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Chapter 36 The Taste of Victory

"King! King! Here, King!"

"Congratulations, Wang Lie!"

"Well done, Wang Lie!"

"Good kick, Wang!"

……

When Wang Lie arrived at the mixed zone, the reporters waiting there were like beautiful women soliciting customers on a certain street, waving their hands constantly, saying nice things, and calling him "big brother" and "handsome guy" one after another.

They simply hoped that Wang Lie, their benefactor, would stop and accept their interview when he passed by them.

Although Wang Lie had accepted an interview with the broadcaster on the sidelines after the game, it was an official interview and the questions in the interview were not controllable by other media.

Everyone still has their own questions and wants to ask Wang Lie.

Official interviews simply cannot satisfy the majority of journalists.

Wang Lie did not disappoint the reporters. He stopped in the mixed zone.

The reporters rushed forward and crowded around him.

If there were no railings blocking them, I'm afraid these reporters would have jumped on Wang Lie...

Wang Lie had to maintain order first: "Don't push, don't push, or I'll leave."

These words were more effective than any "kind words of persuasion". After hearing what he said, the reporters immediately quieted down, observed the order and stopped crowding.

Because they knew that Wang Lie was not just being polite, he could really do it - similar things had happened before:
When Wang Lie was answering other people's questions, a journalist from a domestic media organization desperately put his microphone close to Wang Lie's mouth and tried to turn on the microphones of other journalists.

This caused Wang Lie's dissatisfaction, and he warned the reporter not to do so, otherwise he would not accept the interview.

The reporter continued to do as he pleased and ignored Wang Lie's warning.

Finally, he managed to squeeze to the front, but his last push was so strong that he almost poked Wang Lie's mouth, forcing Wang Lie to take a step back.

Seeing this, Wang Lie turned around and left, indeed refusing to accept the interview.

His action after the game caused an uproar. Some media criticized Wang Lie for being arrogant, disrespectful, and forgetting his last name after achieving some success...

But Wang Lie endured the tremendous pressure and did not accept any interviews from the disobedient media reporter for a whole year.

When Wang Lie was being scolded the most, the relevant video was also posted online. Only then did everyone know why Wang Lie suddenly refused to be interviewed and turned away.

It turns out they scolded Wang Lie before because the media took his words out of context…The status of a certain postgraduate entrance examination consulting teacher has reached a new high.

As a result, this reporter and the media that had previously criticized Wang Lie for being arrogant were scolded by netizens.

By the way, this idiot who was disobeying the rules and poked Wang Lie's mouth with a microphone was actually a Chinese reporter. This is really embarrassing for the whole world...

After that incident, the reporters knew that if they wanted to successfully interview Wang Lie, they could not easily anger him, otherwise Wang Lie would really turn against them.

This certainly makes the so-called "uncrowned kings" very uncomfortable. After all, they often act sideways with the "fourth power" in their hands. When do they need to be humble to others?
But who can blame Wang Lie for being at his peak? In the communication between the two sides, he is the stronger party. He can really ban a certain media or certain media.

In addition, in the era of self-media, many professional media seem to have no need to exist... In order to survive, they must please the interviewees.

So you can imagine how distorted the media are. On the one hand, they have to appease Wang Lie, and on the other hand, they are psychologically distorted because of their humble status.

So when Wang Lie's career performance was not good and began to decline, there were so many negative things about him in the media. This was the "media" collectively "reckoning" Wang Lie's previous arrogance and domineering behavior, intentionally or unintentionally.

Of course today is different from the past because Wang Lie scored again!

And he scored twice, two goals in one go!
Wang Lie, who performed well, naturally became the dominant party, and the media reporters had to abide by the rules he set.

He told everyone not to crowd, and so we really shouldn’t crowd.

Seeing that everyone was obeying the order, Wang Lie said to them, "Ask any questions you have."

This posture is more like a host giving orders than an interviewee.

The reporters didn't care about these details at all. They were already very happy that Wang Lie stopped to let them ask questions instead of turning around and leaving!

The person closest to Wang Lie was CCTV reporter Guo Xuequan, and because of his proximity, he became the first person to ask questions.

