69novels Chapter 143
Chapter 143
Liu Jian sat beside him, slumped over the table, a red mark pressed against his round face. He had helped Lin Feng process over a dozen remittance letters last night, not going to sleep until after 11 p.m. This morning, he went to practice with Lin Feng at 4 a.m., so sleepy he could barely keep his eyes open, but he didn't complain.
Lin Feng discovered by chance that Liu Jian was a man who truly put in the effort once he set his mind on something. Although his talent was average—whether in basketball or programming—he was willing to learn, work hard, and wasn't afraid of hardship. Such people are rare in any era.
The bell rang, signaling the end of get out of class. Wang Guoqing closed his textbook, picked up his enamel teacup, and left. A thick layer of tea stains had accumulated at the bottom of the cup, indicating it had never been properly washed.
Liu Jian looked up and rubbed his eyes.
"Lin Feng, when are you going to the sports school?"
"Next week. Coach Li said to report for duty on June 10th and have a one-week trial period first."
Liu Jian nodded, took a notebook out of his bag, and handed it to Lin Feng.
"This is last week's sales record. We sold 28 registered copies and 7 trial copies. There were 15 remittance slips in total, all of which I have recorded. I've written the reply and packed it on the floppy disk; it's just waiting for you to mail it from the post office."
Lin Feng took the notebook and opened it.
The handwriting was messy, but the information was very detailed—date, name, address, amount, registration code. Every item was there, in columns, and although the handwriting was crooked, the information was complete.
"Not bad," Lin Feng said.
Liu Jian smiled, a bright smile that revealed a row of slightly crooked teeth.
"And what about the salary?" he asked, half-jokingly and half-seriously.
"Settlement is at the end of the month. Commission is 15% of sales."
Liu Jian's eyes lit up. Fifteen percent—if he sold a hundred copies a month, that would be three hundred yuan. In those days, an average worker's monthly salary was only four or five hundred yuan.
"Lin Feng, do you keep your word?"
"You keep your word."
Liu Jian slammed his hand on the table, startling several classmates nearby.
Lin Feng went to the sports school over the weekend.
He didn't officially report for duty; he just went to familiarize himself with the environment. Coach Zhang Weiguo said on the phone, "Come early and practice with the team to see if you can adapt."
The basketball court at the sports school was quieter than the last time I visited. Most of the team members had gone home for the weekend, and only a few boarding students were shooting hoops.
The wooden floor was spotless, reflecting images clearly. The basketball hoop was hydraulically adjustable, far superior to the metal hoops on the school's concrete floor. Two white tactical boards hung on the wall, with red and blue magnetic strips attached to them. The tactics were the same ones drawn last time, and no one had wiped them off.
Zhang Weiguo stood on the sidelines, wearing a blue sports polo shirt with the words "Beichuan Sports School" printed on the chest in white. He held a whistle in his hand and had a stopwatch around his neck, looking like a real coach.
"Lin Feng, come on, run a shuttle run first, let me see your speed and stamina."
Lin Feng changed his shoes and stood at the baseline.
Zhang Weiguo raised his hand, then lowered it.
Lin Feng rushed out.
Seventeen meters by three, five round trips. He wasn't running fast, but his pace was steady. Each step he took on the wooden floor made a dull thud. By the last two laps, his legs were a little weak, but he gritted his teeth and persevered.
Zhang Weiguo glanced at the stopwatch and nodded.
"Your speed is average, but your stamina is decent. How do you usually train?"
Lin Feng, panting, supported himself on his knees. "Every day I run...three kilometers...then...five hundred basketball shots...strength training..."