35: Canary singing

On the last day of October, the turf of Victoria Park Stadium still held the dampness of the previous night's drizzle.

Lin Feng stood on the main stage, his gaze sweeping over the upcoming League Two match.

Today's opponent was Stockport County, a team struggling in League Two.

But Lin Feng had no intention of underestimating them.

[System Prompt: League Standings Monitoring In Progress]

[Current Ranking: League Two First Place]

[Winning Streak: Eight Games]

Schmeichel was doing his final warm-up movements in front of the goal.

The night of defeating Tottenham felt like yesterday; every save by the Danish goalkeeper was replayed repeatedly by the media.

"How's Kasper's form today?"

Vardy leaned towards Sigurdsson, asking in a hushed voice.

"He's been studying videos of Stockport's strikers since last night."

The Icelandic teenager's tone held a hint of admiration.

"Sometimes I think he's more professional than any of us."

The whistle for the start of the match sounded.

Stockport County's players were clearly affected by Hartlepool United's recent performance.

Their movements were a bit stiff, and their passes lacked confidence.

In the twelfth minute, Sigurdsson got the ball in midfield.

He didn't rush to pass forward but patiently observed the situation on the field.

Snodgrass made a high-speed run down the right wing.

Vardy, meanwhile, was constantly moving in the attacking third, looking for opportunities to break through the opponent's defense.

Sigurdsson deftly distributed the ball to the right wing.

After receiving the ball, Snodgrass chose not to cross from the byline but cut inside to the edge of the penalty area.

His sudden change of direction caught the opposing left-back off guard.

He then delivered a low cross, and the ball accurately found Vardy's run.

Vardy didn't hesitate.

He met the ball with a low shot, not powerful but with a tricky angle.

Stockport's goalkeeper dived, but it was too late.

1-0!

Victoria Park Stadium instantly erupted.

Vardy ran towards the stands, spreading his arms to enjoy the cheers of the fans.

"This is form!"

Schmeichel shouted loudly from the back, the Danish goalkeeper's voice cutting through the stadium's roar.

In the sixty-eighth minute of the second half, Hartlepool United scored again.

This time it was Snodgrass's solo performance.

After receiving a pass from Simpson, the Scottish winger successively dribbled past three defenders.

His footwork was displayed to its fullest extent at this moment.

His final shot was clean and crisp, the ball flying directly into the top corner of the goal.

2-0!

The final score was set; Hartlepool United secured a comprehensive home victory against Stockport County.

This was the team's ninth consecutive League win, further solidifying their position at the top of the table.

In the locker room, Old John's face was filled with satisfaction.

But he knew that bigger challenges lay ahead.

"The lads played very well."

His gaze swept over every player.

"But don't forget, we still have more important matches to play."

Lin Feng pushed the door open, the young Chinese boss holding a contract in his hand.

"John, I have some good news to tell everyone."

The players immediately quieted down, all eyes focused on Lin Feng.

"We've just signed a significant sponsorship contract."

Lin Feng's voice was calm, but every word carried undeniable weight.

"Vigour Plus Energy Drink, a three-year contract, with a total value of nine hundred thousand pounds."

A thunderous cheer erupted in the locker room.

Nine hundred thousand pounds was an astronomical figure for a League Two team.

Vardy was the first to stand up, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"What does this mean, Boss?"

Lin Feng's lips curved into a barely perceptible smile.

"This means we can do something in the winter transfer window."

John Stone rushed in, pushing the door open.

The Commercial Director's face was filled with excitement and shock.

"Boss, this contract is a miracle!"

His voice trembled with emotion.

"I've been in football business for twenty years, and I've never seen such a successful negotiation."

Lin Feng waved his hand, signaling him to calm down.

"This is just the beginning, John."

"We still have a lot to do."

In the office, Lin Feng sat alone at his desk.

[System Analysis: Winter Transfer Window Target Screening]

[Primary Target: Maidstone United, Chris Smalling, 16 years old, Centre-back]

[Potential Assessment: S-level]

[Estimated Transfer Fee: 150,000 pounds]

[Secondary Target: Sunderland Youth Academy, Jordan Henderson, 16 years old, Midfielder]

[Potential Assessment: A+ level]

[Difficulty of Acquisition: Extremely High]

Lin Feng's fingers tapped lightly on the desk, a steady and powerful rhythm.

Smalling's name repeatedly appeared in his mind.

This future England international was still playing obscurely in non-League football.

But Lin Feng knew that this teenager possessed all the potential to become a top center-back.

Henderson, on the other hand, was a challenge on another level.

Poaching a youth academy core player from a Championship team was an almost impossible task.

But Lin Feng never believed in the impossible.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.

Sophie Green pushed the door open, holding a voice recorder and a notebook.

