Chapter 20: Good News

Author's note: Jus like in the story, great news everyone 🌟 We've reached 50 power stones, and as promised, here's your bonus chapter #5. Enjoy the chapter

...

Popovich only learned about Chen's move to the first team the next day, when he was called directly to the head coach's office.

To be honest, if the head coach of the first team wanted to transfer players from the youth team, the youth training director had no power to refuse. 

In fact, many youth training directors would be very happy because it meant that their work was rewarded and recognized.

But Popovich wasn't happy.

He felt that it was too early for Chen Yingxiong to be transferred to the first team... Chen Yingxiong's current ability, except for headers, was not good in other aspects. Was it really okay for him to be transferred to the first team with such strength?

You had to know that the competition in the first team was much more intense than that in the youth team. Not only did you have to face competition from your first-team teammates, but you also had to face competition from the reserve team. If you don't perform well in a game, you may be sent to the reserve team. At that time, you will not be eligible to come back to participate in the youth team competition...

If he had the final say, he hoped Chen Yingxiong could stay in the youth team until the end of this season, and then be transferred to the first team when he turned 19 next year.

Anyway, after nearly a month of training, he could feel that Chen Yingxiong was indeed professionally trained. Just as he said, he was a youth team player in a Chinese club. But the level of training he received was not very high. If it was only this level, without the super header ability, he would not be able to meet Zenit's requirements.

But now the head coach of the first team wanted someone, and he couldn't refuse.

…

After leaving Advocaat, Popovich and Porter rushed back to the youth team's training ground together. Porter went to inform Chen Yingxiong to report to the first team.

However, Popovich did not let Chen Yingxiong come down from the training ground immediately. He asked Porter to wait on the sidelines for half an hour until the youth team training was over, and then he called Chen Yingxiong over alone.

When Chen Yingxiong saw Assistant Coach Porter standing next to Popovich, he smiled - he already knew why Popovich called him over.

Seeing how eager he was to try, Popovich knew that Chen Yingxiong himself also hoped to be in the first team - this was normal. In this youth team, is there anyone who doesn't want to be in the first team?

"Hero, starting tomorrow, you will train with the first team." Seeing that Chen Yingxiong looked like he already knew what was going on, Popovich didn't beat around the bush and spoke directly.

"I understand, coach!" Chen Yingxiong looked at Porter happily - the assistant coach was like a door, by opening it, a better world unfolded before his eyes!

Seeing Chen Yingxiong so happy, Popovich felt that he should give him some advice.

"You are very clear about your own strengths and weaknesses, Hero. I hope that when you go to the first team, you will try your best to play to your strengths. But you must continue to work hard on your weaknesses. I tell you, the first team games, even the reserve team games, are not comparable to the youth team games. Don't be arrogant!"

"No, I'm never arrogant! Ha!" Chen Yingxiong laughed.

Popovich saw him like this and knew that it was useless for him to say anything. Forget it, he was only eighteen years old. There were many things that he would never understand unless he experienced them himself...

He waved his hand.

"Work hard in the first team!"

"Thank you, Coach!"

Chen Yingxiong bowed to Popovich, which surprised Popovich - maybe this kid was not as complacent as he appeared?

…

In late August, the temperature in Chengdu showed no signs of dropping, and it looked like the autumn heat would continue to rage for a while. 

Chen Tao parked the van on the side of the road, got out of the cab and opened the door. The van was filled with all kinds of large and small packages packed in nylon woven bags.

The clothes he imported from Guangzhou had arrived, and he had just gone to the East Railway Station to pick them up.

After wiping the sweat off his forehead, Chen Tao rolled up his sleeves and started to move the goods. At this time, his wife Li Yun, who had been guarding the store, also came out.

Chen Tao handed a smaller-looking package to his wife. Li Yun grabbed it, hugged it with both hands and walked quickly into the store.

He picked up a large bag and followed.

Chen Tao has been doing business for many years. He had started out by setting up a stall on Chunxi Road. At that time, Chunxi Road was not like it was now, with all the towering buildings and shopping malls. The whole street was filled with stalls made of steel frames, clotheslines and ropes.

Chen Tao was one of them. He and his wife met through business. At that time, their stalls were next to each other. They worked together every day. When there was no business, they chatted with each other. When there was business, they helped each other. After a long time, they fell in love. Later, the two stalls were merged into one, and they officially got married.

You had to know that in order to make money at that time, you really had to work hard.

