American Adventure: My Uncle is Don Quixote

Don Quixote froze for a moment, clearly recognizing the uninvited guest.

He calmly took a step forward, subtly shielding Jin Heon and Chen Haisheng.

Jin Heon didn’t recognize the middle-aged white man before her, who had a strong presence. She stood to the side, observing quietly.

"I hope I’m not interrupting your post-game party," the governor said, flashing his trademark hearty smile. "An absolutely brilliant game. Although I’m a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan, I have to admit, you completely dominated the field today."

Since the governor had made the effort to come and see him, Li Wei returned the gesture, extending his hand for a shake.

"Thank you. I didn’t expect Mr. Ronald DeSantis to be at the game today," Li Wei said with a smile. "The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a very strong team. Together, we put on a great game."

’Very strong?’

Jin Heon glanced at the scoreboard outside the floor-to-ceiling window.

’You absolutely thrashed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he’s still calling them ’very strong’?’

’See? Now their ’daddy’ has come knocking.’

Everyone thought the governor was here today to cause trouble, but apparently, Ronald DeSantis had no such intention.

The governor laughed heartily, not dwelling on the score at all.

"Li Wei, I’ll be blunt," he said, retracting his hand and gesturing towards the suite door. "Florida has recently been promoting an ’Excellence in Sports and Community Integration Program’ for public high schools."

"Your recent good deeds in the Bronx District have not only moved New York, but word has reached us here as well. My press officer has the cameras all set up outside," he said enthusiastically. "I was wondering if I might have the honor of borrowing a moment of your time to take a few photos with me in the VIP lounge downstairs? It would be a huge inspiration for the children of Florida."

Li Wei exchanged a glance with Don Quixote, then nodded.

This kind of win-win political endorsement could only be good for Li Wei’s commercial value.

"Uncle Don Quixote," he said, turning around. "You guys wait here for a bit. I’ll be right back up."

"No problem. Be careful," Don Quixote nodded.

"I hear you’re still in school..."

The group left the suite, chatting and laughing, leaving Don Quixote, Jin Heon, and Chen Haisheng behind.

"Who is this Ronald DeSantis guy?" Jin Heon asked hurriedly. "He seems like a big deal. Is he some super-rich tycoon?"

Don Quixote glanced at the faces of Jin Heon and Chen Haisheng and suddenly realized it was perfectly normal for them not to recognize Ronald DeSantis. He was, after all, the governor of the next state over. Besides, when it came to recognizing people of a different race, most people didn’t pay close attention to politicians unless they were exceptionally distinctive or famous.

"Ronald DeSantis is the governor of Florida," he explained. "There are even rumors that he’s interested in running for president in the next election."

’The... the governor? The actual, living governor of Florida?!’

Jin Heon’s brain completely short-circuited. She forgot to even blink.

Every April, when her family had to file their taxes with the Internal Revenue Service, a single, random clerk could make them struggle for at least two weeks just to get through all the tedious forms.

...W-2s, 1099s, the complex web of federal and state taxes, and even New York City’s infamous city surcharge.

Those Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents sitting behind bulletproof glass, even the lowest-level clerks, could, with their cold, arrogant, by-the-book attitude, force her parents to grovel and smile obsequiously. They would have to tread on eggshells through stacks of English-language clauses, terrified that a single misplaced decimal point would trigger a dreaded tax audit.

In the worldview Jin Heon had built over 22 years, even a low-level government employee was a mountain capable of holding a chokehold on an ordinary person’s life.

And now, the governor of an entire state was being so friendly and amiable while meeting with her 18-year-old boss?

The shock of confronting power firsthand made Jin Heon feel dizzy. Pretending to grab her laptop, she sat down on the sofa to calm her racing heart.

Beside her, Chen Haisheng also swallowed hard. He might not have had much schooling, but he’d been around in Flushing. A single beat cop could send everyone in Chinatown into a panic, and a precinct captain was practically an absolute monarch who reigned supreme.

Seeing Li Wei chatting and laughing with the governor, Chen Haisheng suddenly felt a thrill of excitement.

’Now I’m someone who’s indirectly connected to the governor,’ he thought. ’I have to brag about this to my crush and the boys when I get back.’

...

A few minutes later, Li Wei and the others arrived at a commandeered VIP lounge deep within the stadium.

Security, photographers, secretaries, assistants, makeup artists...

There were at least twenty people on site, all revolving around the governor.

So much for the cheap seats and connecting with the people. It was all just a carefully packaged performance.

After a quick touch-up, the photographer rapidly snapped the shutter a few times, capturing images of the governor and Li Wei cordially shaking hands, talking, and posing for photos. Then—

"Thank you so much, Li Wei. Tomorrow’s front page will have my campaign manager waking up with a grin," the governor said, patting Li Wei’s shoulder. He then glanced at his watch, his brow furrowing slightly. "Sorry, I have a video conference coming up. Could I ask you to wait here in the lounge for a little bit? We have another set of photos to take later. It’ll be quick."

Li Wei raised an eyebrow slightly.

A sudden video conference like this was unusual for a veteran politician. It sounded more like an excuse. ’Today definitely isn’t just about taking a few photos.’