"First of all, congratulations, Wang Lie, for scoring twice in your first game for Tyne. We also know your previous situation. It is not easy to score twice under such circumstances. So, does this mean that you have gotten rid of the previous difficulties?"

This question is quite standard and not at all eye-catching.

But Guo Xuequan still asked the question, because he felt that today's Chinese fans would definitely want to hear Wang Lie answer this question in person, rather than letting reporters, commentators and fans guess on their own.

Sure enough, Wang Lie nodded and answered confidently: "Yes, the day has dawned, the sun has risen, and the night has passed. I can participate in training and competitions like an ordinary player. And the facts have proved that as long as I am given enough opportunities and trust, I will not let people down. Today is just the beginning, I am confident that I can score more goals in the next games!"

Guo Xuequan was very happy because Wang Lie made a promise, promising that he would perform better next time!

Regardless of whether Wang Lie can really do what he said, at least he made a promise in front of so many cameras.

Making a promise in person is a very ceremonial thing.

Chinese fans need this "ritual".

The second questioner was from an English reporter: "Wang, you scored two goals in this game, which is your first time this season. Was it because of what Rossiter said before the game that stimulated you?"

This person is here to add fuel to the fire.

Wang Lie shook his head and said, "I was able to score two goals because I was not satisfied after scoring the first goal. It had nothing to do with who the opponent was. My opinion of Mr. Rossiter has been made very clear in that statement. I just want to say that I am very happy that I chose Tyne instead of Hellingham. Otherwise, I would not even have a chance to play, so how could I have scored two goals?"

At first, he seemed to be trying to cool down this controversial topic, but unexpectedly, in the end, he did as the reporter wished and couldn't help but make a fuss about Kofi Rossiter.

Judging from the reporter's expression, he was very happy that Wang Lie said that.

The third reporter who asked the question was from Spain. He said to Wang Lie in Spanish: "What a great performance, Wang! Considering your age, how did you do it? Why was there such a big difference between your performance at Tyne and at Sofia United?"

Wang Lie first answered in Spanish: "Goal makes me younger."

Hearing Wang Lie say this, the reporters who could understand Spanish laughed.

After the laughter stopped for a while, Wang Lie continued, "Why is there such a big difference? I actually don't understand it. After all, I haven't changed much since I was in Sofia... I've even become a little older. Maybe you should ask Heldon, why I only scored one goal in Sofia in half a season, but after coming to Tyne, I scored two goals in less than half a game?"

He spoke this in English.

Apparently he wasn't just saying this to the Spanish journalists.

He was not afraid of causing any controversy at all, and even hoped that the reporters present would help him spread his words.

No one was surprised or puzzled by this, because that was just the kind of person Wang Lie was!
They have known Wang Lie for more than ten years, how could they not know his temper?
Before, when Sofia United performed poorly, he never bowed his head or gave in to Helden.

Now that he has scored twice, if Helden's name is not mentioned, people will feel that something is missing - if he doesn't take revenge, he is not Wang Lie!

Now that he said this, many people felt relieved:
Ah, yes, that’s the taste!
Wang Lie was being interviewed, and his teammates walked past him one after another. However, basically no reporter present went to interview these people. They still surrounded Wang Lie, and even if they couldn't ask questions, they could still follow and interview him.

It was not until Elliot Goetz came over that the reporters called out to him, "Elliot! Elliot! Tell us about the captain. We noticed that after Wang came on the field, you gave him the captain's armband..."

Goetz smiled and hugged Wang Lie beside him, saying to the reporters: "Let me introduce you again, this is our Tyne's first captain - Wang Lie!"

Then he continued to explain to the reporters: "In fact, Wang became the first captain the day after he came to Tyne. It didn't start from this game. I took the initiative to find the boss and proposed that Wang replace me as the first captain."

Everyone was surprised - they had indeed never heard of this before.

"Why?" asked a reporter who was on good terms with Goetz.

Goetz turned his head to look at Wang Lie, then turned back and explained to everyone with a smile: "Because I believe that Wang can bring us victory!"

※※※

During the post-match press conference, the most watched one was not even the press conference of the winning side, but the press conference of the losing side, Hurlingham FC.