"Mr. Lin, I'd like to talk to you about the club's commercial operations."

Her eyes were filled with curiosity and inquiry.

"I've noticed a series of actions since you took over the club, including youth training investment, player acquisitions, and commercial sponsorships."

"There seems to be some inherent connection between these strategies."

Lin Feng gestured for her to sit down.

This astute female reporter always managed to catch details others overlooked.

"What do you want to know?"

Sophie opened her notebook, ready to record.

"I want to understand your business philosophy."

"The outside world is speculating how you managed to bring about such massive changes to the club in such a short time."

"Some call it 'Lin Feng Economics'."

Lin Feng's eyebrows subtly raised.

That was an interesting moniker.

"Economics?"

"Yes."

Sophie's tone grew more excited.

"You seem to be running a football club with a completely new model."

"It's not simply throwing money at players, but achieving sustainable development through systematic investment and planning."

Lin Feng was silent for a moment.

He indeed possessed ideas and vision that surpassed this era.

But how could he explain the existence of the system to others?

"Football is a business, Sophie."

His voice was very calm.

"But not a simple business."

"It requires a long-term vision, precise judgment of talent, and keen insight into the market."

Sophie quickly recorded every word.

She could feel the depth embedded in Lin Feng's words.

"So, for the winter transfer window, do you have any plans?"

Lin Feng's lips curled into a mysterious smile.

"If I told you I'm preparing to sign a future England international, would you believe me?"

Sophie's pen paused in mid-air.

A hint of shock flashed in her eyes.

"Are you serious?"

"I never joke."

Lin Feng stood up and walked to the window.

Night had fully fallen, and the lights on the training ground were still bright.

A few young players were still doing extra training on their own.

Vardy was practicing shots, each one with full power.

Sigurdsson was practicing free kicks, the ball flying precisely into the top corner of the goal time after time.

"What you see is not just a few young men playing football."

Lin Feng's voice carried a certain inexplicable confidence.

"What you see is dreams shining."

Sophie followed him to the window.

Her gaze fell upon the figures sweating profusely.

Suddenly, she understood what Lin Feng meant by "Lin Feng Economics."

This was not just a business strategy; it was an investment in talent, an investment in dreams.

"When is the League Cup quarter-final draw?"

Sophie changed the subject.

"Tomorrow morning."

Lin Feng's tone remained calm.

"No matter who we draw, we will give it our all."

"Even if it's Manchester United or Chelsea?"

"Even if it's Manchester United or Chelsea."

Lin Feng's answer was without any hesitation.

Sophie could feel that this confidence was not blind arrogance but was based on a certain assurance she could not yet comprehend.

After saying goodbye to Sophie, Lin Feng returned to his desk.

[System Prompt: Media Influence Assessment]

[Current Popularity: National Level]

[Commercial Value: Rapidly Rising]

[Recommendation: Accelerate Youth Training Investment, Expand Influence Coverage]

Lin Feng opened his computer and began to formulate a detailed winter transfer plan.

Smalling's data unfolded on the screen one by one.

Height, weight, technical characteristics, match footage.

Every detail was meticulously analyzed.

[Deep Scan: Chris Smalling]

[Current Ability: 72 points]

[Potential Ceiling: 94 points]

[Core Attributes: Heading, Interception, Speed]

[Weaknesses: Passing, Ball Control]

[Transfer Success Rate: 85%]

These data further solidified Lin Feng's determination to acquire Smalling.

A center-back who could reach 94 points in the future, now only costing 150,000 pounds.

This was definitely a worthwhile investment.

As for Henderson, the difficulty was indeed immense.

But Lin Feng decided to give it a try.

Sometimes, miracles are born out of the impossible.

Late at night in Hartlepool, most people were already asleep.

But the lights of Phoenix Training Center were still bright.

Lin Feng was alone in his office, planning the club's future.

The tactical board on the wall was densely covered with various plans and goals.

League promotion, cup victory, youth training development, commercial exploitation.

Each item required careful planning and execution.

His phone suddenly rang.

It was John Stone's call.

"Boss, a reporter from ESPN wants to interview you."

His voice was filled with excitement.

"They want to know the secret to Hartlepool United's success."

Lin Feng looked at his watch; it was already close to midnight.

"Arrange it for tomorrow."

"Okay, Boss, and one more thing."

John Stone's tone became even more excited.

"The Manchester Evening News wants to do a feature story about you."

"The title is 'The Eastern Magician's Football Revolution'."

Lin Feng chuckled softly.

These media outlets always liked to label people.

But he didn't care.

As long as it helped the club gain recognition, any label was fine.

"Let them do it."

After ending the call, Lin Feng returned to work.

The winter transfer window was about to open, and time waited for no one.

Every detail had to be prepared in advance.