Fang Lang's words can also be regarded as a response to General Clark's wariness against him. After all, as John's father, Fang Lang's achievements are indeed inseparable from his relationship with John.
But to say that General Clark really took the initiative to provide much direct help to Fang Lang, this is really not the case.
As for why General Clark behaved like this, Fang Lang also had some guesses in his mind.
This may have a lot to do with his skin color, even if he reached the rank of major general.
However, Fang Lang was sure that his life in the US Army was not as free as that of Brigadier General Jackson.
Fang Lang could even feel a sense of unconfidence in him as a redneck, or inferiority complex.
No matter what I do, I am restrained and not free and easy at all.
In the end, he took the initiative to retire in exchange for his son's future.
After Clark heard what Fang Lang said, he unconsciously lowered his eyes. As a person who has lived for decades, he knew very well that what Fang Lang said made sense.
It turned out that Fang Lang had never broken this layer of paper with him, which made him very wary of little foxes like Fang Lang.
Worry that the other party will make excessive demands and make it difficult for you to fulfill them.
But what Fang Lang said just now can be regarded as directly uncovering General Clark's scars.
In terms of the people Fang Lang knew or had connections with in the US Navy, he was definitely not the one with the highest position.
More importantly, he is still just a retired rear admiral and has no real power at all.
This can be regarded as directly stripping oneself naked and removing one's fig leaf.
But he couldn't feel any dissatisfaction because others had always said that they just came to visit his family.
It's because I always feel good about myself and feel that the other person has ulterior motives.
This resulted in the current situation. Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room became a little awkward.
Seeing General Clark's face changing constantly because of his words, Fang Lang also felt that what he wanted to say was a bit harsh.
After all, the other party is also John's father.
After thinking for a while, Fang Lang took the initiative and said:
"Uncle, actually I think it's really tiring for you to live like this.
I understand your concerns. We are all of the yellow race. I understand the pressure and even discrimination we have to face from all directions in a predominantly white society.
However, I don’t think this is a reason for us to live cautiously.
I never considered myself inferior to white people.
I know you are worried that I will make some excessive requests to you and embarrass you.
However, I think you are looking down on me. My relationship with John and your family is only because John and I are brothers in life and death.
I have received so much help from your family.
I am not a greedy person and have never thought about continuing to gain any benefits from you.
Now that you have retired, I think you should live a free and easy life. "
Clark was taught a lesson by a junior today, but he couldn't refute it.
Because the other party did analyze him very thoroughly, and everything the other party said made perfect sense.
Thinking about my military career for so many years, I have indeed lived it carefully, walking on thin ice, for fear of accidentally doing something wrong.
Taking the opportunity to kick yourself out of your favorite army.
However, even if I live a cautious life, I am not always subject to the same restrictions in the army. I have more merits than others, but my promotion is not as fast as others.
Even if you have better abilities than others, you still have to be inferior to others. What is the reason for this?
Is it really just because of my skin color?
Could it be related to my own forbearing and cautious style of dealing with things?
Especially in a powerful unit like the army, strength, bravery and decisiveness are what soldiers really need to possess.
Some qualities!
Fang Lang's words plunged General Clark into deep self-doubt and self-reflection, and the study became extremely quiet for a while.
There was only the sound of Fang Lang smoking occasionally.
It wasn't until there was a knock on the door that the strange atmosphere was broken.
Fang Lang noticed that Clark seemed to have some changes, but it was not clear where the changes were specifically.
Clark cleared his throat and said:
"Come in!"
The person who knocked on the door was Mrs. Clark. Hearing Clark's voice, she opened the door to the study and saw the smoke filling the room. She frowned dissatisfied and said:
"Dinner is ready. Let's go down and eat."
After speaking, he looked at the half-smoked cigar in Fang Lang's hand and the trimmed but unlit cigar in Clark's hand, and knew that it was Fang Lang who was smoking.
As he walked to the bed and opened the window to get some air, he said to Fang Lang:
"Fang, you are still young. You should smoke less. It is not good for your health."
Fang Lang nodded awkwardly and put out the cigar in the ashtray.
"Okay, Auntie.
Wasn't it that my uncle took me to the study to teach him a lesson? The pressure was too great and I couldn't hold it back for a while! "
After hearing what Fang Lang said, Mrs. Clark believed it to be true, glared at Clark and said:
"You old guy, you are our guest and not your subordinate. What do you want to do?"
Clark, who had been in self-doubt and self-reflection, was finally brought back to reality by Mrs. Clark's knock on the door.
As a result, he was hit on the head by a huge black pot again, and his whole body was in bad shape.
Looking at Fang Lang dumbfounded, his mentality that he had been taught a lesson by Fang Lang and didn't know how to communicate with Fang Lang was instantly broken.
