Reverse.

Chapter 170 Changes
Chu Yu stood outside the gate of a community called "Bincheng Garden".

There are shops on both sides of the gate of the community, including real estate agencies, fruit shops, milk tea shops, convenience stores...

Bicycles and electric bikes are parked on the sidewalks, and the roadside parking spaces are filled with cars.

This is an ordinary community that can be seen everywhere in China. There is nothing special about it.

Just looking at the surrounding environment of this community, you might not imagine that Xu Dongfang, the godfather of youth training of Chinese football, lives here.

Chu Yu, carrying a box of milk and a fruit basket, stood outside the gate, looking inside.

Soon he saw a man who looked very similar to his mentor Xu Dongfang behind the gate. That man was Xu Dongfang’s son Xu Haiyang.

Seeing Xu Haiyang, Chu Yu raised his hand and waved to him.

After seeing this, the other party also raised his hand in response.

As soon as the two met, Chu Yu asked, "Is Xu Zhi in good health?"

"Very well, much more energetic than when he had the surgery." Xu Haiyang replied and then smiled and said, "I didn't expect you to come to see him specially."

"I knew that Director Xu had surgery some time ago, so I wanted to come and see him."

"My dad was very happy to hear that you were coming..."

The two walked inside while talking.

The community looks like an ordinary community from the outside, and it also looks ordinary from the inside. It can be seen everywhere in large, medium and small cities in China.

They walked through gardens, public fitness equipment, and children's play areas.

Finally, we walked into a high-rise building with an elevator.

The community is very ordinary both inside and outside, and the same goes for the buildings. It is not a large flat with one elevator per household, but a normal layout of two elevators per four households.

There were two households on each side of the elevator. After the two got out of the elevator, Chu Yu followed Xu Haiyang out and turned right as he was familiar with the route, and then they arrived at the doorstep of his mentor Xu Dongfang's home.

Xu Haiyang opened the door for him, and Chu Yu saw Coach Xu Dongfang who was already waiting for him inside the door.

The "Godfather of Chinese Football Youth Training" who used to be a man of his word and could make young players behave with just a look, is now just a kind-looking old man, hunched over, looking at Chu Yu with a smile on his face.

"Coach Xu!" Seeing this, Chu Yu quickly sped up and took the initiative to greet him.

Xu Haiyang stood aside and made way for him.

Holding his mentor's hand, Chu Yu took the initiative to ask, "How are you?"

"Well, I won't die." The old man waved his hands, appearing very open-minded.

Then he asked Chu Yu: "Why did you want to come and see me?"

"Coach Xu, you asked that. I wanted to come and see you when you were having surgery. I didn't come at that time because I was afraid of disturbing your recuperation."

Chu Yu supported his mentor and walked to the sofa in the living room. When he turned around, he saw a blue jersey hanging on the wall with the name and number of the jersey owner printed on it:

WANG
99
It’s Wang Lie’s Tyne jersey!

Chu Yu stared at the jersey in surprise. Xu Dongfang explained, "When I had surgery, Wang Lie asked his domestic agent to send it to me."

Chu Yu took a closer look and found that the white number read:

"I wish Coach Xu a speedy recovery and good health!"

The signature is "Wang Lie".

It was really sent by Wang Lie. Chu Yu was even more surprised: "He actually sent you a jersey..."

Xu Dongfang said with a smile: "I didn't expect it either, but since he gave it to me, I'll take it."

Xu Dongfang was also Wang Lie’s “mentor” during his youth training period, but because of the incident of leaving school, the two sides fell out and their relationship remained strained for many years.

It was not until Wang Lie's father passed away and Xu Dongfang went to pay his respects that the relationship between the two sides eased.

However, the relationship was only somewhat eased, and was definitely not as close as Chu Yu and Xu Dongfang.

At the very least, Wang Lie and Xu Dongfang do not interact with each other.

That's why Chu Yu was surprised that Wang Lie actually gave a jersey to Coach Xu.

He has never done this before!

Coach Xu didn't seem to be bothered by this. He smiled and asked Chu Yu to sit down, and asked his son to make tea for Chu Yu.

Looking at the old man in front of him who always had a smile on his face, Chu Yu sighed in his heart - who would have thought that this kind old man could be called a "devil coach" before?

When Wang Lie and Dongfang Football School were at loggerheads, why did so many people stand against Dongfang Football School? Because Coach Xu Dongfang was also a person with a complicated reputation...

Many people really believe that if Wang Lie does not get rid of Oriental Football School, Coach Xu will destroy Wang Lie.

Coach Xu has been working in the youth training of Chinese football for so many years, and of course he has trained successful players, but there are also many young talents who have not been able to play under him.

