Chapter Seventeen: The Reason I Love Playing Soccer

As soon as Long Bisheng uttered those words, Long Yuyun and Yin Xiuping were both stunned into silence.

It was a long while before Long Yuyun, with a hint of hesitation, finally spoke, “You mean to say you want to give up school and play football instead? Like your brother Azati?”

While Long Yuyun was asking this question, Yin Xiuping kept shooting meaningful glances at her husband—she absolutely did not want her son to become a football player. Although she’d heard that it could be quite lucrative, one still had to actually make it first! If her son truly had a talent for football, why hadn’t he been selected by the Bayi Team during the tryouts a few years ago?

Moreover, even if a team were to take an interest in her son, she would never agree to let him go! Under the influence of her football-enthusiast husband, she’d come to understand that an average player wouldn’t get a first-team opportunity before the age of twenty, and their peak would last just five or six short years—by the time they were a little over thirty, retirement was already looming. Yet for a regular person, working life extends far beyond a decade; after retirement, there would still be decades left to live. Without football and without any other skills, how would one get by? She vividly recalled her husband telling her the story of a world-class winger who helped Brazil win three World Cup championships, only to end up destitute after retirement, dying of alcoholism before reaching fifty...

Remembering that, Yin Xiuping felt a chill run down her spine—no, she would never allow her son to suffer such a tragic fate.

Unfortunately, she was not the final decision-maker in this household. Only her husband—the unquestioned authority—held that role. Though Long Yuyun might fear his wife a bit in trivial matters, in significant decisions, he was always the one in charge. He was the locomotive driving this family forward.

Now, Yin Xiuping could only hope her husband would gently dissuade their son from this sudden notion—perhaps it was because he’d been held back this semester? But son, elementary school grades don’t determine a person’s future. Still, this was the first time he’d ever made a request of his own, the first time he’d set a clear goal; she couldn’t bear to crush his enthusiasm with a harsh rejection.

Long Yuyun, however, did not resort to the blunt approach Yin Xiuping feared. After thinking for a while, he spoke in an even, almost consultative tone.

Long Bisheng was surprised by this. Though his father had never used violence on him—and would even joke around with him during matches—he had never before addressed him in such a manner. He quickly replied, “Yes, I want to play football, like Brother Azati, but I won’t stop studying. Dad, you always said that without knowledge, you can’t even play football well.”

This answer left both Long Yuyun and Yin Xiuping dumbfounded. Looking at their son’s still-childish face, hearing such mature words from his mouth, Long Yuyun realized that perhaps his son—whom everyone had always considered simple-minded—had begun to mature. Though only nine years old, his response showed he’d given the matter considerable thought before making his request. That was a remarkable thing at his age—a reason for joy.

But this also left them with a dilemma. Long Yuyun wasn’t keen on his son taking this path either, believing his son lacked a special gift for football. If he was truly talented, why had Fan Pengfei been selected by the Bayi Team coaches while his own son was passed over? And just half a year ago, the famous scout Wang Sa had watched both Azati and Long Bisheng play together. Wang Sa was already making a name for himself among the scouts of Yun Jia Tianyu, renowned for his keen eye. He picked Azati but passed on Long Bisheng. Didn’t that also suggest his son lacked real football talent?

Moreover, even if Azati failed at football, he’d have no trouble returning to his old life as a shepherd—football merely gave him one more path forward.

But could he say that? His son was so mild-mannered that he bordered on timid; now, for the first time, he’d taken the initiative to ask for something. Should he really shoot him down so harshly?

Long Yuyun stood up and began pacing the room—a habit whenever he was deep in thought. His wife and son’s eyes followed his every step, though the son’s gaze was filled with hope while the wife’s brimmed with doubt.

This heavy atmosphere lingered for five minutes before Long Yuyun stopped, as if he’d made a momentous decision—which, for this family, it truly was.

“Bisheng, let me ask you one question,” Long Yuyun’s voice rolled through the room like muffled thunder, reverberating in both Long Bisheng and Yin Xiuping’s hearts. “If your answer satisfies me, I’ll agree to your request.”

“Go ahead, Dad!” Long Bisheng replied, excitement in his voice.

Yin Xiuping looked at her husband with bewilderment. She nearly blurted out, “Are you out of your mind?” but her trust in him made her swallow the words, waiting for his question.

“Why do you want to play football?” Long Yuyun asked clearly.

It was a simple question. Why? For his future, of course! If he wasn’t cut out for academics, football was a decent alternative. Even if he could only earn money for ten years, that could be enough to secure a lifetime of comfort.

Now it was Long Bisheng’s turn to ponder—never his strong suit. He’d spent over a month wrestling with the idea before making this request. Some people grasp things quickly; he was one of those who needed more time.

Still, he didn’t leave his parents waiting long. After a moment, he looked up and said with conviction, “I love football. I admire those who play football. I want to become one of them!”

With those three resolute sentences, Long Yuyun closed his eyes briefly, then opened them and nodded. “Very well. I agree to your request. Tomorrow, I’ll find out which football school is closest to us.”

P.S.: My thanks to reader Xue Canglan for pointing out the timeline discrepancies. While this novel borrows the background from "Rebirth 1994: Football Storm," this is a different story, and the plot must serve this narrative. Please forgive any inconsistencies regarding the timeline. I also deeply appreciate Xue Canglan’s careful reading and corrections—they truly moved me.

Regarding future updates: since the book won’t be competing on the rankings until next week, the update speed will remain moderate. There’s a chance this novel will appear on Sanjiang next week—when that happens, I hope you’ll all lend your support!