America 1919

"Donnie, try this steak that Elena cooked herself, it's not easy to find such an authentic pan-seared steak in Atlantic City!"

In a two-story villa, Donnie and the Dorn couple were sitting in the dining room enjoying dinner, while the children of the Dorn couple were in the living room playing with toys Donnie had brought, accompanied by a servant.

Although Brad Dorn was only thirty years old, his hair had already begun to thin, and his slightly curly hairstyle lent him considerable dignity.

Looking at the enthusiastic Brad Dorn, Donnie also showed a smile, "I haven't eaten an authentic steak for a long time, I'm very grateful for Mrs. Dorn's hospitality!"

At this time, Elena Dorn had already removed her apron and wore a polite smile on her face, "This is what we should do. Brad once told me that we should make every guest who visits our home feel like they are at their own home!"

Donnie laughed heartily and said, "Then I will help myself!"

At the dinner table, the three of them did not discuss any crucial topics and waited until they had finished eating. When the servants started to clear the dishes, Donnie and the Dorns went to their study.

"Donnie, what did Nucky say?"

Brad was somewhat impatient in asking Donnie, and as he finished speaking, Elena Dorn gently took hold of Brad's hand.

This made Brad realize that he had seemed a bit too eager just now.

"I've already met with Nucky today, and he is very welcoming of our proposed conditions. Here, I must congratulate you, Mr. Dorn. I believe it won't be long before you become both our city judge of Atlantic City and New Jersey State Senator!"

It was only after getting a positive response from Donnie that Elena Dorn and Brad Dorn truly relaxed.

Elena Dorn, in particular, felt this way, having serviced Donnie twice in her office. If after such efforts they still could not get the answer they wanted, then she would have exploded!

"I can't thank you enough, Donnie!"

Brad Dorn stood up and enthusiastically shook Donnie's hand, sincerely expressing his gratitude.

"It's what I should do, after all, we are friends, aren't we!"

Donnie picked up his usual rhetoric. After all, relationships that are mutually usable and cooperative are friendships.

"Yes, yes, we are friends, very good friends!"

Brad enthusiastically said.

Donnie continued, "I've already agreed with Nucky that tomorrow morning, Mr. Dorn... Brad, you should go to the Ritz Hotel to discuss the details with Nucky."

Although Nucky had reluctantly agreed to Donnie's demands, he would definitely still want to meet Brad Dorn, and Donnie had already anticipated what Nucky would say to Brad Dorn after meeting him.

It would be nothing more than that he had been very fond of Brad Dorn from the start and had actually decided to elect him a long time ago. It was just that he had been quite busy recently and hadn't found the time to meet Brad Dorn—the usual talk.

In short, Nucky intended to downplay Donnie's role in this matter as much as possible.

Donnie was not concerned about this at all. In fact, whether dealing with the Ku Klux Klan or the Dorns, Donnie had leveraged Nucky's influence, which was indisputable. Furthermore, Donnie believed that if time allowed, Nucky could resolve the troubles with the Klan and WCTU on his own.

But the problem was that Nucky was overwhelmed and didn't have the time.

This provided Donnie with an opportunity. Now, as the direct contact for both Mobley and the Dorns, no matter what Nucky said on his end, they would remember all that Donnie was doing right now.

And Donnie understood that in this world, there are no eternal friends, only eternal interests!

Therefore, Donnie would also have common interests with the Dorns.

"No problem, I will go to see Nucky first thing tomorrow morning!" Brad said excitedly.

Donnie waved his hand and laughed, "Just don't go too early, after all, everyone in Atlantic City knows that Nucky is not an early riser!"

Brad Dorn was initially startled, then burst into laughter, while Elena Dorn also smiled lightly.

"Mrs. Dorn, in fact, I came here tonight because there's another matter I'd like to discuss with you and I hope to gain your support," Donnie said, starting to discuss the potential cooperation with Elena Dorn.

Elena Dorn was slightly taken aback; she had negotiated with Donnie about her and her husband's political futures before. Now that those matters had concluded perfectly, what else was there?

"You tell me, Donnie. We are friends, and your concerns are also our concerns as a couple!"

"That's right!" Brad Dorn said excitedly.

Donnie adjusted his posture and then smiled, "I believe you must have heard from Margaret that in Atlantic City I'm not only a tavern owner but also the president of the Mutual Aid and Friendliness Society. However, our Society is newly established and doesn't have much of a foundation in Atlantic City, and personally, I lack experience in this area.

Thus, I would like to have our Mutual Aid and Friendliness Society cooperate with the WCTU, having someone from your group guide our work.