Relying on the money they earned through hard work over the years, the family was considered relatively wealthy in Chengdu at the time, and they lived a comfortable life. But when their son started learning to play football, the money became insufficient.

The expenses were huge, but who could blame their beloved son for liking football? Chen Tao gritted his teeth and supported him!

Chen Yingxiong had never lacked money since he was a child. He started using computers earlier than his peers, and he also used mobile phones relatively early. When other children could only drool over the Subor, he had already been tired of playing Nintendo's red and white consoles.

This was all because his parents worked hard to make money.

Many of the people who set up stalls on Chunxi Road later expanded their businesses and had assets of tens of millions. On the contrary, Chen Tao invested all the money he earned in recent years in his son's football career.

So far, they had only rented a storefront near the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China on Jianshe Road and opened a clothing store, which catered specifically to college students. The prices were not very high, but the styles were novel and trendy, and they were quite popular. Therefore, their family could afford to live.

Now, I have finally managed to get my son out of trouble. Although I am still in debt, I feel much more relieved.

As parents, we will be happy if our son has a promising future.

When Chen Tao came back from Russia alone, Li Yun was scared to death because her son was missing.

Only then did Chen Tao tell his wife the whole story.

Playing football is the only their son knows how to do. Now that he is playing football in Russia, Li Yun does not disagree. But she feels heartbroken when she thinks about not being able to see him for such a long time. If she had known that her son would not come back for a long time this time, she would definitely have put a lot of things in his luggage for him to take. 

Chen Yingxiong now calls them once a week. They are very happy to know that their son is doing well in the Zenit youth team and has scored goals in two consecutive games.

Chen Tao even believed that his insistence on borrowing money to take his son out was the right thing to do.

Chen Tao had just put the goods down when he heard the cell phone in his trouser pocket ringing. He quickly took out the phone and saw - it was his son calling!

…

"Dad!" Chen Yingxiong was very happy to hear his father's voice on the other end of the phone. He said to his father with unconcealed excitement. "There is good news!"

"Ah?" Dad seemed to have not yet reacted. "What did you say?"

"I said there's good news!"

"Good news? You scored again?"

Hearing that it was her son calling, Li Yun stopped and stood beside her husband.

Chen Tao simply turned his phone to speakerphone mode so that his wife could also listen.

"How can it be so fast? The game just ended... No, I was transferred to the first team!"

"First team?" Chen Tao was stunned for a moment before reacting. "Adult team? Can they play in the professional league?"

"Of course!"

"Really?!" Chen Tao certainly knew what the first team meant.

"Would I lie?"

"Haha, great, great!" Chen Tao laughed - his son's entry into the first team was a success, and he could be considered a true professional player.

Now that my son has been transferred to the first team, I can finally feel relieved.

He let out a long sigh.

"Do a good job, son!" the mother shouted into the phone beside her.

"Mom is here too?" Chen Yingxiong's voice sounded a little surprised.

"What you said is so ridiculous... If I'm not by your father's side, what other woman can be by his side?"

"Hehe..." Chen Yingxiong grinned.

At this time, two customers came in from outside the store. Li Yun did not have time to say anything and went out to greet them. Chen Tao picked up his phone, turned off the speakerphone, walked out of the store and said to his son. "We have received the money, Hero. I tell you, don't send money home. Business is good now, we will pay back the money soon, you don't have to worry about it. Keep it for yourself, don't let yourself suffer too much..."

"Hey, Dad, when have you ever seen me lose money? Don't worry, the money I left is definitely enough for me to spend. And if I'm transferred to the first team and perform well, I can modify my contract and earn more... What's a hundred thousand yuan? I'll pay you back in two weeks!"

Chen Yingxiong was not like this before. Chen Tao felt that after leaving home, his son became more mature, more sensible, and more considerate of his parents. Unlike before when he was released by the team, he locked himself in his room and played games day and night. He remembered very clearly how many tears his mother shed during that period.

"I'm telling you, Dad. When I become famous and make a lot of money, you should just close that store! Don't run it anymore. Then you can travel with mom and go wherever you want. Didn't mom always say that she wanted to travel?"

"Ahem, let's talk about this later... You should just focus on playing football. You don't need to worry about our affairs... That's all. I'm really busy here... I'm hanging up."

Chen Tao hung up the phone in a hurry, got into the car again, pulled out a bag of clothes, and carried it on his shoulders. No one saw the happy smile on his face as he lowered his head and bore the burden.