Chapter 48: The Battle for the School Provincial Team and Sponsorship! (Please Continue Reading)

Wu Fei cleared her throat and looked at the department head.

“Director, Jiang Hong is still young, and his competition results have been quite good. Could you please be lenient and not punish him?”

Upon hearing this, the department head’s eyebrows immediately knitted together.

“When did I ever say we were going to punish Jiang Hong? A student like Jiang Hong, who excels morally, intellectually, and physically, is a model student of our school. How could we possibly punish him?”

“Huh?” Wu Fei was momentarily stunned.

Director, yesterday you seemed to say otherwise! You called Jiang Hong’s behavior a blatant disregard for rules and discipline. How is he suddenly a model student today?

The department head cleared his throat and said to Wu Fei, “Enough. Has Jiang Hong returned to the school yet? Our department has decided to hold a commendation ceremony!”

Wu Fei turned her head and pointed, “That’s Jiang Hong; he just came back and reported his leave.”

The department head paused, then turned to look at Jiang Hong standing nearby, his face instantly breaking into a warm smile.

“So this is Jiang Hong! Truly a remarkable young man. Bringing honor and glory to our school, he must be an example for other students to study hard after. If the organizing committee hadn’t sent an official notice, we wouldn’t even have known you won the international competition championship!”

Jiang Hong finally understood the reason behind the department head’s sudden change of attitude.

It turned out the organizing committee had sent the competition results directly to the school after the event.

Though Jiang Hong was an athlete, he was still enrolled as a student, so his results were officially reported to the institution.

One must understand that there are countless second-tier universities like theirs in Chang’an.

Usually, competition results, scientific research, and sports achievements are all transparent.

This time, however, a student had unexpectedly won an international championship—one even the national team might struggle to capture.

Their school had cultivated a national team member who had yet to go through the official system.

If he could compete at the Olympics next year, that would be a tremendous achievement for them!

“Director, you flatter me. I only participated in a small tournament,” Jiang Hong said modestly.

“What small tournament? I’ve already investigated it. This is a very high-level event in domestic tennis. The principal is currently on his way back and should meet with you this afternoon.”

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Jiang Hong excused himself, claiming he had to train, and left the counselor’s office.

By noon, banners were already hung at the school entrance:

“Congratulations to our freshman Jiang Hong for winning the International Tennis Federation Tour Shanghai Leg Championship!”

“Old Jiang, you’re famous now!” Li Hua cheekily ran over holding his phone.

“Thanks a lot!” Jiang Hong pressed his hand to his forehead, utterly speechless.

Just then, his phone rang—it was the counselor calling.

“Jiang Hong, are you at school now?”

“Yes, why?”

Jiang Hong found it strange that the counselor was suddenly reaching out.

“It’s like this—the provincial tennis team coach is here in my office looking for you. If you’re available, please come over.”

“Okay, I’ll come right away!”

Jiang Hong knew the purpose of the visit. Although the outcome was inevitable, he still had to go.

After calling Jiang Hong, Wu Fei also made a call to the leadership.

Jiang Hong arrived at Wu Fei’s office and saw a slightly overweight middle-aged man sitting inside, presumably the provincial team coach. Lin Yu and Wang Cheng were also present, likely to help sway him emotionally.

Li Jun was filled with regret, thinking how he hadn’t checked Jiang Hong out when Wang Cheng first recommended him.

Only two players on the provincial team had rankings, and just one point each!

Yet Jiang Hong had just won the Hope Tournament championship soon after debuting.

His prospects were boundless.

“Hello, Jiang Hong. I’m Li Jun, coach of the provincial team. You can just call me Uncle Li,” Li Jun said, standing to extend his hand warmly.

Jiang Hong shook his hand with a smile. “Hello, Coach Li. May I ask what brings you to see me?”

“Ahem!” Li Jun cleared his throat, stumbling slightly.