He immediately got angry and said:
"You brat, how dare you frame me."
He was about to throw a book on the table towards Fang Lang.
Fang Lang hurriedly hid behind Mrs. Clark and shouted:
"Aunt, help!"
Mrs. Clark turned around and glared at Clark who was about to hit Fang Lang.
Seeing Mrs. Clark's eyes, General Clark put down the book in his hand angrily, with an embarrassed yet polite smile on his face.
If only General Clark knew what a dog was! He must scold Fang Lang for being a real dog.
But strangely enough, the feeling of being embarrassed to face Fang Lang just now completely disappeared after this.
Seeing General Clark, who was following his wife out the door and not forgetting to raise his eyebrows at him, a smile appeared on his lips unconsciously.
He knew in his heart that this was Fang Lang finding a step down for himself.
General Clark came to the dining table again and said to Fang Lang as if he was a different person:
"You brat, let me tell you. If you want to hire a professional team from the United States to train you in the use of aircraft carriers.
I must be the team leader! "
Hearing General Clark's unceremonious words, Fang Lang knew that the other party must have thought through what he said to him. Otherwise, based on his understanding of General Clark, he would not be able to say such free and easy words.
Fang Lang raised his eyebrows calmly and said:
"Why?"
General Clark said confidently:
"Only by me can you get the aircraft carrier in the best condition!"
As soon as these words were spoken, not only did Fang Lang look up at Clark, but Mrs. Clark and Sophia also put down the tableware in their hands and looked at General Clark with surprised faces. For a moment, they felt that the man in front of them was a bit strange.
Seeing everyone looking at him, Clark coughed twice and said:
"What are you looking at?"
Sophia couldn't help but said:
"Are you my father?"
When General Clark heard this, he rolled his eyes at Sophia and said:
"this
Need I say more? Ask your mother! "
Unexpectedly, Mrs. Clark on the side also looked at General Clark up and down, and then said with some uncertainty:
"I'm a little unsure now. Is this still the Joseph J. Clark I know?"
Clark knew what the two were talking about. He had never expressed his thoughts in such confident and affirmative words before.
Obviously, this is a change brought about after talking to Fang Lang today.
Seeing the performance of his wife and daughter, General Clark smiled helplessly from the two of them and turned to look at Fang Lang, waiting for his answer.
Fang Lang saw him looking at him, thought for a moment and said:
"The U.S. Navy can sell the aircraft carrier in the best condition to us instead of keeping it for itself? How is that possible?"
Although, Fang Lang knew that there was a big difference between the aircraft carriers of this era and those of later generations, and the technological content was far from as advanced as that of later generations.
However, in this era, it is indeed the most advanced aircraft carrier.
Fang Lang thought it would be great if the Americans agreed to sell one, but he never dared to think that he would have the opportunity to get the best one in active service.
This is just looking for bullshit.
Seeing Fang Lang not believing him, General Clark smiled and said:
"You're not an American. Don't you understand what's the biggest issue with the top brass of the American team right now?"
This topic was obviously not something that Fang Lang had been able to come into contact with before. He said uncertainly:
"Are there any secrets involved?"
General Clark was stunned and looked at Fang Lang with a satisfied smile. It seemed that this guy who was a bit greedy in his eyes was not a person without a bottom line.
"Don't worry! This matter is known to everyone at the top levels of the U.S. political and political circles. It is not a secret."
Then there's nothing to be afraid of. What Fang Lang likes to hear most is other people's secrets.
Although General Clark said it was not a secret, for people of a certain level, some things were just a topic of conversation after dinner, but for most people, they were secrets that they would never have the opportunity to come into contact with.
"Oh! I really don't understand this. I wonder if it's convenient for you to tell me."
Now that General Clark has opened this topic, he is of course ready to tell Fang Lang about it.
Mrs. Clark and Sophia were even more surprised, looking at Mr. Clark in disbelief, because in their minds, General Clark was a person who never discussed official matters at home.
He never talks about news in the military at home, but today he actually talked about the secrets of the top brass of the U.S. Navy with Fang Lang, a man from the Brazilian Navy, in front of the two of them.
The two of them didn't know what was going on, and they were a little worried about whether they would be caught talking about this.
General Clark noticed the expressions of the two men, smiled and said to them:
"Don't worry! This kind of thing is not a secret."
Then he said to Fang Lang:
"Do you know the conflict between the U.S. Navy and the Army?"
Huh! Is the topic such a big one? Fang Lang had really never heard of this topic, and his curiosity was fully aroused.
He shook his head and said:
"I've heard that there is a deep conflict between the Japanese Navy and Army, to the point where they are holding them back.
However, I have never heard of it in the United States. "
