Chapter 26: Homecoming

"Good boy, you've grown taller again!"

After nearly five months, Long Yuyun was momentarily stunned to see his son again. In less than half a year, Long Bisheng, not yet ten years old, had shot up nearly ten centimeters and was now close to one meter sixty. The grueling physical training over these months had greatly increased his appetite and spurred his rapid growth. Not even ten and already almost one-sixty—how tall would he be when his adolescence was over?

"Maybe letting this kid play basketball wouldn't be a bad idea..." The thought flashed through Long Yuyun's mind, but he quickly dismissed it. Long Bisheng was no Yao Ming, and his hands were rather clumsy—it had taken him almost five years to master using chopsticks. More importantly, though he had the height, he had no interest in basketball; football was his one true passion.

"How have these five months been?"

Since sending his son to football school, Long Yuyun hadn't contacted him at all. Even Bisheng's winter clothes were sent through a comrade who happened to be on business in Xi'an. Though Long Yuyun had a mobile phone, provided by the military, he never considered using it to call his son, and Bisheng wasn't in the habit of writing letters. Long Yuyun didn't want to disturb his son's training, and more importantly, he wanted to see how his son would manage on his own. So, even though Yin Xiuping missed her son terribly, they had not contacted him at all during these five months. Only now, when Long Yuyun came to bring his son home for the New Year, could he ask such questions.

"Quite well," Bisheng replied with a small smile. He was never one for words, and the past five months had only made him more reticent—at school, he barely spoke to anyone.

"Alright, let's go home," Long Yuyun said, perceiving this but choosing not to dwell on it. He patted his son on the back, hoisted the luggage onto his own shoulders, and said, "Let's go, I've already got the tickets."

"Let me help you with something..." Bisheng offered, but Long Yuyun promptly kicked him aside. "What, you think your old man can't handle it? I'm the deputy commander of the Reconnaissance Battalion! Marching with a load is nothing to me. You think you need to carry anything?"

Bisheng chuckled sheepishly. Indeed, though he'd gained a fair bit of muscle, compared to his father, he was still just a kid.

It was only then he realized how much less he had smiled since leaving his parents. Perhaps he had always been this way—only able to laugh freely in their presence, for to this day, he had never found a true friend.

With everyone else, he was merely an acquaintance; a rare smile was all they received. But today, upon seeing his father, he couldn't help but smile, even if nothing particularly funny was said. The joy came from deep within.

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After nearly two days of travel, Long Yuyun brought his son home. Once inside the compound, neighbors and colleagues greeted them in surprise—is that really Long Bisheng? How is it that in just half a year, he's grown so much? Seems playing football really does make you taller!

Long Yuyun exchanged greetings with the neighbors, while Bisheng, as always, smiled kindly at everyone but spoke little—usually just a polite "Uncle" or "Aunt".

To others, Long Bisheng seemed unchanged—apart from his increased height and sturdier build. But to Long Yuyun, who knew his son well, the change was profound.

He had hoped that by sending Bisheng to football school, his son's difficulty communicating with others would improve—this was his second greatest hope, the first being that Bisheng would receive proper football training.

Physically, Bisheng had improved greatly, and from their conversations, it was clear he was indeed training every day. That part of Long Yuyun’s wish had been fulfilled. Yet, on the other hand, Bisheng seemed even more solitary than before.

This was not the outcome Long Yuyun wanted. If his son continued to struggle with socializing, even in the relatively simple environment of the army, he might not make any friends—let alone elsewhere. Long Yuyun believed that a life without friends was missing much of its color.

He didn't know what life was like for professional footballers, but in the military, where respect is based on rank and skill, friends are indispensable. Could one truly make it in professional football without friends?

The snow beneath their feet crunched softly. The closer they got to home, the more excited Bisheng grew. After five months away, he had never longed for home as much as he did now.

In the past, he would practice football in the courtyard for half an hour every day, coming home sweaty, only to be scolded by his mother, who would shoo him off to bathe. When he finished, steaming dishes would already be on the table, and his mother and father would watch him eat with satisfaction.

When he’d never left home, he thought such days were utterly ordinary. Only after leaving did he realize this was true warmth.

He turned a corner—his home was in the farthest, quietest corner of the compound, chosen by Long Yuyun for its size and tranquility. It was less likely to disturb others, and others were less likely to disturb them.

Bisheng’s pace quickened; soon he was ahead of his father. Turning the corner, he immediately saw his mother standing on the steps, watching expectantly.

"Mom!" Bisheng shouted, breaking into a run. But the snow had only just fallen and hadn’t been cleared away. As he sped up, he slipped and fell forward, sending snow flying everywhere.

Yet even as he fell, Bisheng was still smiling, for he was finally home. Even falling in his own courtyard didn't seem to hurt as much.