Football is a sport with a high elimination rate. Coupled with Coach Xu's autocratic personality and old-fashioned parental management methods, many people blame the demise of those young geniuses on Coach Xu's rough management style.

Now, the former "devil coach" was happily sitting under the jersey given by Wang Lie. Chu Yu felt that the scene before his eyes was too... magical.

"I watched your interview the day before yesterday, and you said you were planning to participate in the World Cup next year... If I remember correctly, this is the first time you have made this clear, right?"

While Chu Yu was stunned, Xu Dongfang had already started chatting with him.

Hearing this question, Chu Yu nodded quickly: "Yes, it's the first time."

After receiving a positive answer from his disciple, Xu Dongfang laughed: "I remember when you chose to return to China to play football, you said that you just wanted to return to your roots and enjoy football in the last stage of your career. You said it nicely, but in fact, you are just looking forward to your retirement..."

Chu Yu was teased by his mentor and just smiled embarrassedly.

Because when he decided to return to China to play football, Coach Xu advised him to stay in Europe, even if he could not play in the top five leagues, as long as he could play in Europe.

But he didn't listen to Coach Xu and insisted on returning to China. At that time, he really had no confidence that he could still play football in Europe.

Xu Haiyang asked again: "Why do you want to play in another World Cup now?"

"I feel like I'm in pretty good shape lately..." Chu Yu found a reasonable excuse.

However, his mentor Xu Dongfang still saw his real reason: "Are you influenced by Wang Lie?"

Chu Yu smiled and did not make any excuses, which was considered as his agreement.

Xu Dongfang teased, "I didn't expect you to be influenced by Wang Lie. It's really strange, ha!"

Chu Yu smiled a little embarrassedly and said, "Maybe it's because his performance after transferring to Tyne was so amazing that I was scared..."

"Just because I scared you, you want to play in the World Cup? That doesn't make sense, Chu Yu. Are you such a confused person?" Although Xu Dongfang is 84 years old, his mind is still clear. He can see at a glance that Chu Yu's reason doesn't make sense.

Faced with the teacher's questioning, Chu Yu had no choice but to admit to him: "Actually, it was Wang Lie who inspired me..."

Xu Dongfang noticed Chu Yu's choice of words: "'Encourage'?"

Chu Yu nodded: "Yeah, it's encouraging. When everyone said he couldn't do it, he proved himself with practical actions. He is 38 years old and can still work so hard. I am three years younger than him, so why can't I do it? I thought so, and I took Wang Lie as an example to challenge myself in training and competitions. As a result, I have maintained my condition until now. So I thought... maybe I still have a chance to participate in the World Cup next year?"

As Chu Yu was telling his story, Xu Dongfang always had a smile on his face.

After listening to Chu Yu, he smiled and shook his head: "Take Wang Lie as a role model... You couldn't say this before."

Everyone knows that Chu Yu and Wang Lie do not have a good personal relationship. The fact that the two of them are not openly enemies is enough to show that they are both players with strong professional ethics.

Chu Yu lowered his head and smiled bitterly: "I just...suddenly I admire him a little."

There was a trace of surprise on Xu Dongfang's face. He was frightened by Chu Yu's words:
"Admiration? That's not something you would say..."

Chu Yu nodded and said frankly: "I used to dislike his behavior and thought he was an egomaniac. I couldn't accept his approach to many things, let alone his character. But in the past six months or so, I have come to understand and admire his actions more and more."

"Because of his comeback from a desperate situation?"

"Yes. I really didn't expect that he could explode again under such circumstances... Many people are analyzing why he was able to make a comeback, but I think this may be a reward for his persistence in the past 20 years. Those things about him that made people hate him before, now seem to have become an important reason for his comeback."

Xu Haiyang said cheerfully: "Oh, but the same thing was considered the cause of his failure half a year ago..."

"What those people said is not wrong. There is no absolute right or wrong in everything. Depending on the situation, good can turn bad and bad can turn good. That's nothing. But I think the most amazing thing about Wang Lie is that even when he is questioned and ridiculed by the whole world, he can still grit his teeth and turn the tables. This is what I admire most about him." When Chu Yu said this, the expression on his face was very serious from beginning to end, and it didn't seem like he was teasing Wang Lie.

"Because I thought I couldn't do it, I admired him and was a little envious. But I didn't admit it until the past six months when I was finally able to face my own heart... Now that I think about it, my dislike for him in the past may have come largely from my jealousy."

Both Xu Dongfang and Xu Haiyang were stunned when they heard what was said nearby.

Even Chu Yu's mentor, Xu Dongfang, who thought he knew him well, did not expect Chu Yu to say this.

