have no ill intentions... Your father's comrades-in-arms are indeed the most precious wealth he left you."

"No doubt about it."

"Your father exchanged his life for their continuation. They are truly grateful to your father from the bottom of their hearts, and this gratitude, something that countless riches cannot buy."

"My child, I don't know how you view me, or how you view my father's employment theory. I don't know if you feel joy or disgust in your heart, but I want to tell you..."

"At first glance, by providing jobs to society, thus gaining some voting rights, it seems like a transaction, but in reality, the word 'transaction' doesn't even describe this relationship."

"Voting rights are just the simplest and most superficial manifestation of the entire relationship."

"What's truly important is to make those people feel that they haven't followed the wrong person."

"Only when they feel that the person they're following can give them a better life, can meet their corresponding needs, will they listen to your thoughts and heed your advice."

"They will only vote for you when they trust you from the bottom of their hearts."

"Although it seems on the surface that you're giving money, in reality, you're giving much more. For example, you need to let them see hope! Hope for a better life!"

"This invisible and intangible thing is what you truly need to give!"

"Perhaps in many cases, this hope can be bought with money."

"For example, they want a stable life, and you provide them with stable jobs."

"But most of the time, this kind of hope is not easy to provide."

"Because when you decide to move forward with them, what you carry on your back is not just your own life, but the families of all those who trust you!"

"That's a responsibility!"

"When you choose to walk this path, whether you like it or not, whether you're sincere or not, you

have to maintain the same face forever, until the end of your life!"

"So... now you should understand what your father left you, right?"

"Only the continuation of life can exchange for unconditional trust!"

"This kind of unconditional trust erases all obstacles in the process of building trust!"

"This kind of unconditional trust also allows you to make mistakes along the way, and forgive all your mistakes!"

"Your father wiped out all the tests of humanity with his life!"

"This is the most precious thing!"

With that, Thomas stopped.

And Ethan...

A knowing smile appeared on his face.

He understood what Thomas meant.

Thomas wanted to express that bringing a better life to a group of people is a long-term and difficult task, one without an end, only continuous effort until the end of life.

In this situation, only the bond of brotherhood can provide a brief rest along the way.

And for Ethan...

He was actually prepared for this.

In his view, the vision of "bringing a better life to some people" was just a Slim version of "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN". Once the slogan was shouted...

There was no turning back.

Although he might never be able to provide jobs for a million people and help them live better lives, a dozen or twenty people were still within his capacity for now.

Not to mention, these people could be considered his own family.

Although he loved money and desired to earn more, if some of these people could live better because of his help, that would be the best thing for him.

And this, in fact, was the greatest value of money... right?

As for the other feedback in this process...

He acknowledged it.

He wanted it too.

"Thomas, thank you."

Ethan smiled and said, "You've probably wanted to hire them for a long time, right?"

"But they were afraid of bothering me, so they didn't accept."

"And in this situation, you can still visit them every year..."

"You're indeed a good person."

Such an evaluation left Thomas momentarily stunned.

Then he chuckled and undid his seatbelt.

"Get out!" he waved his big hand.

"What?" Ethan was puzzled by this move.

"You drive! I'm tired!" Thomas wanted to switch places with Ethan, "There's still over fifty miles to go home, and it'll take an hour to get there no matter how you drive, so you drive!"

This action puzzled Ethan.

"Okay—"

He accepted this "tough job".