Chapter 39: Reflections at the Racecourse
After the celebratory banquet at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Murong Feng spent the remaining days immersing himself in the boundless allure of the vibrant city of Hong Kong.
He savored authentic Cuban cigars at Club Havana in the Knutsford Terrace, visited the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum at The Peak to see lifelike wax figures, experienced the local atmosphere in Temple Street, and felt the fervent incense at Wong Tai Sin Temple. He also bought several exquisite luxury brand accessories at Pacific Place for Ye Zi, intending to gift them upon his return.
Murong Feng sparred with Liu Zekai, visited the headquarters of Baozi Xian's TOM Group, and went with Tang Qing to visit the distinctive building of the Hong Kong Garrison, shaped like an inverted long cube, to thank Li Jian for his timely rescue that night.
At the garrison's shooting range, Murong Feng held modern, sophisticated firearms for the first time, experiencing the destructive power and beauty of hot weapons. This was vastly different from the outdated rifles used during his college military training, showcasing a level of force that was both intimidating and authoritative.
In the evenings, he and Tang Qing returned to "Club 1997," where the versatile Fang Wanyi solemnly apologized to them. She had sent her subordinates to protect them that night, but their efforts were no match for the Hong Kong Garrison, who had resolved the situation by the time they arrived.
As Murong Feng sipped the meticulously crafted "Ocean Breeze" cocktail by Zhong Xi, he laughed off the incident, showing no grudge. The experience of that night undoubtedly impacted Murong Feng deeply, but it wasn't just about the intimate memories with Tang Qing. It felt like a heavy curtain had been slightly lifted, allowing him a glimpse into a world different from ordinary life—dark, straightforward, and power-centric.
Despite this, his relationship with Tang Qing remained unchanged, as if that night had never happened. Murong Feng had no insight into Tang Qing's thoughts, so he maintained the same friendly distance.
Time quickly flew by, and soon it was the weekend race day at Sha Tin Racecourse.
Built in 1978 through land reclamation, Sha Tin Racecourse is located in the New Territories near the suburbs. In the center of the racecourse is the scenic Penfold Park. Sha Tin Racecourse can accommodate over 60,000 spectators and boasts world-class facilities, including a top-tier racetrack, the world's first retractable-roof parade ring, and the world's widest outdoor screen. Many significant events, such as the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races, the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, the Champions Mile, and the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby, are held here. Typically, horse races in Hong Kong are held at Happy Valley on Wednesdays and at Sha Tin on Saturdays or Sundays.
All horse races in Hong Kong are speed races, divided into categories based on distance: short-distance (1,000 meters), middle-distance (1,650 meters), and long-distance (2,200 meters). The tracks include both turf and dirt courses. Each race can have up to 14 horses, and the top five finishers receive varying amounts of prize money, distributed among the horse owner, jockey, and trainer. The owner receives the lion's share, with jockeys earning about 5%. Additionally, the Jockey Club hosts sponsored races with special prize money provided by the sponsor, usually in the millions, with the highest reaching over ten million. These prizes are also distributed among the owner, jockey, and trainer.
This brings us to Baozi Xian's father, the Hong Kong shipping tycoon Bao Botong, and his prized horse "Joy." "Joy" is a four-year-old chestnut thoroughbred born in Australia, descended from a prestigious lineage. Its sire is El Moxie, its dam is Jade Tiara, and its grandsire is Bureaucracy, all renowned horses with multiple world records and numerous championships. Bao Botong purchased "Joy" for one million USD at a foal auction and cherishes it dearly. Its trainer is Tony Cruz, Hong Kong's most famous champion trainer. "Joy" has competed in the Dubai Duty Free Cup in Dubai, finishing fifth with an excellent performance.
Due to the betting nature of horse racing in Hong Kong, spectators are not allowed to approach the horses before the races to prevent any interference. Therefore, Murong Feng's initial desire to get up close with "Joy" was impossible.
Thanks to Baozi Xian's connections, Murong Feng and his friends had the privilege of watching the races from the owner's box on the fifth floor of the Members Stand. From there, they could comfortably sip wine while watching the races. "Joy" was scheduled to compete in the fourth race, ridden by the current top jockey in Hong Kong, Brett Prebble. Being a Grade 3 horse, "Joy" was a strong contender and one of the favorites for this race.
Murong Feng stood by the large floor-to-ceiling window in the owner's box, gazing at the throngs of spectators below, feeling the unique, fiery atmosphere of the Hong Kong racecourse.
Bao Zixian walked over to stand beside him, also looking down at the grassroots horse racing enthusiasts below. With a smile, he said, "Murong, why don't you place a few bets for fun? In Hong Kong, horse racing is the most beloved form of gambling among the citizens. As a form of 'betting,' it embodies the Hong Kong spirit of 'getting lucky and getting rich.'"
He then sighed with a hint of emotion, "Hong Kong is a city with an extremely developed market economy, and the speculative mindset is ingrained. Among the top tycoons, there are indeed a few who have amassed their wealth over generations, but the majority have become rich by seizing 'opportunities' in the past few decades."
