"What minor issue?" Chen Feng asked directly.
"Gambling on football matches." Lu Zhanming said without concealment.
"Gambling on football matches?"
"Yes, it's about betting on matches. Once a team is controlled by a gambling syndicate, whether the team wins or loses is no longer decided by the players," Lu Zhanming explained dejectedly.
"Then why aren't teams in other countries controlled by such syndicates?" Chen Feng retorted.
"Elder Chen, to be honest, football teams in other countries are more or less controlled by gambling syndicates, just not to the same extent. For some reason, Chinese football is severely controlled by these groups," Lu Zhanming continued with a dispirited expression.
"Whether it's foreign or Chinese football, regardless of the degree of control by gambling syndicates, one thing is certain: these groups manipulate matches for massive profits. The reason foreign football is less controlled is because their police actively deal with it. Conversely, in Chinese football, the police are not very involved, or even indifferent. To put it bluntly, the higher-ups in the police force might even be the protective umbrella behind these syndicates. In such circumstances, Chinese football becomes severely controlled. In your words, if a football team is controlled by a gambling syndicate, the players have little autonomy. They might be forced to lose matches to make money. If they don't comply, the players and their families would be hunted by the syndicates." Chen Feng explained.
"Chen Feng, since you know football is controlled by gambling syndicates, how should we deal with it?" Lu Zhanming pressed.
"I can't decide or interfere with foreign football's issues with gambling syndicates. However, I can resolve the issue of Chinese clubs being controlled by them," Chen Feng said confidently.
"Ah? You're confident you can solve it?" Lu Zhanming looked astonished.
"Is there a problem?" Chen Feng asked with a smile.
"Elder Chen, it's not that I don't believe you. It's just that Chinese football is controlled, openly or covertly, by gambling syndicates. They possess immense wealth and are ruthless. In the past, many influential figures in power tried to suppress them, but they eventually gave up because it was too dangerous. There's a Chinese saying: 'Cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents.' If you're not careful, you could easily get yourself burned, and then your life..." Lu Zhanming didn't finish the last two words. Chen Feng, being a seasoned veteran of the political arena, would understand the implication.
"Elder Lu, what you've described is not alarmist; it's the reality. However, it's fine. When doing things in China, especially when dealing with the political arena, one must have a spirit of disregarding one's own life. If you're afraid of everything, you can only protect yourself. But my personality is not one to merely protect myself. I firmly believe that evil cannot triumph over good." Chen Feng stated with conviction.
"Chen Feng, I am impressed by your demeanor. However, even with your fearless spirit, the situation seems difficult to resolve. These gambling syndicates largely operate underground, making them impossible to catch." Lu Zhanming shook his head.
"Elder Lu, rest assured, if the police want to catch them, there are a million ways to do so. If they don't want to, then they are essentially uncatchable. From the perspective of wanting to catch them, with today's advanced criminal investigation techniques, solving a few gambling syndicates would be a piece of cake." Chen Feng said calmly.
"Elder Chen, so your intention is..." Lu Zhanming asked excitedly.
"My intention is that you can train the Chamber of Commerce team with peace of mind according to my methods. As for the cancerous gambling syndicates, I will handle them with the Ming Shan City Public Security Bureau. If I discover anyone reporting on Ming Shan City or syndicates manipulating teams under the umbrella of the Chamber of Commerce of overseas investors, they will be immediately dismissed from their posts. A new director will be appointed, and they will not be replaced until the gambling syndicates are eliminated." Chen Feng explained word by word.
"Elder Chen, I am truly impressed. You've immediately pinpointed the core of the issue. Without their protective umbrella, the gambling syndicates will instantly become compliant. They will stick to legal betting and won't think about manipulating teams anymore." Lu Zhanming said happily.
"Alright, Elder Lu, the matter is settled. You can proceed as planned." Chen Feng said with his usual calm demeanor.
"Elder Chen, not only have you saved the Chamber of Commerce of overseas investors from the clutches of those two scumbag big shots in the Ming Shan City Industrial Zone, but you've also provided them with methods to build a true football team. Your contributions to the Chamber of Commerce of overseas investors are immense. If I don't repay you properly, I truly won't feel at ease." Lu Zhanming said sincerely.
"Elder Lu, you really don't need to be so polite. As I said before, I helped you avoid being squeezed by those two scumbag big shots not just to help you, but also to ensure the healthy and rapid development of Ming Shan City's economy. Helping you build a true football team is also not just for your sake. Honestly, although I don't like football, seeing how disgusting Chinese football has become, I can't help but want to attempt a reform. So, there's really no need for thanks." Chen Feng stated truthfully.
"Elder Chen, the more you say this, the more I want to repay you. Truly, that's just how I am. If someone desperately tries to extort money from me, I won't give them a single cent. But if someone helps me, helps me selflessly without expecting any reward, I feel compelled to repay them. Otherwise, I won't be able to sleep soundly." Lu Zhanming said earnestly.
"Elder Lu, since you've put it this way, if I refuse again, I would be ungrateful. How about this, you invite me to a nightclub once? That should be fine, right? We're friends, a simple gesture is enough." Chen Feng said with a smile.
"That can be arranged. As it happens, I have a supreme card for a nightclub in Seikoku." Lu Zhanming deliberately emphasized the words "Seikoku." His implication was clear: he was suggesting a nightclub outside of China. Playing in a nightclub abroad wouldn't risk damaging Chen Feng's future.
Chen Feng did not hesitate and readily agreed. He had been to Seikoku more than once and had a company there, managed meticulously by Kaieyameiko. He could use this opportunity to inspect his company in Japan and also to properly reward Kaieyameiko.
The next evening, at Lu Zhanming's arrangement, Chen Feng found himself at a nightclub in Seikoku. Upon entering the nightclub, Chen Feng was surprised to discover powerful figures from Seikoku's political sphere also present. This revelation shook Chen Feng's worldview. He had previously heard widespread rumors about the integrity of Seikoku's political circles. However, hard facts indicated that all crows were black. Regardless of the country, as long as individuals held power, they were prone to wrongdoing. Some countries' political circles engaged in wrongdoing overtly, while others did so more discreetly. China, it seemed, was more overt. There was a saying that if you randomly shot a Chinese government official, none of them would be a miscarriage of justice. This anecdote highlighted the severe corruption within China's political arena, a heartbreaking and sorrowful reality. Consider those who took the civil service examination; why did they do it? It was for the good benefits and power associated with being a civil servant. Who genuinely took the exam to serve the common people? People entered the political arena with the mindset of making substantial money, and it was natural for them to be corrupt. Seikoku's political circles were hypocritical to the extreme, proclaiming themselves the most incorruptible in the world, yet in reality, their corruption rate was no different from China's. However, it must be said that Seikoku's corruption was very discreet; ordinary people could not detect it. For instance, this mysterious nightclub was practically impossible for most people to find. Since the nightclub itself was so elusive, how could anyone discover that political figures were frequenting it? For Chen Feng, the existence of corruption within Seikoku's political circles was not the most astonishing aspect. What surprised him most was the "perverted" nature of the activities that these Seikoku political figures engaged in at the nightclub.