Yongxing Island, East Suburb, Hu City, China.
A black Volkswagen Jetta slowly drove through the rust-spotted iron gates of the Huairun Football School.
It passed the standard-sized football pitches lining the road before finally stopping in front of a two-story office building.
The driver in the front parked the car, opened his door, and was about to get out when Gao Huairen, the forr head coach of the national team, had already stumbled out of the back seat.
"Coach Gao, just stay seated. Let help you."
"No need, I can walk on my own."
Gao Huairen planted one foot firmly on the ground, his body still leaning against the car.
After finally steadying himself, he closed the car door and waved at the driver, Xiao Li. "Go on, hurry back and get so rest."
With that, he started walking unsteadily toward the office building.
He hadn’t even reached the entrance when his assistant, Ma Yongcheng, ca rushing out to greet him.
Seeing how drunk Gao Huairen was, he quickly reached out to support him.
"What happened? Old Gao, didn’t the doctor warn you again and again? With your ’three highs,’ you can’t drink. How could you have had so much?"
Gao Huairen leaned half his weight on Ma Yongcheng and laughed. "I heard good news. Of course I had to celebrate."
"But man, those two Germans can really drink. They were downing Maotai like it was water. It pained to watch."
Forcing a smile the whole ti was the easy part.
The real problem was the money.
Ma Yongcheng helped Gao Huairen into the office. First, he poured him a glass of hot water, then he went to the bathroom to wring out a warm, damp towel so Gao Huairen could press it to his face and sober up a bit.
"What’s the good news?"
After wiping his face, Gao Huairen kept the towel clutched in his hand and grinned at Ma Yongcheng. "That kid, Wang Shuo, he’s really made us proud!"
"What? Is he doing well with Mainz U19?"
"’Well’ doesn’t even begin to cover it!"
Gao Huairen slapped his thighs, so excited he nearly shot to his feet.
But his legs had no strength in them, so he plopped back down.
"Do you know who I was drinking with just now?"
"Who?"
"The president of Adidas China."
It suddenly dawned on Ma Yongcheng.
No wonder Gao Huairen had been willing to risk his health drinking with him.
"They just got word from Germany. Today, at Adidas Headquarters, they signed an official sponsorship contract with Wang Shuo. They’ve already sent the photos."
"The China division is working around the clock to prepare tomorrow’s press release. First thing in the morning, all the major national dia outlets and web portals will be reporting on it simultaneously."
Hearing this, Ma Yongcheng was a little confused. "Didn’t Adidas already have this contract lined up?"
"This ti is different."
Before Ma Yongcheng could ask, Gao Huairen laughed again.
"They told that in the U19 league, Mainz played a match against Bayern. It was 4-3. Wang Shuo scored a hat-trick and orchestrated the other goal."
"For real?" Ma Yongcheng was stunned.
Even though Wang Shuo was the star of the Huairun Football School, he was facing a Bayern team packed with talent.
"It’s absolutely true. Bayern has their eye on him now. They even sent their best scouts to Mainz to observe him. Otherwise, why would Adidas be in such a hurry to sign him?"
Ma Yongcheng looked completely incredulous.
This surprise from Wang Shuo was just too big!
’That’s Bayern we’re talking about!’
’Or could it be that the youth team of a Bundesliga giant isn’t as strong as I imagined?’
"And that’s not all! I heard that just yesterday, Mainz played against Frankfurt and won 4-0. That kid Wang Shuo scored another hat-trick! He’s really starting to make a na for himself now!"
’A hat-trick in back-to-back gas?!’
"Attaboy!" Ma Yongcheng was also incredibly excited and cheered aloud.
"Why didn’t the kid call and tell us?"
Gao Huairen chuckled. "He probably just hasn’t had the ti. He’s with the Mainz first team now. I heard that since he isn’t even 18 yet, Mainz has to apply for so kind of special participation permit for him to play in the 2nd Bundesliga matches early."
"He could be playing as early as this weekend!"
"The 2nd Bundesliga?" Ma Yongcheng was shocked again.
Gao Huairen nodded emphatically.
Even though it was just the 2nd Bundesliga, how many years had it been?
After the wave of players who went to play abroad in the late 90s and early 2000s, there hadn’t been any Chinese players overseas in recent years.
Let alone in one of the top five leagues.
If Wang Shuo really played in the 2nd Bundesliga, he would be the first in years.
"This kid really didn’t let us down, Old Ma. Tell , isn’t this worth drinking to?"
Ma Yongcheng imdiately bead. "It is! I’ll go get the bottle of Wuliangye I’ve been saving for years. We two brothers should have a drink."
As he spoke, Ma Yongcheng actually hurried off toward his own office.
A mont later, he returned, beaming, with a bottle of Wuliangye in one hand and a bag of peanuts in the other.
The two happily clinked their glasses and, with a *CLINK*, downed their drinks in one go.
"I’m telling you, Old Ma, I really think this kid, Wang Shuo, is going to make it."
Ma Yongcheng nodded.
"Adidas told in no uncertain terms. Starting next year, they’ll sponsor our players to go to Europe for trials every year. I’m planning to have Thomas Essien help with contacts and scouting too."
"Our standards aren’t high. If the Bundesliga is out, we’ll go for the 2nd Bundesliga, or their youth teams. Or even the leagues in Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, or Austria. All of those are fine."
"Our young players are genuinely good. They should get out there, go to Europe, and be tempered by a better environnt."
At this, Gao Huairen raised his glass again. Without clinking with Ma Yongcheng, he tipped his head back and drained another one.
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