Chapter 76: Hidden Rules

"Zhong Dajun was ecstatic to get Chen Yingxiong's permission to interview him. When he got home, he began to prepare questions for Chen Yingxiong the next day. For example, "How did you go to Russia?", "How did you get into Zenit?", "Scoring ten goals in eleven rounds is a great achievement, how did you do it?", "Are you used to life in Russia?", "What are the differences between Chinese football and Russian football?", and so on.

But what he didn't realise in his excitement was that today's incident attracted such a large number of onlookers. Could it be that no news had leaked out at all?

In the bar, Chen Yingxiong met a reporter who claimed to be from Jinguan Express and wanted to interview him.

"Our Jinguan Express is much better than Shuxi Metropolitan News! In Chengdu, our Jinguan Express has the highest sales volume. Shuxi and others can't compare to it at all!" The reporter who called himself "Xie Liang" spoke eloquently.

Although Hero had agreed to be interviewed by Shuxi Metropolitan Daily, there was no rule that only one media outlet could be interviewed.

Chen Yingxiong thought that if he wanted to become famous, more media coverage would always be a good thing. As for the feud between Shuxi Metropolitan Newspaper and Jinguan Express, he had no right to interfere.

He and Dracula looked at each other, then nodded and accepted the interview request from Jinguan Express. However, just like Shuxi Metropolitan News, they had to wait until the next day to contact by phone to confirm the specific interview time.

…

The next day, Dracula received a call from Xie Liang.

The two parties agreed on a time for the meeting at 10 a.m., and the location was a teahouse near the residential area where Chen Yingxiong lived.

After Xie Liang arrived, he did not start the interview right away, but chatted about other things. For example, the environment of this teahouse was nice, the weather was pretty good that day, and now prices were soaring, pork was unaffordable.

At first, Chen Yingxiong thought that high-level reporters would chat with the interviewees first, get to know each other better, and get closer before starting the interview, which would help the interviewees get rid of their nervousness. He secretly praised the reporter for his level.

He didn't expect that they had been talking like this for almost twenty minutes without the other party getting to the point.

Chen Yingxiong began to feel strange.

Dracula was also confused listening to this.

Chen Yingxiong simply went straight to the point. "Excuse me, Reporter Xie, are you here for an interview or to have tea and chat today?"

"Well, interviewing is chatting, and chatting is interviewing… you know, this way you won't feel nervous …" Xie Liang said with a smile.

"I'm not nervous at all, you can start right away." Chen Yingxiong shook his head.

Xie Liang was stunned for a moment. He found that the person in front of him seemed a little unwise.

Chen Yingxiong didn't know what he was going to do, so he just looked at him.

Xie Liang coughed and said, "It's like this, Mr. Chen… We can make a big draft for you, focusing on…"

Chen Yingxiong nodded. "Okay!"

This was exactly what he wanted. The more attention the media paid him, the more famous he would become. With fame, his parents at home would be able to see news about him.

"But that requires… you know." Xie Liang laughed.

Chen Yingxiong also laughed, and then he asked, "What do you know?"

Xie Liang cursed in his heart, what kind of brain is this!

He immediately frowned and complained to Chen Yingxiong. "There is a shortage of space now, and the competition is fierce… There are so many news items to be published. Tomorrow is Monday, and it is the time when the manuscripts that have been piled up for two days need to be published. By then, I am afraid there will be no space to put your stuff…"

Chen Yingxiong didn't care whether it was a day late or a day early, he had plenty of time anyway. "Oh? Then just wait until Tuesday. It's okay, I'm not in a hurry."

The flesh on Xie Liang's face twitched - Damn it, I have never seen such a stupid person! You really don't know, or are you pretending to be confused?

"Tuesday… Tuesday… Oh, I remembered there was a big special topic on Tuesday, maybe…"

"It's OK, Wednesday is fine. I'm really not in a hurry, don't force it." Chen Yingxiong fully understood the other party. He felt that he was so considerate in front of the reporter!

Xie Liang lowered his head to hide his ferocious expression of gritting his teeth - he simply didn't believe that there were such stupid people in the world. Could it be that he came here just to make fun of him?

When he raised his head again, the ferocious expression was gone, but his face was obviously not looking good.

Chen Yingxiong felt strange. "Do you feel uncomfortable in your stomach?"

Xie Liang almost vomited blood.

"Let me put it this way…if you want me to publish a big article for you, you have to…show some appreciation!" Xie Liang made the gesture of counting money.

