America 1919

Margaret, being a rather traditional woman, was emotional and full of maternal love.

Thus, after she heard Donnie's revised story, her entire demeanor became caring, and her heart no longer harbored any ill thoughts about Donnie's identity as a tavern owner.

She consoled softly, "This is God's consolation for your brave performance on the battlefield. They wanted you to move into the North District of Atlantic City, but then you encountered the current situation in Atlantic City. This is God's reward to you!"

Donnie caught Margaret's hand with his own, gently saying, "Thank you. Since I returned to Atlantic City, no one has ever said these things to me. I am very grateful for your guidance!"

Margaret, whose hand was grasped by Donnie, panicked inside and wanted to pull away, but Donnie, in his excitement, was gripping too tightly, making it impossible for her to withdraw her hand.

After briefly trying to free herself, Margaret ceased any further attempts.

As the two found themselves in a relatively enclosed space and the ambiance began to grow ambiguous, the atmosphere in the room turned somewhat unnatural.

However, Donnie made no further moves at this time. While Margaret inherently possessed the openness of Westerners, that trait had yet to be awakened in her, and being too hasty in this moment might have had the opposite effect.

"Ah!" In such a charged atmosphere, Margaret nervously withdrew her hand, fiddling with her hair to calm the restlessness in her heart.

"Donnie, there's something I need your help with!"

Donnie also withdrew his hand, naturally responding, "Of course, I would be delighted to do anything for you!"

Margaret waved her hands, slightly flustered, and said, "It's not about me, I would like to invite you to give a speech at our association."

Upon hearing Margaret's invitation, Donnie showed a slightly disappointed expression and asked, "Just because of my identity?"

Margaret, somewhat agitated, replied, "It's precisely because you are a tavern owner that your speech will be all the more persuasive!"

After pondering for a moment, Donnie said, "Alright then, you know I can't refuse an invitation from you!"

This response made Margaret blush, and for a moment she didn't know how to reply to Donnie's words.

Seeing that the day's progress was sufficient, Donnie stood up and said to Margaret, "It's getting late; I should leave."

Witnessing Donnie rising to leave filled Margaret's heart with an unexplainable sense of loss, but years of moral standards kept her from showing it.

After seeing Donnie out the door, Margaret went to find Elena Dorn and others. As an officer of the WCTU, although she had some say, the matter of inviting Donnie to speak still required Elena Dorn's consent.

Back on the boardwalk, Donnie saw that his tavern was still closed and pushed the door open to find Robert and John idly drinking beer.

"What are you doing? Why is the door not open?"

Donnie said loudly.

John stood up, puzzled, and said to Donnie, "Wasn't it you who said to close the door?"

Donnie, frustrated, replied, "We naturally didn't need to open when those annoying women were here, but now that they are gone, why are we still closed? Do you really plan to heed those women's words and shut down?"

"Ha!" John smacked his palm in realization and said, "Right, how did I forget that!"

Donnie shook his head, resigned, and headed upstairs, saying, "I'm going to change into a suit to attend the commodore's dinner; you two take care of the house!"

John and Robert nodded.

Once Donnie was back downstairs in a suit, he asked Robert, "By the way, how are Scott and the others doing?"

Robert immediately smiled and said, "Nucky has given them a severe reprimand. I guess they won't be able to open for business for a couple of days. I imagine more of Atlantic City's drunks will flood into our tavern!"

Donnie laughed and left the tavern, heading to the commodore's villa by the shore.

A servant who had received instructions from the commodore greeted Donnie with great politeness and ushered him into the living room upon his arrival.

When Donnie entered the living room, he saw the commodore already seated there, chatting with a man about his age.

"Leck, let me introduce you. This is the American hero I've told you about before, Donnie Block!"

Seeing Donnie enter the living room, the commodore stood up warmly and introduced Donnie to Leck.

"Donnie, this is Leck Young. He fought in America's great revolution, and after the war, he came to Atlantic City and established the first entertainment dock here!"

Donnie's interest was piqued; he knew the commodore's friend couldn't be that simple.

Even though Donnie had only been in Atlantic City for a few months, he had already heard about Leck Young.

The so-called Revolutionary War was actually the American Civil War.