The reporters all wanted to hear what dear Mr. Kofi Rossiter had to say about today's game and how he would evaluate Wang Lie's performance in the game.

Sitting on the stage, Rost looked at the group of eagerly waiting reporters below. Somehow, he suddenly thought of the slave ships in the slave trade era.

As many media supported him before the game, as many media now want to laugh at him.

Just like a heartless and heartless bitch. But Rost knew very well that most media actually had no stance, they just wanted traffic equally. He could bring traffic by attacking Wang Lie, and he could also bring traffic by being avenged by Wang Lie.

If he wants to get the support of the media, he has to win, and keep winning.

Unfortunately, he was the loser today...

He was a dying black slave waiting to be thrown off a slave ship.

And those eagerly waiting reporters below are the sharks that have followed following the smell of blood.

Sure enough, the first reporter who stood up to ask a question asked him: "You once said that if Wang went to your team, he would never get a chance to play. Do you still think so now, Mr. Rossiter?"

Rost took a deep breath: "Wang's performance today was indeed outstanding, but this does not prove anything. It was just one game. Those two goals had a lot of luck involved..."

He wasn't actually wrong to say that.

If I have to say, Wang Lie's first goal did have a lot of luck involved. After all, it was not a very good scoring opportunity. With such an irregular shooting action, he was still able to score a goal. Luck definitely played a big part in it.

But the second goal...

The "luck factor" that Rost believed in was mainly reflected in the fact that the ball hit by goalkeeper Adelstenson happened to fall into Wang Lie's side.

But this argument doesn't hold water.

Because if we talk about luck, Adelstenson was lucky to save Dean's header. If Dean had headed the ball directly into the goal, there would be no chance for Wang Lie later...

Rost's answer certainly did not satisfy the media reporters. They continued to pursue Rost and ask him questions about Wang Lie.

No matter how they asked, Rost insisted that Wang Lie's performance in this game was due to luck, and it was just one game, and he came on as a substitute, so his physical energy consumption was not great, which did not explain any problems at all.

"...He is about to turn 38. Does McNeill intend to have him come on as a substitute in every game? I think even if McNeill is willing, Wang will definitely not be willing. As long as the arrangement is not satisfactory, Wang will become an unstable factor in the locker room..."

"...This season doesn't just have this one game. We need to look at it comprehensively. It's a bit too early to assume that his performance will get better and better..."

Anyway, the only thing Kofi Rossiter has left on his body now is his tough mouth.

In fact, he had no choice. He could only be tough at this time and absolutely could not admit defeat.

He was betting that Wang Lie was really lucky in this game.

I bet that in half a month, Wang Lie will be 38 years old and his performance will decline. No one will talk about his failure and embarrassment today anymore.

If he gave in now, the feud between him and Wang Lie would be settled, and he would be nailed to the pillar of shame forever.

As long as he doesn't admit defeat, the battle is not over and he still has a chance to turn the tables!
He really didn't believe that Wang Lie could maintain his form and performance in today's game!

But it's not that he didn't learn a lesson from this game... At least he knew that the next time he met Tyne, he shouldn't provoke Wang Lie before the game.

Once the 38-year-old Wang Lie is angered, he is not easy to deal with!
I'll wait until I win the game before I say harsh words to him...

※※※

Tang Lin had finished his studies and was about to wash up and go to bed when his landlord, Mr. Berg, opened the door and came home.

Hearing some noise downstairs in the room upstairs, Tang Lin came out curiously to see what was happening. He found Mr. Berg standing at the door, saying goodbye to someone loudly.

"Okay, okay, I'm home, you can go back now!"

A rough male voice came from outside the door: "Are you sure you don't need me to help you in? I can see that you can't even stand steadily..."

"I'm home now. So what if I lie down on the floor now?" Mr. Berg was still stubborn.

After Tang Lin heard the conversation between the two clearly, he hurried downstairs to support his landlord.

It would be a serious matter if an elderly person in his seventies fell.

Besides, even if I didn't get hurt from the fall, lying on the cold floor for a night would definitely cause problems...

"Mr. Berg!" Tang Lin stepped forward and supported Berg, who was holding the door frame with one hand and waving outside the door with the other.

