Returning to '97, creating a new life

Everyone now has a goal.

Xu Kai was the only one who was considered to have no interest in basketball and wasted his talent. People used to think he was just wasting his talent and would often advise him to pay more attention to the training of the basketball team.

The result was that once Xu Kai got into it, everyone was exhausted.

The next day, Xu Kai was called over by the main team to participate in offensive and defensive drills, tactical drills, and short-term single-quarter games.

It's exhausting.

They dare not leave open spaces; once an open space is created, as long as the pass is delivered, the shooting percentage is frighteningly accurate.

They lack the defensive intensity of the NBA, but possess a level of accuracy that is slightly less, but not by much.

Xu Kai directly rejected professional teams, and other teams withdrew, but the Northeast Tigers have been trying to persuade him. Currently, several universities in China, including some prestigious ones, are still evaluating him.

"Coach, training is now closed to the public."

Xu Kai trains with the main team, with only one requirement: the venue is closed and training sessions are not open to the public.

His behavior baffled even Park In-ji and Yoo Da-sung.

After training, his outstanding performance made all the players stare at him with shining eyes.

Having a strong, consistent perimeter threat is crucial for the team. They know all too well what that means. As long as Xu Kai maintains this shooting percentage, his mere presence on the perimeter will inevitably create space. Containing one player requires constant vigilance against him and will also divert the attention of other perimeter players.

Has the chance for other teammates increased?

"Why don't you take better opportunities? I've seen people from some top universities already."

"My grades are bad."

Xu Kai knew that if he achieved outstanding results in the upcoming national league and could also perform exceptionally well, then the hurdle of academic performance would almost be eliminated. However, what he preferred was the direct route, the direct route that was closer to home.

Having more choices might mean more opportunities, but it's better to directly negotiate with the school that offers the highest value to you. Right now, you lack that advantage, so instead of wasting energy on frequent contact and maneuvering, it's better to wait until you're sufficiently outstanding and then secure your place directly.

Even now, he has a safety net. There is a comprehensive second-tier university in Songcheng. During the negotiations between Park In-ji and Yoo Da-sung, who represented Xu Kai, they made a corresponding promise: as long as Xu Kai can score 65% of the second-tier university entrance exam, he can be admitted to the university through a special sports admission program. Basically, 300 points is enough to secure admission, or even less.

When Park In-ji returned, she told Xu Kai that his score was still adjustable. With more and more good universities starting to pay attention to him, some operations could be made even more convenient. However, Xu Kai did not agree to these conditions. Otherwise, if he had started the operation now, the score issue would not have been an obstacle.

"It's a shame you're not a professional player. If you go to university, you can play professionally for a few years. If you can get into a national-level university, top universities will open their doors to you..."

Sun Jun's advice had little effect, because Xu Kai understood that he had considered his physical condition and, given his current state, if he focused diligently on training, he had a good chance of succeeding in what Sun Jun had mentioned.

He refused.

It's still the same reason I told myself at the beginning: if I can't achieve enough success in the NBA, then I'll be reborn with a brilliant youth and focus on training and games. I don't care if I miss the scenery along the way; the ultimate solution is to make money.

Nowadays, arcades can distribute 20,000 yuan in dividends every month, and the profits are still rising. The profits from gambling machines are beyond imagination.

"Ke Zai Lai" roast lamb restaurant earned a gross profit of 200,000 yuan in its first month.

The claw machine in the commercial building generates a gross income of about five thousand yuan per month.

This is just a small attempt to keep up with the times. In the next decade of China's great development, there will be plenty of opportunities. If I were in the internet age, I might have already pursued becoming a professional basketball player.

Making money tends to focus on investment or generating income through the internet. This requires more energy from long-term planning and data analysis for investment. However, this energy expenditure is significantly reduced for those who have undergone a rebirth.

Unlike now, when physical products still reign supreme and require a great deal of energy to be devoted to them.

What Xu Kai is most reluctant to part with is the new century that marks the end of the barbaric era and the beginning of a magnificent new chapter. It is a great opportunity for upward mobility and the era in which it is easiest to build and solidify one's social circle.

He knew all too well how important "power" was. Whether he could spend his money safely, especially on himself, was crucial. Otherwise, why would he, at his age, after improving his life, still have to entertain guests and make more friends?

Even if you were to relive the same path you've walked and the scenery you've seen, there might be places you haven't seen or visited before. But that doesn't stop you from following the current path, step by step, to see the sights.

He enjoys seeing himself improve while playing basketball, but he doesn't like doing that year after year. The intense training he's been doing for the past ten days or so is also due to his hormones. A strong body is like the sun at eight in the morning, full of energy. But in Songcheng, he's stuck with Yunshang, only able to look but not touch. As a man in his forties, you can imagine how unhappy he must be.

………………

"Come on, Uncle Niu is in the provincial capital. He said he'd take us out for dinner tonight."

Hu Yuxuan pulled Xu Kai along, asked Park In-ji for leave, and left the training base.

A Mercedes-Benz W140 was already waiting at the door.

"Uncle Cow".

Xu Kai took the initiative to sit in the passenger seat, while Hu Yuxuan sat in the back with Niu Dongyang.

