19: Youth players

Hartlepool in August still held the lingering warmth of late summer.

Victoria Park Stadium, after the match day concluded, was once again immersed in tranquility, with only the faint sound of raindrops tapping on the canopy above the stands.

This tranquility was soon broken by a deafening roar from a piece of abandoned industrial land not far from the stadium—a pulse emanating from deep within the earth.

Hartlepool United had cleanly defeated Lincoln City 3-0 at home in the League, with Jamie Vardy once again announcing his presence with a powerful goal, and new signing Robert Snodgrass also scoring a brilliant goal with an inside cut from the wing, the ball arcing in a tricky curve directly into the far corner.

The team was far ahead in the standings, riding a wave of momentum, and the joy of victory lingered in the locker room.

And now, Lin Feng's other grand blueprint was officially launched.

Huge bulldozers emitted a dull roar, their tracks rolling over the overgrown land, leveling the industrial ruins of a bygone era, kicking up a cloud of dust that carried the scent of history. The long arms of excavators swung, digging into the hard soil, preparing for the laying of underground pipes, the fragrance of earth permeating the air.

This would be the location of the Phoenix Training Center, carrying all of Lin Feng's visions for the future.

Old John Stone, the accountant, stood at the edge of the construction site, a few specks of mud on his suit jacket, his face flushed with excitement, his forehead even breaking out in a fine layer of sweat. He looked at the bustling scene before him, feeling as if he had become twenty years younger, all his fatigue swept away.

He hurried into Lin Feng's office, the outside 喧囂 shut out, leaving only his rapid breathing.

"Boss, the construction team has fully entered the site!" Mr. Stone's voice was filled with uncontrollable excitement, even trembling slightly.

"They guarantee that they will build to the highest standards, every brick and tile will be top-notch!"

Lin Feng stood in front of the large floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the land being reshaped. His gaze was deep, as if he could penetrate steel and concrete to see the modern training base that would rise from the ground in the future. He nodded, his voice calm yet powerful, carrying an undeniable authority.

"Tell them I want not only the highest standards, but also the highest efficiency. The special fund of 1.2 million pounds has already been fully transferred. I don't want any delays in funding, not even for a second."

"Understood!" Mr. Stone nodded heavily, now revering every decision Lin Feng made as if it were divine, his heart filled with awe.

He even vaguely felt that every move his boss made seemed to have been calculated in advance.

"Oh, and Boss, there's been a major breakthrough in transfers!" Mr. Stone took out two documents from his briefcase, their edges slightly curled, clearly having been reviewed multiple times, his tone even more excited.

"Manchester City and Manchester United have finally relented!"

"They've agreed to loan out Kasper Schmeichel and Danny Simpson for a year, and... and the contract includes our priority low-price buyout clause!"

This was undoubtedly great news. Schmeichel faced fierce competition in the Manchester City academy and longed for first-team playing opportunities; Simpson was in the same situation at Manchester United, highly anticipated but suffering from a lack of practical experience. Hartlepool United's current reputation and the blueprint Lin Feng had outlined held an irresistible appeal for them.

Lin Feng's expression remained largely unchanged, as if all of this was already within his expectations, a subtle hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes. His gaze fell on another document, which bore the name of an Icelandic teenager.

The only problem came from the Icelandic teenager at Reading Football Club.

"Reading still won't let him go," Mr. Stone's tone became somewhat regretful, as if stating an unchangeable fact.

"They think very highly of Gylfi Sigurðsson's potential and are unwilling to sell him to us, even if we increase our offer."

He paused, then added, a hint of disbelief in his voice.

"But the boy himself is very keen! His agent contacted us again, saying Gylfi is willing... willing to pay some of the academy compensation fee himself to make the transfer happen!"

A hint of subtle admiration finally flickered in Lin Feng's eyes.

A sixteen-year-old boy, for his professional future, for the chance to come to the stage he yearned for, dared to make such a decision. This desire for the future and this courage were far more valuable than talent itself.

This was exactly the player he wanted.

"Tell his agent," Lin Feng turned around, looking at Mr. Stone, his tone decisive and calmly authoritative.

"We appreciate his determination. The club is willing to cover the remaining compensation fee and reach an agreement with Reading as soon as possible to bring him to Hartlepool, the sooner the better."

"Yes!" Mr. Stone took his leave, his steps noticeably lighter.

Old John Mcdonald pushed open the door and walked in. He had just finished the team's tactical analysis meeting, a hint of fatigue on his face, but his eyes were full of light. He had heard Lin Feng's last words, and a complex emotion welled up in his heart.

Schmeichel, Simpson, Sigurdsson... these young talents he had never heard of were about to gather at this small League Two club. Although he still harbored a slight doubt about the abilities of these youngsters, as they had not yet proven themselves in the first team, he had come to fully believe in Lin Feng's seemingly divine foresight.

He began to anticipate what earth-shattering changes the infusion of this fresh blood would bring to the team, as if he could already see the team's future soaring.

Meanwhile, in the Hartlepool Mail office, Sophie Green was staring at her computer screen, her brows furrowed, her fingers lightly tapping the keyboard. The screen was filled with dense draft reports, but her thoughts drifted far away.

She had just received news from a friend at the city hall, confirming the details of the agreement for Hartlepool United's training ground land and that the project had officially begun.

The project's swift launch and massive financial investment far exceeded the capacity of a League Two club, and even Championship teams might not be able to be so extravagant.

She began to suspect that Lin Feng's understated remark about "successful international financial investment" must conceal a deeper secret. His source of funds seemed unfathomable, like a bottomless pit.

Sophie picked up the phone and dialed the number of a friend who worked in London's financial district, a keen financial analyst. She decided to start with Lin Feng's funding channels to uncover the veil of this mysterious Chinese boss. She had a premonition that this would be a report capable of shaking the entire football world of England.

At the Phoenix Training Center construction site, Vardy and Snodgrass, after training, made a point of circling around to take a look. They stood outside the temporary fence, watching the heavy machinery at work, feeling the club's burgeoning ambition.

Excitement flickered in Vardy's eyes; he could almost see himself sweating on this training ground in the future, growing stronger.

Snodgrass wore a slightly shy smile, his heart filled with anticipation for the future; he knew he had come to the right place.

They were filled with unprecedented excitement for the future, and their training became even more diligent, every run, every touch of the ball, imbued with a yearning for what was to come.

Their gaze was already fixed on the next match.

League Cup Second Round, against a strong Championship team — Leicester City.