People in America: My Uncle Don Quixote

Chapter 178 October Arrives (Bonus Chapter for Alliance Leader "Zhen'an Temple Iron Ox")

These words caused an uproar in the press conference hall, as if a bomb had been dropped on the surface of the water.

Reporters and media outlets scrambled to raise their cameras, the flashes nearly obscuring Li Wei's face. Many, like sharks smelling blood, pushed forward relentlessly, raising their hands in an attempt to extract a few more controversial headline-grabbing quotes from this arrogant rookie.

However, Li Wei merely smiled and glanced at the furious Washington Post reporter before pushing away the microphone in front of him and walking backstage under the escort of security personnel, leaving the media with only a dashing silhouette.

Don Quixote and Chen Haisheng stood in the shadows below the stage.

"Did you see that?" Don Quixote asked abruptly.

"What? I mean... I saw it," Chen Haisheng said quickly, "Mr. Li Wei's performance was indeed outstanding."

"Li Wei's commercial value and exposure are too high now. Every word and action of his is exposed to the media spotlight," Don Quixote shook his head. "Those paparazzi and reporters wish they could put a microscope on him."

"So, you mean...?"

"In order to avoid being fucked by others, we need to be prepared in advance," Don Quixote said. "We need a team, a professional public relations officer, a personal assistant, a bodyguard... I need a special forces unit."

"Mr. Don Quixote," Chen Haisheng stepped forward, "I am willing to go through fire and water for you, it is my duty." "Hmm?" Don Quixote turned to look at him, and said with a strange expression, "You are still a novice, I cannot completely trust you."

Chen Haisheng swallowed his final "farewell" before he could even utter it.

"But I do have a task for you," Don Quixote patted Chen Haisheng's tense shoulder and said in a low voice, "your first practical test as an assistant."

Chen Haisheng immediately held his breath and focused.

"The one who just asked the question was that reporter from The Washington Post," Don Quixote pointed to the reporter who was taking pictures of Levi's departing figure. "His question was a bit too emotional and didn't seem very professional. I need you to find out more about this guy."

"Your core objective is to figure out whether this was his personal attempt to grab attention, to step on Levi and gain fame, or whether it was the idea of ​​the Washington Post's top management, or whether a competitor was paying him to do this?"

Don Quixote had intended to stop there, but seeing Chen Haisheng's youthful face and his background, he continued, "Remember the rules I emphasized to you in the private room," Don Quixote stared into Chen Haisheng's eyes, "I want you to use your network of connections from all walks of life to gather intelligence and investigate information, not to deal with the people who raise the questions."

"Absolutely do not expose your relationship with Li Wei, absolutely do not make a move, and do not act on your own," he emphasized repeatedly. "Otherwise, it will not only cause trouble for yourself, but also for Chinatown, understand?"

Chen Haisheng took a deep breath and nodded to show his understanding.

"Very well," Don Quixote patted his suit collar, "Go on."

Watching Chen Haisheng's departing figure, Don Quixote glanced around the press conference hall one last time.

This is a marketplace of fame and fortune, a melting pot of temptations.

Li Wei doesn't need to know these things. As Li Wei's only relative and only elder, he can handle these matters himself. All Li Wei needs to do is become a big star and be the center of attention.

However, Li Wei's remarks today were indeed too arrogant. He shook his head as he looked at the media and reporters who were still chattering and exchanging information. Perhaps it was time to speed up the team building process.

So the next day, when he was talking to Li Wei about the recent commercial endorsement deals, he mentioned this.

"Sure," Li Wei said, leaning back on the sofa watching a talk show on TV. "Let's form a team, that way you won't be too tired."

"And you said that Mercedes and Rolex were paying attention to me before?" Li Wei thought for a moment and then said, "How much money did they have?"

""

"I'm not sure," Don Quixote said, "but it's at least roughly in line with your salary."

"One hundred million US dollars a year?" Levi whistled. "That's really good."

"That is, if you win the Super Bowl," Don Quixote nodded, "so I think it's very necessary to build a small team so that you can be in the best condition and not be disturbed by the outside world."

"I think so too," Li Wei said, his focus not on that. "I think you're getting pretty high dividends now, so why not give yourself some time and space to spend some money and have some fun?"

"Now is the time when you need me," Don Quixote said, shaking the documents and research reports in his hand. "Before you actually get those super endorsement contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars, we need a basic framework. So I've made an initial team plan."

