As a condition for recruiting Eric Snow, Qin Zayne needed to maximize Eric Snow's immediate combat effectiveness over the coming summer.
Therefore, Qin Zayne needed to find a sparring partner for Eric Snow.
Naturally, he thought of Allen Iverson.
The decision to set the sparring location in Canton, rather than Neust or Chapel Hill, was the result of Qin Zayne's careful consideration.
If the location were in Neust, whenever Qin Zayne provided meals for Iverson, others from the Jackson Family and Iverson's family would inevitably crowd around to grab a portion.
As a result, Qin Zayne's daily expenses would inevitably rise.
And if he set the location in Chapel Hill, he would have to find accommodation for the not-yet-enrolled Eric Snow, as well as for Iverson.
Similarly, his daily expenses would increase.
To avoid these unavoidable complications, he decided on Canton as the sparring location.
However, before the two of them headed to Canton, Qin Zayne still had to return to Chapel Hill.
He needed to report back and, incidentally, file for reimbursement for his travel expenses.
More importantly, he had to await the final decision from Damon Stoudamire.
If Little Flying Squirrel ultimately decided to join UNC, Qin Zayne planned to bring him along for a three-person summer training session.
After spending the night in Neust, early the next morning, Qin Zayne prepared to leave for Chapel Hill; it was a four-and-a-half-hour drive, so he would arrive by noon.
But right there in the Jackson Family living room, he was blocked by Old Walter, who had been sleeping on the floor all night.
The old man had held back all night but finally couldn't take it any longer.
"My dear adopted son, now that you've made a lot of money, shouldn't you show some filial piety to your adopted father, who has worked so hard for this family?"
Indeed, these shameless words came straight from Old Walter's mouth, and Qin Zayne was not surprised.
He could even guess what kind of words would spill from that foul mouth if he refused the old man.
"I didn't abandon you like your mother did. If I were truly that heartless, I should have let the government take you in."
"You have to understand, back then, when your mother walked out, you all looked at me. I had no experience, yet I had to start taking care of three children—the food on the table, the clothes for school, a pile of bills to pay, buying diapers, going to the dentist… Awoo! You all looked at me as if I were the one who messed everything up."
"I admit I'm useless, but what can I do? That's just how the world is; making money has always been hard."
"Yes, I like to drink, but at first, it was only a little, occasionally, that's all."
"Later, you should know, my pressure was too great, I needed comfort, understand? Just comfort..."
Qin Zayne had heard these words too many times and was already sick of them.
And as for dealing with Old Walter, he was already experienced.
"Of course, Walter, I already thought of that. So last time I came home, I gave Ashley $1,000 and told her there was a share for you. Didn't she give it to you?"
This tactic was called shifting the blame.
Remember the 101 Book Reading Network.
Old Walter fell for it immediately. His expression changed, and he started spitting out various American swear words, pointing at Ashley.
"Fk, that little bitch, I'm going to find her right now!"
Five hours later, Qin Zayne saw Dean Smith again on the UNC campus.
Upon meeting, Dean Smith praised Qin Zayne:
"I've heard about your exploits in Oregon, Swann. Well done; I truly did not misjudge you."
Qin Zayne graciously accepted Dean Smith's praise and then found the accountant to hand over all the receipts.
For this trip, he had a $300 receipt for his hotel stay in Portland, and another $300 receipt for renting a car from Cleveland to Canton, effectively covering the $300 he had spent extra in Neust.
Handing over this stack of receipts, Qin Zayne felt a bit nervous.
Fortunately, the accountant didn't notice anything unusual, accepted the documents with a normal expression, and finally settled $500 to Qin Zayne as travel expenses for this trip.
"The expenses for the next half month are covered…"
Qin Zayne let out a long sigh of relief. The money he had on him was already spent, and he had been counting on this travel reimbursement to get through the next half month without a salary.
After settling the accounts, Qin Zayne returned to the basketball team's office area. As soon as he sat down at his desk, the phone rang.
The call was from Portland, Oregon, made by Damon Stoudamire.
Dean Smith and Bill Guthridge both leaned in, and all three of them heard Damon Stoudamire's decision on the other end of the line—
"Sorry, Mr. Qin, I've ultimately decided to join the Arizona Wildcats, not UNC."
This outcome did not surprise Qin Zayne much.
Damon Stoudamire had always been a very homesick player. In his past life, when drafted by the Toronto Raptors, he had expressed extreme reluctance.
Later, he seized every opportunity to demand a trade and finally got his wish, transferring to his hometown team, the Portland Trail Blazers.
For Damon Stoudamire, UNC was indeed too far away.
The coaching prowess displayed by Qin Zayne—truly astonishing—had indeed impressed Damon Stoudamire, leaving the Little Flying Squirrel, who had already made up his mind, in a state of confusion.
But the Arizona Wildcats, facing competition from UNC, had also stepped up their recruitment efforts for the Little Flying Squirrel.
Lute Olson, the famous NCAA coach who once led the US team to win the World Championship gold medal, personally intervened and had a heart-to-heart talk with the Little Flying Squirrel.
In the end, Damon Stoudamire cast aside the unknown Qin Zayne and chose the famous Lute Olson.
"I understand, and I accept it. I wish you all the best in Arizona."
Hanging up the phone, three long sighs echoed simultaneously in the UNC basketball team office.
Dean Smith patted Qin Zayne on the shoulder:
"I know, Swann, you did your best."
The fundamental reason he could say this was that, in the phone call just now, Damon Stoudamire had expressed his gratitude to Qin Zayne.
This made Dean Smith realize that without Qin Zayne, perhaps Damon Stoudamire wouldn't have even considered UNC.
"I should have gone personally and flown to Portland," Dean Smith blamed himself.
But Qin Zayne shook his head:
"No, Coach, the main reason Damon Stoudamire chose the Arizona Wildcats is that he didn't want to be too far from home."
"Regardless, we've missed out on Damon Stoudamire. For the point guard position next season, we can only use Derrick Phelps."
Qin Zayne didn't respond. He wouldn't push for Eric Snow at this moment because he knew that seeing is believing, and words are just empty talk.
"Let the bullets… fly a while longer!"
Two days later, Qin Zayne drove back to Neust.
"Swann, my dear adopted son, I asked Ashley for my share of the dollars, and that rebellious daughter actually told me to get lost. You be the judge…" Old Walter babbled in his ear.
But he ignored him, picked up Iverson, drove for ten hours, and arrived in Canton.
After resting for the night, early the next morning, at the Anderson Park court on the streets of Canton, Eric Snow met Iverson.
"Is this the sparring partner you found for me?"
"Uh-huh."
"He looks so small."
"That's right, he's only sixteen years old."
Eric Snow couldn't help but frown and turned to ask Qin Zayne:
"Is he really up to it?"
Iverson just pursed his lips and said nothing.
Qin Zayne smiled:
"Want to try?"
"Then let's try!"
On the court, Iverson got the basketball. Facing Eric Snow, who was still frowning and clearly underestimating him, Iverson slipped past like a ghost.
The poor Eric Snow—the best player in the history of the McQuaid Jesuit High School team and the future Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in his past life—was beaten in just one step.
Then Iverson's cold, arrogant voice rang out on the court:
"Can you put in some effort?"
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