Chapter Eight: Persuasion

A paid 3v3 match soon came to an end.

No spectators, no cheers—it began and ended in complete silence.

Matches like this were held by the hundreds every day on countless courts scattered throughout the streets and alleys of San Francisco.

Some streetball experts made a living from such paid games, earning hundreds of dollars in prize money each day.

There were also higher-level amateur competitions, such as the San Francisco Bay Area Pro-AM—a league where top amateurs and semi-professionals teamed up to compete at a level surpassing some professional leagues in other countries.

Today’s ordinary youth match had each player betting ten dollars; Gan Guoyang and his two teammates won a total of thirty dollars.

Chen Xing and Gan Guohui handed over their shares to Gan Guoyang.

After this game, they realized that Gan Guoyang had the potential to make a name for himself in basketball—he was the village’s only hope.

In the following week, the three roamed various mid-level gyms and street courts across San Francisco, playing paid games to save up the registration fee for a training camp.

In truth, with Chen Xing’s family background and Gan Guohui’s pocket money, gathering $150 would have been easy.

But for these three teenagers, using winnings from matches to pay for the camp was far more meaningful.

Initially, only Gan Guoyang planned to enroll in the camp. After two matches, Gan Guohui decided to join as well.

Even if he never achieved anything notable in basketball, losing weight would be beneficial.

The required funds increased to $300.

Chen Xing carefully selected their opponents.

He would never challenge well-known expert teams or play in adult-dominated venues or dangerously unsafe neighborhoods.

They went to the Dome Gym at Sunset Rocks, the Potrero Hill Recreation Center, Panhandle Court and Oak Street Court in Golden Gate Park, among others.

These places offered pleasant environments, plenty of visitors, good security, and were mostly populated by teenagers aged 13 to 18, just like them.

They played only 3v3 games, 10 or 15 balls each, quick and decisive.

Because Gan Guohui’s stamina was a weakness, he couldn’t endure full-court or long matches.

Chen Xing preferred to pick opponents who appeared mediocre but were arrogantly confident.

If those players saw Gan Guoyang—a black player over two meters tall—they would likely hesitate to accept a paid match.

But Gan Guoyang was a tall, slim, yellow-skinned youth wearing glasses, accompanied by a skinny “monkey” and a plump kid who didn’t seem very athletic.

The three Chinese faces on the court were like a fat pig in the grasslands—big but prey to hyenas and wild dogs.

What they didn’t expect was that the leader among them was not the fat pig but a lion.

***

Gan Guoyang’s defensive presence in half-court 3v3 games far exceeded the expectations of these amateur youth players.

Less skilled opponents relied mostly on long-range jump shots, unable to score otherwise.

Gan Guoyang displayed a cunning beyond his years in defense, skillfully using his blocks, strength, and words to shatter the opponents’ psychological defenses.

Of course, unlike some black players who might chatter incessantly, his English vocabulary was limited; yet he always struck precisely at his opponents’ weak points, gaining the upper hand in both mental and technical battles.

His learning ability was remarkable. Within a week, he had mastered most of the street tricks, capable of performing nearly all technical moves when facing weak opposition.

On the court, he never showed off or shouted; reserved but not subdued, he concentrated his emotions and energy to deliver lethal blows to his foes.

After more than a dozen games, they remained undefeated and quickly saved enough money to enroll in Frank Arlock’s “Excel in Basketball” summer camp.

In fact, there were many excellent basketball camps in San Francisco and the entire Northern California region—they didn’t have to go all the way to Oakland.

They chose this one not only because Chen Xing had attended and recommended it but also because it was Coach Arlock’s newly established camp this year, featuring long training hours, diverse programs, reasonable prices, and discounts.

Though they had saved enough, Gan Guoyang still needed to convince Gan Youwei to let him attend the camp.

The restaurant business remained as bleak as ever, teetering on the edge of bankruptcy; losing two unpaid child workers would only worsen the situation.

After the restaurant closed for the night and dinner was finished, Gan Guoyang helped take out the trash and mop the kitchen floor, while Gan Youwei tended the stove.

Since arriving in this time and place, Gan Guoyang had no aversion to working in the restaurant.

On the contrary, he was more diligent than before, thanks to his excellent physical condition.

Gan Youwei, the father, along with the uncle’s family, cared deeply for Gan Guoyang.

Although the restaurant struggled and the atmosphere at home was somewhat gloomy, the adults never vented their work frustrations on the children.

They voiced minor complaints about the boys frequently going out to play basketball but never stopped them.

Every evening, Gan Youwei brewed nutritious soups for his son to strengthen his physique.

Aside from everyday care, Gan Youwei worried endlessly about Gan Guoyang’s studies and future, frequently dealing with immigration and education authorities.

This familial warmth was especially precious to Gan Guoyang, something he had never experienced before.

Though the welfare home had kind caretakers and many well-meaning helpers, it was never truly a home.

Now, living in America but within a traditional Chinese family, both his body and soul found solace.

The more he felt this, the deeper Gan Guoyang’s guilt toward Gan Youwei grew.

He knew clearly that Gan Youwei’s plans and hopes for his son were to inherit his culinary skills and carry on the ancestral Gan family cuisine.

If they could bring the Gan family’s dishes to prominence in a foreign land, Gan Youwei’s dream would be fulfilled.

***

But Gan Guoyang’s talent and passion lay in basketball, not cooking.

He could learn to cook but could not spend his life clattering pots and pans in the kitchen.

How to make Gan Youwei accept his son’s sudden basketball gift and chosen path troubled Gan Guoyang deeply.

While mopping the floor, he rehearsed his words repeatedly in his mind—what could he say to gain his father’s understanding and approval?

The kitchen was small; the floor had been mopped thrice by Gan Guoyang, every corner spotless, even the water wiped dry.

Gan Youwei had finished tending the stove and said to Gan Guoyang, “Guoyang, that’s enough. Rest now, don’t tire yourself out.”

Putting down the mop, Gan Guoyang scratched his face and said, “Dad... I... I want to talk to you about something.”

“What is it?”

“I... recently, I saved some money and want to... attend a basketball summer camp for professional training.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

Gan Youwei’s reaction was unexpectedly calm.

He rubbed his hands and said, “Then go ahead. I heard from Guohui that you play basketball quite well.”

Gan Guoyang didn’t expect such easy consent and found himself at a loss for words.

At that moment, Gan Youwei returned with a paper box and handed it to Gan Guoyang.

“What’s this?”

“Open it and see.”

Gan Guoyang opened the box to find a brand-new pair of basketball shoes quietly resting inside.

“Your dad bought these for you. Guohui said you need them for playing. I don’t know much about brands, so just make do.”

Gan Youwei pressed the shoebox into Gan Guoyang’s hands without further explanation.

“Dad...”

“Go to bed early tonight. You work hard in the kitchen and on the court—it’s tough.”

With that, Gan Youwei gently patted his son and turned away.

Gan Guoyang stared at the shoes inside the box, a sharp ache in his eyes as two hot tears escaped uncontrollably, falling onto the cold floor tiles.