Coach Ma told Wang Yi he didn't need a salary of ten thousand yuan. Five thousand would be enough.
Wang Yi shook his head. "The cost of living where you are is nothing like the cost of living in Kyoto. The National Team will cover your meals and accommodation, but you'll still have personal expenses in Kyoto. Five thousand probably won't be nearly enough. Anyway, don't worry about it. I'll talk to Chairman Yao."
"I know teaching is a stable job, practically an iron rice bowl, while a coach can be fired at any time. This might not be the best choice for you. To put your mind at ease, I promise you this: if the National Team fires you, Huali Basketball School will hire you as a coach. Coaches at Huali Basketball School earn at least fifteen thousand a month."
Ma Chongguo couldn't help smiling wryly to himself.
Teaching wasn't necessarily an iron rice bowl either. Hadn't he just been fired?
But he didn't say that. Instead, he exchanged a look with his wife, Miao Yuanyuan. Both of them were delighted.
At first, Ma Chongguo had worried whether he was good enough to coach the National Team. If he wasn't, what would he do after they fired him?
He hadn't expected Wang Yi to be so thoughtful and even put his worries to rest.
At last, Ma Chongguo said, "All right. I'll pack up today and fly to Kyoto tomorrow."
On the morning of the third day, Wang Yi met Ma Chongguo in Kyoto, then took him to meet Yao Ming.
Wang Yi had already introduced Ma Chongguo to Yao Ming over the phone, and Yao Ming was impressed with him too.
Yao Ming said, "Let's not bother with the second or third teams. The men's U16 Asian Cup