Of course, I am also aware that many women within WCTU currently do not have jobs and this puts considerable pressure on them within their families.

In light of this situation, I have decided to donate $1,000 to WCTU each year. Furthermore, if I get the chance to expand my business, I intend to target women from WCTU as the primary candidates for recruitment!"

"Really?"

This time, even the normally composed Elena Dorn was unable to maintain her composure.

In fact, her concessions this time were mostly for the sake of her husband. After all, by choosing to compromise, there would be people within WCTU who would be dissatisfied with her decision, potentially dividing her power within WCTU.

But now, Donnie's decision had given her the step down she needed.

As mentioned before, organizations like the WCTU and their operational funds entirely rely on social donations.

In other places, this is somewhat manageable because a significant portion of people still support prohibition.

However, in Atlantic City, the prohibition order has long been unsupported, making the WCTU's progress extremely difficult.

Although a $1,000 donation per year is not much, it can help solve some of the work problems for the women in the association, which, for Elena Dorn, is definitely the best tactic to win people's hearts.

As for letting these women who ardently support prohibition work in taverns... We oppose drinking but don't let that interfere with our work in taverns!

This idea might be misunderstood elsewhere, particularly in the East, but in the United States, such a situation is simply too commonplace.

"Of course, friends should be open and honest with each other, and mutually assist in brotherly love, isn't that the purpose of our association?"

Donnie said earnestly.

At this moment, Elena had lost the fervor she had shown earlier. She had a feeling that Donnie had other thoughts on this matter, but she couldn't pinpoint them. So, she decided not to dwell on it and earnestly said to Donnie.

"Donnie, I am very grateful for your generosity, and I believe everyone in the WCTU will thank you for it as well!"

"It's what I should do," Donnie humbly replied.

The two of them then discussed the details of cooperation, but with Brad Dorn there, they couldn't delve too deep into conversation.

When leaving the Dorn couple's home, Donnie casually put forward two conditions.

The first was naturally to hope that Brad Dorn would mention Robert's issue during his meeting with Nucky tomorrow.

The second was hoping that Elena Dorn would allow Margaret to act as the liaison between the Mutual Aid and Friendship Association and the WCTU!

The Dorn couple naturally had no objections to these two matters.

After Donnie left, Dorn excitedly walked back and forth in his study, then took Elena's hand.

"My dear, I can finally realize my political ambitions!"

Elena, with tender eyes, said, "I have always believed in you!"

"Thank goodness for Donnie's help this time, otherwise, taking this step would have been very difficult!"

"Fortune favors the helpful, dear, you deserve it!"

"Honey, I can feel that Donnie is a very ambitious and capable man; we should stay in regular contact with him!"

"I think so too!"

"However, my status may be somewhat special in the future, so the task of contacting him will have to fall to you!"

"It's what I should do," she affirmed.

After leaving the Dorn's, Donnie went to the hospital and visited Margaret, who was lying in bed reading a book.

Margaret was slightly surprised to see Donnie visiting in the middle of the night, then she smelled the scent of alcohol on him.

"Have you been drinking?"

Margaret asked with concern.

Donnie nodded, looking very tired as he sat next to Margaret's bed, "Indeed I have had a few, after discussing some specifics with Mr. and Mrs. Dorn. Not wanting to return to the noisy tavern, I thought I'd come and sit with you for a while!"

Margaret blushed slightly but happily said, "How did your talk go?"

"Very smoothly!" Donnie 'put on a front of vigor,' revealing a radiant smile, and then chatted with Margaret about the cooperation between the Mutual Aid and Friendship Association and the WCTU that he had discussed with Elena Dorn.

Margaret's health had mostly recovered, and hearing Donnie's recount made her very happy, talking incessantly about the plans for their collaboration.

Only when she felt her abdomen tighten did she look up to see that Donnie had fallen asleep on top of her.

Looking at Donnie's sleeping figure, Margaret thought about their shared past and couldn't help but reach out to gently stroke his head.

Donnie opened his eyes, gazing at Margaret with an intense look.

Such a gaze made Margaret feel a bit nervous, but she looked back at Donnie as if she was already prepared, without any intention of avoiding his gaze.

Then Donnie's head slowly moved forward, until at last, he was tightly pressed against Margaret.

Outside in the hospital's hallway, the sounds of 'creak, creak' echoed, along with a woman's deliberately lowered breathless gasps...

The next day, Donnie, feeling refreshed, returned to Block Tavern. Upon entering, he saw Robert drinking beer, boasting about his conquests in the public order prison with great pride.

At the same time, Donnie noticed a skinny man he didn't recognize in Block Tavern...