Chen Yingxiong's eyebrows immediately twisted together.

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you clearly. What did you say just now?" He tilted his ear.

"I mean, you have to give red envelopes! Give red envelopes! In today's news, if you don't give red envelopes, you will lose to those who give red envelopes. If the red envelopes are too small, you can only be in the corners. If the red envelopes are thicker, you can be in a prominent position! Do you understand?" Xie Liang simply went all out and gave these two guys a lesson.

Chen Yingxiong grinned. He had always thought that being in the newspaper was very impressive, but he never thought that it had something to do with how much money was stuffed into the envelope…

"So, I will interview you and write an article for you. If you give me a red envelope, I can let you be featured in a major article! In a prominent position, on the important news page. Do you understand?" The reporter really almost added "idiot" at the end.

If it weren't for the fact that the other person was much taller and stronger than him…

Chen Yingxiong frowned again and shook his head. "If that's the case… I don't think there's any need for me to accept your interview, Mr. Reporter."

Xie Liang was stunned for a moment. "Are you sure?"

"Of course I am sure!" Chen Yingxiong pointed at himself with his thumb, "Who do you think I am, Mr. Reporter? I was published in the newspaper based on my own ability, and I never paid for it! I was published in Russian newspapers so many times, and I didn't pay a single ruble! How dare you ask me for money?!"

He stood up suddenly. His height of 1.92 meters gave people tremendous pressure.

Xie Liang was afraid that the boy would punch him, so he begged for mercy quickly. "If you don't want to interview, then don't interview…" After saying that, he got up and slipped away.

He didn't expect that this person had such a hot temper and would change his face after just a few words.

But he forgot that he was the same, his expression changed like turning the pages of a book. When he heard that there was no money, he acted as if his mother had died.

Xie Liang fled from the teahouse in a panic, then turned around and glared at the teahouse, as if it was the teahouse that embarrassed him.

"Damn it! You're so crazy! I can tell you're a liar at first glance! You're trying to cheat someone, but I'll expose you, you bastard!"

After saying that, he turned and walked away.

…

Chen Yingxiong saw the reporter leave on the second floor of the teahouse and snorted, "How dare you ask me for money? It's always been others who give me money. When did I ever give money to others for no reason?"

Just at this moment, Dracula's cell phone rang.

"It's Zhong Dajun calling." Dracula glanced at the caller ID and said to Chen Yingxiong.

Chen Yingxiong said to Dracula. "Ask him if he wants a red envelope first."

After Dracula answered the phone, he said, "Hello, Mr. Zhong Dajun. Do I need to pay for your interview and publication in the newspaper?"

Zhong Dajun was stunned for a moment - what does this have to do with anything? Why did he suddenly ask this question?

Fortunately, he reacted quickly. His eyes rolled and he seemed to understand something. He quickly said firmly, "No! I am a reporter, a qualified reporter. How could I write articles for red envelopes? What we pursue is the truth of the news, not the money that is tainted with the smell of copper!"

This sentence was said with such righteousness that even I felt my image suddenly became great and glorious.

Unexpectedly, Dracula just said "oh" and said to Hero next to him. "He said he doesn't charge money."

"Then let him come." Chen Yingxiong waved his hand.

Dracula told him the address of the teahouse, and Zhong Dajun said he would come in about half an hour.

…

After Zhong Dajun hung up the phone, he knew that someone must have gotten there first, but it seemed that person didn't succeed just because he wanted a red envelope?

He congratulated himself on his good fortune.

What idiot would ask for money when he sees such exciting news? Is the reporter really used to being a boss and thinks he is the uncrowned king? Everyone should give him face?

Yes, I usually accept money from others. For example, if the clubs want me to praise them in the newspaper, they have to give red envelopes. If they don't, I won't like them. But what kind of news is this? The image of Chinese football is so broken. I may not sing praises for them even if they pay me! Now this person has worked hard in a foreign country. What does he mean to countless Chinese fans who are already disappointed? Doesn't the colleague who is one step ahead of him know? Why do people on the Internet care so much about who "HERO CHEN" is? So many people pay attention to it? Isn't it because this person has given a lot of Chinese fans some psychological comfort? In the Russian league, in the ice and snow, he scored ten goals in eleven league rounds! Has any Chinese player who has played abroad ever achieved such efficiency?

I would do this kind of news even if it costs me money!

