621 About Dreams (1/2)

As he brought the three kids through Wilford Lane, Dunn returned to the youth base where he had not been for some time. New buds sprouted on branches bare from winter, and the greenery flooded the deserted training base. He used to be familiar with everything after working there for ten years.

After he briefly introduced the training base, Dunn took them to the office of the youth-development manager, Ian Greenwood.

Greenwood had waited there for a while. He was really waiting, unlike Twain who had played Minesweeper.

”Aha, nice to meet you, boys!” Greenwood looked happy to see the three kids. The smile on his face was from the bottom of his heart, which felt much warmer than Twain's pretense. ”I'm Ian Greenwood, the head of youth training at Nottingham Forest.”

”Hello, Mr. Greenwood!” The three people politely replied.

”Thank you for your help, Dunn.” Greenwood nodded and turned to Dunn.

Dunn bobbed his head. ”From now on, they'll be with you, and you're in charge of their training schedule, Ian.”

”Not a problem.”

”Tell them some things they need to be aware of.” Dunn referred to the three Chinese kids behind him.

The three kids stood in front of Greenwood. The two young ones became nervous, but Chen Jian was relaxed.

”Welcome, boys. You will receive the most systematic and formal training here. I don't care if you can be a professional player in a year's time, or in the future. Our training is to lead you toward that goal. You are not a talent show star here. You are just a regular member of the youth team.” Greenwood went straight into explaining the rules.

”First of all, the club does not provide dormitories. You are like the other ordinary kids, practicing in the training system. The club has picked three homes from the pool of club fans as your accommodation. In addition to training, you'll live with them in their homes, just like an ordinary child.”

The three boys nodded. They knew about the rule. They all had a crash course in English before they came, but they couldn't really communicate with their landlords. They could take it slow, as no one would expect them to speak fluent English.

”In addition, Chen.” Greenwood turned his head and looked at Chen Jian. ”Your transfer application has also been approved. You will continue your studies at the University of Nottingham. Did they tell you?”

Chen Jian nodded. ”Yes, they had notified me, sir.”

”Good. In a moment, I'll take you to your teams so you can get to know your teammates. You're going to get along together in the future. I want you to have a good time here.” Greenwood looked at Chen Jian again.

”As for you, Chen. Your training plan is a little different. In addition to the group training, you also have a specialized personal training program.”

Chen Jian and Dunn, who was translating, were surprised.

”This plan came about since you had not received professional training. So it was specifically developed for you. You have to do more basic training after you complete the team's daily training.”

Dunn suddenly thought of something and he whispered in English before he translated, ”Tony gave it to you?”

Greenwood nodded, somewhat surprised. ”What? Didn't you know, Dunn?”

Dunn shook his head at the confirmation.

”That's strange. I thought he told you everything first.” murmured Greenwood.

Chen Jian looked strangely at the two coaches. Although he did not know what they were talking about, he guessed that it had to have something to do with him.

”That training program...”

”Oh, George Wood used it, and we made some minor changes.” Greenwood explained briefly, but Dunn was stunned. He finally understood why Twain had said that the training was tough, and that he still had time to give up now.

If Twain had been in this position, he might have made a crude remark, but Dunn was not like that, so he was just speechless.

He looked at Chen Jian and could not believe that the tanned Sichuanese in front of him would able to stick to that kind of training for a year. Was it too brutal? Would the talent show organizer protest?

”Coach Dunn?” Seeing that Dunn was lost in his thoughts, Chen Jian spoke up to remind him when the translation did not come after a long while.

”Ah... I'm sorry. Coach Greenwood said you have to do an extra training session on basic drills after you complete your team's daily training,” Dunn translated.

Chen Jian did not object. He just nodded and smiled, feeling that it was par for course. ”Ah, my foundation is not very good. It's great for this kind of training to be arranged.” It looked like the Forest team was a really responsible and worthy European Championship team. They proved to be an English professional football club.

Dunn did not know what to say.

Greenwood spoke up again, ”Well in that case, I wish you all the best, boys!”

You guys really do need some good luck... Dunn added in his heart.

※※※

Dunn acted as a translator as he followed the three kids to their locker room and to meet their teammates. Having done that, he returned to the southside of Wilford, where the First Team training had begun. He walked straight to Twain's side.

”What's the matter, Dunn?” Twain took off his sunglasses and looked at his assistant.

”What's up with that training plan, Tony?”

Oh, I'm sorry I did not tell you in advance... We were busy studying AC Milan at the time and I was afraid to distract you...” Twain thought he was unhappy that he was kept in the dark.

Dunn interrupted him. ”Not that. I mean, do you really think that training program is suitable for Chen Jian?”

”That was why I made some changes.” Twain looked at Dunn and understood, but he was still a little surprised because he thought Dunn would not mind. ”Do you think it's too harsh?”

”George Wood is a monster, but Chen Jian is not.” Dunn's face was serious. ”I think you should reconsider that training plan. I'm not against strengthening the basic training but...”

”Do you like Chen Jian very much, Dunn?” Twain stopped watching the training. He put his energy into his conversation with Dunn.

”This has nothing to do with personal feelings. This is a job. I think your training plan is too harsh for a kid who's fast approaching nineteen years old and not in line with the purpose of training. Whether he can become a professional player in the future or not, training is for torture...” Dunn felt that he was being courageous. Could this be considered as going head-to-head against the manager? He rarely lost his temper with Twain — with the exception of an argument over strategies, but this clearly had nothing to do with strategies — he had always felt that Twain's way of thinking was abnormal and that he could understand the disdain and contempt he felt for Chinese football and the talent show as a former Chinese fan who had been completely let down by Chinese football. But Chen Jian was innocent. He was not a professional player and secondly, he was not a Football Association official. He was not even a relative of a professional player or assistant coach. He was not the originator of China's rampant talent shows. He was just an ordinary youth with a dream. No one was entitled to vent his resentment of the system on an ordinary youth.

”Do you have a dream, Dunn?”

He thought Twain would be furious, but Twain just calmly asked a question.

Dunn was taken aback from surprise for a moment and did not answer.

”Have you ever had the impulsive idea of wanting to do something?” Twain asked calmly again.

※※※

In the eyes of outsiders, Tony Twain circa January 1st, 2003 — which was Dunn now — had no interest in life.