Chapter 41: Chess Pieces, Square and Circle, Black and White

"What?! You said Rui Zhao doesn't even have a business license?"

Dajing City, Dajing South Station.

Shang Chaotian was sitting on a chair near the exit, showing a very rare look of surprise.

"…Where did she go before?!"

"Well... according to her, when she was studying on her own before, she was only focused on improving her chess skills, and she didn't even know about taking the amateur rank exam..."

Yu Qingguang's voice on the other end of the phone was full of helplessness.

"Lao Shang, do you have any solution? Otherwise, I'm afraid we won't be able to explain ourselves to Rui Guoquan!"

Shang Chaotian thought for a moment, then sighed and said:
"Yes, there is! The Dongjiang Division of the 'Metropolitan Cup' Amateur Go Championship will be held at the beginning of next month. As long as you win the championship there, you can directly enter the fifth grade. It's not too late for Rui Zhao to sign up now..."

"Hey, that's not what I'm talking about!"

Before Shang Chaotian could finish, Yu Qingguang interrupted:
"Of course I know the 'City Cup' method! But if we go to the 'City Cup', the prize money is so high this time, won't Gu Mingqing and Wang Zhen have to come? Do you dare to say that Rui Zhao will definitely win the first place?!"

Shang Chaotian was speechless for a moment after hearing this.

Gu Mingqing, Wang Zhen, Yin Fang, Bai Yuxiang.

These four are recognized as the top four players in the amateur Go community in China and are known as the "Four Amateur Kings".

Although they have not become professional players, they have all achieved the highest amateur Go rank - amateur 8th dan. They have been making a living by participating in various amateur competitions for a long time. In a sense, they can be regarded as another kind of "professional" Go players.

When it comes to chess skills, the four amateur kings are called "amateurs", but they actually have solid professional-level strength.

There are many precedents of top-level professionals letting the "Four Heavenly Kings" go first in many events. Overall, active 9th-dan players can hardly stand letting the Four Heavenly Kings go first, but ordinary 8th-dan players may not be able to beat the "Four Heavenly Kings" if they let the Four Heavenly Kings go first.

Based on this overall performance, the Go community generally believes that the "Four Heavenly Kings" all have the strength of a professional third dan or above, and many professionals who have just entered the dan have to avoid them when they see them.

Among the "Four Heavenly Kings", Yin Fang lives in Dajing, Bai Yuxiang lives in the Bay Area, Gu Mingqing and Wang Zhen live in Jinling City and Qiantang City near Dongjiang River respectively.

This year, in order to promote the development of amateur Go, the Go Association has increased the prize money for the champions of the "Metropolitan Cup" amateur Go competition from 50,000 yuan to 120,000 yuan. With such a high level, Gu Mingqing and Wang Zhen, who live nearby, are almost certain to participate.

With these two opponents, it would be very difficult for Rui Zhao to win the championship of this so-called "amateur competition". Not to mention that there would be other young players who would come to "try their luck".

...

Seeing that Shang Chaotian was silent, Yu Qingguang added decisively:
"Lao Shang, the industry 5 level has been everywhere for a long time now, and it has almost no credibility!
"You are the chairman of the chess association! You should have a solution..."

"I know this!"

This time it was Shang Chaotian who interrupted Yu Qingguang.

"But Old Yu, you told me before that the rules and regulations of our Chinese Go must be standardized, so that the industry can develop in a positive direction!
"Ever since I took over as the chairman of the Chess Association, I have always remembered the advice you gave me at that time. I have worked hard to institutionalize and standardize everything. Now I have achieved some success. All affairs of the Chess Association are in good order. But now you let me lead the way astray..."

"This isn't a bad example!"

Yu Qingguang retorted.

"… Isn't there a loophole in the detailed rules for rank management? Doesn't the last item of the chapter [Rank Awarding] say 'If there are special circumstances, amateur 5th rank and below can be applied for by local Go associations, and the Huaxia Go Association will verify that the applicant has the corresponding level and then directly award it'?"

"Old Yu! That's for extremely special circumstances! We can't just set this precedent!"

"This is a very special situation!"

Yu Qingguang's voice became louder.

"Didn't you just say last night that the Zhicheng Group was willing to sponsor the Weiqi League for one year, and that Rui Guoquan played a big role in it, and that you also told us to teach Rui Zhao well?

"But if Rui Guoquan knew that his precious daughter, who was fully capable of playing professionally, could not participate in this year's qualifying tournament because of a poor player, and the chairman of the chess association who always said he would take care of everything said there was nothing he could do, do you think he would be able to accept such an explanation?!
"Lao Shang, the Weiqi League starts in August, and the sponsorship fee will most likely arrive at the end of July. By the beginning of July, Rui Guoquan will see that his daughter will have to wait another year to get promoted to a professional position. I don't dare to think whether the money can be deposited into the account of the Qiqi Association on time..."

