Car Racing without Money-Chapter 218 - 116: The Strong Are Always Envied (Double-Length)
Kobayashi Shuji’s actions seemed to strip away the last fig leaf of the "loser," causing an uproar and a lot of angry curses.
"Acting so arrogant just for getting pole position, someone might think he won the Renault championship!"
"It’s basically Stockholm syndrome, never heard of sacrificing yourself being an honor."
"Chinese rookie, don’t celebrate too early, only the winner of the main race is the champion!"
"Fuck, Magnussen isn’t easy to mess with, just wait to be taken down by him in the main race!"
Chen Xiangbei could hear the supportive voices from before, and now he could naturally hear the curses.
However, this time, Chen Xiangbei didn’t feel a shred of anger or annoyance.
The reason was simple, he only saw those Europeans full of superiority breaking down.
If curses and maledictions could stop a driver, then drivers like Schumacher and Verstappen probably wouldn’t have won any world championships.
After all, by "moral judgment" standards, those guys are far from being anything good on the track.
Futile rage is useless. If at the Renault’s first race, drivers like Magnussen, future F1 drivers, or Costa, future FE World Champion, still had some historical aura in Chen Xiangbei’s eyes.
Now, the aura has completely faded, and they’re just ordinary opponents.
No one is born an F1 driver; they also grow through race after race.
Now, the identity of people like Magnussen in front of Chen Xiangbei is just that of losers.
Losers are only worthy of looking up to him!
...
The heated post-race interview ended, and Chen Xiangbei walked into the team garage, receiving congratulations from team members.
As for Odetto, he didn’t come over. After the team members dispersed, he playfully said, "Bei, I believe you’re surely in a good mood now, which makes it the perfect time to deliver bad news, so it’s less painful to balance mentally."
[Good theory!]
Looking at Odetto’s "malicious" expression, Chen Xiangbei could guess that nothing good was coming.
"Go ahead, what’s the bad news."
"The Renault car rental company sent a repair quote list, and they quoted $163,500 for repairs."
What?
Upon hearing this number, Chen Xiangbei was stunned. Indeed, life is full of ups and downs, with its highs and lows.
A repair quote over $160,000, that’s over a million RMB in today’s era. How could repairing a Renault’s basic car chassis cost so much?
"Is this car repair or robbery? Buying a new one doesn’t cost this much!"
Chen Xiangbei suddenly became emotional, the surge in blood pressure now overshadowing his feelings after winning pole position and breaking the track record.
"Bei, you should know there’s a term in the automotive industry called the zero-balance ratio, it’s normal for repairs to be more expensive than a new car, especially with labor costs in the United Kingdom not being cheap."
"However, fortunately, we have insurance; you just need to pay the extra insurance increase cost."
Upon hearing this from Odetto, Chen Xiangbei breathed a sigh of relief, a hundred or so hundred thousand for car repairs was truly beyond his reach.
"Odetto, next time please just say everything at once, thank you."
"No, no, no, my bad news isn’t over yet."
In response to Chen Xiangbei’s reminder, Odetto waved his finger.
"What other bad news?"
"The FIA has issued a penalty for you and Mansell’s dangerous behavior, and you will be penalized with a five-place grid drop at the start of the main race."
"Is there anything else?"
Chen Xiangbei didn’t mind the grid penalty, or rather, he expected it.
"No, but overtaking at the Donington Park Circuit is difficult, and given your previous interview comments, I believe Magnussen and Costa’s defense will be extremely tough."
"Bei, I’m very much looking forward to your performance."
Odetto, like an unconcerned spectator, spoke with a tone of one who enjoys the excitement of trouble.
In response, Chen Xiangbei had nothing to say. He waved his hand and walked towards the driver’s lounge to change out of his racing suit.
Watching Chen Xiangbei’s departing back, Sawano Hiroyuki leaned in and said, "Team leader, isn’t the timing of mentioning this bad news a bit inappropriate?"
After the victory celebration in the previous race, Odetto didn’t show much reaction.
This time, even after taking pole and breaking the track record, Odetto didn’t say a single congratulatory word, instead being untimely "pouring cold water."
Sawano Hiroyuki felt a bit perplexed, wondering why Odetto the team leader had an "unpredictable" personality at critical moments?
Hearing Sawano Hiroyuki’s inquiry, a smile appeared on Odetto’s face.
"Sawano, when a driver is cautious and fearful, we need to give encouragement."
"But when a young person is arrogant, we can’t keep fueling the fire."
"I am proud of Bei’s achievements, yet I’m very clear he still has a long way to go."
In today’s view, Odetto sees Chen Xiangbei not just as a driver under his guidance but more like a young person he’s nurturing wholly.
He holds a more rigorous standard for the growth of someone young!
"Team leader, I understand now."
Sawano Hiroyuki nodded, as the East Asian Confucian cultural circle can better understand Odetto’s expression.
Meanwhile, Chen Xiangbei arrived at the lounge, coincidentally where Kobayashi Shuji was also preparing to change his racing suit.
"Kobayashi, thank you."
In this race at Donington Park Circuit, Kobayashi Shuji had helped him twice, far exceeding a simple gesture like handing over a tissue.
"No need to thank me, I didn’t do it for you, but for Asian drivers, including myself."
Kobayashi Shuji answered honestly, as his relationship with Chen Xiangbei wasn’t deep enough for "sacrifice."
The reason he was willing to offer assistance was purely because he could empathize with the indifference and mockery, hoping Chen Xiangbei would fight back fiercely, defending the dignity and glory that belong to Asian drivers!
"I’m also one of the Asian drivers, thank you."
Chen Xiangbei replied with a smile, then walked straight into the locker room.
By the time he came out after changing, Kobayashi Shuji had already left, and a familiar elder appeared in the lounge, it was Staler who rushed over from the studio.
"Bei, congratulations on getting pole position, the qualifying was spectacular!"
Before Chen Xiangbei could answer, Staler raised his left hand to check the time on his watch.
"Bei, are you interested in coming with me to the Brawn GP Factory to witness firsthand the fastest and most powerful car of this era?"
