Chapter 135: Where to Go Next Year

That evening, Qingdao Seabreeze, having successfully avoided relegation, booked a respectable hotel in Guangzhou. The club president had come along to oversee the team, so naturally he was not about to be stingy. Guangzhou, a city of dazzling indulgence, opened the eyes of Long Bisheng, a country boy who had seen little of the world. During the banquet, the million-yuan survival bonus promised long ago was distributed. With nearly thirty men in the squad, everyone received thirty or forty thousand yuan. The regular players received considerably more in their red envelopes, but none of the substitutes objected. Compared with the enormous gap between starters and substitutes during the early years of professional football, things were much fairer now. Apart from their salaries, the starters earned only somewhat more than the substitutes from bonuses and other payments.

The season was over, so the players naturally let themselves eat and drink to their hearts’ content. The old drunks and chain-smokers among them, men like Li Erlong and Xie Hui, soon began to swallow clouds of smoke and bellow over the clamor. The club president and the coaches saw it all but said nothing. These fellows were usually quite disciplined during training, and everyone was happy tonight, so they simply pretended not to notice.

Long Bisheng did not drink. The last time he had downed two bottles of beer, he had spent two days afterward feeling as though he were about to grow a roll of fat around his waist. Seeing the way things were going tonight, he had taken a glass of fruit juice and retreated to the most secluded corner, intending to play the hermit. Unfortunately, his performance in the match had been far too outstanding. After a few drinks, the revelers began shouting that they had to toast the hero of the day. Fortunately, Cai Sheng was sitting beside him and turned them away. The emergency substitute had now built up considerable prestige within the team; when he spoke, even an old hand like Li Erlong had to listen.

After sitting there a while longer, Long Bisheng ate his fill of the less greasy dishes, then gulped down two glasses of juice. The smoke filling the private room was beginning to make him nauseous, so he used the excuse of needing the restroom to slip out.

After asking a server where the restroom was, Long Bisheng walked in alone at an unhurried pace. He had no desire to return so quickly to the smoke-filled room. He had heard that secondhand smoke was even more harmful than smoking directly, and he had always placed great importance on his physical health. As Pei Wei had said that day, the body was a person’s greatest capital.

After relieving himself, Long Bisheng was washing his hands beside the sink when the restroom door was suddenly pushed open. Cai Sheng, reeking of alcohol, walked in. The moment he saw Long Bisheng, a smile appeared on his face.

“Ah, Bisheng, here you are.”

Long Bisheng could only smile at this pointless remark. After washing his hands, he was about to leave when Cai Sheng called out, “Wait. Don’t go yet. I have something to say to you.”

So Long Bisheng could only stand beside the sink and wait. Once Cai Sheng had finished and washed his hands, he patted Long Bisheng on the shoulder.

“Come on. Let’s sit downstairs in the café for a while. I know you don’t want to go back to the private room. It’s full of smoke, and breathing in too much secondhand smoke isn’t good for a kid like you. Come on, let’s sit for a bit. I have something to discuss with you.”

Long Bisheng thought that made sense, so he followed Cai Sheng to the café downstairs. Cai Sheng ordered a coffee, while Long Bisheng did not feel like drinking anything and merely ordered a bottle of mineral water. After the server left, Cai Sheng pulled an envelope from inside his coat and slid it across the table to him.

“What’s this?”

The large envelope was stuffed full, and Long Bisheng knew what it contained. He had already received one just like it that day. But he was puzzled. Hadn’t the bonuses already been handed out? Why was Cai Sheng giving him another one in private? Judging by how thick the envelope was, it was probably no smaller than the first.

“Take it,” Cai Sheng said casually, blowing on his coffee. “The contract stipulates that there’s another bonus for surviving relegation. Everyone saw your performance. You scored five goals in ten appearances, making you the team’s second-highest scorer. We won our last two matches because of your goals. No one could justify denying you this bonus. Put it away carefully. There’s fifty thousand yuan inside. Don’t lose it.”

Long Bisheng was startled. His income over the past few months had already come to nearly one hundred thousand yuan, and now another fifty thousand had suddenly fallen into his lap. He thought of how his father had once been worn to the bone scrambling to pay ten thousand yuan in tuition, and he could not help feeling overwhelmed. Professional football was certainly a hard road, but if you managed to make it, it truly was a golden profession.

“There’s something else I’d like to discuss with you.” Cai Sheng took a sip of coffee. “Our narrow and thrilling escape from relegation shook the club. A few days ago, the president told me that next season we intend to increase our investment and make a push for promotion. So there will definitely be major changes to the squad. We’ll bring in several outstanding young players, as well as a few well-known and proven domestic players. Just wait and see. By next season, Qingdao Seabreeze will no longer be the same team you see today.”

