American Adventure: My Uncle is Don Quixote

Hearing Mason’s words, Li Wei didn’t say much, just smiled to himself.

"A lot of people are interested in my sports drink," he said lightly. "I appreciate the attention."

As he spoke, Li Wei looked down, adjusted the golf ball on the tee, and methodically selected a 7-iron.

"I came here with hard cash," Mason continued. "Real, piping-hot Franklin greenbacks, enough to cover this entire golf course."

Don Quixote, standing to the side, gave a knowing smile upon hearing Mason’s words. He raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Director Harrison tactfully took two steps back and began studying his own collector-grade putter.

Seeing that no one was speaking, the smile on Mason’s face—somewhere between confidence and arrogance—receded slightly. He paused. "The fund I represent is willing to acquire a 30% stake in your sports drink brand for 50 million USD in cash," he said. "At the same time, we’ll provide a full suite of channel resources, supply chain integration solutions, and a distributor network across all 50 states in North America."

"You talk a big game," Li Wei said with a smile. "Who do you represent?"

Mason didn’t answer.

"Sorry," Li Wei said without looking up, taking a gentle practice swing toward the ball. "Not interested."

"Mr. Li Wei," Mason said with a laugh, "I think you should reconsider. 50 million USD is a very generous offer for a brand that hasn’t even officially launched. You haven’t even gone through any market validation."

"I heard you loud and clear, Mr. Mason Reed," Li Wei finally looked up at him. "50 million USD for 30%, which is a valuation of roughly 170 million USD."

"I’m just not interested in that offer," he said with a wave of his hand. "It’s too low."

’This is a diluted Magic Potion! Based on its effects alone, its value is far more than 10 billion USD!’

The smile on Mason’s face grew wider.

"Mr. Li Wei, if you think the fluctuation in Pepsi’s stock price is a real basis for your brand’s valuation, then I can only say you still don’t understand the market," he said, taking a few steps after Li Wei. "That’s just short-term market sentiment."

"A brand that hasn’t sold a single bottle getting a 50 million USD offer," he said, relentlessly following Li Wei’s footsteps, "is already the highest possible recognition of your top-tier personal IP."

Li Wei glanced at him. ’It seems this Mason Reed really won’t stop until he gets what he wants.’

"You’re right about everything," he said after a moment’s thought, then pointed with his club toward the green of the 8th hole not far away. "But I’m still not interested."

However, Mason wasn’t in a hurry. He just made himself at home, joining Li Wei, Harrison, and Don Quixote’s group as they walked along the fairway toward the 8th hole.

Don Quixote, a former ED at JPMorgan Chase, fell a few steps behind. He discreetly pulled out his phone, contacted Mark, and began looking into Mason Reed’s Wall Street background, all while ambling along behind them.

Director Harrison, on the other hand, naturally sidled up to Mason and made small talk about the weather and the course’s maintenance, looking for all the world like he was just being polite.

Mason watched the way Li Wei held his club and his gestures for measuring distance, and a flicker of delight sparked within him.

’This Li Wei is clearly a golf rookie. Beating him will be a piece of cake.’

"Mr. Li Wei, I see you’re playing golf as well," Mason glanced at the club in Li Wei’s hand and suddenly smiled. "I have a proposal. Why don’t we make a little wager?"

"A wager?" Li Wei glanced back at him.

"It’s simple," Mason said, pulling his own iron from the golf cart and pointing to the distant flagstick. "On this next hole, if your score is better than mine, I’ll leave immediately for the day."

"And if my score is worse than yours?" Li Wei smiled. "I have to accept your offer?"

"No, no, no," Mason Reed waved his hand. "That would be too childish. I’ll only ask for 15 minutes of your time to listen to my full proposal. After you’ve heard it, you can still refuse."

He had observed carefully. Li Wei was the kind of person who had played golf a number of times you could count on two hands, whereas he himself played golf at least twice a week and had once closed a hundred-million-dollar deal on this very course.

To his surprise, however, Li Wei gave a nonchalant nod.

"Fine," Li Wei said. "You go first."

"Very well." Mason nodded, walked up to his ball, and took his stance.

Director Harrison, standing nearby, shot the clueless Mason a strange look.

’Here comes the good part.’

He quietly grabbed an iced Coke from the golf cart and leaned against its hood to watch the show.

From his perspective, Mason Reed’s golf stance was perfect: a balanced distance between his feet, knees slightly bent, spine naturally tilted forward, and a textbook grip.

His tee shot was just as beautiful. As the ball took flight, Harrison had to admit that the shot would have been something to be proud of even on the professional tour.

You could tell from Mason Reed’s expression that he was extremely pleased with himself.

"Your turn, Mr. Li Wei."