He pushed a financial statement in front of Li Wei, which listed a clear data model and estimated expenses.

"I need $287 million in start-up capital," Don Quixote explained, pointing to the categories on the form. "This money will be used for three main purposes. First, we need to structure our personnel; we need to hire a core team of five people."

"Hmm." Li Wei nodded. "I'm watching."

"The specific staff includes: a public relations professional with independent crisis management experience," Don Quixote said; a lawyer specializing in commercial contracts and intellectual property rights; a certified public accountant familiar with New York State and federal tax laws; a 24/7 life assistant and therapist; and a security manager with a professional security background.

Li Wei glanced at the personnel list, and these were indeed the five most urgently needed functional modules, at least in Don Quixote's opinion.

Don Quixote looked at the silent Livy and, without saying a word, sat down opposite him.

Lily ran over with her phone and whispered in Don Quixote's ear where Chen Haisheng had gone, as she was going to her riding lesson later.

Don Quixote whispered that he would personally take Lily there later, as Chen Haisheng had other plans.

After Lily ran away, Li Wei remained silent.

"Then...then comes the hardware and office space," Don Quixote coughed twice and continued, "We can't exactly do business in an apartment or a VIP box at a stadium, so I'm planning to rent an office in the business district of Midtown Manhattan, equipped with full security."

"Hmm." Li Wei hummed in agreement. "You can continue."

"Then the remaining funds will be used as the team's basic operating salaries and risk reserves for the next year," he said. "This is to ensure that the team can still operate efficiently during the off-season or in the event of unforeseen circumstances. So this $287 million is the total budget for the salaries of five people for one year, as well as office space and equipment. What do you think?"

Li Wei nodded. "I'll give you $300 million directly, not $287 million. Don't be so tight."

"I'll have the account manager transfer you $2 million first. Prioritize securing office space and key personnel. If necessary, hire headhunters," Li Wei picked up his phone. "The remaining $1 million will be paid out after the subsequent salaries arrive. I still have four games to play this month, so there's no rush."

"Sure, 200 million should be enough to cover the initial rental deposit and the headhunting fees," Don Quixote said, glancing at the notification of the funds arriving on his phone. He put the documents away. "I'll have the headhunting firm provide the candidate list as soon as possible. Do you want to review it during the interviews?"

Li Wei doesn't actually need a personal assistant or security guard. He believes that unless there are real superheroes in the world, no one can protect him better than him.

The same goes for the life assistant. The regular rhythm of the competition will not cause any damage to his body, not to mention that his body will be completely repaired when he advances.

However, from Don Quixote's perspective or from the perspective of outsiders, he still needed to have some such people to assist him.

Not to mention him, even someone like Dexter Lawrence, whose salary and benefits are far less than his, has a team of 10 people revolving around him.

A prestige project is still necessary, and besides, this isn't an astronomical sum for Li Wei.

It's just two weeks' salary after tax.

However, after careful calculation, he was still shocked.

The rise in social status inevitably leads to an increase in the cost of living.

In the recent period alone, he has already spent seven or eight million US dollars.

After finishing the competition, he received another $144 million in salary, bringing his savings to over $310 million. Now, he only has $110 million left.

"Spending money like water," Li Wei remarked as he lay down on the sofa and continued watching the Ellen Show.

As October arrives, early autumn quietly descends upon New York with a touch of coolness.

The trees in Central Park are beginning to lose their emerald green, gradually turning into a mottled caramel and dark red.

Cold winds from the Atlantic Ocean swept into Manhattan’s steel jungle along the Hudson River Valley, prompting pedestrians to don light trench coats and wool jackets.

However, in contrast to the gradually cooling New York weather, Levi's popularity across the United States has seen an explosive, counterintuitive surge.

Analysts from major sports channels have meticulously analyzed Levi's match footage frame by frame since the start of the season.

On ESPN's flagship data analysis program, Levi's data from his first three games was continuously scrolling across the big screen. From a data analysis perspective, his performance has, frankly, broken the normal distribution established since the NFL's inception.

"Look at his stats," Joe Buck has become a standard Lee fanboy. "His pass completion rate under pressure is 82%. His escape rate from pocket pressure is an amazing 100%. And what makes defensive coaches most desperate is that on average, every time he is tackled, he can still force his way forward for 8.5 yards with his physical abilities."

"I know you're a Li fanboy," his longtime partner Troy said, banging on the table as he sat across from him. "But the topic of this episode is how exactly we can restrain him."