Chapter Forty-Nine: Happy Spring Festival (Part Two)

When Long Bishi saw that Long Bisheng actually took out a ten-yuan bill to hand to him, Ding Yu chuckled and waved his hand, “Keep it. Am I the type to ask students for money? You’re not as well-off as I am... By the way, was that Li Fang from the U-17 squad you were talking to just now? He’ll soon be under my command.”

“Ah, Azati—no, Brother Li Fang said he’s about to move up to the first team.” Long Bisheng asked, puzzled.

“Heh, it’s not so easy for U-17 players to get into the first team. They usually have to adapt in the reserve squad first, which means he’ll be working with me.” Ding Yu grinned, his demeanor far more relaxed than when coaching, “I’ve kept an eye on that kid. His fitness is outstanding, just like yours—no wonder, given the stamina honed from herding sheep on the grasslands. His passing is precise, especially his pinpoint crosses, more accurate than many professionals, and he has great control. Rare, indeed... I only know he’s from Xinjiang, but I wonder if you two know each other. You seem pretty familiar.”

“Brother Li Fang’s family lives not far from mine. When I used to walk home from school, I’d always pass the grassland where he herded sheep.” Long Bisheng replied with a smile, “Before he met me, he couldn’t even play football. But when he was herding, he’d always kick a stone to scare stray sheep back into the flock. I guess that’s when he practiced his crossing.”

Hu Gantang and the others burst out laughing. They found Long Bisheng’s story a bit far-fetched, but knowing he never lied and wasn’t good at it, they settled for a half-believing attitude.

Ding Yu, however, believed him. Li Fang had been scouted by Wang Sa, the renowned talent spotter of Yun Jia Tianyu, and when he joined their youth ranks, his fundamentals were even weaker than Long Bisheng’s—already fifteen, with no basic skills. At first, everyone thought Wang Sa had made a mistake, but soon all the coaches noticed the extraordinary abilities of this young Uyghur lad: exceptional fitness, strong running, and although his ball control was poor, he improved quickly. His crossing was uncanny—he could deliver the ball wherever he wished. For someone who barely knew how to play football, such skill was astonishing and made the coaches marvel. In hindsight, only Long Bisheng’s story explains it.

After hearing this, Ding Yu knew how to train Li Fang: strengthen his fundamentals. Li Fang’s foundation might not be as solid as Long Bisheng’s, but his movement and passing were highly practical on the field, which was how he could make the reserve squad at seventeen. Without improving his basics, opponents would easily figure him out and defend against him.

At this point, Long Bisheng asked worriedly, “Is it the reserve squad? Brother Li Fang plans to bring his parents to Yun Jia soon. If he’s just in the reserve squad, won’t there be little income? What will his parents do? There’s no pasture here for herding sheep—surely they won’t sell lamb skewers in Yun Jia?”

His words made Ding Yu laugh out loud, and even Hu Gantang and his friends couldn’t help but chuckle. The reserve squad is essentially for players who can’t break into the first team. Making the reserve squad means at least a professional contract, and even the lowest-paid reserve player in Yun Jia Tianyu can support a family of three comfortably in Yun Jia, where the cost of living is reasonable. Besides, playing in reserve matches earns appearance fees, and regular training brings stipends. Reaching this point, there’s no need to worry about the future.

After Ding Yu explained all this in detail, Long Bisheng finally understood, gaining a basic concept of a professional player’s generous income.

They chatted a bit more, then Ding Yu checked his watch and muttered, “It’s only nine o’clock... Tonight’s the vigil for New Year’s Eve. I need to find something to do. You guys shouldn’t just stay cooped up in the dorm—go out and have some fun. I hear there’s a lottery at the entertainment center tonight.”

“I’m not going. I want to rest for a while,” Long Bisheng said.

“Little Long, I heard about your situation from Xiao Hu and the others. You can’t go on like this,” Ding Yu stopped in his tracks. “Work hard when you should, but relax when you should, too. You can’t keep your nerves taut all the time—they’ll snap eventually. Tonight’s New Year’s Eve, join Xiao Hu and the others, go out and unwind. All the professionals go on vacation at the end of each season for exactly this reason. People aren’t machines; we need rest.”

