Old Man Ning just gifted me a huge present! Lin Feng was the first to react. Although accustomed to life's storms, the thought of Ning Fuxun's grand gesture still made him feel a thrill of excitement for a moment...
To open a Martial Hall, you'd need at least a few thousand square meters of building space. Given Old Man Ning's status, renting a place would be out of the question! And if he were to buy it... land in Jiangzhou City is worth its weight in gold. Even buying a derelict factory to demolish and rebuild would mean land costs in the six figures per square meter. For a thousand square meters of land area, that's already a billion! Then, constructing the hall, decorating it, and purchasing equipment would cost several hundred million more! Such a massive enterprise, and I wouldn't have to contribute a thing—I'd just become the hall master and head coach... Even if it were a contractual appointment without any shares, I'd still become a prominent figure, at least in the Nanjiang District...
"This...isn't it rather inappropriate? I'm still so young..." Lin Feng said to Ning Fuxun with an embarrassed smile.
Ning Fuxun just smiled and shook his head. "Thirty years ago, when I first helped Old Xu manage the Hong Sect's enterprises, I wasn't even sixteen... Age and experience shouldn't be factors that limit one's ability to perform! For me, if I think you can do it, then you can!"
Rich people can be so capricious... The phrase came to Lin Feng's mind. For a tycoon like Ning Fuxun, who was worth tens of billions, tossing around over a billion on a whim wouldn't even make a dent in his fortune, so of course, he could afford to be a bit impulsive...
"AHEM, AHEM..." Xu Yishan cleared his throat, his eyes fixed on Ning Fuxun as he rasped, "Ning lad, I suspect there's an ulterior motive to your plan... Why involve the Sports Bureau? If we establish this Martial Hall and bring in someone from the Sports Bureau, what would that mean for our other Hong Sect branches? Are we being co-opted?"
"Hmm..." Ning Fuxun looked at Xu Yishan calmly and replied seriously, "Old Xu, this is the second matter I wanted to discuss with you... The world, after all, belongs to the common people. Jiangzhou has been in turmoil for many years, a legacy of chaos from three hundred years ago, and even now, its pernicious influence hasn't been fully purged. I don't think those powerful figures in the city will tolerate this situation indefinitely... Take the Qingzi Sect, for instance. The last time they moved against me, I had Mayor Cao Tiannan personally arrange a meeting with Long Shaotian for mediation! Old Xu, given Mayor Cao's position, how long do you think he can tolerate this sort of thing? The Hong Sect has behaved itself much more these past few years, but in my opinion, it's still not enough... The opening of this new Martial Hall, while serving my personal interests, is also an opportunity for the Hong Sect to completely legitimize itself!"
Xu Yishan stared intently at Ning Fuxun, trying to detect any hint of deception in his eyes, but Ning Fuxun's gaze was steady and open.
"Little Bai, what do you think?" Xu Yishan turned to Bai Yuanshan and asked lightly.
"I think we could give it a try..." Bai Yuanshan gave Ning Fuxun a warm smile and replied in a deep voice, "Old Xu, you're well aware of Brother Ning's foresight. He has kept the Hong Sect stable for so many years; that's no simple feat... Although I don't fully grasp it, if he says so, there must be a sound reason! Besides, even if this new Martial Hall is a bit different from our other Hong Sect branches, who in all of Jiangzhou would dare to spread rumors about the Hong Sect?"
"HEHE... Little Bai, that's a rather cheeky argument of yours!" Xu Yishan shook his head and chuckled. "But you're right; even if people talk, it doesn't really matter! In this day and age, to not invite jealousy is to be mediocre... Let them talk if they want! I also think this plan is worth a try... But, appointing Lin Feng as the hall master?"
Xu Yishan looked at Lin Feng and smiled, shaking his head. "If this kid weren't going to be my granddaughter's husband, I wouldn't be giving him such a sweet deal..."
"Grandpa... why do you keep bringing that up? It's so annoying!" Xu Jing plopped down beside Xu Yishan, shaking his arm, her face slightly flushed as she pouted coquettishly.
"HAHA..." Xu Yishan patted Xu Jing's head lightly, laughing. "Alright, alright... Let Lin Feng be the hall master then! Little Jing, look, both your Uncle Bai and Uncle Ning think highly of this young man, Lin Feng. If you don't act fast and let him slip away, you'll be the one regretting it later!"
"I certainly won't be the one to regret it..." Xu Jing whispered, her face still flushed as she shook her head.
This Old Man Xu is really getting on in years and losing his propriety! What kind of matchmaking is this, always praising the guy right to his face? How embarrassing! Lin Feng was speechless.
"Ning lad, since you think it's feasible, then you'll be in charge of handling this!" Xu Yishan said to Ning Fuxun decisively. "If you need any assistance, just ask Little Bai; he'll help you!"
Bai Yuanshan nodded with a smile.
"Since you both agree, then it's settled!" Ning Fuxun visibly relaxed. He had come today specifically for this, and now that it was settled, he could finally sleep soundly tonight! I'd like to see if those shortsighted bastards from the Qingzi Sect will still dare to be so arrogant once the Martial Hall is up and running!
"Little Bai, Ning lad, it's been a while since you two last met. Why don't you head to the side hall and catch up?" Xu Yishan chuckled and, gesturing towards Lin Feng, said to Ning Fuxun and Bai Yuanshan, "I have a few words for this young man."
"Yes, I haven't seen Old Bai in quite some time. Let's go have a drink..." Ning Fuxun, naturally understanding Xu Yishan's intention, smiled, took Bai Yuanshan's hand, and they strolled towards the nearby side hall.
"You haven't changed a bit after all this time. Your taste hasn't changed either, right? Still prefer Rémy Martin?" Bai Yuanshan also chuckled at Ning Fuxun.
"No, I've gotten old. I'll have some red wine instead..." Ning Fuxun shook his head with a bitter smile.
"Alright, whatever you like, I'll join you..." Bai Yuanshan replied heartily.
"Grandpa, what do you want to say to Lin Feng…" Seeing Xu Yishan have Lin Feng stay behind, Xu Jing asked nervously.
"What, Little Jing, didn't you just say Lin Feng helped you win at the school sports meet? Don't you want Grandpa to praise him a bit more?" Xu Yishan looked at Xu Jing with amusement, he asked teasingly.
"No... I just..." Xu Jing said bashfully, looking at Lin Feng and fidgeting.
"Are you afraid I'm going to bully him?" Xu Yishan chuckled. "Is that it?"
"No, of course not…" Xu Jing, her thoughts seen through by Xu Yishan, shook her head, her face slightly red.
"Still denying it? You silly girl, you've never been a good liar; I saw right through you..." Xu Yishan shook his head. "Go on, attend to your own things. I'm not going to eat Lin Feng; I just want to have a private word with him."
"Oh, okay…" Xu Jing left, her face flushed with embarrassment.
Only after Xu Jing had left the room did Xu Yishan look at Lin Feng and ask with a serious expression, "Lin Feng, I heard… you used acupuncture to give your ordinary classmates superhuman running abilities?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Feng furrowed his brow...