American History 1988
Chapter 55 - 51: Send a Team

Chapter 55: Chapter 51: Send a Team

Euclid Avenue, also known as "Millionaire’s Row," was once home to the wealthiest people in Cleveland.

Notables such as oil magnate John D. Rockefeller, the founder of Western Union, Jepta, railway tycoon Woos, and automobile industrialist Roche Long all resided here.

It’s fair to say that most members of Cleveland’s financial consortium and the Rockefeller family lived on Euclid Avenue. Consequently, various lavish mansions competed in splendor, naturally attracting several theaters, banks, and churches to settle along the street.

From the beginning of the 20th century until the 1970s, just over a decade ago, Euclid Avenue was Cleveland’s richest spot.

However, with the gradual collapse of heavy industry, the Rockefeller family left the area. The Cleveland consortium, once ranked eighth in the nation, now can only trail behind the old money on the East Coast and sip a little from their cup.

Later, the sharp increase in the African American population further accelerated the exodus of the wealthy from Euclid Avenue. Today, this place is riddled with holes infiltrated by niggers.

Now, those Gothic and Spanish colonial manors, mostly due to lack of management, have become gang headquarters or illicit drug trade locations.

The brown facades are covered in vulgar graffiti, and the decorative patterns and sculptures haven’t been spared either; they’ve either been maliciously damaged or toppled over.

Yet tonight, Euclid Avenue is a bit different. Near the Northeast Public Square area, around a well-preserved estate, groups of people are arriving incessantly from all directions.

"Hey, Mac."

"Hey, George."

"Did you get an invite too?" those among the arriving crowd who encountered acquaintances stopped to greet each other.

"OK~ actually... I didn’t," George shrugged his shoulders, "You know, this party is hot. But I got this with a Knight’s home game ticket."

George waved the invitation in his hand, with several highly recognizable blue letters printed on the white cover, Price’s List!

"Cool~" Mac extended his fist and bumped it with his.

"What about you, Mac?" George pocketed the invitation and then looked at what his friend was holding.

Mac pulled out the same thing from his pocket, "You know, George, I joined the Vegeta Brotherhood. We were among those invited, so..."

"Oh, come on~" George showed an envious look.

"Yeah~" Mac grinned proudly, "But we’re all here, aren’t we? Tonight there’s an unlimited supply of booze, and damn, the legendary champagne, but most importantly..."

"Beautiful girls~!" George laughed loudly, swinging his fist.

Having an invitation wasn’t important, but getting your hands on the invitation card was.

The party was originally planned for Friday evening at six, but clearly everyone was eager as the place was already packed with people just after five.

Dean and Simon had no choice but to turn on the lights early and crank up all the speakers.

By the time George and Mac arrived, the entire estate, both inside and outside, was already filled with people dancing to the music.

Cases of beer were brought by friends Dean usually knew to every corner of the estate, and barbeques, biscuits, sausages, and other foods were laid out on long tables.

Such a grand party was not something Dean and Simon could manage by themselves. So, those friends they knew but weren’t very close to were roped in by Dean to help out at the party.

Everyone was willing to lend a hand for his invitation. Come on, the party was already buzzed about across the university town; who could resist beautiful girls?

So, although the weather was still cold, youthful hormones couldn’t be restrained. Boys and girls took off their coats in the amply heated environment and entered the dance floor, passion in their movement to the rhythm of the music.

Rotating disco balls, fast-paced rock music, and the spicy dance moves of the girls plunged the entire hall into a sea of cheers.

As the organizer of this party, Dean was currently upstairs in a room meeting with several fraternity leaders.

"Dean, your website is more interesting than I imagined!" Wesley from SPE Brotherhood warmly clinked his glass with him, "Oh~, the champagne tonight isn’t bad either."

"I told you, Price’s List will become the coolest website!" Dean laughed, tilting his head back for a gulp of champagne. The sour-sweet taste made him frown; honestly, this stuff was not as good as beer.

Seeing them with arms on each other’s shoulders, Tobin, the leader of the SPE Brotherhood from Cleveland State University, also came over with a girl around his arm. "Hey, buddy, this isn’t fair. SPE Brotherhood also needs its own community on Price’s List."

"Exactly, Dean. You should have approached us first." The leaders of the other fraternities in the room also started complaining.

Recently, Price’s List became popular among student groups, and the DE Fraternity rose to prominence with it.

Wesley had placed the DE Fraternity’s charter, distinguished alumni, history, and team activities all on the forefront of the community’s homepage.

This meant that all the surfing students in the university town, numbering in the thousands, saw the DE Fraternity introduction.

The effect of such publicity was much greater and spread faster than just posting flyers around the Case campus.

Additionally, the DE Fraternity had transferred a large number of show tickets on Price’s List, which also attracted a wave of users to Dean’s website.