Zhong Dajun now placed all his hopes on Chen Yingxiong. As long as this interview special was successful, he would surely make a big comeback! Defeating Jinguan Express was just around the corner! His position in the newspaper would naturally become more important.

With this feeling, Zhong Dajun drove to the teahouse that Dracula mentioned at lightning speed. He was afraid that someone else would get there first - this is mine!

…

Zhong Dajun successfully interviewed Chen Yingxiong.

The two ordered two cups of tea in the teahouse and chatted for two hours - this number far exceeded the half an hour that Zhong Dajun had expected.

With Xie Liang as a foil, Chen Yingxiong also felt that Zhong Dajun seemed more reliable.

They even had lunch in the teahouse - Zhong Dajun had originally invited Chen Yingxiong and his foreign agent to try some authentic Sichuan specialties, but Chen Yingxiong said he had already taken Dracula to try all of them when he got home. Thus they ordered a few light meals in the teahouse and continued chatting while eating.

Zhong Dajun was naturally happy to see that the interviewee was not nervous about talking for longer. 

Why did they talk for so long in one breath?

This was all because the stories told by Chen Yingxiong were so fascinating!

Yes, the entire interview was a one-man show by Chen Yingxiong except for a few questions asked in a proper manner at the beginning by Zhong Dajun.

He talked incessantly and Zhong Dajun only occasionally interrupted to ask questions about the doubts in his mind.

Through Chen Yingxiong's narration, Zhong Dajun finally understood why Chen Yingxiong left his hometown to go to Russia to make a living. It was because Meng Ran tried to sabotage him in the club, so he was furious and retaliated against Meng Ran, which led to him being expelled from the team and losing the opportunity to become a professional player and play for his hometown team.

After that, his father secretly borrowed money and took him on an epic European tour, where they shamelessly went door-to-door to sell his products to European clubs.

Then they finally came to CSKA Moscow. In CSKA Moscow, they were not treated kindly, but ridiculed, mocked, and teased. Chen Yingxiong finally exploded. The resentment, pressure, and anger accumulated for almost a month finally exploded at this moment! He severely taught the CSKA Youth Team a lesson, and then flatly rejected the other party's invitation.

Zhong Dajun was completely fascinated by what he heard. He could even picture in his mind what Chen Yingxiong and his father had experienced in Europe.

They were indomitable, they never gave up, and they made it to the end of their journey. Finally, they tasted the wine of victory in Zenit St. Petersburg and Hero became a member of the Zenit youth team.

He could more or less understand why Chen Yingxiong was able to succeed in that strange country…

For such a stubborn and strong person, his success was no accident, right?

"It's just like a novel…" he exclaimed after hearing the experience. "But life itself is stranger than fiction. Ha!"

Chen Yingxiong didn't tell him about the relationship between himself and his agent. 

It was also easy to explain why he could score ten goals in eleven rounds of the Russian Premier League - his abilities were not discovered in domestic clubs because the training wasn't good enough. At Zenit he underwent higher-level training, his abilities hidden in his body were discovered, and so he became awesome… This was very simple, there was no bug.

After the interview, Zhong Dajun also solved the problem with the car.

He brought Wang Yongjun's account number, but he kindly reminded Chen Yingxiong. "The car is only 380,000 yuan… not 400,000 yuan."

Chen Yingxiong waved his hand nonchalantly. "Give me the account number and I will transfer the money directly to that person. Consider it as compensation for a new car. It's okay, the extra money can be considered an apology. After all, I smashed his car…" He now felt that he was too cruel last night and directly smashed someone's new car… But who made the other party look down on him first?

Seeing Chen Yingxiong like this, Zhong Dajun was even more convinced that he had made the right bet, and not only this time, but also in the future. Such a person… it was impossible for him not to succeed!

…

After obtaining the first-hand and most detailed information, Zhong Dajun happily bid farewell to Chen Yingxiong and his agent, and could not wait to return home. He called the editor-in-chief to report the good news, and then began to write furiously at his desk, organizing the materials and writing them into a press release that could be published in the newspaper.

He dared to bet that this information was unknown in the whole of China, and he had the only one in his hand!

Exclusive!

What did an exclusive mean? It was impossible for a journalist not to know this.

He even felt that one issue of the newspaper was no longer enough, and he might want to do a serial or a special issue…

This was so exciting! So awesome!

When he thought of the grand occasion at that time… Zhong Dajun, who was writing the manuscript, couldn't help but shudder. He was so excited that he got goosebumps all over his body.