Li Wei stood up, walked to his ball with his club in hand, glanced down at the ball, then at the flagstick over 100 meters away.

Then—he took an ugly swing.

In Mason Reed’s eyes, at least, he could find seven or eight flaws in that swing.

But his golf ball landed right in the center of the green, then used the slope to roll toward the hole.

As Mason stood there looking like he’d just eaten shit, Li Wei’s ugly swing came just shy of a hole-in-one.

Director Harrison impassively placed his Coke can in the golf cart’s cup holder.

"Nice shot." His flat words were undoubtedly another knife in Mason’s heart.

"I guess I won’t be needing those 15 minutes," Li Wei said, leaning on his club with a faint smile.

’There’s a prize for a hole-in-one, but not for coming close.’

Mason was silent for a few seconds, then a faint smile appeared on his face.

"A beautiful shot," he said. "If Mr. Li Wei took up golf, Tiger Woods might just have to retire."

"You flatter me," Li Wei said with a wave of his hand. "I just got lucky."

"Lucky people aren’t lucky with every shot," Mason paused. "A bet’s a bet. Your skill today has left me speechless."

After saying this, he politely bid farewell to Don Quixote and Director Harrison and drove his cart off the fairway.

Don Quixote walked over, leaned close to Li Wei’s ear, and lowered his voice.

"I did some digging," he said. "This Mason Reed’s fund has an undisclosed size and an undisclosed list of partners. Its registration address is in Delaware."

"You’re saying he was sent here?" Li Wei smiled. "I’ll bet five USD it’s Gatorade. What do you think?"

"I think so too," Don Quixote said, putting his phone away. "What’s your plan?"

"Let’s wait and see," Li Wei shrugged. "He probably won’t just come this one time. For now, let’s just carry on as usual. We’ll deal with it when he comes back."

...

「The days passed, and in the blink of an eye, it was the end of January.」

On the eve of the conference championship, it was as if the entire city of New York had been shot up with an adrenaline stimulant.

Blue Giants flags and banners were visible on every street and alley in Manhattan. The big screens in Times Square played a continuous loop of Li Wei’s highlights, and every TV in every bar was locked on the sports channel.

Taxi drivers argued over how many rounds the Giants’ opponents could possibly last. Wall Street traders spent their lunch breaks discussing which crypto concepts and Li Wei-related stocks to buy, debating whether they should buy some Levi’s stock beforehand for good luck.

Even the old ladies walking their dogs in Central Park had started putting blue vests on their golden retrievers because of the recent increase in vendors selling them.

And so, on a day when Li Wei had just finished his daily training and was driving his Koenigsegg out of the underground garage, he suddenly noticed Mason Reed leaning against a black Maybach, its front end pointed toward the exit.

"Car break down, Mr. Mason?" Li Wei stopped his car, rolled down the window, and poked his head out.

"It did," Mason played along smoothly. "Willing to give me a ride, Mr. Li Wei?"

"Afraid not," Li Wei shook his head. "But I can call a tow truck for you."

Mason Reed burst out laughing.

"Now I see why 50 million USD couldn’t move you," he said, sizing up Li Wei’s Koenigsegg. "You drive a car worth over two million USD like it’s a daily driver. Of course you don’t care about that kind of money."

"Aren’t cars meant to be driven?" Li Wei gave a casual smile. "Is there something you need? This is the second time you’ve come looking for me."

As he spoke, he released the [Chattering Court Jester’s Skull].

The [Jester’s Skull] slid out from his inventory. Its Ruby eyes flew up to hover over Mason’s head and began to circle restlessly.

[A broker... I smell the scent of a noble merchant.]

Mason, of course, could neither see nor hear it. He adjusted the collar of his suit, his expression turning more serious.

"After discussing with my partners, we agree that our sincerity was lacking," he said, cutting straight to the chase. "I’ve brought a new proposal."

He pulled a dark blue folder from the inner pocket of his overcoat and handed it to Li Wei.

"100 million USD for a 25% stake."

Double the last offer.

Li Wei took the folder, gave it a token flip-through, and then handed it back.

"That is quite high," he said.

"Exactly," Mason was full of confidence this time. "This brings the valuation directly to 400 million USD. Not even Kobe Bryant’s sports drink had such a high valuation back then."

"Thank you and your partners for the kind offer," Li Wei shook his head, "but I’m not selling any shares."

Mason looked at Li Wei’s determined expression and suddenly took a deep breath of the cold winter air.

His expression changed.

It wasn’t anger, but regret.

"Mr. Li Wei, I have to be frank with you..." he said, his voice low. "If you refuse this time, my partners might run out of patience."

"They’ve already prepared a complete scorched-earth strategy."