Chapter 28 (2/2)
“How much did you get?” Zhang Jun asked his neighbor, whose face was of pure bliss.
Su Fei pulled out two fingers.
“Two hundred?”
“Two hundred, each.” She smiled.
“And they gave just a hundred a piece to their own son….”
“Hey! The match is starting, are you guys watching?” Yang Pan increased the TV volume.
Su Fei sat beside Zhang Jun.
“Seriously! That kid’s doing well in the National Championships, but he still has the gall to call us and have us watch him. It’s a provocation ―plain as day!” Zhang Jun complained.
“It’s fine. We’re scouting out the enemy,” Su Fei offered. “We have to play them this year anyway.”
A commentator’s voice sounded from the TV, “China Central Television, Beijing TV Station. Good afternoon, dear viewers. We’re now at the Beijing Olympic Stadium, bringing to you live―the Grand Finals of the 14th National High School Soccer Championship.”
“The teams are rivals of yesteryear: Zhongyuan Technical High School, Luoyang’s giant and Guang Ming High School, hailing from the ‘Town of Soccer’, Dalian.”
“How grand!” Su Fei could not help but gasp at the sight of the crowded stands in the stadium and the overwhelming cries of the crowd.
“It is the National Championship after all…” Zhang Jun remembered the finals of the nationals back in middle school; the venue was a random middle school. The stands could only accommodate up to a thousand, there was no live broadcast and photographers as well as writers were pitifully scarce. “…There’s no point even in becoming that sort of champion…”
“Many believe this to be a grudge match for Zhongyuan, but the highlight of the match is Zhongyuan’s defensive midfielder, Li Yongle. He’s a first-year student who managed to seal a spot in a team as formidable as Zhongyuan; Sharp interceptions, inexhaustible stamina, powerful physicality, ferocious challenges, precise long balls and excellent goal-scoring.
“In this year’s championship, he has fully proven his depth. Remember his face, people. In a few years time, he’ll be an international star!” At those words, the screen showed a photo of Yongle’s face.
“Looking good!” Yang Pan remembered the middle school championships too. The difference was as stark as the difference between heaven and hell.
The match started at the referee’s whistle.
There was not much worth mentioning about the game itself; anyone could see that Zhongyuan held complete advantage with Zhao Defeng’s organization, Zhang Yuchao and Zhang Yulin’s dashes up the wings, their absolutely invincible defense as well as the extremely lively Li Yongle.
In contrast, Guang Ming, who had lost their key players could only defend. They had triumphed in the nationals last year.
“The nationals seems to have empowered everyone.” Yang Pan pointed out. Even Zhang Yang was not as brutish as before―he appeared to have matured. Zhang Lintao’s goalkeeping also became much steadier. As for Li Yongle…
He made a long shot 34 minutes into the first-half, blowing a hole in Guang Ming’s goal; it was that curved shot of his.
And so Zhongyuan was in the lead as they went into break.
“His first shot and… looks like he’s really mastering it.”
“Is An Ke watching the game? I wonder.”
…
An Ke was “on the hunt” in town at the time.
“Miss, would you like to have a cup of tea with me?”
“Hey missy, want to go ice-skating?”
“Hey, girl…”
…
Second half.
In the fifty-fifth minute, Li Qiang took it home, 2: 0.
In the seventy-eighth minute, Zhao Defeng received an exquisite pass from Li Yongle and fired home from a tight corner, sealing the game with a score of 3: 0.
It was the final score as Zhongyuan completed their victory over Dalian’s Guang Ming High. At long last, the Luoyang team repaid them for their defeat last year and earned their seventh crown in the process.
As soon as the match was over, all the reporters who had been waiting pitch-side crowded into the field. Li Yongle, who scored one goal and assisted one naturally got most of the attention―he was completely surrounded by journalists.
“Tsk! There’s nothing to watch in the victory scenes of others!” Yang Pan threw the remote control at Zhang Jun and stood up to leave.
“Li Yongle, how do you feel after becoming a national champion straight off your first year?”
The reporter’s question was as plain as plain could be nonetheless, Li Yongle’s response lit it up.
“A little regretful,” he answered.
“How so?”
“I have a person I wish to defeat, but I couldn’t meet him this year.”
Yang Pan stopped at his tracks and turned to glance at Zhang Jun.
Suddenly pointing at the camera, Li Yongle proclaimed, “Just you wait! Next time, we’ll decide the victor between us once and for all on the field!”
Su Fei followed the direction of his finger and turned to glance at Zhang Jun.
“Hey! What are you guys looking at me for?”