"According to my precise calculations, the 1% of Americans controlling 90% of this country’s wealth will be affected by this plan, while the other 99% will receive significant federal income tax cuts! It’s a perfect plan!"
Old Tang’s so-called plan didn’t conform to basic economic principles, so naturally it didn’t cause much of a stir, and people’s attention remained focused on the spy case.
The American authorities quickly released a statement that, due to the unique nature of the case, a congressional hearing for Gan Guoyang would be held in Washington in September, and an investigative committee for the case is currently being assembled.
This means the case has been elevated to an unprecedented level, and Gan Guoyang will become the first Chinese person in American history to attend a congressional hearing.
Upon returning to Portland, Gan Guoyang secluded himself at home, almost in hiding, with only bodyguards, his wife, and household staff around.
His children and father were sent to San Francisco because Gan Guoyang didn’t want his family to be affected by the case.
Due to strict surveillance by the FBI, Gan Guoyang didn’t discuss anything related to the case with anyone at home.
He didn’t know where they might have installed listening devices or if they had high-tech video equipment capable of lip-reading what someone was saying.
Gan Guoyang had already decided to keep everything to himself, including a specific bombing time provided by Clinton, which was several hours earlier than Guoyang remembered.
For Gan Guoyang, keeping secrets was easy, as he’d been living with a huge secret for almost 20 years.
Secrets were a part of his life; he didn’t need to tell anyone or prove anything, and he even had reason to believe he was the chosen one.
A true chosen one wouldn’t fear anything or anyone, nor would they run away.
During his time in Portland, Gan Guoyang maintained his regular training under FBI surveillance while communicating with the Portland Trail Blazers to prepare for the next season.
Gan Guoyang’s attitude was clear: he was certain he would be fine and planned to play in the 1999-2000 season, although it might be his last.
Gan Guoyang didn’t make any absolute statements, even though he promised David Stern he would retire in 2000, everything would depend on the circumstances.
Deep down, Gan Guoyang didn’t want to retire; after retiring in 1994, the following two years were extremely boring.
After getting used to the intense competition and tight schedule of the NBA, the retirement life was indeed dull.
Gan Guoyang had never really cared about money or women, and even if he did, he was old enough to have had his fill; the basketball court was the main arena of life’s competition.
However, the situation was beyond his control; Gan Guoyang sensed that regardless of how many people openly supported him, from the league to the team, players from all teams, and even many young fans, as well as major sponsors, were awaiting and even anticipating the perfect conclusion to Gan Guoyang’s career.
Because only when a great superstar steps down can other stars shine, and the era can change.
Many wanted to rise, and the forces below were surging; even if Gan Guoyang could suppress them, could he do so forever?
Rather than being expelled like an aging Lion King in failure, it was better to leave in the glory of his prime.
This was indeed a wise choice, so Gan Guoyang remained hesitant and struggling internally.
So he decided to wait until the end of the 2000 season to see what the situation would be like before making a final decision.
Compared to the anxiety and apprehension he faced with basketball issues, Gan Guoyang was surprisingly calm about the spy case.
While in Portland, FBI agents were always nearby, ostensibly for protection but actually for surveillance.
But Gan Guoyang got along well with them, cooking for them at home, and playing basketball and working out together.
The FBI agents initially remained cautious, thinking it was Gan Guoyang’s ploy, and were careful not to be fooled.
But over time, they discovered that this basketball superstar, idol among idols, indeed had extraordinary mental resilience and charisma.
Eventually, they not only became good friends, but they also believed deep down that Ah Gan was truly wronged.
As to why he was wronged, major media had long analyzed that because U.S.-China relations were turning hostile, Gan Guoyang was being used as a scapegoat.
At the same time, racial and religious tensions within America were becoming increasingly acute, and Gan Guoyang’s spy case was an effective way to divert public attention, a tactic that had proven successful time and again in the past.
On September 11, Gan Guoyang arrived at Washington Community Congress Hill for his first Senate hearing.
Similar hearings would continue to occur in Washington and New York, as the Americans seemed to hope to wear down this basketball superstar with a strategy of attrition.
But they surely underestimated Gan Guoyang’s stamina and energy; after all, he was a master of the old man’s endurance strategy, making it truly difficult to wear him down.
Gan Guoyang’s arrival caused quite a stir in Washington D.C.; the last time he was here in the summer of 1988, he led the Trail Blazers to easily defeat the Bullets and complete his first three-peat championship.
In a way, Washington was the witness of Gan Guoyang’s first coronation; now, the Washington Bullets had long disappeared, and everything from top to bottom had changed.
Their name, emblem, and uniforms had undergone significant changes, from the Bullets to the Wizards, Moses Malone and Bernard King had long retired, and Barkley was still hesitating and observing.