Yu Qingguang deliberately left Shang Chaotian an opportunity to answer.

But who knew that there was only silence on the other end of the phone.

Alas, Lao Shang is too honest! I really don’t know whether it is a good thing or a bad thing!
Yu Qingguang could only sigh upon seeing this, and found a way out and said:

"Okay, Lao Shang, I'll let Rui Zhao sign up for the 'Metropolitan Cup' auditions first. As for you... you should think about whether there is a way to have the best of both worlds, okay?"

This time Shang Chaotian finally answered simply:
"Ah."

...

These young people...each one is more troublesome than the other!
After hanging up the phone, Shang Chaotian looked expressionless, and immediately lowered his head and buried his face in his palms. He was busy with work during this period because of soliciting sponsorship and preparing for various events in the second half of the year. Lei Qi's sudden abnormality had already brought him a lot of extra pressure, and Rui Zhao suddenly revealed that he didn't have an amateur rank certificate at all, which directly put him in a dilemma. How could he not feel tired?

Oh, I really want to share some of my life with Lu Wenjie...

Shang Chaotian muttered something in his heart, but immediately put on a bitter smile on his face.

He knew that his deputy was currently dealing with the issue of unpaid wages from club sponsors left over from previous years, and was now overwhelmed!
The fact that no one came to him for help was already showing enough care for him as an old brother!

At this time, the station broadcast sounded: "Friends who are picking up relatives and friends, please note that the G2 train has arrived at Dajing South Station..."

Oh, here it comes!

Shang Chaotian immediately stood up and stood at the railing in front of the exit, looking for his proudest student among the crowd leaving the station.

Soon, a gentle and handsome boy appeared in his sight.

"Lei Qi! Here!"

Shang shouted, waving his hands toward the sky.

The young man turned his head towards the sound and gave a not very energetic smile.

"Teacher Shang! I told you not to come over because you're busy with work. I'm fine!"

Although he looked a little tired, it was obvious that Lei Qi's mental state was still stable, and at most he was just not in a good mood.

Seeing that the student's condition seemed to be much better than what Lei Jingming described last night, Shang Chaotian finally put his mind at ease for the time being and asked with a smile:

"Why? Are you so eager to get rid of me as soon as possible?"

"No way!" Lei Qi responded simply, his tone quite relaxed.

Oh, has this kid resolved it on his own?

It turns out that Lao Yu’s approach makes sense!

Shang Chaotian patted his student on the shoulder and said, "You've worked hard on this journey! You must be hungry now, right? Let's go have a big meal!"

"what……"

Faced with the teacher's invitation, Lei Qi opened his mouth slightly and thought about it.

"...That's fine! But I'm the one treating you, so don't fight with me!"

"How can I let you come? I don't have any dignity as an adult... huh? Wait a moment, Lei Qi."

Just as the teacher and student were having a pleasant conversation, Shang Chaotian's cell phone rang.

When I picked it up, I saw that the caller was Lu Wenjie, vice chairman of the Chinese Chess Association.

Shang Chaotian's expression suddenly became serious.

My deputy is very capable and usually won't come to me for help unless necessary.

Once he comes to me, I'm afraid there really is a problem that needs to be dealt with by him.

"Hey, Wen Jie, what's going on?"

"Brother Tian, I heard that Xiao Lei lost a bad game in the chess game yesterday?"

Shang Chaotian was stunned, but still answered: "Yes, it happened. Is there any problem?"

The other party's tone became hesitant: "Uh, Brother Tian, why don't you take some time to counsel your student? It's normal for a chess player to lose miserably occasionally, don't give up on yourself!"

"Giving up on himself?" Shang Chaotian glanced at Lei Qi, who seemed to be doing fine for the time being, and said in confusion, "No! I'm right beside him, and everything is fine with him!"

"No?!"

It can be heard that Lu Wenjie was very surprised by this answer:
"Then why is he posting on the Yiguo forum looking for a female anchor who sells lessons?! Doesn't he know that this has a bad influence?"

"…What? A female anchor selling lessons?!"

Shang Chaotian suddenly looked at Lei Qi, his face confused.

Today's third update is full of 100,000 words. I hope that smart push can save the child a little bit (laugh)

Also, I am looking forward to a round of trial push today! Although it seems a bit difficult to follow up (helpless)
Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, the weekend will still be 11 am and two updates, just a reminder~


(End of this chapter)

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