In short, by complementing each other, both Price’s List and DE Fraternity reaped benefits.

Seeing Wesley and his group gaining attention, the others in the fraternity couldn’t sit idle. Everyone was in competition; if you gain the spotlight, doesn’t it mean we fall behind?

Facing the complaints from the other fraternity leaders in the room, Dean gestured downwards to calm them, "OK~OK~, Price’s List welcomes everyone.

In fact, corresponding campus communities are already in development. When ready, we’re looking forward to hosting your fraternities~"

"Yeah~," cheered the crowd, raising their glasses with his assurance.

"Tonight’s gonna be epic! Don’t forget to toast to our most charming girls later!" Dean suggested, raising his glass towards everyone.

"Cool~!" Everyone responded in unison once again.

With the desired assurance obtained, the fraternity members began to dissipate. The deafening music outside had been itching at them for a while.

After all, wasn’t the thrill of the party to scope out an enticing catch and then spend a wonderful evening together?

"Hey, Dean, ever thought about joining a fraternity? SPE would welcome elite students like you," Tobin seized the opportunity as the others left, ready to pull the rug from under them.

Everyone wanted a spot on Price’s List, but Tobin had his sights on pulling Dean, the founder, into his own fraternity.

Once he was one of them, how could SPE not flourish under his leadership?

In fact, Tobin had even thought of the terms to entice Dean. He was a junior this year and after graduating next year, he would hand over the reins of SPE to Dean.

Unfortunately, before he could lay out these terms, Dean just smiled and shook his head.

"Tobin, thank you for the invitation. However, I probably can’t accept your kind offer because I am transferring at the end of this semester."

"Transferring?" Tobin looked at Dean in surprise, having never heard this news before.

"Yes," Dean nodded, "I’ve sent off my transfer application, and to make my resume shine a little brighter, I’ve been busy with a new project recently.

You know, to keep my GPA high, I don’t have time to handle anything else besides Price’s List."

"Well~" Tobin shook his head in disappointment, "SPE has missed out on a genius!"

"Come on, SPE is already the biggest fraternity at Cleveland State University. Don’t be too greedy~" Dean was far from modest and even joked with Tobin.

"Haha~ Dean, I’m starting to like you more and more!" Tobin lifted his glass and clinked it against Dean’s.

"By the way, which school are you transferring to?"

"Stanford."

"Wow~" Tobin’s mouth was so agape it looked like it could fit a Soviet sausage, but after the surprise, he felt it made sense. "Dean, maybe only Stanford is worthy of you."

As the fraternity leader, Tobin naturally had a keen eye. Although Stanford was nationally known, he hadn’t heard of anyone creating a website as popular as Price’s List.

Tobin would bet that Price’s List would be beloved by students wherever it went.

"By the way, Dean, what will happen to Price’s List after you go to Stanford?" Tobin suddenly remembered another question he had.

Dean shrugged as if it were a matter of course, "Price’s List will still exist. Tobin, in the upcoming era of the internet, the way we work is going to be beyond your imagination.

My website is in Cleveland, but I can go work in California, or anywhere in America with internet service.

Of course, Price’s List will also go live in other places. Major cities across America are my targets. It might take some time, but I’m prepared for it."

"Mother F*cker, now I feel like I’ve missed the boat on a genius even more," Tobin was frustrated that he hadn’t met Dean earlier.

"Come on, the show’s about to start," Dean patted Tobin’s shoulder, "Compared to these issues, I find the girls more attractive."

"Yeah~" Tobin laughed loudly, standing up.

Pushing open the door to the corridor, the boisterous noise hit them full force, stirring excitement in Dean too.

But he didn’t hurry downstairs. Instead, he found Ophelia leaning over the balcony railing with a champagne glass on the second-floor corridor.

"Do you like it?" Dean joined her, standing side by side, looking over the dancing crowd below.

"Of course," Ophelia nodded to the rhythm and smiled in reply, "It’s lively here."

"Glad you like it, and..." Dean swayed his glass, "no problem with this, right?"

"I think..." Ophelia blinked, "it should be fine." She told a little lie.

"All right," Dean always thought she was younger than he’d imagined.

"By the way, Dean, how did you convince those girls to participate in your beauty contest?" Ophelia had always been curious about this.

While many were keen to show themselves off, with so many girls being critiqued together, there were bound to be some who had reservations.

Hearing her question, Dean smiled mysteriously. "That’s a question that requires a lengthy answer. But before that, would the beautiful lady care to join me in opening the party for Price’s List?"

Facing Dean’s outstretched arm, Ophelia lifted her skirt and made a French curtsy, "It would be my pleasure~"

Her hand slipped through Dean’s arm, and clutching it lightly, Ophelia accompanied Dean downstairs.

Where the party was about to begin.