Chapter Twenty: I'm Done with Soccer
Center Forward Without Pop-ups
As Long Yuyun was lamenting his former ignorance of thrift, Yin Xiuping suddenly raised her head. “Even if we have to use up your entire monthly salary, it should be fine—I’ve calculated it. Once our son goes to school, the two of us can eat at the mess hall, saving the money spent on meals at home. I don’t have many expenses anyway; with just my salary, we can live comfortably. Over eight hundred yuan—we won’t spend it all, perhaps we can even save a little. But if we do this, you probably can’t go out drinking with your friends every so often, and you’ll need to cut back on smoking. But I won’t allow you to buy cheaper cigarettes! That’s playing with your life!”
Long Yuyun stared dumbfounded at his wife. He had thought she was angry, but instead, she was calculating how to keep their family afloat if Long Bisheng went to football school. If Yin Xiuping had always agreed to Long Bisheng pursuing football, it would be nothing, but Long Yuyun knew very well she was never in favor of their son aiming to become a professional player.
“Xiuping…” Long Yuyun gripped his wife’s hand, overcome with emotion, unable to speak. She was the best wife in the world! Even if she disagreed with his decisions, once her husband resolved himself, she would support him unconditionally.
He repeated this thought in his heart, holding her hand tightly, unable to utter a word.
After a long pause, Long Yuyun finally managed, “Don’t worry, starting tomorrow, I’ll quit drinking and smoking! No matter what, we must fulfill our son’s first request. We can’t let money be the reason he feels we didn’t support him properly in the future.”
Yin Xiuping spoke softly, “Yes, even if our life is a bit harder, we must guarantee our child’s future…”
It is said there was once a story in a middle-aged training class, where the coach asked all the female participants, “Who is the most important person in your life?” The answers from all the Chinese women were astonishingly consistent: “My son (or daughter)!” Then the coach asked a foreign woman, who proudly answered, “My husband!” The author of the article then sighed, claiming that Chinese parents live for their children, while foreign parents live for themselves, concluding that Chinese people are always focused on the future and attributing it to some inherent flaw…
We have reason to believe the author of this article had never been a parent. Only after having your own child do you realize why parents love their children above all else—it is because of that deep, endless love…
This is the hallmark of Chinese parents. Of course, there are always those who treat their children as property or tools, but they are rare. As for those who frequently beat or abuse their children—no, such people cannot even be called “human!” Much less deserve the noble titles of “father” or “mother!”
“All the world knows the immortals are good,
Only children and grandchildren are unforgettable;
Devoted parents have always been many,
Who has ever seen a truly filial child?”
A verse from “The Song of Better Days” captures countless moments of tenderness through the ages.
Long Yuyun and Yin Xiuping, stirred deeply, were unaware that outside the door, a figure as tall as a grown youth stood motionless.
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The next day, Long Yuyun found the bankbook at home, preparing to leave, when he saw Long Bisheng coming out of his room.
“Up early today, Bisheng,” Long Yuyun said in surprise. This boy rarely woke early during holidays; today was a rarity…
Could it be that the prospect of going to football school and fulfilling his dream made him too excited to sleep? Very possible; his son was always single-minded, so being too excited to sleep was normal.
He thought he’d need to temper his son’s enthusiasm, to help him understand that entering football school didn’t guarantee becoming a professional athlete—it would require hard work and luck. He was still young and needed to know that life would have its hardships…
As Long Yuyun was thinking this, he suddenly heard Long Bisheng say, “Dad… I’m not going to play football.”
Long Yuyun was stunned again—much more so than usual lately. Then he quickly recovered. “What kind of joke is this? You were the one who wanted to go, now you’re the one who doesn’t! So fickle, overturning your own decisions so casually—how can you expect any future? If you treat your own decisions so lightly, I can only tell you: it’s not just a question of becoming ‘talented’—you may not even become a proper ‘person’!”
Long Yuyun was truly angry—not for any other reason, but because his son had been so determined when he made his decision, only to reverse himself after just a few days. Even if the boy was still young, if his character was so indecisive, his talent would never yield any real achievement!
Long Bisheng kept his head down after saying those words, knowing his father would be angry, but…
Long Yuyun was about to continue berating his son when he suddenly stopped, hearing a sob escape Long Bisheng’s lips!
“Crying, crying! What are you crying for?” Long Yuyun was even angrier—how could his son be like this? He’d always been slow to react, poor in academics, but at least he was tough. Now, not only was he fickle, he cried easily! So weak—how was this his son?
Just as Long Yuyun was about to continue scolding him, Long Bisheng choked out, “The tuition is too expensive. If I go to football school, Dad, you won’t be able to go drinking or watch games with your friends, you won’t be able to smoke, and Mom won’t be able to buy new clothes… I won’t play football; it’s too costly. I’ll focus on school, I promise I’ll never repeat a grade again!”
Looking at his son, crying so heartbreakingly, Long Yuyun’s anger melted away instantly. So this was why his son overturned his dream—he would rather give up football for the sake of his family!
This child, he was so considerate after all! Pride filled Long Yuyun’s chest—look, this is my son! What nine-year-old would think so much about his family? Thinking of how he had just scolded him out of misunderstanding, Long Yuyun swept his son up in a tight embrace.