Isn't this too self-deprecating?
He comforted and advised: "Not really, not really. Wang Lie has a lot of people who don't like him because of his personality. Could it be that all these people are jealous?" Chu Yu shook his head and rejected his mentor's kindness: "I don't know why others hate him, but I do hate him because of jealousy."

Chu Yu spoke so confidently that Xu Dongfang didn't know what to say.

※※※

Chu Yu did not stay in his mentor's house for long. He did not even have food. He left after chatting with his mentor for two hours.

After sending Chu Yu away, Xu Haiyang returned home and saw his father still sitting on the sofa. He said to his father with emotion: "Chu Yu said that he should take Wang Lie as an example... Why do I feel that this world has become a little strange?"

Xu Dongfang laughed: "Isn't this good? The world is changing. If people don't change, won't they be eliminated by the times? Logically speaking, whether it is Wang Lie or Chu Yu, they are at the end of their careers and should be eliminated. But now they are in excellent form. Isn't it caused by change?"

The son originally wanted to argue with his father and question what Wang Lie had changed.

But when I looked up, I saw the blue Tyne jersey on the wall behind my father, and I swallowed back the words that were about to come out of my mouth.

Speaking of changes, Wang Lie's change is the biggest...

Xu Haiyang looked at the jersey and asked, "Dad, did you say Wang Lie gave you a jersey as a way of reconciling with you?"

"Reconciliation?" Xu Dongfang also turned around and glanced at the jerseys on the wall. "Didn't we already have nothing left?"

"Then you guys aren't that close either?"

"Not everyone has to be close to each other." Xu Dongfang shook his head. "My personality and that of Wang Lie are destined to make us not close. He was like this when he was in school."

Xu Haiyang sighed and asked again: "Dad, do you regret not agreeing to let him go abroad to play football? If you had agreed at the beginning, then your relationship with him would still be considered a good story in our Chinese football world..."

"I couldn't have agreed to it at that time." Xu Dongfang shook his head. "His body was in a period of rapid development at that time. If he stayed with me, he would be better protected. But if he went to Europe, in order to stand out, with his temper, he would definitely fight hard in every training session and every game. But at that age, working too hard may not be a good thing..."

Xu Haiyang knew that his father was not talking nonsense to defend himself.

Because in fact, eight years before Wang Lie insisted on going abroad to play football, a tragedy had occurred:
Dai Dongchen was a talented young man who attracted much attention in Chinese football before Wang Lie.

Xu Haiyang's father Xu Dongfang also wanted to recruit this talented young man into the Dongfang Football School.

But Dai Dongchen chose to go abroad to play football directly and successfully joined the youth training of a top league club in Germany.

With his outstanding talent, he quickly established himself in the youth team of this Bundesliga club and even wore the captain's armband at one point.

But just when everyone had high hopes for him, he suffered a serious injury at the age of sixteen that changed his fate.

This serious injury was actually caused by Dai Dongchen being in the stage of physical development, and his physical fitness had not kept up with the intensity of training.

The serious injury kept Dai Dongchen away from the court for a full year and a half. After recovering from the injury, he lost his spirit and form and became just like everyone else. Later, he wandered around in low-level leagues in Europe and China, but never achieved success. Finally, he retired at the age of 29, without realizing his football talent.

The lesson of "The Injury of Zhongyong" happened just eight years ago. Wang Lie's father insisted on not letting him go abroad to play football. He must have been worried that Wang Lie would repeat Dai Dongchen's mistake.

After being injured, Dai Dongchen once said that playing football in Europe is very stressful, and in order to get a chance, he has to work harder than his other teammates.

Everyone only saw his outstanding performance in the youth training of European clubs, but they didn't know how much effort he put in behind the scenes and how much pressure he was under.

This kind of pressure prevented him from resting for a single day, and he was exhausted both physically and mentally. It was no surprise that he eventually suffered serious injuries.

Later, Wang Lie suffered a serious knee injury for two consecutive years, which somewhat confirmed his father's concerns.

At that time, the whole world believed that Wang Lie's playing career was over, so it cannot be said that his father's worries were "groundless" or "malicious curses."

But his father didn't expect that Wang Lie would be reborn, no longer troubled by serious injuries, and his career would soar.

This was where his father misjudged the situation, but back then, how many people in this world could have thought of it?
It can only be said that Wang Lie and his father were both hurt, because both of them were scolded for many years. Most of those who scolded them actually didn't know what really happened, and they didn't put themselves in their shoes and make fair and objective evaluations. They were just venting their emotions.

Whether it is Wang Lie or his father, it is difficult to say who is right or wrong.

He sighed and said with emotion: "Character determines destiny..."

Both his father and Wang Lie are like this.

