Chapter 53 – Penalty! (1/2)

Next day.

Afternoon at 1 pm.

Dong Xuebing was still thinking of how he could earn Xu Yan’s trust.

Li Qing, who was in wearing his sports attire entered the General Affairs Office. “The bus is here. Those that are participating in the match should change, or you all can choose to change at the stadium. The color is the same as yesterday’s match. The top must be white, and the shorts do not matter.” Li Qing’s face changed.” Everybody listen up. There are only 2 more matches, including this afternoon’s game left. The higher-ups and Chief Xu had given us a mission. We must not lose again. Put in your best performance later!”

“Ah? Cannot lose?” Everyone was groaning.

Li Qing replied firmly. “You must treat this as a political mission! Do you understand?”

“Yes, Sir!”

“Yes, Sir!”

Guo Panwei and Zhuang Zhi replied immediately. But they were not confident.

Dong Xuebing was glad that he had escaped this fate. He had heard from Tan Limei that their team had not won a single match out of the past 6 games and they had lost badly for every game they played. The scores were like 5:0, 3:0 and even 7:0. They had yet to score a single goal. This was why the Bureau’s higher-ups gave this “political mission” to them.

Dong Xuebing, Tan Limei, and Old Yan remained in the office. Changjuan, Zhuang Zhi and the rest followed Li Qing out of the office.

There was not a lot of work in the afternoon. Dong Xuebing made himself a cup of tea and watched a movie online.

During the National Day Holidays, their working hours were until 3 pm. It was 5 minutes to 3 pm, and Tan Limei started packing her things. She cheerfully patted Dong Xuebing’s back. “Bing Zhi, let’s go to Yuetan Stadium to watch their match. This time, the Bureau is anxious to get a win. If they were lost all the matches in this tournament, they would surely be scolded.”

Dong Xuebing had nothing to do at home, and he nodded. “Ok, let’s go and have a look.” Xu Yan was also there. Maybe there will be an opportunity to get closer to her.

Yuetan Stadium.

The Bureau had booked this stadium. Dong Xuebing and Tan Limei showed their work pass and were allowed to enter the stadium. They walked through the entrance tunnel, and they could hear cheers. Under the scorching sun, over 20 State Security members were running on the field. Zhuang Zhi was sweating and panting near his goal post. Guo Panwei was running around aimlessly and shouting “Pass, pass to me!” Guo Shunjie was also holding on to his soccer boots and sitting by the side of the fields. It seems that he was a reserve.

“Defence! Defense!” By the side of the field, Xu Yan in her sports attire was shouting instructions to her team. “Everyone get back and defense! Mark that no. 21!”

“Don’t let him pass! Stop him!” Li Qing was carrying Xu Yan’s bag by her side and was also shouting to the players.

Tan Limei whispered to Dong Xuebing. “Our Chief Xu is very serious. Seems like she means what she said. Let’s go. Sister Juan is over there. Let’s go over.”

Dong Xuebing stopped for a while. “Shouldn’t we greet the leaders first?”

“Can’t you see the leaders are busy?”

Dong Xuebing looked at Xu Yn’s back view helplessly and followed Tan Limei to where Changjuan was sitting. Changjuan was sitting with some young men and women from the Political Section and Finance Department. They were cheering listlessly for their team. “Go forward and shoot!” But their cheers were too soft. Compared to the other team, their cheers could not be heard.

“Xiao Dong, Xiao Tan, you all are here?” Changjuan turned to them and was holding a fan to block the sun.

Dong Xuebing casually asked: “Sister Juan, how’s the match? What’s the score now?”

Changjuan replied: “This time, we are playing much better than the previous few matches. The score is 0:0, and there are 10 minutes left. Seems this match would be a draw. At least we fulfill Chief Xu’s requirement of not losing.”

Tan Limei gasped. “We are playing well!”

It was coming to the end of the match, and all the players on the field were tired. They were running slowly after the ball without any tactics or strategies. The Western District Branch Bureau’s team was not of the same standard as Chaoyang Branch Bureau’s team. Most of the time, they were playing defensively. Their opponent was trying to score from far.

Xu Yan shouted with her hoarse voice: “Defence properly! There are only 10 minutes left!”

Li Qing also shouts: “Run faster! All of you, run faster!”