American Adventure: My Uncle is Don Quixote

Li Wei just thanked him and hung up.

He stared at the several bottles of diluted liquid before him, feeling more confident than ever in the system’s assessment that an ordinary person could withstand a 10,000-to-one dilution.

The weekend arrived quickly, and the New York Giants were set to travel for their away game against the Miami Dolphins.

Just before they left for the airport, Don Quixote received a call from John Mara.

"He said the personal gift for you from the online casino has been handed over to him," Don Quixote said after hanging up. "He said he’s already put it in a locker in the home team locker room for you to get yourself when you come back from the game."

"Oh?" Li Wei asked curiously. "What is it?"

"He didn’t say," Don Quixote said, shaking his head. "The old guy’s being all mysterious."

"Forget it, then. I won’t ask. Just let them leave it," Li Wei said, climbing the steps to the private jet. He’d lost interest in the surprise. "We can open it when we get back from Miami. It won’t be too late."

「Hard Rock Stadium in Miami」

Despite the bright sunshine, there was a stifling atmosphere that frustrated the Giants fans who had traveled all this way.

There’s an old saying: it’s easy to go from frugal to extravagant, but difficult to go from extravagant to frugal.

Giants fans had faithfully supported their team through ten years of being kicked around like a ball. But after Li Wei delivered a stunning 13-game winning streak this season, it seemed they had been spoiled.

Even though the Giants and the Miami Dolphins were locked in a tight battle, the fans found it incredibly frustrating to watch.

Facing the Miami Dolphins, a team known for its fast-paced offense and versatile tactics, Li Wei strictly adhered to his point-shaving agreement with the casino and began his Oscar-worthy performance.

In the first quarter, Li Wei’s passing seemed exceptionally conservative. When pressured by the Dolphins’ pass rush, he even uncharacteristically passed up two opportunities to break through with a run, opting for the safest move: going down on his own.

At the end of the first quarter, the Giants were at a slight disadvantage, trailing the Miami Dolphins just 6-7.

In the nationally televised broadcast booth, Joe Buck and Troy began to analyze why Li Wei was doing this.

"I think Li Wei is just resting up," Troy, a former Quarterback himself, offered his assessment. "After the game against the Philadelphia Eagles, I believe our yellow-skinned God has finally hit the rookie wall. That level of physical exhaustion takes a permanent toll. Even machines experience metal fatigue."

"I agree with you, and I’d add one more thing to that," Joe Buck said, offering his own bold analysis. "Considering the Giants have already locked up a playoff spot, do you think Li Wei and the coaching staff might have come to some sort of unspoken agreement?"

"Is he planning to strategically rest during the remaining regular season games?" he posited. "Is he trying to conserve his energy for the playoffs by limiting physical confrontations on the field?"

"That’s highly likely, Joe," Troy said without hesitation. "After all, for a team with Super Bowl ambitions, protecting their franchise Quarterback is the only right move. The outcome of this regular season game really isn’t that important to them anymore."

Soon, the second quarter began, and Li Wei continued to carry out his Oscar-worthy point-shaving performance.

The Miami Dolphins’ offense had an extremely fast tempo. Their star wide receiver was like a slippery eel, tying the Giants’ secondary in knots.

Meanwhile, Li Wei’s offense was lukewarm. He would only barely manage to move the chains on crucial third-down conversions, never trying for more than he needed.

The halftime whistle blew, and the score on the jumbotron froze at 13-17. The New York Giants were still trailing.

Back in the locker room, the atmosphere was unavoidably tense. Even though everyone suspected Li Wei might be holding back, the pressure on the defense was very real.

On the Giants’ defense, defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence was slumped on a bench in front of his locker.

He weighed over 340 pounds. His massive frame was like a sponge just fished out of the ocean; sweat dripped wildly from his chin as his chest heaved violently.

Watching the sweat-drenched Dexter Lawrence, an idea suddenly sparked in Li Wei’s mind.

As Lawrence gasped for breath, a dark blue Gatorade bottle was held out in front of him.

He looked up and, seeing it was Li Wei offering him the bottle, his face filled with confusion.

He had tried to put Li Wei in his place before, but after Li Wei turned the tables on him, he had completely backed down. Since then, they had kept to themselves, each minding their own business. Lawrence just focused on playing ball, doing his job, and keeping the peace on the team.

This was the first time Li Wei had ever offered him a drink.

He took the bottle but didn’t drink right away. Instead, he gave Li Wei a wary look, then glanced down at the bottle in his hand.

"Drink up," Li Wei said. "It’s not like I’m trying to poison you."

Lawrence was taken aback by Li Wei’s confident, matter-of-fact demeanor.

’After a moment of thought, he figured that with Li Wei’s current fame and status, there was no reason for him to still be holding a grudge.’

Skeptically, he unscrewed the cap and chugged the entire bottle in one go.

"It’s a new sports drink I had someone develop. No stimulants or banned substances," Li Wei said, leaning against a locker with his arms crossed. "I’m planning to produce a batch before the Super Bowl. What do you think of the taste?"

"The taste?" Lawrence relaxed. He smacked his lips, savoring it for a moment before saying, "If we’re just talking taste, it’s a bit like watered-down Gatorade. The flavor’s too weak. Not sweet enough."