Chapter Four: Upgrading Equipment!

Jiang Hong’s gaze swept over the other two rewards. The training repair serum had been directly upgraded to a full-body repair serum—this was just the thing to mend the minor aches and pains he had accumulated over time.

Who grows up without a few old, nagging injuries? It was a perk tailor-made for him.

Suddenly, Jiang Hong felt a buzzing vibration in his trouser pocket, which gave him quite a start. He fished out his budget-brand phone; it had pitifully few features and the calls were always laced with static, but its only saving grace was that it was nearly indestructible. Even so, when he had first bought it, it had cost him an entire month’s wages from a summer job.

As he lit up the screen, a text message popped up from his bank: "Your China Construction Bank savings account ending in 7702 has received a deposit of 1,000 yuan. Current balance: 3,576.12 yuan."

The system bonus had arrived.

Jiang Hong felt a weight lift off his chest. The money came at the perfect time; picking up balls himself was too much of a waste of time. If he hired someone to do it, his training efficiency would soar. The time saved could be spent on new tasks—he couldn't just rely on his serve to win matches forever. People would probably start calling him the "One-Stroke Man" of the tennis world.

"Hua, besides practicing serves, what else can improve my tennis game?" Jiang Hong sat up on his bed, intending to milk some advice out of Li Hua. Whether he took it or not was his business, but he might as well treat a dead horse as if it were still alive.

Li Hua, being treated as the "dead horse," stared at him with eyes as wide as saucers.

"I’m asking you, stop doing your Black Cat Detective impression," Jiang Hong teased.

Li Hua was already dark-skinned, and this hit a sore spot. "You’re the Black Cat Detective! Your whole family is!" Being a chubby, dark-skinned guy, he was particularly sensitive to the word "black."

Griping aside, he was still puzzled. "Old Jiang, why are you suddenly so obsessed with tennis? First practicing serves, now asking for tips."

"If heaven had not created Jiang Hong, the Chinese men’s tennis scene would be as dark as an endless night!" Jiang Hong puffed out his chest, looking completely serious. "I’m going pro!"

Li Hua was silent for three seconds before giving a thumbs up. "Old Jiang, you really know how to put on a show." He made a mental note to try that same act on someone else next time.

"Cut the crap, do you have any ideas or not?"

Just as Li Hua was about to speak, Jiang Hong added, "If you don't know, just say so. I won't make fun of you."

This remark completely ignited Li Hua’s competitive spirit—how could a man ever admit he couldn't do something?

"Who says I don't know!" he retorted, neck stiff, his eyes darting around. In truth, he was just a rookie himself and knew nothing of advanced techniques; he was even getting crushed by grade-schoolers who had only been playing for two years!

Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of the racket in Jiang Hong’s hand and his eyes lit up. "Old Jiang, you need to get a better racket! This piece of junk we have doesn't even qualify as entry-level. Don't you know that sharpening the axe won't delay the woodchopping? Look, your frame is already warped!"

***

[Ding! Suggestion detected: Purchase a high-quality tennis racket. Reward: Ten times the cost of the racket refunded; the strings of the host’s racket will not break unless damaged manually! (Accept?)]

Jiang Hong glanced at his falling-apart racket. It had served him well for a hundred yuan, but it was time for it to retire.

"Accept!" he said in his heart without hesitation.

Jiang Hong tossed the racket to Li Hua and said with his head held high, "This racket is yours. When you become famous, I’ll sign it for you."

Li Hua’s mouth twitched, speechless. "You really think you’re a Grand Slam champion, don't you?"

Jiang Hong hopped off the bed. "But I think you’re right, Hua. Come with me to buy a racket."

Since the system was footing the bill, he might as well spend it. Plus, he could make a little profit on the side—how comfortable!

Li Hua was stunned. "So soon?" He had just said it off the cuff, and Old Jiang was actually doing it. After a moment of hesitation, he held up a finger. "One bottle of iced cola."

"No problem," Jiang Hong waved his hand dismissively.

After leaving the school, Jiang Hong went to the bank to withdraw the cash. On the street next to the university town, there was a sports shop. Seeing the two young, inexperienced students, the owner looked at them as if they were fat, juicy sheep.

The owner greeted them from afar. "What are you looking for, students?"

"A tennis racket," Jiang Hong went straight to the point.

The owner’s eyes lit up—a big sale was coming! Usually, people came in for basketballs or soccer balls, picking the cheapest items worth a few dozen yuan. Tennis rackets, at the very least, cost over a hundred.

"You’ve come to the right place! We have everything from entry-level to high-end. You won't find a better selection anywhere else!" he boasted, spit flying.

"Just browsing first," Jiang Hong said indifferently.

Li Hua felt his heart pounding. *We’re just here for an entry-level racket. If Old Jiang keeps acting so pretentious, we’re going to get kicked out...*

The owner, seeing this, became even more enthusiastic. Why would someone need to "browse" for an entry-level racket? This kid was clearly looking for mid-range! He never expected to sell his high-end stock anyway; they were just there to make the shop look professional.

"This Head racket is the pick of the mid-range bunch. 879 yuan!"

"This Babolat sells the best..."

"And this Li-Ning high-grade carbon model—1,388 yuan. It’s the treasure of our shop. If you really want it, I can bear the pain of parting with it and let you have it for 1,280!"

***

Li Hua felt his legs go weak. In 2007, the average monthly salary for a worker was only two thousand, and the typical college student’s monthly living expenses were only two or three hundred. This racket was worth half a year’s living expenses!

"I’ll take this one." Jiang Hong picked up the most expensive Li-Ning racket. He then added, "But there's no need for a discount. Let's make it 1,388, just throw in some accessories for me!"

After all, if the owner made less money, he would make less money, too! This was a win-win situation.

The owner was stunned—he was literally bargaining in reverse? After a moment of silence, the owner gave a thumbs up. "You’re the best negotiator I’ve ever seen."

Jiang Hong paid the money, and the owner gifted him two pairs of wristbands, a headband, and five cans of tennis balls.

[Ding! Suggestion completed. Reward has been issued.]

Jiang Hong didn't check it on the spot; the system’s reliability had already been proven.

Outside the shop, Li Hua was still dizzy, staring at Jiang Hong. "Are you a rich kid?"

Jiang Hong rolled his eyes. "Do I look like one?"

Li Hua pondered for a long time and nodded heavily. "You do!"

In the end, Jiang Hong made up a lie about winning the lottery to fool him, claiming he had won two thousand yuan and swearing Li Hua to secrecy.

Li Hua clutched the racket, unwilling to let go, looking like a total fanboy. "Let me touch it, I’ve never touched anything this expensive in my life..."

Back at the dorm, Jiang Hong claimed his reward and studied the new racket—it didn't seem special despite the system’s enhancement, but having lived two lives, he finally got to experience the thrill of "buying only the most expensive, not the most practical."

That night, Jiang Hong called his parents, though he felt nothing out of the ordinary. Primarily, in the life before he transfigured, his parents had been healthy. They ran a small grocery store; it wasn't exactly wealthy, but it was a quiet, easy life. Their first reaction upon hearing his voice was to worry that he had run out of money.

After chatting briefly, he hung up.

"A second playthrough—it’s really good!"

Jiang Hong took a deep breath, only to be choked by the dust in the air. Well, the air quality in Chang'an hadn't been cleaned up yet in these years, and they still had the occasional sandstorm.