Murong Feng nodded silently, thinking about himself. Wasn't he also a typical example of sudden wealth? However, whether he could truly become a person who fully controls his destiny in the future would require continued effort.
His mind wandered to the influential figures at the Jockey Club banquet a few days ago, then to the night on The Peak, and finally to the sense of raw power he felt at the shooting range of the Hong Kong garrison.
As Murong Feng experienced the omnipresent influence of those powerful individuals at the Jockey Club, who could, with a mere wave of their hands, obliterate his assets, or the sense of danger he felt from a few gangsters with knives and a gun on The Peak, he realized many of his current connections were through Tang Qing's introductions. It seemed he had stepped into a high-level circle, but in reality, he was far from reaching the level of influence these individuals wielded. Suddenly, Murong Feng felt an impulse—since heaven had granted him this wealth, why not use it to achieve greater power and dreams? To truly control his destiny!
Standing in the owner's box at the most influential racecourse in Hong Kong, looking down at the grassroots horse racing fans betting on him, Murong Feng, who had always lived a happy life with an ordinary mindset despite his newfound wealth, had an epiphany.
To truly achieve his dreams and control his life, there was still a long way to go! From another perspective, he was just starting out!
The subsequent horse races were exceptionally exciting, especially the fourth race. Everyone in the box was enthusiastically cheering for "Joy." "Joy" performed well, starting out quickly and leading the race. Bao Zixian was elated and animated, but unfortunately, in the final moments, another renowned local horse, "Elite Master," suddenly accelerated, causing "Joy" to finish second by a nose. Everyone in the box expressed their disappointment. Murong Feng, who had bet 10,000 HKD on "Joy" to support Bao Zixian, naturally lost his money, but he didn't mind.
Watching those magnificent horses gallop on the green turf, Murong Feng fell in love with the sport of horse racing. Perhaps, after returning to Beijing, buying a piece of land in the suburbs to set up a horse farm and raising a few good horses could be a good idea? Murong Feng shook his head with a bitter smile. Spending time with these wealthy young men had unconsciously influenced his thinking. Murong Feng silently warned himself that he had yet to truly establish his own foundation and career! The road ahead was still long!
After watching the races, as they left the owner's box, they encountered a middle-aged man. Bao Zixian enthusiastically conversed with him and introduced him to Murong Feng, who then learned that this man was Li Zhuoran, the CEO of "Racing Elite Club," newly established last year by the Hong Kong Jockey Club to attract new blood and foster a new generation of members.
The "Racing Elite Club" is a new membership category of the Jockey Club, aimed at fostering an interest in horse racing among the new generation of members and establishing their social circles, creating a fashionable and attractive lifestyle. Targeted individuals include the sons and friends of Jockey Club members, high-value customers such as big bettors, and young executives and professionals. Applicants only need to undergo an interview, and upon approval, they officially become members of the "Racing Elite Club," requiring an entry fee of 100,000 HKD and a monthly fee of 1,000 HKD. All selected members can use the Jockey Club facilities.
Bao Zixian suddenly thought of something and said with a smile to Murong Feng, "If you really like horse racing, you could consider applying to join the 'Racing Elite Club.' You can enjoy the fun of being a horse owner in advance. The 'Racing Elite Club' has a horse named 'Racing Elite' under its name. Members can visit and participate in its training, sharing experiences and knowledge about horse care with the trainer. At least in the future, when you have the chance to own your own horse, you'll be more experienced. You can also enjoy many related facilities of the Jockey Club. Most importantly, it's a social circle with vast potential. If you're interested, I can be your sponsor." Naturally, Murong Feng was willing, as he had already decided to work hard to enhance his strength and wouldn't miss such an opportunity.
On the flight back to Beijing, Tang Qing, who had been somewhat silent, suddenly said to Murong Feng, "Murong, it seems like you've changed a bit during this trip to Hong Kong." Murong Feng was slightly taken aback, then nodded and smiled, "It was indeed quite stimulating. My perspective was quite narrow before. This trip to Hong Kong has been very rewarding."
Tang Qing nodded silently. Since that night on The Peak, her feelings towards Murong Feng had become more complex. Unconsciously, she found herself more deliberately helping Murong Feng connect with valuable people. She also noticed that Murong Feng's mindset had changed. The previous Murong Feng would not have thought about joining the 'Racing Elite Club.'
She had introduced her Hong Kong friends to Murong Feng with the hope that he would become more diligent and proactive. Now, seeing Murong Feng's transformation during this trip, she should have been happy. But recalling the heart-fluttering moment of their embrace that night and thinking about how Murong Feng would soon return to his beloved girlfriend Ye Zi, leaving her behind, she felt a bit desolate. This man would eventually have his own sky. Was her support just a small part of his journey? The one to walk beside him in the end would only be Ye Zi...
After arriving at Beijing Capital International Airport, the two naturally waved goodbye and drove away from the airport's parking lot.
Ye Zi had already left for her business trip. When Murong Feng called her, she was in a meeting at the pre-IPO company in Changzhou, Jiangsu, and couldn't talk much. After hanging up, Murong Feng suddenly felt a sense of loneliness.
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