Chapter 124: The Teammates

After entering Lu Dashan’s room, Long Bisheng’s fondness for this elder brother figure, who was only slightly shorter than himself, grew considerably. The room was kept impeccably neat. Though sparsely furnished, it was clear that someone had lived here for a long time and maintained its cleanliness consistently, which indicated that the owner at least liked order and tidiness.

Long Bisheng himself wasn’t obsessive about cleanliness, but perhaps because he had grown up in the military camp, he preferred to see his living space tidy and well-organized.

“Lu, your room is really clean,” Long Bisheng complimented.

“Don’t call me big brother,” Lu Dashan said bashfully. “I’m only a few years older than you... Just call me Dashan. That’s what everyone else calls me. I’m a rough guy, never had much schooling. This room is tidied up by my younger sister.”

Long Bisheng chuckled. That explained it. Generally, girls are more meticulous and love cleanliness, so it was no surprise the room was so spotless. Still, it was commendable that it was kept so well.

However, Long Bisheng found something puzzling. Lu Dashan looked about twenty-one or twenty-two. His sister must be younger. Did his family not follow the family planning policies?

When Long Bisheng asked, Lu Dashan looked embarrassed and said, “We’re from the countryside... so having two children was allowed.”

They chatted a little more. Lu Dashan was talkative and seemed utterly guileless, straightforwardly sharing his story like pouring beans from a bamboo tube. He was twenty-two, originally from Anyang, Henan. His mother died of illness when he was seven. Since he had a sister six years younger, his father tried to send him to a sports school, where they received a monthly stipend. At fifteen, he failed to earn an apprentice contract with a team and had to move around, finding places to play. That same year, his father died in a car accident. At fifteen, Lu Dashan bore the heavy burden of supporting his family alone. Besides signing short-term contracts with second-division teams, he took on other work—carrying heavy bags at the train station, working as a security guard, laboring at construction sites—anything to afford his sister’s schooling. Fortunately, at twenty, the head coach of Qingdao Haifeng noticed him and offered a professional contract. Only then did he have a stable income. His sister now attended a key high school in Qingdao and often came over to help tidy the room.

At this, Lu Dashan sighed: “I’m just worried our team might be relegated... The income would drop a lot if that happens, and my sister still has to go to university.”

Long Bisheng was curious. “Even playing short-term in a second-tier team, the pay isn’t bad. You don’t seem to have big expenses, and after playing a few years, you should have saved some money.”

“I do have some savings, a few tens of thousands,” Lu Dashan said seriously. “But my sister’s grades are excellent. I want her to attend the best university! She can’t be looked down on at school... Girls’ expenses are definitely higher, and university tuition is so expensive now. I have to save as much as I can. But I’m a defender, and my level isn’t great. So my income has never been high.”

“Dashan, do you have any difficulties? Maybe I can help,” Long Bisheng offered kindly.

“Brother, that’s not necessary. I’m a man; a little hardship won’t stop me.” Lu Dashan smiled sheepishly. “We men can’t rely on others. Owing people is the hardest debt to repay... Besides, my sister still has two years before university. I’ll earn enough by then. If not, I’ll just find more work. I’m strong—used to carry the heaviest bags at the train station!” He flexed his muscular arm proudly.

Long Bisheng was genuinely respectful. “You’re a good brother... Your sister is lucky to have you.”

Speaking of his sister, Lu Dashan’s face was full of pride. “She’s so well-behaved! Obedient and smart. And beautiful, like a movie star! Really, if you don’t believe me, I’ll show you her photo.”

He carefully pulled a photo from his wallet. The girl stood quietly in the center, her clear and luminous eyes serene and pure. Her skin wasn’t very pale but radiated a healthy glow. She wore no fancy clothes, just simple attire, yet exuded a breath of elegant spirit.

If Ning Xi was a passionate rose, this girl was a solitary orchid in a remote valley.

“Your sister is truly beautiful,” Long Bisheng admired sincerely. Lu Dashan beamed. “See? I wasn’t lying, was I? Having such a good sister is my blessing.”

