Chapter 218: Promotion

“It’s an honor to have Lord Li here. Please forgive us for not greeting you properly at the entrance.”
The old man gave Li Jiancheng a slight nod, his tone lacking much respect.
“Old Man Weng, you’re too kind. I’m sorry for intruding. Please don’t hold it against me,” Li Jiancheng replied, unfazed by the old man’s attitude and instead bowing politely.
“Lord Li, this time you’ve come…” The old man’s gaze slowly shifted to Lin Dong and the others. Noticing Qiao Tianhao, who was fidgeting with his legs, he frowned slightly.
“This is Manager Lin from Lin’s Inn,” Li Jiancheng introduced with a smile. “And this is Old Man Weng, the president of Junling Academy. Old Man Weng is a renowned figure in Autumn Wind City—no one has surpassed him in decades.”
“Lord Li, you flatter me,” Old Man Weng said, shaking his head before looking at Lin Dong. “I’ve heard a bit about Manager Lin. What brings you to Junling Academy this time?”
“President Weng, could we discuss this inside?” Lin Dong bowed. He already had detailed information about Old Man Weng days earlier.
Old Man Weng’s name was Weng Zhenke. He became a renowned figure at the age of 20, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. somewhat similar to Fu Chunjian, he turned away from the political world to manage an academy. He was upright and honest, and with countless students over the decades, he held great prestige in Autumn Wind City.
Weng Zhenke nodded. “Lord Li, Manager Lin, please come inside.”
Following Weng Zhenke inside, they entered a small courtyard of about forty to fifty square meters. Apart from a guqin placed in the center, there were only a few flower pots with chrysanthemums in the corners. It gave a clean and simple impression at first glance.
They went to the main hall, which was similar in style—clean and simple. Aside from tables and chairs, there were only a few vague landscape paintings hanging on the walls.
After the servant brought the tea and left, Lin Dong bowed and said, “President Weng, I’ve come to ask for your permission to place some vitality ball tables in the training ground.”
“Vitality ball tables?” Weng Zhenke looked puzzled. “Manager Lin, what are these vitality ball tables?”
Lin Dong stood up, went to the center of the hall, and took out a vitality ball table from a mobile cabinet. Instantly, the already somewhat spacious hall seemed a bit crowded.
“This…” Weng Zhenke stood up in confusion, walked over to the table, and asked, “Manager Lin, what’s the use of these vitality ball tables? Why place them in the training ground?”
Lin Dong took out a pair of rackets, two wooden helmets covering the face, and a vitality ball, placing them on the table before nodding at Qiao Tianhao.

“Wang Zheng, Liang Shan, you two go and demonstrate.” Qiao Tianhao waved at the two people beside him and stood up as well.
The two stepped forward; one picked up a racket and a helmet. Wang Zheng stood on the side of the table facing the door, while Liang Shan went to the opposite side.
Wang Zheng put on the wooden helmet, held the racket in one hand, and picked up the energy ball with the other. He stood about thirty centimeters in the middle of the table, tilted his body slightly, and lifted the left hand holding the energy ball upward.
The energy ball slowly rose under everyone’s gaze. Just as Weng Zhenke was completely confused, Wang Zheng suddenly raised his racket and struck the energy ball just before it reached his chest.
Bang!
With a soft sound, the racket hit the energy ball squarely. Instantly, the energy ball flew toward the opposite side, moving at a speed slightly higher than that of the wire net. After hitting the table surface, it bounced back rapidly.
On the other side, Liang Shan was clearly prepared. He tilted his racket slightly forward and struck the energy ball precisely at its upper middle part.
Bang! The energy ball spun over the wire net and flew back to Wang Zheng’s side of the table.
Immediately, Wang Zheng swung his right arm backward, sending the energy ball out at full speed toward the right corner of the table.
Liang Shan stepped back quickly and swung his arm to hit the energy ball back again.
The two exchanged blows—sometimes fast as thunder, sometimes slow as a stream. Weng Zhenke watched intently, his gaze following the milky-white energy ball back and forth. At times, he couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise.
Seeing Weng Zhenke’s reaction, Lin Dong breathed a sigh of relief. This energy ball still had quite an appeal in a world with little sports activity. Otherwise, given Weng Zhenke’s status as a distinguished figure and his composure honed over decades as an academy dean, he would never have reacted so wildly.
As they continued to exchange blows, Liang Shan struck a ball, and Wang Zheng took a quick step to the left. Unexpectedly, the energy ball spun over the wire net and headed toward his right side.
Snap! Caught off guard, Wang Zheng could only watch helplessly as the energy ball flew past him and hit the threshold behind.
“Ah!” Weng Zhenke cried out.
“Damn it!”
Unexpectedly, Li Jiancheng slapped his thigh and shouted at Wang Zheng, “Useless! Can’t you turn your arm around and block it from behind? Your arm isn’t that long—throw that wooden board onto your left hand quickly!”
Wang Zheng nodded meekly without daring to speak.
Lin Dong was stunned. He then remembered that although Li Jiancheng knew about the energy ball table, he hadn’t had the chance to see it yet.
Judging from his reaction, it was clear he too was attracted by the energy ball, which was why he instinctively scolded Wang Zheng.