Xu Dongfang laughed when he heard his son's sigh: "That's right, character determines destiny. Some things can't be changed. I still won't let Wang Lie go abroad to play football, and Wang Lie would definitely rather sell the house to go abroad to play football. Some things have been decided long ago and cannot be changed. It's actually not bad now. Look, he even gave me a jersey."

The son looked at the jersey hanging on the wall and said, "I still don't understand why Wang Lie suddenly gave you a jersey? He has never done this before..."

Xu Dongfang did not respond, he just sat under Wang Lie's jersey with a smile.

※※※

Wang Lie was packing his luggage in his bedroom, preparing to leave for the national team tomorrow. He suddenly asked his wife Tang Xingmei, "When is Qiqi's parents' meeting this semester?"

Tang Xingmei was a little surprised that her husband would care about this question, but she still answered: "It's a week after the final exams, what's wrong?"

"When is the final exam?" Wang Lie asked again.

Tang Xingmei, who was originally browsing her phone, answered immediately: "The exam will be over on June 19th."

Wang Lie nodded: "Okay, the time doesn't conflict."

Tang Xingmei was very surprised: "What time?"

"The time of the parent-teacher meeting does not conflict with the time of my national team's game. The final exam is on June 19th and the game is on June 20th. The parent-teacher meeting is one week after the exam, which is just the right time to stagger it." Wang Lie explained.

"What's wrong with the misalignment?"

"I'll go to the parent-teacher conference at the end of the semester."

Tang Xingmei, who was browsing on her phone, turned her head and looked at her husband with wide eyes. She didn't say a word, just stared at Wang Lie in amazement.

"What are you doing?" Wang Lie asked, looking at his wife.

"I'm the one who's asking you what you're doing!" Tang Xingmei was a little excited, "What's wrong with you?!"

Wang Lie spread his hands and said, "As a father, how can it be crazy to attend my own child's parents' meeting?"

"Didn't you forbid Qiqi to tell others that you were his father?"

Wang Lie was a little embarrassed: "That was in the past. I didn't let you go to watch the game in person before..."

"Yes, for our safety..."

Wang Lie waved his hand to interrupt his wife: "I've figured it out. It's obviously my child, why do we have to hide it, as if it's a illegitimate child? You are the same, you are all my family, why don't you dare to show it to the public openly? Even if you don't publicize it everywhere, you shouldn't deliberately conceal it..."

When Wang Lie said this, Tang Xingmei kept looking at him with a stunned expression. After he finished speaking, she still didn't say anything and just looked at him like this.

Wang Lie couldn't stand her looking at him anymore, so he asked, "Is there something on my face?"

Tang Xingmei shook her head: "No, I want to confirm whether you are still my husband."

"How can you tell just by looking? You have to experience it yourself...how about you check the goods now?" Wang Lie said as he was about to take off his clothes.

This made Tang Xingmei slap his hand away from unbuttoning his clothes, and she said angrily, "Be serious!"

Wang Lie laughed out loud.

Tang Xingmei said with emotion while laughing: "You have changed a lot in the past six months..."

Then, without waiting for Wang Lie's response, she continued, "But after falling from the peak to the mire and seeing through the fickleness of human nature, it's normal to have such a change..."

Wang Lie nodded quickly: "Yes, after seeing through many things, your mentality will be different."

His mentality is indeed different from before, but it is not because he has seen through many things, but because the curse-like side effect has disappeared on him.

Before the end of this season, he had actually been very concerned about this matter in his heart - the side effects were real. Was it because his "extraordinary heart" was really given to him by that charlatan?

But after the side effects disappeared, he still led a team of "mercenaries" to qualify for the Champions League next season, which convinced him that his strong competitive spirit was innate, not given to him by anyone.

The "extraordinary heart" given to him by the time traveler strengthened his competitive spirit, but it does not mean that he does not have his own "extraordinary heart".

He is still competitive now, but he is more tolerant towards people around him.

This is a good thing for him, and he is happy with the change and does not feel that he is no longer the same person as before.

Tang Xingmei looked at her husband and said tenderly, "But no matter you were before or you are now, I like you both."

She was worried that her husband would feel guilty and have a psychological gap, so she added this sentence.

Wang Lie expressed his gratitude to his wife for her understanding with a hug.

Tang Xingmei, who was held in her husband's arms, looked up and asked him, "Can I bring the children to watch your games in the future?"

"Of course." Wang Lie gave an affirmative answer, then frowned and said, "It's a pity that our next qualifier against North Korea is an away game, otherwise you can all go to watch the game live."

"I'm not in such a hurry..." Tang Xingmei smiled. "You should go to Qiqi's final parents' meeting first! I'm kind of looking forward to that day...ha!"

(End of this chapter)