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During the 1980s, Leck Young was already a famous millionaire in Atlantic City, and at that time, his amusement pier was also one of the busiest places in Atlantic City.

"Mr. Young, I grew up listening to your legend!"

Donnie courteously extended his hand.

Leck Young, supporting himself with his cane, stood up and laughed heartily, "I have heard the Major speak of your achievements on the battlefield, a remarkable young man indeed, I am pleased to meet you!"

After exchanging pleasantries, the three of them took their seats.

Several more people arrived in succession, all appearing to be about the age of the Major, with the only exception being a young man dressed in a hand-tailored suit, his hair slicked back with pomade.

"Donnie, let me introduce you, this is Vince McGrady, the legal officer of Atlantic City!"

Upon learning the man's identity, Donnie scrutinized him seriously. Legal officer was a very special profession. In the future United States, this profession would no longer exist. The nature of a legal officer's work is similar to that of a municipal court judge of later times, responsible for handling non-violent criminal cases, disruptive social behavior, and violations of traffic regulations.

The municipal court of Atlantic City is a sensitive component of grassroots district politics, where judges must pledge allegiance to their group.

"If your uncle gets locked up for causing trouble drunk, the elected leader must help get him out, if your son is caught in an inappropriate place, then it's up to the district leader to help get him out; if your brother is accused of fighting, the district leader must also ensure he won't be convicted."

However, these are not matters for district leaders to handle directly, hence they need someone to actually do it.

The person specifically doing this in Atlantic City now is the legal officer!

After Donnie showed Vince McGrady his good will, he did not receive the respect he deserved in return; the other man merely nodded curtly.

Faced with such a response from Vince, naturally, Donnie wouldn't say anything more.

The group had now arrived at the Major's villa's dining room, sitting around an oval dining table, and just as the Major was about to lift his glass and say something, a servant walked in with a black man wearing a three-piece suit and holding a cane.

"Excuse me, gentlemen, I am late!"

On this person's arrival, Donnie noticed that the others at the table revealed undisguised expressions of disgust.

Donnie understood why they had such expressions because the newcomer was a black man.

"Haha, we were just about to start, you've arrived just in time, dear LeBron James!"

The man turned out to be Atlantic City's largest bootlegger, LeBron James!

Donnie watched, intrigued, as LeBron James took the most corner seat, even though his status and wealth in Atlantic City were higher than Donnie's at the moment. In such a gathering, due to his identity, that was the only place he could take.

Yet even so, Donnie still saw pride in his eyes.

The fact that he could dine at the same table with a group of white dignitaries of Atlantic City was already a matter of great pride for LeBron James.

Following tradition, the Major made a toast, and the atmosphere became cheerful.

There were, however, some discordant voices.

"Donnie, I heard you just came from the battlefield, do you still remember our dining etiquette?"

Vince elegantly carved his steak with a knife and fork, looking at Donnie with a slight hint of provocation.

Such an inquiry made the other guests at the table turn their attention towards Donnie. They had been aware of Donnie's situation before their meeting today.

These people considered themselves nobility, gentlemen, and naturally had their own dining etiquette.

Donnie picked up his knife and fork, laughed, and said, "God didn't tell us the etiquette we should use to eat when he created food, of course, I think elegance is always timeless!"

Just as Donnie said, his manner of dining didn't give anyone present a chance to find fault.

Watching Donnie eat, Vince slightly curled his lip, revealing his dissatisfaction unabashedly.

After this small incident, Donnie had assumed the Major would discuss something substantial, such as how to deal with Nucky, but throughout the dinner, the Major only talked about how to construct an Atlantic City that best suited everyone present's interests, without mentioning Nucky's name during the banquet.

It was only after the dinner ended and Donnie saw that only he and LeBron James were leaving the place, did Donnie understand that the Major still didn't trust him!

But thinking about it, it made sense. After all, including this time, they had barely met twice, how could the other trust him!

"That Vince McGrady must be the Major's biggest reliance among the young men!"

Donnie mused quietly as he walked away.

Just as Donnie was a few hundred meters away from the Major's villa, a car stopped in front of him; behind the wheel was none other than LeBron James, who had left with him!

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