"You see, there are people in my house."

The big man outside the door was relieved when he saw Tang Lin, and stepped back: "Okay, okay, I'm leaving, bye!"

Tang Lin helped Berg into the house and closed the door, then helped the landlord to the sofa in the living room and poured him a glass of water.

"Why do you drink so much, Mr. Berg? Isn't the doctor..."

Tang Lin frowned and complained that Berg smelled too strongly of alcohol.

He had known Mr. Berg for more than half a year, and apart from what Mr. Berg had said about his past experience as an alcoholic, this was the first time he had seen him drink so much.

Berg collapsed on the sofa and interrupted Tang Lin loudly: "To hell with the doctor! Ha! I have to drink so much today!"

Tang Lin guessed: "Tain won?"

He was a little restless before the game and couldn't concentrate on reading. But after knowing that Wang Lie didn't start in this game, the restlessness in his heart disappeared and he calmed down and studied.

I have been studying until now, but I really haven't paid attention to the competition anymore.

He didn't even know whether the game ended in a win or loss, whether Wang Lie played, or how he performed if he did play... He didn't know anything at all.

"Ha! Yes! That's right! We won! But winning is not the most important thing, Tang! The important thing is that Wang scored goals after he came on the court! And two goals! It's perfect! How can we not have a good drink on such a perfect night?!" Berg slumped on the sofa, dancing excitedly as he spoke.

It turned out to be because of this...

Wang Lie came on as a substitute and scored two goals.

Tang Lin stood by and looked at the still happy landlord.

Then he laughed, too: "That's really good news."

Mr. Berg became even more excited when he heard him say that: "Right? I knew you would be happy for your compatriots! Let me tell you, Tang, it's a pity that you didn't go to watch this game! Wang was like a god on the court! That clown Rost said before the game that Wang should retire, and now he is the one who should 'go'! Haha!

“Let me tell you, Tang… you don’t really need to understand football. All you need to know is that Wang Lie was severely humiliated before the game, and that he slapped that clown Rost twice in the face with two goals during the game. That’s enough to make you go numb all over!
"We won this game! But the most important thing is not this one, but the next one... Next time, Wang Du will lead us to victory!"

Mr. Berg still supported Wang Lie more than a Chinese like himself. Tang Lin smiled and shook his head helplessly: "Yes, yes, Mr. Berg. But you should go to bed. It's getting late."

Berg waved his hands: "Oh no, I can't sleep now, I'm too excited. Don't worry about me, Tang, you go and do your own thing, let me sit on the sofa for a while, I still want to enjoy the taste of victory..."

Tang Lin was relieved to see that Mr. Berg was just emotionally excited and not really drunk. "Then I'll go take a shower."

Before going upstairs, Tang Lin turned his head to look at Mr. Berg again. He was half lying on the sofa, humming a song with his eyes closed.

Tang Lin was very familiar with that song because he often heard Mr. Berg sing it and he almost learned it by heart.

It is a popular song praising hometown, with a moving melody and catchy lyrics. It is full of love and attachment to hometown and is really nice to listen to.

"The Tyne, the Tyne, the ever-flowing Tyne, the chimneys, the flames dancing in the furnaces... This is my hometown Newcastle - Newcastle upon Tyne..."

"This is my hometown of Newcastle - Newcastle upon Tyne..."

Seeing the old man so happy, Tang Lin thought of the day they first met and Mr. Berg told him his own story.

Because he lost his son in middle age and his spouse in old age, Mr. Berg was very depressed and spent his days drinking.

It was football that saved him.

It was football that made him find the reason and courage to live again.

In Tang Lin's opinion, it's not just that simple. Football even made Mr. Berg rejuvenate and become young again...

His current mental state really makes it hard to believe that he is a 74-year-old man.

He even has more energy than me.

Is football really that magical?

Tang Lin suddenly had an idea:
Maybe... maybe I should also learn about this "magic pill"... football?
※※※

PS, I will update only once from today on. Thank you for your understanding and consideration...

I would also like to thank "Tian You Shui" for rewarding the leader. We are old friends. He has contributed to every book starting from "Heart of a Champion". Thank you!
(End of this chapter)