They talked a bit more. The more Long Bisheng learned, the more he felt Lu Dashan resembled Wu Bufan—both rural kids, with simple, honest natures, and good tempers. Only Lu Dashan’s background was much harsher; at least Wu Bufan’s parents were still alive.

Lu Dashan enthusiastically introduced other team members. The captain was the main left-back, Liu Ziyan, twenty-nine, a founding member of Qingdao Haifeng since its establishment in 1996. He was steady, kind, and deeply loyal to the club. The vice-captain was Beijing-born defensive midfielder Li Erlong, who had been with the team for four years. Unlike Liu Ziyan, Li Erlong was hot-tempered and aggressive, often collecting cards and clashing with opponents both on and off the field. He smoked and drank heavily but was fiercely protective of teammates, gaining great respect from younger players for his courage.

The third captain was right-back Xie Hui, a local Qingdao native older than Liu Ziyan and Li Erlong. Also a heavy smoker and drinker, he used to play right midfield but shifted to right-back due to declining stamina and age. He was somewhat cynical but generally decent, liked to act like a boss, though he wouldn’t cross the line with Liu Ziyan and Li Erlong around.

Though Qingdao Haifeng’s results weren’t stellar, team morale was good. The squad was mainly Shandong and Qingdao players, but included many from across the country, with no signs of exclusion. At least someone like Lu Dashan, with a good disposition, had never been bullied.

After learning all this, Long Bisheng felt reassured. The team was decent. Although fighting to avoid relegation, it was a comfortable place to play.

The next day at training, Long Bisheng discovered who Cai Sheng had picked up after leaving him.

It was Huang Zhenghong, a defensive midfielder from the Hubei youth team, whom Long Bisheng had met two years earlier at the Football Association Invitational Tournament. This Anhui-born player had joined Wuhan Yazhi’s first team this year but hadn’t played any matches. Cai Sheng used his influence to recruit him. Qingdao Haifeng’s midfield was defensively solid but lacked attacking strength. Huang Zhenghong, though a defensive midfielder, had decent offensive skills and could serve as a valuable addition. Besides, Li Erlong often missed games due to suspensions, so Huang could be a good substitute.

Captain Liu Ziyan was indeed a good man and a fine captain. When Cai Sheng introduced Long Bisheng and Huang Zhenghong to the others, Liu Ziyan immediately applauded warmly, greeted them kindly, and introduced them to their teammates one by one.

“You’re both just kids! But Long Bisheng, you’re really tall... What did you eat growing up?” Li Erlong exclaimed dramatically, patting Long Bisheng on the chest. “I’ve got your back! If anyone dares bully you, just give me their name! I’m Li Erlong! Your name has ‘Long,’ and mine has ‘Long’ too. Brothers, fate, huh?”

Long Bisheng gave a sheepish smile. Li Erlong was definitely a rough character but seemed alright.

When it came to Xie Hui, he nodded generously. Other players were introduced quickly—goalkeeper Han Feng, defender Wu Jize, midfielders Qi Zhi, Liu Bin, Liu Jian, and so forth. The only name Long Bisheng remembered was the main striker, Lv Baozi, nicknamed “Steamed Bun”—a name too easy to recall.

The team was polite about Long Bisheng and Huang Zhenghong joining. Defensive midfielders and forwards were positions Qingdao Haifeng urgently needed. At this critical relegation battle, everyone hoped for strong new players. After all, if the team dropped down a level, no one would benefit.

Except for a few who could immediately find new clubs, most players would have to stick with the team in the second division. With relegation, investment would surely decrease, and so would the players’ salaries—everyone understood this well.

During subsequent training, the players worked hard, but the intensity was still less than what Long Bisheng was used to in the youth team. In professional squads, training focused more on maintaining form rather than pushing players to exhaustion.

Here, Long Bisheng’s solid fundamentals shone. He consistently completed training tasks well. However, the other experienced players didn’t pay him extra attention for this—they knew it was what mattered on the field, not off it.

In a day’s time, Qingdao Haifeng would face their twentieth round match in the China League One, traveling to challenge mid-table Shanghai Qunli.