The Vitality Ball could even attract Li Jiancheng, which further boosted Lin Dong’s confidence. He stepped forward and asked Weng Zhenke, who still intended to wait for Wang Zheng and the others to play another round, “Dean Weng, what do you think of this Vitality Ball?”
“What do I think?” Weng Zhenke was momentarily stunned before answering without hesitation, “It’s great! In all my life, I’ve never seen such an interesting little toy. Shopkeeper Lin, tell me, how much silver would five tables like this and wooden paddles cost? If it’s not too expensive, I’d like to buy them.”
Lin Dong was both amused and exasperated. This Dean Weng must think he was a salesperson.
If he really wanted to bring the assistant administrator of Qiufeng Mansion to sell these tables, selling them for less than eighteen taels of silver would definitely be a loss.
After some calculation, Lin Dong said, “Dean Weng, these tables are called Vitality Ball tables, and the wooden paddles can be called rackets.”
“Rackets?” Weng Zhenke stroked his long beard and approved, “That’s an apt name.”
Lin Dong smiled and continued, “If Dean Weng decides to buy them, the cost of the tables, helmets, and rackets is roughly three hundred wen.”
“Three hundred wen?” Weng Zhenke was slightly surprised. Bringing Li Jiancheng to sell things, and the total cost was only one or two taels of silver? Was that enough meat for Lord Li to stuff between his teeth at lunch? What he didn’t know was that Li Jiancheng hadn’t even eaten lunch, as he had been busy on the road; there wasn’t even a bit of vegetable scraps between his teeth.
Lin Dong nodded and said slowly, “As for the Vitality Ball, it’s a bit more expensive, with a cost of about two hundred wen.”
Compared to the other items, it was indeed a bit more expensive, but altogether, five sets still only cost two taels and five wen. For Weng Zhenke, two taels and five wen was well worth it for the students to have an extra form of entertainment.
After some thought, Weng Zhenke decided, “Shopkeeper Lin, can you sell me ten sets? I’m willing to give you double the profit, that is, one tael of silver per set.”
Lin Dong shook his head and asked, “Dean Weng, what do you think are the advantages of this Vitality Ball?”
“Advantages?” Weng Zhenke pondered for a moment before thinking, “It can strengthen the students’ physical fitness?”
“That’s right!” Lin Dong smiled and said, “To play the Vitality Ball, you need to move your hands, feet, and the whole body. Moreover, to beat your opponent, your reaction speed, eyesight, and judgment skills all get improved.”
Weng Zhenke thought carefully and realized it seemed true.
Looking at Lin Dong’s smiling face, Weng Zhenke hesitated for a moment before asking, “Shopkeeper Lin, what do you think of one tael of silver per set?”
Lin Dong still shook his head and said slowly, “Besides strengthening physical fitness, the Vitality Ball has another advantage.”

“Another advantage?” Weng Zhenke couldn’t help but look at the vitality ball that Wang Zheng had picked up and placed upside down on the table.
Lin Dong nodded, picked up the vitality ball, and pierced it with his fingernail. With a slight force, a thin membrane slowly peeled off.
Handing the vitality ball, which would now become a vitality beef ball, to Weng Zhenke, Lin Dong said with a smile, “Dean Weng, please give it a try.”
Weng Zhenke looked hesitant. Seeing Lin Dong nod, he took the vitality beef ball from his hand, brought it to his mouth, and took a small bite.
“The taste… is good!” Weng Zhenke praised. “It truly lives up to the cooking skills of Lin’s Inn.”
“Thank you, Dean Weng, for your praise.” Lin Dong’s gaze remained fixed on the vitality beef ball in Weng Zhenke’s hand.
Weng Zhenke had no choice but to put the entire ball in his mouth, chewed it carefully for a while, and then swallowed it, still wanting more.
“Not bad, really not bad. It leaves a pleasant aftertaste… Wait.” Weng Zhenke suddenly said, “Shopkeeper Lin, is there some spiritual material mixed in these vitality balls?”
Lin Dong nodded. “Otherwise, they wouldn’t be so expensive. There is indeed a lot of spiritual material inside. Eating one will surely give one energy for an hour. It’s suitable for everyone of all ages—no matter how much you eat, the effect remains the same, and it won’t cause harm from excessive use.”
“How is that possible?” Weng Zhenke was surprised. “Spiritual materials usually require more consumption to yield a weaker effect, and not everyone can consume them casually.”
“It’s indeed possible. As for why, I’m sorry, Lin Dong can’t explain. It relates to the inn’s business. But…” Lin Dong said with a smile, “With Lord Li vouching for me, Lin’s Inn’s turtle stewed with maple and phoenix tree leaves is also strong evidence. Besides, Dean Weng can simply instruct people not to consume them recklessly. Wait until these vitality balls become well-known before making a decision. Time will prove everything.”
“Elder Weng!” Li Jiancheng stepped in at just the right time. Though he wasn’t sure if these vitality balls were truly as miraculous as Lin Dong claimed, just because of Lin Dong’s blacksmith friend, he wouldn’t hesitate to draw his sword and attack Weng Zhenke, let alone vouch for him. He immediately declared, “I, Li, can vouch for Shopkeeper Lin. Just as he said, Elder Weng can wait until things become clearer before deciding whether to restrict students from consuming these vitality balls.”
“Since Lord Li is vouching for them, then they must be real.”
Weng Zhenke didn’t trust Li Jiancheng much, but when Lin Dong mentioned Lin’s Inn’s turtle stewed with maple and phoenix tree leaves, he already believed it.

It’s fun, helps exercise both the body and mind, and also boosts energy. Weng Zhenke hesitated; he didn’t know what price to set. If it was too high, the academy might as well make its own set; if it was too low, Manager Lin probably wouldn’t agree. Lin Dong nodded at Qiao Tianhao, who then took out a booklet and a flyer and handed them to Weng Zhenke.