"Your recipe for infusing liquor..."

Xu Kai laughed and said, "It's a family recipe passed down from an old village doctor in Changbai Mountain. Uncle Niu, you can have an expert check the ingredients to see if there are any drug interactions."

Niu Dongyang liked the young man's maturity and intelligence: "Alright, I'll have someone go to the mountains to collect some good stuff to make wine, and I'll share some with you later."

"Thank you, Uncle Niu."

"What the heck, what the heck?" Hu Yuxuan, who was standing to the side, became curious. In the short time he had been in Northeast China, his accent had been assimilated to the local dialect, and he had picked up a strong Northeastern accent.

"What does a little brat like you know?"

Facing Xu Kai's gaze, Hu Yuxuan curled his lip and said, "Who's the little brat? On the court, you're Brother Kai, but in real life, who's the little brat is still uncertain. Do you know what Uncle Niu is taking us tonight? Do you know what your Brother Xuan has been through? Little brat, you don't understand the adult world. Tonight, I'll show you."

Niu Dongyang smiled silently to the side. He admired his old friend. In other people's education, it is usually the father who takes the lead. Hu Delong was worried that this kind of education would be awkward for the father and son. He even had the idea that instead of letting his son slowly explore and learn on his own, it would be better to let him experience things firsthand and "raise him in luxury".

He noticed Xu Kai's gaze shifting back and forth between him and Xiao Xuan, and his smile deepened. This little guy was nothing like a little brat.

In short, he understands instantly. If you say he doesn't understand anything, who would believe you?

As the Lunar New Year approaches, the streets are already filled with the festive atmosphere. Although the provincial capital is not as prosperous as it is in later years, the festive spirit here is much stronger than in later times, which still gives people a very comfortable feeling.

It's a low-rise building, only seven stories high, but it occupies a large area, and the parking lot in front can accommodate a hundred cars.

The building was brightly lit and magnificent, attracting attention from afar.

In Xu Kai's eyes, oh, it's gold.

The exterior and interior are the same: magnificent and exuding an air of wealth and luxury, making it an absolutely awesome existence in this era.

"It's newly opened, and it's supposed to be a five-star hotel, but the facilities are a bit lacking. Let's look at the service. There's a performance group from the south tonight, so you two can have a good look at it."

It was the first time Niu Dongyang had come since the store opened. Xu Kai could tell that he was already familiar with the place. Tonight was just to entertain his nephew, Hu Yuxuan. Look at him, a senior relative, he even brought his younger family members to experience the pleasures of the world in advance.

It still follows the performance plaza format, with a T-shaped stage dividing the venue in two. Tables below serve as dining areas, while performances take place on the stage. However, this area is more upscale, with fewer tables, greater spacing between guests, a better environment, and low partitions on three sides providing relative privacy for VIPs.

The ground floor is relatively low, and there are low partitions in front, but this does not affect the view of the stage at all.

The second floor consists of individual boxes facing the stage. While the view from above might seem better, it's actually not as clear as the view from the first floor, which is closer to the stage.

Eating is never the main focus here.

Before long, the main course was served. Beforehand, there was energetic singing and dancing, and glamorous dancers in leather pants and skirts. But after the main course arrived, the performance became somewhat more mainstream.

They were all Bikini models, all tall and model-like, wearing high heels. Xu Kai and the others were sitting on either side of the T-stage. When the model-like women walked past them, they were less than two meters away.

From the signs pasted on each person, Xu Kai realized something. He didn't remember this, and he had never been able to access this level before. However, seeing Niu Dongyang's amused expression, he had a guess.

In addition to the catwalk on stage, there are also catwalk performances where guests can change into tulle skirts and walk among the guests on the first and second floors.

She wasn't a professional model, but she knew how to present herself well. Xu Kai guessed it from those hooky eyes.

This is absolutely the highest level of gaming in this era.

The meal was expensive, so they moved to a karaoke room in the back. Niu Dongyang then displayed his wealth again, not by setting up a large table, but by ordering an expensive bottle of fine wine, demonstrating a lifestyle that transcended the nouveau riche class.

Which number do you think is good?

Niu Dongyang's question startled Hu Yuxuan, but she quickly understood and found it easy to have a men's discussion with Uncle Niu without feeling awkward.

He was still talking animatedly when Xu Kai interjected, "Shouldn't there be a first-come, first-served order?"

"Huh?" Hu Yuxuan was confused. Niu Dongyang laughed and pointed at Hu Yuxuan: "Nephew, from now on, you'll probably have to call him Brother Kai outside the court too. You're way behind."

What do you mean?

Hu Yuxuan was still in a daze when Niu Dongyang and Xu Kai had already made their choices, with Niu Dongyang adding, "Don't let anyone beat us to it."

What do you mean?

Soon, he understood, and then, he realized.

Then, he was shocked. That damn bastard Xu Kai is no good at all. Last time he took us to a bathhouse, he acted like a gentleman and said we shouldn't touch him. That bastard, who knows how much of a womanizer he is in private.

Finally, he panicked and said, "I don't want someone else to snatch up the good-looking number."