Long Bisheng listened quietly as Cai Sheng painted a grand picture of the coming season, but he could not understand why the coach was telling him all this.

At last, Cai Sheng finished describing the blueprint in his mind. He raised his cup and drained the coffee in one go, then turned to Long Bisheng.

“Well, Bisheng? Why not transfer to Qingdao Seabreeze next season? Yunjia Tianyu already has too many forwards, and there won’t be a place for you. Qingdao Seabreeze may only be a League One club, but beginning next season, we’ll have the ambition to become a top-flight side. I can guarantee you good terms and a starting position. I’ll build a team around you. We’ll reach the Super League in two years and become one of its major forces within five. By then, you’ll be only twenty-two. The door to the national team will certainly open for you.”

Long Bisheng had to admit that Cai Sheng’s words had captivated him.

He knew the coach was right. There was no starting place for him at Yunjia Tianyu, and joining a team where he could regularly play would be far more beneficial to his development. In less than half a year, he had already improved tremendously. The fierce competition of professional football had taught him many things that could never be learned through youth-team matches and training. What was more, Cai Sheng had promised to build a team around him. For any player, such an environment was something everyone dreamed of.

And yet Long Bisheng was still hesitating. He did not know why. Perhaps, after glimpsing European football, he had carried a dream in his heart ever since.

After thinking for a while, he finally knew how to answer.

“I need to think it over. And I’ll have to discuss it with my agent.”

Cai Sheng froze for a moment, then quickly laughed.

“Of course, of course. The season has only just ended, and spring training at Haigeng won’t begin for several months. Take your time and think carefully. But don’t take too long. Once you agree, I’ll be able to decide which players to bring in.”

At that moment, Huang Zhenghong’s voice drifted over from a distance.

“Coach! Coach Cai! The president is looking for you!”

“They won’t let a man have a moment’s peace,” Cai Sheng muttered. He picked up the cigarettes on the table and stuffed them into his coat. “You can sit here for a while. If you get bored, go back to the room and rest. You know where we’re staying, right? I’ll settle the bill later.”

Long Bisheng hurriedly said, “It’s all right. Let me treat you.”

Cai Sheng merely smiled and left without answering. Huang Zhenghong, swaying with each step, came over and sat down across from Long Bisheng with a grin.

“Ah, Long. The coach called you over—did he give you a bonus?”

“How did you know?” Long Bisheng asked, somewhat surprised.

He had no intention of hiding it. The club’s practice of quietly giving extra bonuses to players who performed exceptionally well was no secret. Even if the others were jealous, all they could do was watch. After all, who was to blame if they had not performed well?

“He gave me one too.” Huang Zhenghong patted his pocket, producing a dull thumping sound. The two of them laughed at the same time. They had joined Qingdao Seabreeze together and had become starters at almost exactly the same time, so they had grown especially close.

“Next season, I’m planning to stay in Qingdao.” After chatting for a while, Huang Zhenghong suddenly said, “We’ve finally managed to become starters in League One, and we’ll get more opportunities here than we would in the Super League. Besides, we’re still young. Spending a few years honing ourselves in a lower division isn’t a bad thing. Qingdao is a good place, the supporters are passionate, and Coach Cai knows me inside and out. I’ll earn much more here than I would sitting on the bench in Wuhan. I’m going to talk to my agent and have him handle the transfer. What about you, Long?”

“Me?” Long Bisheng looked bewildered. He had already been asked twice that evening where he intended to play next season. All he could do was shake his head. “I haven’t decided yet.”

“Then start deciding. There are still several months before next season, but the sooner you settle a transfer, the better.” Huang Zhenghong’s face was full of excitement. “Once it’s settled, you’ll know where you stand. If you drag it out, it could affect your form, and that wouldn’t be good.”

“Yes. I suppose I should decide soon.” Long Bisheng nodded slowly, agreeing with him.

Perhaps, as Huang Zhenghong had said, joining Qingdao really was a good choice. He was still young, and spending a few years developing in League One would benefit him. Besides, Cai Sheng had promised to make him the core of the team. For a young player, an environment like that was an opportunity that could not be sought by ordinary means. In terms of income and everything else, it would certainly satisfy him.

He had played for less than half a year, yet his earnings had already reached one hundred and fifty thousand yuan. By next year, the salary stipulated in his contract would certainly be far higher than that of his current loan deal. A monthly wage of more than ten thousand yuan was practically guaranteed. Over the course of a year, he might well earn several hundred thousand. If he played comfortably for a few years and was lucky enough to make it to the Super League, becoming a millionaire would be no problem at all.

But—

Was this truly the life he wanted?

Long Bisheng fell into deep thought. If things really turned out that way, he would surely be satisfied. And yet, why did some part of him still resist?