Car Racing without Money-Chapter 258 - 126: Your Value Far Surpasses Your Understanding (Double-Length)
This year, tickets are hard to come by for the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix.
Unfortunately, competitive sports demand results, and Zhou Guanyu hasn’t reached the phenomenal status of Yao Ming or Liu Xiang—he’s just one podium or race win short!
"Mr. Peng, I understand, ready to sign at any time."
Chen Xiangbei remained silent as he realized this was no longer purely a commercial act.
"Xiangbei, if Jiuli Sports becomes the organizer of the Chinese Grand Prix, and you meet the qualifications for an official F1 driver seat, we could offer a sponsorship of no less than 50 million."
Peng Sheng also promised to sponsor Chen Xiangbei in his quest for an F1 seat.
He believed that if Chen Xiangbei became an official F1 driver, future returns would far exceed today’s investment!
"Then I’ll thank Mr. Peng in advance."
"You seem very confident."
"What’s the point of racing F1 without confidence?"
Hearing Chen Xiangbei’s audacious remark, Peng Sheng understood why the street kid he saw in East Sea back then could now venture step by step into the F1 field.
It was all due to such absolute confidence in himself!
With a preliminary verbal agreement reached, signing would wait for Peng Sheng to prepare a formal contract. Chen Xiangbei and Lu Xiaoman left first.
"Xiangbei, where are you planning to go?"
"Nanyun Mountain."
"You’re not planning to relive the days of the South Cloud Mountain Car God, are you?"
Although Lu Xiaoman wasn’t from the Guangzhou-Shenzhen area, she had heard from Liang Chi about the legend of Chen Xiangbei, the South Cloud Mountain Car God.
Now, this guy is already a formula racer, going back to Nanyun Mountain to bully amateur street racers feels a bit like picking on kids.
Although, purely age-wise, Chen Xiangbei was the "kid."
"Qin Lianjie agreed to meet me at Nanyun Mountain."
Last night, Chen Xiangbei received a text from Qin Lianjie, arranging to meet at the scenic platform at the peak of Nanyun Mountain.
"Alright, I’ll drive you there."
Lu Xiaoman floored the accelerator, and the Ferrari F430 sped toward Nanyun Mountain.
At the moment, almost all members of the Light Point Team had gathered at the Nanyun Mountain scenic platform, including Shining Hui.
Other than the captain Cao An, who had matters to discuss with Chen Xiangbei, the other team members came with curiosity and admiration, wanting to see the high school student who once raced here.
How could he, in just a year, become a Renault champion driver?
Especially some new members of the Light Point Team, who often heard from old teammates about the legend of the South Cloud Mountain Car God.
For example, the South Cloud Mountain Car God drove a Corolla and took down Shining Hui’s Mercedes AMG.
Vice-captain Qin Lianjie’s supercharged Civic Type-R couldn’t last half a lap under Chen Xiangbei and was left in the dust, unable to even see the taillights.
There were even rumors that the South Cloud Mountain Car God drove a Subaru Impreza STI and beat the double champion Han Han on the track, nearly getting recruited by the Volkswagen 222 Team as a touring car driver.
Various legends about Chen Xiangbei, along with his improving results on European tracks, grew even more exaggerated.
The latest version claimed Chen Xiangbei rode a moped to defeat a Mitsubishi EVO driven by a professional racer from Hong Kong at Nanyun Mountain...
Members of the Light Point Team, craning their necks over the railing, spotted a red Ferrari F430 ascending the mountain. However, the driver was clearly a long-haired female, which quickly dashed their initial excitement.
"Look, the man in the passenger seat of the Ferrari appears to be Car God Bei!"
Someone shouted, refocusing everyone’s attention.
Since Chen Xiangbei had raced at Nanyun Mountain a few times, many racers recognized his appearance, and his identity was quickly confirmed.
"That’s right, it’s Car God Bei, the South Cloud Mountain Car God is back!"
"As expected of Car God Bei, even the way he ascends the mountain is unique, sitting in the passenger seat."
"I’m still hoping to see Car God Bei’s Impreza STI, the real Blue Lightning!"
Among them, only Shining Hui looked troubled, filled with curiosity about the changes in Chen Xiangbei, yet awkward about their past grievances.
What if Chen Xiangbei, this jerk, held a grudge and sought revenge?
While Shining Hui was lost in thought, Lu Xiaoman had already parked at the mountain platform.
Facing dozens of eyes gazing at him, Chen Xiangbei was momentarily unsure what to say. Did Qin Lianjie have to stir up such a big fuss to welcome him?
Soon, however, those dozens of gazes turned to Lu Xiaoman, whose fiery red lips and voluminous curls radiated an intimidating mature femininity.
Even Shining Hui was dumbstruck; a high school girl’s cuteness was worthless in the face of such sensuality!
Lu Xiaoman was used to this and even blew a kiss toward the exiting Chen Xiangbei, waving goodbye: "Not bad, little guy, I’m very satisfied. See you next time."
Hearing this, everyone felt as if struck by lightning, and their impressions instantly shattered.
Could it be that the fabled South Cloud Mountain Car God Bei was also taking the easy road?
Only Qin Lianjie showed a helpless smile, knowing Lu Xiaoman’s prankish nature.
Thus, with a black expression, Chen Xiangbei walked up to Qin Lianjie and casually said, "We’re just meeting up, is all this really necessary?"
To which Qin Lianjie replied helplessly, "Your South Cloud Mountain Car God reputation is too big, the team couldn’t resist ’star-chasing,’ I couldn’t stop them."
Qin Lianjie wasn’t exaggerating. He merely mentioned it to Captain Cao An, and before he knew it, it instantly spread within the team, leading to this entire spectacle.
"So, what’s the matter?"
"Captain Cao and I plan to sponsor you 3 million to race the Macau Grand Prix."
"You’ve already bought advertisement slots on the racing suits, still planning a friendly sponsorship?"
If the Lenovo Group’s sponsorship was purely business, Jiushi Sports’ sponsorship contained a mix of sentiment and deeper elements.
Then Cao An and Qin Lianjie’s sponsorship was purely friendship.
Back when Chen Xiangbei ventured to race in Renault events, no one knew if he could gain a foothold in Europe, and by the precedent of Chinese drivers, it was likely for naught.
Yet Cao An and Qin Lianjie still transferred 700,000 to his account, which deeply moved Chen Xiangbei.
"No, this time we plan to purchase body advertisement slots."
Qin Lianjie smiled and shook his head.
His initial sponsorship to Chen Xiangbei was indeed from personal friendship, never expecting a return, however, the results were "contrary to expectations."
Although Chen Xiangbei’s Renault champion title hadn’t "gone viral," it spread widely in the racing community through "Sports Weekly," including the street racing circle, where many learned of the South Cloud Mountain Car God title.
Consequently, the Light Point Team and Extreme Speed Modification Shop also saw a surge in fame, with this half-year’s earnings far exceeding the initial 700,000 personal sponsorship.
Now, with the Macau Grand Prix nearing, the Pearl River Delta’s influence is unmatched, not to mention other regions of the mainland.
Cao An hopes to seize this opportunity to grow the Light Point Team and his car workshop larger and stronger.
If possible, he wishes for Nanyun Mountain to surpass Japan’s Qiuming Mountain as Asia’s sacred mountain pass.
Just like Fujiwara Takumi, thus ensuring Chen Xiangbei’s legend as the South Cloud Mountain Car God forever circulates in the world!