Long Bisheng looked at Ding Yu hesitantly, making Ding Yu laugh in exasperation, “What’s wrong with you, kid? Other kids your age try every means to play, but you focus on training and refuse to play... This will stifle your nature, you know? Nature—do you know what that is? It’s your innate character! Players without their own personality never achieve much. Yun Jia Tianyu doesn’t want factory-produced players!”

Long Bisheng looked pitifully at Ding Yu, and said with grievance, “I’ll go, then...”

Ding Yu shook his head, “Making you play is like forcing you... Is there really such a person? I’m from the seventies, you know, not so far apart from you guys born in the eighties.”

Li Jie weakly reminded him from behind, “Coach, you’re from the early seventies, we’re from the late eighties... That’s nearly twenty years’ difference.”

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The football school’s entertainment center was not large. The two bookstores only rented out novels and comics, though the selection was sizable. The video hall could only seat about a hundred people, and tonight it was packed with students uninterested in watching the Spring Festival Gala. Most importantly, after ten o’clock, there would be a live broadcast of Serie A, much to Hu Gantang’s annoyance. The game room had about twenty computers, but when Long Bisheng and his friends made the rounds, it was so crowded that not even a fly could squeeze in. Only one pool table was free, but aside from Zhang Yi, the others weren’t fond of billiards.

“Is the coach tricking us?” After touring the small entertainment center, Zhang Yi asked doubtfully, “Where’s the lottery?”

“Why are so many people still here at school? It’s never this crowded,” Li Jie looked around. “Honestly, China should really enforce family planning—every time I walk the streets, I think so.”

Hu Gantang said nothing, still sulking about missing the football broadcast.

“This is boring,” Long Bisheng yawned, “There are people everywhere, all doing their own thing, nobody pays us any mind... Forget it, I’d rather go back and sleep, rest up for tomorrow’s training.”

He barely finished before the other three grabbed him, six hands in all, “Coach said... You can’t leave! Besides, tonight’s New Year’s Eve, you can sleep after midnight, no one will blame you!”

Long Bisheng sighed, “Don’t do this, I just want to sleep...”

“Let’s go to the bookstore. The owner is nice—just ten cents to read a book,” Zhang Yi suggested.

“I heard there’s a pretty girl there, about our age. Looking at beauties is good for the eyes!” Li Jie said with exaggerated enthusiasm.

“Come on, you pervert, how do you know that?” The three eyed Li Jie as if he were some kind of beast.

“Dai Guangming let it slip once...” Li Jie said smugly, “I asked him why he always visited that bookstore, and he said there’s a beauty there, about our age, and she loves to chat with him.”

“Beast, absolute beast,” Zhang Yi and Hu Gantang sighed together, “So young and already learning to ogle girls. He’ll definitely be a lecher when he grows up. We need to keep an eye on him so he doesn’t go down the path of crime.”

Just as Long Bisheng was quietly impressed by their righteous words, Zhang Yi pumped his fist and called out, “Let’s go see the beauty!”

“Damn!” Even Long Bisheng, who rarely swore, couldn’t help but blurt out, “Guangming’s a lecher—what are you guys?”

“We’re just appreciating beauty!” Li Jie declared, “Admiration is a form of respect for wonderful things, got it?”

“...So what’s the difference between you and Dai Guangming?” Long Bisheng replied, speechless.

“If the monk can touch, why can’t I?” Zhang Yi said unabashedly.

Unfortunately, they never got to see the legendary beauty. When the four arrived at the bookstore, only a friendly middle-aged lady was there, who welcomed them warmly. Hu Gantang and the others were disappointed, but Long Bisheng was delighted, as he got to read for free for over an hour—the owner said it was New Year’s Eve, so books were free for two hours.

Near midnight, they left the bookstore, joining a stream of children emerging from the entertainment center, quickly forming a long procession.

This happened because, in the center of the school playground, a dazzling firework exploded.

The thunderous sound woke everyone, and as that firework faded, more burst into the sky. Only the next day did the students learn that tonight’s grand finale was a firework display—a gift from the school to all those spending the New Year on campus.

“Happy New Year.”

Looking at the fireworks, Long Bisheng suddenly said to Hu Gantang and the others.

Hu Gantang laughed, “Happy New Year to you all!”

The new year was about to begin.