Chapter 975: Chapter 356: Ten Years (Part 1)
For humans with only a short lifespan of around a hundred and eighty years, ten years has always been a significant span.
It’s just that when a person reaches nearly fifty, looking back suddenly, they can’t help but sigh at how quickly time passes.
At least Richard feels this way.
To him, these ten years seemed like the snap of a finger, almost like a dream.
Every day when he wakes up in the luxurious governor’s mansion located in the center of Harrisburg City, he has similar sentiments.
Yes, Richard’s family has moved from Philadelphia to Pennsylvania’s capital, Harrisburg City; this happened nine years ago.
After he successfully ran for a state senator, he moved over.
However, their house in Fish Town, Philadelphia, is still being kept.
Since he successfully ran for state senator, he has not lacked money, enough to afford the property tax.
Not to mention, properties in Fish Town and even the whole of Philadelphia will be quality assets in the future. Keeping it will only become more profitable.
Don’t ask him how he knows this.
For someone who is determined to become a governor, and even plans to live in the white house in the future, this information is beyond doubt.
Of course, these ten years weren’t just a fluke for Richard.
In fact, succeeding as a non-partisan candidate in the race for governor could be said to have directly created a new century in history.
After all, the last time someone successfully ran as an independent candidate and became governor was in the last century.
Even going through the entire history of West University, only three people have had such an achievement.
One of them even became the first paramount leader in West University’s history. The capital city was even named after him.
But honestly, Richard knows very well that his success, besides his personal efforts...
Okay, actually, his personal efforts accounted for only a small part of the reasons.
The most important factor was the support from Huaxia.
Especially eight years ago, when he was a senator, Qiao Yu actively contacted him and sent him a set of electronic equipment.
Computers, phones, tablets, smartwatches, smart glasses, and several sets of replaceable smart underwear...
Richard initially thought these products were for monitoring him, but later found he underestimated his counterpart.
The products sent to him came with the same artificial intelligence product—July.
Although the name was a bit strange, it was really useful.
Since July was sent to him, Richard discovered this thing was truly like having a staff team.
It indeed understood everything.
Economics, politics, law, foreign relations, voter demands, attitudes, and even how to perform in a way that could win the maximum favor from most voters...
By now, whenever there were daily documents to be signed, he’d have July first review them for any oversights.
At first, he harbored a certain degree of vigilance and resistance towards this kind of artificial intelligence like July.
But after eight years of adaptation, he habitually hands everything over to July for preprocessing.
For example, daily documents to be signed will be reviewed by July first.
Because as long as this is done, he can ensure no one could deceive him under his watch...
Truly, July can find out within minutes the actual cost of a newly built public toilet in the most remote town of Pennsylvania, who the specific handlers are, and how much they legally pocketed from this project...
Likewise, if he wanted, he could even know why a certain voter suddenly became dissatisfied with his work...
Of course, Richard hasn’t completely ruled out some phenomena, but under July’s suggestion, he has drawn a red line for legal profits.
No matter how many hands a project in the state passes through, as long as the extra cost does not exceed twenty percent of the originally determined project cost, it can be accepted.
Once it exceeds that, then sorry, someone’s definitely losing their job...
Besides, ever since he got July’s assistance, as long as it’s about Pennsylvania’s internal situations, from major economic conditions to some supporters’ particular thoughts, he can know.
All this is judged through information obtained via public channels—for example, social media, purchasing channels in economic activities, and the tax burdens companies must bear...
Upon analysis, the accuracy of results provided by July consistently maintains over ninety-five percent.
It’s simply too useful!
Once used, you really can’t leave it...
Of course, after being in the governor’s position for two years, he no longer focuses on those minor details.
His eyes have also begun to look upwards because, after all, he seeks group satisfaction.
Of course, these two years have indeed been fruitful. This is due to Richard’s diligent governance but more importantly because of Huaxia’s support.
Now, the whole state is dotted with schools constructed with investments from Huaxia.
Pennsylvania’s entire policing system has undergone a comprehensive reform. A special department for ideas has even been established...
Besides, Richard, despite heavy obstacles, has implemented a policy regarding civilian firearms.
Simply put, while it’s still as easy as it used to be to buy weapons, purchasing matching standard ammunition is incredibly difficult; one can only buy less deadly rubber bullets.
This also means that even if guns are bought in Pennsylvania, they’ve been modified.
After all, the design of the ammunition has changed, so the internal pressure must be adjusted to weaken its power.
As for these things in civilian stocks, they must be taken to nearby shops for free modification or exchanged for new ones within the stipulated time. Holding unmodified items beyond the deadline discovered to be is considered a felony.