“Losing such a talented athlete like you to the grassroots is our oversight. Once you join our provincial team, we will spare no effort in nurturing you. You will be a mainstay in the National Games and we’ll fight for your place in the Asian Games team as well!”

Jiang Hong smiled ambiguously at the coach’s words.

Although everyone aimed for world rankings, few actually lived off the prize money from professional tournaments.

Reaching the top 200 in ATP rankings allowed a bit of financial breathing room for players from China.

Breaking into the top 400 usually just covered costs.

But even players occasionally reaching those ranks were supported heavily by the national team’s resources.

A provincial team from an economically underdeveloped area like Qin Province simply couldn’t offer those resources.

Before his rebirth, Jiang Hong had been through plenty of hardships.

He certainly didn’t trust empty promises.

“Thank you for your kind offer, Coach Li, but I prefer to be a free agent and pursue the professional circuit on my own.”

Jiang Hong’s straightforward refusal made Li Jun’s expression freeze.

Even leaders usually showed him respect, but Jiang Hong was bluntly rejecting him with such a perfunctory excuse.

His smile returned quickly, confident that once Jiang Hong joined the team, they would have ways to persuade him.

“Even if you want to play professionally, the team will provide financial support!”

At that moment, a voice came from outside the door.

“The school will also support your competitions and provide some funding!”

Li Jun frowned—an unexpected challenger had appeared.

He turned to see a man around fifty, the school principal.

“Jiang Hong, I just rushed back. You have brought great honor to our school and deserve high praise. Of course, we will also support your competitions,” the principal said, bypassing Li Jun entirely to address Jiang Hong directly.

“As a student of this school, it’s only right to bring glory to it,” Jiang Hong replied with a light smile, shaking the principal’s hand.

“Good!” The principal nodded, then looked at the department head beside him. “Students should have such ambition!”

“I’ve also learned along the way that you need funding for your professional tennis career. Before you graduate, our school will allocate 100,000 yuan annually to support your training and competitions.”

As expected from the principal—he spoke with the authority of a sage.

Investing 100,000 yuan to gain such honor for the school was well worth it.

No matter what, Jiang Hong’s enrollment and records were with the school. When he achieved success, the institution would share in the glory.

Li Jun was unhappy with the school’s sudden intervention but was powerless.

Still, he tried one last attempt at persuasion.

“Jiang Hong, the provincial team offers support the school simply can’t match!”

“Sorry, Coach Li. The Shanghai team contacted me during a previous competition, but I turned them down,” Jiang Hong said suddenly, looking up.

Li Jun was speechless. The Shanghai team’s conditions must have been far better than theirs.

Offering training facilities, funding, and tournament wildcards would be insulting to even mention.

“Jiang Hong, I know you must have deep feelings for your hometown and want to bring it honor, right?”

Since he couldn’t compete on benefits, Li Jun played the emotional card.

“You can’t say you don’t care for your hometown.”

“I bring honor to my hometown through my competitions,” Jiang Hong answered sincerely, unfazed.

Li Jun’s mouth twitched. You do bring honor, but it has nothing to do with me!

If you joined the provincial team, your achievements would be mine too!

This kid was as slippery as an eel.

Just as Li Jun pondered how to coax Jiang Hong, the principal spoke again.

“Enough, Coach. Since Jiang Hong has already declined, please don’t try to persuade him further. If he wants to join the provincial team later, he will contact you.”

The principal’s tone was gentle but left no room for refusal.

They were all within the system, but the principal’s rank was leagues above Li Jun’s.

“In that case, I won’t disturb you further,” Li Jun said, forced to take his leave.

The school’s 100,000 yuan sponsorship for Jiang Hong would be disbursed through scholarships, the sports department budget, and other subsidies.

Though the school’s funds were more abundant than the tennis team’s, they had to be carefully accounted for.

Jiang Hong had no intention of transferring to any prestigious schools.

Tennis didn’t require academic credentials, and he saw no reason to tarnish his record needlessly.